Revere Sector Opportunity ETF

Ticker Symbol: RSPY

 

PROSPECTUS

July 29, 2022

 

 

Advised by:

Tuttle Capital Management, LLC 

155 Lockwood Rd.

Riverside, CT 06830

www.rspyetf.com (866) 904-0406

 

This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference. These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The Fund’s shares are listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FUND SUMMARY: REVERE SECTOR OPPORTUNITY ETF 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS 6
Investment Objectives 6
Principal Investment Strategies 6
Principal Investment Risks 7
Temporary Investments 9
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure 10
Cybersecurity 10
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND 10
Investment Adviser 10
Portfolio Manager 11
NET ASSET VALUE 11
HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES 12
FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES 12
DIVIDENDS, OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 13
OTHER INFORMATION 14
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 16
PRIVACY NOTICE 17

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FUND SUMMARY: revere sector opportunity ETF

 

Investment Objective:

The Revere Sector Opportunity ETF (the “Fund”) seeks capital appreciation.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

This table describes the fees and expenses, excluding any brokerage fees, that you may pay if you buy, sell, and hold shares of the Fund.

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 
Management Fees 0.95%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.00%
Other Expenses 1.56%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (1) 0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 2.57%
Fee Waiver and Reimbursement (2) 1.46%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Reimbursement 1.11%

 

(1)Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, which are estimated for the Fund’s initial fiscal year, are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.

 

(2)The adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and to reimburse expenses, at least through July 31, 2023 to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of any (i) front-end or contingent deferred loads, (ii) brokerage fees and commissions, (iii) acquired fund fees and expenses, (iv) fees and expenses associated with instruments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example options and swap fees and expenses); (v) borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), (vi) taxes, (vii) other fees related to underlying investments, (such as option fees and expenses or swap fees and expenses); or (vii) extraordinary expenses such as litigation (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and trustees or contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the adviser)) will not exceed 1.05%. This expense limitation agreement may be terminated at any time, by the Board upon sixty days written notice to the adviser. Fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits or the expense limits in place at the time of recoupment.

 

Example:

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

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:

 

  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
  $113 $660 $1,234 $2,796

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal period, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 40% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES:

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange traded fund (“ETF”) that will primarily invest in ETFs that represent a sector of the S&P 500 Index (“Sector ETFs”). The adviser delegates execution of the Fund’s strategy to the sub-adviser. The sub-adviser invests the Fund’s assets based on a proprietary sector selection model. The sub-adviser’s model recommends allocations for the Fund’s assets among Sectors ETFs that each focus on common stocks of companies included in an individual sectors of the S&P 500® Index, as determined by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®). The sub-adviser defines a Sector ETF as an ETF that invests its holdings in companies that are selected on the basis of general industry classification from a universe of companies defined by the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock® Index. The S&P 500 Index is composed of the following eleven sectors: Information Technology, Health Care, Financials, Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, Industrials, Consumer Staples, Energy, Utilities, Real Estate, and Materials. Under normal market conditions, the sub-adviser will invest the Fund’s assets in all eleven sectors that comprise the S&P 500 Index.

 

The Fund’s assets are allocated among ETFs based on the sub-adviser’s proprietary sector selection model. The model incorporates macroeconomic, financial and market data to determine how to allocate the Fund’s asset among the individual sectors of the S&P 500 Index. The sub-adviser’s model determines whether each sector is “underweight”, “overweight” or “index weight” and allocates the Fund’s accordingly. The terms “overweight (greater allocation)”, “underweight (lesser allocation)”, and “index weight (equal allocation)” reflect the sub-adviser’s allocation of the Fund’s portfolio when compared to the S&P 500 Index. If the sub-adviser’s models determine that a sector is “overweight”, the sub-adviser will allocate a higher portion of the Fund’s portfolio to the sector when compared to the sector weighting in the S&P 500 Index. If the sub-adviser’s models determine that a sector is “underweight”, the sub-adviser will allocate a smaller portion of the Fund’s portfolio to the sector when compared to the current sector weighting in the S&P 500 Index. When the sub-adviser’s models determine that a sector is “index weight”, the sub-adviser will invest the Fund’s portfolio to approximately mirror the sectors weighing when compared to the S&P 500 Index. Sectors that are deemed “overweight” will each receive a higher allocation of the Fund’s assets that withheld from sectors that are deemed “underweight”. The sub-adviser determines whether a sector is underweight, overweight, or index weight based on daily weekly, and monthly evaluation as well as review of technical factors. The portfolio’s final sector allocation is subject to the sub-adviser’s risk and diversification constraints, which may limit the amount a sector may represent in the portfolio. The sub-adviser’s diversification constraints require the Fund to invest in at least five of the eleven sectors that comprise the S&P 500 Index at all times. The sub-adviser may not fully implement the results of the model if it believes the model does not take into account all relevant data, or that a different evaluation or weighting of the data is more appropriate. It is possible the Fund may not have exposure to all sectors at all times. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the sub-adviser will actively manage the Fund, resulting in a high portfolio turnover rate. The sub-adviser may adjust holdings based on changes in the S&P 500 economic sector weightings.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS:

As with all exchange traded funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. Many factors affect the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) and performance.

 

Asset Allocation Risk. The Fund’s investment performance depends upon the successful allocation by the sub-adviser of the Fund’s assets among asset classes, geographical regions, industry sectors, and specific issuers and investments. There is no guarantee that the sub-adviser’s allocation techniques and decisions will produce the desired results.

 

Communications Sector Risk. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to the potential obsolescence of products and services due to technological advancement and the innovation of competitors. Companies in the communication services sector may also be affected by other competitive pressures, such as pricing competition, as well as research and development costs, substantial capital requirements and government regulation. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company’s profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communication services sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.

 

Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.

 

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Consumer Staples Sector Risk. Consumer staples companies are subject to government regulation affecting their products which may negatively impact such companies’ performance. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food, beverage, household and personal product companies may be strongly affected by consumer interest, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand, including performance of the overall domestic and global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence and spending.

 

Energy Sector Risk. Issuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves. Oil and gas exploration and production can be significantly affected by natural disasters as well as changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, acts of terrorism, war, political and world events, and economic conditions. These companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims. In addition, energy MLPs may be subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) with respect to tariff rates that these companies may charge for interstate pipeline transportation services. An adverse determination by FERC with respect to tariff rates of a pipeline MLP could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of that pipeline MLP and its ability to make cash distributions to its equity owners.

 

ETF Risk. The Fund invests in ETFs. ETFs are subject to investment advisory fees and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund. As a result, your cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in ETFs and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in securities. ETF shares may trade at a discount to or a premium above net asset value if there is a limited market in such shares. ETFs are also subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund. Index-tracking ETFs in which the Fund invests will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of the indices they track because the total return generated by the securities will be reduced by transaction costs incurred in adjusting the actual balance of the securities or index. Each ETF is subject to specific risks, depending on its investments.

 

ETF Structure Risk. The Fund is structured as an ETF and as a result is subject to the special risks, including:

 

The market prices of shares will fluctuate in response to changes in NAV and supply and demand for shares and will include a “bid-ask spread” charged by the exchange specialists, market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. There may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. This means that Shares may trade at a discount to NAV.

 

In times of market stress, market makers may step away from their role market making in shares of ETFs and in executing trades, which can lead to differences between the market value of Fund shares and the Fund’s NAV.

 

In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to the deteriorating liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio. This adverse effect on the liquidity of the Fund’s shares may, in turn, lead to differences between the market value of the Fund’s shares and the Fund’s net asset value.

 

Health Care Sector Risk. Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.

 

Financial Sector Risk. Financial services companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of financial institutions and markets. Certain events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause certain financial services companies to incur large losses. Securities of financial services companies may experience a dramatic decline in value when such companies experience substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, take action to raise capital (such as the issuance of debt or equity securities), or cease operations. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers and financial losses associated with investment activities can negatively impact the sector. Insurance companies may be subject to severe price competition. Adverse economic, business or political developments, hackers, changes in monetary and fiscal policies, regulations, and economic conditions could adversely affect financial institutions engaged in mortgage finance or other lending or investing activities directly or indirectly connected to the value of real estate.

 

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Industrial Sector Risk. Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved in this industry rely, to a significant extent, on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in, aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, a component of the industrial sector, are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.

 

Management Risk. The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the adviser’s investment model. The models used by the adviser to determine or guide investment decisions may not achieve the objectives of the Fund. The adviser’s assessment of the attractiveness and potential appreciation of particular investments or markets in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect and there is no guarantee that the adviser’s investment strategy will produce the desired results, causing losses for the Fund.

 

Materials Sector Risk. Many materials companies are significantly affected by the level and volatility of commodity prices, exchange rates, import controls, worldwide competition, environmental policies and consumer demand. At times, worldwide production of industrial materials has exceeded demand as a result of over-building or economic downturns, leading to poor investment returns or losses. Other risks may include liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control. The materials sector may also be affected by economic cycles, technical progress, labor relations, and government regulations.

 

Model Risk. Like all quantitative analysis, the adviser’s investment model carries a risk that the model used might be based on one or more incorrect assumptions. Rapidly changing and unforeseen market dynamics could also lead to a decrease in short term effectiveness of the adviser’s model. No assurance can be given that the fund will be successful under all or any market conditions.

 

Natural Resources Risk. Investments in companies in natural resources industries can be significantly affected by (often rapid) changes in supply of, or demand for, various natural resources. They may also be affected by changes in energy prices, international political and economic developments, environmental incidents, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, changes in commodity prices, and tax and other government regulations.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. Portfolio turnover results 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 Fund’s performance.

 

Real Estate Sector Risk. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, changes in interest rates, credit and mortgage quality, and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.

 

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Technology Sector Risk. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.

 

Utilities Sector Risk. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors rate changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the changes in financing costs. This factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company’s earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company’s equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability.

 

Among the risks that may affect utility companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods; restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes.

 

Performance:

Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time. In the future, performance information will be presented in this section of the Prospectus. Also, shareholder reports containing financial and performance information will be provided to shareholders semi-annually. Updated performance information will be available by calling (866) 904-0406 and may also be available at www.rspyetf.com.

 

Adviser: Tuttle Capital Management, LLC.

 

Sub-Adviser: Revere Wealth Management LLC.

 

Portfolio Manager: Matthew Tuttle has served the Fund as its portfolio manager since it commenced operations in August 2021.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares: The Fund will issue and redeem shares at NAV per share only in large blocks of 25,000 shares (each block of shares is called a “Creation Unit”). Creation Units are issued and redeemed for cash and/or in-kind for securities. Individual shares may only be purchased and sold in secondary market transactions through brokers. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund.

 

Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, Inc. and trade at market prices rather than NAV. Shares of the Fund may trade at a price that is greater than, at, or less than NAV.

 

Tax Information: Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-free plan. If you are investing through a tax-free plan, you will be taxed upon withdrawal from your account.

 

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

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES

 

The Revere Sector Opportunity ETF (the “Fund”) seek capital appreciation.

 

The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Collaborative Investment Series Trust may change the Fund’s investment objectives without shareholder approval, although it has no current intention to do so. Shareholders will be provided with at least 60 days’ prior written notice of any change to the Fund’s investment objectives.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange traded fund (“ETF”) that will primarily invest in ETFs that represent a sector of the S&P 500 Index (“Sector ETFs”). The adviser delegates execution of the Fund’s strategy to the sub-adviser. The sub-adviser invests the Fund’s assets based on a proprietary sector selection model. The sub-adviser’s model recommends allocations for the Fund’s assets among Sectors ETFs that each focus on common stocks of companies included in an individual sectors of the S&P 500® Index, as determined by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®). The sub-adviser defines a Sector ETF as an ETF that invests its holdings in companies that are selected on the basis of general industry classification from a universe of companies defined by the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock® Index. The S&P 500 Index is composed of the following eleven sectors: Information Technology, Health Care, Financials, Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, Industrials, Consumer Staples, Energy, Utilities, Real Estate, and Materials. Under normal market conditions, the sub-adviser will invest the Fund’s assets in all eleven sectors that comprise the S&P 500 Index.

 

The S&P 500 Index is composed of the following eleven sectors:

Information Technology - consists of companies that develop or distribute technological items or services, and includes internet companies.
Health Care - consists of companies such as medical supply companies, pharmaceutical companies, and scientific-based operations or services that aim to improve the human body or mind.
Financials - companies involved in finance, investing, and the movement or storage of money. It includes banks, credit card issuers, credit unions, insurance companies, and mortgage real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
Consumer Discretionary - consumer products are luxury items or services that are not necessary for survival. The demand for these items depends on economic conditions and the wealth of individuals.
Communication Services - consists of companies that keep people connected. This includes internet providers and phone plan providers.
Industrials – includes a wide range of companies, from airlines and railroad companies to military weapons manufacturers.
Consumer Staples – includes companies that provide all the necessities of life. This includes food and beverage companies, household product providers, and personal product providers.
Energy - consists of all companies that play a part in the oil, gas, and consumable fuels business. This includes companies that find, drill, and extract the commodity.
Utilities - utility companies provide or generate electricity, water, and gas to buildings and households.
Real Estate – includes REITs and real estate.
Materials - Companies within the materials sector provide the raw material needed for other sectors to function.

 

The Fund’s assets are allocated among ETFs based on the sub-adviser’s proprietary sector selection model. The model incorporates macroeconomic, financial and market data to determine how to allocate the Fund’s asset among the individual sectors of the S&P 500 Index. The sub-adviser’s model determines whether each sector is “underweight”, “overweight” or “index weight” and allocates the Fund’s accordingly. The terms “overweight (greater allocation)”, “underweight (lesser allocation)”, and “index weight (equal allocation)” reflect the sub-adviser’s allocation of the Fund’s portfolio when compared to the S&P 500 Index. If the sub-adviser’s models determine that a sector is “overweight”, the sub-adviser will allocate a higher portion of the Fund’s portfolio to the sector when compared to the sector weighting in the S&P 500 Index. If the sub-adviser’s models determine that a sector is “underweight”, the sub-adviser will allocate a smaller portion of the Fund’s portfolio to the sector when compared to the current sector weighting in the S&P 500 Index. When the sub-adviser’s models determine that a sector is “index weight”, the sub-adviser will invest the Fund’s portfolio to approximately mirror the sectors weighing when compared to the S&P 500 Index. Sectors that are deemed “overweight” will each receive a higher allocation of the Fund’s assets that withheld from sectors that are deemed “underweight”. The sub-adviser determines whether a sector is underweight, overweight, or index weight based on daily weekly, and monthly evaluation as well as review of technical factors. The portfolio’s final sector allocation is subject to the sub-adviser’s risk and diversification constraints, which may limit the amount a sector may represent in the portfolio. The sub-adviser’s diversification constraints require the Fund to invest in at least five of the eleven sectors that comprise the S&P 500 Index at all times. The sub-adviser may not fully implement the results of the model if it believes the model does not take into account all relevant data, or that a different evaluation or weighting of the data is more appropriate. It is possible the Fund may not have exposure to all sectors at all times. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the sub-adviser will actively manage the Fund, resulting in a high portfolio turnover rate. The sub-adviser may adjust holdings based on changes in the S&P 500 economic sector weightings.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

 

There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve their investment objective. The Fund’s share prices will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When you sell your Fund shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in the Fund. The following risks could adversely affect the net asset value, total return and the value of a Fund and your investment. The risk descriptions below provide a more detailed explanation of the principal investment risks that correspond to the risks described in the Fund’s Summary section of this Prospectus.

 

Asset Allocation Risk. The Fund’s investment performance depends upon the successful allocation by the sub-adviser of the Fund’s assets among asset classes, geographical regions, industry sectors, and specific issuers and investments. There is no guarantee that the sub-adviser’s allocation techniques and decisions will produce the desired results.

 

Communications Sector Risk. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to the potential obsolescence of products and services due to technological advancement and the innovation of competitors. Companies in the communication services sector may also be affected by other competitive pressures, such as pricing competition, as well as research and development costs, substantial capital requirements and government regulation. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company’s profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communication services sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.

 

Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.

 

Consumer Staples Sector Risk. Consumer staples companies are subject to government regulation affecting their products which may negatively impact such companies’ performance. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food, beverage, household and personal product companies may be strongly affected by consumer interest, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand, including performance of the overall domestic and global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence and spending.

 

Energy Sector Risk. Issuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves. Oil and gas exploration and production can be significantly affected by natural disasters as well as changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, world events and economic conditions. These companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims. In addition, energy MLPs may be subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”)with respect to tariff rates that these companies may charge for interstate pipeline transportation services. An adverse determination by FERC with respect to tariff rates of a pipeline MLP could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of that pipeline MLP and its ability to make cash distributions to its equity owners.

 

ETF Risk. The Fund invests in ETFs. ETFs are subject to investment advisory fees and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund. As a result, your cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in ETFs and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in securities. ETF shares may trade at a discount to or a premium above net asset value if there is a limited market in such shares. ETFs are also subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund. Index-tracking ETFs in which the Fund invests will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of the indices they track because the total return generated by the securities will be reduced by transaction costs incurred in adjusting the actual balance of the securities or index. Each ETF is subject to specific risks, depending on its investments.

 

 7

 

 

ETF Structure Risk. The Fund is structured as an ETF and as a result is subject to the special risks, including:

 

The market prices of shares will fluctuate in response to changes in NAV and supply and demand for shares and will include a “bid-ask spread” charged by the exchange specialists, market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. There may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. This means that Shares may trade at a discount to NAV.

 

In times of market stress, market makers may step away from their role market making in shares of ETFs and in executing trades, which can lead to differences between the market value of Fund shares and the Fund’s NAV.

 

In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to the deteriorating liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio. This adverse effect on the liquidity of the Fund’s shares may, in turn, lead to differences between the market value of the Fund’s shares and the Fund’s net asset value.

 

Financial Sector Risk. Financial services companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of financial institutions and markets. Certain events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause certain financial services companies to incur large losses. Securities of financial services companies may experience a dramatic decline in value when such companies experience substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, take action to raise capital (such as the issuance of debt or equity securities), or cease operations. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers and financial losses associated with investment activities can negatively impact the sector. Insurance companies may be subject to severe price competition. Adverse economic, business or political developments could adversely affect financial institutions engaged in mortgage finance or other lending or investing activities directly or indirectly connected to the value of real estate.

 

Health Care Sector Risk. Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.

 

Industrial Sector Risk. Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved in this industry rely, to a significant extent, on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in, aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, a component of the industrial sector, are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.

 

Management Risk. The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the adviser’s investment model. The models used by the adviser to determine or guide investment decisions may not achieve the objectives of the Fund. The adviser’s assessment of the attractiveness and potential appreciation of particular investments or markets in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect and there is no guarantee that the adviser’s investment strategy will produce the desired results, causing losses for the Fund.

 

 8

 

 

Materials Sector Risk. Many materials companies are significantly affected by the level and volatility of commodity prices, exchange rates, import controls, worldwide competition, environmental policies and consumer demand. At times, worldwide production of industrial materials has exceeded demand as a result of over-building or economic downturns, leading to poor investment returns or losses. Other risks may include liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control. The materials sector may also be affected by economic cycles, technical progress, labor relations, and government regulations.

 

Model Risk. Like all quantitative analysis, the adviser’s investment model carries a risk that the model used might be based on one or more incorrect assumptions. Rapidly changing and unforeseen market dynamics could also lead to a decrease in short term effectiveness of the adviser’s model. No assurance can be given that the fund will be successful under all or any market conditions.

 

Natural Resources Risk. Investments in companies in natural resources industries can be significantly affected by (often rapid) changes in supply of, or demand for, various natural resources. They may also be affected by changes in energy prices, international political and economic developments, environmental incidents, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, changes in commodity prices, and tax and other government regulations.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. Portfolio turnover results 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 Fund’s performance.

 

Real Estate Sector Risk. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.

 

Technology Sector Risk. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.

 

Utilities Sector Risk. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors rate changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the changes in financing costs. This factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company’s earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company’s equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability.

  

Temporary Investments: To respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, a Fund may invest 100% of its total assets, without limitation, in high-quality short-term debt securities and money market instruments. These short-term debt securities and money market instruments include: shares of money market mutual funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, and U.S. Government securities. While a Fund is in a defensive position, a Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Furthermore, to the extent that a Fund invests in money market mutual funds for cash positions, there will be some duplication of expenses because a Fund pays its pro-rata portion of such money market funds’ advisory fees and operational fees. A Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.

 

 9

 

 

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure: A description of the Fund’s policies and regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Investment Adviser

 

Tuttle Capital Management, LLC (the “Adviser”), located at 155 Lockwood Rd., Riverside, CT 06830, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority and oversight of the Board, the Adviser is responsible for the overall management of the Fund’s business affairs. The Adviser is responsible for selecting the Fund’s investments according to the Fund’s investment objective, policies, and restrictions.

 

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Adviser (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), the Fund pays the Adviser, on a monthly basis, an annual advisory fee of 0.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser waived the entirety of the advisory fee during the fiscal period ended March 31, 2022. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement is available in the Fund’s semi-annual shareholder report dated September 30, 2021. For the fiscal period ended March 31, 2022, the Adviser received an advisory fee of 0.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and to reimburse expenses, at least through July 31, 2023 to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of any (i) front-end or contingent deferred loads, (ii) brokerage fees and commissions, (iii) acquired fund fees and expenses, (iv) fees and expenses associated with instruments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example options and swap fees and expenses); (v) borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), (vi) taxes, (vii) other fees related to underlying investments, (such as option fees and expenses or swap fees and expenses); or (vii) extraordinary expenses such as litigation (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and trustees or contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the Adviser)) will not exceed 1.05%. This expense limitation agreement may be terminated at any time, by the Board upon sixty days written notice to the Adviser. The expense limitation agreement will automatically terminate, if the Investment Advisory Agreement is terminated.

 

Fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from a Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits or the expense limits in place at the time of recoupment. Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease a Fund’s expenses and boost its performance.

 

Investment Sub-Adviser

 

Revere Wealth Management, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”), located at 650 Fifth Avenue, 35th Floor, New York, NY 10019, serves as sub-adviser to the Fund and provides asset allocation recommendations to the Adviser. The Sub-Adviser is paid by the Adviser, not the Fund.

 

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Portfolio Manager

 

Matthew B. Tuttle is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Tuttle founded Tuttle Capital Management, LLC in 2012 and serves as its chief investment officer and chief executive officer.

 

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

 

NET ASSET VALUE

 

The NAV and offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charges) of each class of shares is determined as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each day the NYSE is open for business (the “Valuation Time”). NAV is computed by determining, on a per class basis, the aggregate market value of all assets of a Fund, less its liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding ((assets-liabilities)/number of shares = NAV). The NYSE is closed on weekends and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The NAV takes into account, on a per class basis, the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management, administration, and distribution fees, which are accrued daily. The determination of NAV for a share class for a particular day is applicable to all applications for the purchase of shares, as well as all requests for the redemption of shares, received by a Fund (or an authorized broker or agent, or its authorized designee) before the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.

 

The Fund’s securities or other investment assets for which market quotations are readily available will be valued at current market value based upon such market quotations as of the Valuation Time. The Fund may use independent pricing agents to provide current market values. Generally, a Fund’s securities are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges (whether domestic or foreign) for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on such exchange. If market quotations are not readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined in good faith and evaluated as to the reliability of the fair value method used by the Board on a quarterly basis, in accordance with procedures approved by the Board. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If market quotations are not readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may be materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security. The fair value prices can differ from market prices when they become available or when a price becomes available. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value committee composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser. The committee may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.

 

The Fund may use independent pricing services to assist in calculating the value of a Fund’s securities. In addition, market prices for foreign securities are not determined at the same time of day as the NAV for a Fund. The Fund may invest in foreign securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that may trade on weekends or other days when a Fund does not price its shares, the value of a Fund’s portfolio may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares. In computing the NAV, a Fund values foreign securities held by a Fund at the latest closing price on the exchange in which they are traded immediately prior to closing of the NYSE. Prices of foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. If events materially affecting the value of a security in a Fund’s portfolio, particularly foreign securities, occur after the close of trading on a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares, the securities will be valued at fair value. For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before a Fund calculates its NAV, the Adviser may need to price the security using a Fund’s fair value pricing guidelines. Without a fair value price, short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of a Fund’s NAV by short term traders. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments. As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the prices used by other mutual funds to determine net asset value or the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security.

 

With respect to any portion of a Fund’s assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies that are registered under the 1940 Act, a Fund’s NAV is calculated based upon the net asset values of the registered open-end management investment companies in which a Fund invests, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

 

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Premium/Discount Information

 

Most investors will buy and sell Shares of a Fund in secondary market transactions through brokers at market prices and a Fund’s Shares will trade at market prices. The market price of Shares of a Fund may be greater than, equal to, or less than NAV. Market forces of supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors may affect the trading prices of Shares of the Fund.

 

Information regarding how often the Shares of the Fund traded at a price above (at a premium to) or below (at a discount to) the NAV of a Fund during the past four calendar quarters, when available, can be found at www.rspyetf.com.

 

How to Buy and Sell Shares

 

Shares of the Fund will be listed for trading on NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) under the symbol RSPY. Share prices are reported in dollars and cents per Share. Shares can be bought and sold on the secondary market throughout the trading day like other publicly traded shares, and shares typically trade in blocks of less than a Creation Unit. There is no minimum investment required. Shares may only be purchased and sold on the secondary market when the Exchange is open for trading. The Exchange is open for trading Monday through Friday and is closed on weekends and the following holidays, as observed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

When buying or selling Shares through a broker, you will incur customary brokerage commissions and charges, and you may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction.

 

Authorized participants (“APs”) may acquire Shares directly from the Fund, and APs may tender their Shares for redemption directly to the Fund, at NAV per Share only in large blocks, or Creation Units, of 25,000 Shares. Purchases and redemptions directly with the Fund must follow the Fund’s procedures, which are described in the SAI.

 

The Fund may liquidate and terminate at any time without shareholder approval.

 

Share Trading Prices

 

The approximate value of Shares of the Fund, an amount representing on a per share basis the sum of the current market price of the securities accepted by the Fund in exchange for Shares of a Fund and an estimated cash component will be disseminated every 15 seconds throughout the trading day through the facilities of the Consolidated Tape Association. This approximate value should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of the NAV per Share of a Fund because the approximate value may not take into account certain Fund expenses and may not be calculated in the same manner as the NAV, which is computed once a day, generally at the end of the business day. The Fund is not involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the approximate value of the Shares, and the Fund does not make any warranty as to the accuracy of these values.

 

Book Entry

 

Shares are held in book entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding Shares of a Fund and is recognized as the owner of all Shares for all purposes.

 

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

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

 

The Fund’s Shares can only be purchased and redeemed directly from the Fund in Creation Units by APs, and the vast majority of trading in the Fund’s Shares occurs on the secondary market. Because the secondary market trades do not directly involve the Fund, it is unlikely those trades would cause the harmful effects of market timing, including dilution, disruption of portfolio management, increases in the Fund’s trading costs and the realization of capital gains. With regard to the purchase or redemption of Creation Units directly with the Fund, to the extent effected in-kind (i.e., for securities), those trades do not cause the harmful effects that may result from frequent cash trades. To the extent trades are effected in whole or in part in cash, those trades could result in dilution to the Fund and increased transaction costs, which could negatively impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. However, direct trading by APs is critical to ensuring that the Fund’s Shares trade at or close to NAV. The Fund also employ fair valuation pricing to minimize potential dilution from market timing. In addition, the Fund imposes transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Fund Shares to cover the custodial and other costs incurred by the Fund in effecting trades. These fees increase if an investor substitutes cash in part or in whole for securities, reflecting the fact that a Fund’s trading costs increase in those circumstances. Given this structure, the Trust has determined that it is not necessary to adopt policies and procedures to detect and deter market timing of the Fund’s Shares.

 

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DIVIDENDS, OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Unlike interests in conventional mutual funds, which typically are bought and sold from and to a fund only at closing NAVs, the Fund’s Shares are traded throughout the day in the secondary market on a national securities exchange on an intra-day basis and are created and redeemed in-kind and/or for cash in Creation Units at each day’s next calculated NAV. In-kind arrangements are designed to protect ongoing shareholders from the adverse effects on the Fund’s portfolio that could arise from frequent cash redemption transactions. In a conventional mutual fund, redemptions can have an adverse tax impact on taxable shareholders if the mutual fund needs to sell portfolio securities to obtain cash to meet net fund redemptions. These sales may generate taxable gains for the ongoing shareholders of the mutual fund, whereas the shares’ in-kind redemption mechanism generally will not lead to a tax event for the Fund or its ongoing shareholders.

 

Ordinarily, dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually by the Fund. The Fund distributes its net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders annually.

 

Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole shares only if the broker through whom you purchased shares makes such option available.

 

Taxes

 

As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in Shares will be taxed. The tax information in this Prospectus is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in shares.

 

Unless your investment in Shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-deferred retirement account, such as an individual retirement account, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when:

 

The Fund makes distributions,
You sell your Shares listed on the Exchange, and
You purchase or redeem Creation Units.

 

Taxes on Distributions

 

As stated above, dividends from net investment income, if any, ordinarily are declared and paid annually by the Fund. The Fund may also pay a special distribution at the end of a calendar year to comply with federal tax requirements. Distributions from the Fund’s net investment income, including net short-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to you as ordinary income, except that each Fund’s dividends attributable to its “qualified dividend income” (i.e., dividends received on stock of most domestic and certain foreign corporations with respect to which a Fund satisfies certain holding period and other restrictions), if any, generally are subject to federal income tax for non-corporate shareholders who satisfy those restrictions with respect to their Fund shares at the rate for net capital gain -- a maximum of 15% for taxable years beginning before 2013. A part of a Fund’s dividends also may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations -- the eligible portion may not exceed the aggregate dividends each Fund receives from domestic corporations subject to federal income tax (excluding REITs) and excludes dividends from foreign corporations -- subject to similar restrictions. However, dividends a corporate shareholder deducts pursuant to that deduction are subject indirectly to the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

In general, your distributions are subject to federal income tax when they are paid, whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in the Fund (if that option is available). Distributions reinvested in additional Shares of the Fund through the means of a dividend reinvestment service, if available, will be taxable to shareholders acquiring the additional Shares to the same extent as if such distributions had been received in cash. Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, in excess of net short-term capital losses are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held the Shares.

 

Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits are treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of your basis in the Shares and as capital gain thereafter. A distribution will reduce the Fund’s NAV per Share and may be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gain (as described above) even though, from an investment standpoint, the distribution may constitute a return of capital.

 

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By law, a Fund is required to withhold 28% of your distributions and redemption proceeds if you have not provided the Fund with a correct Social Security number or other taxpayer identification number and in certain other situations.

 

Taxes on Exchange-Listed Share Sales

 

Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Shares is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year and as short-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for one year or less. The ability to deduct capital losses from sales of Shares may be limited.

 

Taxes on Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

 

An AP who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize a gain or a loss equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange and the sum of the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus any Cash Component it pays. An AP who exchanges Creation Units for securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units and the sum of the aggregate market value of the securities received plus any cash equal to the difference between the NAV of the Shares being redeemed and the value of the securities. The Internal Revenue Service (“Service”), however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales” or for other reasons. Persons exchanging securities should consult their own tax advisor with respect to whether wash sale rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.

 

Any capital gain or loss realized upon redemption of Creation Units is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year and as short-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for one year or less.

 

If you purchase or redeem Creation Units, you will be sent a confirmation statement showing how many Shares you purchased or sold and at what price. See “Tax Status” in the SAI for a description of the newly effective requirement regarding basis determination methods applicable to Share redemptions and the Fund’s obligation to report basis information to the Service.

 

The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the possible consequences under current federal tax law of an investment in the Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in the Shares under all applicable tax laws. See “Tax Status” in the SAI for more information.

 

Fund Service Providers

 

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. is the Fund’s administrator and fund accountant. It has its principal office at 4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43219, and is primarily in the business of providing administrative, fund accounting and regulatory filing services to retail and institutional mutual funds.

 

Citibank N.A., is the custodian for the Fund and has its principal office at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10048.

 

ACA Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”), located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101, is the distributor for the shares of the Fund. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

 

Thompson Hine LLP, 41 South High Street, Suite 1700, Columbus, Ohio 43215, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

Cohen & Company, Ltd., located at 342 North Water Street, Suite 830, Milwaukee, WI 53202 serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing the annual financial statements of the Fund.     

 

Other Information

 

Continuous Offering

 

The method by which Creation Units of Shares are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units of Shares are issued and sold by the Fund on an ongoing basis, a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may occur at any point. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery requirement and liability provisions of the Securities Act.

 

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For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent Shares and sells the Shares directly to customers or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for Shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a characterization as an underwriter.

 

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in Shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of Shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. As a result, broker-dealer firms should note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted with engaging in ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with the Shares that are part of an overallotment within the meaning of Section 4(3)(C) of the Securities Act, will be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the Securities Act. For delivery of prospectuses to exchange members, the prospectus delivery mechanism of Rule 153 under the Securities Act is only available with respect to transactions on a national exchange.

 

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

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The following table is intended to help you better understand the Fund’s financial performance since its inception. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. Total return represents the rate you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The March 31, 2022 information for the Fund has been derived from the financial statements audited by Cohen & Company, Ltd., the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Fund’s March 31, 2022 annual report, which is available upon request.

 

Revere Sector Opportunity ETF

August 23, 2021(a)
through
March 31, 2022

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$25.00

 
Net Investment Income (Loss)(b) 0.09
Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments(c)

(0.08

)
Total from Investment Activities

0.01

 
Distributions from Net Investment Income (0.06 )
Distributions from Net Realized Gains from Investments

Total Distributions

(0.06

)
 
Net Asset Value, End of Period

$24.95

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

$8,109

 
Total Return at NAV(d)(e) 0.04%
Total Return at Market(e)(f) 0.12%
 
Ratio of Net Expenses to Average Net Assets(g)(h) 1.05%
Ratio of Gross Expenses to Average Net Assets(g)(h)(i) 2.51%
Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets(g)(j) 0.62%
Portfolio Turnover(e)(k) 40%

(a) Commencement of operations.

(b) Calculated based on average shares method.

(c) Realized and unrealized gains (losses) per share are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not accord with the aggregate gains and losses in the Statement of Operations due to share transactions for the period.

(d) Net asset value total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, if any, and redemption on the last day of the period at net asset value. This percentage is not an indication of the performance of a shareholder’s investment in the Fund based on market value due to differences between the market price of the shares and the net asset value per share of the Fund.

(e) Not annualized for periods less than one year.

(f) Market value total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the market value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, if any, and redemption on the last day of the period at market value. Market value is determined by the composite closing price. Composite closing security price is defined as the last reported sale price from any primary listing market (e.g., NYSE Arca) or participating regional exchanges or markets. The composite closing price is the last reported sale price from any of the eligible sources, regardless of volume and not an average price and may have occurred on a date prior to the close of the reporting period. Market value may be greater or less than net asset value, depending on the Fund’s closing price on the listing market.

(g) Annualized for periods less than one year.

(h) Excludes expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund invests.

(i) If applicable, certain fees were waived and/or reimbursed. If such waivers/reimbursements had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.

(j) Recognition of net investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. The ratio does not include net investment income of the underlying investment companies.

(k) Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions.

 

 16

 

 

PRIVACY NOTICE

 

Collaborative Investment Series Trust 

Rev. November 2017

 

FACTS WHAT DOES COLLABORATIVE INVESTMENT SERIES TRUST DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

 

Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some, but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

 

What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depends on the product or service that you have with us. This information can include:

●    Social Security number and wire transfer instructions

●    account transactions and transaction history

●    investment experience and purchase history

When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

 

How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons Collaborative Investment Series Trust chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information: Does
Collaborative
Investment Series
Trust share
information?
Can you
limit this
sharing?
For our everyday business purposes - such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus. YES NO
For our marketing purposes - to offer our products and services to you. NO We don’t share
For joint marketing with other financial companies. NO We don’t share
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes - information about your transactions and records. NO We don’t share
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes - information about your credit worthiness. NO We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you NO We don’t share

 

QUESTIONS?   Call 1-800-595-4866  

 17

 

PRIVACY NOTICE

 

Collaborative Investment Series Trust

 

What we do:

 

How does Collaborative Investment Series Trust protect my personal information?

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

 

Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.

 

How does Collaborative Investment Series Trust collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

●         open an account or deposit money

 

●         direct us to buy securities or direct us to sell your securities

 

●         seek advice about your investments

 

We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

 

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only:

 

●         sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness.

 

●         affiliates from using your information to market to you.

 

●         sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you.

 

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

 

Definitions
Affiliates

Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

 

●         Collaborative Investment Series Trust does not share with our affiliates.

Nonaffiliates

Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

 

●         Collaborative Investment Series Trust does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

 

●           Collaborative Investment Series Trust doesn’t jointly market.

 

Adviser

Tuttle Capital Management, LLC

155 Lockwood Rd.,

Riverside, CT 06830

Sub-Adviser

Revere Wealth Management, LLC

650 Fifth Avenue, 35th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Distributor

Foreside Fund Services

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100

Portland, ME 04101

Legal Counsel

Thompson Hine LLP
41 South High Street, Suite 1700

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Custodian

Citibank N.A.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10048

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Cohen & Company, Ltd.

342 North Water Street, Suite 830,
Milwaukee, WI 53202

 

 18

 

 

Additional information about the Fund, including the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, are included in the Fund’s SAI. The SAI is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (i.e., legally made a part of this Prospectus). The SAI provides more details about the Fund’s policies and management. Additional information about the Fund’s investments will also be available in the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders.

 

To obtain a free copy of the SAI or other information about the Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries about the Fund, please call (866) 904-0406 or visit www.rspyetf.com. You may also write to:

 

Tuttle Capital Management, LLC

155 Lockwood Rd.
Riverside, CT 06830

 

Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

  

Investment Company Act File #811-23306

 19

 

 

Revere Sector Opportunity ETF 

Ticker Symbol: RSPY

 

a series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

July 29, 2022

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Revere Sector Opportunity ETF (the “Fund”) dated July 29, 2022. The Fund’s Prospectus is hereby incorporated by reference, which means it is legally part of this document. You can obtain copies of the Fund’s Prospectus, annual or semiannual reports without charge by contacting the Fund’s Distributor, ACA Foreside Fund Services, LLC, Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04191 or by calling (855) 510-1763. You may also obtain a Prospectus by visiting the website at www.rspyetf.com.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE FUND 1
TYPES OF INVESTMENTS 2
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 18
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS 19
MANAGEMENT 21
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS 26
INVESTMENT ADVISER 26
THE DISTRIBUTOR 28
PORTFOLIO MANAGER 28
ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE 29
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER 30
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS 30
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES 31
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM 32
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES 32
TAX STATUS 41
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 46
LEGAL COUNSEL 46
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 46
APPENDIX A – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES A-1

 

 

 

THE FUND

 

 

The Fund is a diversified series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust, a Delaware statutory trust organized on July 26, 2017 (the “Trust”). The Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”).

 

The Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares of the Fund have equal rights and privileges. Each share of the Fund is entitled to one vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote. In addition, each share of the Fund is entitled to participate equally with other shares (i) in dividends and distributions declared by such Fund and (ii) on liquidation to its proportionate share of the assets remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities. Shares of the Fund are fully paid, non-assessable and fully transferable when issued and have no pre-emptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionately the same rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.

 

The Fund’s investment objectives, restrictions and policies are more fully described here and in the Prospectus. The Board may start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time. The Board may start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time. The Fund is an exchange-traded fund, which is a registered open-end management company that issues (and redeems) creation units (“Creation Units”) to (and from) authorized participants (“Authorized Participants”) in exchange for a basket and a cash balancing amount (if any) and the shares of which are listed on a national securities exchange and traded at market-determined prices. An Authorized Participant is a financial institution that is a member or participant of a clearing agency registered with the SEC, which has a written agreement with the Fund or one of its service providers that allows the financial institution to place orders for the purchase and redemption of Creation Units. Creation Units are a specified number of the Fund’s shares (e.g., 25,000) that the Fund will issue to (or redeem from) an Authorized Participant in exchange for the deposit (or delivery) of a basket and a cash balancing amount if any.

 

The Fund will issue and redeem Creation Units principally in exchange for an in-kind deposit of a basket of designated securities (the “Deposit Securities”), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”), plus a transaction fee.  The Fund is expected to be approved for listing, subject to notice of issuance, on NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”).  Shares will trade on the Exchange at market prices that may be below, at, or above NAV.  In the event of the liquidation of the Fund, a share split, reverse split or the like, the Trust may revise the number of Shares in a Creation Unit.

 

The Fund reserves the right to offer creations and redemptions of Shares for cash.  In addition, Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions, including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Trust cash equal to up to 115% of the market value of the missing Deposit Securities.  In each instance of such cash creations or redemptions, transaction fees, may be imposed and may be higher than the transaction fees associated with in-kind creations or redemptions.  See PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES below.  

 

1

 

 

TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

 

 

The investment objective of the Fund and the descriptions of the Fund’s principal investment strategies are set forth under “Investment Objective” and Principal Investment Strategies” in the Prospectus. The Fund’s investment objectives are not fundamental and may be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust.

 

The following pages contain more detailed information about the types of instruments in which the Fund may invest directly or indirectly as a principal or non-principal investment strategy. These instruments include other investment companies and strategies Tuttle Capital Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) employs in pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective and a summary of related risks.

 

Securities of Other Investment Companies

 

The Fund’s investments in ETFs and mutual funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in such underlying funds. Due to legal limitations, the Fund will be prevented from: 1) purchasing more than 3% of an investment company’s (including ETFs) outstanding shares; 2) investing more than 5% of the Fund’s assets in any single such investment company, and 3) investing more than 10% of the Fund’s assets in investment companies overall; unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. In the alternative, the Fund may rely on Rule 12d1-3, which allows unaffiliated mutual funds to exceed the 5% limitation and the 10% limitation, provided the aggregate sales loads any investor pays (i.e., the combined distribution expenses of both the acquiring fund and the acquired underlying fund) does not exceed the limits on sales loads established by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) for funds of funds. In addition to ETFs, the Fund may invest in other investment companies such as open-end mutual funds or exchange-traded funds, within the limitations described above. Each investment company is subject to specific risks, depending on the nature of the Fund. Underlying ETFs and mutual funds may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying stock or other index upon which they are based.

 

Open-End Investment Companies

 

The Fund and any “affiliated persons,” as defined by the 1940 Act, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any underlying fund. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of the underlying fund, the Fund’s ability to invest fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an underlying fund whose shares are purchased by the Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the underlying fund’s outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an underlying fund’s outstanding securities therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

Under certain circumstances an underlying fund may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the rules of the SEC. In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed by an underlying fund until the Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.

 

Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying fund(s) are made independently of the Fund and the Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one underlying fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment adviser of another such fund. The result would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.

 

2

 

 

Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”)

 

ETFs are generally passive funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and typically provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging, have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, some ETFs are unit investment trusts (“UITs”). Under certain circumstances, the adviser may invest in ETFs, known as “inverse funds,” which are designed to produce results opposite to market trends. Inverse ETFs are funds designed to rise in price when stock prices are falling.

 

ETFs typically have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap “creation units” in block-multiples of, for example, 50,000 shares for in-kind securities and cash. Unlike mutual funds, the primary market for ETFs exists between the Fund and Authorized Participants (“APs”). The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded at net asset value (“NAV”), which is calculated at the end of a trading day. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.

 

Foreign Securities

 

Investing in securities of foreign companies and countries involves certain considerations and risks that are not typically associated with investing in U.S. government securities and securities of domestic companies. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than a domestic one, and foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies than exists in the United States. Interest and dividends paid by foreign issuers may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes, which may decrease the net return on such investments as compared to dividends and interest paid to the Fund by domestic companies or the U.S. government. There may be the possibility of expropriations, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, confiscatory taxation, political, economic or social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect assets of the Fund held in foreign countries.  Finally, the establishment of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions could adversely affect the payment of obligations.

 

To the extent currency exchange transactions do not fully protect the Fund against adverse changes in currency exchange rates, decreases in the value of currencies of the foreign countries in which the Fund will invest relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding decrease in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets denominated in those currencies (and possibly a corresponding increase in the amount of securities required to be liquidated to meet distribution requirements). Conversely, increases in the value of currencies of the foreign countries in which the Fund invests relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding increase in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets (and possibly a corresponding decrease in the amount of securities to be liquidated).

 

Short Sales

 

The Fund may sell securities short as an outright investment strategy and to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.

 

3

 

 

When the Fund makes a short sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing the security. The Fund is required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities.

 

If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund covers its short position, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.

 

To the extent the Fund sells securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales “against the box”) will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker. A short sale is “against the box” to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.

 

Equity Securities

 

Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.

 

Common Stock

 

Common stock represents an equity (ownership) interest in a company, and usually possesses voting rights and earns dividends. Dividends on common stock are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer. Common stock generally represents the riskiest investment in a company. In addition, common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential because increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be liquidated, although preferred stock is usually junior to the debt securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates.

 

4

 

 

A Fundamental risk of investing in common and preferred stock is the risk that the value of the stock might decrease. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of an individual company or in response to general market and/or economic conditions. Historically, common stocks have provided greater long-term returns and have entailed greater short-term risks than preferred stocks, fixed-income securities and money market investments. The market value of all securities, including common and preferred stocks, is based upon the market’s perception of value and not necessarily the book value of an issuer or other objective measures of a company’s worth.

 

Convertible Securities

 

Convertible securities include fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s underlying common stock at the option of the holder during a specified period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of “usable” bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these securities. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts

 

The Fund may invest in securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs are publicly traded corporations or trusts that specialize in acquiring, holding and managing residential, commercial or industrial real estate. A REIT is not taxed at the entity level on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders if it distributes to shareholders or unitholders at least 95% of its taxable income for each taxable year and complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income.

 

REITs generally can be classified as “Equity REITs”, “Mortgage REITs” and “Hybrid REITs.” An Equity REIT invests the majority of its assets directly in real property and derives its income primarily from rents and from capital gains on real estate appreciation, which are realized through property sales. A Mortgage REIT invests the majority of its assets in real estate mortgage loans and services its income primarily from interest payments. A Hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of an Equity REIT and a Mortgage REIT. Although the Fund can invest in all three kinds of REITs, its emphasis is expected to be on investments in Equity REITs.

 

Investments in the real estate industry involve particular risks. The real estate industry has been subject to substantial fluctuations and declines on a local, regional and national basis in the past and may continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property may decline due to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in neighborhoods and in demographics, increases in market interest rates, or other factors. Factors such as these may adversely affect companies that own and operate real estate directly, companies that lend to such companies, and companies that service the real estate industry.

 

5

 

 

Investments in REITs also involve risks. Equity REITs will be affected by changes in the values of and income from the properties they own, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the credit quality of the mortgage loans they hold. In addition, REITs are dependent on specialized management skills and on their ability to generate cash flow for operating purposes and to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders REITs may have limited diversification and are subject to risks associated with obtaining financing for real property, as well as to the risk of self-liquidation. REITs also can be adversely affected by their failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through treatment of their income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or their failure to maintain an exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder bears not only a proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also may indirectly bear similar expenses of some of the REITs in which it invests.

 

Warrants

 

Warrants are options to purchase common stock at a specific price (usually at a premium above the market value of the optioned common stock at issuance) valid for a specific period of time. Warrants may have a life ranging from less than one year to twenty years, or they may be perpetual. However, most warrants have expiration dates after which they are worthless. In addition, a warrant is worthless if the market price of the common stock does not exceed the warrant’s exercise price during the life of the warrant. Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the warrant may tend to be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the optioned common stock.

 

Depositary Receipts

 

Sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), are receipts issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U.S. securities markets. Unsponsored ADRs may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these ADRs generally bear all the costs of the ADR facility, whereas foreign issuers typically bear certain costs in a sponsored ADR. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored ADR may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. Many of the risks described below regarding foreign securities apply to investments in ADRs.

 

Exchange Traded Notes (“ETNs”)

 

ETNs are typically unsecured and unsubordinated notes. ETN returns are based upon the performance of one or more underlying indicators and typically, no periodic coupon payments are distributed and no principal protections exists, even at maturity.  ETNs are listed on an exchange and traded in the secondary market. An ETN can be held until maturity, at which time the issuer pays the investor a cash amount equal to the principal amount, subject to the day’s market benchmark or strategy factor. When the Fund invests in ETNs, it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. Because fees reduce the amount of return at maturity or upon redemption, if the value of the underlying indicator decreases or does not increase significantly, the Fund may receive less than the principal amount of its investment at maturity or upon redemption. In addition, the value of an ETN also may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying indicator, changes in the applicable interest rates, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the underlying indicator. Some ETNs that use leverage can, at times, be relatively illiquid, and thus they may be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs are subject to the same risk as other instruments that use leverage in any form. There may be restrictions on the Fund’s right to redeem its investment in an ETN, which are generally meant to be held until maturity. A decision by the Fund to sell ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market. In addition, although an ETN may be listed on an exchange, the issuer may not be required to maintain the listing, and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will exist for an ETN.

 

6

 

 

Emerging Markets Securities

 

Investing in emerging market securities imposes risks different from, or greater than, risks of investing in foreign developed countries. These risks include: smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; possible repatriation of investment income and capital. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales; future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization, or creation of government monopolies. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.

 

Additional risks of emerging markets securities may include: greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability; more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation; unavailability of currency hedging techniques; companies that are newly organized and small; differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; and less developed legal systems. In addition, emerging securities markets may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Settlement problems may cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, hold a portion of its assets in cash pending investment, or be delayed in disposing of a portfolio security. Such a delay could result in possible liability to a purchaser of the security.

 

Certificates of Deposit and Bankers’ Acceptances

 

Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers’ acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.

 

7

 

 

Commercial Paper

 

Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. It may be secured by letters of credit, a surety bond or other forms of collateral. Commercial paper is usually repaid at maturity by the issuer from the proceeds of the issuance of new commercial paper. As a result, investment in commercial paper is subject to the risk the issuer cannot issue enough new commercial paper to satisfy its outstanding commercial paper, also known as rollover risk. Commercial paper may become illiquid or may suffer from reduced liquidity in certain circumstances. Like all fixed income securities, commercial paper prices are susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates. If interest rates rise, commercial paper prices will decline. The short-term nature of a commercial paper investment makes it less susceptible to interest rate risk than many other fixed income securities because interest rate risk typically increases as maturity lengths increase. Commercial paper tends to yield smaller returns than longer-term corporate debt because securities with shorter maturities typically have lower effective yields than those with longer maturities. As with all fixed income securities, there is a chance that the issuer will default on its commercial paper obligation.

 

Information on Time Deposits and Variable Rate Notes

 

Time deposits are issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the depositor on the date specified with respect to the deposit. Time deposits do not trade in the secondary market prior to maturity. However, some time deposits may be redeemable prior to maturity and may be subject to withdrawal penalties.

 

The commercial paper obligations are typically unsecured and may include variable rate notes. The nature and terms of a variable rate note (i.e., a “Master Note”) permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement between the Fund and the issuer. It permits daily changes in the amounts invested. The Fund, typically, has the right at any time to increase, up to the full amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding under the note. The issuer may prepay at any time and without penalty any part of or the full amount of the note. The note may or may not be backed by one or more bank letters of credit. Because these notes are direct investment arrangements between the Fund and the issuer, it is not generally contemplated that they will be traded; moreover, there is currently no secondary market for them. Except as specifically provided in the Prospectus, there is no limitation on the type of issuer from whom these notes may be purchased; however, in connection with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, the Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand simultaneously. Variable rate notes are subject to the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities unless such notes can be put back to the issuer (redeemed) on demand within seven days.

 

Insured Bank Obligations

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings and loan associations (collectively referred to as “banks”) up to $250,000. The Fund may elect to purchase bank obligations in small amounts so as to be fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently, to remain fully insured as to principal, these investments must be limited to $250,000 per bank; if the principal amount and accrued interest together exceed $250,000, the excess principal and accrued interest will not be insured. Insured bank obligations may have limited marketability.

 

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Closed-End Investment Companies

 

The Fund may invest its assets in closed-end investment companies (or “closed-end funds”), subject to the investment restrictions set forth above. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price. Such securities are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (commonly known as “NASDAQ”) or, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the Fund), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.

 

The Fund generally will purchase shares of closed-end funds only in the secondary market. The Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market. The Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end fund in an initial public offering when, in the opinion of the Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end fund’s proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions and the level of demand for such securities, they represent an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The initial offering price typically will include a dealer spread, which may be higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such securities in the secondary market.

 

The shares of many closed-end funds, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share, which is less than the net asset value per share, the difference representing the “market discount” of such shares. This market discount may be due in part to the investment objective of long-term appreciation, which is sought by many closed-end funds, as well as to the fact that the shares of closed-end funds are not redeemable by the holder upon demand to the issuer at the next determined net asset value but rather are subject to the principles of supply and demand in the secondary market. A relative lack of secondary market purchasers of closed-end fund shares also may contribute to such shares trading at a discount to their net asset value.

 

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

 

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

 

United States Government Obligations

 

These consist of various types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations of the United States government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis.

 

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United States Government Agencies

 

These consist of debt securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), Farmer’s Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., Fannie Mae Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association).

 

Government-related guarantors (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by Fannie Mae but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.

 

Freddie Mac was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. Freddie Mac issues PCs, which represent interests in conventional mortgages from Freddie Mac’s national portfolio. Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.

 

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Authority (the “FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had been placed into conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of returning the entity to normal business operations. The U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA at the same time established a secured lending facility and a Secured Stock Purchase Agreement with both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure that each entity had the ability to fulfill its financial obligations. The FHFA announced that it does not anticipate any disruption in pattern of payments or ongoing business operations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

 

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Securities Options

 

The Fund may purchase and write (i.e., sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.

 

A call option for a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.

 

Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks. The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index or a narrower market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 100®. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment, such as the NYSE Arca Oil and Gas Index or the Computer and Business Equipment Index. Options on stock indices are currently traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ PHLX.

 

The Fund’s obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series (i.e., same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transactions costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will have paid a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. An option writer unable to effect a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument or liquidate the assets held in a segregated account, as described below, until the option expires or the optioned instrument is delivered upon exercise. In such circumstances, the writer will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument during such period.

 

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If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. If the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction on an option purchased by it, the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, or a loss if it is less. If an option written by the Fund expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold). If an option written by the Fund is exercised, the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss.

 

Certain Risks Regarding Options

 

There are several risks associated with transactions in options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading value; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

 

Successful use by the Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the directions of the stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. In addition, the Fund’s ability to effectively hedge all or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation of or during a market decline, through transactions in put options on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Fund. Inasmuch as the Fund’s securities will not duplicate the components of an index, the correlation will not be perfect. Consequently, the Fund bears the risk that the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices. It is also possible that there may be a negative correlation between the index and the Fund’s securities that would result in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock indices acquired by the Fund.

 

The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.

 

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There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Fund is unable to close out a call option on securities that it has written before the option is exercised, the Fund may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.

 

Cover for Options Positions

 

Transactions using options (other than options that the Fund has purchased) expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting (“covered”) position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, the Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions in which the Fund writes or sells options.

 

Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

 

Options on Futures Contracts

 

The Fund may purchase and sell options on the same types of futures in which it may invest. Options on futures are similar to options on underlying instruments except that options on futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), rather than to purchase or sell the futures contract, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by the delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.

 

Dealer Options

 

The Fund may engage in transactions involving dealer options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While the Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund were to purchase a dealer option it would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.

 

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Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes a dealer option, it may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, because the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets, which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.

 

The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. The Fund may treat the cover used for written dealer options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat dealer options as subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options, the Fund will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.

 

Spread Transactions

 

The Fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. These covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread option gives the Fund the right to put securities that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to the Fund, in addition to the risks of dealer options described above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any transaction costs. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. This protection is provided only during the life of the spread options.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. In a repurchase agreement, an investor (such as the Fund) purchases a security (known as the “underlying security”) from a securities dealer or bank. Any such dealer or bank must be deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. At that time, the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon price on a designated future date. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at an agreed upon rate due to the Fund on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund generally will be unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying securities. Repurchase agreements must be “fully collateralized,” in that the market value of the underlying securities (including accrued interest) must at all times be equal to or greater than the repurchase price. Therefore, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by the underlying securities.

 

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Repurchase agreements are generally for a short period of time, often less than a week, and will generally be used by the Fund to invest excess cash or as part of a temporary defensive strategy. Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated as illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. These losses could result from: (a) possible decline in the value of the underlying security while the Fund is seeking to enforce its rights under the repurchase agreement; (b) possible reduced levels of income or lack of access to income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.

 

Trading in Futures Contracts

 

A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g., units of a stock index) for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Brokerage fees are paid when a futures contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. Entering into a contract to buy is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position. Entering into a contract to sell is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position.

 

Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price would be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering into a futures contract, and to maintain the Fund’s open positions in futures contracts, the Fund would be required to deposit with its custodian or futures broker in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government securities, suitable money market instruments, or other liquid securities, known as “initial margin.” The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.

 

If the price of an open futures contract changes (by increase in underlying instrument or index in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase) so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund.

 

These subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets fluctuate making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.” The Fund expects to earn interest income on margin deposits.

 

Although certain futures contracts, by their terms, require actual future delivery of and payment for the underlying instruments, in practice most futures contracts are usually closed out before the delivery date. Closing out an open futures contract purchase or sale is effected by entering into an offsetting futures contract sale or purchase, respectively, for the same aggregate amount of the identical underlying instrument or index and the same delivery date. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract.

 

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For example, one contract in the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index future is a contract to buy 25 pounds sterling multiplied by the level of the UK Financial Times 100 Share Index on a given future date. Settlement of a stock index futures contract may or may not be in the underlying instrument or index. If not in the underlying instrument or index, then settlement will be made in cash, equivalent over time to the difference between the contract price and the actual price of the underlying asset at the time the stock index futures contract expires.

 

When-Issued, Forward Commitments and Delayed Settlements

 

The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”) will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account. Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be required subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.

 

The Fund does not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives. Because the Fund will segregate liquid assets to satisfy purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability of the Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.

 

The Fund will purchase securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In these cases the Fund may realize a taxable capital gain or loss. When the Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result in the Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous.

 

The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase, forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any subsequent fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when determining the market value of the Fund starting on the day the Fund agrees to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until it has paid for and delivered on the settlement date.

 

Illiquid and Restricted Securities

 

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.

 

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Restricted and other illiquid securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. The Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests from shareholders. The Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a “safe harbor” from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such securities may continue to expand as a result of this regulation and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by NASDAQ.

 

Under guidelines adopted by the Board, the Fund’s Adviser may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private placement exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered. A determination of whether such a security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Adviser will consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or equity, date of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the Adviser will also determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two National Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSROs”) or, if only one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.

 

Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Adviser to determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.

 

Lending Portfolio Securities

 

For the purpose of achieving income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities or cash or cash equivalents (cash, U.S. Government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned, (2) the Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of securities loaned, (3) the Fund will receive any interest or dividends received on the loaned securities, and (4) the aggregate value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the Fund.

 

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TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITION

 

 

To respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may invest 100% of its total assets, without limitation, in high-quality short-term debt securities and money market instruments. These short-term debt securities and money market instruments include: shares of money market mutual funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, and U.S. Government securities. While the Fund is in a defensive position, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

 

The Board has adopted the following investment restrictions that may not be changed without approval by a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund, which, as used in this SAI, means the vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund may not:

 

1. Issue senior securities, except as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

2. Borrow money, except (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions;

 

3. Purchase securities on margin, participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any securities trading account, or underwrite securities. (Does not preclude the Fund from obtaining such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of its portfolio securities, and except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities);

 

4. Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate.  This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts);

 

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5. Invest more than 25% of the market value of its assets in the securities of companies engaged in any one industry or group of industries. (Does not apply to investment in the securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.);

 

6. Purchase or sell commodities (unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments) or commodity futures contracts, except that the Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and options to the full extent permitted under the 1940 Act, sell foreign currency contracts in accordance with any rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, invest in securities or other instruments backed by commodities, and invest in companies that are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities; or

 

7. Make loans to others, except that the Fund may, in accordance with its investment objective and policies, (i) lend portfolio securities, (ii) purchase and hold debt securities or other debt instruments, including but not limited to loan participations and sub-participations, assignments, and structured securities, (iii) make loans secured by mortgages on real property, (iv) enter into repurchase agreements, (v) enter into transactions where each loan is represented by a note executed by the borrower, and (vi) make time deposits with financial institutions and invest in instruments issued by financial institutions. For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.

 

If a restriction on the Fund’s investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of Fund assets invested in certain securities or other instruments of the Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value of the Fund’s total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage requirement applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by applicable law.

 

With respect to fundamental investment limitation 2 above, if the Fund’s asset coverage falls below 300%, the Fund will reduce borrowing within 3 days in order to ensure that the Fund has 300% asset coverage.

 

With respect to Fundamental Investment Restriction #5, if the Fund invests in one or more investment companies that concentrates its investments in a particular industry, the Fund will examine its other investment company holdings to ensure that the Fund is not indirectly concentrating its investments in a particular industry.

 

Although fundamental investment restriction #7 reserves for the Fund the ability to make loans, there is no present intent to loan money or portfolio securities and additional disclosure will be provided if such a strategy is implemented in the future.

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

 

The Trust has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings. The Fund and its service providers may not receive compensation or any other consideration (which includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Adviser) in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information of the Fund. The Trust’s policy is implemented and overseen by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust, subject to the oversight of the Board. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to the Board. The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor will not disseminate non-public information concerning the Trust. The Board must approve all material amendments to this policy.

 

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Each business day, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information will generally be provided for dissemination through the facilities of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) and/or other fee-based subscription services to NSCC members and/or subscribers to those other fee-based subscription services, including Authorized Participants (as defined below), and to entities that publish and/or analyze such information in connection with the process of purchasing or redeeming Creation Units or trading shares of the Fund in the secondary market. This information typically reflects the Fund’s anticipated holdings as of the next Business Day. Access to information concerning the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be permitted to personnel of third party service providers, including the Fund’s custodian, transfer agent, auditors and counsel, as may be necessary to conduct business in the ordinary course in a manner consistent with such service providers’ agreements with the Trust on behalf of the Fund.

 

The Fund discloses on the Adviser’s website at www.rspyetf.com at the start of each Business a table/chart showing the number of days the Fund’s shares traded at a premium or discount during the most recently completed calendar year and calendar quarters of the current year; in certain instances disclosure that the premium or discount was greater than 2% along with a discussion of the factors that materially contributed to the premium or discount; and median bid-ask spread over the most recent thirty calendar days.

 

Quarterly Portfolio Schedule. The Trust is required to disclose, after its first and third fiscal quarters, the complete schedule of the Fund’s portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-PORT. The Trust will also disclose a complete schedule of the Fund’s portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-CSR after its second and fourth quarters.

 

Form N-PORT and Form N-CSR for the Fund will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Form N-PORT and Form N-CSR will be available without charge, upon request, by calling (855) 510-1763.

 

The Adviser. Personnel of the Adviser, including personnel responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio, may have full daily access to Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for the Adviser to provide its management, administrative, and investment services to the Fund. As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability, as demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio managers in the trading of such securities, Adviser personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.

 

Collaborative Fund Services, LLC, is the Fund’s administrator and provides compliance services to the Fund. Its personnel have daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in order to provide the agreed upon-services to the Trust.

 

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. is the Fund’s accountant and sub-administrator; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.

 

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Citibank N.A. is custodian for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.

 

Cohen & Company, Ltd. is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with auditing of the Fund’s annual financial statements and providing assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.

 

Thompson Hine LLP is counsel to the Trust; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with review of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.

 

Additions to List of Approved Recipients

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer is the person responsible, and whose prior approval is required, for any disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities at any time or to any persons other than those described above. In such cases, the recipient must have a legitimate business need for the information and must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential. There are no ongoing arrangements in place with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings. In no event shall the Fund, the Adviser, or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

 

Compliance with Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will report periodically to the Board with respect to compliance with the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure procedures, and from time to time will provide the Board any updates to the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.

 

There is no assurance that the Trust’s policies on disclosure of portfolio holdings will protect the from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information.

 

MANAGEMENT

 

 

The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trust’s By-laws (the “Governing Documents”), which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available upon request. The Board consists of five (5) individuals, four of whom are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust or any investment adviser to any series of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”). Pursuant to the Governing Documents of the Trust, the Trustees shall elect officers including a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Principal Executive Officer and a Principal Accounting Officer. The Board retains the power to conduct, operate and carry on the business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses, which, in the opinion of the Board, are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the Trust’s purposes. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.

 

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Board Leadership Structure

 

The Trust is led by Gregory Skidmore, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since November 5, 2021. Mr. Skidmore is considered an “Interested” Trustees as defined in the 1940 Act, because of his ownership interest in Collaborative Fund Services, LLC. Collaborative Fund Services, LLC is the administrator to the Trust. The Board is comprised of Mr. Skidmore and four other Trustees, none of whom are an interested person (“Independent Trustees”). The Independent Trustees have not selected a Lead Independent Trustee. Additionally, under certain 1940 Act governance guidelines that apply to the Trust, the Independent Trustees will meet in executive session, at least quarterly. Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, and, more generally, in-practice (c) execution and administration of Trust policies including (i) setting the agendas for board meetings and (ii) providing information to board members in advance of each board meeting and between board meetings. Generally, the Trust believes it best to have a single leader who is seen by shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership. The Trust believes that its Chairman together with the Audit Committee and the full Board, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust and the Fund’s shareholders because of the Board’s collective business acumen and understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate.

 

Board Risk Oversight

 

The Board is comprised of Mr. Skidmore, an Interested Trustee, and four Independent Trustees with a standing independent Audit Committee with a separate chair. The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary. The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting risk within its area of responsibilities. Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information, and the Audit Committee’s communications with the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Trustee Qualifications

 

Generally, the Trust believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills.

 

Gregory SkidmoreInterested Trustee – Mr. Skidmore has fifteen years of financial industry experience, holds a series 65 license, and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies operate. He graduated from Connecticut College in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History.

 

Dean Drulias Esq.Independent Trustee – Mr. Drulias has been a practicing attorney for over thirty years. He has extensive experience and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which financial entities must operate. Additionally, he is well versed in corporate and transactional law.

 

Shawn OrserIndependent Trustee – Mr. Orser has over ten years’ experience in the financial services industry, spanning from Merrill Lynch to the hedge fund industry. Mr. Orser holds a FINRA Series 7, Series 63, Series 55, and Series 66 licenses. He has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Syracuse University.

 

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Fredrick StoleruIndependent Trustee – Mr. Stoleru has over two decades of financial industry experience, holds both FINRA Series 7 and Series 63 licenses, and has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Georgetown University. Like other trustees, his experience has given him a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies operate.

 

Ronald Young Jr.Independent Trustee – Mr. Young currently serves as the President of Young Consulting, LLC, a corporation that provides business consulting. He also, currently serves as President of Tri-State LED, a corporation that provides comprehensive LED lighting solutions. Previously, he co-founded and served as the managing partner for a diversified private equity capital firm and real estate development company.

 

The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee’s qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes the Board highly effective.

 

The following tables provide information about Board of Trustees and the senior officers of the Trust. Information about each Trustee is provided below and includes each person’s: name, address, age (as of the date of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end), present position(s) held with the Trust, principal occupations for the past five years. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each person listed below is c/o Collaborative Fund Services, LLC 500 Damonte Ranch, Parkway Building 700, Unit 700, Reno, NV 89521. Unless otherwise noted, each officer is elected annually by the Board.

 

Name, Address and Year of Birth

Position/ 

Term of Office* 

Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years

Dean Drulias, Esq.

Year of Birth: 1947

Trustee

Attorney (self-employed), since 2012

19 None

Shawn Orser

Year of Birth: 1975

Trustee CEO, Seaside Advisory (6/2016-Present); Executive Vice President, Seaside Advisory (2009-6/2016). 19 None

Fredrick Stoleru

Year of Birth: 1971

Trustee Chief Executive Officer and President of Atlas Resources LLC since February 2017,  Senior Vice President, Atlas Energy, 2015-2017, Vice President of the General Partner of Atlas Growth Partners, L.P. since 2013. 19 None

Ronald Young Jr.

Year of Birth: 1974

None President - Young Consulting, Inc. (2008-Present); President – Tri State LED, Inc. (2010-Present). 19 None

 

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Interested Trustees and Officers

 

Name and Year of Birth Position/Term of Office* Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years

Gregory Skidmore

Year of Birth: 1976

Trustee and President President, Belpointe Asset Management, LLC since 2007. 19 None

Kyle R. Bubeck

Year of Birth: 1955

Chief Compliance Officer President and Founder of Beacon Compliance Consulting, Inc. (since 2010); CFO and CCO of Trendstar Advisors, LLC (2003 to 2009). N/A N/A

William McCormick

Year of Birth: 1964

Treasurer Senior Wealth Advisor – Belpointe Asset Management (since 2019); Wealth Advisor – Advisory Services Network (2016 to 2019 N/A N/A

Brad Rundbaken

Year of Birth: 1970

Secretary Manager – Collaborative Fund Services, LLC (since 2018); Wealth Advisor – Belpointe Asset Management (2015 to 2018) N/A N/A

* The term of office for each Trustee and officer listed above will continue indefinitely until the individual resigns or is removed. 

** As of March 2022, the Trust was comprised of 19 active series. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Collaborative Investment Series Trust. 

*** Mr. Skidmore is considered an “Interested Trustee” because of his ownership in the Trust’s administrator, Collaborative Fund Services, LLC.

 

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Board Committees

 

Audit Committee

 

The Board has an Audit Committee that consists of Mr. Stoleru, Mr. Drulias, and Mr. Orser. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the Trust’s independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit; (iii) discussing with the independent auditors certain matters relating to the Trust’s financial statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent auditors, or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing with the independent auditors any relationships or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust’s independent auditors and recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor’s independence; and (v) considering the comments of the independent auditors and management’s responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter. The Audit Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing nominee candidates for consideration as Independent Trustees as is from time to time considered necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee generally will not consider shareholder nominees. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and setting Independent Trustee compensation from time to time when considered necessary or appropriate.

 

Each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or an investment adviser to any series of the Trust will a fee based on the net assets of each fund in the fund complex for his attendance at the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, to be paid in arrears of each calendar quarter, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred.

 

None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust.

 

The table below details the amount of compensation the Trustees are expected to receive from the Fund and the Trust during the initial fiscal period ended March 31, 2022. Each Independent Trustee is expected to attend all quarterly meetings during the period. The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plan.

 

Name and Position Estimated Aggregate Compensation from the Fund Estimated Total Compensation From Fund and Fund Complex* Paid to Trustees
Gregory Skidmore $0 $0
Dean Drulias $720 $24,327
Shawn Orser $720 $24,327
Fredrick Stoleru $720 $24,327
Ronald Young Jr. $720 $24,327

* The term “Fund Complex” refers to the active series of the Trust.

 

Management and Trustee Ownership

 

As of March 31, 2022, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned no shares of any Fund or any of the other funds in the Fund Complex.

 

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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

 

 

A principal shareholder is any person who owns (either of record or beneficially) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a fund. A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledged the existence of control.

 

As of June 30, 2022, no shareholder(s) of record owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

 

Investment Adviser and Advisory Agreement

 

The trustees selected Tuttle Capital Management, LLC as the investment adviser to the Fund. Matthew Tuttle is the sole member and controls the Adviser and acts as its President and Chief Investment Officer.

 

Under the terms of the management agreement (the “Agreement”), the Adviser, subject to the oversight of the Board, provides or arranges to be provided to the Fund such investment advice as its deems advisable and will furnish or arrange to be furnished a continuous investment program for the Fund consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. As compensation for its management services, the Fund is obligated to pay the Adviser a fee computed and accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.95% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. For the fiscal period ended March 31, 2022, the Fund paid the Adviser $40,495 and the Adviser waived fees or reimbursed expenses to the Fund in the amount of $62,400.

 

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

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and to reimburse expenses, at least through March 31, 2023, to ensure that total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and reimbursement (exclusive of any acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expenses, dividend expenses on short sales, taxes, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) will not exceed 1.05% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. These fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund within three years of the date on which the waiver or reimbursement occurs, if such recoupment can be achieved within the lesser of the foregoing expense limits or the expense limits in place at the time of recoupment. This agreement may be terminated only by the Board, on 60 days written notice to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Agreement is available in the Fund’s semi-annual shareholder report dated September 30, 2021.

 

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Codes of Ethics

 

The Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, and the Distributor have each adopted codes of ethics (each a “Code”) under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that governs the personal securities transactions of their board members, officers and employees who may have access to current trading information of the Trust. Under the Codes, the Trustees are permitted to invest in securities that may also be purchased by the Fund.

 

In addition, the Trust has adopted a code of ethics (the “Trust Code”), which applies only to the Trust’s executive officers to ensure that these officers promote professional conduct in the practice of corporate governance and management. The purpose behind these guidelines is to promote (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Trust files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Fund; (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rule and regulations; (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Trust Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Trust Code; and (v) accountability for adherence to the Trust Code.

 

Proxy Voting Policies

 

The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”) on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser or its designee, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser or its designee vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser or its designee to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser’s Proxy Policies, or the proxy policies of the Adviser’s designee, and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser or its designee on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser as involving a conflict of interest.

 

Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Adviser’s interests and the Fund’s interests, the Adviser will resolve the conflict by voting in accordance with the policy guidelines or at the client’s directive using the recommendation of an independent third party. If the third party’s recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, the Adviser will abstain from voting the securities held by that client’s account. A copy of the Adviser’s and proxy voting policies is attached hereto as Appendix A.

 

More information. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund during the most recent 12-month period ending June 30 will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 888-562-8880; and (2) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures are also available by calling 888-562-8880 and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.

 

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THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

 

ACA Foreside Fund Services, LLC, located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101, (the “Distributor”) serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Fund pursuant to an underwriting agreement with the Trust (the “Underwriting Agreement”). The Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and each state’s securities laws and is a member of the FINRA. The offering of the Fund’s shares is continuous. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Distributor, as agent in connection with the distribution of the Fund’s shares, will use reasonable efforts to facilitate the sale of the Fund’s shares.

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides that, unless sooner terminated, it will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of the Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

 

The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund on 60 days written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days written notice to the Fund. The Underwriting Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.

 

The Distributor may enter into selling agreements with broker-dealers that solicit orders for the sale of shares of the Fund and may allow concessions to dealers that sell shares of the Fund.

 

The Distributor is not compensated by the Fund. Instead, the Adviser pays the Distributor for certain distribution related services.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

 

 

Matthew Tuttle serves as the portfolio manager to the Fund. As of March 31, 2022, the portfolio manager is responsible for the portfolio management of the following types of accounts in addition to the Fund:

 

Matthew Tuttle 

 

Total Other Accounts 

By Type 

Total Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type 

(in millions) 

Number of Accounts by Type  Subject to a Performance Fee

Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee 

(in millions) 

Registered Investment Companies 10 250 0 0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 0 0 0 0
Other Accounts 1 3 0 0

 

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Conflicts of Interest

 

As a general matter, certain conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager’s management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of other accounts for which the portfolio manager is responsible, on the other. For example, it is possible that the various accounts managed could have different investment strategies that, at times, might conflict with one another to the possible detriment of the Fund. Alternatively, to the extent that the same investment opportunities might be desirable for more than one account, possible conflicts could arise in determining how to allocate them. Other potential conflicts might include conflicts created by specific portfolio manager compensation arrangements, and conflicts relating to selection of brokers or dealers to execute the Fund’s portfolio trades and/or specific uses of commissions from the Fund’s portfolio trades (for example, research, or “soft dollars”, if any). The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures and has structured the portfolio managers’ compensation in a manner reasonably designed to safeguard the Fund from being negatively affected as a result of any such potential conflicts.

 

Compensation

 

Mr. Tuttle is compensated through a combination of base salary and discretionary bonus from services rendered to the Adviser.

 

Ownership of Securities

 

The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Fund as of the date of March 31, 2022.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager 

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
Matthew Tuttle $344 

  

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE

 

 

Specific decisions to purchase or sell securities for the Fund is made by the portfolio manager who is an employee of the Adviser. The Adviser is authorized by the Trustees to allocate the orders placed by them on behalf of the Fund to brokers or dealers who may, but need not, provide research or statistical material or other services to the Fund or the Adviser for the Fund’s use. Such allocation is to be in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser may determine.

 

In selecting a broker or dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Adviser will take the following into consideration:

 

the best net price available;

 

the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker or dealer;

 

the size of and difficulty in executing the order; and

 

the value of the expected contribution of the broker or dealer to the investment performance of the Fund on a continuing basis.

  

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Brokers or dealers executing a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Fund may receive a commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for executing the transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of brokerage and research services provided to the Fund. In allocating portfolio brokerage, the Adviser may select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage, research and other services to other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion. Some of the services received as the result of Fund transactions may primarily benefit accounts other than the Fund, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit the Fund. For the fiscal period ended March 31, 2022, the Fund paid $344 in brokerage commissions.

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

 

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. The calculation excludes from both the numerator and the denominator securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of the Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period. For the fiscal period ended March 31, 2022, the Fund had a portfolio turnover rate of 40%.

 

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

 

Fund Administration

 

Collaborative Fund Services, LLC serves as the administrator to the Trust (the “Administrator”), which has its principal office at 500 Damonte Ranch, Parkway Building 700, Unit 700, Reno, NV 89521. Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. serves as the sub-administrator to the Trust (the "Sub- Administrator"), has its principal office at 4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43219, and is primarily in the business of providing administrative, fund accounting and regulatory filing services to retail and institutional mutual funds. The Administrator supervises the Trust’s operations, including the services that the Sub-Administrator provides to the Funds.

 

Pursuant to a Fund Services Agreement (the “Fund Services Agreement”) with the Fund, the Administrator provides administrative services to the Fund, subject to the oversight of the Board. The Administrator may provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees of the Administrator or its affiliates.

 

The Agreement will remain in effect for three years from the effective date of the agreement, and will remain in effect subject to annual approval of the Board for one-year periods thereafter. The Agreement is terminable by the Board or the Administrator on ninety days' written notice and may be assigned provided the non-assigning party provides prior written consent. This Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, the Administrator shall not be liable for any action or failure to act in accordance with its duties thereunder.  

The Administrator provides or causes to provide the Fund with accounting services, including: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and records as required by the 1940 Act; (iii) production of the Fund’s listing of portfolio securities and general ledger reports; (iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Fund; (vi) maintaining certain books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciling account information and balances among the Fund’s custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluating daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Fund.

For administrative services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays the Administrator the greater of an annual minimum fee or an asset-based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. For the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays the Administrator the greater of an annual minimum fee or an asset-based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays the Administrator for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal period ended March 31, 2022, the Fund paid the Administrator $7,043.

 

Fund Sub-Administration

 

The Sub-Administrator assists in supervising all operations of the Funds (other than those performed by Collaborative Fund Services as administrator), subject to the supervision of the Board pursuant to a services agreement (the “Services Agreement“).

 

Unless sooner terminated, the Services Agreement is in effect as to the Fund for a period of three years and for consecutive one-year terms thereafter. The Services Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misconduct, fraud or gross negligence on the part of the Sub-Administrator or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, the Administrator shall not be liable for any action or failure to act in accordance with its duties thereunder.

 

Under the Services Agreement, the Sub-Administrator calculates Trust expenses and makes disbursements;  prepares shareholder reports and reports to the SEC on Forms N-CEN and N-PORT; coordinates dividend payments; calculates the Fund’s performance information; assist with the preparation of the Trust’s tax returns; monitors the Funds’ status as regulated investment companies under the Code; assists in developing portfolio compliance procedures; reports to the Board amounts paid under shareholder service agreements; assists with regulatory compliance; and assists with liquidity and derivatives risk management services, among other services.

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For administrative services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays the Administrator the greater of an annual minimum fee or an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. For the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays the Administrator the greater of an annual minimum fee or an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays\ the Administrator for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal period ended March 31, 2022, the Fund paid the Administrator $7,043.

 

Custodian

 

Citibank N.A., located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York NY 10048 (the “Custodian”), serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a Custodian Agreement by and between the Custodian and the Trust on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian’s responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments. Pursuant to the Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement, the Custodian also maintains original entry documents and books of record and general ledgers; posts cash receipts and disbursements; and records purchases and sales based upon communications from the Adviser. The Fund may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board to hold foreign assets.

 

Compliance Officer

 

Beacon Compliance Consulting Inc. (“Beacon”), P.O. Box 11550, Overland Park, KS, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust as well as related compliance services pursuant to a consulting agreement between Beacon and the Trust. Beacon’s compliance services consist primarily of reviewing and assessing the policies and procedures of the Trust and its service providers pertaining to compliance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. For the compliance services rendered to the Fund, the Fund pays Beacon a reoccurring fund fee and a fee per the fund. The Fund also pays Beacon for any out-of-pocket expenses.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

 

Each share of beneficial interest of the Trust has one vote in the election of Trustees. Cumulative voting is not authorized for the Trust. This means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any Trustees.

 

Shareholders of the Trust and any other future series of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by series except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interest of the shareholders of a particular series or classes. Matters such as election of Trustees are not subject to separate voting requirements and may be acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series.

 

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. Each share has equal, per-class, dividend, distribution and liquidation rights. There are no conversion or preemptive rights applicable to any shares of the Fund. All shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM

 

 

The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”). To ensure compliance with this law, the Trust’s Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program. The Trust’s secretary serves as its Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.

 

Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Fund’s Distributor and Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures, reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and a providing a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

As a result of the Program, the Trust may be required to “freeze” the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.

 

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

 

Calculation of Share Price

 

As indicated in the Prospectus under the heading “Net Asset Value,” (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund.

 

The Administrator calculates the Fund’s NAV at the close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) every day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open. NAV is calculated by deducting all of the Fund’s liabilities from the total value of its assets and dividing the result by the number of Shares outstanding, rounding to the nearest cent. All valuations are subject to review by the Board or its delegate. 

 

In determining NAV, expenses are accrued and applied daily and securities and other assets for which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value. The NAV for the Fund will be calculated and disseminated daily. The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities is based on market value when market quotations are readily available.

 

Exchange-traded securities, such as common and preferred stocks, ETFs, ETPs, ETNs, closed-end funds, REITs, MLPs, REOCs and similar instruments, generally are valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the Adviser believes such prices accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. Securities that are traded on any stock exchange or on the Exchange are generally valued by the pricing service at the last quoted sale price. Lacking a last sale price, an equity security is generally valued by the pricing service at its last bid price. When market quotations are not readily available, when the Adviser determines that the market quotation or the price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the current market value, or when restricted or illiquid securities are being valued, such securities are valued as determined in good faith by the Adviser. If a security’s market price is not readily available, the security will be valued at fair value as determined by the Trust’s Fair Value Committee in accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. The values of assets denominated in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars based on the mean of the current bid and asked prices by major banking institutions and currency dealers. 

 

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Bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments are valued by a pricing service when the Adviser believes such prices are accurate and reflect the fair market value of such securities. If the Adviser decides that a price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the fair market value of the securities, when prices are not readily available from a pricing service, or when restricted or illiquid securities are being valued, securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to review by the Board of Trustees. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less may be amortized to maturity, provided such valuations represent par value.

 

Futures contracts listed for trading on a futures exchange or board of trade for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sales price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean of the last bid and ask prices.

 

Even when market quotations are available, they may be stale or unreliable because the validity of market quotations appears to be questionable; the number of quotations is such as to indicate that there is a thin market in the security; a significant event occurs after the close of a market but before the Fund’s NAV calculation that may affect a security’s value; or the Adviser is aware of any other data that calls into question the reliability of market quotations such as issuer-specific events, which may include a merger or insolvency, events which affect a geographical area or an industry segment, such as political events or natural disasters, or market events, such as a significant movement in the U.S. market. Where market quotations are not readily available, including where the Adviser determines that the closing price of the security is unreliable, the Adviser will value the security at fair value in good faith using procedures approved by the Board. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that a fair value determination for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security.

 

Because foreign markets may be open on different days than the days during which a shareholder may purchase Shares, the value of the Fund’s investments may change on days when shareholders are not able to purchase Shares.

 

Creation Units

 

The Fund sells and redeems Shares in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at the NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form on any Business Day. A “Business Day” is any day on which the NYSE is open for business. As of the date of this SAI, the NYSE observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

A Creation Unit is an aggregation of 25,000 Shares. The Board may declare a split or a consolidation in the number of Shares outstanding of the Fund or Trust, and make a corresponding change in the number of Shares in a Creation Unit.

 

Authorized Participants

 

To purchase or redeem any Creation Units, you must be, or transact through, an Authorized Participant. In order to be an Authorized Participant, you must be either a broker-dealer or other participant (“Participating Party”) in the Continuous Net Settlement System (“Clearing Process”) of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) or a participant in DTC with access to the DTC system (“DTC Participant”), and you must execute an agreement (“Participant Agreement”) with the Distributor that governs transactions in the Fund’s Creation Units.

 

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Investors who are not Authorized Participants but want to transact in Creation Units may contact the Distributor for the names of Authorized Participants. An Authorized Participant may require investors to enter into a separate agreement to transact through it for Creation Units and may require orders for purchases of shares placed with it to be in a particular form. Investors transacting through a broker that is not itself an Authorized Participant and therefore must still transact through an Authorized Participant may incur additional charges. There are expected to be a limited number of Authorized Participants at any one time.

 

Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor. Market disruptions and telephone or other communication failures may impede the transmission of orders.

 

Transaction Fees

 

A fixed fee payable to the Custodian is imposed on each creation and redemption transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units involved in the transaction (“Fixed Fee”). Purchases and redemptions of Creation Units for cash or involving cash-in-lieu (as defined below) are required to pay an additional variable charge to compensate the Fund and its ongoing shareholders for brokerage and market impact expenses relating to Creation Unit transactions (“Variable Charge,” and together with the Fixed Fee, the “Transaction Fees”). With the approval of the Board, the Adviser may waive or adjust the Transaction Fees, including the Fixed Fee and/or Variable Charge (shown in the table below), from time to time. In such cases, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Fund for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were purchased by the Fund and the cash-in-lieu amount, applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes. In addition, purchasers of Creation Units are responsible for the costs of transferring the Deposit Securities to the account of the Fund.

 

Investors who use the services of a broker, or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services. The Transaction Fees for the Fund are listed in the table below.

 

Fee for In-Kind and Cash Purchases Maximum Additional Variable Charge for Cash Purchases*
$250 2.00%

 

* As a percentage of the amount invested.

 

The Clearing Process

 

Transactions by an Authorized Participant that is a Participating Party using the NSCC system are referred to as transactions “through the Clearing Process.” Transactions by an Authorized Participant that is a DTC Participant using the DTC system are referred to as transactions “outside the Clearing Process.” The Clearing Process is an enhanced clearing process that is available only for certain securities and only to DTC participants that are also participants in the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC. In-kind (portions of) purchase orders not subject to the Clearing Process will go through a manual clearing process run by DTC. Portfolio Deposits that include government securities must be delivered through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system (“Federal Reserve System”). Fund Deposits that include cash may be delivered through the Clearing Process or the Federal Reserve System. In-kind deposits of securities for orders outside the Clearing Process must be delivered through the Federal Reserve System (for government securities) or through DTC (for corporate securities).

 

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Purchasing Creation Units

 

Portfolio Deposit

 

The consideration for a Creation Unit generally consists of the Deposit Securities and a Cash Component. Together, the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component constitute the “Portfolio Deposit.” The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the net asset value per Creation Unit and the Deposit Securities. Thus, the Cash Component is equal to the difference between (x) the net asset value per Creation Unit of the Fund and (y) the market value of the Deposit Securities. If (x) is more than (y), the Authorized Participant will pay the Cash Component to the Fund. If (x) is less than (y), the Authorized Participant will receive the Cash Component from the Fund.

 

On each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time), the Adviser through the Custodian makes available through NSCC the name and amount of each Deposit Security in the current Portfolio Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for the Fund and the (estimated) Cash Component, effective through and including the previous Business Day, per Creation Unit. The Deposit Securities announced are applicable to purchases of Creation Units until the next announcement of Deposit Securities.

 

Payment of any stamp duty or the like shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant purchasing a Creation Unit. The Authorized Participant must ensure that all Deposit Securities properly denote change in beneficial ownership.

 

Custom Orders and Cash-in-lieu

 

The Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash (“cash-in-lieu”) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security. The Fund may permit or require cash-in-lieu when, for example, a Deposit Security may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or the Clearing Process. Similarly, the Fund may permit or require cash in lieu of Deposit Securities when, for example, the Authorized Participant or its underlying investor is restricted under U.S. or local securities laws or policies from transacting in one or more Deposit Securities. The Fund will comply with the federal securities laws in accepting Deposit Securities including that the Deposit Securities are sold in transactions that would be exempt from registration under the Securities Act. All orders involving cash-in-lieu are considered to be “Custom Orders.”

 

Purchase Orders

 

To order a Creation Unit, an Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable purchase order to the Distributor.

 

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Timing of Submission of Purchase Orders

 

An Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable purchase order no later than the earlier of (i) 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or (ii) the closing time of the bond markets and/or the trading session on the Exchange, on any Business Day in order to receive that Business Day’s NAV (“Cut-off Time”). The Cut-off Time for Custom Orders is generally two hours earlier. The Business Day the order is deemed received by the Distributor is referred to as the “Transmittal Date.” An order to create Creation Units is deemed received on a Business Day if (i) such order is received by the Distributor by the Cut-off Time on such day and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. Persons placing or effectuating custom orders and/or orders involving cash should be mindful of time deadlines imposed by intermediaries, such as DTC and/or the Federal Reserve Bank wire system, which may impact the successful processing of such orders to ensure that cash and securities are transferred by the “Settlement Date,” which is generally the Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date (“T+1”) for cash and the second Business Day following the Transmittal Date for securities (“T+2”).

 

Orders Using the Clearing Process

 

If available, (portions of) orders may be settled through the Clearing Process. In connection with such orders, the Distributor transmits, on behalf of the Authorized Participant, such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the creation order. Pursuant to such trade instructions, the Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the requisite Portfolio Deposit to the Fund, together with such additional information as may be required by the Distributor or Transfer Agent. Cash Components will be delivered using either the Clearing Process or the Federal Reserve System.

 

Orders Outside the Clearing Process

 

If the Clearing Process is not available for (portions of) an order, Portfolio Deposits will be made outside the Clearing Process. Orders outside the Clearing Process must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that the creation of Creation Units will be effected through DTC. The Portfolio Deposit transfer must be ordered by the DTC Participant on the Transmittal Date in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of Deposit Securities (whether standard or custom) through DTC to the Fund account by 11:00 a.m., Eastern time, on T+1. The Cash Component, along with any cash-in-lieu and Transaction Fee, must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve System in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on T+1. If the Custodian does not receive both the Deposit Securities and the cash by the appointed time, the order may be canceled. A canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day but must conform to that Business Day’s Portfolio Deposit. Authorized Participants that submit a canceled order will be liable to the Fund for any losses incurred by the Fund in connection therewith.

 

Orders involving foreign Deposit Securities are expected to be settled outside the Clearing Process. Thus, upon receipt of an irrevocable purchase order, the Distributor will notify the Adviser and the Custodian of such order. The Custodian , who will have caused the appropriate local sub-custodian(s) of the Fund to maintain an account into which an Authorized Participant may deliver Deposit Securities (or cash -in-lieu), with adjustments determined by the Fund, will then provide information of the order to such local sub-custodian(s). The ordering Authorized Participant will then deliver the Deposit Securities (and any cash-in-lieu) to the Fund’s account at the applicable local sub-custodian. The Authorized Participant must also make available on or before the contractual settlement date, by means satisfactory to the Fund, immediately available or same day funds in U.S. dollars estimated by the Fund to be sufficient to pay the Cash Component and Transaction Fee. When a relevant local market is closed due to local market holidays, the local market settlement process will not commence until the end of the local holiday period. Settlement must occur by 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the contractual settlement date.

 

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Acceptance of Purchase Order

 

All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Fund. The Fund’s determination shall be final and binding.

 

The Fund reserves the absolute right to reject or revoke acceptance of a purchase order transmitted to it by the Distributor under certain circumstances including but not limited to (a) the order is not in proper form; (b) the investor(s), upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of the Fund; (c) the Deposit Securities delivered do not conform to the Deposit Securities for the applicable date; (d) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (e) the acceptance of the Portfolio Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (f) the acceptance of the Portfolio Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust, Fund or the Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust, Fund or the rights of beneficial owners; or (g) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Distributor and the Adviser make it for all practical purposes impossible to process purchase orders. Examples of such circumstances include acts of God; public service or utility problems resulting in telephone, telecopy or computer failures; fires, floods or extreme weather conditions; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other informational systems affecting the Trust, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, the Adviser, the Fund’s Custodian, a sub-custodian or any other participant in the creation process; and similar extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify an Authorized Participant of its rejection of the order. The Fund, the Custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Portfolio Deposits, and they shall not incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.

 

Issuance of a Creation Unit

 

Once the Fund has accepted an order, upon next determination of the Fund’s NAV, the Fund will confirm the issuance of a Creation Unit, against receipt of payment, at such NAV. The Distributor will transmit a confirmation of acceptance to the Authorized Participant that placed the order.

 

Except as provided below, a Creation Unit will not be issued until the Fund obtains good title to the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component, along with any cash-in-lieu and Transaction Fee. Except as provided in Appendix C, the delivery of Creation Units will generally occur no later than T+2.

 

In certain cases, Authorized Participants will create and redeem Creation Units on the same trade date. In these instances, the Trust reserves the right to settle these transactions on a net basis.

 

With respect to orders involving foreign Deposit Securities, when the applicable local sub-custodian(s) have confirmed to the Custodian that the Deposit Securities (or cash -in-lieu) have been delivered to the Fund’s account at the applicable local sub-custodian(s), the Distributor and the Adviser shall be notified of such delivery, and the Fund will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Unit. While, as stated above, Creation Units are generally delivered on T+2, the Fund may settle Creation Unit transactions on a basis other than T+2 in order to accommodate foreign market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates (that is the last day the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security), and in certain other circumstances.

 

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The Fund may issue a Creation Unit prior to receiving good title to the Deposit Securities, under the following circumstances. Pursuant to the applicable Participant Agreement, the Fund may issue a Creation Unit notwithstanding that (certain) Deposit Securities have not been delivered, in reliance on an undertaking by the relevant Authorized Participant to deliver the missing Deposit Securities as soon as possible, which undertaking is secured by such Authorized Participant’s delivery to and maintenance with the Custodian of collateral having a value equal to at least 115% of the value of the missing Deposit Securities (“Collateral”), as adjusted by time to time by the Adviser. Such Collateral will have a value greater than the NAV of the Creation Unit on the date the order is placed. Such collateral must be delivered no later than 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on T+1. The only Collateral that is acceptable to the Fund is cash in U.S. Dollars.

 

While (certain) Deposit Securities remain undelivered, the Collateral shall at all times have a value equal to at least 115% (as adjusted by the Adviser) of the daily marked-to-market value of the missing Deposit Securities. At any time, the Fund may use the Collateral to purchase the missing securities, and the Authorized Participant will be liable to the Fund for any costs incurred thereby or losses resulting therefrom, whether or not they exceed the amount of the Collateral, including any Transaction Fee, any amount by which the purchase price of the missing Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such securities on the Transmittal Date, brokerage and other transaction costs. The Trust will return any unused Collateral once all of the missing securities have been received by the Fund. More information regarding the Fund’s current procedures for collateralization is available from the Distributor.

 

Cash Purchase Method

 

When cash purchases of Creation Units are available or specified for the Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind purchases In the case of a cash purchase, the investor must pay the cash equivalent of the Portfolio Deposit. In addition, cash purchases will be subject to Transaction Fees, as described above.

 

Redeeming a Creation Unit

 

Redemption Basket

 

The consideration received in connection with the redemption of a Creation Unit generally consists of an in-kind basket of designated securities (“Redemption Securities”) and a Cash Component. Together, the Redemption Securities and the Cash Component constitute the “Redemption Basket.”

 

There can be no assurance that there will be sufficient liquidity in Shares in the secondary market to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. In addition, investors may incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a Creation Unit.

 

The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the net asset value per Creation Unit and the Redemption Securities. Thus, the Cash Component is equal to the difference between (x) the net asset value per Creation Unit of the Fund and (y) the market value of the Redemption Securities. If (x) is more than (y), the Authorized Participant will receive the Cash Component from the Fund. If (x) is less than (y), the Authorized Participant will pay the Cash Component to the Fund.

 

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If the Redemption Securities on a Business Day are different from the Deposit Securities, prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time), the Adviser through the Custodian makes available through NSCC the name and amount of each Redemption Security in the current Redemption Basket (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for the Fund and the (estimated) Cash Component, effective through and including the previous Business Day, per Creation Unit. If the Redemption Securities on a Business Day are different from the Deposit Securities, all redemption requests that day will be processed outside the Clearing Process.

 

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed: (i) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) for any period during which trading on the NYSE is suspended or restricted; (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the Shares or determination of the ETF’s NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) in such other circumstances as permitted by the SEC, including as described below.

 

Custom Redemptions and Cash-in-lieu

 

The Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit or require the substitution of cash-in-lieu to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Redemption Security. The Fund may permit or require cash-in-lieu when, for example, a Redemption Security may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or the Clearing Process. Similarly, the Fund may permit or require cash-in-lieu of Redemption Securities when, for example, the Authorized Participant or its underlying investor is restricted under U.S. or local securities law or policies from transacting in one or more Redemption Securities. The Fund will comply with the federal securities laws in satisfying redemptions with Redemption Securities, including that the Redemption Securities are sold in transactions that would be exempt from registration under the Securities Act. All redemption requests involving cash-in-lieu are considered to be “Custom Redemptions.”

 

Redemption Requests

 

To redeem a Creation Unit, an Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable redemption request to the Distributor.

 

An Authorized Participant submitting a redemption request is deemed to represent to the Fund that it or, if applicable, the investor on whose behalf it is acting, (i) owns outright or has full legal authority and legal beneficial right to tender for redemption the Creation Unit to be redeemed and can receive the entire proceeds of the redemption, and (ii) all of the Shares that are in the Creation Unit to be redeemed have not been borrowed, loaned or pledged to another party nor are they the subject of a repurchase agreement, securities lending agreement or such other arrangement that would preclude the delivery of such Shares to the Fund. The Fund reserves the absolute right, in its sole discretion, to verify these representations, but will typically require verification in connection with higher levels of redemption activity and/or short interest in the Fund. If the Authorized Participant, upon receipt of a verification request, does not provide sufficient verification of the requested representations, the redemption request will not be considered to be in proper form and may be rejected by the Fund.

 

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Timing of Submission of Redemption Requests

 

An Authorized Participant must submit an irrevocable redemption order no later than the Cut-off Time. The Cut-off Time for Custom Orders is generally two hours earlier. The Business Day the order is deemed received by the Distributor is referred to as the “Transmittal Date.” A redemption request is deemed received if (i) such order is received by the Distributor by the Cut-off Time on such day and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. Persons placing or effectuating Custom Redemptions and/or orders involving cash should be mindful of time deadlines imposed by intermediaries, such as DTC and/or the Federal Reserve System, which may impact the successful processing of such orders to ensure that cash and securities are transferred by the Settlement Date, as defined above.

 

Requests Using the Clearing Process

 

If available, (portions of) redemption requests may be settled through the Clearing Process. In connection with such orders, the Distributor transmits on behalf of the Authorized Participant, such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the redemption. Pursuant to such trade instructions, the Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the requisite Creation Unit(s) to the Fund, together with such additional information as may be required by the Distributor or Transfer Agent. Cash Components will be delivered using either the Clearing Process or the Federal Reserve System, as described above.

 

Requests Outside the Clearing Process

 

If the Clearing Process is not available for (portions of) an order, Redemption Baskets will be delivered outside the Clearing Process. Orders outside the Clearing Process must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that the redemption will be effected through DTC. The Authorized Participant must transfer or cause to be transferred the Creation Unit(s) of shares being redeemed through the book-entry system of DTC so as to be delivered through DTC to the Custodian by 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on received T+1. In addition, the Cash Component must be received by the Custodian by 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on T+1. If the Custodian does not receive the Creation Unit(s) and Cash Component by the appointed times on T+1, the redemption will be rejected, except in the circumstances described below. A rejected redemption request may be resubmitted the following Business Day.

 

Orders involving foreign Redemption Securities are expected to be settled outside the Clearing Process. Thus, upon receipt of an irrevocable redemption request, the Distributor will notify the Adviser and the Custodian. The Custodian will then provide information of the redemption to the Fund’s local sub-custodian(s). The redeeming Authorized Participant, or the investor on whose behalf is acting, will have established appropriate arrangements with a broker-dealer, bank or other custody provider in each jurisdiction in which the Redemption Securities are customarily traded and to which such Redemption Securities (and any cash-in-lieu) can be delivered from the Fund’s accounts at the applicable local sub-custodian(s).

 

Acceptance of Redemption Requests

 

All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Trust. The Trust’s determination shall be final and binding.

 

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Delivery of Redemption Basket

 

Once the Fund has accepted a redemption request, upon next determination of the Fund’s NAV, the Fund will confirm the issuance of a Redemption Basket, against receipt of the Creation Unit(s) at such NAV, any cash-in-lieu and Transaction Fee. A Creation Unit tendered for redemption and the payment of the Cash Component, any cash-in-lieu and Transaction Fee will be effected through DTC. The Authorized Participant, or the investor on whose behalf it is acting, will be recorded on the book-entry system of DTC.

 

The Redemption Basket will generally be delivered to the redeeming Authorized Participant within T+2. Except under the circumstances described below, however, a Redemption Basket generally will not be issued until the Creation Unit(s) are delivered to the Fund, along with the Cash Component, any cash-in-lieu and Transaction Fee.

 

In certain cases, Authorized Participants will create and redeem Creation Units on the same trade date. In these instances, the Trust reserves the right to settle these transactions on a net basis.

 

With respect to orders involving foreign Redemption Securities, the Fund may settle Creation Unit transactions on a basis other than T+2 in order to accommodate foreign market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates (that is the last day the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security), and in certain other circumstances. When a relevant local market is closed due to local market holidays, the local market settlement process will not commence until the end of the local holiday period.

 

Cash Redemption Method

 

When cash redemptions of Creation Units are available or specified for the Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind redemptions. In the case of a cash redemption, the investor will receive the cash equivalent of the Redemption Basket minus any Transaction Fees, as described above.

 

TAX STATUS

 

The following discussion is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. All shareholders should consult a qualified tax advisor regarding their investment in the Fund.

 

The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify and has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and intends to continue to so qualify, which requires compliance with certain requirements concerning the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and the amount and timing of its distributions to shareholders. Such qualification does not involve supervision of management or investment practices or policies by any government agency or bureau. By so qualifying, the Fund should not be subject to federal income or excise tax on its net investment income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable timing requirements. Net investment income and net capital gain of the Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of the Code.

 

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Net investment income is made up of dividends and interest less expenses. Net capital gain for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund. Capital losses incurred after January 31, 2011 may now be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. Under pre-enacted laws, capital losses could be carried forward to offset any capital gains for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital, irrespective of the character of the original loss. Capital loss carry forwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these carry forwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders. For the fiscal period ended March 31, 2022, the Fund had net capital loss carryforwards not subject to expiration as summarized as follows:

 

Short Term Amount Total
$34,721 $34,721

 

The Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income, any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, and any excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly by the Fund. The Fund distributes their net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders annually no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions will be in shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.

 

To be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and (b) diversify its holding so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for purposes of this calculation, generally limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of the Fund’s assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) any one issuer, two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.

 

If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year, it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. As such the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of the Fund generally would not be liable for income tax on the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders, whether from the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.

 

The Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital gain under a prescribed formula contained in Section 4982 of the Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income (i.e., the excess of its capital gains over capital losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year plus 100% of any income that was neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the preceding calendar year. Under ordinary circumstances, the Fund expects to time its distributions so as to avoid liability for this tax.

 

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The following discussion of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders that are IRAs or other qualified retirement plans are exempt from income taxation under the Code.

 

Distributions of taxable net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

Distributions of net capital gain (“capital gain dividends”) generally are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain; regardless of the length of time the shares of the Trust have been held by such shareholders.

 

Certain U.S. shareholders, including individuals and estates and trusts, are subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which should include dividends from the Fund and net gains from the disposition of shares of the Fund. U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Fund.

 

Redemption of Fund shares by a shareholder will result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares. Such gain or loss is treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets. However, any loss realized upon the redemption of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as capital gain dividends during such six-month period. All or a portion of any loss realized upon the redemption of shares may be disallowed to the extent shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within 30 days before or after such redemption.

 

Distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above, whether received in additional cash or shares. Shareholders electing to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the net asset value of a share on the reinvestment date.

 

All distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each taxable shareholder on his or her federal income tax return. Dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December as of a record date in such a month, if any, will be deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of the following year. Redemptions of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder and are also subject to these reporting requirements.

 

Under the Code, the Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Code, distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law, or if the Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect TIN or a previous failure to report taxable interest or dividends. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.

 

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Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements

 

To the extent such investments are permissible for the Fund, the Fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, straddles and foreign currencies will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.

 

To the extent such investments are permissible, certain of the Fund’s hedging activities (including its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If the Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess book income will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Companies

 

Investment by the Fund in certain passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”) could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a qualified electing fund (“QEF”), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company.

 

The Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings “to the market” as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed for the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections, therefore, may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return.

 

Foreign Currency Transactions

 

The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned.

 

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Foreign Taxation

 

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties and conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may be able to elect to “pass through” to the Fund’s shareholders the amount of eligible foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct (as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his or her taxable income or to use it as a foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to certain limitations. In particular, a shareholder must hold his or her shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 more days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a gain dividend. No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions. Each shareholder will be notified within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year whether the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will “pass through” for that year.

 

Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder’s U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of the Fund’s income will flow through to shareholders of the Fund. With respect to the Fund, gains from the sale of securities will be treated as derived from U.S. sources and certain currency fluctuation gains, including fluctuation gains from foreign currency-denominated debt securities, receivables and payables will be treated as ordinary income derived from U.S. sources. The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. A shareholder may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of his or her proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. The foreign tax credit can be used to offset only 90% of the revised alternative minimum tax imposed on corporations and individuals and foreign taxes generally are not deductible in computing alternative minimum taxable income.

 

Original Issue Discount and Pay-In-Kind Securities

 

Current federal tax law requires the holder of a U.S. Treasury or other fixed income zero coupon security to accrue as income each year a portion of the discount at which the security was purchased, even though the holder receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year. In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income, which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.

 

Some of the debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as debt securities that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount (“OID”) is treated as interest income and is included in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. A portion of the OID includable in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate debt securities (including certain pay-in-kind securities) may be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Some of the debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.

 

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Some debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as having acquisition discount, or OID in the case of certain types of debt securities. Generally, the Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount, or OID, in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.

 

The Fund that holds the foregoing kinds of securities may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such transactions.

 

Shareholders of the Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of the Fund’s shares.

 

A brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution accompany each distribution. In January of each year the Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.

 

Shareholders should consult their tax advisors about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

The firm of Cohen and Company Ltd. (“Cohen”), located at 342 North Water Street, Suite 830, Milwaukee, WI 53202 has been selected as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. Cohen will perform an annual audit of the Fund’s financial statements and provides financial, tax and accounting services as requested.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

 

Thompson Hine LLP, 41 South High Street, Suite 1700, Columbus, Ohio 43215, serves as the Trust’s legal counsel.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

The financial statements and report of the independent registered public accounting firm required to be included in this SAI are hereby incorporated by reference to the Annual Report for the Fund for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2022. You can obtain a copy of the Annual Report without charge by calling the Funds at (866) 904-0406.

 

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Adviser Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

Background 

Proxy voting is an important right of investors and reasonable care and diligence must be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised.

 

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

 

Policy 

TTM, as a matter of policy and as a fiduciary obligation to our clients, maintains the responsibility for voting proxies for portfolio securities held by accounts in which it has discretionary authority and is obligated to exercise this duty consistent with the best economic interests of our clients. TTM maintains written policies and procedures as to the handling, research, voting and reporting of proxy voting and makes appropriate disclosures about our Adviser’s proxy policies and practices. The Adviser will, at least annually, review its Proxy Voting policy and, where necessary, make enhancements based on the results of such review. At present, TTM has proxy voting responsibility for the following:

 

Trend Aggregation Growth Fund (Symbol: TRAGX)

Trend Aggregation Dividend And Income Fund (Symbol: TRDVX)

Rational Dividend Capture Variable Annuity Sub-Account (Symbol: RDCVA)

 

Consequently, the proxy voting obligations attendant to other registered investment companies or separately managed account(s) for which TTM is the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or Co-Manager is under the purview of Rational Advisors, Inc., Belpointe Asset Management, LLC, and iSectors LLC. In the case of Horter Investment Management, TTM does exercise the proxy voting authority for the shares it serves as SMA adviser.

 

TTM will approach each corporate proxy statement on a case-by-case basis and may vote a proxy in a manner different from management’s recommendation. In sum, the Adviser will consider both sides of each proxy issue and after appropriate evaluation will cast its votes according to the most favorable position.

 

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As a general principle when responsible for proxy voting for clients and, in particular investment companies, the Adviser shall determine how to vote proxies based on our reasonable judgment of that vote insofar as what is most likely to produce favorable financial results for the clients or shareholders. Proxy votes typically will be cast in favor of proposals that maintain or strengthen the shared interests of shareholders and management, increase shareholder value, maintain orincrease shareholder influence over the issuer’s board of directors and management, and maintain or increase the rights of shareholders. Conversely, proxy votes will be cast against proposals having the opposite effect or in circumstances where (i) the cost of voting such proxy exceeds the expected benefit to the client; (ii) if the proxy authorizes a re-registration process imposing trading and transfer restrictions on the shares, commonly, referred to as “blocking.”

 

In keeping with its fiduciary obligation, TTM and its CEO (or other Supervised Persons) may not be influenced by outside sources who have interests which conflict with the interests of the Adviser’s clients when voting proxies for such clients. Accordingly, our policy and procedures include the responsibility to receive and disclose any potential conflicts of interest and maintaining relevant and required records.

 

To help ensure that TTM votes proxies in the best interests of the client, the Adviser has established procedures highlighted by guidelines (i.e., best practices) aimed at setting forth practices to be followed by the CEO and to properly deal with a material conflict of interest. As an overarching principle, TTM views its obligations to exercise proxy votes on management and shareholder proposals at publicly traded companies as a means intended to assist institutional investors in circumstances the underling proposals are guided by promoting long-term shareholder value creation and risk mitigation. Public companies which maintain generally strong corporate governance cultures understand these practices should respect shareholder rights and provide appropriate transparency, taking into account relevant laws, customs, and best practice codes of each market and region, as well as the right and responsibility of shareholders to make informed voting decisions.

 

From time to time, it is possible that CEO will decide (i) to vote shares held in client accounts differently from the vote of another client account holding the same security. Such actions may result from situations where clients are permitted to place reasonable restrictions on TTM’s voting authority in the same manner that they may place such restrictions on the actual selection of account securities; or (ii) to abstain from voting on behalf of client account(s) for good reason. For example, in the absence of specific voting guidelines from the client, TTM will generally NOT vote proxies. If, however, TTM elects to vote in these instances, TTM’s policy is to vote all proxies from a specific issuer the same way for each client absent qualifying restrictions from a client.

 

Procedure 

Guidelines. The following guidelines will serve as parameters for the CEO in rendering a proxy vote and, in particular, viewing proposals and recommendations from management in a favorable demeanor in comparison to their counterparts who do not exhibit such tendencies:

 

Accountability. Corporate Boards should be accountable to shareholders, the owners of the companies, by holding regular board elections, by providing sufficient information for shareholders to be able to assess directors and board composition, and by providing shareholders with the ability to remove directors. Directors should respond to investor input such as that expressed through vote results on management and shareholder proposals and other shareholder communications. Shareholders should have meaningful rights on structural provisions, such as approval of or amendments to the corporate governing documents and a vote on takeover defenses. As an example, the Adviser will generally vote against proposals that cause board members to become entrenched or cause unequal voting rights.

 

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Stewardship. A company’s governance, social, and environmental practices should meet or exceed the standards of its market regulations and general practices and should take into account relevant factors that may impact significantly the company’s long-term value creation. Issuers and investors should recognize constructive engagement as both a right and responsibility. As an example, the Adviser will generally vote in favor of routine corporate housekeeping proposals such as the election of directors and selection of auditors absent conflicts of interest raised by an auditor’s non-audit services.

 

Independence. Boards should be sufficiently independent so as to ensure that they are able and motivated to effectively supervise management’s performance and remuneration, for the benefit of all shareholders. Boards should include an effective independent leadership position and sufficiently independent committees that focus on key governance concerns such as audit, compensation, and the selection and evaluation of directors. The Adviser, for example, will tend to vote against a corporation’s board of directors or “management” proposal should it include, among others, excessive compensation, unusual management stock options, preferential voting and poison pills.

 

Transparency. Companies should provide sufficient and timely information that enables shareholders to understand key issues, make informed vote decisions, and effectively engage with companies on substantive matters that impact shareholders’ long-term interests in the company. In reviewing such proposals, the Adviser will further consider the opinion of management and the effect on management, and the effect on shareholder value and the issuer’s business practices.

 

Voting Ballots and Records. The proxy voting practice itself is initiated at such time the company (or issuer) disseminates the proxy voting ballot (“Ballot”). Once proxy material has been received, it is promptly reviewed by the CEO (in the capacity of a Portfolio Manager) and the issues presented are then evaluated. In most instances, the CEO receives the Ballot from the company electronically with a request to log into a secured website at which point the proxy voting proposals (e.g., Board elections, corporate governance matters, ratification of an independent registered public accounting firm, etc.) will appear for consideration. The Ballot typically contains voting selections as follows: “For” (in which a vote cast will support the measure), “Against” (in which a vote cast will oppose the measure), and “Abstain (in which no vote is cast). The CEO will complete the Ballot and submit it to the company or issuer electronically. Prior to logging out of the website, the CEO will print a PDF version of the screen showing the measures voted upon and the votes recorded. Next, the CEO will email the PDF attachment to the CCO or CCO Designee who, in turn, will update the “Proxy Voting Log” (or “Log”) with the requisite information. (See also “Conflicts of Interests” section for more details concerning information to be recorded on the Log).

 

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Disclosure/Client Requests for Information. TTM will provide conspicuously displayed information in its Disclosure Document and website (i.e., for the adviser) summarizing this proxy voting policy and procedures, including a statement that clients may request information regarding how TTM voted a client’s proxies, and that clients may request a copy of these policies and procedures. Upon receiving such requests, the CCO or CCO Designee shall forward the most current version of the Proxy Voting Policy herein and Proxy Voting Log via email or regular mail to the requestor. The requestor shall receive the proxy voting information free of charge, which also should be disclosed on the website and disclosure documents.

 

Conflicts of Interest. TTM and, more specifically the CEO (in the capacity of a Portfolio Manager) will identify any conflicts that exist between the interests of the Adviser and the client by reviewing the relationship of TTM with the issuer of each security to determine if TTM or any of its Supervised Persons has any financial, business or personal relationship with the issuer. If a material conflict of interest exists, the CEO will request that the CCO (or CCO Designee) to advise whether it is appropriate to disclose the conflict to the affected clients, to give the clients an opportunity to vote the proxies themselves, or to address the voting issue through other objective means, such as, voting in a manner consistent with a predetermined voting guidelines (see above) or receiving an independent third party voting recommendation. TTM will maintain a record of the voting resolution of any conflict of interest in the aforementioned Proxy Voting Log.

 

Recordkeeping. The CEO, in coordination with the CCO/CCO Designee, shall retain the following proxy voting records in a format and retention period as set forth in the Recordkeeping guidelines set forth in this Manual: 

These policies and procedures and any amendments thereto;

Each proxy statement (maintained on the proxy Adviser’s website)

Proxy Analysis Report, if applicable;

Record of each vote cast or abstention (or “Ballot”) in a manner prescribed by the Proxy Voting Form (see below). The CEO will vote proxies for which TTM is the primary investment adviser. In such instances, the CEO shall enter the information required to complete the Proxy Voting Form which, too, will be used to memorialize proxy voting records in accordance with the Advisers Act;

Documentation, if any, created that was material to making a decision how to vote proxies, or that memorializes that decision including periodic reports to the CCO, if applicable.

The Proxy Voting Log (see below example) is used to record and track requests concerning the Advisers proxy voting history. Upon receiving such a request, the CCO or CCO Designee will complete the standalone Proxy Voting Log and forward the Ballots evidencing the CEO’s proxy voting history (with any necessary redactions of confidential information if applicable).

Next, the CCO or CCO designee will supply the proxy Ballots (of which a screen print PDF version is forwarded to the Compliance Unit by the CEO upon completion each instance) to the requestor via email or regular U.S. Mail at the Adviser’s expense.

 

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PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item 28.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a) Articles of Incorporation.

 

(i) Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust was filed on October 23, 2017 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

(ii) Registrant’s Certificate of Trust was filed on October 23, 2017 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement and are incorporated by reference.

 

(b) By-Laws. Registrant’s By-Laws was filed on October 23, 2017 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement and are incorporated by reference.

 

(c) Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holder.  None other than in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Registrant.

 

(d) Investment Advisory Contracts.  

 

(i) Management Agreement between the Registrant and Rareview Capital LLC was filed on October 16, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(ii) Management Agreement between the Registrant and Tuttle Tactical Management, LLC was filed on December 11, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iii) Management Agreement between the Registrant and Innovative Portfolios, LLC was filed on January 28, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iv) Management Agreement between the Registrant and Mercator Investment Management, LLC was filed on April 27, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 78 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(v) Management Agreement between the Registrant and Greenwich Capital Ivy, LLC was filed on April 28, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 79 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(vi) Management Agreement between the Registrant and Tuttle Capital Management, LLC was filed on May 11, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 84 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(vii) Management Agreement between the Registrant and Tuttle Capital Management, LLC was filed on August 13, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 103 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(viii) Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, Tuttle Capital Management, LLC, and Retireful, LLC was filed on October 4, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 113 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

 

 

(ix) Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, Tuttle Capital Management, LLC, and Revere Wealth Management LLC was filed on August 13, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 103 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(x) Management Agreement between the Registrant and Goose Hollow Capital Management LLC was filed on October 1, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xi) Management Agreement between the Registrant and NextGen ETFs, LLC was filed on December 6, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xii) Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, Tuttle Capital Management, LLC, and NextGen ETFs, LLC was filed on December 6, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xiii) Management Agreement between the Registrant and Retireful, LLC was filed on October 4, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 113 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xiv) Management Agreement between the Registrant and Tuttle Capital Management, LLC on behalf of the Tuttle Capital Short Innovation ETF was filed on November 4, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xv) Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Rareview Inflation/Deflation ETF and Rareview Capital LLC was filed on December 30, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xvi) Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Rareview Systematic Equity ETF, and Rareview Capital LLC was filed on January 14, 2022 as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 131 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xvii) Sub-Advisory Agreement between Rareview Capital LLC and GST Management, LLC was filed on January 14, 2022 as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 131 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xviii) Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Preferred-Plus and Dividend Performers, and Innovative Portfolios, LLC was filed on January 28, 2022 as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(e) Underwriting Contracts.

 

(i) Underwriting Agreement between Arbor Court Capital, LLC, Innovative Portfolios, LLC and the Registrant was filed on May 15, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(ii) Underwriting Agreement between Arbor Court Capital, LLC, the Registrant, and Greenwich Ivy Capital LLC was filed on May 22, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iii) Underwriting Agreement between Arbor Court Capital, LLC the Registrant, and Innovative Portfolios, LLC on behalf of the Preferred Plus and Dividend Performers was filed on January 28, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

 

 

 

(iv) Underwriting Agreement between Foreside Fund Services, LLC and the Registrant on behalf of the Trend Aggregation Conservative ETF was filed on September 21, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 62 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(v) Underwriting Agreement between Foreside Fund Services, LLC and the Registrant on behalf of the Rareview Dynamic Fixed Income ETF and the Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF was filed on October 16, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(vi) Underwriting Agreement between Foreside Fund Services, LLC and the Registrant was filed on December 11, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(vii) Underwriting Agreement between Foreside Fund Services, LLC and the Registrant was filed on May 11, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 84 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(viii) Underwriting Agreement between Foreside Fund Services, LLC and the Registrant was filed on October 1, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to the Registrant’s registration statement is incorporated by reference.

 

(ix) Underwriting Agreement between Foreside Fund Services, LLC and the Registrant on behalf of the Rareview Systematic Equity ETF, Rareview Inflation/Deflation ETF, and NextGen Trend and Defend ETF was filed on December 6, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(f) Bonus or Profit-Sharing Contracts. None.

 

(g) Custodial Agreement.

 

(i) Custody Agreement was filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 the Registrant’s registration statement on January 16, 2018 and is incorporated by reference.

 

(ii) Amendment No. 1 to the Custody Agreement was filed on May 15, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iii) Amendment No. 3 to the Custody Agreement was filed on May 22, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iv) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Citibank, N.A, on behalf of the Trend Aggregation U.S. ETF, Trend Aggregation ESG ETF, Trend Aggregation Managed Futures Strategy ETF, Trend Aggregation Dividend Stock ETF, and Trend Aggregation Aggressive Growth ETF was filed on February 25, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

  

(v) Amendment No. 4 to the Custody Agreement was filed on February 26, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(vi) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Citibank N.A., on behalf of the Rareview Dynamic Fixed Income ETF and the Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF was filed on October 16, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

 

 

(vii) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Citibank N.A., on behalf of the SPAC and New Issue ETF was filed on December 11, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(viii) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Citibank, N.A., on behalf of the FOMO ETF, The Short SPAC ETF, The De-SPAC ETF, and Fat Tail Risk ETF was filed on April 27, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 78 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(ix) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Citibank, N.A., on behalf of the Goose Hollow Tactical Allocation ETF was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(x) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Citibank, N.A., on behalf of the Tuttle Capital Short Innovation ETF was filed on November 4, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xi) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Citibank N.A., on behalf of the NextGen Trend and Defend ETF, Rareview Inflation/Deflation ETF, and Rareview Systematic Equity ETF was filed on December 6, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(h) Other Material Contracts.

 

(i) Transfer Agent Agreement and other material contracts were filed as exhibits to the Registrant’s registration statement on January 16, 2018 and are incorporated by reference.

 

(ii) Amendment No. 1 to Transfer Agent Agreement was filed on May 15, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iii) Amendment No. 3 to Transfer Agent Agreement on behalf of the Global Tactical Fund was filed on May 22, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iv) Administration Agreement between Collaborative Fund Services, LLC was filed on May 15, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(v) Transfer Agent Agreement between Citibank N.A., and the Registrant on behalf of the Trend Aggregation U.S. ETF, Trend Aggregation ESG ETF, Trend Aggregation Managed Futures Strategy ETF, Trend Aggregation Dividend Stock ETF, and Trend Aggregation Aggressive Growth ETF was filed on February 25, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(vi) Operating Expense Limitation Agreement with Mercator Investment Management, LLC was filed on April 29, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(vii) Amended and restated Operating Expense Limitation Agreement with Tuttle Tactical Management was filed on September 21, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 62 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

 

 

 

(viii) Transfer Agent Agreement between Citibank N.A., and the Registrant on behalf of the Trend Aggregation Conservative ETF was filed on September 21, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 62 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(ix) Operating Expense Limitation Agreement with Rareview Capital LLC was filed on October 16, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(x) Transfer Agent Agreement between Citibank, N.A. and the Registrant on behalf of the Rareview Tax Advantage Income ETF and the Rareview Dynamic Fixed Income ETF was filed on October 16, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xi) Transfer Agent Agreement between Citibank N.A., and the Registrant on behalf of the SPAC and New Issue ETF was filed on December 11, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xii) Operating Expense Limitation Agreement with Greenwich Ivy Capital, LLC was filed on January 26, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xiii) Operating Expense Limitation Agreement with Tuttle Capital Management, LLC was filed on May 19, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 70 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xiv) Transfer Agent agreement between Citibank, N.A., and the Registrant on behalf of the FOMO ETF, The Short SPAC ETF, The De-SPAC ETF, and Fat Tail Risk ETF was filed on April 27, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xv) Operating Expense Limitation Agreement with Tuttle Capital Management, LLC was filed on April 28, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xvi) Operating Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Tuttle Capital Management, LLC was filed on July 28, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xvii) Services Agreement between Citibank, N.A., and the Registrant on behalf of the Mohr Growth ETF, Adaptive Core ETF, and Mindful Conservative ETF was filed on October 4, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 114 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xviii) Transfer Agent Agreement between Citibank, N.A., and the Registrant on behalf of the Goose Hollow Tactical Allocation ETF was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xix) Operating Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Goose Hollow Capital Management LLC was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xx) Services Agreement between Citibank, N.A., and the Registrant on behalf of the Tuttle Capital Short Innovation ETF was filed on November 4, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

 

 

 

(xxi) Amended and restated administration agreement between Collaborative Fund Services, LLC and the Registrant was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xxii) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Tuttle Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Trend Aggregation U.S. ETF, Trend Aggregation ESG ETF, Active Dividend Stock ETF, and Trend Aggregation Growth ETF was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xxiii) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Tuttle Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Revere Sector Opportunity ETF was filed on August 13, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 103 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xxiv) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and NextGen ETFs, LLC was filed on December 6, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xxv) Services Agreement between Citibank N.A. and the Registrant on behalf of the NextGen Trend and Defend ETF, Rareview Inflation/Deflation ETF, and Rareview Systematic Equity ETF was filed on December 6, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xxvi) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Tuttle Capital Management, LLC was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xxvii) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant on behalf of the Rareview Inflation/Deflation ETF and Rareview Capital LLC was filed on December 30, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xxviii) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant on behalf of the Rareview Systematic Equity ETF and Rareview Capital LLC was filed on January 14, 2022 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 131 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xxix) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant on behalf of the Preferred-Plus and Dividend Performers was filed on January 28, 2022 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(i) Legal Opinion and Consent.

 

(i) Legal opinion and consent of Thompson Hine LLP was filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(ii) Legal consent of Thompson Hine LLP is filed herewith.

 

(j) Other Opinion.

 

(i) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accountant is filed herewith.

 

(k) Omitted Financial Statements. None.

 

(l) Initial Capital Agreements. None.

 

(m) Rule 12b-1 Plan.

 

 

 

 

(i) Amended and Restated Rule 12b-1 Plan was filed on February 26, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(n) Rule 18f-3 Plan.

 

(i) Amended and Restated 18f-3 Plan was filed on February 26, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(o) Reserved.

 

(p) Code of Ethics.

 

(i) Code of Ethics for Registrant was filed on January 24, 2018 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(ii) Code of Ethics for Innovative Portfolios, LLC was filed on May 15, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iii) Code of Ethics for Mercator Investment Management, LLC was filed on May 15, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iv) Code of Ethics for Tuttle Capital Management, LLC was filed on May 16, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(v) Code of Ethics for Greenwich Ivy Capital LLC was filed on May 22, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(vi) Code of Ethics for Rareview Capital LLC was filed on October 16, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(vii) Code of Ethics for Retireful, LLC was filed on October 4, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 113 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(viii) Code of Ethics for Revere Wealth Management, LLC was filed on August 13, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment 103 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(ix) Code of Ethics for Goose Hollow Capital Management LLC was filed as an exhibit to post-effective amendment no. 113 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(x) Code of Ethics for NextGen ETFs, LLC was filed on December 6, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(xi) Code of Ethics for GST Management, LLC was filed on January 28, 2022 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(q) Powers of Attorney.  

 

(i) Power of Attorney for Registrant, and a certificate with respect thereto, and each trustee and executive officer, were filed as exhibits to the Registrant’s registration statement on January 16, 2018 and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

(ii) Power of Attorney for Mr. Shawn Orser was filed on May 15, 2019 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iii) Power of Attorney for Mr. Ronald Young Jr. was filed on April 29, 2020 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

(iv) Power of Attorney for Mr. William McCormick was filed on October 1, 2021 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to the Registrant’s registration statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

Item 29. Control Persons. None.

 

Item 30. Indemnification.

 

Reference is made to Article VIII of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust which is included. The application of these provisions is limited by the following undertaking set forth in the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission:

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in such Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The Registrant may maintain a standard mutual fund and investment advisory professional and directors and officers liability policy. The policy, if maintained, would provide coverage to the Registrant, its Trustees and officers, and could cover its advisers, among others. Coverage under the policy would include losses by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Registrant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless ACA Foreside Financial Services, LLC (the “Distributor”), its affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers and employees and agents and any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) that the Distributor may incur arising out of or based upon: (i) Distributor serving as distributor for the Trust in compliance with this Agreement and applicable law; (ii) the allegation of any wrongful act of the Trust or any of its directors, officers, employees or affiliates in connection with its duties and responsibilities in this Agreement; (iii) any claim that the Registration Statement, Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, product description, shareholder reports, Marketing Materials and advertisements specifically approved by the Registrant and the Adviser/Sub-Adviser or other information filed or made public by the Registrant (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (and in the case of the Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information and product description, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading under the Securities Act, or any other statute or the common law; (iv) the breach by the Registrant of any obligation, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement; or (v) the Registrant’s failure to comply in any material respect with applicable securities laws.

 

 

 

 

The Registrant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold Arbor Court Capital, LLC (“ACC”), its officers and directors, and any person who controls ACC within the meaning of Section 15 of 1933 Act (“ACC entities”), free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigation or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) that ACC its officers, directors, or any such controlling person may incur under the 1933 Act, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any (i) untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, SAI or sales literature, (ii) omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the either thereof or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) failure by the Trust/IC to comply with the terms of the Agreement; provided, that in no event shall anything contained herein be so construed as to protect ACC against any liability to the Trust/IC or its shareholders to which ACC would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Item 31. Activities of Investment Adviser.

 

A description of any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature in which any of the Funds’ advisers and sub-advisers of the Registrant, and each member, director, executive officer, or partner of the advisers and sub-advisers, are or have been, at any time during the past two fiscal years, engaged in for his or her own account or in the capacity of member, trustee, officer, employee, partner or director, is set forth in the respective prospectus.

 

Information as to the members and officers of each adviser and sub-adviser are included in their respective Form ADVs as filed with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Mercator Investment Management, LLC is adviser to the Mercator International Opportunity Fund (file no. 801-69329).

 

Tuttle Capital Management, LLC. is the adviser to the Revere Sector Opportunity ETF, FOMO ETF, the SPAC and New Issue ETF, the De-SPAC ETF, the Short De-SPAC ETF, and Tuttle Capital Short Innovation ETF and a subadviser to Mohr Growth ETF, Adaptive Core ETF, and the Mindful Conservative ETF.

 

Greenwich Ivy Capital LLC is adviser to the Global Tactical Fund (file no. 801-114699).

 

Rareview Capital LLC is adviser to the Rareview Tactical Dynamic ETF and the Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF (file no. 801-108100).

 

Retireful, LLC, is the adviser to the Mohr Growth ETF, Adaptive Core ETF, and Mindful Conservative ETF (file no. 801-122216).

 

Revere Wealth Management, LLC is the sub-adviser to the Revere Sector Opportunity ETF (file no. 801-110372).

 

Goose Hollow Capital Management LLC is the adviser to the Goose Hollow Tactical Allocation ETF (file no. 801-122485).

 

GST Management, LLC is the sub-adviser to the Rareview Systematic Equity ETF (file no. 801-122854).

 

 

 

 

Item 32. Principal Underwriter.  

 

(a) Arbor Court Capital, LLC, the principal underwriter to DSS AmericaFirst Quantitative Funds, Ancora Trust, Archer Investment Series Trust, Berkshire Focus Fund, Clark Fork Trust, the Collaborative Investment Series Trust, the Footprints Discover Value Fund, Frank Funds, the Monteagle Funds, the MP63 Fund, Inc., the Neiman Funds, Ranger Funds Investment Trust, WP Trust and PFS Fund Trust.

 

(b) ACA Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:

  

1. ABS Long/Short Strategies Fund
2. Absolute Shares Trust
3. Active Weighting Funds ETF Trust
4. AdvisorShares Trust
5. AmericaFirst Quantitative Funds
6. American Century ETF Trust
7. ARK ETF Trust
8. Avenue Mutual Funds Trust
9. BP Capital TwinLine Energy Fund, Series of Professionally Managed Portflios
10. BP Capital TwinLine MLP Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
11. Braddock Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
12. Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
13. Brinker Capital Destinations Trust
14. Calvert Ultra-Short Duration Income NextShares, Series of Calvert Management Series
15. Center Coast MLP & Infrastructure Fund
16. Center Coast MLP Focus Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
17. Context Capital Funds
18. CornerCap Group of Funds
19. Davis Fundamental ETF Trust
20. Direxion Shares ETF Trust
21. Eaton Vance NextShares Trust
22. Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II
23. EIP Investment Trust
24. Elkhorn ETF Trust
25. EntrepreneurShares Series Trust
26. Evanston Alternative Opportunities Fund
27. Exchange Listed Funds Trust (f/k/a Exchange Traded Concepts Trust II)
28. FEG Absolute Access Fund I LLC
29. Fiera Capital Series Trust
30. FlexShares Trust
31. Forum Funds
32. Forum Funds II
33. FQF Trust
34. Friess Small Cap Growth Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series
35. GraniteShares ETF Trust
36. Guinness Atkinson Funds
37. Horizons ETF Trust I (f/k/a Recon Capital Series Trust)
38. Infinity Core Alternative Fund
39. Innovator IBD® 50 ETF, Series of Innovator ETFs Trust
40. Innovator IBD® ETF Leaders ETF, Series of Innovator ETFs Trust
41. Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
42. Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
43. John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust

 

 

 

 

44. Manor Investment Funds
45. Miller/Howard Funds Trust
46. Miller/Howard High Income Equity Fund
47. Moerus Worldwide Value Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV
48. MProved Systematic Long-Short Fund, Series Portfolios Trust
49. MProved Systematic Merger Arbitrage Fund, Series Portfolios Trust
50. MProved Systematic Multi-Strategy Fund, Series Portfolios Trust
51. NYSE® Pickens Oil Response™ ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
52. OSI ETF Trust
53. Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund
54. Partners Group Private Income Opportunities, LLC
55. PENN Capital Funds Trust
56. Performance Trust Mutual Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
57. Pine Grove Alternative Institutional Fund
58. Plan Investment Fund, Inc.
59. PMC Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Manager
60. Point Bridge GOP Stock Tracker ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
61. Quaker Investment Trust
62. Ranger Funds Investment Trust
63. Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds
64. RMB Investors Trust (f/k/a Burnham Investors Trust)
65. Robinson Opportunistic Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
66. Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
67. Salient MF Trust
68. SharesPost 100 Fund
69. Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
70. Steben Alternative Investment Funds
71. Steben Select Multi-Strategy Fund
72. Strategy Shares
73. The 504 Fund (f/k/a The Pennant 504 Fund)
74. The Chartwell Funds
75. The Community Development Fund
76. The Relative Value Fund
77. Third Avenue Trust
78. Third Avenue Variable Series Trust
79. TIFF Investment Program
80. Transamerica ETF Trust
81. U.S. Global Investors Funds
82. VictoryShares Developed Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
83. VictoryShares Dividend Accelerator ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
84. VictoryShares Emerging Market High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
85. VictoryShares Emerging Market Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
86. VictoryShares International High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
87. VictoryShares International Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
88. VictoryShares US 500 Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
89. VictoryShares US 500 Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
90. VictoryShares US Discovery Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
91. VictoryShares US EQ Income Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
92. VictoryShares US Large Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
93. VictoryShares US Multi-Factor Minimum Volatility ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
94. VictoryShares US Small Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
95. VictoryShares US Small Cap Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
96. Vivaldi Opportunities Fund

 

 

 

97. West Loop Realty Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust (f/k/a Chilton Realty Income & Growth Fund)
98. Wintergreen Fund, Inc.
99. WisdomTree Trust
100. WST Investment Trust

 

(c) Arbor Court Capital, LLC is registered with Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. The principal business address of Arbor Court is 8000 Town Centre Drive Broadview Heights, Ohio. The following are the members and officers of Arbor Court:

     
Name Positions and Offices
with Underwriter
Positions and Offices with the
Trust
Gregory B. Getts President, Member, Financial Principal and CFO Trustee and President
David W. Kuhr Chief Compliance Officer None
Steve Milcinovic Chief Operating Officer None

 

(d) The following are the Officers and Manager of the Distributor, the Registrant’s underwriter.

The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101.

 

Name Address Position with Underwriter Position with Registrant
Richard J. Berthy Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME  04101
President, Treasurer and Manager None

Mark A. Fairbanks

 

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101

 

Vice President

 

 

None

 

 

Jennifer K. DiValerio

 

899 Cassatt Road, 400
Berwyn Park, Suite 110,
Berwyn, PA 19312
Vice President None
Susan K. Moscaritolo 899 Cassatt Road, 400
Berwyn Park, Suite 110,
Berwyn, PA 19312
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer None
Jennifer E. Hoopes Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME  04101
Secretary None

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records.

 

All accounts, books and documents required to be maintained by the Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rules 31a-1 through 31a-3 thereunder are maintained at the office of the Registrant and the Transfer Agent.  The address of the Transfer Agent is 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, OH 44147. The address of the Custodian is 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

 

Item 34. Management Services. Not applicable.

 

Item 35. Undertakings. None.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on the 27th day of July 2022.

  Collaborative Investment Series Trust
     
  By: /s/ Andy Davalla
    Andy Davalla
    *Pursuant to Powers of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities on July 27, 2022.

 

Name Title
Dean Drulias* Trustee
Shawn Orser* Trustee
Fredrick Stoleru* Trustee
Ronald Young Jr.* Trustee
Gregory Skidmore* Trustee, President, Principal Executive Officer
William McCormick* Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer

 

By: /s/ Andy Davalla                       

Andy Davalla

*Pursuant to Powers of Attorney