UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-21719

INVESTMENT MANAGERS SERIES TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226

Glendora, CA 91740

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Diane J. Drake

Mutual Fund Administration, LLC

2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226

Glendora, CA 91740

(Name and address of agent for service)

(626) 385-5777

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Date of fiscal year end: September 30

Date of reporting period: September 30, 2022

Item 1. Report to Stockholders.

The registrant’s annual report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), is as follows:

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

(Ticker Symbol: IRONX)

ANNUAL REPORT

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

A series of Investment Managers Series Trust

Table of Contents

This report and the financial statements contained herein are provided for the general information of the shareholders of the Ironclad Managed Risk Fund. This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.

www.IroncladFunds.com 

Ironclad Investments LLC
Total Returns as of September 30, 2022

The performance data quoted here represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance information quoted. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end please call (888) 979-IRON (4766).

Standard Deviation is a common measure of the volatility of investment returns.

A redemption fee of 2.00% will be imposed on redemptions or exchanges of shares you have owned for 30 days or less. Please see the Prospectus for more information. Gross and net expense ratios for the Fund were 1.50% and 1.34%, respectively, as of the current prospectus dated February 1, 2022. The Fund’s Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses do not exceed 1.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. This agreement is in effect as long as the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Fund is in effect, and it may be terminated before that date only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. In the absence of such waivers, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

The Fund’s primary benchmark, the CBOE S&P 500 One-Week PutWrite Index (WPUT), is designed to track the performance of a hypothetical strategy, which systematically sells at-the-money put options on the S&P 500 Index on a weekly basis collateralized by a money market account invested in one-month Treasury Bills. The index is unmanaged, not available for investment and does not reflect expenses, fees or sales charges, which would lower performance.

Equity markets fluctuate based on price movements. The value of the Fund’s positions in options will fluctuate in response to changes in the values of the assets they track and may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than investments in the underlying assets. The risk involved in selling a put option is that the market value of the underlying security could decrease and the option could be exercised, obligating the seller of the put option to buy the underlying security from the purchaser at an exercise price that is higher than its prevailing market price. The trading of options is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risks.

Fixed-income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes and the creditworthiness of individual issuers. Changes in interest rates may cause the value of a security to fluctuate, with lower rated securities more volatile than higher rated securities. Changes to or the withdrawal of a rating may result in the security becoming less liquid or losing value.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has negatively affected the worldwide economy, individual countries, individual companies and the market in general. The future impact of COVID-19 is currently unknown, and it may exacerbate other risks that apply to the Fund. Investing in ETFs, which are investment companies, may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses.

To our fellow shareholders,

Last year, we warned an increase in inflation would force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, which would transform fixed income allocations from volatility reducers to volatility amplifiers. Over the ensuing months, inflation increased, prompting the Federal Reserve to aggressively hike interest rates. As we warned, these actions led to a significant increase in volatility.

Over the past year, a traditional 60/40 stock/bond portfolio² declined -18.54%, as the primary factors that drove performance over the prior decade were reversed:

Over the prior decade, low inflation allowed the Federal Reserve to engage in unconventional monetary policy, which led to multiple expansion, volatility suppression, and higher returns. The excess of the prior decade is being unwound as structural factors drive a secular increase in inflation. Higher levels of inflation restrict the Federal Reserve’s ability to engage in unconventional monetary policy, which leads to multiple contraction, elevated volatility, and lower returns.

Against this challenging backdrop, our investment process delivered a unique return stream that mitigated the significant drawdowns plaguing other asset classes:

Going forward, investors will have to move beyond stocks and bonds to achieve their required rates of return with acceptable levels of risk. Fortunately, the Ironclad Managed Risk Fund does not have the duration exposure of traditional bonds and can find opportunities in equity volatility. For these reasons, we believe our process of managing risk will continue to differentiate itself as a compelling alternative with an attractive risk/reward profile.

Thank you for allowing us to be stewards of your capital.

Sincerely,

Rudy Aguilera Portfolio Manager Ironclad Managed Risk Fund (IRONX)

The views in this letter were those of the Fund Manager at the time of writing this report and may not necessarily reflect the same views on the date this letter is first published or any time thereafter. These views are intended to help shareholders in understanding the fund’s investment methodology and do not constitute investment advice.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

This graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund, with a similar investment in the CBOE S&P 500 One-Week PutWrite Index during the periods shown. Results include the reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains.

The CBOE S&P 500 One-Week PutWrite Index (WPUT) is designed to track the performance of a hypothetical strategy that sells an at-the-money (ATM) S&P 500 Index (SPX) put option on a weekly basis. The term of the written SPX put option is one week. The written SPX put option is collateralized by a money market account invested in one-month Treasury bills. The WPUT Index does not reflect expenses, fees or sales charges, which would lower performance. The index is unmanaged, and it is not available for investment.

The performance data quoted here represents past performance and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance information quoted. The most recent month end performance may be obtained by calling (888) 979-IRON (4766).

Gross and net expense ratios for the Fund were 1.50% and 1.34%, respectively, which were the amounts stated in the current prospectus dated February 1, 2022, as amended February 8, 2022. For the Fund’s current one year expense ratios, please refer to the Financial Highlights section of this report. The Fund’s Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses do not exceed 1.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. This agreement is in effect as long as the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Fund is in effect, and it may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

Returns reflect the reinvestment of distributions made by the Fund, if any. The graph and the performance table above do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Shares redeemed within 30 days of purchase will be charged 2.00% redemption fee.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

As of September 30, 2022

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - Continued

As of September 30, 2022

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS

As of September 30, 2022

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

As of September 30, 2022

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Year Ended September 30, 2022

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share operating performance.

For a capital share outstanding throughout each period.

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

Note 1 – Organization

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund (the ‘‘Fund’’) was organized as a diversified series of Investment Managers Series Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”) which is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund’s primary investment objective is to achieve current income and gains. The Fund commenced investment operations on October 14, 2010.

The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946

“Financial Services—Investment Companies”.

Note 2 – Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

(a) Valuation of Investments

The Fund values equity securities at the last reported sale price on the principal exchange or in the principal over the counter (“OTC”) market in which such securities are traded, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the day the securities are being valued or, if the last-quoted sales price is not readily available, the securities will be valued at the last bid or the mean between the last available bid and ask price. Securities traded on the NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at the daily closing net asset value of the respective investment company. Debt securities are valued by utilizing a price supplied by independent pricing service providers. The independent pricing service providers may use various valuation methodologies including matrix pricing and other analytical pricing models as well as market transactions and dealer quotations. These models generally consider such factors as yields or prices of bonds of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity, ratings and general market conditions. If a price is not readily available for a portfolio security, the security will be valued at fair value (the amount which the Fund might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale). The Board of Trustees has designated the Advisor as the Fund’s valuation designee (the “Valuation Designee”) to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. As the Valuation Designee, the Advisor has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when the Fund must utilize fair value pricing. Prior to September 8, 2022, security valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s advisor, subject to review and approval by the Valuation Committee, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The actions of the Valuation Committee were subsequently reviewed by the Board at its next regularly scheduled board meeting. The Valuation Committee met as needed. The Valuation Committee was comprised of all the Trustees, but action may have been taken by any one of the Trustees.

(b) Options

The Fund utilizes options in an attempt to generate gains from option premiums or to reduce overall portfolio risk. When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are treated by the Fund on the expiration date as realized gains. The difference between the premium and the amount paid or received on effecting a closing purchase or sale transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain or loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium received is added to the proceeds from the sale in determining whether the Fund has realized a gain or a loss on investment transactions. If a put option is exercised, the premium received is subtracted from the proceeds of the sale in determining whether the Fund has realized a gain or a loss on investment transactions. The Fund, as a writer of an option, may have no control over whether the underlying securities may be sold (call) or purchased (put) and as a result bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

September 30, 2022

Under normal circumstances, the Fund’s primary strategy consists of purchasing and selling put and call options on equity indexes and exchange traded funds (“ETFs”). The sale of put options generates income for the Fund, but exposes it to the risk of declines in the value of the underlying assets. The Fund’s investment advisor seeks to reduce the overall volatility of returns of the Fund by managing a portfolio of options. For defensive purposes, or if the options expire, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, cash equivalents or debt instruments issued by entities that carry an investment-grade rating by a national ratings agency. When the Fund takes a defensive position, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

(c) Investment Transactions, Investment Income and Expenses

Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded net of applicable withholding taxes on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, if applicable, are paid (a portion of which may be reclaimable) or provided for in accordance with the applicable country's tax rules and rates and are disclosed in the Statement of Operations. Withholding tax reclaims are filed in certain countries to recover a portion of the amounts previously withheld. The Fund records a reclaim receivable based on a number of factors, including a jurisdiction's legal obligation to pay reclaims as well as payment history and market convention. Discounts on debt securities are accreted or amortized to interest income over the lives of the respective securities using the effective interest method. Premiums for callable debt securities are amortized to the earliest call date, if the call price was less than the purchase price. If the call price was not at par and the security was not called, the security is amortized to the next call price and date. Expenses incurred by the Trust with respect to more than one fund are allocated in proportion to the net assets of each fund except where allocation of direct expenses to each Fund or an alternative allocation method can be more appropriately made.

(d) Federal Income Taxes

The Fund intends to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and any net realized gains to its shareholders. Therefore, no provision is made for federal income or excise taxes. Due to the timing of dividend distributions and the differences in accounting for income and realized gains and losses for financial statement and federal income tax purposes, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the income and realized gains and losses are recorded by the Fund.

Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (the “Income Tax Statement”) requires an evaluation of tax positions taken (or expected to be taken) in the course of preparing a Fund’s tax returns to determine whether these positions meet a “more-likely-than-not” standard that, based on the technical merits, have a more than fifty percent likelihood of being sustained by a taxing authority upon examination. A tax position that meets the “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations.

The Income Tax Statement requires management of the Fund to analyze tax positions taken in the prior three open tax years, if any, and tax positions expected to be taken in the Fund’s current tax year, as defined by IRS stature of limitations for all major jurisdictions, including federal tax authorities and certain state tax authorities. As of and during the open years ended September 30, 2019-2022, the Fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Fund has no examination in progress and is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

September 30, 2022

(e) Distributions to Shareholders

The Fund will make distributions of net investment income and net capital gains, if any, at least annually. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amount and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

The character of distributions made during the year from net investment loss or net realized gain may differ from the character for federal income tax purposes due to differences in the recognition of income expense and gain items for financial statement and tax purposes. Where appropriate, reclassifications between capital accounts are made for such differences that are permanent in nature.

(f) Illiquid Securities

Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, the Fund has adopted a Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) that requires, among other things, that the Fund limits their illiquid investments that are assets to no more than 15% of net assets. An illiquid investment is any security which may not reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. If the Advisor, at any time, determines that the value of illiquid securities held by a Fund exceeds 15% of its net asset value, the Advisor will take such steps as it considers appropriate to reduce them as soon as reasonably practicable in accordance with the Fund’s written LRMP.

Note 3 – Investment Advisory and Other Agreements

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Ironclad Investments LLC (the “Advisor”). Under the terms of the Agreement, the Advisor is entitled to receive from the Fund an annual management fee that decreases as assets increase, as follows: 1.10% on the first $1 billion, 1.05% on the next $2 billion, and 1.00% on assets in excess of $3 billion, calculated daily and payable monthly, of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fee and/or pay for operating expenses to ensure that total annual operating expenses (excluding any taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with Form N-1A), expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed 1.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. This agreement is in effect as long as the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Fund is in effect, and it may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. 

For the year ended September 30, 2022, the Advisor waived advisory fees totaling $120,919. The Advisor is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Fund, subject to certain limitations, of fees waived or payments made to the Fund for a period ending three full fiscal years after the date of the waiver or payment. This reimbursement may be requested from the Fund if the reimbursement will not cause the Fund’s annual expense ratio to exceed the lesser of (a) the expense limitation amount in effect at the time such fees were waived or payments made, or (b) the expense limitation amount in effect at the time of the reimbursement. At September 30, 2022, the amount of these potentially recoverable expenses was $402,066.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

September 30, 2022

The Advisor may recapture all or a portion of this amount no later than September 30, of the years stated below:

UMB Fund Services, Inc. (“UMBFS”) serves as the Fund’s fund accountant, transfer agent and co-administrator; and Mutual Fund Administration, LLC (“MFAC”) serves as the Fund’s other co-administrator. UMB Bank, n.a., an affiliate of UMBFS, serves as the Fund’s custodian. The Fund’s allocated fees incurred for fund accounting, fund administration, transfer agency and custody services for the year ended September 30, 2022 are reported on the Statement of Operations.

IMST Distributors, LLC serves as the Fund’s distributor (the “Distributor”). The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services; the Advisor pays the Distributor a fee for its distribution-related services.

Certain trustees and officers of the Trust are employees of UMBFS or MFAC. The Fund does not compensate trustees and officers affiliated with the Fund’s co-administrators. For the year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund’s allocated fees incurred to Trustees who are not affiliated with the Fund’s co-administrators are reported on the Statement of Operations.

The Fund’s Board of Trustees has adopted a Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) for the Independent Trustees that enables Trustees to elect to receive payment in cash or the option to select various fund(s) in the Trust in which their deferred accounts shall be deemed to be invested. If a trustee elects to defer payment, the Plan provides for the creation of a deferred payment account. The Fund’s liability for these amounts is adjusted for market value changes in the invested fund(s) and remains a liability to the Fund until distributed in accordance with the Plan. The Trustees Deferred compensation liability under the Plan constitutes a general unsecured obligation of the Fund and is disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Contributions made under the plan and the change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and income are included in the Trustees' fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Dziura Compliance Consulting, LLC provides Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) services to the Trust. The Fund’s allocated fees incurred for CCO services for the year ended September 30, 2022, are reported on the Statement of Operations.

Note 4 – Federal Income Taxes

At September 30, 2022, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments owned by the Fund, based on cost for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

September 30, 2022

The difference between cost amounts for financial statement and federal income tax purposes is due primarily to timing differences in recognizing certain gains and losses in security transactions.

GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be reclassified between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share. For the year ended September 30, 2022, permanent differences in book and tax accounting have been reclassified to paid in capital and total distributable earnings (deficit) as follows:

As of September 30, 2022, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

The tax character of the distributions paid during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021 were as follows:

As of September 30, 2022, the Fund had $3,578,073 of post-October capital losses which are deferred until October 1, 2022 for tax purposes. Net capital losses incurred after October 31 and within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first day of the Fund’s taxable year.

As of September 30, 2022 the Fund had qualified late-year ordinary losses of $1,020,301, which are deferred until fiscal year 2022 for tax purposes. Net late-year ordinary losses incurred after December 31, and within the taxable year, are deemed to arise on the first day of each Fund’s next taxable year.

Note 5 – Redemption Fee

The Fund may impose a redemption fee of 2.00% of the total redemption amount on all shares redeemed within 30 days of purchase. For the year ended September 30, 2022 and the year ended September 30, 2021, the Fund received $214 and $228, respectively.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

September 30, 2022

Note 6 – Investment Transactions

The Fund’s primary strategy consists of purchasing and selling put and call options on equity indexes and exchange traded funds (“ETFs”). For the year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund’s purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:

Note 7 – Indemnifications

In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts containing a variety of representations which provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP, and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. It also provides guidance on determining when there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for an asset or a liability, when a transaction is not orderly, and how this information must be incorporated into a fair value measurement.

Under Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized into three broad Levels as described below:

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different Levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the Level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest Level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

September 30, 2022

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of September 30, 2022, in valuing the Fund’s assets carried at fair value:

Note 9 – Derivatives and Hedging Disclosures

Derivatives and Hedging requires enhanced disclosures about the Fund’s derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effects on the Fund’s financial position, performance and cash flows. The Fund invested in options during the year ended September 30, 2022.

The effects of these derivative instruments on the Fund's financial position and financial performance as reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Operations are presented in the tables below. The fair values of derivative instruments as of September 30, 2022 by risk category are as follows:

The effects of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended September 30, 2022 are as follows:

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

September 30, 2022

The quarterly average volumes of derivative instruments as of September 30, 2022 are as follows:

Note 10 – Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risks

Certain local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on a security or instrument. Since 2020, the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has negatively affected the worldwide economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial health of individual companies and the market in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order in February 2022 prohibiting U.S. persons from entering transactions with the Central Bank of Russia and Executive Orders in March 2022 prohibiting U.S. persons from importing oil and gas from Russia as well as other popular Russian exports, such as diamonds, seafood and vodka. There may also be restrictions on investments in Chinese companies. For example, the President of the United States of America signed an Executive Order in June 2021 affirming and expanding the U.S. policy prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. Government as “Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies.” The list of such companies can change from time to time, and as a result of forced selling or an inability to participate in an investment the Advisor otherwise believes is attractive, the Fund may incur losses. The duration of the coronavirus outbreak and the Russian-Ukraine conflict could adversely affect the Fund’s performance, the performance of the securities in which the Fund invests and may lead to losses on your investment. The ultimate impact of COVID-19 and Russia Invasion on the financial performance of the Fund’s investments is not reasonably estimable at this time. Management is actively monitoring these events.

Note 11 - Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2020, the SEC adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (“Rule 18f-4”). Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a Fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, and require funds whose use of derivatives is greater than a limited specified amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager. The Fund has adopted procedures in accordance with Rule 18f-4.

In December 2020, the SEC adopted a new rule providing a framework for fund valuation practices (“Rule 2a-5”). Rule 2a-5 establishes requirements for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit fund boards to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. In connection with Rule 2a-5, the SEC also adopted related recordkeeping requirements and is rescinding previously issued guidance, including with respect to the role of a board in determining fair value and the accounting and auditing of fund investments. The Fund has adopted procedures in accordance with Rule 2a-5.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

September 30, 2022

In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform: Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The main objective of the new guidance is to provide relief to companies that will be impacted by the expected change in benchmark interest rates at the end of 2021, when participating banks will no longer be required to submit London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) quotes by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. The new guidance allows companies to, provided the only change to existing contracts are a change to an approved benchmark interest rate, account for modifications as a continuance of the existing contract without additional analysis. In addition, derivative contracts that qualified for hedge accounting prior to modification, will be allowed to continue to receive such treatment, even if critical terms change due to a change in the benchmark interest rate. For new and existing contracts, the Fund may elect to apply the amendments as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently assessing the impact of the ASU’s adoption to the Fund’s financial statements and various filings.

Note 12 – Events Subsequent to the Fiscal Period End

The Fund has adopted financial reporting rules regarding subsequent events which require an entity to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet. Management has evaluated the Fund’s related events and transactions that occurred through the date of issuance of the Fund’s financial statements.

There were no events or transactions that occurred during this period that materially impacted the amounts or disclosures in the Fund’s financial statements.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees of

Investment Managers Series Trust

and the Shareholders of the Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of the Ironclad Managed Risk Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Investment Managers Series Trust, including the schedule of investments, as of September 30, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of September 30, 2022, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We have served as the auditor of one or more of the funds in the Trust since 2007.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

		TAIT, WELLER & BAKER LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 29, 2022

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)

For fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund designates $8,797,462 as a 20% rate gain distribution for purposes of the dividends paid deduction.

Trustees and Officers Information

Additional information about the Trustees is included in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information which is available, without charge, upon request by calling (888) 979-IRON (4766). The Trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations during the past five years are as follows:

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) - Continued

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) - Continued

Address for Mr. Dziura: 309 Woodridge Lane, Media, Pennsylvania 19063.

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs and redemption fees and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. The examples below are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022.

Actual Expenses

The information in the row titled “Actual Performance” of the table below provides actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the appropriate row under the column entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The information in the row titled “Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)” of the table below provides hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratios and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare these 5% hypothetical examples with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the information in the row titled “Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)” is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

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Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

A series of Investment Managers Series Trust

Investment Advisor

Ironclad Investments LLC

190 Independence Lane, Suite 2D

Maitland, Florida 32751

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Tait, Weller & Baker LLP

Two Liberty Place

50 South 16th Street, Suite 2900

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102

Custodian

UMB Bank, n.a.

928 Grand Boulevard, 5^th Floor

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Fund Co-Administrator

Mutual Fund Administration, LLC

2220 East Route 66, Suite 226

Glendora, California 91740

Fund Co-Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant

UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 West Galena Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

Distributor

IMST Distributors, LLC

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100

Portland, Maine 04101

www.acaglobal.com

Privacy Principles of the Ironclad Managed Risk Fund for Shareholders

The Fund is committed to maintaining the privacy of its shareholders and to safeguarding its non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information the Fund collects, how we protect that information and why, in certain cases, we may share information with select other parties.

Generally, the Fund does not receive any non-public personal information relating to its shareholders, although certain non-public personal information of its shareholders may become available to the Fund. The Fund does not disclose any non-public personal information about its shareholders or former shareholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service shareholder accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or third party administrator).

This report is sent to shareholders of the Ironclad Managed Risk Fund for their information. It is not a Prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of shares of the Fund or of any securities mentioned in this report.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures related to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at (888) 979-IRON (4766) or on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at www.sec.gov.

Proxy Voting Record

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies for portfolio securities, if applicable, during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, is also available, without charge and upon request by calling (888) 979-IRON (4766) or by accessing the Fund’s Form N-PX on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Fund Portfolio Holdings

The Fund files a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT within 60 days of the end of such fiscal quarter. Shareholders may obtain the Fund’s Form N-PORT on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Prior to its use of Form N-PORT, the Fund filed its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q, which is available online at www.sec.gov.

Householding Mailings

The Fund will mail only one copy of shareholder documents, including prospectuses, and notice of annual and semiannual reports availability and proxy statements, to shareholders with multiple accounts at the same address. This practice is commonly called “householding” and is intended to reduce expenses and eliminate duplicate mailings of shareholder documents. Mailings of your shareholder documents may be householded indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please call the Fund at (888) 979-IRON (4766).

Ironclad Managed Risk Fund

P.O. Box 2175

Milwaukee, WI 53201

Toll Free: (888) 979-IRON (4766)

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer. The registrant has not made any amendments to its code of ethics during the period covered by this report. The registrant has not granted any waivers from any provisions of the code of ethics during the period covered by this report.

The registrant undertakes to provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of its code of ethics by mail when they call the registrant at 1-888-979-4766.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The registrant’s board of trustees has determined that there is at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. William H. Young is the “audit committee financial expert” and is considered to be “independent” as each term is defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

The registrant has engaged its principal accountant to perform audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services during the past two fiscal years. "Audit services" refer to performing an audit of the registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years. "Audit-related services" refer to the assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit. "Tax services" refer to professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. There were no "other services" provided by the principal accountant. The following table details the aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed for each of the last two fiscal years for audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and other fees by the principal accountant.

The audit committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures that require the audit committee to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services of the registrant, including services provided to any entity affiliated with the registrant.

The percentage of fees billed by Tait, Weller, & Weller LLP applicable to non-audit services pursuant to waiver of pre-approval requirement were as follows:

All of the principal accountant's hours spent on auditing the registrant's financial statements were attributed to work performed by full-time permanent employees of the principal accountant.

The following table indicates the non-audit fees billed or expected to be billed by the registrant's accountant for services to the registrant and to the registrant's investment adviser (and any other controlling entity, etc.—not sub-adviser) for the last two years. The audit committee of the Board of Trustees has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant's investment adviser is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence and has concluded that the provision of such non-audit services by the accountant has not compromised the accountant's independence.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

(a) Not applicable to registrants who are not listed issuers (as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

(b) Not applicable.

Item 6. Investments.

(a)   Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

(b)   Not Applicable.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

The registrant has not made any material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 13. Exhibits.

(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.

(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons. Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

(4) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountant. There was no change in the registrant’s independent public accountant for the period covered by this report.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

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