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Class A | U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio seeks to provide maximum current income to the extent consistent with the maintenance of liquidity and the preservation of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 0.475%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 0.525%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.40%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 709 993 1,297 2,158

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its assets in high quality, short-term U.S. government securities. In addition, in order to qualify as a “government money market fund” under the rules governing money market funds, the Portfolio has adopted a policy to invest 99.5% or more of its total assets in cash, U.S. government securities, and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully by cash and U.S. government securities. The Adviser seeks to maintain the Portfolio's share price at $1.00. The share price remaining stable at $1.00 means that the Portfolio would preserve the principal value of your investment. The U.S. government securities that the Portfolio may purchase include:

 

• U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, all of which are direct obligations of the U.S. government.

 

• Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Among the agencies and instrumentalities issuing these obligations are the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) and the Federal Housing Administration.

 

• Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities, which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to meet their obligations. Among these agencies and instrumentalities are the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and the Federal Home Loan Bank. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each may borrow from the Treasury to meet their obligations, but the Treasury is under no obligation to lend to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

 

• Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities, which are backed solely by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Among these agencies and instrumentalities is the Federal Farm Credit System.

 

In addition, the Portfolio may invest in repurchase agreements collateralized by securities issued by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities. By operating as a government money market fund, the Portfolio is exempt from requirements relating to the imposition of a liquidity fee and/or temporary redemption gates. While the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees may elect to subject the Portfolio to liquidity fee and gate requirements in the future, the Board has not elected to do so at this time.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and an investment in the Portfolio is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio. The Manager has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Portfolio, and you should not expect that the Manager will provide financial support to the Portfolio at any time.

 

Credit and Interest Rate Risk. A principal risk of investing in the Portfolio is associated with its U.S. government securities investments which are subject to two types of risks: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk, another risk of debt securities, refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. Given that the Federal Reserve has begun to raise interest rates, the Portfolio may face a heightened level of interest rate risk. Repurchase agreements involve a greater degree of credit risk.

 

Government-Sponsored Enterprises Risk. U.S. government-sponsored enterprises are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. There is the risk that the U.S. government will not provide financial support to such U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law. Certain U.S. government securities purchased by the Portfolio, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. government securities held by the Portfolio may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

Money Market Fund Regulation. The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently adopted changes to the rules that govern money market funds. The Portfolio intends to operate as a "government money market fund," which allows the Portfolio to continue to seek a stable net asset value ("NAV"). “Government money market funds,” which are money market funds that invest in cash, U.S. government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully, are exempt from the requirement to consider imposing a redemption fee or suspending redemptions at certain liquidity levels.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio's investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio's Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s current 7-day yield by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 0.92% (quarter ended June 30, 2007) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was 0.00% (quarter ended June 30, 2016). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 0.01%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A (5.65%) (1.15%) (0.12%)
90 Day T-Bills Index: (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) 0.32% 0.11% 0.66%
Lipper U.S. Treasury Money Market Index 0.05% 0.01% 0.56%
Class A | Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: INVESTMENT QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Investment Quality Bond Portfolio seeks current income and reasonable stability of principal.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
Investment Quality Bond Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
Investment Quality Bond Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 0.55%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 0.90%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.85%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | Investment Quality Bond Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 752 1,123 1,518 2,619

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in investment grade fixed-income securities, mortgage pass-through securities or non-rated securities considered by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. In deciding which securities to buy, hold or sell, the Adviser considers economic developments, interest rate trends and other factors such as the issuer’s creditworthiness. The average maturity of the securities held by the Portfolio may range from three to ten years. Mortgage pass-through securities are mortgage-backed securities that represent a participation interest in a pool of residential mortgage loans originated by the U.S. government or private lenders such as banks. They differ from conventional debt securities, which provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts and principal payments at maturity or on specified call dates. Mortgage pass-through securities provide for monthly payments that are a “pass-through” of the monthly interest and principal payments made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans.

 

The Portfolio may invest in mortgage pass-through securities that are issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, but they have the right to borrow from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to meet their obligations, although the Treasury is not legally required to extend credit to the agencies/instrumentalities.

 

Private mortgage pass-through securities also can be Portfolio investments. They are issued by private originators of and investors in mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations and mortgage banks. Since private mortgage pass-through securities typically are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit status of a U.S. government agency, the securities generally are structured with one or more type of credit enhancement.

 

In addition, the Portfolio may invest up to 5% of its net assets in fixed-income securities rated lower than investment grade, commonly known as “junk bonds.”

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio’s share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Fixed-Income Securities Risk. Principal risks of investing in the Portfolio are associated with its fixed-income investments. All fixed-income securities are subject to two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most fixed-income securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most fixed-income securities go up. (Zero coupon securities are typically subject to greater price fluctuations than comparable securities that pay current interest.) Long-term fixed-income securities will rise and fall in response to interest rate changes to a greater extent than short-term securities. Given that the Federal Reserve has begun to raise interest rates, the Portfolio may face a heightened level of interest rate risk.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities and Prepayment Risk. Mortgage-backed securities, such as mortgage pass-through securities, have different risk characteristics than traditional debt securities. Although the value of fixed-income securities generally increases during periods of falling interest rates and decreases during periods of rising interest rates, this is not always the case with mortgage-backed securities. This is due to the fact that the principal on underlying mortgages may be prepaid at any time as well as other factors. Generally, prepayments will increase during a period of falling interest rates and decrease during a period of rising interest rates. The rate of prepayments also may be influenced by economic and other factors. Prepayment risk includes the possibility that securities with stated interest rates may have the principal prepaid earlier than expected, which may occur when interest rates decline. Prepayment may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Investments in mortgage-backed securities are made based upon, among other things, expectations regarding the rate of prepayments on underlying mortgage pools. Rates of prepayment faster or slower than expected by the Adviser could reduce the Portfolio’s yield, increase the volatility of the Portfolio and/or cause a decline in net asset value (“NAV”). Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that the issuer of such a security pays back the principal of an obligation later than expected, which may occur when interest rates rise. This may have an adverse effect on returns, as the value of the security decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. In addition, the Portfolio may be prevented from investing proceeds it would otherwise have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates. Certain mortgage-backed securities may be more volatile and less liquid than other traditional types of debt securities. In addition, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to the Portfolio. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 3.38% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -1.63% (quarter ended June 30, 2013). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 0.59%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - Investment Quality Bond Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes (4.44%) (0.65%) 1.64%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (4.81%) (1.16%) 0.86%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   (2.44%) (0.64%) 1.04%
Barclays Intermediate U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   1.05% 1.04% 3.42%
Lipper Short-Intermediate Investment Grade Debt Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   2.83% 1.98% 3.38%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A | Municipal Bond Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Municipal Bond Portfolio seeks a high level of interest income that is excluded from federal income taxation to the extent consistent with prudent investment management and the preservation of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
Municipal Bond Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
Municipal Bond Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 0.55%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 3.05%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.01% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 4.01%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | Municipal Bond Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 955 1,726 2,512 4,547

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 48% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

As a matter of fundamental policy, the Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities that pay interest exempt from federal income taxes. The Portfolio’s Adviser generally invests the Portfolio’s assets in municipal obligations. There are no maturity limitations on the Portfolio’s securities. Municipal obligations are bonds, notes or short-term commercial paper issued by state governments, local governments, and their respective agencies. In pursuing the Portfolio’s investment objective, the Adviser has considerable leeway in deciding which investments it buys, holds or sells on a day-to-day basis. The Portfolio will invest primarily in municipal bonds rated within the four highest grades by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) or Fitch Inc. (“Fitch”) or, if not rated, of comparable quality in the opinion of the Portfolio’s Adviser. The Portfolio may invest without limit in municipal obligations that pay interest income subject to the “alternative minimum tax,” although it does not currently expect to invest more than 20% of its total assets in such instruments. Some shareholders may have to pay tax on distributions of this income. Municipal bonds, notes and commercial paper are commonly classified as either “general obligation” or “revenue.” General obligation bonds, notes and commercial paper are secured by the issuer’s faith and credit, as well as its taxing power, for payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds, notes and commercial paper, however, are generally payable from a specific source of income. They are issued to fund a wide variety of public and private projects in sectors such as transportation, education and industrial development. Included within the revenue category are participations in lease obligations. The Portfolio’s municipal obligation investments may include zero coupon securities, which are purchased at a discount and make no interest payments until maturity.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Municipal obligations, like other debt securities, are subject to two types of risks: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. In the case of revenue bonds, notes or commercial paper, for example, the credit risk is the possibility that the user fees from a project or other specified revenue sources are insufficient to meet interest and/or principal payment obligations. The issuers of private activity bonds, used to finance projects in sectors such as industrial development and pollution control, also may be negatively impacted by the general credit of the user of the project. Lease obligations may have risks not normally associated with general obligation or other revenue bonds. Certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses that provide that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purposes by the appropriate legislative body on an annual or other periodic basis. Consequently, continued lease payments on those lease obligations containing “non-appropriation” clauses are dependent on future legislative actions. If such legislative actions do not occur, the holders of the lease obligation may experience difficulty in exercising their rights, including disposition of the property.

 

Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most fixed-income securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most fixed-income securities go up. Given that the Federal Reserve has begun to raise interest rates, the Portfolio may face a heightened level of interest rate risk. Longer term bonds and zero coupon securities are typically subject to greater price fluctuations than comparable securities that pay current interest. Generally, the longer the average duration of the bonds in the Portfolio, the more the Portfolio’s share price will fluctuate in response to interest rate changes,

 

The Portfolio is not limited as to the maturities of the municipal obligations in which it may invest. Thus, a rise in the general level of interest rates may cause the price of its portfolio securities to fall substantially.

 

The Portfolio’s investments in municipal bonds in the fourth highest grade are considered speculative. The ratings of municipal bonds do not ensure the stability or safety of the Portfolio’s investments.

 

Tax Risk. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio’s income will be exempt from federal or state income taxes. Events occurring after the date of issuance of a municipal bond or after the Portfolio’s acquisition of a municipal bond may result in a determination that interest on that bond is includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes retroactively to its date of issuance. Such a determination may cause a portion of prior distributions by the Portfolio to its shareholders to be taxable to those shareholders in the year of receipt. Federal or state changes in income or alternative minimum tax rates or in the tax treatment of municipal bonds may make municipal bonds less attractive as investments and cause them to lose value.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com .

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 3.85% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -3.62% (quarter ended December 31, 2016). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 1.87%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - Municipal Bond Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes (7.62%) (1.32%) 0.09%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (9.03%) (1.95%) (0.50%)
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   (4.01%) (1.15%) (0.08%)
Barclays Municipal Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   0.25% 3.28% 4.25%
Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   (0.16%) 2.42% 3.51%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A | Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: LARGE CAPITALIZATION VALUE PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Large Capitalization Value Portfolio seeks total return consisting of capital appreciation and dividend income.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
Large Capitalization Value Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
Large Capitalization Value Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 0.65%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 0.59%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.64%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | Large Capitalization Value Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 732 1,063 1,415 2,407

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 65% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in a diversified portfolio of equity securities issued by U.S. issuers with total market capitalizations of $5 billion or greater at the time of purchase. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stock and warrants. In determining which securities to buy, hold or sell, the Portfolio’s Adviser focuses its investment selection on finding high quality companies with compelling valuations, measurable catalysts to unlock value and above-average long-term earnings growth potential. In general, the Adviser looks for companies that have value-added product lines to help preserve pricing power, a strong history of free cash flow generation, strong balance sheets, competent management with no record of misleading shareholders, and financially sound customers. Independent research is used to produce estimates for future earnings, which are inputs into the Adviser’s proprietary valuation model. The Adviser focuses its investments where it has a differentiated view and there exists, in its view, significant price appreciation potential to its estimate of the stocks’ intrinsic value.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Value Style Investing Risk. Value investing involves buying stocks that are out of favor and/or undervalued in comparison to their peers or their prospects for growth. Typically, their valuation levels are lower than those of growth stocks. Because different types of stocks go out of favor with investors depending on market and economic conditions, the Portfolio’s return may be adversely affected during market downturns and when value stocks are out of favor.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 17.63% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -24.02% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 7.60%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - Large Capitalization Value Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes 2.46% 11.73% 1.06%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   2.46% 11.60% 0.76%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   1.39% 9.36% 0.85%
S&P 500 / Citigroup Value Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   17.40% 14.69% 5.50%
Morningstar Large Value Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   14.81% 12.97% 5.38%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A | Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: LARGE CAPITALIZATION GROWTH PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio seeks capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 0.65%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 0.58%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.63%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 731 1,060 1,411 2,397

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 97% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in a portfolio of equity securities issued by U.S. issuers with total market capitalizations of $5 billion or more. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stock and warrants.

 

The Adviser employs quantitative and qualitative analysis that seeks to identify high quality companies that it believes have the ability to accelerate earnings growth and exceed investor expectations. The Adviser’s selection process consists of three steps. First, the Adviser reviews a series of screens utilizing the Adviser’s investment models, which are based on fundamental characteristics, designed to eliminate companies that the Adviser’s research shows have a high probability of underperformance. Factors considered when reviewing the screens include a multi-factor valuation framework, earnings quality, capital structure and financial quality. Next, securities that pass the initial screens are then evaluated to try to identify stocks with the highest probability of producing an earnings growth rate that exceeds investor expectations. This process incorporates changes in earnings expectations and earnings quality analysis. Finally, these steps produce a list of eligible companies which are subjected to analysis by the Adviser to further understand each company’s business prospects and earnings potential. The Adviser uses the results of this analysis to construct the Portfolio’s security positions.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Growth Style Investing Risk. Growth investing involves buying stocks that have relatively high price-to-earnings ratios. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are generally more sensitive to investor perceptions and market moves. During periods of growth stock underperformance, the Portfolio’s performance may suffer.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 19.77% (quarter ended September 30, 2010) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -27.01% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 20.00%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes (6.14%) 12.77% 8.21%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (10.50%) 10.27% 6.79%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   0.23% 9.75% 6.46%
S&P 500 / Citigroup Growth Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   6.89% 14.54% 8.29%
Morningstar Large Growth Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   3.23% 12.94% 6.91%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A | Mid Capitalization Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: MID CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Mid Capitalization Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
Mid Capitalization Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
Mid Capitalization Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 0.84%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.27% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.26%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | Mid Capitalization Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 791 1,241 1,715 3,021

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 43% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of companies traded on U.S. exchanges or over-the-counter (“OTC”) markets that have a total market capitalization of between $1 billion and $15 billion at the time of purchase. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and warrants. The Portfolio invests in securities of companies that are believed by the Adviser to be undervalued, thereby offering above-average potential for capital appreciation. The Portfolio may also invest in equity securities of foreign companies.

 

The Adviser invests in medium capitalization companies with a focus on total return using a bottom-up value oriented investment process. The Adviser seeks companies with the following characteristics, although not all of the companies it selects will have these attributes:

 

• companies earning a positive economic margin with stable-to-improving returns;

 

• companies valued at a discount to their asset value; and

 

• companies with an attractive dividend yield and minimal basis risk.

 

In selecting investments, the Adviser generally employs the following strategy:

 

• value-driven investment philosophy that selects stocks selling at attractive values based upon business fundamentals, economic margin analysis, discounted cash flow models and historical valuation multiples. The Adviser reviews companies that it believes are out-of-favor or misunderstood;

 

• use of value-driven screens to create a research universe of companies with market capitalizations of at least $1 billion; and

 

• use of fundamental and risk analysis to construct a portfolio of securities that the Adviser believes has an attractive return potential.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may also invest in small and medium capitalization companies. Investing in small and medium capitalization companies may involve more risk than is usually associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com .

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.08% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -22.38% (quarter ended September 30, 2011). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 7.68%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - Mid Capitalization Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes (1.16%) 11.17% 6.23%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (2.90%) 9.00% 4.94%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   0.80% 8.62% 4.76%
Russell Midcap Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   13.80% 14.72% 7.86%
Morningstar Mid Capitalization Blend Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   14.14% 13.32% 6.75%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A | Small Capitalization Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Small Capitalization Portfolio seeks maximum capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
Small Capitalization Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
Small Capitalization Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 0.65%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 1.24%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.29%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | Small Capitalization Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 794 1,249 1,730 3,050

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 127% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks of companies whose stock market capitalizations fall within the range of capitalizations in the Russell 2000® Index. The market capitalization range of the Russell 2000® Index at September 30, 2017 was $32.7 million to $10.3 billion. The Russell 2000® Index is reconstituted annually at the midpoint of the calendar year. The Portfolio will also occasionally invest a portion of its assets in mid-cap stocks that are small relative to their industries that the Adviser believes have compelling valuations and fundamentals, and it will not immediately sell a security that was bought as a small-cap stock but through appreciation has become a mid-cap stock. In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Adviser begins with a screening process that seeks to identify growing companies whose stocks sell at discounted price-to-earnings and price-to-cash flow multiples. The Adviser also attempts to discern situations where intrinsic asset values are not widely recognized. The Adviser favors such higher-quality companies that generate strong cash flow, provide above-average free cash flow yields and maintain sound balance sheets. Rigorous fundamental analysis, from both a quantitative and qualitative standpoint, is applied to all investment candidates. While the Adviser employs a disciplined “bottom-up” approach that attempts to identify undervalued stocks, it nonetheless is sensitive to emerging secular trends. The Adviser does not, however, rely on macroeconomic forecasts in its stock selection efforts and prefers to remain fully invested. Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Small Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in small and medium capitalization companies carry more risk than investments in larger companies. While some of the Portfolio’s holdings in these companies may be listed on a national securities exchange, such securities are more likely to be traded in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. The low market liquidity of these securities may have an adverse impact on the Portfolio’s ability to sell certain securities at favorable prices and may also make it difficult for the Portfolio to obtain market quotations based on actual trades, for purposes of valuing its securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies involves greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”) than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies. Often small and medium capitalization companies and the industries in which they are focused are still evolving and, while this may offer better growth potential than larger, more established companies, it also may make them more sensitive to changing market conditions. Small capitalization companies may have returns that can vary, occasionally significantly, from the market in general. In addition, small capitalization companies may not pay a dividend.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 18.53% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -22.56% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 12.31%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - Small Capitalization Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes 6.17% 7.06% 4.17%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   6.17% 4.13% 2.03%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   3.49% 5.32% 3.17%
Russell 2000 Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   21.31% 14.46% 7.07%
Morningstar Small Blend Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   20.78% 13.52% 6.79%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A | International Equity Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The International Equity Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
International Equity Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
International Equity Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 2.28%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 3.43%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | International Equity Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 901 1,568 2,256 4,073

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 69% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in the equity securities of companies located outside of the United States. Equity securities consist of common stock and other securities such as depositary receipts. Under normal market conditions, at least 65% of the Portfolio’s assets will be invested in securities of issuers located in at least three foreign countries (generally in excess of three), which may include countries with developing and emerging economies. The Adviser seeks to purchase undervalued stocks with above average dividend yields and a fundamental catalyst such as improving prospects or a sustainable competitive advantage. Emphasis is placed on bottom-up stock selection. In addition, the Adviser considers four global opportunity fundamentals—Macro, Political, Business and Portfolio diversification—to assist in the basis of portfolio construction. A stock is sold when it no longer meets the Adviser’s criteria.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the United States or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com .

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 22.56% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -23.98% (quarter ended September 30, 2011). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 14.26%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - International Equity Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes (5.80%) 0.34% (3.84%)
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (5.80%) 0.22% (4.02%)
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   (3.28%) 0.29% (2.77%)
MSCI ACWI EX-USA Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   4.50% 5.00% 0.96%
Morningstar Foreign Large Blend Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   0.79% 5.75% 0.54%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A | Health & Biotechnology Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: HEALTH & BIOTECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Health & Biotechnology Portfolio seeks long-term capital growth.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
Health & Biotechnology Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
Health & Biotechnology Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 0.68%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.33%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | Health & Biotechnology Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 798 1,261 1,749 3,088

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 12% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of U.S. and foreign healthcare companies and biotechnology companies, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and warrants. The Adviser utilizes a top-down investment approach focused on long-term economic trends. The Adviser begins with the overall outlook for the economy, then seeks to identify specific industries with attractive characteristics and long-term growth potential. Ultimately, the Adviser seeks to identify high-quality companies within the selected industries and to acquire them at attractive prices. The Adviser’s stock selection process is based on an analysis of individual companies’ fundamental values, such as earnings growth potential and the quality of corporate management.

 

Companies described as Health Care Equipment and Supplies, Health Care Provider Services, Pharmaceutical or Biotechnology Companies under the North American Industry Classification System are considered healthcare or biotechnology companies for purposes of investment by the Portfolio. These companies are principally engaged in: the design, manufacture or sale of products or services used for or in connection with health, medical, or personal care such as medical, dental and optical supplies or equipment; research and development of pharmaceutical products and services; the operation of healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinical test laboratories, and convalescent and mental healthcare facilities; and the design, manufacture, or sale of healthcare-related products and services, research, development, manufacture or distribution of products and services relating to human health care, pharmaceuticals, agricultural and veterinary applications, and the environment; and manufacturing and/or distributing biotechnological and biomedical products, devices or instruments or provide materials, products or services to the foregoing companies.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio’s performance is closely tied to and affected by events occurring in the healthcare and biotechnology industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to, and move in unison with, one another. Healthcare companies are subject to government regulation and approval of their products and services, which can have a significant effect on their market price. Furthermore, the types of products or services produced or provided by these companies may quickly become obsolete. Moreover, liability for products that are later alleged to be harmful or unsafe may be substantial, and may have a significant impact on a healthcare company’s market value and/or share price. Biotechnology companies are affected by patent considerations, intense competition, rapid technology change and obsolescence, and regulatory requirements of various federal and state agencies. In addition, many of these companies are relatively small and have thinly-traded securities, may not yet offer products or offer a single product, and may have persistent losses during a new product’s transition from development to production or erratic revenue patterns. Moreover, stock prices of biotechnology companies are very volatile, particularly when their products are up for regulatory approval and/or under regulatory scrutiny. Consequently, the Portfolio’s performance may sometimes be significantly better or worse than that of other types of funds.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio's Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with a healthcare index. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com .

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 14.59% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -15.47% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 10.34%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - Health & Biotechnology Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes (7.60%) 12.55% 9.43%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (10.04%) 10.69% 8.52%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   (2.28%) 10.00% 7.75%
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
S&P 500 Healthcare Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   (4.36%) 14.67% 7.44%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A | Technology & Communications Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Technology & Communications Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
Technology & Communications Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
Technology & Communications Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 0.56%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.01% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.22%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | Technology & Communications Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 787 1,229 1,696 2,982

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by technology and communications companies, both domestic and foreign, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and warrants. The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign companies. The Portfolio defines a “technology company” as an entity in which at least 50% of the company’s revenues or earnings were derived from technology activities or at least 50% of the company’s assets were devoted to such activities, based upon the company’s most recent fiscal year. Technology companies may include, among others, companies that are engaged in the research, design, development or manufacturing of technology products. These companies include, among others, those in the Internet, medical, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, computer software and hardware industries. The Portfolio defines a “communications company” as an entity in which at least 50% of the company’s revenues or earnings were derived from communications activities or at least 50% of the company’s assets were devoted to such activities, based upon the company’s most recent fiscal year. Communications activities may include, among others, regular telephone service; communications equipment and services; electronic components and equipment; broadcasting; computer software and hardware; semiconductors; mobile communications and cellular radio/paging; electronic mail and other electronic data transmission services; networking and linkage of word and data processing systems; publishing and information systems; video text and teletext; emerging technologies combining telephone, television and/or computer systems; and Internet and network equipment and services.

 

In buying and selling securities for the Portfolio, the Adviser relies on fundamental analysis of each issuer and its potential for success in light of its current financial condition, its industry position and economic and market conditions. Factors considered include growth potential, earnings, valuation, competitive advantages and management.

 

When market or financial conditions warrant, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company's capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio's performance is closely tied to, and affected by, events occurring in the information, communications and related technology industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. Because technology continues to advance at an accelerated rate, and the number of companies and product offerings continues to expand, these companies could become increasingly sensitive to short product cycles, aggressive pricing and intense competition. Many technology companies sell stock before they have a commercially viable product, and may be acutely susceptible to problems relating to bringing their products to market. Additionally, many technology companies have very high price/earnings ratios, high price volatility, and high personnel turnover due to severe labor shortages for skilled technology professionals.

 

Emerging Technology Sector Risk. Because of its narrow focus, the Portfolio's performance is closely tied to, and affected by, events occurring in the emerging technology and general technology industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. Because technology continues to advance at an accelerated rate, and the number of companies and product offerings continues to expand, these companies could become increasingly sensitive to short product cycles, aggressive pricing and intense competition. In some cases, there are some emerging technology companies that sell stock before they have a commercially viable product and may be acutely susceptible to problems relating to bringing their products to market. Additionally, many emerging technology companies have very high price/earnings ratios, high price volatility and high personnel turnover due to severe labor shortages for skilled emerging technology professionals.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio's investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market's local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security's local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio's trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio's share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer's securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio's transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio's performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio's investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 24.14% (quarter ended September 30, 2010) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter -23.43% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 18.82%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - Technology & Communications Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes 9.91% 14.15% 11.48%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   7.72% 12.04% 10.36%
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   7.46% 11.14% 9.44%
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
Lipper Science & Technology Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   9.79% 15.13% 8.75%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A | Financial Services Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: FINANCIAL SERVICES PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Financial Services Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
Financial Services Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
Financial Services Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 2.23%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 3.88%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | Financial Services Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 943 1,691 2,455 4,443

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 55% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in U.S. and foreign equity securities issued by financial services companies, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). Equity securities include common stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, preferred stocks and warrants. Up to 20% of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in U.S. and foreign securities outside of financial companies.

 

The Adviser employs quantitative and qualitative analysis that seeks to identify reasonably valued, high quality financial services companies that it believes have the ability to accelerate earnings growth and exceed investor expectations. The Adviser’s selection process consists of three steps. First, the Adviser reviews a series of screens utilizing the Adviser’s investment models, which are based on fundamental characteristics designed to eliminate companies that the Adviser’s research shows have a high probability of underperformance. Factors considered when reviewing the screens include a multi-factor valuation framework, earnings quality, and capital structure. The valuation framework includes, but is not limited to, analysis of price to earnings, price to sales, price to book, cash held to price and various cash flow ratios. Valuation methodology is industry-specific within the financial services sector. Next, securities that pass the initial screens are then evaluated to try to identify stocks with the highest probability of producing an earnings growth rate that exceeds investor expectations. This process incorporates changes in earnings expectations and earnings quality analysis. Finally, these steps produce a list of eligible companies which are subjected to analysis by the Adviser to further understand each company’s business prospects and earnings potential. The Adviser uses the results of this analysis to construct the Portfolio’s security positions.

 

A “Financial services company,” for purposes of Portfolio investments, is defined as an entity in which at least 50% of the company’s revenues or earnings were derived from financial services activities based upon the company’s most recent fiscal year, or at least 50% of the company’s assets were devoted to such activities based on the company’s most recent fiscal year or any company which is included in the S&P Financial Sector Index. Financial services companies provide financial services to consumers and industry. Examples of companies in the financial services sector include commercial banks, investment banks, savings and loan associations, thrifts, finance companies, brokerage and advisory firms, transaction and payroll processors, insurance companies, real estate and leasing companies, and companies that span across these segments, and service providers whose revenue is largely derived from the financial services sector. Under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations, the Portfolio may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the equity securities of any company that derives more than 15% of its revenues from brokerage or investment management activities.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio’s performance is closely tied to and affected by events occurring in the financial services industry. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. The Portfolio is more vulnerable to price fluctuations of financial services companies and other factors that particularly affect financial services companies than a more broadly diversified mutual fund. In particular, the prices of stock issued by many financial services companies have historically been more closely correlated with changes in interest rates than other stocks. Generally, when interest rates go up, stock prices of these companies go down. This relationship may not continue in the future. Financial services companies are subject to extensive government regulation which tends to limit both the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments the company can make, and the interest rates and fees it can charge. These limitations can have a significant impact on the profitability of a financial services company since profitability is impacted by the company’s ability to make financial commitments such as loans. Insurance companies in which the Portfolio invests may also have an impact on the Portfolio’s performance as insurers may be subject to severe price competition, claims activity, marketing competition and general economic conditions. Certain lines of insurance can be significantly influenced by specific events. For example, property and casualty insurer profits may be affected by certain weather catastrophes and other disasters; and life and health insurer profits may be affected by mortality risks and morbidity rates. The financial services industry is currently undergoing a number of changes such as continuing consolidations, development of new products and structures and changes to its regulatory framework. These changes are likely to have a significant impact on the financial services industry and the Portfolio.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.36% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -31.75% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 10.38%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - Financial Services Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes 8.38% 10.66% (2.52%)
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   8.38% 10.66% (2.67%)
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   4.74% 8.48% (1.77%)
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
Lipper Financial Services Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   22.46% 17.86% 1.63%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A | Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: ENERGY & BASIC MATERIALS PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Reduced Sales Charge” on page 68 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class A
Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio
Class A
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75%
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class A
Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio
Class A
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.40%
Other Expenses 2.20%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 3.85%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A | Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio | Class A | USD ($) 940 1,683 2,443 4,422

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 54% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by U.S. and foreign Energy and Basic Materials Companies, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). The Portfolio utilizes the Standard & Poor’s classification system for purposes of determining whether a company is an “Energy or Basic Materials Company.” Standard & Poor’s maintains a proprietary classification system similar to the North American Industry Classification System, which classifies companies according to industry sectors and groups. Companies classified as Energy or Basic Materials Companies by Standard & Poor’s are involved in the exploration, development, production, refining or distribution of oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium, the construction or provision of oil rigs, drilling equipment and other energy related services and equipment, basic materials such as metals, minerals, chemicals, water, forest product, precious metals, glass and industrial gases or provide materials, products or services to such companies. Equity securities include common stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, preferred stocks and warrants. Standard & Poor’s classifications are utilized to identify sectors.

 

The Adviser employs quantitative and qualitative analysis that seeks to identify reasonably valued, high quality companies within the energy and basic materials sectors. The Adviser’s selection process incorporates a multi-factor valuation framework, capital structure, and financial quality analysis. The valuation framework includes, but is not limited to, analysis of price to earnings, price to sales, price to book, and price to operating cash flow.

 

Valuation methodology is industry-specific within the energy and basic materials sectors. This process produces a list of eligible companies which are then subjected to analysis by the Adviser to further understand each company’s business prospects and earnings potential. The Adviser uses the results of this analysis to construct the Portfolio’s security positions.

 

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio’s performance is closely tied to and affected by events occurring in the energy and basic materials industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. Companies in the energy and basic materials sector are subject to swift fluctuations in supply and demand. These fluctuations may be caused by events relating to international political and economic developments, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, the environmental impact of energy and basic materials operations and tax and other governmental regulatory policies. Consequently, the Portfolio’s performance may sometimes be significantly better or worse than that of other types of funds.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5, and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 23.92% (quarter ended December 31, 2010) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -32.69% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class A shares was 0.77%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A - Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes 12.57% (3.61%) (1.05%)
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions   12.57% (3.61%) (2.34%)
Class A | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   7.12% (2.70%) (0.46%)
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
Lipper Natural Resources Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.32% 2.12% 1.85%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio seeks to provide maximum current income to the extent consistent with the maintenance of liquidity and the preservation of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 0.475%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 0.525%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.00%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based on these assumptions.

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 303 627 1,078 2,327

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 203 627 1,078 2,327

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its assets in high quality, short-term U.S. government securities. In addition, in order to qualify as a “government money market fund” under the rules governing money market funds, the Portfolio has adopted a policy to invest 99.5% or more of its total assets in cash, U.S. government securities, and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully by cash and U.S. government securities. The Adviser seeks to maintain the Portfolio's share price at $1.00. The share price remaining stable at $1.00 means that the Portfolio would preserve the principal value of your investment. The U.S. government securities that the Portfolio may purchase include:

 

• U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, all of which are direct obligations of the U.S. government.

 

• Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Among the agencies and instrumentalities issuing these obligations are the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) and the Federal Housing Administration.

 

• Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities, which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to meet their obligations. Among these agencies and instrumentalities are the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and the Federal Home Loan Bank. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each may borrow from the Treasury to meet their obligations, but the Treasury is under no obligation to lend to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

 

• Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities, which are backed solely by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Among these agencies and instrumentalities is the Federal Farm Credit System.

 

In addition, the Portfolio may invest in repurchase agreements collateralized by securities issued by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities. By operating as a government money market fund, the Portfolio is exempt from requirements relating to the imposition of a liquidity fee and/or temporary redemption gates. While the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees may elect to subject the Portfolio to liquidity fee and gate requirements in the future, the Board has not elected to do so at this time.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and an investment in the Portfolio is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio. The Manager has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Portfolio, and you should not expect that the Manager will provide financial support to the Portfolio at any time.

 

Credit and Interest Rate Risk. A principal risk of investing in the Portfolio is associated with its U.S. government securities investments which are subject to two types of risks: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk, another risk of debt securities, refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. Given that the Federal Reserve has begun to raise interest rates, the Portfolio may face a heightened level of interest rate risk. Repurchase agreements involve a greater degree of credit risk.

 

Government-Sponsored Enterprises Risk. U.S. government-sponsored enterprises are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. There is the risk that the U.S. government will not provide financial support to such U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law. Certain U.S. government securities purchased by the Portfolio, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. government securities held by the Portfolio may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

Money Market Fund Regulation. The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently adopted changes to the rules that govern money market funds. The Portfolio intends to operate as a "government money market fund," which allows the Portfolio to continue to seek a stable net asset value ("NAV"). “Government money market funds,” which are money market funds that invest in cash, U.S. government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully, are exempt from the requirement to consider imposing a redemption fee or suspending redemptions at certain liquidity levels.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio's investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s current 7-day yield by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 1.01% (quarter ended June 30, 2007) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was 0.00% (quarter ended June 30, 2016). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class C shares was 0.01%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] (0.99%) 0.01% 0.49%
90 Day T-Bills Index: (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) 0.32% 0.11% 0.66%
Lipper U.S. Treasury Money Market Index 0.05% 0.01% 0.56%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."
Class C | Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: INVESTMENT QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Investment Quality Bond Portfolio seeks current income and reasonable stability of principal.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
Investment Quality Bond Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
Investment Quality Bond Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 0.55%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 0.90%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.46%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based on these assumptions.

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Investment Quality Bond Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 349 767 1,311 2,796

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Investment Quality Bond Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 249 767 1,311 2,796

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in investment grade fixed-income securities, mortgage pass-through securities or non-rated securities considered by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. In deciding which securities to buy, hold or sell, the Adviser considers economic developments, interest rate trends and other factors such as the issuer’s creditworthiness. The average maturity of the securities held by the Portfolio may range from three to ten years. Mortgage pass-through securities are mortgage-backed securities that represent a participation interest in a pool of residential mortgage loans originated by the U.S. government or private lenders such as banks. They differ from conventional debt securities, which provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts and principal payments at maturity or on specified call dates. Mortgage pass-through securities provide for monthly payments that are a “pass-through” of the monthly interest and principal payments made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans.

 

The Portfolio may invest in mortgage pass-through securities that are issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, but they have the right to borrow from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to meet their obligations, although the Treasury is not legally required to extend credit to the agencies/instrumentalities.

 

Private mortgage pass-through securities also can be Portfolio investments. They are issued by private originators of and investors in mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations and mortgage banks. Since private mortgage pass-through securities typically are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit status of a U.S. government agency, the securities generally are structured with one or more type of credit enhancement.

 

In addition, the Portfolio may invest up to 5% of its net assets in fixed-income securities rated lower than investment grade, commonly known as “junk bonds.”

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio’s share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Fixed-Income Securities Risk. Principal risks of investing in the Portfolio are associated with its fixed-income investments. All fixed-income securities are subject to two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most fixed-income securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most fixed-income securities go up. (Zero coupon securities are typically subject to greater price fluctuations than comparable securities that pay current interest.) Long-term fixed-income securities will rise and fall in response to interest rate changes to a greater extent than short-term securities. Given that the Federal Reserve has begun to raise interest rates, the Portfolio may face a heightened level of interest rate risk.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities and Prepayment Risk. Mortgage-backed securities, such as mortgage pass-through securities, have different risk characteristics than traditional debt securities. Although the value of fixed-income securities generally increases during periods of falling interest rates and decreases during periods of rising interest rates, this is not always the case with mortgage-backed securities. This is due to the fact that the principal on underlying mortgages may be prepaid at any time as well as other factors. Generally, prepayments will increase during a period of falling interest rates and decrease during a period of rising interest rates. The rate of prepayments also may be influenced by economic and other factors. Prepayment risk includes the possibility that securities with stated interest rates may have the principal prepaid earlier than expected, which may occur when interest rates decline. Prepayment may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Investments in mortgage-backed securities are made based upon, among other things, expectations regarding the rate of prepayments on underlying mortgage pools. Rates of prepayment faster or slower than expected by the Adviser could reduce the Portfolio’s yield, increase the volatility of the Portfolio and/or cause a decline in (“NAV”). Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that the issuer of such a security pays back the principal of an obligation later than expected, which may occur when interest rates rise. This may have an adverse effect on returns, as the value of the security decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. In addition, the Portfolio may be prevented from investing proceeds it would otherwise have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates. Certain mortgage-backed securities may be more volatile and less liquid than other traditional types of debt securities. In addition, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to the Portfolio. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 3.22% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -1.77% (quarter ended June 30, 2013). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class C shares was 0.32%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - Investment Quality Bond Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes 0.16% 0.09% 1.74%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   (0.08%) (0.25%) 1.15%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   0.17% (0.01%) 1.20%
Barclays Intermediate U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   1.05% 1.04% 3.42%
Lipper Short-Intermediate Investment Grade Debt Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   2.83% 1.98% 3.38%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | Municipal Bond Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Municipal Bond Portfolio seeks a high level of interest income that is excluded from federal income taxation to the extent consistent with prudent investment management and the preservation of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
Municipal Bond Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
Municipal Bond Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 0.55%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 3.04%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.01% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 4.60%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based on these assumptions.

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Municipal Bond Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 561 1,388 2,323 4,693

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Municipal Bond Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 461 1,388 2,323 4,693

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 48% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

As a matter of fundamental policy, the Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities that pay interest exempt from federal income taxes. The Portfolio’s Adviser generally invests the Portfolio’s assets in municipal obligations. There are no maturity limitations on the Portfolio’s securities. Municipal obligations are bonds, notes or short-term commercial paper issued by state governments, local governments, and their respective agencies. In pursuing the Portfolio’s investment objective, the Adviser has considerable leeway in deciding which investments it buys, holds or sells on a day-to-day basis. The Portfolio will invest primarily in municipal bonds rated within the four highest grades by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) or Fitch Inc. (“Fitch”) or, if not rated, of comparable quality in the opinion of the Portfolio’s Adviser. The Portfolio may invest without limit in municipal obligations that pay interest income subject to the “alternative minimum tax,” although it does not currently expect to invest more than 20% of its total assets in such instruments. Some shareholders may have to pay tax on distributions of this income. Municipal bonds, notes and commercial paper are commonly classified as either “general obligation” or “revenue.” General obligation bonds, notes and commercial paper are secured by the issuer’s faith and credit, as well as its taxing power, for payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds, notes and commercial paper, however, are generally payable from a specific source of income. They are issued to fund a wide variety of public and private projects in sectors such as transportation, education and industrial development. Included within the revenue category are participations in lease obligations. The Portfolio’s municipal obligation investments may include zero coupon securities, which are purchased at a discount and make no interest payments until maturity.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Municipal obligations, like other debt securities, are subject to two types of risks: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. In the case of revenue bonds, notes or commercial paper, for example, the credit risk is the possibility that the user fees from a project or other specified revenue sources are insufficient to meet interest and/or principal payment obligations. The issuers of private activity bonds, used to finance projects in sectors such as industrial development and pollution control, also may be negatively impacted by the general credit of the user of the project. Lease obligations may have risks not normally associated with general obligation or other revenue bonds. Certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses that provide that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purposes by the appropriate legislative body on an annual or other periodic basis. Consequently, continued lease payments on those lease obligations containing “non-appropriation” clauses are dependent on future legislative actions. If such legislative actions do not occur, the holders of the lease obligation may experience difficulty in exercising their rights, including disposition of the property.

 

Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most fixed-income securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most fixed-income securities go up. Given that the Federal Reserve has begun to raise interest rates, the Portfolio may face a heightened level of interest rate risk. Longer term bonds and zero coupon securities are typically subject to greater price fluctuations than comparable securities that pay current interest. Generally, the longer the average duration of the bonds in a Portfolio, the more the Portfolio’s share price will fluctuate in response to interest rate changes,

 

The Portfolio is not limited as to the maturities of the municipal obligations in which it may invest. Thus, a rise in the general level of interest rates may cause the price of its portfolio securities to fall substantially.

 

The Portfolio’s investments in municipal bonds in the fourth highest grade are considered speculative. The ratings of municipal bonds do not ensure the stability or safety of the Portfolio’s investments.

 

Tax Risk. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio’s income will be exempt from federal or state income taxes. Events occurring after the date of issuance of a municipal bond or after the Portfolio’s acquisition of a municipal bond may result in a determination that interest on that bond is includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes retroactively to its date of issuance. Such a determination may cause a portion of prior distributions by the Portfolio to its shareholders to be taxable to those shareholders in the year of receipt. Federal or state changes in income or alternative minimum tax rates or in the tax treatment of municipal bonds may make municipal bonds less attractive as investments and cause them to lose value.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 3.70% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -3.63% (quarter ended December 31, 2016). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class C shares was 2.08%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - Municipal Bond Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes (2.97%) (0.40%) 0.57%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   (4.42%) (0.94%) 0.03%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   (1.36%) (0.41%) 0.31%
Barclays Municipal Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   0.25% 3.28% 4.25%
Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   (0.16%) 2.42% 3.51%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: LARGE CAPITALIZATION VALUE PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Large Capitalization Value Portfolio seeks total return consisting of capital appreciation and dividend income.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
Large Capitalization Value Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
Large Capitalization Value Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 0.65%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 0.61%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.26%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based upon these assumptions.

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Large Capitalization Value Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 329 706 1,210 2,595

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Large Capitalization Value Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 229 706 1,210 2,595

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 65% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in a diversified portfolio of equity securities issued by U.S. issuers with total market capitalizations of $5 billion or greater at the time of purchase. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stock and warrants. In determining which securities to buy, hold or sell, the Portfolio’s Adviser focuses its investment selection on finding high quality companies with compelling valuations, measurable catalysts to unlock value and above-average long-term earnings growth potential. In general, the Adviser looks for companies that have value-added product lines to help preserve pricing power, a strong history of free cash flow generation, strong balance sheets, competent management with no record of misleading shareholders, and financially sound customers. Independent research is used to produce estimates for future earnings, which are inputs into the Adviser’s proprietary valuation model. The Adviser focuses its investments where it has a differentiated view and there exists, in its view, significant price appreciation potential to its estimate of the stocks’ intrinsic value.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Value Style Investing Risk. Value investing involves buying stocks that are out of favor and/or undervalued in comparison to their peers or their prospects for growth. Typically, their valuation levels are lower than those of growth stocks. Because different types of stocks go out of favor with investors depending on market and economic conditions, the Portfolio’s return may be adversely affected during market downturns and when value stocks are out of favor.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 17.47% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -24.30% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class C shares was 7.14%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - Large Capitalization Value Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes 7.06% 12.36% 1.03%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   7.06% 12.22% 0.72%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   4.00% 9.88% 0.85%
S&P 500 / Citigroup Value Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   17.40% 14.69% 5.50%
Morningstar Large Value Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   14.81% 12.97% 5.38%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: LARGE CAPITALIZATION GROWTH PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio seeks capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 0.65%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 0.56%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.21%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based on these assumptions.

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 324 691 1,185 2,544

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 224 691 1,185 2,544

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 97% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in a portfolio of equity securities issued by U.S. issuers with total market capitalizations of $5 billion or more. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stock and warrants.

 

The Adviser employs quantitative and qualitative analysis that seeks to identify high quality companies that it believes have the ability to accelerate earnings growth and exceed investor expectations. The Adviser’s selection process consists of three steps. First, the Adviser reviews a series of screens utilizing the Adviser’s investment models, which are based on fundamental characteristics, designed to eliminate companies that the Adviser’s research shows have a high probability of underperformance. Factors considered when reviewing the screens include a multi-factor valuation framework, earnings quality, capital structure and financial quality. Next, securities that pass the initial screens are then evaluated to try to identify stocks with the highest probability of producing an earnings growth rate that exceeds investor expectations. This process incorporates changes in earnings expectations and earnings quality analysis. Finally, these steps produce a list of eligible companies which are subjected to analysis by the Adviser to further understand each company’s business prospects and earnings potential. The Adviser uses the results of this analysis to construct the Portfolio’s security positions.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Growth Style Investing Risk. Growth investing involves buying stocks that have relatively high price-to-earnings ratios. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are generally more sensitive to investor perceptions and market moves. During periods of growth stock underperformance, the Portfolio’s performance may suffer.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 19.57% (quarter ended September 30, 2010) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -27.07% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class C shares was 19.38%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes (1.74%) 13.44% 8.19%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   (7.25%) 10.49% 6.54%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   3.68% 10.24% 6.42%
S&P 500 / Citigroup Growth Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   6.89% 14.54% 8.29%
Morningstar Large Growth Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   3.23% 12.94% 6.91%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | Mid Capitalization Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: MID CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Mid Capitalization Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
Mid Capitalization Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
Mid Capitalization Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 0.86%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.27% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.88%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based on these assumptions.

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Mid Capitalization Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 391 892 1,518 3,204

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Mid Capitalization Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 291 892 1,518 3,204

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 43% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of companies traded on U.S. exchanges or over-the-counter (“OTC”) markets that have a total market capitalization of between $1 billion and $15 billion at the time of purchase. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and warrants. The Portfolio invests in securities of companies that are believed by the Adviser to be undervalued, thereby offering above-average potential for capital appreciation. The Portfolio may also invest in equity securities of foreign companies.

 

The Adviser invests in medium capitalization companies with a focus on total return using a bottom-up value oriented investment process. The Adviser seeks companies with the following characteristics, although not all of the companies it selects will have these attributes:

 

• companies earning a positive economic margin with stable-to-improving returns;

 

• companies valued at a discount to their asset value; and

 

• companies with an attractive dividend yield and minimal basis risk.

 

In selecting investments, the Adviser generally employs the following strategy:

 

• value-driven investment philosophy that selects stocks selling at attractive values based upon business fundamentals, economic margin analysis, discounted cash flow models and historical valuation multiples.

 

The Adviser reviews companies that it believes are out-of-favor or misunderstood;

 

• use of value-driven screens to create a research universe of companies with market capitalizations of at least $1 billion; and

 

• use of fundamental and risk analysis to construct a portfolio of securities that the Adviser believes has an attractive return potential.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may also invest in small and medium capitalization companies. Investing in small and medium capitalization companies may involve more risk than is usually associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 20.79% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -22.48% (quarter ended September 30, 2011). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class C shares was 7.18%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - Mid Capitalization Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes 3.29% 11.87% 6.23%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   1.17% 9.43% 4.81%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   3.63% 9.18% 4.75%
Russell Midcap Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   13.80% 14.72% 7.86%
Morningstar Mid Capitalization Blend Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   14.14% 13.32% 6.75%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | Small Capitalization Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Small Capitalization Portfolio seeks maximum capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
Small Capitalization Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
Small Capitalization Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 0.65%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 1.30%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.95%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based upon these assumptions.

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Small Capitalization Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 398 913 1,552 3,271

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Small Capitalization Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 298 913 1,552 3,271

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 127% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks of companies whose stock market capitalizations fall within the range of capitalizations in the Russell 2000® Index. The market capitalization range of the Russell 2000® Index at September 30, 2017 was $32.7 million to $10.3 billion. The Russell 2000® Index is reconstituted annually at the midpoint of the calendar year. The Portfolio will also occasionally invest a portion of its assets in mid-cap stocks that are small relative to their industries that the Adviser believes have compelling valuations and fundamentals, and it will not immediately sell a security that was bought as a small-cap stock but through appreciation has become a mid-cap stock. In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Adviser begins with a screening process that seeks to identify growing companies whose stocks sell at discounted price-to-earnings and price-to-cash flow multiples. The Adviser also attempts to discern situations where intrinsic asset values are not widely recognized. The Adviser favors such higher-quality companies that generate strong cash flow, provide above-average free cash flow yields and maintain sound balance sheets. Rigorous fundamental analysis, from both a quantitative and qualitative standpoint, is applied to all investment candidates. While the Adviser employs a disciplined “bottom-up” approach that attempts to identify undervalued stocks, it nonetheless is sensitive to emerging secular trends. The Adviser does not, however, rely on macroeconomic forecasts in its stock selection efforts and prefers to remain fully invested. Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Small Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in small and medium capitalization companies carry more risk than investments in larger companies. While some of the Portfolio’s holdings in these companies may be listed on a national securities exchange, such securities are more likely to be traded in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. The low market liquidity of these securities may have an adverse impact on the Portfolio’s ability to sell certain securities at favorable prices and may also make it difficult for the Portfolio to obtain market quotations based on actual trades, for purposes of valuing its securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies involves greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”) than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies. Often small and medium capitalization companies and the industries in which they are focused are still evolving and, while this may offer better growth potential than larger, more established companies, it also may make them more sensitive to changing market conditions. Small capitalization companies may have returns that can vary, occasionally significantly, from the market in general. In addition, small capitalization companies may not pay a dividend.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 18.37% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -22.70% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio's Class C shares was 11.80%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - Small Capitalization Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes 11.13% 7.61% 4.11%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   11.13% 3.50% 1.28%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   6.30% 5.70% 3.13%
Russell 2000 Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   21.31% 14.46% 7.07%
Morningstar Small Blend Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   20.78% 13.52% 6.79%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | International Equity Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The International Equity Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
International Equity Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
International Equity Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 2.45%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 4.20%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based upon these assumptions.

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | International Equity Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 522 1,275 2,142 4,372

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | International Equity Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 422 1,275 2,142 4,372

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 69% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in the equity securities of companies located outside of the United States. Equity securities consist of common stock and other securities such as depositary receipts. Under normal market conditions, at least 65% of the Portfolio’s assets will be invested in securities of issuers located in at least three foreign countries (generally in excess of three), which may include countries with developing and emerging economies. The Adviser seeks to purchase undervalued stocks with above average dividend yields and a fundamental catalyst such as improving prospects or a sustainable competitive advantage. Emphasis is placed on bottom-up stock selection. In addition, the Adviser considers four global opportunity fundamentals—Macro, Political, Business and Portfolio diversification—to assist in the basis of portfolio construction. A stock is sold when it no longer meets the Adviser’s criteria.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with indexes of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 22.31% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -24.12% (quarter ended September 30, 2011). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class C shares was 13.51%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - International Equity Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes (1.58%) 0.88% (3.89%)
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   (1.58%) 0.81% (3.98%)
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   (0.89%) 0.68% (2.82%)
MSCI ACWI EX-USA Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   4.50% 5.00% 0.96%
Morningstar Foreign Large Blend Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   0.79% 5.75% 0.54%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | Health & Biotechnology Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: HEALTH & BIOTECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Health & Biotechnology Portfolio seeks long-term capital growth.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
Health & Biotechnology Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
Health & Biotechnology Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 0.68%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.93%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based on these assumptions.

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Health & Biotechnology Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 396 907 1,543 3,252

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Health & Biotechnology Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 296 907 1,543 3,252

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 12% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of U.S. and foreign healthcare companies and biotechnology companies, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and warrants. The Adviser utilizes a top-down investment approach focused on long-term economic trends. The Adviser begins with the overall outlook for the economy, then seeks to identify specific industries with attractive characteristics and long-term growth potential. Ultimately, the Adviser seeks to identify high-quality companies within the selected industries and to acquire them at attractive prices. The Adviser’s stock selection process is based on an analysis of individual companies’ fundamental values, such as earnings growth potential and the quality of corporate management.

 

Companies described as Health Care Equipment and Supplies, Health Care Provider Services, Pharmaceutical or Biotechnology Companies under the North American Industry Classification System are considered healthcare or biotechnology companies for purposes of investment by the Portfolio. These companies are principally engaged in: the design, manufacture or sale of products or services used for or in connection with health, medical, or personal care such as medical, dental and optical supplies or equipment; research and development of pharmaceutical products and services; the operation of healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinical test laboratories, and convalescent and mental healthcare facilities; and the design, manufacture, or sale of healthcare-related products and services, research, development, manufacture or distribution of products and services relating to human health care, pharmaceuticals, agricultural and veterinary applications, and the environment; and manufacturing and/or distributing biotechnological and biomedical products, devices or instruments or provide materials, products or services to the foregoing companies.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio’s performance is closely tied to and affected by events occurring in the healthcare and biotechnology industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to, and move in unison with, one another. Healthcare companies are subject to government regulation and approval of their products and services, which can have a significant effect on their market price. Furthermore, the types of products or services produced or provided by these companies may quickly become obsolete. Moreover, liability for products that are later alleged to be harmful or unsafe may be substantial, and may have a significant impact on a healthcare company’s market value and/or share price. Biotechnology companies are affected by patent considerations, intense competition, rapid technology change and obsolescence, and regulatory requirements of various federal and state agencies. In addition, many of these companies are relatively small and have thinly-traded securities, may not yet offer products or offer a single product, and may have persistent losses during a new product’s transition from development to production or erratic revenue patterns. Moreover, stock prices of biotechnology companies are very volatile, particularly when their products are up for regulatory approval and/or under regulatory scrutiny. Consequently, the Portfolio’s performance may sometimes be significantly better or worse than that of other types of funds.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with a healthcare index. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 14.40% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -15.65% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio's Class C shares was 9.81%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - Health & Biotechnology Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes (3.35%) 13.22% 9.44%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   (6.29%) 11.12% 8.42%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   0.54% 10.56% 7.76%
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
S&P 500 Healthcare Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   (4.36%) 14.67% 7.44%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | Technology & Communications Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Technology & Communications Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
Technology & Communications Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
Technology & Communications Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 0.55%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.01% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.81%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based upon these assumptions.

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Technology & Communications Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 384 871 1,484 3,138

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Technology & Communications Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 284 871 1,484 3,138

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by technology and communications companies, both domestic and foreign, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and warrants. The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign companies. The Portfolio defines a “technology company” as an entity in which at least 50% of the company’s revenues or earnings were derived from technology activities or at least 50% of the company’s assets were devoted to such activities, based upon the company’s most recent fiscal year. Technology companies may include, among others, companies that are engaged in the research, design, development or manufacturing of technology products. These companies include, among others, those in the Internet, medical, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, computer software and hardware industries. The Portfolio defines a “communications company” as an entity in which at least 50% of the company’s revenues or earnings were derived from communications activities or at least 50% of the company’s assets were devoted to such activities, based upon the company’s most recent fiscal year. Communications activities may include, among others, regular telephone service; communications equipment and services; electronic components and equipment; broadcasting; computer software and hardware; semiconductors; mobile communications and cellular radio/paging; electronic mail and other electronic data transmission services; networking and linkage of word and data processing systems; publishing and information systems; video text and teletext; emerging technologies combining telephone, television and/or computer systems; and Internet and network equipment and services.

 

In buying and selling securities for the Portfolio, the Adviser relies on fundamental analysis of each issuer and its potential for success in light of its current financial condition, its industry position and economic and market conditions. Factors considered include growth potential, earnings, valuation, competitive advantages and management.

 

When market or financial conditions warrant, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company's capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio's performance is closely tied to, and affected by, events occurring in the information, communications and related technology industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. Because technology continues to advance at an accelerated rate, and the number of companies and product offerings continues to expand, these companies could become increasingly sensitive to short product cycles, aggressive pricing and intense competition. Many technology companies sell stock before they have a commercially viable product, and may be acutely susceptible to problems relating to bringing their products to market. Additionally, many technology companies have very high price/earnings ratios, high price volatility, and high personnel turnover due to severe labor shortages for skilled technology professionals.

 

Emerging Technology Sector Risk. Because of its narrow focus, the Portfolio's performance is closely tied to, and affected by, events occurring in the emerging technology and general technology industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. Because technology continues to advance at an accelerated rate, and the number of companies and product offerings continues to expand, these companies could become increasingly sensitive to short product cycles, aggressive pricing and intense competition. In some cases, there are some emerging technology companies that sell stock before they have a commercially viable product and may be acutely susceptible to problems relating to bringing their products to market. Additionally, many emerging technology companies have very high price/earnings ratios, high price volatility and high personnel turnover due to severe labor shortages for skilled emerging technology professionals.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio's investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market's local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security's local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio's trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio's share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer's securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio's transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio's performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio's investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 23.91% (quarter ended September 30, 2010) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -23.57% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class C shares was 18.31%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - Technology & Communications Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes 14.87% 14.82% 11.47%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   12.14% 12.39% 10.20%
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   10.71% 11.67% 9.43%
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
Lipper Science & Technology Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   9.79% 15.13% 8.75%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | Financial Services Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: FINANCIAL SERVICES PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Financial Services Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
Financial Services Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
Financial Services Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 2.48%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 4.73%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based upon these assumptions.

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Financial Services Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 574 1,425 2,381 4,794

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Financial Services Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 474 1,425 2,381 4,794

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 55% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in U.S. and foreign equity securities issued by financial services companies, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). Equity securities include common stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, preferred stocks and warrants. Up to 20% of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in U.S. and foreign securities outside of financial companies.

 

The Adviser employs quantitative and qualitative analysis that seeks to identify reasonably valued, high quality financial services companies that it believes have the ability to accelerate earnings growth and exceed investor expectations. The Adviser’s selection process consists of three steps. First, the Adviser reviews a series of screens utilizing the Adviser’s investment models, which are based on fundamental characteristics designed to eliminate companies that the Adviser’s research shows have a high probability of underperformance. Factors considered when reviewing the screens include a multi-factor valuation framework, earnings quality, and capital structure. The valuation framework includes, but is not limited to, analysis of price to earnings, price to sales, price to book, cash held to price and various cash flow ratios. Valuation methodology is industry-specific within the financial services sector. Next, securities that pass the initial screens are then evaluated to try to identify stocks with the highest probability of producing an earnings growth rate that exceeds investor expectations. This process incorporates changes in earnings expectations and earnings quality analysis. Finally, these steps produce a list of eligible companies which are subjected to analysis by the Adviser to further understand each company’s business prospects and earnings potential. The Adviser uses the results of this analysis to construct the Portfolio’s security positions.

 

A “Financial services company,” for purposes of Portfolio investments, is defined as an entity in which at least 50% of the company’s revenues or earnings were derived from financial services activities based upon the company’s most recent fiscal year, or at least 50% of the company’s assets were devoted to such activities based on the company’s most recent fiscal year or any company which is included in the S&P Financial Sector Index. Financial services companies provide financial services to consumers and industry. Examples of companies in the financial services sector include commercial banks, investment banks, savings and loan associations, thrifts, finance companies, brokerage and advisory firms, transaction and payroll processors, insurance companies, real estate and leasing companies, and companies that span across these segments, and service providers whose revenue is largely derived from the financial services sector. Under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations, the Portfolio may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the equity securities of any company that derives more than 15% of its revenues from brokerage or investment management activities.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio’s performance is closely tied to and affected by events occurring in the financial services industry. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. The Portfolio is more vulnerable to price fluctuations of financial services companies and other factors that particularly affect financial services companies than a more broadly diversified mutual fund. In particular, the prices of stock issued by many financial services companies have historically been more closely correlated with changes in interest rates than other stocks. Generally, when interest rates go up, stock prices of these companies go down. This relationship may not continue in the future. Financial services companies are subject to extensive government regulation which tends to limit both the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments the company can make, and the interest rates and fees it can charge. These limitations can have a significant impact on the profitability of a financial services company since profitability is impacted by the company’s ability to make financial commitments such as loans. Insurance companies in which the Portfolio invests may also have an impact on the Portfolio’s performance as insurers may be subject to severe price competition, claims activity, marketing competition and general economic conditions. Certain lines of insurance can be significantly influenced by specific events. For example, property and casualty insurer profits may be affected by certain weather catastrophes and other disasters; and life and health insurer profits may be affected by mortality risks and morbidity rates. The financial services industry is currently undergoing a number of changes such as continuing consolidations, development of new products and structures and changes to its regulatory framework. These changes are likely to have a significant impact on the financial services industry and the Portfolio.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.22% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -31.95% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class C shares was 9.88%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - Financial Services Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes 13.29% 11.34% (2.54%)
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   13.29% 11.34% (2.69%)
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   7.52% 9.04% (1.76%)
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
Lipper Financial Services Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   22.46% 17.86% 1.63%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class C | Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: ENERGY & BASIC MATERIALS PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class C
Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) 1.00%
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%
Exchange Fee none

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class C
Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio
Class C
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 2.29%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 4.54%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period based on these assumptions.

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 555 1,372 2,298 4,648

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class C | Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio | Class C | USD ($) 455 1,372 2,298 4,648

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 54% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by U.S. and foreign Energy and Basic Materials Companies, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). The Portfolio utilizes the Standard & Poor’s classification system for purposes of determining whether a company is an “Energy or Basic Materials Company.” Standard & Poor’s maintains a proprietary classification system similar to the North American Industry Classification System, which classifies companies according to industry sectors and groups. Companies classified as Energy or Basic Materials Companies by Standard & Poor’s are involved in the exploration, development, production, refining or distribution of oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium, the construction or provision of oil rigs, drilling equipment and other energy related services and equipment, basic materials such as metals, minerals, chemicals, water, forest product, precious metals, glass and industrial gases or provide materials, products or services to such companies. Equity securities include common stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, preferred stocks and warrants. Standard & Poor’s classifications are utilized to identify sectors.

 

The Adviser employs quantitative and qualitative analysis that seeks to identify reasonably valued, high quality companies within the energy and basic materials sectors. The Adviser’s selection process incorporates a multi-factor valuation framework, capital structure, and financial quality analysis. The valuation framework includes, but is not limited to, analysis of price to earnings, price to sales, price to book, and price to operating cash flow.

 

Valuation methodology is industry-specific within the energy and basic materials sectors. This process produces a list of eligible companies which are then subjected to analysis by the Adviser to further understand each company’s business prospects and earnings potential. The Adviser uses the results of this analysis to construct the Portfolio’s security positions.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio’s performance is closely tied to and affected by events occurring in the energy and basic materials industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. Companies in the energy and basic materials sector are subject to swift fluctuations in supply and demand. These fluctuations may be caused by events relating to international political and economic developments, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, the environmental impact of energy and basic materials operations and tax and other governmental regulatory policies. Consequently, the Portfolio’s performance may sometimes be significantly better or worse than that of other types of funds.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio's Class C shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns in the table would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and you were charged a contingent deferred sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 23.61% (quarter ended December 31, 2010) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -32.73% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class C shares was 0.31%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class C - Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class C [1] Return Before Taxes 17.64% (3.05%) (1.06%)
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   17.64% (3.05%) (2.44%)
Class C | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   9.98% (2.29%) (0.38%)
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
Lipper Natural Resources Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   33.32% 2.12% 1.85%
[1] The returns for all periods indicated reflect the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge assessed on Class C Shares which is only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase as described under "Shareholder Information - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio seeks to provide maximum current income to the extent consistent with the maintenance of liquidity and the preservation of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

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Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 0.475%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 0.535%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.01%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 103 322 558 1,236

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its assets in high quality, short-term U.S. government securities. In addition, in order to qualify as a “government money market fund” under the rules governing money market funds, the Portfolio has adopted a policy to invest 99.5% or more of its total assets in cash, U.S. government securities, and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully by cash and U.S. government securities. The Adviser seeks to maintain the Portfolio's share price at $1.00. The share price remaining stable at $1.00 means that the Portfolio would preserve the principal value of your investment. The U.S. government securities that the Portfolio may purchase include:

 

• U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, all of which are direct obligations of the U.S. government.

 

• Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Among the agencies and instrumentalities issuing these obligations are the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) and the Federal Housing Administration.

 

• Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities, which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to meet their obligations. Among these agencies and instrumentalities are the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and the Federal Home Loan Bank. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each may borrow from the Treasury to meet their obligations, but the Treasury is under no obligation to lend to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

 

• Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities, which are backed solely by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Among these agencies and instrumentalities is the Federal Farm Credit System.

 

In addition, the Portfolio may invest in repurchase agreements collateralized by securities issued by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities. By operating as a government money market fund, the Portfolio is exempt from requirements relating to the imposition of a liquidity fee and/or temporary redemption gates. While the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees may elect to subject the Portfolio to liquidity fee and gate requirements in the future, the Board has not elected to do so at this time.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and an investment in the Portfolio is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio. The Manager has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Portfolio, and you should not expect that the Manager will provide financial support to the Portfolio at any time.

 

Credit and Interest Rate Risk. A principal risk of investing in the Portfolio is associated with its U.S. government securities investments which are subject to two types of risks: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk, another risk of debt securities, refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. Given that the Federal Reserve has begun to raise interest rates, the Fund may face a heightened level of interest rate risk. Repurchase agreements involve a greater degree of credit risk.

 

Government-Sponsored Enterprises Risk. U.S. government-sponsored enterprises are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. There is the risk that the U.S. government will not provide financial support to such U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law. Certain U.S. government securities purchased by the Portfolio, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. government securities held by the Portfolio may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

Money Market Fund Regulation. The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently adopted changes to the rules that govern money market funds. The Portfolio intends to operate as a "government money market fund," which allows the Portfolio to continue to seek a stable net asset value ("NAV"). “Government money market funds,” which are money market funds that invest in cash, U.S. government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully, are exempt from the requirement to consider imposing a redemption fee or suspending redemptions at certain liquidity levels.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio's investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio's Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s current 7-day yield by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 1.00% (quarter ended March 31, 2007) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was 0.00% (quarter ended June 30, 2016). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class I shares was 0.01%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I 0.01% 0.01% 0.49%
90 Day T-Bills Index: (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) 0.32% 0.11% 0.66%
Lipper U.S. Treasury Money Market Index 0.05% 0.01% 0.56%
Class I | Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: INVESTMENT QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Investment Quality Bond Portfolio seeks current income and reasonable stability of principal.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
Investment Quality Bond Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
Investment Quality Bond Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 0.55%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 0.91%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.46%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | Investment Quality Bond Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 149 462 797 1,746

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its assets in investment grade fixed-income securities, mortgage pass-through securities or non-rated securities considered by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. In deciding which securities to buy, hold or sell, the Adviser considers economic developments, interest rate trends and other factors such as the issuer’s creditworthiness. The average maturity of the securities held by the Portfolio may range from three to ten years. Mortgage pass-through securities are mortgage-backed securities that represent a participation interest in a pool of residential mortgage loans originated by the U.S. government or private lenders such as banks. They differ from conventional debt securities, which provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts and principal payments at maturity or on specified call dates. Mortgage pass-through securities provide for monthly payments that are a “pass-through” of the monthly interest and principal payments made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans.

 

The Portfolio may invest in mortgage pass-through securities that are issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, but they have the right to borrow from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to meet their obligations, although the Treasury is not legally required to extend credit to the agencies/instrumentalities.

 

Private mortgage pass-through securities also can be Portfolio investments. They are issued by private originators of and investors in mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations and mortgage banks. Since private mortgage pass-through securities typically are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit status of a U.S. government agency, the securities generally are structured with one or more type of credit enhancement.

 

In addition, the Portfolio may invest up to 5% of its net assets in fixed-income securities rated lower than investment grade, commonly known as “junk bonds.”

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio’s share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Fixed-Income Securities Risk. Principal risks of investing in the Portfolio are associated with its fixed-income investments. All fixed-income securities are subject to two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most fixed-income securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most fixed-income securities go up. (Zero coupon securities are typically subject to greater price fluctuations than comparable securities that pay current interest.) Long-term fixed-income securities will rise and fall in response to interest rate changes to a greater extent than short-term securities. Given that the Federal Reserve has begun to raise interest rates, the Fund may face a heightened level of interest rate risk.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities and Prepayment Risk. Mortgage-backed securities, such as mortgage pass-through securities, have different risk characteristics than traditional debt securities. Although the value of fixed-income securities generally increases during periods of falling interest rates and decreases during periods of rising interest rates, this is not always the case with mortgage-backed securities. This is due to the fact that the principal on underlying mortgages may be prepaid at any time as well as other factors. Generally, prepayments will increase during a period of falling interest rates and decrease during a period of rising interest rates. The rate of prepayments also may be influenced by economic and other factors. Prepayment risk includes the possibility that securities with stated interest rates may have the principal prepaid earlier than expected, which may occur when interest rates decline. Prepayment may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Investments in mortgage-backed securities are made based upon, among other things, expectations regarding the rate of prepayments on underlying mortgage pools. Rates of prepayment faster or slower than expected by the Adviser could reduce the Portfolio’s yield, increase the volatility of the Portfolio and/or cause a decline in net asset value (“NAV”). Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that the issuer of such a security pays back the principal of an obligation later than expected, which may occur when interest rates rise. This may have an adverse effect on returns, as the value of the security decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. In addition, the Portfolio may be prevented from investing proceeds it would otherwise have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates. Certain mortgage-backed securities may be more volatile and less liquid than other traditional types of debt securities. In addition, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to the Portfolio. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 3.48% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -1.53% (quarter ended June 30, 2013). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class I shares was 0.83%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - Investment Quality Bond Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes 1.70% 0.89% 2.67%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   1.18% 0.21% 1.72%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   1.04% 0.45% 1.78%
Barclays Intermediate U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   1.05% 1.04% 3.42%
Lipper Short-Intermediate Investment Grade Debt Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   2.83% 1.98% 3.38%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | Municipal Bond Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Municipal Bond Portfolio seeks a high level of interest income that is excluded from federal income taxation to the extent consistent with prudent investment management and the preservation of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
Municipal Bond Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
Municipal Bond Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 0.55%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 3.04%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.01% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 3.60%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | Municipal Bond Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 363 1,103 1,864 3,862

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 48% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

As a matter of fundamental policy, the Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities that pay interest exempt from federal income taxes. The Portfolio’s Adviser generally invests the Portfolio’s assets in municipal obligations. There are no maturity limitations on the Portfolio’s securities. Municipal obligations are bonds, notes or short-term commercial paper issued by state governments, local governments, and their respective agencies. In pursuing the Portfolio’s investment objective, the Adviser has considerable leeway in deciding which investments it buys, holds or sells on a day-to-day basis. The Portfolio will invest primarily in municipal bonds rated within the four highest grades by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) or Fitch Inc. (“Fitch”) or, if not rated, of comparable quality in the opinion of the Portfolio’s Adviser. The Portfolio may invest without limit in municipal obligations that pay interest income subject to the “alternative minimum tax,” although it does not currently expect to invest more than 20% of its total assets in such instruments. Some shareholders may have to pay tax on distributions of this income. Municipal bonds, notes and commercial paper are commonly classified as either “general obligation” or “revenue.” General obligation bonds, notes and commercial paper are secured by the issuer’s faith and credit, as well as its taxing power, for payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds, notes and commercial paper, however, are generally payable from a specific source of income. They are issued to fund a wide variety of public and private projects in sectors such as transportation, education and industrial development. Included within the revenue category are participations in lease obligations. The Portfolio’s municipal obligation investments may include zero coupon securities, which are purchased at a discount and make no interest payments until maturity.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Municipal obligations, like other debt securities, are subject to two types of risks: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. In the case of revenue bonds, notes or commercial paper, for example, the credit risk is the possibility that the user fees from a project or other specified revenue sources are insufficient to meet interest and/or principal payment obligations. The issuers of private activity bonds, used to finance projects in sectors such as industrial development and pollution control, also may be negatively impacted by the general credit of the user of the project. Lease obligations may have risks not normally associated with general obligation or other revenue bonds. Certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses that provide that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purposes by the appropriate legislative body on an annual or other periodic basis. Consequently, continued lease payments on those lease obligations containing “non-appropriation” clauses are dependent on future legislative actions. If such legislative actions do not occur, the holders of the lease obligation may experience difficulty in exercising their rights, including disposition of the property.

 

Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most fixed-income securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most fixed-income securities go up. Given that the Federal Reserve has begun to raise interest rates, the Fund may face a heightened level of interest rate risk. Longer term bonds and zero coupon securities are typically subject to greater price fluctuations than comparable securities that pay current interest. Generally, the longer the average duration of the bonds in a Portfolio, the more the Portfolio’s share price will fluctuate in response to interest rate changes,

 

The Portfolio is not limited as to the maturities of the municipal obligations in which it may invest. Thus, a rise in the general level of interest rates may cause the price of its portfolio securities to fall substantially.

 

The Portfolio’s investments in municipal bonds in the fourth highest grade are considered speculative. The ratings of municipal bonds do not ensure the stability or safety of the Portfolio’s investments.

 

Tax Risk. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio’s income will be exempt from federal or state income taxes. Events occurring after the date of issuance of a municipal bond or after the Portfolio’s acquisition of a municipal bond may result in a determination that interest on that bond is includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes retroactively to its date of issuance. Such a determination may cause a portion of prior distributions by the Portfolio to its shareholders to be taxable to those shareholders in the year of receipt. Federal or state changes in income or alternative minimum tax rates or in the tax treatment of municipal bonds may make municipal bonds less attractive as investments and cause them to lose value.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 3.97% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -3.52% (quarter ended December 31,2016). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class I shares was 2.42%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - Municipal Bond Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes (1.62%) 0.18% 1.31%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (3.21%) (0.60%) 0.48%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   (0.59%) (0.07%) 0.77%
Barclays Municipal Bond Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   0.25% 3.28% 4.25%
Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   (0.16%) 2.42% 3.51%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: LARGE CAPITALIZATION VALUE PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Large Capitalization Value Portfolio seeks total return consisting of capital appreciation and dividend income.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
Large Capitalization Value Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
Large Capitalization Value Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 0.65%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 0.59%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.24%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | Large Capitalization Value Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 126 393 681 1,500

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 65% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in a diversified portfolio of equity securities issued by U.S. issuers with total market capitalizations of $5 billion or greater at the time of purchase. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stock and warrants. In determining which securities to buy, hold or sell, the Portfolio’s Adviser focuses its investment selection on finding high quality companies with compelling valuations, measurable catalysts to unlock value and above-average long-term earnings growth potential. In general, the Adviser looks for companies that have value-added product lines to help preserve pricing power, a strong history of free cash flow generation, strong balance sheets, competent management with no record of misleading shareholders, and financially sound customers. Independent research is used to produce estimates for future earnings, which are inputs into the Adviser’s proprietary valuation model. The Adviser focuses its investments where it has a differentiated view and there exists, in its view, significant price appreciation potential to its estimate of the stocks’ intrinsic value.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Value Style Investing Risk. Value investing involves buying stocks that are out of favor and/or undervalued in comparison to their peers or their prospects for growth. Typically, their valuation levels are lower than those of growth stocks. Because different types of stocks go out of favor with investors depending on market and economic conditions, the Portfolio’s return may be adversely affected during market downturns and when value stocks are out of favor.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio's Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 17.77% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -24.01% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class I shares was 7.90%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - Large Capitalization Value Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes 9.16% 13.47% 2.04%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   9.16% 13.33% 1.72%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   5.19% 10.81% 1.62%
S&P 500 / Citigroup Value Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   17.40% 14.69% 5.50%
Morningstar Large Value Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   14.81% 12.97% 5.38%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: LARGE CAPITALIZATION GROWTH PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio seeks capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 0.65%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 0.57%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.22%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 124 387 670 1,477

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 97% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in a portfolio of equity securities issued by U.S. issuers with total market capitalizations of $5 billion or more. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stock and warrants.

 

The Adviser employs quantitative and qualitative analysis that seeks to identify high quality companies that it believes have the ability to accelerate earnings growth and exceed investor expectations. The Adviser’s selection process consists of three steps. First, the Adviser reviews a series of screens utilizing the Adviser’s investment models, which are based on fundamental characteristics, designed to eliminate companies that the Adviser’s research shows have a high probability of underperformance. Factors considered when reviewing the screens include a multi-factor valuation framework, earnings quality, capital structure and financial quality. Next, securities that pass the initial screens are then evaluated to try to identify stocks with the highest probability of producing an earnings growth rate that exceeds investor expectations. This process incorporates changes in earnings expectations and earnings quality analysis. Finally, these steps produce a list of eligible companies which are subjected to analysis by the Adviser to further understand each company’s business prospects and earnings potential. The Adviser uses the results of this analysis to construct the Portfolio’s security positions.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Growth Style Investing Risk. Growth investing involves buying stocks that have relatively high price-to-earnings ratios. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are generally more sensitive to investor perceptions and market moves. During periods of growth stock underperformance, the Portfolio’s performance may suffer.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio's Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 19.91% (quarter ended September 30, 2010) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -26.88% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class I shares was 20.31%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes 0.01% 14.58% 9.28%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (4.51%) 12.12% 7.88%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   3.83% 11.27% 7.38%
S&P 500 / Citigroup Growth Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   6.89% 14.54% 8.29%
Morningstar Large Growth Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   3.23% 12.94% 6.91%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | Mid Capitalization Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: MID CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Mid Capitalization Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
Mid Capitalization Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
Mid Capitalization Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 0.86%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.27% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.88%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | Mid Capitalization Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 191 591 1,016 2,201

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 43% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of companies traded on U.S. exchanges or over-the-counter (“OTC”) markets that have a total market capitalization of between $1 billion and $15 billion at the time of purchase. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and warrants. The Portfolio invests in securities of companies that are believed by the Adviser to be undervalued, thereby offering above-average potential for capital appreciation. The Portfolio may also invest in equity securities of foreign companies.

 

The Adviser invests in medium capitalization companies with a focus on total return using a bottom-up value oriented investment process. The Adviser seeks companies with the following characteristics, although not all of the companies it selects will have these attributes:

 

• companies earning a positive economic margin with stable-to-improving returns;

 

• companies valued at a discount to their asset value; and

 

• companies with an attractive dividend yield and minimal basis risk.

 

In selecting investments, the Adviser generally employs the following strategy:

 

• value-driven investment philosophy that selects stocks selling at attractive values based upon business fundamentals, economic margin analysis, discounted cash flow models and historical valuation multiples. The Adviser reviews companies that it believes are out-of-favor or misunderstood;

 

• use of value-driven screens to create a research universe of companies with market capitalizations of at least $1 billion; and

 

• use of fundamental and risk analysis to construct a portfolio of securities that the Adviser believes has an attractive return potential.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may also invest in small and medium capitalization companies. Investing in small and medium capitalization companies may involve more risk than is usually associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.19% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -22.27% (quarter ended September 30, 2011). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class I shares was 8.03%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - Mid Capitalization Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes 5.32% 12.96% 7.28%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   3.62% 10.90% 6.05%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   4.43% 10.10% 5.65%
Russell Midcap Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   13.80% 14.72% 7.86%
Morningstar Mid Capitalization Blend Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   14.14% 13.32% 6.75%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | Small Capitalization Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: SMALL CAPITALIZATION PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Small Capitalization Portfolio seeks maximum capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
Small Capitalization Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
Small Capitalization Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 0.65%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 1.23%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.88%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | Small Capitalization Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 191 591 1,016 2,201

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 127% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks of companies whose stock market capitalizations fall within the range of capitalizations in the Russell 2000® Index. The market capitalization range of the Russell 2000® Index at September 30, 2017 was $32.7 million to $10.3 billion. The Russell 2000® Index is reconstituted annually at the midpoint of the calendar year. The Portfolio will also occasionally invest a portion of its assets in mid-cap stocks that are small relative to their industries that the Adviser believes have compelling valuations and fundamentals, and it will not immediately sell a security that was bought as a small-cap stock but through appreciation has become a mid-cap stock. In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Adviser begins with a screening process that seeks to identify growing companies whose stocks sell at discounted price-to-earnings and price-to-cash flow multiples. The Adviser also attempts to discern situations where intrinsic asset values are not widely recognized. The Adviser favors such higher-quality companies that generate strong cash flow, provide above-average free cash flow yields and maintain sound balance sheets. Rigorous fundamental analysis, from both a quantitative and qualitative standpoint, is applied to all investment candidates. While the Adviser employs a disciplined “bottom-up” approach that attempts to identify undervalued stocks, it nonetheless is sensitive to emerging secular trends. The Adviser does not, however, rely on macroeconomic forecasts in its stock selection efforts and prefers to remain fully invested. Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Small Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in small and medium capitalization companies carry more risk than investments in larger companies. While some of the Portfolio’s holdings in these companies may be listed on a national securities exchange, such securities are more likely to be traded in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. The low market liquidity of these securities may have an adverse impact on the Portfolio’s ability to sell certain securities at favorable prices and may also make it difficult for the Portfolio to obtain market quotations based on actual trades, for purposes of valuing its securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies involves greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”) than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies. Often small and medium capitalization companies and the industries in which they are focused are still evolving and, while this may offer better growth potential than larger, more established companies, it also may make them more sensitive to changing market conditions. Small capitalization companies may have returns that can vary, occasionally significantly, from the market in general. In addition, small capitalization companies may not pay a dividend.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 18.67% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -22.59% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio's Class I shares was 12.56%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - Small Capitalization Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes 13.13% 8.69% 5.14%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   13.13% 5.84% 3.05%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   7.43% 6.63% 3.96%
Russell 2000 Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   21.31% 14.46% 7.07%
Morningstar Small Blend Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   20.78% 13.52% 6.79%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | International Equity Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The International Equity Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
International Equity Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
International Equity Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 2.21%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 2.96%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | International Equity Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 299 915 1,557 3,280

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 69% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in the equity securities of companies located outside of the United States. Equity securities consist of common stock and other securities such as depositary receipts. Under normal market conditions, at least 65% of the Portfolio’s assets will be invested in securities of issuers located in at least three foreign countries (generally in excess of three), which may include countries with developing and emerging economies. The Adviser seeks to purchase undervalued stocks with above average dividend yields and a fundamental catalyst such as improving prospects or a sustainable competitive advantage. Emphasis is placed on bottom-up stock selection. In addition, the Adviser considers four global opportunity fundamentals — Macro, Political, Business and Portfolio diversification to assist in the basis of portfolio construction. A stock is sold when it no longer meets the Adviser’s criteria.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 22.77% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -23.89% (quarter ended September 30, 2011). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class I shares was 14.53%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - International Equity Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes 0.42% 1.90% (2.92%)
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   0.27% 1.70% (3.18%)
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   0.36% 1.50% (2.14%)
MSCI ACWI EX-USA Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   4.50% 5.00% 0.96%
Morningstar Foreign Large Blend Average (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   0.79% 5.75% 0.54%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | Health & Biotechnology Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: HEALTH & BIOTECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Health & Biotechnology Portfolio seeks long-term capital growth.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
Health & Biotechnology Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
Health & Biotechnology Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 0.68%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.93%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | Health & Biotechnology Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 196 606 1,042 2,254

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 12% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of U.S. and foreign healthcare companies and biotechnology companies, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and warrants. The Adviser utilizes a top-down investment approach focused on long-term economic trends. The Adviser begins with the overall outlook for the economy, then seeks to identify specific industries with attractive characteristics and long-term growth potential. Ultimately, the Adviser seeks to identify high-quality companies within the selected industries and to acquire them at attractive prices. The Adviser’s stock selection process is based on an analysis of individual companies’ fundamental values, such as earnings growth potential and the quality of corporate management.

 

Companies described as Health Care Equipment and Supplies, Health Care Provider Services, Pharmaceutical or Biotechnology Companies under the North American Industry Classification System are considered healthcare or biotechnology companies for purposes of investment by the Portfolio. These companies are principally engaged in: the design, manufacture or sale of products or services used for or in connection with health, medical, or personal care such as medical, dental and optical supplies or equipment; research and development of pharmaceutical products and services; the operation of healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinical test laboratories, and convalescent and mental healthcare facilities; and the design, manufacture, or sale of healthcare-related products and services, research, development, manufacture or distribution of products and services relating to human health care, pharmaceuticals, agricultural and veterinary applications, and the environment; and manufacturing and/or distributing biotechnological and biomedical products, devices or instruments or provide materials, products or services to the foregoing companies.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio’s performance is closely tied to and affected by events occurring in the healthcare and biotechnology industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to, and move in unison with, one another. Healthcare companies are subject to government regulation and approval of their products and services, which can have a significant effect on their market price. Furthermore, the types of products or services produced or provided by these companies may quickly become obsolete. Moreover, liability for products that are later alleged to be harmful or unsafe may be substantial, and may have a significant impact on a healthcare company’s market value and/or share price. Biotechnology companies are affected by patent considerations, intense competition, rapid technology change and obsolescence, and regulatory requirements of various federal and state agencies. In addition, many of these companies are relatively small and have thinly-traded securities, may not yet offer products or offer a single product, and may have persistent losses during a new product’s transition from development to production or erratic revenue patterns. Moreover, stock prices of biotechnology companies are very volatile, particularly when their products are up for regulatory approval and/or under regulatory scrutiny. Consequently, the Portfolio’s performance may sometimes be significantly better or worse than that of other types of funds.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio's Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with a healthcare index. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 14.63% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -15.46% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class I shares was 10.69%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - Health & Biotechnology Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes (1.54%) 14.35% 10.54%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (3.98%) 12.56% 9.67%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   1.14% 11.50% 8.72%
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
S&P 500 Healthcare Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   (4.36%) 14.67% 7.44%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | Technology & Communications Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Technology & Communications Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
Technology & Communications Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
Technology & Communications Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 0.55%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.01% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 1.81%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | Technology & Communications Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 184 569 980 2,127

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by technology and communications companies, both domestic and foreign, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and warrants. The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign companies. The Portfolio defines a “technology company” as an entity in which at least 50% of the company’s revenues or earnings were derived from technology activities or at least 50% of the company’s assets were devoted to such activities, based upon the company’s most recent fiscal year. Technology companies may include, among others, companies that are engaged in the research, design, development or manufacturing of technology products. These companies include, among others, those in the Internet, medical, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, computer software and hardware industries. The Portfolio defines a “communications company” as an entity in which at least 50% of the company’s revenues or earnings were derived from communications activities or at least 50% of the company’s assets were devoted to such activities, based upon the company’s most recent fiscal year. Communications activities may include, among others, regular telephone service; communications equipment and services; electronic components and equipment; broadcasting; computer software and hardware; semiconductors; mobile communications and cellular radio/paging; electronic mail and other electronic data transmission services; networking and linkage of word and data processing systems; publishing and information systems; video text and teletext; emerging technologies combining telephone, television and/or computer systems; and Internet and network equipment and services.

 

In buying and selling securities for the Portfolio, the Adviser relies on fundamental analysis of each issuer and its potential for success in light of its current financial condition, its industry position and economic and market conditions. Factors considered include growth potential, earnings, valuation, competitive advantages and management.

 

When market or financial conditions warrant, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company's capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio's performance is closely tied to, and affected by, events occurring in the information, communications and related technology industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. Because technology continues to advance at an accelerated rate, and the number of companies and product offerings continues to expand, these companies could become increasingly sensitive to short product cycles, aggressive pricing and intense competition. Many technology companies sell stock before they have a commercially viable product, and may be acutely susceptible to problems relating to bringing their products to market. Additionally, many technology companies have very high price/earnings ratios, high price volatility, and high personnel turnover due to severe labor shortages for skilled technology professionals.

 

Emerging Technology Sector Risk. Because of its narrow focus, the Portfolio's performance is closely tied to, and affected by, events occurring in the emerging technology and general technology industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. Because technology continues to advance at an accelerated rate, and the number of companies and product offerings continues to expand, these companies could become increasingly sensitive to short product cycles, aggressive pricing and intense competition. In some cases, there are some emerging technology companies that sell stock before they have a commercially viable product and may be acutely susceptible to problems relating to bringing their products to market. Additionally, many emerging technology companies have very high price/earnings ratios, high price volatility and high personnel turnover due to severe labor shortages for skilled emerging technology professionals.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio's investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market's local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security's local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio's trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio's share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer's securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio's transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio's performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio's investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio's Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 24.22% (quarter ended September 30, 2010) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -23.40% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio's Class I shares was 19.13%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - Technology & Communications Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes 17.10% 15.98% 12.62%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   14.94% 13.96% 11.55%
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   11.50% 12.68% 10.46%
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
Lipper Science & Technology Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   9.79% 15.13% 8.75%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | Financial Services Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: FINANCIAL SERVICES PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Financial Services Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
Financial Services Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
Financial Services Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 2.26%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 3.51%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | Financial Services Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 354 1,077 1,822 3,783

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 55% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in U.S. and foreign equity securities issued by financial services companies, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). Equity securities include common stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, preferred stocks and warrants. Up to 20% of the Portfolio’s assets may be invested in U.S. and foreign securities outside of financial companies.

 

The Adviser employs quantitative and qualitative analysis that seeks to identify reasonably valued, high quality financial services companies that it believes have the ability to accelerate earnings growth and exceed investor expectations. The Adviser’s selection process consists of three steps. First, the Adviser reviews a series of screens utilizing the Adviser’s investment models, which are based on fundamental characteristics designed to eliminate companies that the Adviser’s research shows have a high probability of underperformance. Factors considered when reviewing the screens include a multi-factor valuation framework, earnings quality, and capital structure. The valuation framework includes, but is not limited to, analysis of price to earnings, price to sales, price to book, cash held to price and various cash flow ratios. Valuation methodology is industry-specific within the financial services sector. Next, securities that pass the initial screens are then evaluated to try to identify stocks with the highest probability of producing an earnings growth rate that exceeds investor expectations. This process incorporates changes in earnings expectations and earnings quality analysis. Finally, these steps produce a list of eligible companies which are subjected to analysis by the Adviser to further understand each company’s business prospects and earnings potential. The Adviser uses the results of this analysis to construct the Portfolio’s security positions.

 

A “Financial services company,” for purposes of Portfolio investments, is defined as an entity in which at least 50% of the company’s revenues or earnings were derived from financial services activities based upon the company’s most recent fiscal year, or at least 50% of the company’s assets were devoted to such activities based on the company’s most recent fiscal year or any company which is included in the S&P Financial Sector Index. Financial services companies provide financial services to consumers and industry. Examples of companies in the financial services sector include commercial banks, investment banks, savings and loan associations, thrifts, finance companies, brokerage and advisory firms, transaction and payroll processors, insurance companies, real estate and leasing companies, and companies that span across these segments, and service providers whose revenue is largely derived from the financial services sector. Under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations, the Portfolio may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the equity securities of any company that derives more than 15% of its revenues from brokerage or investment management activities.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio’s performance is closely tied to and affected by events occurring in the financial services industry. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. The Portfolio is more vulnerable to price fluctuations of financial services companies and other factors that particularly affect financial services companies than a more broadly diversified mutual fund. In particular, the prices of stock issued by many financial services companies have historically been more closely correlated with changes in interest rates than other stocks. Generally, when interest rates go up, stock prices of these companies go down. This relationship may not continue in the future. Financial services companies are subject to extensive government regulation which tends to limit both the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments the company can make, and the interest rates and fees it can charge. These limitations can have a significant impact on the profitability of a financial services company since profitability is impacted by the company’s ability to make financial commitments such as loans. Insurance companies in which the Portfolio invests may also have an impact on the Portfolio’s performance as insurers may be subject to severe price competition, claims activity, marketing competition and general economic conditions. Certain lines of insurance can be significantly influenced by specific events. For example, property and casualty insurer profits may be affected by certain weather catastrophes and other disasters; and life and health insurer profits may be affected by mortality risks and morbidity rates. The financial services industry is currently undergoing a number of changes such as continuing consolidations, development of new products and structures and changes to its regulatory framework. These changes are likely to have a significant impact on the financial services industry and the Portfolio.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio's Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 21.63% (quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -31.71% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio’s Class I shares was 10.77%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - Financial Services Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes 15.42% 12.44% (1.56%)
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   15.42% 12.44% (1.70%)
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   8.73% 9.96% (1.07%)
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
Lipper Financial Services Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   22.46% 17.86% 1.63%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class I | Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: ENERGY & BASIC MATERIALS PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class I
Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio
Class I
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class I
Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio
Class I
Management Fees 1.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 2.21%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses 3.46%

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class I | Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio | Class I | USD ($) 349 1,063 1,799 3,741

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 54% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by U.S. and foreign Energy and Basic Materials Companies, regardless of their stock market value (or “market capitalization”). The Portfolio utilizes the Standard & Poor’s classification system for purposes of determining whether a company is an “Energy or Basic Materials Company.” Standard & Poor’s maintains a proprietary classification system similar to the North American Industry Classification System, which classifies companies according to industry sectors and groups. Companies classified as Energy or Basic Materials Companies by Standard & Poor’s are involved in the exploration, development, production, refining or distribution of oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium, the construction or provision of oil rigs, drilling equipment and other energy related services and equipment, basic materials such as metals, minerals, chemicals, water, forest product, precious metals, glass and industrial gases or provide materials, products or services to such companies. Equity securities include common stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, preferred stocks and warrants. Standard & Poor’s classifications are utilized to identify sectors.

 

The Adviser employs quantitative and qualitative analysis that seeks to identify reasonably valued, high quality companies within the energy and basic materials sectors. The Adviser’s selection process incorporates a multi-factor valuation framework, capital structure, and financial quality analysis. The valuation framework includes, but is not limited to, analysis of price to earnings, price to sales, price to book, and price to operating cash flow.

 

Valuation methodology is industry-specific within the energy and basic materials sectors. This process produces a list of eligible companies which are then subjected to analysis by the Adviser to further understand each company’s business prospects and earnings potential. The Adviser uses the results of this analysis to construct the Portfolio’s security positions.

 

Under adverse market conditions, the Portfolio may also make temporary investments in investment grade debt securities. Such investment strategies could result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Warrants Risk. The holder of a warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the warrant. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and are speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Portfolio will lose its entire investment in such warrant.

 

Concentration Risk. Because of its specific focus, the Portfolio’s performance is closely tied to and affected by events occurring in the energy and basic materials industries. Companies in the same industry often face similar obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens. As a result, the securities owned by the Portfolio may react similarly to and move in unison with one another. Companies in the energy and basic materials sector are subject to swift fluctuations in supply and demand. These fluctuations may be caused by events relating to international political and economic developments, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, the environmental impact of energy and basic materials operations and tax and other governmental regulatory policies. Consequently, the Portfolio’s performance may sometimes be significantly better or worse than that of other types of funds.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. In addition, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. Finally, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the U.S. and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign small and medium capitalization securities. Investing in lesser-known, small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility of the Portfolio’s share price than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Adviser Risk. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on whether the Adviser is successful in pursuing the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Portfolio's Class I shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as with an index of funds with similar investment objectives. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or visiting www.saratogacap.com.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS

Bar Chart

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 23.98% (quarter ended December 31, 2010) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -32.62% (quarter ended December 31, 2008). For the period January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the return for the Portfolio's Class I shares was 1.10%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class I - Energy & Basic Materials Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class I Return Before Taxes 19.96% (2.06%) (0.06%)
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   19.96% (2.06%) (1.34%)
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   11.30% (1.56%) 0.24%
S&P 500 Total Return Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
Lipper Natural Resources Funds Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.32% 2.12% 1.85%

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A, Class C, Class I | James Alpha Macro Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

Investment Objective:

The investment objective of the Portfolio is to seek to achieve attractive long-term risk-adjusted returns relative to traditional financial market indices.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Class A Reduced Sales Charge Information” on page 22 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Macro Portfolio
Class A Shares
Class I Shares
Class C Shares
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75% none none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none none none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none none none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Macro Portfolio
Class A Shares
Class I Shares
Class C Shares
Management Fees 1.10% 1.10% 1.10%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees 0.25% none 1.00%
Other Expenses [1]
Other Fund Expenses 1.27% 1.26% 1.27%
Expenses of the Subsidiary none none none
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses [1] 0.47% 0.47% 0.47%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) [1] 3.09% 2.83% 3.84%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (1.12%) (1.11%) (1.12%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) [2] 1.97% 1.72% 2.72%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies (except the Portfolio's wholly owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (the "Subsidiary"). These Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are not considered in the calculation of the expense cap. The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").
[2] Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has agreed to waive its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front-end and contingent deferred sales loads, interest and tax expenses, leverage, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, extraordinary or non-routine expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for the Portfolio do not exceed 1.50%, 1.25% and 2.25% of the Portfolio's average net assets for Class A, Class I and Class C shares, respectively, through December 31, 2018 (each an "Expense Cap"). This operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for fees it waived and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such fees were waived or expenses paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the expense cap in place at the time the advisory fees were waived or the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Macro Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Shares 764 1,376 2,012 3,710
Class I Shares 175 773 1,397 3,079
Class C Shares 375 1,071 1,884 4,002

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Macro Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Shares 764 1,376 2,012 3,710
Class I Shares 175 773 1,397 3,079
Class C Shares 275 1,071 1,884 4,002

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 83% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing all or substantially all of its assets in the following market sectors (Sectors): commodities; global inflation-linked bonds; event-linked securities; global equities; emerging market bonds; emerging market currencies; high-yield bonds, quantitative, and global macro. The Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets across the Sectors based on the Manager’s forecasted return and risk characteristics for each Sector. The Portfolio may invest no more than 33⅓% of its assets in any single Sector at the time of initial investment or as a result of a rebalancing, although actual Sector weightings may deviate from the maximum allocation percentage from time to time due to market movements.

 

Sector Investment Strategies

 

Commodities. In this Sector, the Portfolio intends to primarily invest in long and short positions in commodity swap agreements, as well as commodity options and futures, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and index-linked and commodity-linked “structured” notes (collectively “commodity-linked investments”). The Portfolio’s investments in this Sector will focus primarily on crude oil, heating oil, gasoline, natural gas, aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, uranium, zinc, gold, silver, wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar, cocoa, cattle and hogs but may also include other commodities.

 

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in a wholly-owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (the “Subsidiary”) to gain exposure to certain commodity-linked investments such as commodity futures, options and swap contracts. The Subsidiary may also hold cash, money market instruments, including affiliated and unaffiliated money market funds, and other fixed income instruments to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. Investments in the Subsidiary are intended to provide the Portfolio with exposure to commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements that apply to the Portfolio. The investment policies of the Subsidiary are the same as the investment policies of this Sector of the Portfolio. The Subsidiary is subject to substantially the same investment restrictions and limitations, including asset coverage requirements, as are applicable to this Sector of the Portfolio and will follow substantially the same compliance policies and procedures as the Portfolio, to the extent they are applicable. The Portfolio will always own 100% of the Subsidiary’s interests.

 

Global Inflation-Linked Bonds. In this Sector, the Portfolio intends to invest primarily in inflation-linked bonds, treasury bonds, and derivatives such as swaps, all of which may be held long and short. Inflation-linked bonds are generally fixed income securities whose principal values or interest payments are periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Such bonds and related derivatives will primarily be securities issued by or related to sovereign governments of developed countries, but may also include bonds issued by countries deemed to be emerging markets and inflation-linked bonds issued by or related to companies or other entities not affiliated with governments.

 

Event-Linked Securities. In this Sector, the Portfolio will invest primarily in investments with exposure to remote risks focusing on the super-catastrophe segment of the insurance risk market, including, but not limited to, U.S. hurricane and earthquake, European windstorm, Japanese earthquake and typhoon. These investments will generally take the form of Rule 144A bonds, insurance derivatives, including swaps, and reinsurance contracts whose returns are linked to such natural disasters that are primarily offered by domestic and offshore insurance companies. The return of principal and payment of interest of an event-linked bond are generally contingent on the non-occurrence of a specified trigger event, such as the natural disasters noted above. If the trigger event occurs prior to a bond’s maturity, the Portfolio may lose all or a portion of its principal and additional interest. If the trigger event does not occur, the Portfolio will recover its principal plus interest. The Portfolio may employ hedging techniques, such as shorting certain instruments, to manage risk or to attempt to enhance returns in this Sector.

 

Global Market Equities. In this Sector, the Portfolio will invest primarily in long and short positions in equities, ETFs, and derivatives such as options, futures and swaps, relating to global equity markets. The Portfolio may invest in global equities (i.e., companies that are domiciled, or have operations, in countries outside the emerging markets, including the United States), developed country government bonds or currencies, and futures, options and ETFs on developed market equity indices or the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index.

 

Emerging Market Bonds. In this Sector, the Portfolio will invest primarily in long and short positions n bonds, promissory notes and other fixed-income securities issued by governments, government-related entities or public companies and denominated in major global currencies (e.g., U.S. Dollars, Japanese Yen, British Pounds, Euros, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, Swedish Krona and Swiss Francs). The Portfolio may also invest in derivatives, such as futures, options and swaps, of emerging market sovereign, public or private issuers and Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) sovereign, public or private issuers experiencing stress such that they exhibit characteristics and risks similar to emerging market issuers.

 

Global Market Currencies. In this Sector, the Portfolio will invest primarily in long and short positions in bonds, loans, promissory notes, other fixed-income securities denominated in emerging market currencies (i.e., primarily non-OECD countries), interest rate swaps, credit default swaps, emerging market spot and forward currencies, cash-settled forwards, and other swaps, including volatility swaps, of emerging market sovereign, public or private issuers. In addition to investing in emerging market currencies, this Sector may invest in global currencies (i.e., the currencies of countries outside the emerging markets, including the United States).

 

High-Yield Bonds. In this Sector, the Portfolio will invest primarily in high-yield securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), which are fixed income securities rated below investment grade or unrated and determined to be of similar quality.

 

Quantitative. This Sector may employ strategies that incorporate a number of advanced quantitative techniques for determining the relative value of financial instruments in the global markets. These methods may use sophisticated mathematical models to analyze and/or discover factors that impact market pricing.

 

Global Macro Strategy. This Sector’s objective is to invest primarily in long or short exposures to securities permitted in the any of the above described eight Sectors. The focus of this Sector is on directional trading of these exposures. In managing this Sector, the Manager will seek to identify investment opportunities by considering a number of different factors, including macro-economic fundamentals, the investment process recommendations, and other related factors. In making these assessments, the Manager will consider the relative strength, volatility and correlation of the opportunities. The Portfolio may allocate no more than 50% of its risk-based capital to the Global Macro or Global Equities Sectors, and may allocate no more than 33⅓% of its capital to any of the remaining Sectors.

 

All Sectors. The term “emerging markets” as used herein refers to those countries which the Manager considers to be emerging market or frontier emerging market countries. Such countries may change over time.

 

The derivatives held by the Portfolio across the various Sectors will fluctuate from time to time but collectively could represent economic exposure as high as or higher than 50% of the total assets of the Portfolio. Accordingly, the Portfolio and the Subsidiary may maintain a substantial amount of their assets in cash and cash equivalents as required margin for futures contracts, as required segregation under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and to collateralize swap exposure.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Active Trading Risk. The Portfolio may engage in frequent trading of portfolio securities resulting in higher transaction costs, a lower return and increased tax liability.

 

Commodity-Linked Notes Risk. In addition to risks associated with the underlying commodities, commodity-linked notes may be subject to additional special risks, such as the lack of a secondary trading market and temporary price distortions due to speculators and/or the continuous rolling over of futures contracts underlying the notes. Commodity-linked notes are also subject to issuer risk, which is the risk that the issuer to the note will not fulfill its contractual obligation to pay the principal or interest required by the terms of the note.

 

Commodities Risk. Exposure to the commodities markets and/or a particular sector of the commodities markets, may subject the Portfolio and the Subsidiary to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities, such as stocks and bonds. The commodities markets may fluctuate widely based on a variety of factors, including changes in overall market movements, domestic and foreign political and economic events and policies, war, acts of terrorism, changes in domestic or foreign interest rates and/or investor expectations concerning interest rates, domestic and foreign inflation rates and investment and trading activities of mutual funds, hedge funds and commodities funds. Prices of various commodities may also be affected by factors such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and other regulatory developments. The prices of commodities can also fluctuate widely due to supply and demand disruptions in major producing or consuming regions. Also, ETFs and certain other commodity-linked derivative investments may subject the Portfolio indirectly through the Subsidiary to leveraged market exposure for commodities.

 

Counterparty Risk. Certain derivative and “over-the-counter” (“OTC”) instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, such as OTC swaps and forwards, are subject to the risk that the other party to a contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The Manager attempts to mitigate this risk by not entering into transactions with any counterparty that the Manager believes does not have the financial resources to honor its obligations under the transaction and by monitoring the financial stability of counterparties.

 

Credit Risk. The issuer of fixed income instruments in which the Portfolio invests may experience financial difficulty and be unable to meet interest and/or principal payments, thereby causing its instruments to decrease in value and lowering the issuer's credit rating.

 

Currency/Exchange Rate Risk. The dollar value of the Portfolio's foreign investments will be affected by changes in the exchange rates between the dollar and the currencies in which those investments are traded.

 

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The derivatives in which the Portfolio may invest include options, futures and swaps. Derivatives may be volatile and some derivatives have the potential for loss that is greater than the Portfolio’s initial investment. Many derivatives are entered into over-the-counter or OTC (not on an exchange or contract market) and may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than more traditional investments, such as stocks or bonds, because there may be fewer purchasers or sellers of the derivative instrument or the derivative instrument may require participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the counterparty (issuer) fails to pay the amount due. If a counterparty to an OTC derivative were to default on its obligations, the Portfolio’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Portfolio’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Portfolio may not receive the amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive).

 

The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the underlying asset on which the derivative is based, or the derivative itself, does not perform as the Manager anticipated.

 

Compared to other types of investments, derivatives may be less tax efficient. The use of certain derivatives may cause the Portfolio to realize higher amounts of ordinary income or short-term capital gains, distributions from which are taxable to individual shareholders at ordinary income tax rates rather than at the more favorable tax rates for long-term capital gain. In addition, changes in government regulation of derivative instruments could affect the character, timing and amount of the Portfolio’s taxable income or gains, and may limit or prevent the Portfolio from using certain types of derivative instruments as a part of its investment strategy, which could make the investment strategy more costly to implement or require the Portfolio to change its investment strategy. The Portfolio’s use of derivatives also may be limited by the requirements for taxation of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company.

 

Special Risks of Futures. The liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent that participants decide to make or take delivery of the underlying investments, liquidity in this market could be reduced. Futures contracts can be purchased with relatively small amounts of initial margin compared to the cash value of the contracts. This economic leverage can increase the volatility of the Portfolio. Even a well-conceived futures transaction may be unsuccessful due to market events.

 

Special Risks of Swaps. Certain swap transactions are structured as two-party contracts and are therefore often less liquid than other types of investments, and the Portfolio may be unable to sell or terminate its swap positions at a desired time or price. Certain swaps, such as total return swaps where two parties agree to “swap” payments on defined underlying assets or interest rates, can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The swaps market is subject to extensive regulation under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and certain SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules promulgated thereunder. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including new and additional government regulation, could result in higher Portfolio costs and expenses and could adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability, among other things, to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Special Risks of Options. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a put option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to buy the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a call option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to sell the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio purchases a put option or call option, there is risk that the price of the underlying investment will move in a direction that causes the option to expire worthless.

 

Emerging Market Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in issuers domiciled in “emerging markets,” those countries determined by the Manager to have developing or emerging economies and markets. Emerging market investing involves risks in addition to those risks involved in foreign investing. For example, many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. In addition, economies in emerging markets generally are dependent heavily upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The securities markets of emerging countries are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and other more developed countries.

 

Event-Linked Securities Risk. The type, frequency and severity of natural disasters and other events that trigger an increase or decline in the value of or income from event-linked securities (“trigger events”) are difficult to predict. Actual losses may vary greatly from expected losses that are based on predictions about trigger events and thus, the expected return on an investment with respect to such instruments is difficult to calculate. For example, with respect to weather-linked instruments, climate changes can affect the occurrence of a trigger event. Event-linked securities may at any given time be illiquid, thus, the sale of these investments may be made at substantial discounts, delayed or impossible. Event-linked securities may also expose the Portfolio to certain unanticipated risks including credit risk, counterparty risk, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations, and adverse tax consequences.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds. In addition, their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying index or other assets rises and falls. The market value of their shares may differ from the net asset value (“NAV”) of the particular fund. As a shareholder in an ETF (as with other investment companies), the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses in addition to its own fees and expenses. Further, if the Portfolio invests in leveraged ETFs, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. In addition, investments in an ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF's shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of the shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF's shares.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The Sector is subject to risks associated with investing in equity securities, including market risk, issuer risk, price volatility risks and market trends risk. The prices of equity securities generally fluctuate in value more than fixed-income investments, may rise or fall rapidly or unpredictably and may reflect real or perceived changes in the issuing company’s financial condition and changes in the overall market or economy. The Sector’s ability to achieve its investment objective may be affected by the risks attendant to any investment in equity securities. The Sector may invest in equity securities without regard to market capitalization.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio's foreign investments will be affected by changes in the foreign country’s exchange rates; political and social instability; changes in economic or taxation policies; difficulties when enforcing obligations; decreased liquidity; and increased volatility. Foreign companies may be subject to less regulation resulting in less publicly available information about the companies. These risks are magnified for investments in developing or emerging countries, which may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small number of securities.

 

Global Macro Strategy Risk. Because this Sector’s objective is to invest primarily in long or short exposures to securities permitted in the any of the other eight Sectors, the risks described under the headings of such other Sectors are generally applicable to this Sector. The focus of this Sector is on directional trading of these exposures, on an opportunistic and speculative basis, and where the Manager is unable to or incorrectly implements such directional trading, the Portfolio’s risk-based capital and overall portfolio may lose value.

 

High Yield Bond (Junk Bond) Risk. High yield, below investment grade and unrated high risk debt securities(which also may be known as “junk bonds”)may present additional risks because these securities may be less liquid, and therefore more difficult to value accurately and sell at an advantageous price or time, present more credit risk than investment grade bonds and subject to greater risk of default. The values of junk bonds fluctuate more than those of high- quality bonds in response to company, political, regulatory or economic developments.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the risk that bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise; conversely, bond prices generally rise as interest rates fall. These risks may be greater in the current market environment because certain interest rates are at historically low levels. Specific bonds differ in their sensitivity to changes in interest rates depending on their individual characteristics, including duration.

 

Inflation-Linked Bonds. Inflation-linked bonds are generally fixed income securities whose principal values or interest payments are periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage created from borrowing money or certain types of transactions or instruments, including derivatives, may impair the Portfolio's liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective. In addition to leverage resulting from borrowing money or entering into derivative positions, investments such as commodity-linked notes and ETFs may include “embedded” leverage, which means the ETF pays a return linked to a multiple of the performance of the underlying index, securities basket or other reference asset. These investments may be more volatile than investments in unlevered securities, which may increase the volatility of the Portfolio.

 

Limited Number of Holdings Risk. The Portfolio may invest a large percentage of the assets of a particular Sector in a limited number of securities, which could negatively affect the value of that Sector and the Portfolio.

 

Liquidity Risk. The Portfolio may hold illiquid securities that it is unable to sell at the preferred time or price and could lose its entire investment in such securities. Investments with an active trading market or that the Manager otherwise deems liquid could become illiquid before the Portfolio can exit its positions.

 

Management Risk. The Portfolio relies heavily on the Manager’s evaluation of the risk, potential returns and correlation among the Sectors. Although the Portfolio’s investments span multiple markets and asset classes, all markets are subject to declines and it is possible that more than one Sector will experience declines simultaneously. In addition, the Sector weightings are based on the Manager’s evaluation of the correlation between the Sectors, among other factors, which is based on historical patterns that may not repeat in the future. There is no guarantee that the investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Manager's portfolio managers (the “Portfolio Managers”) will produce the desired results.

 

Market Capitalization Risk. Equity securities' prices change to differing degrees based on the issuer’s market capitalization in response to such factors as historical and prospective issuer earnings and asset values, economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity.

 

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities have different risk characteristics than traditional debt securities. For example, principal is paid back over the life of the security rather than at maturity. Although the value of fixed-income securities generally increases during periods of falling interest rates and decreases during periods of rising interest rates, this is not always the case with mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. This is due to the fact that the borrower’s payments may be prepaid at any time as well as other factors. Generally, prepayments will increase during a period of falling interest rates and decrease during a period of rising interest rates. The rate of prepayments also may be influenced by economic and other factors. Prepayment risk includes the possibility that securities with stated interest rates may have the principal prepaid earlier than expected, which may occur when interest rates decline. Prepayment may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Investments in mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are made based upon, among other things, expectations regarding the rate of prepayments on the underlying loans. Rates of prepayment faster or slower than expected by the Manager could reduce the Portfolio's yield, increase the volatility of the Portfolio and/or cause a decline in NAV.

 

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that the issuer of such a security pays back the principal of an obligation later than expected, which may occur when interest rates rise. This may have an adverse effect on returns, as the value of the security decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. In addition, the Portfolio may be prevented from investing proceeds it would otherwise have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates. Certain mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be more volatile and less liquid than other traditional types of debt securities. In addition, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to the Portfolio. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages.

 

Short Sales Risk. Short sales may cause the Portfolio to repurchase a security at a higher price, thereby causing the Portfolio to incur a loss. A short position in a security poses more risk than holding the same security long. As there is no limit on how much the price of the security can increase, the Portfolio’s exposure is unlimited. In order to establish a short position in a security, the Portfolio must borrow the security from a broker. The Portfolio may not always be able to borrow a security the Portfolio seeks to sell short at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio also may not always be able to close out the short position by replacing the borrowed securities at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio will incur increased transaction costs associated with selling securities short. In addition, taking short positions in securities results in a form of leverage which may cause the Portfolio to be volatile.

 

Until the Portfolio replaces a security borrowed in connection with a short sale, it may be required to segregate cash or liquid assets to cover the Portfolio’s short position. Generally, securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold unless they are replaced with other liquid assets. The Portfolio’s ability to access the segregated collateral may also be impaired in the event the broker becomes bankrupt, insolvent or otherwise fails to comply with its obligations. The Portfolio may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in these circumstances.

 

Sovereign Debt Risk. The governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may be unwilling or unable to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such securities due to a variety of factors, including the extent of its foreign reserves; the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due; the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole; or the government debtor’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a government debtor may be subject.

 

Subsidiary Risk. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary's investments. The principal investments in which the Subsidiary may invest are derivatives and commodities. Because the Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Portfolio, as the sole investor in the Subsidiary, will not have the protections offered to investors in registered investment companies. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and could negatively affect the Subsidiary and the Portfolio and its shareholders.

 

Tax Risk. As a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from sources treated as qualifying income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Portfolio intends to treat the income it derives from commodity-linked notes and the Subsidiary as qualifying income based on the underlying principles of a number of private letter rulings provided to third-parties not associated with the Portfolio. However, the Portfolio has not received such a private letter ruling, and the Portfolio is not able to rely on private letter rulings issued to other taxpayers. The IRS recently issued proposed regulations that, if finalized, would generally treat the Portfolio’s income inclusion with respect to the Subsidiary as qualifying income only if there is a distribution out of the earnings and profits of the Subsidiary that are attributable to such income inclusion. The proposed regulations, if adopted, would apply to taxable years beginning on or after 90 days after the regulations are published as final. The IRS also recently issued a revenue procedure, which states that the IRS will not in the future issue private letter rulings that would require a determination of whether an asset (such as a commodity index-linked note) is a “security” under the 1940 Act. If the IRS were to change its position with respect to the conclusions reached in these private letter rulings the income and gains from the Portfolio’s investment in the commodity-linked notes and/or the Subsidiary might be nonqualifying income, and there is a possibility such change in position might be applied to the Portfolio retroactively, in which case the Portfolio might not qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years. In this event, the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees would consider what action to take, which could include a significant change in investment strategy or liquidation. For more information, please see the “Certain Tax Considerations” section in the Portfolio’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Quantitative Strategy. The Portfolio may use quantitative mathematical models that rely on patterns inferred from historical prices and other financial data in evaluating prospective investments. However, most quantitative models cannot fully match the complexity of the financial markets and therefore sudden unanticipated changes in underlying market conditions can significantly impact the performance of the Portfolio. Further, as market dynamics shift over time, a previously highly successful model may become outdated – perhaps without the Manager recognizing that fact before substantial losses are incurred. Moreover, there are an increasing number of market participants who rely on quantitative mathematical models. These models may be similar to those used by the Portfolio, which may result in a substantial number of market participants taking the same action with respect to an investment and some of these market participants may be substantially larger than the Portfolio.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1 year, 5 years and since inception of the Portfolio compare with those of the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Total Return Index (Value Unhedged USD) and the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 3-Month Treasury Bill Index. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

 

Effective May 31, 2017, the Portfolio’s broad based securities market index changed from the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 3-Month Treasury Bill Index to the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Total Return Index (Value Unhedged USD). The Portfolio’s new broad based securities market index was selected to provide an additional measure of comparison to the Portfolio’s performance.

CLASS I ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class I Shares Year-to-Date (as of September 30, 2017): -0.98%

 

Best Quarter: Q1 2015 3.04%
Worst Quarter: Q2 2015 -3.33%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Macro Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class I Shares Return Before Taxes (7.46%) (0.88%) (0.47%) [1] Feb. 01, 2011
Class I Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (7.46%) (1.29%) (0.84%)  
Class I Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   (4.22%) (0.81%) (0.49%)  
Class A Shares Return Before Taxes (13.04%) (2.28%) (1.66%) [1] Feb. 01, 2011
Class C Shares Return Before Taxes (9.27%)   (2.04%) [2] Jan. 05, 2012
Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Total Return Index (Value Unhedged USD) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   2.09% 0.21% 1.08%  
Bank of America Merrill Lynch 3-Month Treasury Bill Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   0.33% 0.12% 0.12%  
[1] The Portfolio's Class A and Class I shares commenced operations on February 1, 2011.
[2] The Portfolio's Class C shares commenced operations on January 5, 2012.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Class A, Class C, Class I | James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

Investment Objective:

The investment objective of the Portfolio is total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

 

You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Class A Reduced Sales Charge Information” on page 19 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio
Class A Shares
Class I Shares
Class C Shares
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75% none none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none none none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none none none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio
Class A Shares
Class I Shares
Class C Shares
Management Fees 0.90% 0.90% 0.90%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees 0.25% none 1.00%
Other Expenses 0.54% 0.54% 0.54%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 1.69% 1.44% 2.44%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement none 0.25% 0.07%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) [1] 1.69% 1.19% 2.37%
[1] The Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses will not exceed 1.69%, 1.19,% and 2.37% of the Portfolio's average net assets for Class A, Class I and Class C shares, respectively. Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has agreed to waive its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Portfolio (excluding front-end and contingent deferred sales loads, interest and tax expenses, leverage, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, and extraordinary or non-routine expenses). The expense limitation agreement for Class A, Class I and Class C shares will be in effect through December 31, 2018. This operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for fees it waived and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such fees were waived or expenses paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the expense cap in place at the time the advisory fees were waived or the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current expense cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Shares 737 1,077 1,441 2,459
Class I Shares 121 431 764 1,704
Class C Shares 340 754 1,295 2,772

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Shares 737 1,077 1,441 2,459
Class I Shares 121 431 764 1,704
Class C Shares 240 754 1,295 2,772

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 141% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in real estate and real estate-related issuers or investments that provide exposure to real estate and real estate- related issuers, and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to such securities. The Portfolio may invest 100% of its net assets (other than cash and cash equivalents) in REITs, and may also invest in other publicly traded real estate securities that are included in the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Real Estate Index (the “Index”). The Index may include securities of any issuer that derived in the previous full fiscal year at least 75% of its total earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (“EBIDA”) from the ownership, trading and development of income-producing real estate. REITs are typically small or medium capitalization stocks which fall within the range of $250 million to $10 billion in equity market capitalization. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 40% of its net assets in the securities of issuers located in at least three foreign countries. The Portfolio will limit its investments in issuers located in any single foreign country to no more than 25% of its net assets. The Portfolio also seeks to enhance current income by writing (selling) covered call options with a notional value of up to 30% of the Portfolio’s net assets. “Notional value” is the value of an option contract’s underlying shares at the current market price. The Sub-Adviser uses both a quantitative screening process and a qualitative stock selection process when selecting securities for investment by the Portfolio in connection with its strategy.

 

Quantitative Screening Process: The Sub-Adviser and Green Street Advisors of Newport Beach, California, an independent research and consulting firm concentrating on publicly-traded real estate securities, have designed a proprietary quantitative screening model, the Global Real Estate Investment Model (the “Model”), which the Sub-Adviser uses to identify the securities in which the Portfolio may invest. The Model identifies approximately 80 qualifying securities for evaluation by the Sub-Adviser (“Qualifying Securities”). Qualifying Securities may include those issued by companies in a variety of sectors within the real estate industry, including, among others, the retail, office, industrial, hotel, healthcare multi-family and self-storage sectors.

 

Qualitative Stock Selection Process: All Qualifying Securities are evaluated by the Sub-Adviser in determining appropriate investments for the Portfolio. The Sub-Adviser selects the top 40 to 50 securities from among the approximately 80 Qualifying Securities based on its assessment of certain factors including, but not limited to, management quality, balance sheet strength, debt structure and maturities, lease term and renewal schedule, tenant credit quality, regional macroeconomic conditions and trends and projected demand drivers and supply constraints for space. The Sub-Adviser may sell a security held in the portfolio when it no longer qualifies under the parameters established by the Model.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio investments. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect the Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer the Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by the Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When the Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. Finally, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. In addition, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the United States or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the United States and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Portfolio, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Portfolio’s common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Sub-Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Management Risk. The Sub-Adviser’s securities selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Portfolio to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment goals. The Portfolio’s successful pursuit of its investment objective depends upon the Model and the Sub-Adviser’s ability to manage the Portfolio in accordance with the Model. The Model’s parameters and weightings might produce losses or cause the Portfolio to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment goals. If one or more key individuals leave the employ of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may not be able to hire qualified replacements, or may require an extended time to do so. This could prevent the Portfolio from achieving its investment objective.

 

Options Related Risk. There are numerous risks associated with transactions in options on securities. A decision as to whether, when and how to use covered call options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. As the writer of a covered call option, the Portfolio forgoes, during the life of the covered call option, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the option premium received and the exercise price of the covered call option, but has retained the risk of loss, minus the option premium received, should the price of the underlying security decline. The use of options may require the Portfolio to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other than current market values, will limit the amount of appreciation the Portfolio can realize above the exercise price of an option, or may cause the Portfolio to hold a security that it might otherwise sell. Certain options may be traded in the “over-the-counter” (“OTC”) market, which are options negotiated with dealers; there is no secondary market for OTC options.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Real Estate Securities Risks. The Portfolio does not invest in real estate directly, but because the Portfolio concentrates its investments in REITs and publicly traded real estate securities, its portfolio will be significantly impacted by the performance of the real estate market and may experience more volatility and be exposed to greater risk than a more diversified portfolio. The value of the Portfolio’s common shares will be affected by factors affecting the value of real estate and the earnings of companies engaged in the real estate industry, including: (i) changes in general economic and market conditions; (ii) changes in the value of real estate properties; (iii) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (iv) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (v) changes in zoning laws; (vi) casualty and condemnation losses; (vii) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (viii) the availability of financing; and (ix) changes in interest rates and quality of credit extended. REITs and foreign real estate companies require specialized management and pay management expenses; may have less trading volume; may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets; may not qualify for preferential tax treatments or exemptions; and may invest in a limited number of properties, in a narrow geographic area, or in a single property type, which increases the risk that the Portfolio could be unfavorably affected by the poor performance of a single investment or investment type. Furthermore, investments in REITs and foreign real estate companies may involve duplication of management fees and certain other expenses, as the Portfolio indirectly bears its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs and foreign real estate companies in which it invests. Such expenses are not reflected in Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses under the Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses section of the above fee table.

 

There are special risks associated with investing in REIT preferred stock. Preferred stock may include provisions that permit the issuer, in its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a certain period of time. If the Portfolio owns a security that is deferring or omitting its distributions, the Portfolio may be required to report the distribution on its tax returns, even though it may not have received this income. Further, preferred stock may lose substantial value due to the omission or deferment of dividend payments. Preferred stock may be less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks, and generally offer no voting rights with respect to the issuer. Preferred stock may also be subordinated to other securities in an issuer’s capital structure, subjecting them to a greater risk of non-payment than more senior securities. In addition, in certain circumstances, an issuer of preferred stock may redeem the stock prior to a specified date, and this may negatively impact the return of the security.

 

Certain sectors of the real estate industry, such as the retail, office, industrial, hotel, healthcare multi-family and self-storage, carry special risks. These sectors may be affected by adverse economic and regulatory events or increased competition to a greater degree than other sectors of the real estate industry.

 

Medium and Small Capitalization Company Risk. Many of the real estate securities in which the Portfolio invests are medium and small capitalization companies. Investing in medium and small capitalization companies may involve more risk than is usually associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

For the periods prior to August 1, 2011, the Portfolio operated as a separate fund called the Global Real Estate Investments Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), which was advised by Ascent Investment Advisors, LLC. The investment policy of the Portfolio is substantially similar to that of the Predecessor Fund. The bar chart and table that follow show the performance of the Class A shares of the Predecessor Fund (see footnote below) and the Portfolio and provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years and since inception of the Portfolio compare with those of the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Real Estate Index. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The past performance of the Portfolio (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. Of course, if you did not sell your shares at the end of the period, your return would be higher. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

CLASS A ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class A Shares Year-to-Date Performance (as of September 30, 2017): 11.46%

 

Best Quarter: Q3 2010 16.54%
Worst Quarter: Q3 2011 -20.18%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class A Shares [1] Return Before Taxes 0.87% 8.97% 8.54% Oct. 26, 2009
Class A Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   (2.83%) 4.63% 4.58%  
Class A Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   0.87% 5.15% 5.03%  
Class I Shares Return Before Taxes 7.58% 10.91% 7.86% [2] Aug. 01, 2011
Class C Shares Return Before Taxes 5.31% 10.91% 9.57% [3] Jan. 05, 2012
FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Real Estate Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   4.99% 10.32% 9.81%  
[1] The performance figures shown above reflect the performance of Class A shares of the Predecessor Fund (for periods prior to August 1, 2011) and the Portfolio's (for the periods beginning August 1, 2011). The returns shown reflect the deduction of the maximum sales charge of the Predecessor Fund of 7.25%.
[2] The Portfolio's Class I shares commenced operations on August 1, 2011.
[3] The Portfolio's Class C shares commenced operations on January 5, 2012.

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class A, Class C, Class I | James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

Investment Objective:

The Portfolio seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation as its primary objective

with a secondary objective of providing income for its shareholders.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

 

You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Class A Reduced Sales Charge Information” on page 26 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio
Class A Shares
Class I Shares
Class C Shares
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75% none none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none none none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none none none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio
Class A Shares
Class I Shares
Class C Shares
Management Fees 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees 0.25% none 1.00%
Other Fund Expenses 1.02% 1.02% 1.03%
Interest Expense 0.76% 0.76% 0.76%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses [1] 0.10% 0.10% 0.10%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 4.13% 3.88% 4.89%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (0.52%) (0.52%) (0.53%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) [2] 3.61% 3.36% 4.36%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statements because the financial statements will include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds"). Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[2] Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has agreed to waive its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front-end and contingent deferred sales loads, leverage, interest and tax expenses, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, extraordinary or non-routine expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for the Portfolio do not exceed 2.75%, 2.50% and 3.50% of the Portfolio's average net assets for Class A, Class I and Class C shares, respectively, through December 31, 2018, (each an "Expense Cap"). This operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for fees it waived and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such fees were waived or expenses paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed the Expense Cap in place at the time the advisory fees were waived or the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Shares 918 1,714 2,524 4,612
Class I Shares 339 1,136 1,952 4,072
Class C Shares 537 1,423 2,410 4,889

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Shares 918 1,714 2,524 4,612
Class I Shares 339 1,136 1,952 4,072
Class C Shares 437 1,423 2,410 4,889

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 118% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets in a combination of distinct investment strategies managed by different sub-advisers and, in some cases, by the Manager. The Manager is responsible for selecting and allocating assets among the Portfolio’s investment strategies. The Manager is also responsible for selecting and overseeing one or more sub-advisers to manage each investment strategy. The Manager also has discretion to manage directly all or a portion of such investment strategies. By combining multiple, distinct investment strategies, the Portfolio seeks to provide capital appreciation over the long-term with lower volatility than the individual markets in which the Portfolio invests and with limited correlation to individual markets.

 

The principal investment strategies that will be employed by the Portfolio include the following:

 

• Equity Strategies. The Portfolio will seek equity exposure using a combination of investment strategies that may include long-only strategies and long/short equity strategies. Long/short equity strategies consist of equity strategies that combine core long holdings of equities with short sales of equities. A long position is established when the portfolio managers anticipate a price increase in the asset and a short position is established when the portfolio managers anticipate a price decrease in the asset. The long/short equity strategies may be used to seek to outperform the broader equity market by increasing net long exposure in rising markets and decreasing net long exposure, or even obtaining net short exposure, in declining markets. The Portfolio’s long/short equity strategies also seek to provide equity-like returns while protecting capital during market declines through the Portfolio’s short positions. The equity exposures in the equity strategies may be to individual stocks or to equity indexes that track U.S. or non-U.S. equity markets, including markets in emerging market countries (i.e., those that are in their initial stages of their industrial cycles). Both long and short exposure to equities may be achieved through investments in derivative instruments, such as options, futures or swaps that provide equity exposure. Such derivative usage can be for the purposes of hedging, speculation or to allow the portfolio managers to implement the Portfolio’s investment strategies more efficiently than investing directly in stocks.

 

• Merger Arbitrage Strategies. The Portfolio’s merger arbitrage strategy is to invest in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies that are involved in publicly announced mergers, takeovers, tender offers, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, liquidations and other corporate reorganizations (collectively, “Merger Transactions”). The Portfolio may invest in common stocks and preferred stocks of any size market capitalization, and without limitation in securities of foreign companies.

 

Merger arbitrage is a highly specialized investment approach designed to profit from the successful completion of Merger Transactions. In pursuing its strategy, the Portfolio may employ investment techniques that involve leverage, such as short selling, borrowing for investment purposes and purchasing and selling options. The merger arbitrage strategy most frequently used by the Portfolio involves purchasing the shares of an announced acquisition target company at a discount to its expected value upon completion of the acquisition. The Portfolio may engage in selling securities short under certain circumstances, such as when the terms of a proposed acquisition call for the exchange of common stock and/or other securities. In such a case, the common stock of the company to be acquired may be purchased and, at approximately the same time, an equivalent amount of the acquiring company’s common stock and/or other securities may be sold short. The Portfolio may enter into equity swap agreements for the purpose of attempting to obtain a desired return on, or exposure to, certain equity securities or equity indices in an expedited manner or at a lower cost to the Portfolio than if the Portfolio had invested directly in such securities.

 

• Real Estate-Related Strategies. The Portfolio’s real-estate related strategy is to invest, either directly or through other investment companies, in publicly traded real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), including REIT preferred stock, and securities of other publicly traded real estate and real estate-related companies. REITs are typically small or medium capitalization stocks which fall within the range of $250 million to $10 billion in equity market capitalization. The Portfolio may invest in REITs that invest primarily in real property (equity REITs), REITs that invest primarily in mortgages (mortgage REITs) and REITs that invest in both real property and mortgages (hybrid REITs). The REITs and other real estate and real estate-related companies in which the Portfolio may invest may include both U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that invest across a variety of sectors within the real estate industry, including, among others, the retail, office, industrial, hotel, healthcare multi-family and self-storage sectors. The Portfolio may seek to enhance current income in this strategy by writing (selling) covered call options on real estate and real estate-related companies. The Portfolio may also take short positions in REITs and real estate and real estate-related companies either to hedge long positions or to express the portfolio manager’s view on the direction of the real estate market.

 

• Master Limited Partnership (MLP) Strategies. The Portfolio will invest up to 25% of its assets in publicly traded MLP investments and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) that track MLPs. MLPs are generally organized as limited partnerships or limited liability companies and are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Interests in MLPs trade on a public stock exchange, similar to stock of corporations. ETNs are unsecured debt obligations issued by a bank or other financial institution that seek to track the performance of an index, an MLP index in the case of the Portfolio, over a specified period. Like MLPs, interests in ETNs trade on a public exchange.

 

The Portfolio will primarily invest in MLPs, or MLP-related ETNs, that track U.S. energy infrastructure, including MLPs engaged in transportation, storage and processing of natural resources, although the Portfolio may also invest in other types of MLPs that seek to take advantage of new regulation of investment vehicles. The Portfolio will generally invest in MLPs and ETNs that the portfolio managers believe can generate repeatable cash flows that will grow over time, that have a conservative capital structure and that are trading at attractive valuations.

 

• Risk-Adjusted Long/Short Debt Strategy. The risk-adjusted long/short debt strategy invests primarily in U.S. and European fixed income and fixed income-related securities, and may establish long and short positions in a variety of derivative and other instruments for risk management and investment purposes. Fixed income securities in which the Portfolio will invest are anticipated to generally consist of U.S. and European fixed income and fixed income-related securities of varying maturities and credit quality, including those that are rated below investment grade at the time of purchase (commonly referred to as “high-yield” or “junk” securities). These include, among others, corporate bonds, U.S. government securities, non U.S. sovereign debt securities, and preferred securities. Fixed income-related securities include, but are not limited to, exchange-traded products and derivative instruments, including options; financial futures; swaps, including credit default swaps; and forward foreign currency contracts, that seek to provide the same or similar economic exposure as a physical investment in the above securities. The below-investment grade fixed income securities in which the Portfolio may invest are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Hedging strategies may be used by the Portfolio in an attempt to preserve capital and mitigate risk, by hedging against changes in the price of other securities held by the Portfolio, and may involve purchasing put options, selling debt or equity securities short or writing covered call options. Derivative instruments may also be used for investment purposes, and for currency and interest rate hedging purposes.

 

The risk-adjusted long/short debt strategy seeks to take advantage of credit rating upgrades and downgrades offering attractive returns while seeking to minimize interest rate and currency risks. During stressed market environments, the strategy actively manages its long core positions with corresponding hedges to preserve capital, while seeking to profit from individual credit deteriorations on the short side. Under normal market conditions, the strategy may establish short interest rate positions to manage interest rate risk. The strategy will employ leverage through investments in derivative instruments and through establishing short hedging positions in Treasury bills and other fixed income or equity securities. The strategy seeks to invest in securities with ratings from B to BBB by Standard and Poor’s Financial Services LLC, but may invest in securities of any credit rating, including below-investment grade fixed income securities. The strategy uses proprietary models for security selection in combination with fundamental analysis.

 

The Portfolio may invest in companies of any size (from micro-cap to large-cap) in each of its investment strategies. While the Portfolio may generally invest in foreign securities without limitation, the Portfolio will limit its investments in emerging markets securities to 25% of the Portfolio’s assets.

 

Certain of the Portfolio’s investment strategies may utilize derivatives and other instruments, such as leveraged exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that have an economic leveraging effect. Economic leveraging tends to magnify, sometimes significantly depending on the amount of leverage used, the effect of any increase or decrease in the Portfolio’s exposure to an asset class and may cause the Portfolio’s net asset value to be more volatile than a fund that does not use leverage. To the extent that the Portfolio uses derivative instruments, the Portfolio will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Portfolio did not use derivatives or other instruments that have an economic leveraging effect.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio investments. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company's capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Counterparty Risk. Certain “over-the-counter” derivative instruments, such as over-the-counter swaps and options, are subject to the risk that the other party to a contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations.

 

Credit Risk. The issuer of fixed income instruments in which the Portfolio invests may experience financial difficulty and be unable to meet interest and/or principal payments, thereby causing its instruments to decrease in value and lowering the issuer's credit rating.

 

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The derivatives that the Portfolio primarily expects to use include options, futures and swaps. Derivatives may be volatile and some derivatives have the potential for loss that is greater than the Portfolio’s initial investment. Over-the-counter derivatives, which are those not cleared and settled through a central exchange, may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than more traditional investments, such as stocks or bonds, because there may be fewer purchasers or sellers of the derivative instrument or the derivative instrument may require participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the counterparty (issuer) fails to pay the amount due. If a counterparty were to default on its obligations, the Portfolio’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Portfolio’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Portfolio may not receive the amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive). The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the underlying asset on which the derivative is based, or the derivative itself, does not perform as the Manager or sub-adviser anticipated. The Portfolio may incur higher taxes as a result of its investing in derivatives.

 

Government Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)). U.S. government securities are subject to investment and market risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. Securities, such as those issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae or the U.S. Treasury, that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity and the market prices for such securities will fluctuate. Notwithstanding that these securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, circumstances could arise that would prevent the payment of interest or principal. This would result in losses to the Portfolio. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-related organizations, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support. Therefore, U.S. government-related organizations may not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

Hedging Strategy Risk. The Portfolio’s hedging strategy is designed to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, losses resulting from volatility and market declines. Even where the hedging strategy is used successfully, the Portfolio is likely to experience some loss in value during periods of volatility and/or market declines. It is important to know that the hedging strategy may not be successful in reducing volatility or offsetting market declines, and may result in losses. Also, the hedging strategy may prevent the Portfolio from achieving higher investment returns than may be available by investing in an unhedged portfolio or a comparable mutual fund without a similar hedging strategy and the Portfolio’s use of derivatives and ETFs will increase the Portfolio’s expenses. It is possible that the hedging strategy could result in losses and/or expenses that are greater than if the Portfolio did not include the hedging strategy.

 

High Yield Bond (Junk Bond) Risk. High yield, below investment grade and unrated high risk debt securities(which also may be known as “junk bonds”)may present additional risks because these securities may be less liquid, and therefore more difficult to value accurately and sell at an advantageous price or time, present more credit risk than investment grade bonds and subject to greater risk of default. The values of junk bonds fluctuate more than those of high-quality bonds in response to company, political, regulatory or economic developments.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the risk that bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise; conversely, bond prices generally rise as interest rates fall. Given that the Federal Reserve has begun to raise interest rates, the Portfolio may face a heightened level of interest rate risk. Specific bonds differ in their sensitivity to changes in interest rates depending on their individual characteristics, including duration.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Sovereign Debt Risk. The governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may be unwilling or unable to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such securities due to a variety of factors, including the extent of its foreign reserves; the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due; the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole; or the government debtor’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a government debtor may be subject.

 

Special Risks of Forward Foreign Currency Contracts. A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract. The cost to the Portfolio of engaging in forward foreign currency contracts varies with factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period, interest rate differentials and the prevailing market conditions. Because forward foreign currency contracts are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are typically involved. The use of forward foreign currency contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities the Portfolio owns or intends to acquire, but it does establish a rate of exchange in advance. While forward foreign currency contract sales limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currencies increase.

 

Special Risks of Futures. The liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent that participants decide to make or take delivery of the underlying investments, liquidity in this market could be reduced. Futures contracts can be purchased with relatively small amounts of initial margin compared to the cash value of the contracts. This economic leverage can increase the volatility of the Portfolio. Even a well-conceived futures transaction may be unsuccessful due to market events.

 

Special Risks of Swaps. Certain swap transactions are structured as two-party contracts and are therefore often less liquid than other types of investments, and the Portfolio may be unable to sell or terminate its swap positions at a desired time or price. Certain swaps, such as total return swaps where two parties agree to “swap” payments on defined underlying assets or interest rates, can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The swaps market is subject to extensive regulation under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and certain SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules promulgated thereunder. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including new and additional government regulation, could result in higher Portfolio costs and expenses and could adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability, among other things, to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Special Risks of Options. If the Portfolio sells a put option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to buy the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio sells a call option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to sell the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio purchases a put option or call option, there is risk that the price of the underlying investment will move in a direction that causes the option to expire worthless.

 

Emerging Market Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in issuers domiciled in “emerging markets,” those countries determined by the Manager and/or a Sub-Adviser to have developing or emerging economies and markets. Emerging market investing involves risks in addition to those risks involved in foreign investing. For example, many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. In addition, economies in emerging markets generally are dependent heavily upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The securities markets of emerging countries are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and other more developed countries.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds. In addition, their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying index or other assets rises and falls. The market value of their shares may differ from the net asset value (“NAV”) of the particular fund. As a shareholder in an ETF (as with other investment companies), the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses in addition to its own fees and expenses. Further, if the Portfolio invests in leveraged ETFs, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. In addition, investments in an ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF's shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of the shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF's shares.

 

Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETN”) Risk. Exchange-traded notes are subject to the credit risk of the issuer, and the value of the exchange-traded note may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer's credit rating, despite the underlying market benchmark or assets remaining unchanged. The value of an exchange-traded note may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the exchange-traded note, volatility and lack of liquidity in the underlying market, changes in the applicable interest rates, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying market or assets. Exchange-traded notes are also subject to the risk that the other party to the contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations, which may cause losses or additional costs to the Portfolio. When the Portfolio invests in exchange-traded notes it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the exchange-traded note.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio's foreign investments will be affected by changes in the foreign country’s exchange rates; political and social instability; changes in economic or taxation policies; difficulties when enforcing obligations; decreased liquidity; and increased volatility. Foreign companies may be subject to less regulation resulting in less publicly available information about the companies. These risks are magnified for investments in developing or emerging countries, which may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small number of securities.

 

Industry Specific Risk. The energy infrastructure MLPs in which the Portfolio invests are subject to risks specific to the industry they serve, including the following:

 

• Fluctuations in commodity prices may impact the volume of commodities transported, processed, stored or distributed.

 

• Reduced volumes of natural gas or other energy commodities available for transporting, processing, storing or distributing may affect the profitability of an energy infrastructure MLP.

 

• Slowdowns in new construction and acquisitions can limit growth potential.

 

• A sustained reduced demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products that could adversely affect revenues and cash flows.

 

• Depletion of the natural gas reserves or other commodities if not replaced, which could impact the ability of an energy infrastructure MLP to make distributions.

 

• Changes in the regulatory environment could adversely affect the profitability of energy infrastructure MLPs.

 

• Extreme weather or other natural disasters could impact the value of energy infrastructure MLP securities.

 

• Rising interest rates which could result in a higher cost of capital and divert investors into other investment opportunities.

 

• Threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets could impact the market for energy infrastructure MLP securities.

 

• Global political and economic instability could affect the operations of MLPs and energy companies in unpredictable ways, including through disruptions of natural resources supplies and markets and the resulting volatility in commodity prices. Recent political and military instability in a variety of countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa has heightened these risks.

 

• Recently, the price of oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels has declined significantly and experienced significant volatility, which has adversely impacted companies operating in the energy sector. There can be no assurance that the price of oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels will not decline further and have a further adverse effect.

 

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Portfolio, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Portfolio’s common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

 

Investment Focus Risk. To the extent the Portfolio invests a greater amount in any one sector or industry, such as real estate or energy, the Portfolio’s performance will depend to a greater extent on the overall condition of that sector or industry and there is increased risk to the Portfolio if conditions adversely affect that sector or industry.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage created from borrowing money or certain types of transactions or instruments, including derivatives, may impair the Portfolio's liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective. In addition to leverage resulting from borrowing money or entering into derivative positions, investments such as ETFs may include “embedded” leverage, which means the ETF pays a return linked to a multiple of the performance of the underlying index, securities basket or other reference asset. These investments may be more volatile than investments in unlevered securities, which may increase the volatility of the Portfolio.

 

Management Risk. The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the portfolio managers for each of the Portfolio’s investment strategies may not produce the desired results. For example, there is no guarantee that the Portfolio’s mixture of long and short equity positions will produce a portfolio with reduced exposure to stock market risk and may cause the Portfolio to underperform the broader equity markets during market rallies. The sub-advisers investment styles may not always be complementary, and may be in direct conflict which could adversely affect performance. In addition, the Portfolio’s multiple investment strategies may not work to hedge general market risk if the markets in which the Portfolio invests become correlated during times of economic stress.

 

The Portfolio is dependent on the Manager’s skill in allocating assets among the Portfolio’s various investment strategies and in selecting the best mix of sub-advisers. The Portfolio is therefore subject to the risk that assets will be allocated to a strategy at an inopportune time and the value of your investment may decrease if the Manager’s judgment about the attractiveness, value or market trends affecting a particular asset class, investment style, or sub-adviser is incorrect.

 

Medium and Small Capitalization Company Risk. Investing in medium and small capitalization companies may involve more risk than is usually associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices. Many of the real estate securities in which the Portfolio invests are medium and small capitalization companies.

 

Micro Cap Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in companies with micro capitalizations. Micro capitalization stocks may offer greater opportunity for capital appreciation than the stocks of larger and more established companies; however, they also involve substantially greater risks of loss and price fluctuations. Micro capitalization companies carry additional risks because their earnings and revenues tend to be less predictable (and some companies may be experiencing significant losses), and their share prices tend to be more volatile and their markets less liquid than companies with larger market capitalizations. Micro capitalization companies may be newly formed or in the early stages of development, with limited product lines, markets or financial resources, and may lack management depth. In addition, there may be less public information available about these companies. The shares of micro capitalization companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger, more established companies, which can adversely affect the pricing of these securities and the future ability to sell these securities. Also, it may take a long time before the Portfolio realizes a gain, if any, on an investment in a micro capitalization company.

 

Merger Arbitrage Risk. Investments in companies that are the subject of a publicly announced transaction carry the risk that the proposed or expected transaction may not be completed or may be completed on less favorable terms than originally expected, which may lower the Portfolio’s performance.

 

MLP Risk. An MLP is a public limited partnership or limited liability company. Although the characteristics of MLPs closely resemble a traditional limited partnership, a major difference is that MLPs may trade on a public exchange or in the over-the-counter market. The ability to trade on a public exchange or in the over-the-counter market provides a certain amount of liquidity not found in many limited partnership investments. However, MLP interests may be less liquid than conventional publicly traded securities. The risks of investing in an MLP are similar to those of investing in a partnership, including more flexible governance structures, which could result in less protection for investors than investments in a corporation. The managing general partner of an MLP may receive an incentive allocation based on increases in the amount and growth of cash distributions to investors in the MLP. This method of compensation may create an incentive for the managing general partner to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangements. Investors in an MLP would normally not be liable for the debts of the MLP beyond the amount that the investor has contributed but investors may not be shielded to the same extent that a shareholder of a corporation would be. In addition, MLP distributions may be reduced by fees and other expenses incurred by the MLP. Investments in MLPs may involve duplication of management fees and certain other expenses, as the Portfolio indirectly bears its proportionate share of any expenses paid by MLPs in which it invests. Such expenses are not reflected in the above fee table. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns.

 

Certain MLPs may operate in, or have exposure to, the energy sector. The energy sector can be significantly affected by changes in the prices and supplies of oil and other energy fuels, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other government regulations, policies of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and relationships among OPEC members and between OPEC and oil importing nations.

 

MLP Tax Risk. MLPs generally do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Portfolio were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction in the value of your investment in the Portfolio and lower income.

 

Real Estate Securities Risks. The Portfolio does not invest in real estate directly, but because the Portfolio invests in REITs and publicly traded real estate and real estate-related securities, its portfolio will be significantly impacted by the performance of the real estate market and may experience more volatility and be exposed to greater risk than a portfolio that does not make such investments. The value of the Portfolio’s common shares will be affected by factors affecting the value of real estate and the earnings of companies engaged in the real estate industry, including: (i) changes in general economic and market conditions; (ii) changes in the value of real estate properties; (iii) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (iv) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (v) changes in zoning laws; (vi) casualty and condemnation losses; (vii) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (viii) the availability of financing and (ix) changes in interest rates and quality of credit extended. REITs and foreign real estate companies require specialized management and pay management expenses; may have less trading volume; may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets; may not qualify for preferential tax treatments or exemptions; and may invest in a limited number of properties, in a narrow geographic area, or in a single property type, which increases the risk that the Portfolio could be unfavorably affected by the poor performance of a single investment or investment type. To the extent the Portfolio receives REIT distributions that represent mortgage interest or rent, the Portfolio’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income to investors of the Portfolio. Furthermore, investments in REITs and foreign real estate companies may involve duplication of management fees and certain other expenses, as the Portfolio indirectly bears its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs and foreign real estate companies in which it invests. Such expenses are not reflected in the above fee table.

 

There are special risks associated with investing in REIT preferred stock. Preferred stock may include provisions that permit the issuer, in its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a certain period of time. If the Portfolio owns a security that is deferring or omitting its distributions, the Portfolio may be required to report the distribution on its tax returns, even though it may not have received this income. Further, preferred stock may lose substantial value due to the omission or deferment of dividend payments. Preferred stock may be less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks, and generally offer no voting rights with respect to the issuer. Preferred stock may also be subordinated to other securities in an issuer's capital structure, subjecting them to a greater risk of non-payment than more senior securities. In addition, in certain circumstances, an issuer of preferred stock may redeem the stock prior to a specified date, and this may negatively impact the return of the security.

 

Certain sectors of the real estate industry, such as the retail, office, industrial, hotel, healthcare multi-family and self-storage, carry special risks. These sectors may be affected by adverse economic and regulatory events or increased competition to a greater degree than other sectors of the real estate industry.

 

Short Sales Risk. Short sales may cause the Portfolio to repurchase a security at a higher price, thereby causing the Portfolio to incur a loss. A short position in a security poses more risk than holding the same security long. As there is no limit on how much the price of the security can increase, the Portfolio’s exposure is unlimited. In order to establish a short position in a security, the Portfolio must borrow the security from a broker. The Portfolio may not always be able to borrow a security the Portfolio seeks to sell short at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio also may not always be able to close out the short position by replacing the borrowed securities at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio will incur increased transaction costs associated with selling securities short. In addition, taking short positions in securities results in a form of leverage which may cause the Portfolio to be volatile.

 

Until the Portfolio replaces a security borrowed in connection with a short sale, it may be required to segregate cash or liquid assets to cover the Portfolio’s short position. Generally, securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold unless they are replaced with other liquid assets. The Portfolio’s ability to access the segregated collateral may also be impaired in the event the broker becomes bankrupt, insolvent or otherwise fails to comply with its obligations. The Portfolio may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in these circumstances.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Tax Risk. The Portfolio’s investment techniques, including use of covered call options, short-term trading strategies, and high portfolio turnover rate, may result in more of the Portfolio’s income dividends and capital gains distributions being taxable to you at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in such techniques.

 

Volatility Risk. The Portfolio may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Portfolio’s NAV per share to experience significant increases or declines in value over short periods of time.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1 year and since inception of the Portfolio compare with those of the Russell 2000 Total Return Index. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

CLASS I ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class I Shares Year-to-Date (as of September 30, 2017): 3.39%

 

Best Quarter: Q2 2016 5.95%
Worst Quarter: Q3 2015 -10.60%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio
Label
1 Year
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class I Shares Return Before Taxes 4.24% (2.63%) [1] Sep. 29, 2014
Class I Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions   3.35% (3.41%)  
Class I Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   2.65% (2.22%)  
Class A Shares Return Before Taxes (2.04%) (5.35%) [1] Sep. 29, 2014
Class C Shares Return Before Taxes 2.30% (3.46%) [1] Sep. 29, 2014
Russell 2000 Total Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   21.31% 10.56%  
[1] The Portfolio commenced operations on September 29, 2014.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Class A, Class C, Class I | James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

Investment Objective:

The primary investment objective of the Portfolio is capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Class A Reduced Sales Charge Information” on page 15 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio
Class A
Class I
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75% none none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none none none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none none none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio
Class A
Class I
Class C
Management Fees 1.20% 1.20% 1.20%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees 0.25% none 1.00%
Interest Payments and Fees on Borrowed Funds 0.53% 0.75% 0.52%
Other Operating Expenses 1.22% 1.01% 1.22%
Total of Other Expenses 1.75% 1.76% 1.74%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses [1] 0.10% 0.10% 0.10%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 3.30% 3.06% 4.04%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (0.23%) (0.22%) (0.22%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) [2] 3.07% 2.84% 3.82%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statements because the financial statements will include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds"). Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[2] Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has agreed to waive its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front end and contingent deferred sales loads, interest and tax expenses, leverage, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, extraordinary or non-routine expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for the Portfolio do not exceed 2.45%, 1.99%, and 3.20% of the Portfolio's average net assets for Class A, Class I, and Class C shares, respectively, through December 31, 2018, (each an "Expense Cap"). This operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for fees it waived and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such fees were waived or expenses paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the Expense Cap in place at the time the advisory fees were waived or the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A 867 1,511 2,177 3,945
Class I 287 923 1,585 3,355
Class C 484 1,209 2,049 4,223

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A 867 1,511 2,177 3,945
Class I 287 923 1,585 3,355
Class C 384 1,209 2,049 4,223

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 11% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will seek to achieve its objective by combining a long equity strategy with an options hedging strategy that seeks to provide protection during significant equity market downturns. The long equity strategy seeks to replicate the returns of the S&P 500® Index and to enhance these returns through the use of leverage. The Portfolio will achieve exposure to S&P 500® Index companies primarily through exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds, and closed-end funds but may also gain exposure through direct investment in common and preferred stocks.

 

The Portfolio’s options hedging strategy attempts to reduce the risk associated with the Portfolio’s long equity exposure with two different strategies – a low volatility strategy and a high volatility strategy. The low volatility strategy, referred to as a “calendar spread” will seek to protect the Portfolio from significant market downturns (e.g., a drop of 12% or more in the value of the S&P 500® Index) by buying significantly out of the money put options and offsetting the cost of these put options by selling (writing) put options with a shorter maturity and with an exercise (strike) price that is higher than the purchased put options. Out of the money put options are options with a strike price that is lower than the market price of the underlying asset. When market volatility is low and options are less expensive, the Portfolio will seek to own more put options long than it sells (writes) short to provide greater protection during a significant market downturn.

 

The high volatility strategy seeks to protect the Portfolio from modest market downturns (e.g., a drop of between 6% and 8% in the value of the S&P 500® Index). Conventional put spreads consist of buying slightly out of the money put options and selling put options that are further out of the money with the same expiration. Typically, the notional value of the put spreads will be larger than the Portfolio’s exposure from its long equity strategy. The Portfolio expects primarily to use listed exchange-traded options.

 

When market volatility is high, the Portfolio may also sell (write) covered call options to generate additional income.

 

Although the Portfolio intends to be hedged at all times using at least one of the above strategies, the Portfolio may from time to time use a combination of option hedging strategies. The Sub-Adviser will use its discretion on when to deploy the options hedging strategies, which will vary depending on option prices.

 

The Sub-Adviser may also seek to enhance the returns of the Portfolio’s long equity strategy by buying or selling options on ETFs whose strategies seek to minimize volatility (volatility ETFs). This strategy will be used opportunistically to express the Sub-Adviser’s views on whether actual market volatility will be higher or lower than expected volatility. This strategy will include either buying long put or call options on volatility ETFs or employing a covered option spread on volatility ETFs. A covered option spread will consist of buying (or selling) slightly out of the money call or put options and selling (or buying) call or put options that are further out of the money with the same expiration.

 

Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. issuers or investments that provide exposure to equity securities of U.S. issuers, and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to such securities.

 

The Portfolio intends to borrow money from banks to create leverage of up to 30% of the Portfolio’s assets. The Portfolio plans to invest the assets obtained through leverage in additional instruments that provide exposure to the S&P 500 Index companies as well as in additional options as part of the Portfolio’s hedging strategies. The Portfolio will therefore have long exposure of up to 130% of its assets.

 

The Sub-Adviser uses proprietary valuation methods and risk measures as well as publicly available data regarding market volatility levels in managing the hedging strategies. The Sub-Adviser considers multiple factors in determining how much leverage to employ and expected market volatility levels, such as premium at risk (i.e., the amount of net option premiums paid in implementing the hedging strategy), the time to expiration of options, the rate that options lose value as they near maturity (known as Theta), the risk of gain or loss resulting from changes in volatility (known as Vega), and the notional exposure of the options relative to the Portfolio’s long positions. The Sub-Adviser’s proprietary option valuation methods will be used to determine when to use a particular option strategy and when to realize gains on the Portfolio’s options positions.

 

The Portfolio is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in a small group of issuers or in any one issuer than a diversified fund can.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio investments. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

Borrowing. The Portfolio will borrow money for investment purposes, which is a form of leveraging. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk while increasing investment opportunity. Leverage will magnify changes in the Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”) and on the Portfolio’s investments. For example, leveraging may exaggerate the effect on NAV of any increase or decrease in the market value of the long equity positions held by the

Portfolio. Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, the Portfolio’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. Leverage also creates interest expenses for the Portfolio. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest the Portfolio will have to pay, the Portfolio’s net income will be greater than it would be if leverage were not used. Conversely, if the income from the assets obtained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of the Portfolio will be less than it would be if leverage were not used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to shareholders as dividends will be reduced. The use of derivatives in connection with leverage creates the potential for significant loss.

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The derivatives in which the Portfolio may invest include options and swaps. Derivatives may be volatile and some derivatives have the potential for loss that is greater than the Portfolio’s initial investment. Many derivatives are entered into over-the-counter or “OTC” (not on an exchange or contract market) and may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than more traditional investments, such as stocks or bonds, because there may be fewer purchasers or sellers of the derivative instrument or the derivative instrument may require participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the counterparty (issuer) fails to pay the amount due. If a counterparty were to default on its obligations, the Portfolio’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Portfolio’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Portfolio may not receive the amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive). The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the underlying asset on which the derivative is based, or the derivative itself, does not perform as the Manager or Sub-Adviser anticipated.

Compared to other types of investments, derivatives may be less tax efficient. The use of certain derivatives may cause the Portfolio to realize higher amounts of ordinary income or short-term capital gains, distributions from which are taxable to individual shareholders at ordinary income tax rates rather than at the more favorable tax rates for long-term capital gain. In addition, changes in government regulation of derivative instruments could affect the character, timing and amount of the Portfolio’s taxable income or gains, and may limit or prevent the Portfolio from using certain types of derivative instruments as a part of its investment strategy, which could make the investment strategy more costly to implement or require the Portfolio to change its investment strategy. The Portfolio’s use of derivatives also may be limited by the requirements for taxation of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company.

Special Risks of Swaps. Certain swap transactions are structured as two-party contracts and are therefore often less liquid than other types of investments, and the Portfolio may be unable to sell or terminate its swap positions at a desired time or price. Certain swaps, such as total return swaps where two parties agree to “swap” payments on defined underlying assets or interest rates, can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The swaps market is subject to extensive regulation under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and certain SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules promulgated thereunder. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including new and additional government regulation, could result in higher Portfolio costs and expenses and could adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability, among other things, to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Special Risks of Options. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a put option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to buy the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a call option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to sell the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio purchases a put option or call option, there is risk that the price of the underlying investment will move in a direction that causes the option to expire worthless.

Equity Securities Risk. The Portfolio is subject to risks associated with investing in equity securities, including market risk, issuer risk, price volatility risks, and market trends risk. The prices of equity securities generally fluctuate in value more than fixed-income investments, may rise or fall rapidly or unpredictably and may reflect real or perceived changes in the issuing company’s financial condition and changes in the overall market or economy. The Portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective may be affected by the risks attendant to any investment in equity securities.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds. In addition, their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying index or other assets rises and falls. The market value of their shares may differ from the NAV of the particular fund. As a shareholder in an ETF (as with other investment companies), the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses in addition to its own fees and expenses. Further, if the Portfolio invests in leveraged ETFs, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. In addition, investments in an ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF's shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of the shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF's shares.

Hedging Strategy Risk. The Portfolio’s hedging strategy is designed to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, losses resulting from volatility and equity market declines. Even where the hedging strategy is used successfully, the Portfolio is likely to experience some loss in value during periods of volatility and/or equity market declines. It is important to know that the hedging strategy may not be successful in reducing volatility or offsetting equity market declines, and may result in losses. Also, the hedging strategy may prevent the Portfolio from achieving higher investment returns than may be available by investing in an unhedged portfolio or a comparable mutual fund without a similar hedging strategy and the Portfolio’s use of derivatives and ETFs will increase the Portfolio’s expenses. It is possible that the hedging strategy could result in losses and/or expenses that are greater than if the Portfolio did not include the hedging strategy.

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by

the Portfolio, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Portfolio’s common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

Leverage Risk. Leverage created from borrowing money or certain types of transactions or instruments, including derivatives, may impair the Portfolio's liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective. In addition to leverage resulting from borrowing money or entering into derivative positions, investments such as ETFs may include “embedded” leverage, which means the ETF pays a return linked to a multiple of the performance of the underlying index, securities basket or other reference asset. These investments may be more volatile than investments in unlevered securities, which may increase the volatility of the Portfolio.

Management Risk. The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Portfolio’s portfolio managers (the “Portfolio Managers”) may not produce the desired results. For example, there is no guarantee that the hedging strategy employed by the Portfolio’s Sub-Adviser will produce a portfolio with the level of reduced exposure to stock market risk that is expected by the Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Portfolio’s hedging strategy will cause the Portfolio to underperform the broader equity markets during market rallies and to underperform significantly during sharp market upswings. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio’s hedging strategies will protect against all market losses and may cause the Portfolio to lose money during modest market downturns.

Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio is non-diversified, meaning it can invest a greater portion of its assets in the obligations or securities of a small number of issuers or any single issuer than a diversified fund can. Because a large percentage of the Portfolio’s assets may be invested in a limited number of issuers, a change in the value of one or a few issuers’ securities will affect the value of the Portfolio more than would occur in a diversified fund.

Volatility Risk. The Portfolio may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Portfolio’s NAV per share to experience significant increases or declines in value over short periods of time.

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1 year and since inception of the Portfolio compare with those of the S&P 500 Index and a peer group benchmark comprised of funds with investment objectives and strategies similar to those of the Portfolio. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

CLASS I ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class I Shares Year-To-Date (as of September 30, 2017): 4.40%

Best Quarter: Q4 2016 1.12%
Worst Quarter: Q1 2016 -0.51%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio
Label
1 Year
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class I Return Before Taxes 2.36% 0.43% [1] Jul. 31, 2015
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   2.33% 0.34%  
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   1.36% 0.32%  
Class A Return Before Taxes (4.05%) (4.14%) [1] Jul. 31, 2015
Class C Return Before Taxes 0.12% (0.66%) [1] Jul. 31, 2015
S&P 500 Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.96% 6.83%  
Morningstar US Fund Long-Short Equity   2.13% (1.21%)  
[1] The Portfolio commenced operations on July 31, 2015.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Class A, Class C, Class I | James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

Investment Objective:

The primary investment objective of the Portfolio is capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Class A Reduced Sales Charge Information” on page 16 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Class A
Class I
Class C
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75% none none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none none none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none none none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Class A
Class I
Class C
Management Fees 1.20% 1.20% 1.20%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees 0.25% none 1.00%
Interest Payments and Fees on Borrowed Funds 0.26% 0.25% 0.25%
Other Operating Expenses 1.05% 1.05% 1.05%
Total of Other Expenses 1.31% 1.30% 1.30%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses [1] 0.68% 0.68% 0.68%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 3.44% 3.18% 4.18%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (0.05%) (0.26%) (0.05%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) [2] 3.39% 2.92% 4.13%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statements because the financial statements will include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds"). Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[2] Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has agreed to waive its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front end and contingent deferred sales loads, interest and tax expenses, leverage, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, extraordinary or non-routine expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for the Portfolio do not exceed 2.45%, 1.99%, and 3.20% of the Portfolio's average net assets for Class A, Class I, and Class C shares, respectively, through December 31, 2018, (each an "Expense Cap"). This operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for fees it waived and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such fees were waived or expenses paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the expense cap in place at the time the advisory fees were waived or the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A 897 1,566 2,257 4,079
Class I 295 956 1,642 3,467
Class C 515 1,265 2,129 4,352

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A 897 1,566 2,257 4,079
Class I 295 956 1,642 3,467
Class C 415 1,265 2,129 4,352

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 152% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will seek to achieve its objective by combining a long equity strategy with an options hedging strategy that seeks to provide protection during significant equity market downturns. The long equity strategy seeks to replicate the returns of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and to enhance these returns through the use of leverage. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index measures the performance of securities across 23 emerging market countries (i.e., countries that are in the early stages of their industrial cycle). The Portfolio will achieve exposure to MSCI Emerging Markets Index companies primarily through exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds and closed-end funds but may also gain exposure through direct investment in common and preferred stocks.

 

The Portfolio’s options hedging strategy attempts to reduce the risk associated with the Portfolio’s long equity exposure with two different strategies – a low volatility strategy and a high volatility strategy. The low volatility strategy, referred to as a “calendar spread” will seek to protect the Portfolio from significant market downturns (e.g., a drop of 12% or more in the value of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index) by buying significantly out of the money put options and offsetting the cost of these put options by selling (writing) put options with a shorter maturity and with an exercise (strike) price that is higher than the purchased put options. Out of the money put options are options with a strike price that is lower than the market price of the underlying asset. When market volatility is low and options are less expensive, the Portfolio may seek to own more put options long than it sells (writes) short to provide greater protection during a significant market downturn.

 

The high volatility strategy seeks to protect the Portfolio from modest market downturns (e.g., a drop of between 6% and 8% in the value of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index). Conventional put spreads consist of buying slightly out of the money put options and selling put options that are further out of the money with the same expiration. Typically, the notional value of the put spreads will be larger than the Portfolio’s exposure from its long equity strategy. The Portfolio expects primarily to use listed exchange-traded options.

 

When market volatility is high, the Portfolio may also sell (write) covered call options to generate additional income.

 

Although the Portfolio intends to be hedged at all times using at least one of the above strategies, the Portfolio may from time to time use a combination of option hedging strategies. The Sub-Adviser will use its discretion on when to deploy the options hedging strategies, which will vary depending on option prices.

 

The Sub-Adviser may also seek to enhance the returns of the Portfolio’s long equity strategy by buying or selling options on ETFs whose strategies seek to minimize volatility (volatility ETFs). This strategy will be used opportunistically to express the Sub-Adviser’s views on whether actual market volatility will be higher or lower than expected volatility. This strategy will include either buying long put or call options on volatility ETFs or employing a covered option spread on volatility ETFs. A covered option spread will consist of buying (or selling) slightly out of the money call or put options and selling (or buying) call or put options that are further out of the money with the same expiration.

 

Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of emerging market issuers or investments that provide exposure to equity securities of emerging market issuers, and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to such securities.

 

The Portfolio intends to borrow money from banks to create leverage of up to 30% of the Portfolio’s assets. The Portfolio plans to invest the assets obtained through leverage in additional instruments that provide exposure to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index companies as well as in additional options as part of the Portfolio’s hedging strategies. The Portfolio will therefore have long exposure of up to 130% of its assets.

 

The Sub-Adviser uses proprietary valuation methods and risk measures as well as publicly available data regarding market volatility levels in managing the hedging strategies. The Sub-Adviser considers multiple factors in determining how much leverage to employ and expected market volatility levels, such as premium at risk (i.e., the amount of net option premiums paid in implementing the hedging strategy), the time to expiration of options, the rate that options lose value as they near maturity (known as Theta), the risk of gain or loss resulting from changes in volatility (known as Vega), and the notional exposure of the options relative to the Portfolio’s long positions. The Sub-Adviser’s proprietary option valuation methods will be used to determine when to use a particular option strategy and when to realize gains on the Portfolio’s options positions.

 

The Portfolio is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in a small group of issuers or in any one issuer than a diversified fund can.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio investments. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Borrowing. The Portfolio will borrow money for investment purposes, which is a form of leveraging. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk while increasing investment opportunity. Leverage will magnify changes in the Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”) and on the Portfolio’s investments. For example, leveraging may exaggerate the effect on NAV of any increase or decrease in the market value of the long equity positions held by the Portfolio. Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, the Portfolio’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. Leverage also creates interest expenses for the Portfolio. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest the Portfolio will have to pay, the Portfolio’s net income will be greater than it would be if leverage were not used. Conversely, if the income from the assets obtained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of the Portfolio will be less than it would be if leverage were not used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to shareholders as dividends will be reduced. The use of derivatives in connection with leverage creates the potential for significant loss.

 

Currency/Exchange Rate Risk. The dollar value of the Portfolio's foreign investments will be affected by changes in the exchange rates between the dollar and the currencies in which those investments are traded.

 

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The derivatives in which the Portfolio may invest include options and swaps. Derivatives may be volatile and some derivatives have the potential for loss that is greater than the Portfolio’s initial investment. Many derivatives are entered into over the counter or “OTC” (not on an exchange or contract market) and may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than more traditional investments, such as stocks or bonds, because there may be fewer purchasers or sellers of the derivative instrument or the derivative instrument may require participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the counterparty (issuer) fails to pay the amount due. If a counterparty were to default on its obligations, the Portfolio’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Portfolio’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Portfolio may not receive the amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive). The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the underlying asset on which the derivative is based, or the derivative itself, does not perform as the Manager or Sub-Adviser anticipated.

 

Compared to other types of investments, derivatives may be less tax efficient. The use of certain derivatives may cause the Portfolio to realize higher amounts of ordinary income or short-term capital gains, distributions from which are taxable to individual shareholders at ordinary income tax rates rather than at the more favorable tax rates for long-term capital gain. In addition, changes in government regulation of derivative instruments could affect the character, timing and amount of the Portfolio’s taxable income or gains, and may limit or prevent the Portfolio from using certain types of derivative instruments as a part of its investment strategy, which could make the investment strategy more costly to implement or require the Portfolio to change its investment strategy. The Portfolio’s use of derivatives also may be limited by the requirements for taxation of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company.

 

Special Risks of Swaps. Certain swap transactions are structured as two-party contracts and are therefore often less liquid than other types of investments, and the Portfolio may be unable to sell or terminate its swap positions at a desired time or price. Certain swaps, such as total return swaps where two parties agree to “swap” payments on defined underlying assets or interest rates, can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The swaps market is subject to extensive regulation under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and certain SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules promulgated thereunder. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including new and additional government regulation, could result in higher Portfolio costs and expenses and could adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability, among other things, to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Special Risks of Options. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a put option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to buy the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a call option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to sell the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio purchases a put option or call option, there is risk that the price of the underlying investment will move in a direction that causes the option to expire worthless.

 

Emerging Market Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in issuers domiciled in “emerging markets,” those countries determined by the Manager to have developing or emerging economies and markets. Emerging market investing involves risks in addition to those risks involved in foreign investing. For example, many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. In addition, economies in emerging markets generally are dependent heavily upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The securities markets of emerging countries are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and other more developed countries.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The Portfolio is subject to risks associated with investing in equity securities, including market risk, issuer risk, price volatility risks and market trends risk. The prices of equity securities generally fluctuate in value more than fixed-income investments, may rise or fall rapidly or unpredictably and may reflect real or perceived changes in the issuing company’s financial condition and changes in the overall market or economy. The Portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective may be affected by the risks attendant to any investment in equity securities.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds. In addition, their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying index or other assets rises and falls. The market value of their shares may differ from the NAV of the particular fund. As a shareholder in an ETF (as with other investment companies), the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses in addition to its own fees and expenses. Further, if the Portfolio invests in leveraged ETFs, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. In addition, investments in an ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF's shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of the shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF's shares.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio's foreign investments will be affected by changes in the foreign country’s exchange rates; political and social instability; changes in economic or taxation policies; difficulties when enforcing obligations; decreased liquidity; and increased volatility. Foreign companies may be subject to less regulation resulting in less publicly available information about the companies. These risks are magnified for investments in developing or emerging countries, which may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small number of securities.

 

Hedging Strategy Risk. The Portfolio’s hedging strategy is designed to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, losses resulting from volatility and equity market declines. Even where the hedging strategy is used successfully, the Portfolio is likely to experience some loss in value during periods of volatility and/or equity market declines. It is important to know that the hedging strategy may not be successful in reducing volatility or offsetting equity market declines, and may result in losses. Also, the hedging strategy may prevent the Portfolio from achieving higher investment returns than may be available by investing in an unhedged portfolio or a comparable mutual fund without a similar hedging strategy and the Portfolio’s use of derivatives and ETFs will increase the Portfolio’s expenses. It is possible that the hedging strategy could result in losses and/or expenses that are greater than if the Portfolio did not include the hedging strategy.

 

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Portfolio, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Portfolio’s common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage created from borrowing money or certain types of transactions or instruments, including derivatives, may impair the Portfolio's liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective. In addition to leverage resulting from borrowing money or entering into derivative positions, investments such as ETFs may include “embedded” leverage, which means the ETF pays a return linked to a multiple of the performance of the underlying index, securities basket or other reference asset. These investments may be more volatile than investments in unlevered securities, which may increase the volatility of the Portfolio.

 

Management Risk. The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Portfolio’s portfolio managers (the “Portfolio Managers”) may not produce the desired results. For example, there is no guarantee that the hedging strategy employed by the Portfolio’s Sub-Adviser will produce a portfolio with the level of reduced exposure to stock market risk that is expected by the Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Portfolio’s hedging strategy will cause the Portfolio to underperform the broader equity markets during market rallies and to underperform significantly during sharp market upswings. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio’s hedging strategies will protect against all market losses and may cause the Portfolio to lose money during modest market downturns.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio is non-diversified, meaning it can invest a greater portion of its assets in the obligations or securities of a small number of issuers or any single issuer than a diversified fund can. Because a large percentage of the Portfolio’s assets may be invested in a limited number of issuers, a change in the value of one or a few issuers’ securities will affect the value of the Portfolio more than would occur in a diversified fund.

 

Volatility Risk. The Portfolio may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Portfolio’s NAV per share to experience significant increases or declines in value over short periods of time.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1 year and since inception of the Portfolio compare with those of the MSCI Emerging Markets Net Index and a peer group benchmark comprised of funds with investment objectives and strategies similar to those of the Portfolio. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

CLASS A ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class I Shares Year-To-Date (as of September 30, 2017): 8.50%

 

Best Quarter: Q3 2016 4.56%
Worst Quarter: Q4 2016 -2.21%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Label
1 Year
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class I Return Before Taxes 4.40% (3.07%) [1] Jul. 31, 2015
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   4.35% (3.40%)  
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   2.53% (2.40%)  
Class A Return Before Taxes (1.99%) (7.42%) [1] Jul. 31, 2015
Class C Return Before Taxes 2.21% (4.07%) [1] Jul. 31, 2015
MSCI Emerging Markets Net Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.19% (0.89%)  
Morningstar US Fund Diversified Emerging Markets   8.08% (2.31%)  
[1] The Portfolio commenced operations on July 31, 2015.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Class A, Class C, Class I | James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

Investment Objective:

The primary investment objective of the Portfolio is to seek to provide high current income.

The Portfolio’s secondary investment objective is to seek capital preservation, with the potential for capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in The Saratoga Advantage Trust Portfolios. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Shareholder Information – Class A Reduced Sales Charge Information” on page 22 of the Portfolio’s Prospectus.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio
Class A Shares
Class I Shares
Class C Shares
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) 5.75% none none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none none none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none none none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio
Class A Shares
Class C Shares
Class I Shares
Management Fees 1.70% 1.70% 1.70%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees 0.25% none 1.00%
Total of Other Expenses 1.02% 1.00% 1.05%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses [1] 0.13% 0.13% 0.13%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 3.10% 2.83% 3.88%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (0.58%) (0.71%) (0.76%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) [2] 2.52% 2.12% 3.12%
[1] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statements (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statements will include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").
[2] Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has agreed to waive its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front end and contingent deferred sales loads, interest and tax expenses, leverage, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, extraordinary or non-routine expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for the Portfolio do not exceed 2.39%, 1.99%, and 2.99% of the Portfolio's average net assets for Class A, Class I and Class C shares, respectively, through December 31, 2018 (each an "Expense Cap"). This operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for fees it waived and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such fees were waived or expenses paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the Expense Cap in place at the time the advisory fees were waived or the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

 

IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Shares 815 1,426 2,059 3,752
Class I Shares 215 810 1,431 3,106
Class C Shares 415 1,114 1,932 4,057

IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES

Expense Example, No Redemption - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio - USD ($)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Shares 815 1,426 2,059 3,752
Class I Shares 215 810 1,431 3,106
Class C Shares 315 1,114 1,932 4,057

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. The portfolio turnover rate for the Portfolio’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2017 was 106% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, primarily all of its assets in fixed income and fixed income-related securities, using a combination of long-short, long-only, short-only and hedging strategies.

 

Fixed income securities in which the Portfolio will invest are anticipated to generally consist of U.S. and foreign fixed income and fixed income-related securities of varying maturities and credit quality. The Portfolio may invest in securities of any grade including those that are rated below investment grade at the time of purchase (commonly referred to as “high-yield” or “junk” securities) including those bonds rated lower than“BBB-”by Standard& Poor’s Ratings Services and Fitch, Inc. or “Baa3” by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc.). These include, among others, corporate bonds and bank loans, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities, U.S. government securities, non U.S. sovereign debt securities, and preferred securities. Fixed income-related securities include, but are not limited to, closed-end funds and derivative instruments, including options; financial futures; swaps, including credit default swaps; options on futures and swaps; and forward foreign currency contracts, that seek to provide the same or similar economic exposure as a physical investment in the above securities. The below-investment grade fixed income securities in which the Portfolio may invest are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Hedging strategies may be used by the Portfolio in an attempt to preserve capital and mitigate risk, by hedging against changes in the price of other securities held by the Portfolio, and may involve purchasing put options, selling debt or equity securities short or writing covered call options. Derivative instruments may also be used for investment purposes, and for currency and interest rate hedging purposes.

 

The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing its assets in a combination of distinct investment strategies managed by different sub-advisers and, in some cases, by the Manager. The Manager is responsible for selecting and allocating assets among the Portfolio’s investment strategies. The Manager is also responsible for selecting and overseeing one or more sub-advisers to manage each investment strategy. Not all of the sub-advisers listed for the Portfolio may be actively managing assets for the Portfolio at all times. The Manager also has discretion to manage directly all or a portion of such investment strategies. The principal investment strategies that may be employed by the Portfolio include the following:

 

• Senior Loan Floating Rate Strategy. The senior loan floating rate strategy concentrates on investment opportunities in senior-secured and second-lien loans and bonds.

 

• Short Duration High Yield Strategy. The short duration high yield strategy seeks to generate uncorrelated returns through stable income and reduced volatility. The portfolio managers seek to identify short-maturity high yield bonds in smaller, less-followed companies, hedged primarily with an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that tracks the Russell 2000® Index, which has exhibited a strong correlation to high yield credit spreads, to attempt to further dampen volatility during market corrections. The strategy is diversified across 35–45 high yield bonds. The short position will range between 10 percent to 30 percent of the nominal value of the strategy during periods of normal market conditions and may increase to 50 percent during periods of high volatility.

 

• Relative Value Long/Short Debt Strategy. The relative value long/short debt strategy seeks to take advantage of perceived discrepancies in the market prices of certain fixed income securities, as well as certain convertible bond, closed-end fund, and derivative securities. The strategy is primarily focused within the corporate credit, securitized credit, and agency and non-agency mortgage-backed securities sectors. It invests in both investment and non-investment grade bonds. Proprietary research tools include credit spread analysis, which is based on, among other things, a proprietary credit default methodology, mortgage prepayment forecasting and credit option-adjusted spread analysis.

 

• Risk-Adjusted Long/Short Debt Strategy. The risk-adjusted long/short debt strategy seeks to take advantage of credit rating upgrades and downgrades offering attractive returns while seeking to minimize interest rate and currency risks. During stressed market environments, the strategy actively manages its long core positions with corresponding hedges to preserve capital, while seeking to profit from individual credit deteriorations on the short side. The strategy is primarily focused on investments in U.S. and European fixed income securities, and may establish long and short positions in a variety of derivative and other instruments for risk management and investment purposes. Under normal market conditions, the strategy may establish short interest rate positions to manage interest rate risk. The strategy will employ leverage through investments in derivative instruments and through establishing short hedging positions in Treasury bills and other fixed income or equity securities. The strategy seeks to invest in securities with ratings from B to BBB by Standard and Poor’s Financial Services LLC, but may invest in securities of any credit rating, including below-investment grade fixed income securities. The strategy uses proprietary models for security selection in combination with fundamental analysis.

 

One or more of the above strategies may be achieved through investments in ETFs and other exchange-traded products, and other registered investment companies instead of direct investments.

 

The Manager’s investment process is based on a consultative four step approach:

 

1) Asset Allocation – Defining objectives and constraints, determining asset classes, and determining strategic weightings based on objectives and constraints;

 

2) Manager Research – Sourcing and vetting investment managers;

 

3) Risk Management – Identifying, characterizing, and assessing portfolio risks, and suggesting ways to reduce risk; and

 

4) Portfolio Construction – Constructing the portfolio by incorporating input from all three of the above.

 

The Portfolio’s investments in the types of securities described in this Prospectus vary from time to time and, at any time, the Portfolio may not be invested in all types of securities described in this Prospectus. The Portfolio may also invest in securities and other investments not described in this Prospectus, but which are described in the Statement of Additional Information. Any percentage limitations with respect to assets of the Portfolio are applied at the time of purchase.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objectives. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Active Trading Risk. The Portfolio may engage in frequent trading of portfolio securities resulting in higher transaction costs, a lower return and increased tax liability.

 

Bank Loans Risk. There are a number of risks associated with an investment in bank loans including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Lack of an active trading market, restrictions on resale, irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods may impair the Portfolio’s ability to sell bank loans within its desired time frame or at an acceptable price and its ability to accurately value existing and prospective investments. Extended trade settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Portfolio. As a result, the Portfolio may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions to raise cash to meet its obligations. The risk of holding bank loans is also directly tied to the risk of insolvency or bankruptcy of the issuing banks. These risks could cause the Portfolio to lose income or principal on a particular investment, which in turn could affect the Portfolio’s returns. The value of bank loans can be affected by and sensitive to changes in government regulation and to economic downturns in the United States and abroad. Bank loans generally are floating rate loans, which are subject to interest rate risk as the interest paid on the floating rate loans adjusts periodically based on changes in widely accepted reference rates.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Counterparty Risk. Certain derivative and “over-the-counter” (“OTC”) instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, such as OTC swaps and forwards, are subject to the risk that the other party to a contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The Manager attempts to mitigate this risk by not entering into transactions with any counterparty that the Manager believes does not have the financial resources to honor its obligations under the transaction and by monitoring the financial stability of counterparties.

 

Credit Default Swap Risk. Credit default swaps (“CDS”) are typically two-party financial contracts that transfer credit exposure between the two parties. Under a typical CDS, one party (the “seller” or “seller of protection”) receives pre-determined periodic payments from the other party (the “buyer” or “buyer of protection”). The seller agrees to make compensating specific payments to the buyer if a negative credit event occurs, such as the bankruptcy or default by the issuer of the underlying debt instrument. The use of CDS involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions, such as potentially heightened credit and counterparty risks. The Portfolio will not act as a seller of protection.

 

Credit Risk. The issuer of fixed income instruments in which the Portfolio invests may experience financial difficulty and be unable to meet interest and/or principal payments, thereby causing its instruments to decrease in value and lowering the issuer's credit rating.

 

Currency/Exchange Rate Risk. The dollar value of the Portfolio's foreign investments will be affected by changes in the exchange rates between the dollar and the currencies in which those investments are traded.

 

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The derivatives in which the Portfolio may invest include options, futures, swaps, and forward foreign currency contracts. Derivatives may be volatile and some derivatives have the potential for loss that is greater than the Portfolio’s initial investment. Many derivatives are entered into over-the-counter (not on an exchange or contract market referred to as “OTC”) and may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than more traditional investments, such as stocks or bonds, because there may be fewer purchasers or sellers of the derivative instrument or the derivative instrument may require participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the issuer fails to pay the amount due. If a counterparty to an OTC derivative were to default on its obligations, the Portfolio’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Portfolio’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Portfolio may not receive the amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive). The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the underlying asset on which the derivative is based, or the derivative itself, does not perform as the Manager anticipated.

 

Compared to other types of investments, derivatives may be less tax efficient. The use of certain derivatives may cause the Portfolio to realize higher amounts of ordinary income or short-term capital gains, distributions from which are taxable to individual shareholders at ordinary income tax rates rather than at the more favorable tax rates for long-term capital gain. In addition, changes in government regulation of derivative instruments could affect the character, timing and amount of the Portfolio’s taxable income or gains, and may limit or prevent the Portfolio from using certain types of derivative instruments as a part of its investment strategy, which could make the investment strategy more costly to implement or require the Portfolio to change its investment strategy. The Portfolio’s use of derivatives also may be limited by the requirements for taxation of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds. In addition, their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying index or other assets rises and falls. The market value of their shares may differ from the net asset value (“NAV”) of the particular fund. As a shareholder in an ETF (as with other investment companies), the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses in addition to its own fees and expenses. Further, if the Portfolio invests in leveraged ETFs, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. In addition, investments in an ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF's shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of the shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF's shares.

 

Government Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)). U.S. government securities are subject to investment and market risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. Securities, such as those issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae or the U.S. Treasury that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity and the market prices for such securities will fluctuate. Notwithstanding that these securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, circumstances could arise that would prevent the payment of interest or principal. This would result in losses to the Portfolio. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-related organizations, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support. Therefore, U.S. government-related organizations may not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Sovereign Debt Risk. The governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may be unwilling or unable to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such securities due a variety of factors, including to the extent of its foreign reserves; the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due; the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole; or the government debtor’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a government debtor may be subject.

 

Special Risks of Futures. The liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent that participants decide to make or take delivery of the underlying investments, liquidity in this market could be reduced. Futures contracts can be purchased with relatively small amounts of initial margin compared to the cash value of the contracts. This economic leverage can increase the volatility of the Portfolio. Even a well-conceived futures transaction may be unsuccessful due to market events.

 

Special Risks of Swaps. Certain swap transactions are structured as two-party contracts and are therefore often less liquid than other types of investments, and the Portfolio may be unable to sell or terminate its swap positions at a desired time or price. Certain swaps, such as total return swaps where two parties agree to “swap” payments on defined underlying assets or interest rates, can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The swaps market is subject to extensive regulation under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and certain SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules promulgated thereunder. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including new and additional government regulation, could result in higher Portfolio costs and expenses and could adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability, among other things, to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Special Risks of Options. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a put option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to buy the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a call option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to sell the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio purchases a put option or call option, there is risk that the price of the underlying investment will move in a direction that causes the option to expire worthless.

 

Special Risks of Forward Foreign Currency Contracts. A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract. The cost to the Portfolio of engaging in forward foreign currency contracts varies with factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period, interest rate differentials and the prevailing market conditions. Because forward foreign currency contracts are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are typically involved. The use of forward foreign currency contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities the Portfolio owns or intends to acquire, but it does establish a rate of exchange in advance. While forward foreign currency contract sales limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currencies increase.

 

Emerging Market Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in issuers domiciled in “emerging markets,” those countries determined by the Manager and/or a Sub-Adviser to have developing or emerging economies and markets. Emerging market investing involves risks in addition to those risks involved in foreign investing. For example, many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. In addition, economies in emerging markets generally are dependent heavily upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The securities markets of emerging countries are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and other more developed countries.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s foreign investments will be affected by changes in the foreign country’s exchange rates; political and social instability; changes in economic or taxation policies; difficulties when enforcing obligations; decreased liquidity; and increased volatility. Foreign companies may be subject to less regulation resulting in less publicly available information about the companies. These risks are magnified for investments in developing or emerging countries, which may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small number of securities.

 

Hedging Strategy Risk. The Portfolio’s hedging strategy is designed to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, losses resulting from volatility and market declines. Even where the hedging strategy is used successfully, the Portfolio is likely to experience some loss in value during periods of volatility and/or market declines. It is important to know that the hedging strategy may not be successful in reducing volatility or offsetting market declines, and may result in losses. Also, the hedging strategy may prevent the Portfolio from achieving higher investment returns than may be available by investing in an unhedged portfolio or a comparable mutual fund without a similar hedging strategy and the Portfolio’s use of derivatives and ETFs will increase the Portfolio’s expenses. It is possible that the hedging strategy could result in losses and/or expenses that are greater than if the Portfolio did not include the hedging strategy.

 

High Yield Bond (Junk Bond) Risk. High yield, below investment grade and unrated high risk debt securities(which also may be known as “junk bonds”)may present additional risks because these securities may be less liquid, and therefore more difficult to value accurately and sell at an advantageous price or time, present more credit risk than investment grade bonds and subject to greater risk The values of junk bonds fluctuate more than those of high-quality bonds in response to company, political, regulatory or economic developments.

 

Income Generation Risk. If the Portfolio fails to generate anticipated levels of income due to, among other factors, unanticipated market conditions or the materialization of risks associated with certain instruments described above, then such failure in turn could negatively impact the Portfolio’s ability to meet its stated investment objectives.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the risk that bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise; conversely, bond prices generally rise as interest rates fall. These risks may be greater in the current market environment because interest rates are at historically low levels. Specific bonds differ in their sensitivity to changes in interest rates depending on their individual characteristics, including duration.

 

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Portfolio, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the OTC markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Portfolio’s common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage created from borrowing money or certain types of transactions or instruments, including derivatives, may impair the Portfolio’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective. In addition to leverage resulting from money or entering into derivative positions, investments such as ETFs may include “embedded” leverage, which means the ETF pays a return linked to a multiple of the performance of the underlying index, securities basket or other reference asset. These investments may be more volatile than investments in unlevered securities, which may increase the volatility of the Portfolio.

 

Liquidity Risk. The Portfolio may hold illiquid securities that it is unable to sell at the preferred time or price and could lose its entire investment in such securities. Investments with an active trading market or that the Manager otherwise deems liquid could become illiquid before the Portfolio can exit its positions.

 

Management Risk. The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the portfolio managers for each of the Portfolio’s investment strategies may not produce the desired results. The sub-advisers’ investment styles may not always be complementary, and may be in direct conflict which could adversely affect performance. In addition, the Portfolio’s multiple investment strategies may not work to hedge general market risk if the markets in which the Portfolio invests become correlated during times of economic stress.

 

The Portfolio is dependent on the Manager’s skill in allocating assets among the Portfolio’s various investment strategies and in selecting the best mix of sub-advisers. The Portfolio is therefore subject to the risk that assets will be allocated to a strategy at an inopportune time and the value of your investment may decrease if the Manager’s judgment about the attractiveness, value or market trends affecting a particular asset class, investment style, or sub-adviser is incorrect.

 

Medium and Small Capitalization Company Risk. Investing in medium and small capitalization companies may involve more risk than is usually associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in mortgage- and asset-backed securities that are subject to prepayment or call risk, which is the risk that the borrower’s payments may be received earlier or later than expected due to changes in prepayment rates on underlying loans. Securities may be prepaid at a price less than the original purchase value. The value of most mortgage- and asset-backed securities tends to vary inversely with changes in interest rates.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Risk of Investing in Other Investment Companies. To the extent the Portfolio invests in other investment companies, such as ETFs and closed-end funds, the Portfolio’s shareholders will incur certain duplicative fees and expenses, including investment advisory fees. The return on such investments will be reduced by the operating expenses, including investment advisory and administration fees, of such investment funds, and will be further reduced by Portfolio expenses, including management fees.

 

Short Sales Risk. Short sales may cause the Portfolio to repurchase a security at a higher price, thereby causing the Portfolio to incur a loss. A short position in a security poses more risk than holding the same security long. As there is no limit on how much the price of the security can increase, the Portfolio’s exposure is unlimited. In order to establish a short position in a security, the Portfolio must borrow the security from a broker. The Portfolio may not always be able to borrow a security the Portfolio seeks to sell short at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio also may not always be able to close out the short position by replacing the borrowed securities at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio will incur increased transaction costs associated with selling securities short. In addition, taking short positions in securities results in a form of leverage which may cause the Portfolio to be volatile.

 

Until the Portfolio replaces a security borrowed in connection with a short sale, it may be required to segregate cash or liquid assets to cover the Portfolio’s short position. Generally, securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold unless they are replaced with other liquid assets. The Portfolio’s ability to access the segregated collateral may also be impaired in the event the broker becomes bankrupt, insolvent or otherwise fails to comply with its obligations. The Portfolio may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in these circumstances.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

For the periods prior to July 18, 2016, the Portfolio operated as a separate fund called the ALPs/Westport Resources Hedged High Income Fund (the “Predecessor Portfolio”). The information shown below reflects the historical performance of the Predecessor Portfolio prior to July 18, 2016.

 

The bar chart and table that follow show the performance of the Class A shares of the Predecessor Portfolio and the Portfolio and provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for 1 year and since inception of the Portfolio compare with those of the Bloomberg Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The past performance of the Portfolio (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The returns in the table assume you sold your shares at the end of each period and include the effect of Class A shares maximum applicable front-end sales charge. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information, when available, by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

CLASS A ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class A Shares Year-To-Date (as of September 30, 2017): 5.27%

 

Best Quarter: Q2 2016 4.73%
Worst Quarter: Q4 2015 -2.10%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class A, Class C, Class I - James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio
Label
1 Year
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class A Shares Return Before Taxes 3.53% 0.58% Dec. 31, 2013
Class A Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions   1.51% (1.60%)  
Class A Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   1.94% (0.57%)  
Class C Shares Return Before Taxes 7.94% 1.87% Dec. 31, 2013
Class I Shares Return Before Taxes 9.93% 2.88% Dec. 31, 2013
Bloomberg Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   2.65% 3.03%  

The table above shows after-tax returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

After-tax returns are only shown for Class A shares of the Predecessor Portfolio. After-tax returns for Class C and Class I shares will vary from those shown for Class A shares due to varying sales charges and expenses among the classes.

Class S | James Alpha Macro Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: JAMES ALPHA MACRO PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The investment objective of the Portfolio is to seek to achieve attractive long-term risk-adjusted returns relative to traditional financial market indices.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class S
James Alpha Macro Portfolio
Class S Shares
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class S
James Alpha Macro Portfolio
Class S Shares
Management Fees 1.10%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees none
Other Expenses [1]
Other Fund Expenses 1.26%
Expenses of the Subsidiary none
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.47% [2]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 2.83%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (1.11%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) 1.72% [3]
[1] Other Expenses are based on estimates for the current fiscal year.
[2] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies (except the Portfolio's wholly owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (the "Subsidiary")). These Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are not considered in the calculation of the Expense Cap (defined below). The Operating Expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statement (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statement includes only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").
[3] Pursuant to a fee waiver and operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive all of the Portfolio's management fee payable to the Manager by the Portfolio on Class S assets, and to absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front-end and contingent deferred sales loads, interest and tax expenses, leverage, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, extraordinary or non-routine expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for Class S shares do not exceed 1.25% of the Portfolio's average net assets (the "Expense Cap") through December 31, 2018 (the "Expense Limitation Agreement"). The Expense Limitation Agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for management fees waived (other than on Class S shares) and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such management fees were waived or expenses were paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the Expense Cap in place at the time the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class S | James Alpha Macro Portfolio | Class S Shares | USD ($) 175 773 1,397 3,079

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 83% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing all or substantially all of its assets in the following market sectors (Sectors): commodities; global inflation-linked bonds; event-linked securities; global equities; emerging market bonds; emerging market currencies; high-yield bonds, quantitative, and global macro. The Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets across the Sectors based on the Manager’s forecasted return and risk characteristics for each Sector. The Portfolio may invest no more than 33⅓% of its assets in any single Sector at the time of initial investment or as a result of a rebalancing, although actual Sector weightings may deviate from the maximum allocation percentage from time to time due to market movements.

 

Sector Investment Strategies

 

Commodities. In this Sector, the Portfolio intends to primarily invest in long and short positions in commodity swap agreements, as well as commodity options and futures, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and index-linked and commodity-linked “structured” notes (collectively “commodity-linked investments”). The Portfolio’s investments in this Sector will focus primarily on crude oil, heating oil, gasoline, natural gas, aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, uranium, zinc, gold, silver, wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar, cocoa, cattle and hogs but may also include other commodities.

 

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in a wholly-owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (the “Subsidiary”) to gain exposure to certain commodity-linked investments such as commodity futures, options and swap contracts. The Subsidiary may also hold cash, money market instruments, including affiliated and unaffiliated money market funds, and other fixed income instruments to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. Investments in the Subsidiary are intended to provide the Portfolio with exposure to commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements that apply to the Portfolio. The investment policies of the Subsidiary are the same as the investment policies of this Sector of the Portfolio. The Subsidiary is subject to substantially the same investment restrictions and limitations, including asset coverage requirements, as are applicable to this Sector of the Portfolio and will follow substantially the same compliance policies and procedures as the Portfolio, to the extent they are applicable. The Portfolio will always own 100% of the Subsidiary’s interests.

 

Global Inflation-Linked Bonds. In this Sector, the Portfolio intends to invest primarily in inflation-linked bonds, treasury bonds, and derivatives such as swaps, all of which may be held long and short. Inflation-linked bonds are generally fixed income securities whose principal values or interest payments are periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Such bonds and related derivatives will primarily be securities issued by or related to sovereign governments of developed countries, but may also include bonds issued by countries deemed to be emerging markets and inflation-linked bonds issued by or related to companies or other entities not affiliated with governments.

 

Event-Linked Securities. In this Sector, the Portfolio will invest primarily in investments with exposure to remote risks focusing on the super-catastrophe segment of the insurance risk market, including, but not limited to, U.S. hurricane and earthquake, European windstorm, Japanese earthquake and typhoon. These investments will generally take the form of Rule 144A bonds, insurance derivatives, including swaps, and reinsurance contracts whose returns are linked to such natural disasters that are primarily offered by domestic and offshore insurance companies. The return of principal and payment of interest of an event-linked bond are generally contingent on the non-occurrence of a specified trigger event, such as the natural disasters noted above. If the trigger event occurs prior to a bond’s maturity, the Portfolio may lose all or a portion of its principal and additional interest. If the trigger event does not occur, the Portfolio will recover its principal plus interest. The Portfolio may employ hedging techniques, such as shorting certain instruments, to manage risk or to attempt to enhance returns in this Sector.

 

Global Market Equities. In this Sector, the Portfolio will invest primarily in long and short positions in equities, ETFs, and derivatives such as options, futures and swaps, relating to global equity markets. The Portfolio may invest in global equities (i.e., companies that are domiciled, or have operations, in countries outside the emerging markets, including the United States), developed country government bonds or currencies, and futures, options and ETFs on developed market equity indices or the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index.

 

Emerging Market Bonds. In this Sector, the Portfolio will invest primarily in long and short positions in bonds, promissory notes and other fixed-income securities issued by governments, government-related entities or public companies and denominated in major global currencies (e.g., U.S. Dollars, Japanese Yen, British Pounds, Euros, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, Swedish Krona and Swiss Francs). The Portfolio may also invest in derivatives, such as futures, options and swaps, of emerging market sovereign, public or private issuers and Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) sovereign, public or private issuers experiencing stress such that they exhibit characteristics and risks similar to emerging market issuers.

 

Global Market Currencies. In this Sector, the Portfolio will invest primarily in long and short positions in bonds, loans, promissory notes, other fixed-income securities denominated in emerging market currencies (i.e., primarily non-OECD countries), interest rate swaps, credit default swaps, emerging market spot and forward currencies, cash-settled forwards, and other swaps, including volatility swaps, of emerging market sovereign, public or private issuers. In addition to investing in emerging market currencies, this Sector may invest in global currencies (i.e., the currencies of countries outside the emerging markets, including the United States).

 

High-Yield Bonds. In this Sector, the Portfolio will invest primarily in high-yield securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), which are fixed income securities rated below investment grade or unrated and determined to be of similar quality.

 

Quantitative. This Sector may employ strategies that incorporate a number of advanced quantitative techniques for determining the relative value of financial instruments in the global markets. These methods may use sophisticated mathematical models to analyze and/or discover factors that impact market pricing.

 

Global Macro Strategy. This Sector’s objective is to invest primarily in long or short exposures to securities permitted in the any of the above described eight Sectors. The focus of this Sector is on directional trading of these exposures. In man aging this Sector, the Manager will seek toidentify investment opportunities by considering a number of different factors, including macro-economic fundamentals, the investment process recommendations, and other related factors. In making these assessments, the Manager will consider the relative strength, volatility and correlation of the opportunities. The Portfolio may allocate no more than 50% of its risk-based capital to the Global Macro or Global Equities Sectors, and may allocate no more than 33⅓% of its capital to any of the remaining Sectors.

 

All Sectors. The term “emerging markets” as used herein refers to those countries which the Manager considers to be emerging market or frontier emerging market countries. Such countries may change over time.

 

The derivatives held by the Portfolio across the various Sectors will fluctuate from time to time but collectively could represent economic exposure as high as or higher than 50% of the total assets of the Portfolio. Accordingly, the Portfolio and the Subsidiary may maintain a substantial amount of their assets in cash and cash equivalents as required margin for futures contracts, as required segregation under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and to collateralize swap exposure.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Active Trading Risk. The Portfolio may engage in frequent trading of portfolio securities resulting in higher transaction costs, a lower return and increased tax liability.

 

Commodity-Linked Notes Risk. In addition to risks associated with the underlying commodities, commodity-linked notes may be subject to additional special risks, such as the lack of a secondary trading market and temporary price distortions due to speculators and/or the continuous rolling over of futures contracts underlying the notes. Commodity-linked notes are also subject to issuer risk, which is the risk that the issuer to the note will not fulfill its contractual obligation to pay the principal or interest required by the terms of the note.

 

Commodities Risk. Exposure to the commodities markets and/or a particular sector of the commodities markets, may subject the Portfolio and the Subsidiary to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities, such as stocks and bonds. The commodities markets may fluctuate widely based on a variety of factors, including changes in overall market movements, domestic and foreign political and economic events and policies, war, acts of terrorism, changes in domestic or foreign interest rates and/or investor expectations concerning interest rates, domestic and foreign inflation rates and investment and trading activities of mutual funds, hedge funds and commodities funds. Prices of various commodities may also be affected by factors such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and other regulatory developments. The prices of commodities can also fluctuate widely due to supply and demand disruptions in major producing or consuming regions. Also, ETFs and certain other commodity-linked derivative investments may subject the Portfolio indirectly through the Subsidiary to leveraged market exposure for commodities.

 

Counterparty Risk. Certain derivative and “over-the-counter” (“OTC”) instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, such as OTC swaps and forwards, are subject to the risk that the other party to a contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The Manager attempts to mitigate this risk by not entering into transactions with any counterparty that the Manager believes does not have the financial resources to honor its obligations under the transaction and by monitoring the financial stability of counterparties.

 

Credit Risk. The issuer of fixed income instruments in which the Portfolio invests may experience financial difficulty and be unable to meet interest and/or principal payments, thereby causing its instruments to decrease in value and lowering the issuer’s credit rating.

 

Currency/Exchange Rate Risk. The dollar value of the Portfolio’s foreign investments will be affected by changes in the exchange rates between the dollar and the currencies in which those investments are traded.

 

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The derivatives in which the Portfolio may invest include options, futures and swaps. Derivatives may be volatile and some derivatives have the potential for loss that is greater than the Portfolio’s initial investment. Many derivatives are entered into over-the-counter or OTC (not on an exchange or contract market) and may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than more traditional investments, such as stocks or bonds, because there may be fewer purchasers or sellers of the derivative instrument or the derivative instrument may require participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the counterparty (issuer) fails to pay the amount due. If a counterparty to an OTC derivative were to default on its obligations, the Portfolio’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Portfolio’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Portfolio may not receive the amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive).

 

The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the underlying asset on which the derivative is based, or the derivative itself, does not perform as the Manager anticipated.

 

Compared to other types of investments, derivatives may be less tax efficient. The use of certain derivatives may cause the Portfolio to realize higher amounts of ordinary income or short-term capital gains, distributions from which are taxable to individual shareholders at ordinary income tax rates rather than at the more favorable tax rates for long-term capital gain. In addition, changes in government regulation of derivative instruments could affect the character, timing and amount of the Portfolio’s taxable income or gains, and may limit or prevent the Portfolio from using certain types of derivative instruments as a part of its investment strategy, which could make the investment strategy more costly to implement or require the Portfolio to change its investment strategy. The Portfolio’s use of derivatives also may be limited by the requirements for taxation of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company.

 

Special Risks of Futures. The liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent that participants decide to make or take delivery of the underlying investments, liquidity in this market could be reduced. Futures contracts can be purchased with relatively small amounts of initial margin compared to the cash value of the contracts. This economic leverage can increase the volatility of the Portfolio. Even a well-conceived futures transaction may be unsuccessful due to market events.

 

Special Risks of Swaps. Certain swap transactions are structured as two-party contracts and are therefore often less liquid than other types of investments, and the Portfolio may be unable to sell or terminate its swap positions at a desired time or price. Certain swaps, such as total return swaps where two parties agree to “swap” payments on defined underlying assets or interest rates, can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The swaps market is subject to extensive regulation under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and certain SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules promulgated thereunder. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including new and additional government regulation, could result in higher Portfolio costs and expenses and could adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability, among other things, to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Special Risks of Options. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a put option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to buy the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a call option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to sell the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio purchases a put option or call option, there is risk that the price of the underlying investment will move in a direction that causes the option to expire worthless.

 

Emerging Market Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in issuers domiciled in “emerging markets,” those countries determined by the Manager to have developing or emerging economies and markets. Emerging market investing involves risks in addition to those risks involved in foreign investing. For example, many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. In addition, economies in emerging markets generally are dependent heavily upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The securities markets of emerging countries are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and other more developed countries.

 

Event-Linked Securities Risk. The type, frequency and severity of natural disasters and other events that trigger an increase or decline in the value of or income from event-linked securities (“trigger events”) are difficult to predict. Actual losses may vary greatly from expected losses that are based on predictions about trigger events and thus, the expected return on an investment with respect to such instruments is difficult to calculate. For example, with respect to weather-linked instruments, climate changes can affect the occurrence of a trigger event. Event-linked securities may at any given time be illiquid, thus, the sale of these investments may be made at substantial discounts, delayed or impossible. Event-linked securities may also expose the Portfolio to certain unanticipated risks including credit risk, counterparty risk, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations, and adverse tax consequences.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds. In addition, their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying index or other assets rises and falls. The market value of their shares may differ from the net asset value (“NAV”) of the particular fund. As a shareholder in an ETF (as with other investment companies), the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses in addition to its own fees and expenses. Further, if the Portfolio invests in leveraged ETFs, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. In addition, investments in an ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of the shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF’s shares.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The Sector is subject to risks associated with investing in equity securities, including market risk, issuer risk, price volatility risks and market trends risk. The prices of equity securities generally fluctuate in value more than fixed-income investments, may rise or fall rapidly or unpredictably and may reflect real or perceived changes in the issuing company’s financial condition and changes in the overall market or economy. The Sector’s ability to achieve its investment objective may be affected by the risks attendant to any investment in equity securities. The Sector may invest in equity securities without regard to market capitalization.

 

Global Macro Strategy Risk. Because this Sector’s objective is to invest primarily in long or short exposures to securities permitted in the any of the other eight Sectors, the risks described under the headings of such other Sectors are generally applicable to this Sector. The focus of this Sector is on directional trading of these exposures, on an opportunistic and speculative basis, and where the Manager is unable to or incorrectly implements such directional trading, the Portfolio’s risk-based capital and overall portfolio may lose value.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s foreign investments will be affected by changes in the foreign country’s exchange rates; political and social instability; changes in economic or taxation policies; difficulties when enforcing obligations; decreased liquidity; and increased volatility. Foreign companies may be subject to less regulation resulting in less publicly available information about the companies. These risks are magnified for investments in developing or emerging countries, which may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small number of securities.

 

High Yield Bond (Junk Bond) Risk. High yield, below investment grade and unrated high risk debt securities(which also may be known as “junk bonds”)may present additional risks because these securities may be less liquid, and therefore more difficult to value accurately and sell at an advantageous price or time, present more credit risk than investment grade bonds and subject to greater risk of default. The values of junk bonds fluctuate more than those of high- quality bonds in response to company, political, regulatory or economic developments.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the risk that bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise; conversely, bond prices generally rise as interest rates fall. These risks may be greater in the current market environment because certain interest rates are at historically low levels. Specific bonds differ in their sensitivity to changes in interest rates depending on their individual characteristics, including duration.

 

Inflation-Linked Bonds. Inflation-linked bonds are generally fixed income securities whose principal values or interest payments are periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage created from borrowing money or certain types of transactions or instruments, including derivatives, may impair the Portfolio’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective. In addition to leverage resulting from borrowing money or entering into derivative positions, investments such as ETFs may include “embedded” leverage, which means the ETF pays a return linked to a multiple of the performance of the underlying index, securities basket or other reference asset. These investments may be more volatile than investments in unlevered securities, which may increase the volatility of the Portfolio.

 

Limited Number of Holdings Risk. The Portfolio may invest a large percentage of the assets of a particular Sector in a limited number of securities, which could negatively affect the value of that Sector and the Portfolio.

 

Liquidity Risk. The Portfolio may hold illiquid securities that it is unable to sell at the preferred time or price and could lose its entire investment in such securities. Investments with an active trading market or that the Manager otherwise deems liquid could become illiquid before the Portfolio can exit its positions.

 

Management Risk. The Portfolio relies heavily on the Manager’s evaluation of the risk, potential returns and correlation among the Sectors. Although the Portfolio’s investments span multiple markets and asset classes, all markets are subject to declines and it is possible that more than one Sector will experience declines simultaneously. In addition, the Sector weightings are based on the Manager’s evaluation of the correlation between the Sectors, among other factors, which is based on historical patterns that may not repeat in the future. There is no guarantee that the investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Manager’s portfolio managers (the “Portfolio Managers”) will produce the desired results.

 

Market Capitalization Risk. Equity securities’ prices change to differing degrees based on the issuer’s market capitalization in response to such factors as historical and prospective issuer earnings and asset values, economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity.

 

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities have different risk characteristics than traditional debt securities. For example, principal is paid back over the life of the security rather than at maturity. Although the value of fixed-income securities generally increases during periods of falling interest rates and decreases during periods of rising interest rates, this is not always the case with mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. This is due to the fact that the borrower’s payments may be prepaid at any time as well as other factors. Generally, prepayments will increase during a period of falling interest rates and decrease during a period of rising interest rates. The rate of prepayments also may be influenced by economic and other factors. Prepayment risk includes the possibility that securities with stated interest rates may have the principal prepaid earlier than expected, which may occur when interest rates decline. Prepayment may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Investments in mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are made based upon, among other things, expectations regarding the rate of prepayments on the underlying loans. Rates of prepayment faster or slower than expected by the Manager could reduce the Portfolio’s yield, increase the volatility of the Portfolio and/or cause a decline in NAV.

 

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that the issuer of such a security pays back the principal of an obligation later than expected, which may occur when interest rates rise. This may have an adverse effect on returns, as the value of the security decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. In addition, the Portfolio may be prevented from investing proceeds it would otherwise have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates. Certain mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be more volatile and less liquid than other traditional types of debt securities. In addition, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to the Portfolio. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages.

 

Short Sales Risk. Short sales may cause the Portfolio to repurchase a security at a higher price, thereby causing the Portfolio to incur a loss. A short position in a security poses more risk than holding the same security long. As there is no limit on how much the price of the security can increase, the Portfolio’s exposure is unlimited. In order to establish a short position in a security, the Portfolio must borrow the security from a broker. The Portfolio may not always be able to borrow a security the Portfolio seeks to sell short at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio also may not always be able to close out the short position by replacing the borrowed securities at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio will incur increased transaction costs associated with selling securities short. In addition, taking short positions in securities results in a form of leverage which may cause the Portfolio to be volatile.

 

Until the Portfolio replaces a security borrowed in connection with a short sale, it may be required to segregate cash or liquid assets to cover the Portfolio’s short position. Generally, securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold unless they are replaced with other liquid assets. The Portfolio’s ability to access the segregated collateral may also be impaired in the event the broker becomes bankrupt, insolvent or otherwise fails to comply with its obligations. The Portfolio may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in these circumstances.

 

Sovereign Debt Risk. The governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may be unwilling or unable to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such securities due to a variety of factors, including the extent of its foreign reserves; the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due; the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole; or the government debtor’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a government debtor may be subject.

 

Subsidiary Risk. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The principal investments in which the Subsidiary may invest are derivatives and commodities. Because the Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Portfolio, as the sole investor in the Subsidiary, will not have the protections offered to investors in registered investment companies. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and could negatively affect the Subsidiary and the Portfolio and its shareholders.

 

Tax Risk. As a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from sources treated as qualifying income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Portfolio intends to treat the income it derives from commodity-linked notes and the Subsidiary as qualifying income based on the underlying principles of a number of private letter rulings provided to third-parties not associated with the Portfolio. However, the Portfolio has not received such a private letter ruling, and the Portfolio is not able to rely on private letter rulings issued to other taxpayers. The IRS recently issued proposed regulations that, if finalized, would generally treat the Portfolio’s income inclusion with respect to the Subsidiary as qualifying income only if there is a distribution out of the earnings and profits of the Subsidiary that are attributable to such income inclusion. The proposed regulations, if adopted, would apply to taxable years beginning on or after 90 days after the regulations are published as final. The IRS also recently issued a revenue procedure, which states that the IRS will not in the future issue private letter rulings that would require a determination of whether an asset (such as a commodity index-linked note) is a “security” under the 1940 Act.. If the IRS were to change its position with respect to the conclusions reached in these private letter rulings, the income and gains from the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary might be nonqualifying income, and there is a possibility such change in position might be applied to the Portfolio retroactively, in which case the Portfolio might not qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years. In this event, the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees would consider what action to take, which could include a significant change in investment strategy or liquidation. For more information, please see the “Certain Tax Considerations” section in the Portfolio’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Quantitative Strategy. The Portfolio may use quantitative mathematical models that rely on patterns inferred from historical prices and other financial data in evaluating prospective investments. However, most quantitative models cannot fully match the complexity of the financial markets and therefore sudden unanticipated changes in underlying market conditions can significantly impact the performance of the Portfolio. Further, as market dynamics shift over time, a previously highly successful model may become outdated – perhaps without the Manager recognizing that fact before substantial losses are incurred. Moreover, there are an increasing number of market participants who rely on quantitative mathematical models. These models may be similar to those used by the Portfolio, which may result in a substantial number of market participants taking the same action with respect to an investment and some of these market participants may be substantially larger than the Portfolio.

Performance:

Since Class S shares of the Portfolio do not yet have a full calendar year of operations, the bar chart and the average annual total returns table show the performance of the Portfolio’s Class I shares (which are not offered in this Prospectus). Class S would have similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ to the extent that Class S shares have different expenses than Class I shares. The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1 and 5 years and since inception of the Portfolio compare with those of the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Total Return Index (Value Unhedged USD) and the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 3-Month Treasury Bill Index. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

 

Effective May 31, 2017, the Portfolio’s broad-based securities market index changed from the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 3-Month Treasury Bill Index to the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Total Return Index (Value Unhedged USD). The Portfolio’s new broad-based securities market index was selected to provide an additional measure of comparison to the Portfolio’s performance.

CLASS I ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class I Shares Year-to-Date (as of September 30, 2017): -0.98%

 

Best Quarter: Q1 2015 3.04%
Worst Quarter: Q2 2015 -3.33%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class S - James Alpha Macro Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class I Shares Return Before Taxes (7.46%) (0.88%) (0.47%) [1] Feb. 01, 2011
Class I Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions   (7.46%) (1.29%) (0.84%)  
Class I Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   (4.22%) (0.81%) (0.49%)  
Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Total Return Index (Value Unhedged USD) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   2.09% 0.21% 1.08%  
Bank of America Merrill Lynch 3-Month Treasury Bill Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   0.33% 0.12% 0.12%  
[1] The Portfolio's Class I shares commenced operations on February 1, 2011.

After-tax returns calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Class S | James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: JAMES ALPHA GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The investment objective of the Portfolio is total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class S
James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio
Class S Shares
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class S
James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio
Class S Shares
Management Fees 0.90%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees none
Total of Other Expenses 0.54% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 1.44%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (0.47%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) 0.97% [2]
[1] Other Expenses are based on estimates for the current fiscal year.
[2] Pursuant to a fee waiver and operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive all of the Portfolio's management fee payable to the Manager by the Portfolio on Class S assets, less any portion of such fee that is payable by the Manager to the Sub-Adviser, and also to absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front-end and contingent deferred sales loads, leverage, interest and tax expenses, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, and extraordinary or non-routine expenses) for Class S shares do not exceed 1.19% of the Portfolio's average net assets (the "Expense Cap") through December 31, 2018 (the "Expense Limitation Agreement"). The Expense Limitation Agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for management fees waived (other than on Class S shares) and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such management fees were waived or expenses were paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the expense cap in place at the time the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class S | James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio | Class S Shares | USD ($) 99 410 743 1,685

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 141% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in real estate and real estate-related issuers or investments that provide exposure to real estate and real estate-related issuers, and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to such securities. The Portfolio may invest 100% of its net assets (other than cash and cash equivalents) in REITs, and may also invest in other publicly traded real estate securities that are included in the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Real Estate Index (the “Index”). The Index may include securities of any issuer that derived in the previous full fiscal year at least 75% of its total earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (“EBIDA”) from the ownership, trading and development of income-producing real estate. REITs are typically small or medium capitalization stocks which fall within the range of $250 million to $10 billion in equity market capitalization. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 40% of its net assets in the securities of issuers located in at least three foreign countries. The Portfolio will limit its investments in issuers located in any single foreign country to no more than 25% of its net assets. The Portfolio also seeks to enhance current income by writing (selling) covered call options with a notional value of up to 30% of the Portfolio’s net assets. “Notional value” is the value of an option contract’s underlying shares at the current market price. The Sub-Adviser uses both a quantitative screening process and a qualitative stock selection process when selecting securities for investment by the Portfolio in connection with its strategy.

 

Quantitative Screening Process: The Sub-Adviser and Green Street Advisors of Newport Beach, California, an independent research and consulting firm concentrating on publicly-traded real estate securities, have designed a proprietary quantitative screening model, the Global Real Estate Investment Model (the “Model”), which the Sub-Adviser uses to identify the securities in which the Portfolio may invest. The Model identifies approximately 80 qualifying securities for evaluation by the Sub-Adviser (“Qualifying Securities”). Qualifying Securities may include those issued by companies in a variety of sectors within the real estate industry, including, among others, the retail, office, industrial, hotel, healthcare multi-family and self-storage sectors.

 

Qualitative Stock Selection Process: All Qualifying Securities are evaluated by the Sub-Adviser in determining appropriate investments for the Portfolio. The Sub-Adviser selects the top 40 to 50 securities from among the approximately 80 Qualifying Securities based on its assessment of certain factors including, but not limited to, management quality, balance sheet strength, debt structure and maturities, lease term and renewal schedule, tenant credit quality, regional macroeconomic conditions and trends and projected demand drivers and supply constraints for space. The Sub-Adviser may sell a security held in the portfolio when it no longer qualifies under the parameters established by the Model.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities (including depositary receipts) involve risks in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a foreign market’s local currency to purchase a security in that market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even if the foreign security’s local price remains unchanged. Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse political or economic developments in a geographic region or a particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a substantial decline in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate a Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, may adversely affect a Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. Governmental actions can have a significant effect on the economic conditions in foreign countries, which also may adversely affect the value and liquidity of a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Portfolio’s assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio’s operations. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by a Portfolio, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Portfolio holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Foreign companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies. Finally, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of the securities. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their U.S. counterparts. In addition, differences in clearance and settlement procedures in foreign markets may cause delays in settlements of the Portfolio’s trades effected in those markets.

 

Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks associated with direct investments in foreign securities. Issuers of the foreign security represented by a depositary receipt, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, may not be obligated to disclose material information in the United States or to pass through to holders of such receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Compared to the United States and other developed countries, developing or emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade a small number of securities.

 

Prices of these securities tend to be especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have been characterized by greater potential loss (as well as gain) than securities of companies located in developed countries.

 

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Portfolio, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Portfolio’s common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The price of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can fluctuate differently than the market as a whole. An individual issuer’s securities can rise or fall dramatically with little or no warning based upon such things as a better (or worse) than expected earnings report, news about the development of a promising product, or the loss of key management personnel. There is also a risk that the price of a security may never reach the level that the Sub-Adviser believes is representative of its full value or that it may even go down in price.

 

Management Risk. The Sub-Adviser’s securities selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Portfolio to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment goals. The Portfolio’s successful pursuit of its investment objective depends upon the Model and the Sub-Adviser’s ability to manage the Portfolio in accordance with the Model. The Model’s parameters and weightings might produce losses or cause the Portfolio to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment goals. If one or more key individuals leave the employ of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may not be able to hire qualified replacements, or may require an extended time to do so. This could prevent the Portfolio from achieving its investment objective.

 

Options Related Risk. There are numerous risks associated with transactions in options on securities. A decision as to whether, when and how to use covered call options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. As the writer of a covered call option, the Portfolio forgoes, during the life of the covered call option, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the option premium received and the exercise price of the covered call option, but has retained the risk of loss, minus the option premium received, should the price of the underlying security decline. The use of options may require the Portfolio to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other than current market values, will limit the amount of appreciation the Portfolio can realize above the exercise price of an option, or may cause the Portfolio to hold a security that it might otherwise sell. Certain options may be traded in the “over-the-counter” (“OTC”) market, which are options negotiated with dealers; there is no secondary market for OTC options.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Real Estate Securities Risks. The Portfolio does not invest in real estate directly, but because the Portfolio concentrates its investments in REITs and publicly traded real estate securities, its portfolio will be significantly impacted by the performance of the real estate market and may experience more volatility and be exposed to greater risk than a more diversified portfolio. The value of the Portfolio’s common shares will be affected by factors affecting the value of real estate and the earnings of companies engaged in the real estate industry, including: (i) changes in general economic and market conditions; (ii) changes in the value of real estate properties; (iii) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (iv) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (v) changes in zoning laws; (vi) casualty and condemnation losses; (vii) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (viii) the availability of financing; and (ix) changes in interest rates and quality of credit extended. REITs and foreign real estate companies require specialized management and pay management expenses; may have less trading volume; may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets; may not qualify for preferential tax treatments or exemptions; and may invest in a limited number of properties, in a narrow geographic area, or in a single property type, which increases the risk that the Portfolio could be unfavorably affected by the poor performance of a single investment or investment type. Furthermore, investments in REITs and foreign real estate companies may involve duplication of management fees and certain other expenses, as the Portfolio indirectly bears its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs and foreign real estate companies in which it invests. Such expenses are not reflected in Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses under the Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses section of the above fee table.

 

There are special risks associated with investing in REIT preferred stock. Preferred stock may include provisions that permit the issuer, in its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a certain period of time. If the Portfolio owns a security that is deferring or omitting its distributions, the Portfolio may be required to report the distribution on its tax returns, even though it may not have received this income. Further, preferred stock may lose substantial value due to the omission or deferment of dividend payments. Preferred stock may be less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks, and generally offer no voting rights with respect to the issuer. Preferred stock may also be subordinated to other securities in an issuer’s capital structure, subjecting them to a greater risk of non-payment than more senior securities. In addition, in certain circumstances, an issuer of preferred stock may redeem the stock prior to a specified date, and this may negatively impact the return of the security.

 

Certain sectors of the real estate industry, such as the retail, office, industrial, hotel, healthcare, multi-family, and self-storage, carry special risks. These sectors may be affected by adverse economic and regulatory events or increased competition to a greater degree than other sectors of the real estate industry.

 

Medium and Small Capitalization Company Risk. Many of the real estate securities in which the Portfolio invests are medium and small capitalization companies. Investing in medium and small capitalization companies may involve more risk than is usually associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources, and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

Since Class S shares of the Portfolio do not yet have a full calendar year of operations, the bar chart and the average annual total returns table show the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares (which are not offered in this Prospectus) Class S would have similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ to the extent that Class S shares have lower expenses than Class A shares. For the periods prior to August 1, 2011, the Portfolio operated as a separate fund called the Global Real Estate Investments Fund (the “Predecessor Portfolio”), which was advised by Ascent Investment Advisors, LLC. The investment policy of the Portfolio is substantially similar to that of the Predecessor Portfolio. The bar chart and table that follow show the performance of the Class A shares of the Predecessor Portfolio (see footnote below) and the Portfolio and provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1 year, 5 years and since inception of the Portfolio’s Class A shares compare with those of the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Real Estate Index. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The past performance of the Portfolio (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

CLASS A ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class A Shares Year-to-Date Performance (as of September 30, 2017): 11.46%

 

Best Quarter: Q3 2010 16.54%
Worst Quarter: Q3 2011 -20.18%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class S - James Alpha Global Real Estate Investments Portfolio
Label
1 Year
5 Years
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class A Shares [1] Return Before Taxes 7.01% 10.26% 9.68% Oct. 26, 2009
Class A Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   3.08% 5.88% 5.68%  
Class A Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   4.36% 6.18% 5.95%  
FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Real Estate Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   4.99% 10.32% 9.81%  
[1] The performance figures shown above reflect the performance of Class A shares of the Predecessor Portfolio (for periods prior to August 1, 2011) and the Portfolio (for the periods beginning August 1, 2011) at net asset value. The performance shown has not been adjusted to reflect applicable Class S fees and expenses.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods.

Class S | James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: JAMES ALPHA MULTI STRATEGY ALTERNATIVE INCOME PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The Portfolio seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation as its primary objective

with a secondary objective of providing income for its shareholders.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class S
James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio
Class S Shares
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class S
James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio
Class S Shares
Management Fees 2.00%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees none
Other Fund Expenses 1.02% [1]
Interest Expense 0.76%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.10% [2]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 3.88%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (1.34%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) 2.54% [3]
[1] Other Expenses are based on estimates for the current fiscal year.
[2] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statements (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statements will include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").
[3] Pursuant to a fee waiver and operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive all of the Portfolio's management fee payable to the Manager by the Portfolio on Class S assets, less any portion of such fee that is payable by the Manager to the Sub-Advisers, and also to absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front-end and contingent deferred sales loads, interest and tax expenses, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, extraordinary or non-routine expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for Class S shares do not exceed 2.50% of the Portfolio's average net assets (the "Expense Cap") through December 31, 2018 (the "Expense Limitation Agreement"). The Expense Limitation Agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for management fees waived (other than on Class S shares) and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such management fees were waived or expenses were paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the Expense Cap in place at the time the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class S | James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio | Class S Shares | USD ($) 257 1,061 1,883 4,021

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 118% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets in a combination of distinct investment strategies managed by different sub-advisers and, in some cases, by the Manager. The Manager is responsible for selecting and allocating assets among the Portfolio’s investment strategies. The Manager is also responsible for selecting and overseeing one or more sub-advisers to manage each investment strategy. The Manager also has discretion to manage directly all or a portion of such investment strategies.

 

By combining multiple, distinct investment strategies, the Portfolio seeks to provide capital appreciation over the long-term with lower volatility than the individual markets in which the Portfolio invests and with limited correlation to individual markets.

 

The principal investment strategies that will be employed by the Portfolio include the following:

 

• Equity Strategies. The Portfolio will seek equity exposure using a combination of investment strategies that may include long-only strategies and long/short equity strategies. Long/short equity strategies consist of equity strategies that combine core long holdings of equities with short sales of equities. A long position is established when the portfolio managers anticipate a price increase in the asset and a short position is established when the portfolio managers anticipate a price decrease in the asset. The long/short equity strategies may be used to seek to outperform the broader equity market by increasing net long exposure in rising markets and decreasing net long exposure, or even obtaining net short exposure, in declining markets. The Portfolio’s long/short equity strategies also seek to provide equity-like returns while protecting capital during market declines through the Portfolio’s short positions. The equity exposures in the equity strategies may be to individual stocks or to equity indexes that track U.S. or non-U.S. equity markets, including markets in emerging market countries (i.e., those that are in their initial stages of their industrial cycles). Both long and short exposure to equities may be achieved through investments in derivative instruments, such as options, futures or swaps that provide equity exposure. Such derivative usage can be for the purposes of hedging, speculation or to allow the portfolio managers to implement the Portfolio’s investment strategies more efficiently than investing directly in stocks.

 

• Merger Arbitrage Strategies. The Portfolio’s merger arbitrage strategy is to invest in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies that are involved in publicly announced mergers, takeovers, tender offers, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, liquidations and other corporate reorganizations (collectively, “Merger Transactions”). The Portfolio may invest in common stocks and preferred stocks of any size market capitalization, and without limitation in securities of foreign companies.

 

Merger arbitrage is a highly specialized investment approach designed to profit from the successful completion of Merger Transactions. In pursuing its strategy, the Portfolio may employ investment techniques that involve leverage, such as short selling, borrowing for investment purposes and purchasing and selling options. The merger arbitrage strategy most frequently used by the Portfolio involves purchasing the shares of an announced acquisition target company at a discount to its expected value upon completion of the acquisition. The Portfolio may engage in selling securities short under certain circumstances, such as when the terms of a proposed acquisition call for the exchange of common stock and/or other securities. In such a case, the common stock of the company to be acquired may be purchased and, at approximately the same time, an equivalent amount of the acquiring company’s common stock and/or other securities may be sold short. The Portfolio may enter into equity swap agreements for the purpose of attempting to obtain a desired return on, or exposure to, certain equity securities or equity indices in an expedited manner or at a lower cost to the Portfolio than if the Portfolio had invested directly in such securities.

 

• Real Estate-Related Strategies. The Portfolio’s real-estate related strategy is to invest, either directly or through other investment companies, in publicly traded real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), including REIT preferred stock, and securities of other publicly traded real estate and real estate-related companies. REITs are typically small or medium capitalization stocks which fall within the range of $250 million to $10 billion in equity market capitalization. The Portfolio may invest in REITs that invest primarily in real property (equity REITs), REITs that invest primarily in mortgages (mortgage REITs) and REITs that invest in both real property and mortgages (hybrid REITs). The REITs and other real estate and real estate-related companies in which the Portfolio may invest may include both U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that invest across a variety of sectors within the real estate industry, including, among others, the retail, office, industrial, hotel, healthcare multi-family and self-storage sectors. The Portfolio may seek to enhance current income in this strategy by writing (selling) covered call options on real estate and real estate-related companies. The Portfolio may also take short positions in REITs and real estate and real estate-related companies either to hedge long positions or to express the portfolio manager’s view on the direction of the real estate market.

 

• Master Limited Partnership (MLP) Strategies. The Portfolio will invest up to 25% of its assets in publicly traded MLP investments and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) that track MLPs. MLPs are generally organized as limited partnerships or limited liability companies and are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Interests in MLPs trade on a public stock exchange, similar to stock of corporations. ETNs are unsecured debt obligations issued by a bank or other financial institution that seek to track the performance of an index, an MLP index in the case of the Portfolio, over a specified period. Like MLPs, interests in ETNs trade on a public exchange.

 

The Portfolio will primarily invest in MLPs, or MLP-related ETNs, that track U.S. energy infrastructure, including MLPs engaged in transportation, storage and processing of natural resources, although the Portfolio may also invest in other types of MLPs that seek to take advantage of new regulation of investment vehicles. The Portfolio will generally invest in MLPs and ETNs that the portfolio managers believe can generate repeatable cash flows that will grow over time, that have a conservative capital structure and that are trading at attractive valuations.

 

• Risk-Adjusted Long/Short Debt Strategy. The risk-adjusted long/short debt strategy invests primarily in U.S. and European fixed income and fixed income-related securities, and may establish long and short positions in a variety of derivative and other instruments for risk management and investment purposes. Fixed income securities in which the Portfolio will invest are anticipated to generally consist of U.S. and European fixed income and fixed income-related securities of varying maturities and credit quality, including those that are rated below investment grade at the time of purchase (commonly referred to as “high-yield” or “junk” securities). These include, among others, corporate bonds, U.S. government securities, non U.S. sovereign debt securities, and preferred securities. Fixed income-related securities include, but are not limited to, exchange-traded products and derivative instruments, including options; financial futures; swaps, including credit default swaps; and forward foreign currency contracts, that seek to provide the same or similar economic exposure as a physical investment in the above securities. The below-investment grade fixed income securities in which the Portfolio may invest are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Hedging strategies may be used by the Portfolio in an attempt to preserve capital and mitigate risk, by hedging against changes in the price of other securities held by the Portfolio, and may involve purchasing put options, selling debt or equity securities short or writing covered call options. Derivative instruments may also be used for investment purposes, and for currency and interest rate hedging purposes.

 

The risk-adjusted long/short debt strategy seeks to take advantage of credit rating upgrades and downgrades offering attractive returns while seeking to minimize interest rate and currency risks. During stressed market environments, the strategy actively manages its long core positions with corresponding hedges to preserve capital, while seeking to profit from individual credit deteriorations on the short side. Under normal market conditions, the strategy may establish short interest rate positions to manage interest rate risk. The strategy will employ leverage through investments in derivative instruments and through establishing short hedging positions in Treasury bills and other fixed income or equity securities. The strategy seeks to invest in securities with ratings from B to BBB by Standard and Poor’s Financial Services LLC, but may invest in securities of any credit rating, including below-investment grade fixed income securities. The strategy uses proprietary models for security selection in combination with fundamental analysis.

 

The Portfolio may invest in companies of any size (from micro-cap to large-cap) in each of its investment strategies. While the Portfolio may generally invest in foreign securities without limitation, the Portfolio will limit its investments in emerging markets securities to 25% of the Portfolio’s assets.

 

Certain of the Portfolio’s investment strategies may utilize derivatives and other instruments, such as leveraged exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that have an economic leveraging effect. Economic leveraging tends to magnify, sometimes significantly depending on the amount of leverage used, the effect of any increase or decrease in the Portfolio’s exposure to an asset class and may cause the Portfolio’s net asset value to be more volatile than a fund that does not use leverage. To the extent that the Portfolio uses derivative instruments, the Portfolio will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Portfolio did not use derivatives or other instruments that have an economic leveraging effect.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio investments. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Common Stock Risk. In general, stock values fluctuate in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in response to these factors. Common stockholders are subordinate to debt or preferred stockholders in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and, therefore, will be subject to greater credit risk than preferred stock or debt instruments.

 

Credit Risk. The issuer of fixed income instruments in which the Portfolio invests may experience financial difficulty and be unable to meet interest and/or principal payments, thereby causing its instruments to decrease in value and lowering the issuer’s credit rating.

 

Counterparty Risk. Certain “over-the-counter” derivative instruments, such as over-the-counter swaps and options, are subject to the risk that the other party to a contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations.

 

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The derivatives that the Portfolio primarily expects to use include options, futures and swaps. Derivatives may be volatile and some derivatives have the potential for loss that is greater than the Portfolio’s initial investment. Over-the-counter derivatives, which are those not cleared and settled through a central exchange, may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than more traditional investments, such as stocks or bonds, because there may be fewer purchasers or sellers of the derivative instrument or the derivative instrument may require participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the counterparty ( issuer) fails to pay the amount due. If a counterparty were to default on its obligations, the Portfolio’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Portfolio’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Portfolio may not receive the amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive). The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the underlying asset on which the derivative is based, or the derivative itself, does not perform as the Manager or sub-adviser anticipated. The Portfolio may incur higher taxes as a result of its investing in derivatives.

 

Special Risks of Options. If the Portfolio sells a put option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to buy the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio sells a call option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to sell the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio purchases a put option or call option, there is risk that the price of the underlying investment will move in a direction that causes the option to expire worthless.

 

Emerging Market Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in issuers domiciled in “emerging markets,” those countries determined by the Manager and/or a Sub-Adviser to have developing or emerging economies and markets. Emerging market investing involves risks in addition to those risks involved in foreign investing. For example, many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. In addition, economies in emerging markets generally are dependent heavily upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The securities markets of emerging countries are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and other more developed countries.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds. In addition, their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying index or other assets rises and falls. The market value of their shares may differ from the net asset value (“NAV”) of the particular fund. As a shareholder in an ETF (as with other investment companies), the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses in addition to its own fees and expenses. Further, if the Portfolio invests in leveraged ETFs, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. In addition, investments in an ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of the shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF’s shares.

 

Exchange-Traded Notes (ETN) Risk. Exchange-traded notes are subject to the credit risk of the issuer, and the value of the exchange-traded note may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, despite the underlying market benchmark or assets remaining unchanged. The value of an exchange-traded note may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the exchange-traded note, volatility and lack of liquidity in the underlying market, changes in the applicable interest rates, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying market or assets. Exchange-traded notes are also subject to the risk that the other party to the contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations, which may cause losses or additional costs to the Portfolio. When the Portfolio invests in exchange-traded notes it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the exchange-traded note.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s foreign investments will be affected by changes in the foreign country’s exchange rates; political and social instability; changes in economic or taxation policies; difficulties when enforcing obligations; decreased liquidity; and increased volatility. Foreign companies may be subject to less regulation resulting in less publicly available information about the companies.

 

Credit Risk. The issuer of fixed income instruments in which the Portfolio invests may experience financial difficulty and be unable to meet interest and/or principal payments, thereby causing its instruments to decrease in value and lowering the issuer’s credit rating.

 

Government Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)). U.S. government securities are subject to investment and market risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. Securities, such as those issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae or the U.S. Treasury, that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity and the market prices for such securities will fluctuate. Notwithstanding that these securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, circumstances could arise that would prevent the payment of interest or principal. This would result in losses to the Portfolio. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-related organizations, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support. Therefore, U.S. government related organizations may not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

Hedging Strategy Risk. The Portfolio’s hedging strategy is designed to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, losses resulting from volatility and market declines. Even where the hedging strategy is used successfully, the Portfolio is likely to experience some loss in value during periods of volatility and/or market declines. It is important to know that the hedging strategy may not be successful in reducing volatility or offsetting market declines, and may result in losses. Also, the hedging strategy may prevent the Portfolio from achieving higher investment returns than may be available by investing in an unhedged portfolio or a comparable mutual fund without a similar hedging strategy and the Portfolio’s use of derivatives and ETFs will increase the Portfolio’s expenses. It is possible that the hedging strategy could result in losses and/or expenses that are greater than if the Portfolio did not include the hedging strategy.

 

High Yield Bond (Junk Bond) Risk. High yield, below investment grade and unrated high risk debt securities(which also may be known as “junk bonds”)may present additional risks because these securities may be less liquid, and therefore more difficult to value accurately and sell at an advantageous price or time, present more credit risk than investment grade bonds and subject to greater risk of default. The values of junk bonds fluctuate more than those of high-quality bonds in response to company, political, regulatory or economic developments.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the risk that bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise; conversely, bond prices generally rise as interest rates fall. These risks may be greater in the current market environment because interest rates are at historically low levels. Specific bonds differ in their sensitivity to changes in interest rates depending on their individual characteristics, including duration.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “non-cumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Sovereign Debt Risk. The governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may be unwilling or unable to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such securities due to the extent of its foreign reserves; the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due; the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole; or the government debtor’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a government debtor may be subject.

 

Special Risks of Forward Foreign Currency Contracts. A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract. The cost to the Portfolio of engaging in forward foreign currency contracts varies with factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period, interest rate differentials and the prevailing market conditions. Because forward foreign currency contracts are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are typically involved. The use of forward foreign currency contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities the Portfolio owns or intends to acquire, but it does establish a rate of exchange in advance. While forward foreign currency contract sales limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currencies increase.

 

Special Risks of Futures. The liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent that participants decide to make or take delivery of the underlying investments, liquidity in this market could be reduced. Futures contracts can be purchased with relatively small amounts of initial margin compared to the cash value of the contracts. This economic leverage can increase the volatility of the Portfolio. Even a well-conceived futures transaction may be unsuccessful due to market events.

 

Special Risks of Swaps. Certain swap transactions are structured as two-party contracts and are therefore often less liquid than other types of investments, and the Portfolio may be unable to sell or terminate its swap positions at a desired time or price. Certain swaps, such as total return swaps where two parties agree to “swap” payments on defined underlying assets or interest rates, can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The swaps market is subject to extensive regulation under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and certain SEC and CFTC rules promulgated thereunder. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including new and additional government regulation, could result in higher Portfolio costs and expenses and could adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability, among other things, to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

These risks are magnified for investments in developing or emerging countries, which may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small number of securities.

 

Industry Specific Risk. The energy infrastructure MLPs in which the Portfolio invests are subject to risks specific to the industry they serve, including the following:

 

• Fluctuations in commodity prices may impact the volume of commodities transported, processed, stored or distributed.

 

• Reduced volumes of natural gas or other energy commodities available for transporting, processing, storing or distributing may affect the profitability of an energy infrastructure MLP.

 

• Slowdowns in new construction and acquisitions can limit growth potential.

 

• A sustained reduced demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products that could adversely affect revenues and cash flows.

 

• Depletion of the natural gas reserves or other commodities if not replaced, which could impact the ability of an energy infrastructure MLP to make distributions.

 

• Changes in the regulatory environment could adversely affect the profitability of energy infrastructure MLPs.

 

• Extreme weather or other natural disasters could impact the value of energy infrastructure MLP securities.

 

• Rising interest rates which could result in a higher cost of capital and divert investors into other investment opportunities.

 

• Threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets could impact the market for energy infrastructure MLP securities.

 

• Global political and economic instability could affect the operations of MLPs and energy companies in unpredictable ways, including through disruptions of natural resources supplies and markets and the resulting volatility in commodity prices. Recent political and military instability in a variety of countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa has heightened these risks.

 

• Recently, the price of oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels has declined significantly and experienced significant volatility, which has adversely impacted companies operating in the energy sector. There can be no assurance that the price of oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels will not decline further and have a further adverse effect.

 

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Portfolio, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Portfolio’s common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

 

Investment Focus Risk. To the extent the Portfolio invests a greater amount in any one sector or industry, such as real estate or energy, the Portfolio’s performance will depend to a greater extent on the overall condition of that sector or industry and there is increased risk to the Portfolio if conditions adversely affect that sector or industry.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage created from borrowing money or certain types of transactions or instruments, including derivatives, may impair the Portfolio’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective. In addition to leverage resulting from borrowing money or entering into derivative positions, investments such as ETFs may include “embedded” leverage, which means the ETF pays a return linked to a multiple of the performance of the underlying index, securities basket or other reference asset. These investments may be more volatile than investments in unlevered securities, which may increase the volatility of the Portfolio.

 

Management Risk. The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the portfolio managers for each of the Portfolio’s investment strategies may not produce the desired results. For example, there is no guarantee that the Portfolio’s mixture of long and short equity positions will produce a portfolio with reduced exposure to stock market risk and may cause the Portfolio to underperform the broader equity markets during market rallies. The sub-advisers investment styles may not always be complementary, and may be in direct conflict which could adversely affect performance. In addition, the Portfolio’s multiple investment strategies may not work to hedge general market risk if the markets in which the Portfolio invests become correlated during times of economic stress.

 

The Portfolio is dependent on the Manager’s skill in allocating assets among the Portfolio’s various investment strategies and in selecting the best mix of sub-advisers. The Portfolio is therefore subject to the risk that assets will be allocated to a strategy at an inopportune time and the value of your investment may decrease if the Manager’s judgment about the attractiveness, value or market trends affecting a particular asset class, investment style, or sub-adviser is incorrect.

 

Medium and Small Capitalization Company Risk. Investing in medium and small capitalization companies may involve more risk than is usually associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices. Many of the real estate securities in which the Portfolio invests are medium and small capitalization companies.

 

Micro Cap Companies Risk. The Portfolio may invest in companies with micro capitalizations. Micro capitalization stocks may offer greater opportunity for capital appreciation than the stocks of larger and more established companies; however, they also involve substantially greater risks of loss and price fluctuations. Micro capitalization companies carry additional risks because their earnings and revenues tend to be less predictable (and some companies may be experiencing significant losses), and their share prices tend to be more volatile and their markets less liquid than companies with larger market capitalizations. Micro capitalization companies may be newly formed or in the early stages of development, with limited product lines, markets or financial resources, and may lack management depth. In addition, there may be less public information available about these companies. The shares of micro capitalization companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger, more established companies, which can adversely affect the pricing of these securities and the future ability to sell these securities. Also, it may take a long time before the Portfolio realizes a gain, if any, on an investment in a micro capitalization company.

 

Merger Arbitrage Risk. Investments in companies that are the subject of a publicly announced transaction carry the risk that the proposed or expected transaction may not be completed or may be completed on less favorable terms than originally expected, which may lower the Portfolio’s performance.

 

MLP Risk. An MLP is a public limited partnership or limited liability company. Although the characteristics of MLPs closely resemble a traditional limited partnership, a major difference is that MLPs may trade on a public exchange or in the over-the-counter market. The ability to trade on a public exchange or in the over-the-counter market provides a certain amount of liquidity not found in many limited partnership investments. However, MLP interests may be less liquid than conventional publicly traded securities. The risks of investing in an MLP are similar to those of investing in a partnership, including more flexible governance structures, which could result in less protection for investors than investments in a corporation. The managing general partner of an MLP may receive an incentive allocation based on increases in the amount and growth of cash distributions to investors in the MLP. This method of compensation may create an incentive for the managing general partner to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangements. Investors in an MLP would normally not be liable for the debts of the MLP beyond the amount that the investor has contributed but investors may not be shielded to the same extent that a shareholder of a corporation would be. In addition, MLP distributions may be reduced by fees and other expenses incurred by the MLP. Investments in MLPs may involve duplication of management fees and certain other expenses, as the Portfolio indirectly bears its proportionate share of any expenses paid by MLPs in which it invests. Such expenses are not reflected in the above fee table. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns.

 

Certain MLPs may operate in, or have exposure to, the energy sector. The energy sector can be significantly affected by changes in the prices and supplies of oil and other energy fuels, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other government regulations, policies of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and relationships among OPEC members and between OPEC and oil importing nations.

 

MLP Tax Risk. MLPs generally do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Portfolio were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction in the value of your investment in the Portfolio and lower income.

 

Real Estate Securities Risks. The Portfolio does not invest in real estate directly, but because the Portfolio invests in REITs and publicly traded real estate and real estate-related securities, its portfolio will be significantly impacted by the performance of the real estate market and may experience more volatility and be exposed to greater risk than a portfolio that does not make such investments. The value of the Portfolio’s common shares will be affected by factors affecting the value of real estate and the earnings of companies engaged in the real estate industry, including: (i) changes in general economic and market conditions; (ii) changes in the value of real estate properties; (iii) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (iv) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (v) changes in zoning laws; (vi) casualty and condemnation losses; (vii) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (viii) the availability of financing and (ix) changes in interest rates and quality of credit extended. REITs and foreign real estate companies require specialized management and pay management expenses; may have less trading volume; may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets; may not qualify for preferential tax treatments or exemptions; and may invest in a limited number of properties, in a narrow geographic area, or in a single property type, which increases the risk that the Portfolio could be unfavorably affected by the poor performance of a single investment or investment type. To the extent the Portfolio receives REIT distributions that represent mortgage interest or rent, the Portfolio’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income to investors of the Portfolio. Furthermore, investments in REITs and foreign real estate companies may involve duplication of management fees and certain other expenses, as the Portfolio indirectly bears its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs and foreign real estate companies in which it invests. Such expenses are not reflected in the above fee table.

 

There are special risks associated with investing in REIT preferred stock. Preferred stock may include provisions that permit the issuer, in its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a certain period of time. If the Portfolio owns a security that is deferring or omitting its distributions, the Portfolio may be required to report the distribution on its tax returns, even though it may not have received this income. Further, preferred stock may lose substantial value due to the omission or deferment of dividend payments. Preferred stock may be less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks, and generally offer no voting rights with respect to the issuer. Preferred stock may also be subordinated to other securities in an issuer’s capital structure, subjecting them to a greater risk of non-payment than more senior securities. In addition, in certain circumstances, an issuer of preferred stock may redeem the stock prior to a specified date, and this may negatively impact the return of the security.

 

Certain sectors of the real estate industry, such as the retail, office, industrial, hotel, healthcare multi-family and self-storage, carry special risks. These sectors may be affected by adverse economic and regulatory events or increased competition to a greater degree than other sectors of the real estate industry.

 

Short Sales Risk. Short sales may cause the Portfolio to repurchase a security at a higher price, thereby causing the Portfolio to incur a loss. A short position in a security poses more risk than holding the same security long. As there is no limit on how much the price of the security can increase, the Portfolio’s exposure is unlimited. In order to establish a short position in a security, the Portfolio must borrow the security from a broker. The Portfolio may not always be able to borrow a security the Portfolio seeks to sell short at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio also may not always be able to close out the short position by replacing the borrowed securities at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio will incur increased transaction costs associated with selling securities short. In addition, taking short positions in securities results in a form of leverage which may cause the Portfolio to be volatile.

 

Until the Portfolio replaces a security borrowed in connection with a short sale, it may be required to segregate cash or liquid assets to cover the Portfolio’s short position. Generally, securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold unless they are replaced with other liquid assets. The Portfolio’s ability to access the segregated collateral may also be impaired in the event the broker becomes bankrupt, insolvent or otherwise fails to comply with its obligations. The Portfolio may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in these circumstances.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Tax Risk. The Portfolio’s investment techniques, including use of covered call options, short-term trading strategies, and high portfolio turnover rate, may result in more of the Portfolio’s income dividends and capital gains distributions being taxable to you at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in such techniques.

 

Volatility Risk. The Portfolio may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Portfolio’s NAV per share to experience significant increases or declines in value over short periods of time.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

Since Class S shares of the Portfolio do not yet have a full calendar year of operations, the bar chart and the average annual total returns table show the performance of the Portfolio’s Class I shares (which are not offered in this Prospectus). Class S shares would have similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ to the extent that Class S shares have different expenses than Class I shares. The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1 year and since inception of the Portfolio compare with those of the Russell 2000 Total Return Index. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

CLASS I ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class I Shares Year-to-Date (as of September 30, 2017): 3.39%

 

Best Quarter: Q2 2016 5.95%
Worst Quarter: Q3 2015 -10.60%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class S - James Alpha Multi Strategy Alternative Income Portfolio
Label
1 Year
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class I Shares Return Before Taxes 4.24% (2.63%) [1] Sep. 29, 2014
Class I Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions   3.35% (3.41%)  
Class I Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   2.65% (2.22%)  
Russell 2000 Total Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   21.31% 10.56%  
[1] The Portfolio commenced operations on September 29, 2014.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Class S | James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: JAMES ALPHA MANAGED RISK DOMESTIC EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The primary investment objective of the Portfolio is capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class S
James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio
Class S Shares
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class S
James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio
Class S Shares
Management Fees 1.20%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees none
Other Expenses [1]
Interest Payments and Fees on Borrowed Funds 0.75%
Other Operating Expenses 1.01%
Total of Other Expenses 1.76%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.10% [2]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 3.06%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (0.60%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) 2.46% [3]
[1] Other Expenses are based on estimates for the current fiscal year.
[2] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statements (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statements will include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds"). Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[3] Pursuant to a fee waiver and operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive all of the Portfolio's management fee payable to the Manager by the Portfolio on Class S assets, less any portion of such fee that is payable by the Manager to the Sub-Adviser, and also to absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front-end and contingent deferred sales loads, interest and tax expenses, leverage, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, extraordinary or non-routine expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and expenses) for Class S shares do not exceed 1.99% of the Portfolio's average net assets (the "Expense Cap") through December 31, 2018 (the "Expense Limitation Agreement"). The Expense Limitation Agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for management fees waived (other than on Class S shares) and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such management fees were waived or expenses were paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the Expense Cap in place at the time the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class S | James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio | Class S Shares | USD ($) 249 888 1,552 3,329

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 11% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will seek to achieve its objective by combining a long equity strategy with an options hedging strategy that seeks to provide protection during significant equity market downturns. The long equity strategy seeks to replicate the returns of the S&P 500® Index and to enhance these returns through the use of leverage.

 

The Portfolio will achieve exposure to S&P 500® Index companies primarily through exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds, and closed-end funds but may also gain exposure through direct investment in common and preferred stocks.

 

The Portfolio’s options hedging strategy attempts to reduce the risk associated with the Portfolio’s long equity exposure with two different strategies – a low volatility strategy and a high volatility strategy. The low volatility strategy, referred to as a “calendar spread” will seek to protect the Portfolio from significant market downturns (e.g., a drop of 12% or more in the value of the S&P 500® Index) by buying significantly out of the money put options and offsetting the cost of these put options by selling (writing) put options with a shorter maturity and with an exercise (strike) price that is higher than the purchased put options. Out of the money put options are options with a strike price that is lower than the market price of the underlying asset. When market volatility is low and options are less expensive, the Portfolio may seek to own more put options long than it sells (writes) short to provide greater protection during a significant market downturn.

 

The high volatility strategy seeks to protect the Portfolio from modest market downturns (e.g., a drop of between 6% and 8% in the value of the S&P 500® Index). Conventional put spreads consist of buying slightly out of the money put options and selling put options that are further out of the money with the same expiration. Typically, the notional value of the put spreads will be larger than the Portfolio’s exposure from its long equity strategy. The Portfolio expects primarily to use listed exchange-traded options.

 

When market volatility is high, the Portfolio may also sell (write) covered call options to generate additional income.

 

Although the Portfolio intends to be hedged at all times using at least one of the above strategies, the Portfolio may from time to time use a combination of option hedging strategies. The Sub-Adviser will use its discretion on when to deploy the options hedging strategies, which will vary depending on option prices.

 

The Sub-Adviser may also seek to enhance the returns of the Portfolio’s long equity strategy by buying or selling options on ETFs whose strategies seek to minimize volatility (volatility ETFs). This strategy will be used opportunistically to express the Sub-Adviser’s views on whether actual market volatility will be higher or lower than expected volatility. This strategy will include either buying long put or call options on volatility ETFs or employing a covered option spread on volatility ETFs. A covered option spread will consist of buying (or selling) slightly out of the money call or put options and selling (or buying) call or put options that are further out of the money with the same expiration.

 

Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. issuers or investments that provide exposure to equity securities of U.S. issuers, and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to such securities.

 

The Portfolio intends to borrow money from banks to create leverage of up to 30% of the Portfolio’s assets. The Portfolio plans to invest the assets obtained through leverage in additional instruments that provide exposure to the S&P 500 Index companies as well as in additional options as part of the Portfolio’s hedging strategies. The Portfolio will therefore have long exposure of up to 130% of its assets.

 

The Sub-Adviser uses proprietary valuation methods and risk measures as well as publicly available data regarding market volatility levels in managing the hedging strategies. The Sub-Adviser considers multiple factors in determining how much leverage to employ and expected market volatility levels, such as premium at risk (i.e., the amount of net option premiums paid in implementing the hedging strategy), the time to expiration of options, the rate that options lose value as they near maturity (known as Theta), the risk of gain or loss resulting from changes in volatility (known as Vega), and the notional exposure of the options relative to the Portfolio’s long positions. The Sub-Adviser’s proprietary option valuation methods will be used to determine when to use a particular option strategy and when to realize gains on the Portfolio’s options positions.

 

The Portfolio is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in a small group of issuers or in any one issuer than a diversified fund can.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio investments. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Borrowing. The Portfolio will borrow money for investment purposes, which is a form of leveraging. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk while increasing investment opportunity. Leverage will magnify changes in the Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”) and on the Portfolio’s investments. For example, leveraging may exaggerate the effect on NAV of any increase or decrease in the market value of the long equity positions held by the Portfolio. Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, the Portfolio’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. Leverage also creates interest expenses for the Portfolio. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest the Portfolio will have to pay, the Portfolio’s net income will be greater than it would be if leverage were not used. Conversely, if the income from the assets obtained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of the Portfolio will be less than it would be if leverage were not used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to shareholders as dividends will be reduced. The use of derivatives in connection with leverage creates the potential for significant loss.

 

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The derivatives in which the Portfolio may invest include options and swaps. Derivatives may be volatile and some derivatives have the potential for loss that is greater than the Portfolio’s initial investment. Many derivatives are entered into over-the-counter or “OTC” (not on an exchange or contract market) and may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than more traditional investments, such as stocks or bonds, because there may be fewer purchasers or sellers of the derivative instrument or the derivative instrument may require participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the counterparty ( issuer) fails to pay the amount due. If a counterparty were to default on its obligations, the Portfolio’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Portfolio’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Portfolio may not receive the amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive). The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the underlying asset on which the derivative is based, or the derivative itself, does not perform as the Manager or Sub-Adviser anticipated.

 

Compared to other types of investments, derivatives may be less tax efficient. The use of certain derivatives may cause the Portfolio to realize higher amounts of ordinary income or short-term capital gains, distributions from which are taxable to individual shareholders at ordinary income tax rates rather than at the more favorable tax rates for long-term capital gain. In addition, changes in government regulation of derivative instruments could affect the character, timing and amount of the Portfolio’s taxable income or gains, and may limit or prevent the Portfolio from using certain types of derivative instruments as a part of its investment strategy, which could make the investment strategy more costly to implement or require the Portfolio to change its investment strategy. The Portfolio’s use of derivatives also may be limited by the requirements for taxation of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company.

 

Special Risks of Swaps. Certain swap transactions are structured as two-party contracts and are therefore often less liquid than other types of investments, and the Portfolio may be unable to sell or terminate its swap positions at a desired time or price. Certain swaps, such as total return swaps where two parties agree to “swap” payments on defined underlying assets or interest rates, can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The swaps market is subject to extensive regulation under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and certain SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules promulgated thereunder. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including new and additional government regulation, could result in higher Portfolio costs and expenses and could adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability, among other things, to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Special Risks of Options. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a put option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to buy the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a call option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to sell the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio purchases a put option or call option, there is risk that the price of the underlying investment will move in a direction that causes the option to expire worthless.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The Portfolio is subject to risks associated with investing in equity securities, including market risk, issuer risk, price volatility risks, and market trends risk. The prices of equity securities generally fluctuate in value more than fixed-income investments, may rise or fall rapidly or unpredictably and may reflect real or perceived changes in the issuing company’s financial condition and changes in the overall market or economy. The Portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective may be affected by the risks attendant to any investment in equity securities.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds. In addition, their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying index or other assets rises and falls. The market value of their shares may differ from the NAV of the particular fund. As a shareholder in an ETF (as with other investment companies), the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses in addition to its own fees and expenses. Further, if the Portfolio invests in leveraged ETFs, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. In addition, investments in an ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of the shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF’s shares.

 

Hedging Strategy Risk. The Portfolio’s hedging strategy is designed to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, losses resulting from volatility and equity market declines. Even where the hedging strategy is used successfully, the Portfolio is likely to experience some loss in value during periods of volatility and/or equity market declines. It is important to know that the hedging strategy may not be successful in reducing volatility or offsetting equity market declines, and may result in losses. Also, the hedging strategy may prevent the Portfolio from achieving higher investment returns than may be available by investing in an unhedged portfolio or a comparable mutual fund without a similar hedging strategy and the Portfolio’s use of derivatives and ETFs will increase the Portfolio’s expenses. It is possible that the hedging strategy could result in losses and/or expenses that are greater than if the Portfolio did not include the hedging strategy.

 

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Portfolio, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Portfolio’s common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage created from borrowing money or certain types of transactions or instruments, including derivatives, may impair the Portfolio’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective. In addition to leverage resulting from borrowing money or entering into derivative positions, investments such as ETFs may include “embedded” leverage, which means the ETF pays a return linked to a multiple of the performance of the underlying index, securities basket or other reference asset. These investments may be more volatile than investments in unlevered securities, which may increase the volatility of the Portfolio.

 

Management Risk. The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Portfolio’s portfolio managers (the “Portfolio Managers”) may not produce the desired results. For example, there is no guarantee that the hedging strategy employed by the Portfolio’s Sub-Adviser will produce a portfolio with the level of reduced exposure to stock market risk that is expected by the Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Portfolio’s hedging strategy will cause the Portfolio to underperform the broader equity markets during market rallies and to underperform significantly during sharp market upswings. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio’s hedging strategies will protect against all market losses and may cause the Portfolio to lose money during modest market downturns.

 

Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio is non-diversified, meaning it can invest a greater portion of its assets in the obligations or securities of a small number of issuers or any single issuer than a diversified fund can. Because a large percentage of the Portfolio’s assets may be invested in a limited number of issuers, a change in the value of one or a few issuers’ securities will affect the value of the Portfolio more than would occur in a diversified fund.

 

Volatility Risk. The Portfolio may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Portfolio’s NAV per share to experience significant increases or declines in value over short periods of time.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

Since Class S shares of the Portfolio do not yet have a full calendar year of operations, the bar chart and the average annual total returns table show the performance of the Portfolio’s Class I shares (which are not offered in this Prospectus). Class S would have similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ to the extent that Class S shares have higher expenses than Class I shares. The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1 year and since inception of the Portfolio compare with those of the S&P 500 Index and a peer group benchmark comprised of funds with investment objectives and strategies similar to those of the Portfolio. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

CLASS I ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class I Shares Year-To-Date (as of September 30, 2017): 4.40%

 

Best Quarter: Q4 2016 1.12%
Worst Quarter: Q1 2016 -0.51%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class S - James Alpha Managed Risk Domestic Equity Portfolio
Label
1 Year
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class I Return Before Taxes 2.36% 0.43% [1] Jul. 31, 2015
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   2.33% 0.34%  
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   1.36% 0.32%  
S&P 500 Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.96% 6.83%  
Morningstar US Fund Long-Short Equity   2.13% (1.20%)  
[1] The Portfolio commenced operations on July 31, 2015.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Class S | James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: JAMES ALPHA MANAGED RISK EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The primary investment objective of the Portfolio is capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class S
James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Class S Shares
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class S
James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Class S Shares
Management Fees 1.20%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees none
Other Expenses [1]
Interest Payments and Fees on Borrowed Funds 0.25%
Other Operating Expenses 1.05%
Total of Other Expenses 1.30%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.68% [2]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 3.18%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (0.60%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) 2.58% [3]
[1] Other Expenses are based on estimates for the current fiscal year.
[2] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statements (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statements will include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds"). Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[3] Pursuant to a fee waiver and operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive all of the Portfolio's management fee payable to the Manager by the Portfolio on Class S assets, less any portion of such fee that is payable by the Manager to the Sub-Adviser, and also to absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front-end and contingent deferred sales loads, interest and tax expenses, leverage, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, extraordinary or non-routine expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for Class S shares do not exceed 1.99% of the Portfolio's average net assets (the "Expense Cap") through December 31, 2018 (the "Expense Limitation Agreement"). The Expense Limitation Agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for management fees waived (other than on Class S shares) and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such management fees were waived or expenses were paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the Expense Cap in place at the time the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class S | James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio | Class S Shares | USD ($) 261 924 1,612 3,444

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 152% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will seek to achieve its objective by combining a long equity strategy with an options hedging strategy that seeks to provide protection during significant equity market downturns. The long equity strategy seeks to replicate the returns of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and to enhance these returns through the use of leverage. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index measures the performance of securities across 23 emerging market countries (i.e., countries that are in the early stages of their industrial cycle). The Portfolio will achieve exposure to MSCI Emerging Markets Index companies primarily through exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds and closed-end funds but may also gain exposure through direct investment in common and preferred stocks.

 

The Portfolio’s options hedging strategy attempts to reduce the risk associated with the Portfolio’s long equity exposure with two different strategies – a low volatility strategy and a high volatility strategy. The low volatility strategy, referred to as a “calendar spread” will seek to protect the Portfolio from significant market downturns (e.g., a drop of 12% or more in the value of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index) by buying significantly out of the money put options and offsetting the cost of these put options by selling (writing) put options with a shorter maturity and with an exercise (strike) price that is higher than the purchased put options. Out of the money put options are options with a strike price that is lower than the market price of the underlying asset. When market volatility is low and options are less expensive, the Portfolio may seek to own more put options long than it sells (writes) short to provide greater protection during a significant market downturn.

 

The high volatility strategy seeks to protect the Portfolio from modest market downturns (e.g., a drop of between 6% and 8% in the value of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index). Conventional put spreads consist of buying slightly out of the money put options and selling put options that are further out of the money with the same expiration. Typically, the notional value of the put spreads will be larger than the Portfolio’s exposure from its long equity strategy. The Portfolio expects primarily to use listed exchange-traded options.

 

When market volatility is high, the Portfolio may also sell (write) covered call options to generate additional income.

 

Although the Portfolio intends to be hedged at all times using at least one of the above strategies, the Portfolio may from time to time use a combination of option hedging strategies. The Sub-Adviser will use its discretion on when to deploy the options hedging strategies, which will vary depending on option prices.

 

The Sub-Adviser may also seek to enhance the returns of the Portfolio’s long equity strategy by buying or selling options on ETFs whose strategies seek to minimize volatility (volatility ETFs). This strategy will be used opportunistically to express the Sub-Adviser’s views on whether actual market volatility will be higher or lower than expected volatility. This strategy will include either buying long put or call options on volatility ETFs or employing a covered option spread on volatility ETFs. A covered option spread will consist of buying (or selling) slightly out of the money call or put options and selling (or buying) call or put options that are further out of the money with the same expiration.

 

Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of emerging market issuers or investments that provide exposure to equity securities of emerging market issuers, and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to such securities.

 

The Portfolio intends to borrow money from banks to create leverage of up to 30% of the Portfolio’s assets. The Portfolio plans to invest the assets obtained through leverage in additional instruments that provide exposure to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index companies as well as in additional options as part of the Portfolio’s hedging strategies. The Portfolio will therefore have long exposure of up to 130% of its assets.

 

The Sub-Adviser uses proprietary valuation methods and risk measures as well as publicly available data regarding market volatility levels in managing the hedging strategies. The Sub-Adviser considers multiple factors in determining how much leverage to employ and expected market volatility levels, such as premium at risk (i.e., the amount of net option premiums paid in implementing the hedging strategy), the time to expiration of options, the rate that options lose value as they near maturity (known as Theta), the risk of gain or loss resulting from changes in volatility (known as Vega), and the notional exposure of the options relative to the Portfolio’s long positions. The Sub-Adviser’s proprietary option valuation methods will be used to determine when to use a particular option strategy and when to realize gains on the Portfolio’s options positions.

 

The Portfolio is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in a small group of issuers or in any one issuer than a diversified fund can.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio investments. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Borrowing. The Portfolio will borrow money for investment purposes, which is a form of leveraging. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk while increasing investment opportunity. Leverage will magnify changes in the Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”) and on the Portfolio’s investments. For example, leveraging may exaggerate the effect on NAV of any increase or decrease in the market value of the long equity positions held by the Portfolio. Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, the Portfolio’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. Leverage also creates interest expenses for the Portfolio. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest the Portfolio will have to pay, the Portfolio’s net income will be greater than it would be if leverage were not used. Conversely, if the income from the assets obtained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of the Portfolio will be less than it would be if leverage were not used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to shareholders as dividends will be reduced. The use of derivatives in connection with leverage creates the potential for significant loss.

 

Currency/Exchange Rate Risk. The dollar value of the Portfolio’s foreign investments will be affected by changes in the exchange rates between the dollar and the currencies in which those investments are traded.

 

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The derivatives in which the Portfolio may invest include options and swaps. Derivatives may be volatile and some derivatives have the potential for loss that is greater than the Portfolio’s initial investment. Many derivatives are entered into over the counter or “OTC” (not on an exchange or contract market) and may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than more traditional investments, such as stocks or bonds, because there may be fewer purchasers or sellers of the derivative instrument or the derivative instrument may require participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the counterparty ( issuer) fails to pay the amount due. If a counterparty were to default on its obligations, the Portfolio’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Portfolio’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Portfolio may not receive the amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive). The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the underlying asset on which the derivative is based, or the derivative itself, does not perform as the Manager or Sub-Adviser anticipated.

 

Compared to other types of investments, derivatives may be less tax efficient. The use of certain derivatives may cause the Portfolio to realize higher amounts of ordinary income or short-term capital gains, distributions from which are taxable to individual shareholders at ordinary income tax rates rather than at the more favorable tax rates for long-term capital gain. In addition, changes in government regulation of derivative instruments could affect the character, timing and amount of the Portfolio’s taxable income or gains, and may limit or prevent the Portfolio from using certain types of derivative instruments as a part of its investment strategy, which could make the investment strategy more costly to implement or require the Portfolio to change its investment strategy. The Portfolio’s use of derivatives also may be limited by the requirements for taxation of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company.

 

Special Risks of Swaps. Certain swap transactions are structured as two-party contracts and are therefore often less liquid than other types of investments, and the Portfolio may be unable to sell or terminate its swap positions at a desired time or price. Certain swaps, such as total return swaps where two parties agree to “swap” payments on defined underlying assets or interest rates, can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The swaps market is subject to extensive regulation under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and certain SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC “) rules promulgated thereunder. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including new and additional government regulation, could result in higher Portfolio costs and expenses and could adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability, among other things, to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Special Risks of Options. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a put option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to buy the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a call option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to sell the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio purchases a put option or call option, there is risk that the price of the underlying investment will move in a direction that causes the option to expire worthless.

 

Emerging Market Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in issuers domiciled in “emerging markets,” those countries determined by the Manager to have developing or emerging economies and markets. Emerging market investing involves risks in addition to those risks involved in foreign investing. For example, many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. In addition, economies in emerging markets generally are dependent heavily upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The securities markets of emerging countries are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and other more developed countries.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The Portfolio is subject to risks associated with investing in equity securities, including market risk, issuer risk, price volatility risks and market trends risk. The prices of equity securities generally fluctuate in value more than fixed-income investments, may rise or fall rapidly or unpredictably and may reflect real or perceived changes in the issuing company’s financial condition and changes in the overall market or economy. The Portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective may be affected by the risks attendant to any investment in equity securities.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds. In addition, their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying index or other assets rises and falls. The market value of their shares may differ from the NAV of the particular fund. As a shareholder in an ETF (as with other investment companies), the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses in addition to its own fees and expenses. Further, if the Portfolio invests in leveraged ETFs, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. In addition, investments in an ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of the shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF’s shares.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s foreign investments will be affected by changes in the foreign country’s exchange rates; political and social instability; changes in economic or taxation policies; difficulties when enforcing obligations; decreased liquidity; and increased volatility. Foreign companies may be subject to less regulation resulting in less publicly available information about the companies. These risks are magnified for investments in developing or emerging countries, which may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small number of securities.

 

Hedging Strategy Risk. The Portfolio’s hedging strategy is designed to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, losses resulting from volatility and equity market declines. Even where the hedging strategy is used successfully, the Portfolio is likely to experience some loss in value during periods of volatility and/or equity market declines. It is important to know that the hedging strategy may not be successful in reducing volatility or offsetting equity market declines, and may result in losses. Also, the hedging strategy may prevent the Portfolio from achieving higher investment returns than may be available by investing in an unhedged portfolio or a comparable mutual fund without a similar hedging strategy and the Portfolio’s use of derivatives and ETFs will increase the Portfolio’s expenses. It is possible that the hedging strategy could result in losses and/or expenses that are greater than if the Portfolio did not include the hedging strategy.

 

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Portfolio, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Portfolio’s common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage created from borrowing money or certain types of transactions or instruments, including derivatives, may impair the Portfolio’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective. In addition to leverage resulting from borrowing money or entering into derivative positions, investments such as ETFs may include “embedded” leverage, which means the ETF pays a return linked to a multiple of the performance of the underlying index, securities basket or other reference asset. These investments may be more volatile than investments in unlevered securities, which may increase the volatility of the Portfolio.

 

Management Risk. The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Portfolio’s portfolio managers (the “Portfolio Managers”) may not produce the desired results. For example, there is no guarantee that the hedging strategy employed by the Portfolio’s Sub-Adviser will produce a portfolio with the level of reduced exposure to stock market risk that is expected by the Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Portfolio’s hedging strategy will cause the Portfolio to underperform the broader equity markets during market rallies and to underperform significantly during sharp market upswings. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio’s hedging strategies will protect against all market losses and may cause the Portfolio to lose money during modest market downturns.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio is non-diversified, meaning it can invest a greater portion of its assets in the obligations or securities of a small number of issuers or any single issuer than a diversified fund can. Because a large percentage of the Portfolio’s assets may be invested in a limited number of issuers, a change in the value of one or a few issuers’ securities will affect the value of the Portfolio more than would occur in a diversified fund.

 

Volatility Risk. The Portfolio may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Portfolio’s NAV per share to experience significant increases or declines in value over short periods of time.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

Since Class S shares of the Portfolio do not yet have a full calendar year of operations, the bar chart and the average annual total returns table show the performance of the Portfolio’s Class I shares (which are not offered in this Prospectus). Class S would have similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ to the extent that Class S shares have different expenses than Class I shares. The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing how the average annual returns for the past 1 year and since inception of the Portfolio compare with those of the MSCI Emerging Markets Net Index and a peer group benchmark comprised of funds with investment objectives and strategies similar to those of the Portfolio. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saratogacap.com.

CLASS I ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class I Shares Year-To-Date (as of September 30, 2017): 8.50%

 

Best Quarter: Q3 2016 4.56%
Worst Quarter: Q4 2016 -2.21%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class S - James Alpha Managed Risk Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Label
1 Year
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class I Return Before Taxes 4.40% (3.07%) [1] Jul. 31, 2015
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions   4.35% (3.40%)  
Class I | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares   2.53% (2.40%)  
MSCI Emerging Markets Net Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   11.19% (0.89%)  
Morningstar US Fund Diversified Emerging Markets   8.08% (2.31%)  
[1] The Portfolio commenced operations on July 31, 2015.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Class S | James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY: JAMES ALPHA HEDGED HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO

Investment Objective:

The primary investment objective of the Portfolio is to seek to provide high current income.

The Portfolio’s secondary investment objective is to seek capital preservation, with the potential for capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

Shareholder Fees

Shareholder Fees
Class S
James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio
Class S Shares
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases of Shares (as a % of offering price) none
Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends (as a % of offering price) none
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of offering price) none
Redemption Fee on Shares Held 30 days or Less (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) 2.00%

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

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

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Class S
James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio
Class S Shares
Management Fees 1.70%
Distribution and/or Service Rule 12b-1 Fees none
Total of Other Expenses 1.00% [1]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.13% [2]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (before Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) 2.83%
Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement (0.83%)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (after Expense Reduction/ Reimbursement) (2) 2.00% [3]
[1] Other Expenses are based on estimates for the current fiscal year.
[2] Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in the above fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Portfolio's financial statements (or the financial highlights in this Prospectus) because the financial statements will include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Portfolio, not the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies ("Acquired Funds").
[3] Pursuant to a fee waiver and operating expense limitation agreement between the Manager and the Portfolio, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive all of the Portfolio's management fee payable to the Manager by the Portfolio on Class S assets, less any portion of such fee that is payable by the Manager to the Sub-Advisers, and also to absorb expenses of the Portfolio to ensure that Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (excluding front-end and contingent deferred sales loads, interest and tax expenses, leverage, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger, reorganization or liquidation, extraordinary or non-routine expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses) for Class S shares do not exceed 1.99% of the Portfolio's average net assets (the "Expense Cap") through December 31, 2018 (the "Expense Limitation Agreement"). The Expense Limitation Agreement can be terminated during its term only by, or with the consent of, the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Manager is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Portfolio, subject to limitations, for management fees waived (other than on Class S shares) and Portfolio expenses it paid within three (3) years of the end of the fiscal year in which such management fees were waived or expenses were paid, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Portfolio's operating expenses to exceed (i) the Expense Cap in place at the time the expenses were incurred; or (ii) the current Expense Cap, whichever is less.

Example:

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. This example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and reflect the contractual expense waiver in place for the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs, if you held or sold your shares, at the end of each period would be:

Expense Example
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class S | James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio | Class S Shares | USD ($) 203 799 1,421 3,097

The above Example reflects applicable contractual fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangements for the duration of the arrangements only.

Portfolio Turnover:

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs, which must be borne by the Portfolio and its shareholders and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 106% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Portfolio will seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, primarily all of its assets in fixed income and fixed income-related securities, using a combination of long-short, long-only, short-only and hedging strategies.

 

Fixed income securities in which the Portfolio will invest are anticipated to generally consist of U.S. and foreign fixed income and fixed income-related securities of varying maturities and credit quality, including those that are rated below investment grade at the time of purchase (commonly referred to as “high-yield” or “junk” securities). These include, among others, corporate bonds and bank loans, asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities, U.S. government securities, non U.S. sovereign debt securities, and preferred securities. Fixed income-related securities include, but are not limited to, closed-end funds and derivative instruments, including options; financial futures; swaps, including credit default swaps; options on futures and swaps; and forward foreign currency contracts, that seek to provide the same or similar economic exposure as a physical investment in the above securities. The below-investment grade fixed income securities in which the Portfolio may invest are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Hedging strategies may be used by the Portfolio in an attempt to preserve capital and mitigate risk, by hedging against changes in the price of other securities held by the Portfolio, and may involve purchasing put options, selling debt or equity securities short or writing covered call options. Derivative instruments may also be used for investment purposes, and for currency and interest rate hedging purposes.

 

The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing its assets in a combination of distinct investment strategies managed by different sub-advisers and, in some cases, by the Manager. The Manager is responsible for selecting and allocating assets among the Portfolio’s investment strategies. The Manager is also responsible for selecting and overseeing one or more sub-advisers to manage each investment strategy. Not all of the sub-advisers listed for the Portfolio may be actively managing assets for the Portfolio at all times. The Manager also has discretion to manage directly all or a portion of such investment strategies. The principal investment strategies that may be employed by the Portfolio include the following:

 

• Senior Loan Floating Rate Strategy. The senior loan floating rate strategy concentrates on investment opportunities in senior-secured and second-lien loans and bonds.

 

• Short Duration High Yield Strategy. The short duration high yield strategy seeks to generate uncorrelated returns through stable income and reduced volatility. The portfolio managers seek to identify short-maturity high yield bonds in smaller, less-followed companies, hedged primarily with an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that tracks the Russell 2000® Index, which has exhibited a strong correlation to high yield credit spreads, to attempt to further dampen volatility during market corrections. The strategy is diversified across 35–45 high yield bonds. The short position will range between 10 percent to 30 percent of the nominal value of the strategy during periods of normal market conditions and may increase to 50 percent during periods of high volatility.

 

• Relative Value Long/Short Debt Strategy. The relative value long/short debt strategy seeks to take advantage of perceived discrepancies in the market prices of certain fixed income securities, as well as certain convertible bond, closed-end fund, and derivative securities. The strategy is primarily focused within the corporate credit, securitized credit, and agency and non-agency mortgage-backed securities sectors. It invests in both investment and non-investment grade bonds. Proprietary research tools include credit spread analysis, which is based on, among other things, a proprietary credit default methodology, mortgage prepayment forecasting and credit option-adjusted spread analysis.

 

• Risk-Adjusted Long/Short Debt Strategy. The risk-adjusted long/short debt strategy seeks to take advantage of credit rating upgrades and downgrades offering attractive returns while seeking to minimize interest rate and currency risks. During stressed market environments, the strategy actively manages its long core positions with corresponding hedges to preserve capital, while seeking to profit from individual credit deteriorations on the short side. The strategy is primarily focused on investments in U.S. and European fixed income securities, and may establish long and short positions in a variety of derivative and other instruments for risk management and investment purposes. Under normal market conditions, the strategy may establish short interest rate positions to manage interest rate risk. The strategy will employ leverage through investments in derivative instruments and through establishing short hedging positions in Treasury bills and other fixed income or equity securities. The strategy seeks to invest in securities with ratings from B to BBB by Standard and Poor’s Financial Services LLC, but may invest in securities of any credit rating, including below-investment grade fixed income securities. The strategy uses proprietary models for security selection in combination with fundamental analysis.

 

One or more of the above strategies may be achieved through investments in ETFs and other exchange-traded products, and other registered investment companies instead of direct investments.

 

The Manager’s investment process is based on a consultative four step approach:

 

1) Asset Allocation – Defining objectives and constraints, determining asset classes, and determining strategic weightings based on objectives and constraints;

 

2) Manager Research – Sourcing and vetting investment managers;

 

3) Risk Management – Identifying, characterizing, and assessing portfolio risks, and suggesting ways to reduce risk; and

 

4) Portfolio Construction – Constructing the portfolio by incorporating input from all three of the above.

Principal Investment Risks:

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objectives. The Portfolio share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.

 

Active Trading Risk. The Portfolio may engage in frequent trading of portfolio securities resulting in higher transaction costs, a lower return and increased tax liability.

 

Bank Loans Risk. There are a number of risks associated with an investment in bank loans including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Lack of an active trading market, restrictions on resale, irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods may impair the Portfolio’s ability to sell bank loans within its desired time frame or at an acceptable price and its ability to accurately value existing and prospective investments. Extended trade settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Portfolio. As a result, the Portfolio may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions to raise cash to meet its obligations. The risk of holding bank loans is also directly tied to the risk of insolvency or bankruptcy of the issuing banks. These risks could cause the Portfolio to lose income or principal on a particular investment, which in turn could affect the Portfolio’s returns. The value of bank loans can be affected by and sensitive to changes in government regulation and to economic downturns in the United States and abroad. Bank loans generally are floating rate loans, which are subject to interest rate risk as the interest paid on the floating rate loans adjusts periodically based on changes in widely accepted reference rates.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

Counterparty Risk. Certain derivative and “over-the-counter” (“OTC”) instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, such as OTC swaps and forwards, are subject to the risk that the other party to a contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The Manager attempts to mitigate this risk by not entering into transactions with any counterparty that the Manager believes does not have the financial resources to honor its obligations under the transaction and by monitoring the financial stability of counterparties.

 

Credit Default Swap Risk. Credit default swaps (“CDS”) are typically two-party financial contracts that transfer credit exposure between the two parties. Under a typical CDS, one party (the “seller” or “seller of protection”) receives pre-determined periodic payments from the other party (the “buyer” or “buyer of protection”). The seller agrees to make compensating specific payments to the buyer if a negative credit event occurs, such as the bankruptcy or default by the issuer of the underlying debt instrument. The use of CDS involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions, such as potentially heightened credit and counterparty risks. The Portfolio will not act as a seller of protection.

 

Credit Risk. The issuer of fixed income instruments in which the Portfolio invests may experience financial difficulty and be unable to meet interest and/or principal payments, thereby causing its instruments to decrease in value and lowering the issuer’s credit rating.

 

Currency/Exchange Rate Risk. The dollar value of the Portfolio’s foreign investments will be affected by changes in the exchange rates between the dollar and the currencies in which those investments are traded.

 

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The derivatives in which the Portfolio may invest include options, futures, swaps, and forward foreign currency contracts. Derivatives may be volatile and some derivatives have the potential for loss that is greater than the Portfolio’s initial investment. Many derivatives are entered into over-the-counter (not on an exchange or contract market referred to as “OTC”) and may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than more traditional investments, such as stocks or bonds, because there may be fewer purchasers or sellers of the derivative instrument or the derivative instrument may require participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the issuer fails to pay the amount due. If a counterparty to an OTC derivative were to default on its obligations, the Portfolio’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Portfolio’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Portfolio may not receive the amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive). The Portfolio may also lose money on a derivative if the underlying asset on which the derivative is based, or the derivative itself, does not perform as the Manager anticipated.

 

Compared to other types of investments, derivatives may be less tax efficient. The use of certain derivatives may cause the Portfolio to realize higher amounts of ordinary income or short-term capital gains, distributions from which are taxable to individual shareholders at ordinary income tax rates rather than at the more favorable tax rates for long-term capital gain. In addition, changes in government regulation of derivative instruments could affect the character, timing and amount of the Portfolio’s taxable income or gains, and may limit or prevent the Portfolio from using certain types of derivative instruments as a part of its investment strategy, which could make the investment strategy more costly to implement or require the Portfolio to change its investment strategy. The Portfolio’s use of derivatives also may be limited by the requirements for taxation of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds. In addition, their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying index or other assets rises and falls. The market value of their shares may differ from the net asset value (“NAV”) of the particular fund. As a shareholder in an ETF (as with other investment companies), the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses in addition to its own fees and expenses. Further, if the Portfolio invests in leveraged ETFs, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. In addition, investments in an ETF are subject to, among other risks, the risk that the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV of the shares and the listing exchange may halt trading of the ETF’s shares.

 

Government Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)). U.S. government securities are subject to investment and market risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. Securities, such as those issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae or the U.S. Treasury, that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity and the market prices for such securities will fluctuate. Notwithstanding that these securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, circumstances could arise that would prevent the payment of interest or principal. This would result in losses to the Portfolio. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government related organizations, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support. Therefore, U.S. government-related organizations may not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stocks involve credit risk and certain other risks. Certain preferred stocks contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip distributions (in the case of “noncumulative” preferred stocks) or defer distributions (in the case of “cumulative” preferred stocks). If the Portfolio owns a preferred stock on which distributions are deferred, the Portfolio may nevertheless be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving distributions on that security. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

 

Sovereign Debt Risk. The governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may be unwilling or unable to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such securities due to the extent of its foreign reserves; the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due; the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole; or the government debtor’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a government debtor may be subject.

 

Special Risks of Futures. The liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent that participants decide to make or take delivery of the underlying investments, liquidity in this market could be reduced. Futures contracts can be purchased with relatively small amounts of initial margin compared to the cash value of the contracts. This economic leverage can increase the volatility of the Portfolio. Even a well-conceived futures transaction may be unsuccessful due to market events.

 

Special Risks of Swaps. Certain swap transactions are structured as two-party contracts and are therefore often less liquid than other types of investments, and the Portfolio may be unable to sell or terminate its swap positions at a desired time or price. Certain swaps, such as total return swaps where two parties agree to “swap” payments on defined underlying assets or interest rates, can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The swaps market is subject to extensive regulation under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and certain SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules promulgated thereunder. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including new and additional government regulation, could result in higher Portfolio costs and expenses and could adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability, among other things, to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Special Risks of Options. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a put option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to buy the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio sells (writes) a call option, there is risk that the Portfolio may be required to sell the underlying investment at a disadvantageous price. If the Portfolio purchases a put option or call option, there is risk that the price of the underlying investment will move in a direction that causes the option to expire worthless.

 

Special Risks of Forward Foreign Currency Contracts. A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract. The cost to the Portfolio of engaging in forward foreign currency contracts varies with factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period, interest rate differentials and the prevailing market conditions. Because forward foreign currency contracts are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are typically involved. The use of forward foreign currency contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities the Portfolio owns or intends to acquire, but it does establish a rate of exchange in advance. While forward foreign currency contract sales limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currencies increase.

 

Emerging Market Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in issuers domiciled in “emerging markets,” those countries determined by the Manager and/or a Sub-Adviser to have developing or emerging economies and markets. Emerging market investing involves risks in addition to those risks involved in foreign investing. For example, many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. In addition, economies in emerging markets generally are dependent heavily upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The securities markets of emerging countries are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and other more developed countries.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s foreign investments will be affected by changes in the foreign country’s exchange rates; political and social instability; changes in economic or taxation policies; difficulties when enforcing obligations; decreased liquidity; and increased volatility. Foreign companies may be subject to less regulation resulting in less publicly available information about the companies. These risks are magnified for investments in developing or emerging countries, which may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small number of securities.

 

Hedging Strategy Risk. The Portfolio’s hedging strategy is designed to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, losses resulting from volatility and market declines. Even where the hedging strategy is used successfully, the Portfolio is likely to experience some loss in value during periods of volatility and/or market declines. It is important to know that the hedging strategy may not be successful in reducing volatility or offsetting market declines, and may result in losses. Also, the hedging strategy may prevent the Portfolio from achieving higher investment returns than may be available by investing in an unhedged portfolio or a comparable mutual fund without a similar hedging strategy and the Portfolio’s use of derivatives and ETFs will increase the Portfolio’s expenses. It is possible that the hedging strategy could result in losses and/or expenses that are greater than if the Portfolio did not include the hedging strategy.

 

High Yield Bond (Junk Bond) Risk. High yield, below investment grade and unrated high risk debt securities(which also may be known as “junk bonds”)may present additional risks because these securities may be less liquid, and therefore more difficult to value accurately and sell at an advantageous price or time, present more credit risk than investment grade bonds and subject to greater risk of default The values of junk bonds fluctuate more than those of high-quality bonds in response to company, political, regulatory or economic developments.

 

Income Generation Risk. If the Portfolio fails to generate anticipated levels of income due to, among other factors, unanticipated market conditions or the materialization of risks associated with certain instruments described above, then such failure in turn could negatively impact the Portfolio’s ability to meet its stated investment objectives.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the risk that bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise; conversely, bond prices generally rise as interest rates fall. These risks may be greater in the current market environment because interest rates are at historically low levels. Specific bonds differ in their sensitivity to changes in interest rates depending on their individual characteristics, including duration.

 

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. An investment in the Portfolio’s common shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Portfolio, which are generally traded on a securities exchange or in the OTC markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Portfolio’s common shares at any point in time may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage created from borrowing money or certain types of transactions or instruments, including derivatives, may impair the Portfolio’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective. In addition to leverage resulting from money or entering into derivative positions, investments such as ETFs may include “embedded” leverage, which means the ETF pays a return linked to a multiple of the performance of the underlying index, securities basket or other reference asset. These investments may be more volatile than investments in unlevered securities, which may increase the volatility of the Portfolio.

 

Liquidity Risk. The Portfolio may hold illiquid securities that it is unable to sell at the preferred time or price and could lose its entire investment in such securities. Investments with an active trading market or that the Manager otherwise deems liquid could become illiquid before the Portfolio can exit its positions.

 

Management Risk. The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the portfolio managers for each of the Portfolio’s investment strategies may not produce the desired results. The sub-advisers’ investment styles may not always be complementary, and may be in direct conflict which could adversely affect performance. In addition, the Portfolio’s multiple investment strategies may not work to hedge general market risk if the markets in which the Portfolio invests become correlated during times of economic stress.

 

The Portfolio is dependent on the Manager’s skill in allocating assets among the Portfolio’s various investment strategies and in selecting the best mix of sub-advisers. The Portfolio is therefore subject to the risk that assets will be allocated to a strategy at an inopportune time and the value of your investment may decrease if the Manager’s judgment about the attractiveness, value or market trends affecting a particular asset class, investment style, or sub-adviser is incorrect.

 

Medium and Small Capitalization Company Risk. Investing in medium and small capitalization companies may involve more risk than is usually associated with investing in larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small and medium capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Some small and medium capitalization companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets than do larger companies. Also, because small and medium capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be more difficult for the Portfolio to buy and sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.

 

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The Portfolio may invest in mortgage- and asset-backed securities that are subject to prepayment or call risk, which is the risk that the borrower’s payments may be received earlier or later than expected due to changes in prepayment rates on underlying loans. Securities may be prepaid at a price less than the original purchase value. The value of most mortgage- and asset-backed securities tends to vary inversely with changes in interest rates.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The frequency of the Portfolio’s transactions will vary from year to year. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Risk of Investing in Other Investment Companies. To the extent the Portfolio invests in other investment companies, such as ETFs and closed-end funds, the Portfolio’s shareholders will incur certain duplicative fees and expenses, including investment advisory fees. The return on such investments will be reduced by the operating expenses, including investment advisory and administration fees, of such investment funds, and will be further reduced by Portfolio expenses, including management fees.

 

Short Sales Risk. Short sales may cause the Portfolio to repurchase a security at a higher price, thereby causing the Portfolio to incur a loss. A short position in a security poses more risk than holding the same security long. As there is no limit on how much the price of the security can increase, the Portfolio’s exposure is unlimited. In order to establish a short position in a security, the Portfolio must borrow the security from a broker. The Portfolio may not always be able to borrow a security the Portfolio seeks to sell short at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio also may not always be able to close out the short position by replacing the borrowed securities at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Portfolio will incur increased transaction costs associated with selling securities short. In addition, taking short positions in securities results in a form of leverage which may cause the Portfolio to be volatile.

 

Until the Portfolio replaces a security borrowed in connection with a short sale, it may be required to segregate cash or liquid assets to cover the Portfolio’s short position. Generally, securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold unless they are replaced with other liquid assets. The Portfolio’s ability to access the segregated collateral may also be impaired in the event the broker becomes bankrupt, insolvent or otherwise fails to comply with its obligations. The Portfolio may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in these circumstances.

 

Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

Since Class S shares of the Portfolio do not yet have a full calendar year of operations, the bar chart and the average annual total returns table show the performance of the Portfolio’s Class A shares (which are not offered in this Prospectus). Class S would have similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ to the extent that Class S shares have lower expenses than Class A shares. For the periods prior to July 18, 2016, the Portfolio operated as a separate fund called the ALPs/Westport Resources Hedged High Income Fund (the “Predecessor Portfolio”) which was advised by ALPs Advisors Inc. and Westport Resources Management, Inc. The investment policy of the Portfolio is substantially similar to that of the Predecessor Portfolio. The bar chart and table that follow show the performance of the Class A shares of the Predecessor Portfolio (see footnote below) and the Portfolio and provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the performance of the Class A shares from year-to-year and by showing how the average annual returns for the 1 year, and since inception of the Portfolio’s Class A shares compare with those of the Bloomberg Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the deduction of sales charges. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The past performance of the Portfolio (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. You may obtain the Portfolio’s updated performance information by calling toll free 1-800-807-FUND or by visiting www.saraqtogacap.com.

CLASS A ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS – CALENDAR YEAR

Bar Chart

Class A Shares Year-To-Date (as of September 30, 2017): 5.27%

 

Best Quarter: Q3 2016 4.73%
Worst Quarter: Q4 2015 -2.10%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016)

Average Annual Total Returns - Class S - James Alpha Hedged High Income Portfolio
Label
1 Year
Life of Portfolio
Inception Date
Class A Shares [1] Return Before Taxes 9.50% 2.49% Dec. 31, 2013
Class A Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions [1]   7.37% 0.27%  
Class A Shares | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares [1]   5.32% 0.87%  
Bloomberg Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]   2.65% 3.03%  
[1] The performance figures shown above reflect the performance of Class A shares of the Predecessor Portfolio (for periods prior to July 18, 2016) and the Portfolio (for periods beginning July 18, 2016) at net asset value. The performance shown has not been adjusted to reflect applicable Class S fees and expenses.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.