AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 28, 2024

REGISTRATION NOS. 333-122901

811-21719

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

___________________________

FORM N-1A

___________________________

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

   
   

PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.

 

   
   

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1230

 

   
   

AND/OR

       
   

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

 

   
   

AMENDMENT NO. 1243

 

   

___________________________

INVESTMENT MANAGERS SERIES TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

___________________________

235 W. Galena Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (626) 385-5777

Diane J. Drake
Mutual Fund Administration, LLC
2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226
Glendora, CA 91740
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

___________________________

COPIES TO:

Laurie Anne Dee
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
600 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1800
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

___________________________

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

 

 

immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485; or

   
   

 

on April 1, 2024 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485; or

   
   

 

60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485;

   
   

 

on ____________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485; or

   
   

 

75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485; or

   
   

 

on ____________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485; or

   
   

 

on ____________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of Rule 485.

   

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

 

This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 

Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Class A Shares (GFEAX)

Class C Shares (GFECX)

Institutional Class Shares (GFEMX)

PROSPECTUS
April 1, 2024

   

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

   

 

Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund

A series of Investment Managers Series Trust (the “Trust”)

Table of Contents

SUMMARY SECTION

 

1

MORE ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

8

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

16

DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE PLAN

 

18

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

20

YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE FUND

 

21

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

39

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

 

40

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

41

APPENDIX A — WAIVERS AND DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FROM INTERMEDIARIES AND CONVERSION POLICIES

 

42

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

49

This Prospectus sets forth basic information about the Fund that you should know before investing. It should be read and retained for future reference.

The date of this Prospectus is April 1, 2024.

 

SUMMARY SECTION

 

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund (the “Fund”) is to seek long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Class A Shares of the Fund in a single transaction. More information about these fees and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section titled “Choosing a Share Class” on page 33 of the Prospectus and in “APPENDIX A — Waivers and Discounts Available from Intermediaries and Conversion Policies” of the Prospectus.

   

Class A Shares

     

Class C Shares

     

Institutional Class
Shares

 

Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

   

4.25%1

     

None

     

None

 

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the value redeemed or the amount invested)

   

1.00%2

     

1.00%2

     

None

 

Wire fee

   

$20  

     

$20  

     

$20  

 

Overnight check delivery fee

   

$25  

     

$25  

     

$25  

 

Retirement account fees (annual maintenance fee)

   

$15  

     

$15  

     

$15  

 
                         

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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

 

Management fees

   

0.75%

     

0.75%

     

0.75%

 

Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees

   

0.25%

     

1.00%

     

None

 

Other expenses3

   

0.51%

     

0.51%

     

0.51%

 

Shareholder service fee

0.08%

     

0.08%

     

0.08%

     

All other expenses

0.43%

 

 

 

0.43%

 

 

 

0.43%

 

 

 

Total annual fund operating expenses

   

1.51%

     

2.26%

     

1.26%

 

Fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed4

   

(0.41)%

     

(0.41)%

     

(0.41)%

 

Total annual fund operating expenses after waiving fees and/or reimbursing expenses4

   

1.10%

     

1.85%

     

0.85%

 
                         

1       No initial sales charge is applied to purchases of $1 million or more.

2       A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% will be charged on certain Class A Share purchases of $1 million or more that are redeemed in whole or in part within 12 months of the date of purchase. A CDSC of 1.00% will be charged on Class C Share purchases that are redeemed in whole or in part within 12 months of the date of purchase.

3       Other expenses for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class shares are estimated for the current fiscal year, based on current expenses for the existing share classes.

1

4       The Fund’s adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding, as applicable, taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with Form N-1A), professional fees related to services for the collection of foreign tax reclaims, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed 1.10%, 1.85% and 0.85% of the average daily net assets of the Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Institutional Shares, respectively. Class C Shares are not available for purchase. This agreement is in effect through April 30, 2025, and may be terminated before that date only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Fund’s adviser is permitted to seek reimbursement from 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 in effect at the time such fees were waived or payments made, or (b) the expense limitation in effect at the time of the reimbursement.

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. The example reflects the Fund’s contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement only for the term of the contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement.

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

One Year

Three Years

Class A Shares

$532

$843

Class C Shares

$291

$667

Institutional Class Shares

$87

$359

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

One Year

Three Years

Class C Shares

$188

$667

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 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, affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund is newly-created and, as a result, does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in fixed income securities economically tied to, or the performance of which is linked to, emerging markets countries. An “emerging market” country means a country included in the J.P. Morgan EM Equal Weight Index. The Fund’s fixed income securities include bonds, convertible bonds (including contingent convertible securities (“CoCos”) and additional tier 1 (“AT1”) capital securities), corporate bonds, sovereign and quasi-sovereign bonds (i.e., bonds issued by quasi-sovereign entities that are wholly-owned or 100% guaranteed by a national government), bank deposits, and other types of debt securities. CoCos are hybrid debt securities that are intended to either convert into equity at a predetermined share price or have their principal written down or written off upon the occurrence of certain triggering events. Such triggering events are generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institution’s continued viability as a going concern. For these purposes, the Fund considers a security or instrument to be economically tied, or its performance linked, to an emerging market country if (i) it is

2

principally traded on the country’s securities markets or the issuer is organized or principally operates in the country, (ii) its issuer derives a majority of its income from its operations within the country, or (iii) its issuer has a majority of its assets within the country.

The Fund invests in U.S. dollar-denominated securities as well as securities denominated in foreign currencies. The Fund may invest in securities of any credit rating, including below investment grade debt securities, commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds” and unrated securities. The Fund may invest in securities of any maturity. The fixed income instruments in which the Fund invests may be senior in priority or subordinated to other debt instruments of an issuer.

The Fund’s sub-adviser, Gramercy Funds Management LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) uses an active management investment approach to researching, identifying and selecting investments for the Fund’s portfolio. The Sub-Adviser’s research process is driven by applying its thematic top-down view with its proprietary fundamental, bottom-up analysis. The Sub-Adviser seeks to identify those securities that it believes are likely to provide the greatest performance, taking account of the material risks of an investment across a spectrum of considerations, including financial metrics, regional and national conditions, industry specific factors, liquidity, and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) risks. The specific ESG risks considered will vary from issuer to issuer, but the risks evaluated may include the following (among others): environmental risks could include the potential impact on the operations of issuers or suppliers due to flood or drought, or biodiversity risks that might stem from their operations; social risks could include workers’ rights and the potential for child or forced labor; and governance risks could include the makeup of the board and the use of international accounting standards. As part of its overall investment process, the Sub-Adviser considers and assesses, among other things, each issuer’s ESG risk profile using a combination of external third-party data with internal ESG research. However, the Sub-Adviser’s current assessment of an issuer’s ESG risk profile is only one of many factors the Sub-Adviser considers in evaluating a potential investment. At a firm level, the Sub-Adviser does not invest in issuers that derive more than 5% of their annual revenue from the production or sale of weapons, tobacco or pornography (measured by averaging an issuer’s annual revenue over a rolling three-year period).

The Fund may invest in derivatives for hedging purposes and for gaining risk exposures to countries, currencies and securities that are permitted investments for the Fund. Permitted derivative instruments include, but are not limited to, options, futures and options on futures, swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts. The Fund may attempt to hedge currency risk by entering into currency contracts, such as spot, forward and futures.

Principal Risks of Investing

Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

Market Risk.    The market price of a security or instrument may decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or geopolitical conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, international conflicts, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on a security or instrument. The market value of a security or instrument also may decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. The increasing interconnectivity between global economies and financial markets increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market.

Fixed Income Securities Risk.    The prices of fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to changes in an issuer’s credit rating or market perceptions about the creditworthiness of an issuer. Generally fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, and longer-term and lower rated securities are more volatile than shorter-term and higher rated securities.

3

Foreign Investment Risk.    The prices of foreign securities may be more volatile than the prices of securities of U.S. issuers because of economic and social conditions abroad, political developments, and changes in the regulatory environments of foreign countries. Changes in exchange rates and interest rates, and the imposition of sanctions, confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and/or other governments may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s foreign investments. Foreign companies are generally subject to different legal and accounting standards than U.S. companies, and foreign financial intermediaries may be subject to less supervision and regulation than U.S. financial firms.

Emerging Markets Risk.    Many of the risks with respect to foreign investments are more pronounced for investments in issuers in developing or emerging market countries. Emerging market countries tend to have more government exchange controls, more volatile interest and currency exchange rates, less market regulation, and less developed and less stable economic, political and legal systems than those of more developed countries. There may be less publicly available and reliable information about issuers in emerging markets than is available about issuers in more developed markets. In addition, emerging market countries may experience high levels of inflation and may have less liquid securities markets and less efficient trading and settlement systems.

High Yield (“Junk”) Bond Risk.    High yield bonds are debt securities rated below investment grade (often called “junk bonds”). Junk bonds are speculative, involve greater risks of default, downgrade, or price declines and are more volatile and tend to be less liquid than investment-grade securities. Companies issuing high yield bonds are less financially strong, are more likely to encounter financial difficulties, and are more vulnerable to adverse market events and negative sentiments than companies with higher credit ratings.

Credit Risk.    If an issuer or guarantor of a debt security held by the Fund or a counterparty to a financial contract with the Fund defaults or is downgraded or is perceived to be less creditworthy, or if the value of the assets underlying a security declines, the value of the Fund’s portfolio will typically decline. Subordinated securities are more likely to suffer a credit loss than non-subordinated securities of the same issuer and will be disproportionately affected by a default, downgrade or perceived decline in creditworthiness.

Interest Rate Risk.    Generally fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, with longer-term securities being more sensitive than shorter-term securities. For example, the price of a security with a three-year duration would be expected to drop by approximately 3% in response to a 1% increase in interest rates. Generally, the longer the maturity and duration of a bond or fixed rate loan, the more sensitive it is to this risk. Falling interest rates also create the potential for a decline in the Fund’s income. Changes in governmental policy, rising inflation rates, and general economic developments, among other factors, could cause interest rates to increase and could have a substantial and immediate effect on the values of the Fund’s investments. In addition, a potential rise in interest rates may result in periods of volatility and increased redemptions that might require the Fund to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices and times.

Convertible Securities Risk.    Convertible securities are subject to market and interest rate risk and credit risk. When the market price of the equity security underlying a convertible security decreases the convertible security tends to trade on the basis of its yield and other fixed income characteristics, and is more susceptible to credit and interest rate risks. When the market price of such equity security rises, the convertible security tends to trade on the basis of its equity conversion features and be more exposed to market risk. Convertible securities are typically issued by smaller capitalized companies with stock prices that may be more volatile than those of other companies.

     Contingent Convertible Securities Risk.    Investments in CoCos subject the Fund to the risk of a triggering event occurring which, depending on the underlying circumstances, may result in the issuer converting the security to an equity interest, cancelling interest payments, or writing down the principal value of such securities (either partially or in full). CoCos are subject to the risks associated with bonds and equities and to the risks specific to convertible securities in general. In addition, CoCos are inherently risky because of the difficulty of predicting triggering events that would require the debt to convert to equity.

4

Foreign Sovereign Debt Risk.    Foreign governments rely on taxes and other revenue sources to pay interest and principal on their debt obligations. The payment of principal and interest on these obligations may be adversely affected by a variety of factors, including economic results within the foreign country, changes in interest and exchange rates, changes in debt ratings, changing political sentiments, legislation, policy changes, a limited tax base or limited revenue sources, natural disasters, or other economic or credit problems.

Currency Risk.    The values of investments in securities denominated in foreign currencies increase or decrease as the rates of exchange between those currencies and the U.S. dollar change. Currency conversion costs and currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and are affected by factors such as general economic conditions, the actions of the United States and foreign governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation.

Prepayment or Call Risk.    Many issuers have a right to prepay their securities. If interest rates fall, an issuer may exercise this right. If this happens, the Fund will not benefit from the rise in market price that normally accompanies a decline in interest rates, and will be forced to reinvest prepayment proceeds at a time when yields on securities available in the market are lower than the yield on the prepaid security. The Fund may also lose any premium it paid on the security.

ESG Criteria Risk.    While the Sub-Adviser believes that the integration of ESG criteria as part of the investment process contributes to its risk management approach, the Fund’s consideration of ESG criteria in making its investment decisions may affect the Fund’s exposure to risks associated with certain issuers, industries and sectors, which may impact the Fund’s investment performance. In addition, because the Fund’s ESG criteria can result in excluding securities of certain issuers, the Fund may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use these criteria. There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to have positive or negative ESG characteristics. Furthermore, ESG information from third-party data providers may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which could cause the Sub-Adviser to incorrectly assess a company’s ESG characteristics.

Inflation Risk.    There is risk that the real value (i.e., nominal price of the asset adjusted for inflation) of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the purchasing power and value of money (i.e., as inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s assets can decline). This risk is greater for fixed-income instruments with longer maturities.

Derivatives Risk.    Derivatives include instruments and contracts that are based on and valued in relation to one or more underlying securities, financial benchmarks, indices, or other reference obligations or measures of value. Major types of derivatives include futures, options, swaps and forward contracts. Using derivatives exposes the Fund to additional or heightened risks, including leverage risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. Derivatives transactions can be highly illiquid and difficult to unwind or value, they can increase Fund volatility, and changes in the value of a derivative held by the Fund may not correlate with the value of the underlying instrument or the Fund’s other investments. Many of the risks applicable to trading the instruments underlying derivatives are also applicable to derivatives trading. However, derivatives are subject to additional risks such as operational risk, including settlement issues, and legal risk, including that underlying documentation is incomplete or ambiguous. For derivatives that are required to be cleared by a regulated clearinghouse, other risks may arise from the Fund’s relationship with a brokerage firm through which it submits derivatives trades for clearing, including in some cases from other clearing customers of the brokerage firm.

Liquidity Risk.    The Fund may not be able to sell some or all of the investments that it holds due to a lack of demand in the marketplace or other factors such as market turmoil, or if the Fund is forced to sell an illiquid asset to meet redemption requests or other cash needs it may only be able to sell those investments at a loss. In addition, the reduction in dealer market-making capacity in the fixed income markets that has occurred in recent years has the potential to decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s investments. Illiquid assets may also be difficult to value.

5

Valuation Risk.    The sales price the Fund could receive for any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued by the Adviser using a fair value methodology. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Adviser had not fair-valued the security or had used a different valuation methodology.

Portfolio Turnover Risk.    Active and frequent trading of the Fund’s portfolio securities may lead to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions than would otherwise be the case, which could negatively affect the Fund’s performance. A high rate of portfolio turnover is 100% or more.

No Operating History.    The Fund is recently organized and has no operating history. As a result, prospective investors have no track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

Management and Strategy Risk.    The value of your investment depends on the judgment of the Fund’s adviser about the quality, relative yield, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry, sector or region, which may prove to be incorrect.

Recent Market Events.    Periods of market volatility may occur in response to market events and other economic, political, and global macro factors. For example, in recent years the COVID-19 pandemic, the large expansion of government deficits and debt as a result of government actions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the rise of inflation have resulted in extreme volatility in the global economy and in global financial markets. These and other similar events could be prolonged and could adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments, impair the Fund’s ability to satisfy redemption requests, and negatively impact the Fund’s performance.

Performance

The Fund is new and does not have a full calendar year performance record to compare against other mutual funds or broad measures of securities market performance such as indices. Performance information will be available after the Fund has been in operation for one calendar year.

Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser

Liberty Street Advisors, Inc. is the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). Gramercy Funds Management LLC is the Fund’s sub-adviser.

Portfolio Manager

Philip Meier, Partner and Portfolio Manager, and Belinda Hill, CFA, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, have served as the portfolio managers of the Fund since its inception on April 1, 2024, and are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

6

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Currently, Class C Shares are not available for purchase. To purchase shares of the Fund, you must invest at least the minimum amount.

Minimum Investments

To Open
Your Account

To Add to
Your Account

Class A Shares and Class C Shares

   

Standard Accounts

$2,500

$100

Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts

$2,500

$100

Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans

$2,500

$100

Qualified Retirement Plans

$2,500

$100

Institutional Class Shares

   

All Accounts

$1,000,000

$100,000

     

Fund shares are redeemable on any business day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business by written request or by telephone.

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are generally taxable, and will ordinarily be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Shareholders investing through such tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements. Although the Fund expects that a significant portion of its distributions will be treated as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gains, no assurance can be given in this regard. Portions of distributions may also be considered tax-deferred returns of capital.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies (including the Adviser) 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 to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

7

MORE ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval, upon at least 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund’s investment strategies and policies may be changed from time to time without shareholder approval or prior written notice, unless specifically stated otherwise in this Prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in fixed income securities economically tied to, or the performance of which is linked to, emerging markets countries. An “emerging market” country means a country included in the J.P. Morgan EM Equal Weight Index. The Fund’s fixed income securities include bonds, convertible bonds (including CoCos and AT1 capital securities), corporate bonds, sovereign and quasi-sovereign bonds (i.e., bonds issued by quasi-sovereign entities that are wholly-owned or 100% guaranteed by a national government), bank deposits, and other types of debt securities. CoCos are hybrid debt securities that are intended to either convert into equity at a predetermined share price or have their principal written down or written off upon the occurrence of certain triggering events. Such triggering events are generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institution’s continued viability as a going concern. For these purposes, the Fund considers a security or instrument to be economically tied, or its performance linked, to an emerging market country if (i) it is principally traded on the country’s securities markets or the issuer is organized or principally operates in the country, (ii) its issuer derives a majority of its income from its operations within the country, or (iii) its issuer has a majority of its assets within the country.

The Fund invests in U.S. dollar-denominated securities as well as securities denominated in foreign currencies. The Fund may invest in securities of any credit rating, including below investment grade debt securities, commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds” and unrated securities. The Fund may invest in securities of any maturity. The fixed income instruments in which the Fund invests may be senior in priority or subordinated to other debt instruments.

The Sub-Adviser uses an active management investment approach to researching, identifying and selecting investments for the Fund’s portfolio. The Sub-Adviser’s research process is driven by applying its thematic top-down view with its proprietary fundamental, bottom-up analysis. The Sub-Adviser seeks to identify those securities that it believes are likely to provide the greatest performance, taking account of the material risks of an investment across a spectrum of considerations, including financial metrics, regional and national conditions, industry specific factors, liquidity, and ESG risks. The specific ESG risks considered will vary from issuer to issuer, but the risks evaluated may include the following (among others): environmental risks could include the potential impact on the operations of issuers or suppliers due to flood or drought, or biodiversity risks that might stem from their operations; social risks could include workers’ rights and the potential for child or forced labor; and governance risks could include the makeup of the board and the use of international accounting standards. As part of its overall investment process, the Sub-Adviser considers and assesses, among other things, each issuer’s ESG risk profile using a combination of external third-party data with internal ESG research. However, the Sub-Adviser’s current assessment of an issuer’s ESG risk profile is only one of many factors the Sub-Adviser considers in evaluating a potential investment. At a firm level, the Sub-Adviser does not invest in issuers that derive more than 5% of their annual revenue from the production or sale of weapons, tobacco or pornography (measured by averaging an issuer’s annual revenue over a rolling three-year period).

The Fund may invest in derivatives for hedging purposes and for gaining risk exposures to countries, currencies and securities that are permitted investments for the Fund. Permitted derivative instruments include, but are not limited to, options, futures and options on futures, swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts. The Fund may attempt to hedge currency risk by entering into currency contracts, such as spot, forward and futures.

8

The Sub-Adviser may sell all or a portion of a position when, in its opinion, one or more of the following occurs, among other reasons, or to: (1) adjust the portfolio’s average maturity, credit quality or yield; (2) change geographic or currency exposures; (3) the company’s fundamentals have deteriorated since the position was purchased; (4) the Sub-Adviser finds more attractive investment opportunities for the Fund; or (5) the Fund requires cash to meet redemption requests.

Other Investment Strategies

The Fund may use derivative instruments as a substitute for purchasing or selling securities or for non-hedging purposes to seek to enhance potential gains.

Cash and Temporary Defensive Positions

The Fund generally holds a portion of its assets in cash or high quality, short-term debt obligations and money market instruments for reserves to cover redemptions and unanticipated expenses. In addition, when the risk/reward profile for portfolio securities appears unfavorable, or when the Sub-Adviser believes price valuations are not attractive, the Sub-Adviser may, but is not required to, allow the Fund’s cash position to increase rather than purchase securities that fail to meet its investment criteria. In addition, there may be times when the Sub-Adviser may, but is not required to, respond to adverse market, economic, political or other considerations by causing the Fund’s cash position to increase, and may invest up to 100% of the Fund’s assets in cash or high quality, short-term debt securities or other defensive investments for temporary defensive purposes. During temporary defensive periods, the Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objective and, instead, may focus on preserving its assets or mitigating risks. To the extent the Fund uses a money market fund for an investment of cash, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such money market fund’s advisory fees and operational expenses.

Principal Risks of Investing

The Fund’s principal risks are set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money.

    Market Risk.    The market price of a security or instrument may decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular issuer, company, or asset class, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or geopolitical conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for individual consumers and borrowers, credit markets and corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. The market value of a security or instrument also may decline because of factors that affect a particular issuer, borrower, industry or industries, such as increased unemployment, declining wages and property values, labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, international conflicts, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on a security or instrument. For example, the financial crisis that began in 2007 caused a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities; in particular, the values of some sovereign debt and of securities of issuers that invest in sovereign debt and related investments fell, credit became more scarce worldwide and there was significant uncertainty in the markets. More recently, higher inflation, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have 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. Such environments could make identifying investment risks and opportunities especially difficult for the Sub-Adviser. In response to certain crises, the United States and other governments have taken steps to support financial markets. The withdrawal of this support or failure of efforts in response to a crisis could negatively affect financial markets generally as well as the value and liquidity of certain securities. In addition, policy and legislative changes in the United States and in other countries are changing many aspects of financial regulation. The impact of these changes on the markets, and the practical implications for market participants, may not be fully known for some time. The increasing interconnectivity between global economies and financial markets increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market.

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    Fixed Income Securities Risk.    The prices of fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to changes in an issuer’s credit rating or market perceptions about the creditworthiness of an issuer. Prices of fixed income securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Generally fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, with lower rated securities more volatile than higher rated securities. The longer the effective maturity and duration of the Fund’s portfolio, the more the Fund’s share price is likely to react to changes in interest rates. (Duration is a weighted measure of the length of time required to receive the present value of future payments, both interest and principal, from a fixed income security.) Some fixed income securities give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity dates. If an issuer calls its security during a time of declining interest rates, the Fund might have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, and therefore might not benefit from any increase in value of the security as a result of declining interest rates. During periods of market illiquidity or rising interest rates, prices of callable issues are subject to increased price fluctuation. In addition, the Fund may be subject to extension risk, which occurs during a rising interest rate environment because certain obligations may be paid off by an issuer more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of those securities held by the Fund to fall.

    Foreign Investment Risk.    Investments in foreign securities are affected by risk factors generally not thought to be present in the United States. The prices of foreign securities may be more volatile than the prices of securities of U.S. issuers because of economic and social conditions abroad, political developments, and changes in the regulatory environments of foreign countries. Special risks associated with investments in foreign markets include less liquidity, less developed or less efficient trading markets, lack of comprehensive company information, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, greater risks associated with counterparties and settlement, and difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations. Changes in exchange rates and interest rates, and the imposition of foreign taxes, sanctions, confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and/or other governments may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s foreign investments. Foreign companies are generally subject to different legal and accounting standards than U.S. companies, and foreign financial intermediaries may be subject to less supervision and regulation than U.S. financial firms.

    Emerging Markets Risk.    Many of the risks with respect to foreign investments are more pronounced for investments in issuers in developing or emerging market countries. Emerging market countries tend to have more government exchange controls, more volatile interest and currency exchange rates, less market regulation, and less developed and less stable economic, political and legal systems than those of more developed countries. There may be less publicly available and reliable information about issuers in emerging markets than is available about issuers in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to regulatory, accounting, auditing, and financial reporting and recordkeeping standards comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, for example, may be unable to inspect audit work and practices in certain countries. If the PCAOB is unable to oversee the operations of accounting firms in such countries, inaccurate or incomplete financial records of an issuer’s operations may not be detected, which could negatively impact the Fund’s investment in such company. In addition, emerging market countries may experience high levels of inflation and may have less liquid securities markets and less efficient trading and settlement systems. Their economies also depend heavily upon international trade and may be adversely affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading partners. Emerging market countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar and may not be traded internationally. Some countries with emerging securities markets have experienced high rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain countries. Emerging markets typically have substantially less volume than U.S. markets, securities in these markets are less liquid, and their prices often are more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies. Securities markets in emerging markets may also be susceptible to manipulation or other fraudulent trade practices, which could disrupt the functioning of these markets or adversely affect the value of investments traded in these markets, including

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investments of the Fund. The Fund’s rights with respect to its investments in emerging markets, if any, will generally be governed by local law, which may make it difficult or impossible for the Fund to pursue legal remedies or to obtain and enforce judgments in local courts. Delays may occur in settling securities transactions in emerging market countries, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to make or liquidate investments in those markets in a timely fashion. In addition, it may not be possible for the Fund to find satisfactory custodial services in an emerging market country, which could increase the Fund’s costs and cause delays in the transportation and custody of its investments. There may also be restrictions on imports from certain countries, such as Russia, and dealings with certain state-sponsored entities. For example, 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 into 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 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 Sub-Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, the Fund may incur losses. Any of these factors may adversely affect the Fund’s performance or the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective.

    High Yield (“Junk”) Bond Risk.    High yield bonds (often called “junk bonds”) are speculative, involve greater risks of default or downgrade and are more volatile and tend to be less liquid than investment-grade securities. High yield bonds involve a greater risk of price declines than investment-grade securities due to actual or perceived changes in an issuer’s creditworthiness. Companies issuing high yield fixed-income securities are less financially strong, are more likely to encounter financial difficulties, and are more vulnerable to adverse market events and negative sentiments than companies with higher credit ratings. These factors could affect such companies’ abilities to make interest and principal payments and ultimately could cause such companies to stop making interest and/or principal payments. In such cases, payments on the securities may never resume, which would result in the securities owned by the Fund becoming worthless. The market prices of junk bonds are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher rated investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic or political changes or individual developments specific to the issuer.

    Credit Risk.    If an obligor (such as the issuer itself or a party offering credit enhancement) for a security held by the Fund fails to pay amounts due when required by the terms of the security, otherwise defaults, is perceived to be less creditworthy, becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy, a security’s credit rating is downgraded or the credit quality or value of any underlying assets declines, the value of the Fund’s investment could decline. If the Fund enters into financial contracts (such as certain derivatives, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions), the Fund will be subject to the credit risk presented by the counterparties. Credit risk is broadly gauged by the credit ratings of the securities in which the Fund invests.

    Interest Rate Risk.    Prices of fixed income securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Generally fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, with longer-term securities being more sensitive than shorter-term securities. For example, the price of a security with a three-year duration would be expected to drop by approximately 3% in response to a 1% increase in interest rates. Duration is a weighted measure of the length of time required to receive the present value of future payments, both interest and principal, from a fixed income security. Generally, the longer the maturity and duration of a bond or fixed rate loan, the more sensitive it is to this risk. Falling interest rates also create the potential for a decline in the Fund’s income. Changes in governmental policy, rising inflation rates, and general economic developments, among other factors, could cause interest rates to increase and could have a

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substantial and immediate effect on the values of the Fund’s investments. These risks are greater during periods of rising inflation. In addition, a potential rise in interest rates may result in periods of volatility and increased redemptions that might require the Fund to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices and times.

    Convertible Securities Risk.    Convertible securities are securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for common or preferred stock. The values of convertible securities may be affected by changes in interest rates, the creditworthiness of their issuer, and the ability of the issuer to repay principal and to make interest payments. A convertible security tends to perform more like a stock when the underlying stock price is high and more like a debt security when the underlying stock price is low. A convertible security is not as sensitive to interest rate changes as a similar non-convertible debt security and generally has less potential for gain or loss than the underlying stock.

    Contingent Convertible Securities Risk.    Investments in CoCos subject the Fund to the risk of a triggering event occurring which, depending on the underlying circumstances, may result in the issuer converting the security to an equity interest, cancelling interest payments, or writing down the principal value of such securities (either partially or in full). CoCos are subject to the risks associated with bonds and equities and to the risks specific to convertible securities in general. In addition, CoCos are inherently risky because of the difficulty of predicting triggering events that would require the debt to convert to equity. Since CoCos are typically issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments in order to provide the appropriate regulatory capital, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a conversion, the rights and claims of the holders of the CoCos against the issuer in respect of or arising under the terms of the CoCos will generally rank junior to the claims of all holders of unsubordinated obligations of the issuer. Also, the value of CoCos will be influenced by many factors, including: the creditworthiness of the issuer and/or fluctuations in the issuer’s capital ratios; the supply and demand for the CoCos; general market conditions and available liquidity; and economic, financial and political events that affect the issuer, the market it operates in or the financial markets in general.

    Foreign Sovereign Debt Risk.    Foreign governments rely on taxes and other revenue sources to pay interest and principal on their debt obligations. The payment of principal and interest on these obligations may be adversely affected by a variety of factors, including economic results within the foreign country, changes in interest and exchange rates, changes in debt ratings, changing political sentiments, legislation, policy changes, a limited tax base or limited revenue sources, natural disasters, or other economic or credit problems. It is possible that a foreign sovereign may default on its debt obligations.

    Currency Risk.    The values of investments in securities denominated in foreign currencies increase or decrease as the rates of exchange between those currencies and the U.S. dollar change. Currency conversion costs and currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and are affected by factors such as general economic conditions, the actions of the United States and foreign governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation.

    Prepayment or Call Risk.    Many issuers have a right to prepay their securities. If interest rates fall, an issuer may exercise this right. If this happens, the Fund will not benefit from the rise in market price that normally accompanies a decline in interest rates, and will be forced to reinvest prepayment proceeds at a time when yields on securities available in the market are lower than the yield on the prepaid security. The Fund may also lose any premium it paid on the security.

    ESG Criteria Risk.    While the Sub-Adviser believes that the integration of ESG criteria as part of the investment process contributes to its risk management approach, the Fund’s consideration of ESG criteria in making its investment decisions may affect the Fund’s exposure to risks associated with certain issuers, industries

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and sectors, which may impact the Fund’s investment performance. In addition, because the Fund’s ESG criteria can result in excluding securities of certain issuers, the Fund may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use these criteria. There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to have positive or negative ESG characteristics. Furthermore, ESG information from third-party data providers may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which could cause the Sub-Adviser to incorrectly assess a company’s ESG characteristics. ESG information, whether from an external and/or internal source, is, by nature and in many instances, based on a qualitative and subjective assessment. Moreover, the third-party data providers may differ in the data they provide for a given security or between industries, or may only take into account one of many ESG-related components of a company.

    Inflation Risk.    The Fund’s investments may be subject to inflation risk, which is the risk that the real value (i.e., nominal price of the asset adjusted for inflation) of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the purchasing power and value of money (i.e., as inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s assets can decline). Inflation rates may change frequently and significantly as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy and changes in monetary or economic policies (or expectations that these policies may change), and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which would generally adversely affect the real value of Fund shareholders’ investment in the Fund. This risk is greater for fixed-income instruments with longer maturities. In addition, this risk may be significantly elevated compared to normal conditions because of recent monetary policy measures and the current interest rate environment.

    Derivatives Risk.    Derivatives include instruments and contracts that are based on and valued in relation to one or more underlying securities, financial benchmarks, indices, or other reference obligations or measures of value. Major types of derivatives include futures, options, swaps and forward contracts. Depending on how the Fund uses derivatives and the relationship between the market value of the derivative and the underlying instrument, the use of derivatives could increase or decrease the Fund’s exposure to the risks of the underlying instrument. Using derivatives exposes the Fund to additional or heightened risks, including leverage risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. A small investment in derivatives could have a potentially large impact on the Fund’s performance. Derivatives transactions can be highly illiquid and difficult to unwind or value, they can increase Fund volatility, and changes in the value of a derivative held by the Fund may not correlate with the value of the underlying instrument or the Fund’s other investments. Many of the risks applicable to trading the instruments underlying derivatives are also applicable to derivatives trading. However, derivatives are subject to additional risks such as operational risk (such as documentation issues and settlement issues) and legal risk (such as insufficient documentation, insufficient capacity or authority of a counterparty, and issues with the legality or enforceability of a contract). For derivatives that are required to be cleared by a regulated clearinghouse, other risks may arise from the Fund’s relationship with a brokerage firm through which it submits derivatives trades for clearing, including in some cases from other clearing customers of the brokerage firm. The Fund would also be exposed to counterparty risk with respect to the clearinghouse. Financial reform laws have changed many aspects of financial regulation applicable to derivatives. Once implemented, new regulations, including margin, clearing, and trade execution requirements, may make investment in derivatives more costly, may limit their availability, may present different risks or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of these instruments. The extent and impact of these regulations are not yet fully known and may not be known for some time.

In October 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”), which provides a comprehensive regulatory framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, such as the Fund, and sets an outer limit on leverage based on value-at-risk (or “VaR”). The effect of the Derivatives Rule could, among other things, make investment in derivatives more costly, limit the availability or reduce the liquidity of derivatives, or otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives. Any such adverse future developments could impair the effectiveness or raise the costs of the Fund’s derivative transactions, impede the employment of the Fund’s derivatives strategies, or adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

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    Liquidity Risk.    Due to a lack of demand in the marketplace or other factors, such as market turmoil, the Fund may not be able to sell some or all of the investments that it holds, or if the Fund is forced to sell an illiquid asset to meet redemption requests or other cash needs, it may only be able to sell those investments at a loss. Liquidity risk arises, for example, from small average trading volumes, trading restrictions, or temporary suspensions of trading. In addition, when the market for certain investments is illiquid, the Fund may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain sector. Liquid investments may become illiquid or less liquid after purchase by the Fund, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Illiquid and relatively less liquid investments may be harder to value, especially in changing markets. Moreover, the reduction in dealer market-making capacity in the fixed income markets that has occurred in recent years has the potential to decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s investments. Liquidity risk may be more pronounced for the Fund’s investments in developing countries.

    Valuation Risk.    Many factors may influence the price at which the Fund could sell any particular portfolio investment. The sales price may well differ — higher or lower — from the Fund’s last valuation, and such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market conditions make it difficult to value some investments, the Adviser may value these investments using more subjective methods, such as fair value methodologies. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher redemption proceeds, than they would have received if the Adviser had not fair-valued the securities or had used a different valuation methodology. The value of foreign securities, certain fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected by events after the close of the market on which they are valued but before the Fund determines its net asset value.

    Portfolio Turnover Risk.    Active and frequent trading of the Fund’s securities may lead to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions, which could negatively affect the Fund’s performance. A high rate of portfolio turnover is 100% or more.

    No Operating History.    The Fund is recently organized and has no operating history. As a result, prospective investors have no track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

    Management and Strategy Risk.    The value of your investment depends on the judgment of the Adviser about the quality, relative yield, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry, sector or region, which may prove to be incorrect. Investment strategies employed by the Adviser in selecting investments for the Fund may not result in an increase in the value of your investment or in overall performance equal to other investments.

    Recent Market Events.    Periods of market volatility may occur in response to market events and other economic, political, and global macro factors. The COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and higher inflation have resulted in extreme volatility in the financial markets, economic downturns around the world, and severe losses, particularly to some sectors of the economy and individual issuers, and reduced liquidity of certain instruments. These events have caused significant disruptions to business operations, including business closures; strained healthcare systems; disruptions to supply chains and employee availability; large fluctuations in consumer demand; large expansion of government deficits and debt as a result of government actions to mitigate the effects of such events; and widespread uncertainty regarding the long-term effects of such events.

Governments and central banks, including the Federal Reserve in the United States, took extraordinary and unprecedented actions to support local and global economies and the financial markets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including by keeping interest rates at historically low levels for an extended period. The Federal Reserve concluded its market support activities in 2022 and began to raise interest rates in an effort to fight inflation. The Federal Reserve may determine to raise interest rates further. This and other government intervention into the economy and financial markets to address the pandemic, inflation, or other significant events in the future, may not work as intended, particularly if the efforts are perceived by investors as being unlikely to achieve the desired results.

Such events could be prolonged and could adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments, impair the Fund’s ability to satisfy redemption requests, and negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Other market events may cause similar disruptions and effects.

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Portfolio Holdings Information

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s SAI. Currently, disclosure of the Fund’s holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the Fund’s Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to Fund shareholders, and in its monthly holdings report on Form N-PORT.

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, the 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.

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

The Adviser and Sub-Adviser

Liberty Street Advisors, Inc., a New York corporation which maintains its principal offices at 88 Pine Street, 31st Floor, Suite 3101, New York, NY 10005, acts as the investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser is an investment adviser registered with the SEC. As the Fund’s investment adviser, Liberty Street provides investment advisory services to the Fund, including: (i) designing the Fund’s initial investment policies and developing evolutionary changes to such policies as appropriate for presentation to the Board of Trustees; (ii) providing overall supervision for the general investment management operations of the Fund; (iii) monitoring and supervising the activities of the Sub-Adviser; and (iv) providing related administrative services. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $1.4 billion in assets under management.

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser an annual advisory fee of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the services and facilities it provides, payable on a monthly basis. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement, the Adviser pays a portion of its advisory fee to the Sub-Adviser. The Fund’s SAI provides additional information about the fees paid to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser.

Gramercy Funds Management LLC, with its principal office at 20 Dayton Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830, serves as the Fund’s sub-adviser pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Gramercy Funds Management LLC is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC, and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, selection of the Fund’s portfolio investments and supervision of its portfolio transactions subject to the general oversight of the Board of Trustees and the Adviser. As of December 31, 2023, Gramercy Funds Management LLC had approximately $6.1 billion in assets under management.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement will be included in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2024.

Portfolio Manager

Philip Meier and Belinda Hill, CFA, are the portfolio managers for the Fund, and are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

Philip Meier is a Partner and the Head of the Sub-Adviser’s Emerging Markets Debt Strategy. Mr. Meier is a member of the Sub-Adviser’s Credit Investment Committee, Global Research Committee and Top-Down View Group. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser in 2019, Mr. Meier spent nearly five years at Legal & General Investment Management (“LGIM”) in London where he was a senior member of the Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio Management Team and the co-portfolio manager on several emerging markets debt strategies. In addition to LGIM, Mr. Meier’s emerging markets credit experience includes time with AXA Investment Managers and Deutsche Asset Management. Mr. Meier graduated from the European Business School in Germany and holds an MBA-equivalent (“Diplom-Kaufmann”) in Finance & Banking.

Belinda Hill, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Sub-Adviser. Ms. Hill is a member of the Sub-Adviser’s Investment Committee and participates in the Sub-Adviser’s weekly top down and bottom up meetings. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser in 2018, Ms. Hill spent three years as an Emerging Markets Analyst at Apollo Global Management where she analyzed sovereign, quasi-sovereign, and corporate issuers across all sectors and was responsible for sourcing and evaluating new strategic initiatives and private opportunities. Prior to Apollo, Ms. Hill worked at Schroders Investment Management for two years as an Emerging Markets Corporate Credit Analyst. There she conducted fundamental research on investment grade and high yield credit across all sectors. Ms. Hill received her B.A. in Business Administration from Georgetown University where she graduated Cum Laude. Additionally, Ms. Hill is a CFA Charterholder.

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

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Fund Expenses

The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses (all of which will be borne directly or indirectly by the Fund’s shareholders), including among others, legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Fund and the Fund’s independent trustees; insurance (including trustees’ and officers’ errors and omissions insurance); auditing and accounting expenses; taxes and governmental fees; listing fees; fees and expenses of the Fund’s custodians, administrators, transfer agents, registrars and other service providers; expenses for portfolio pricing services by a pricing agent, if any; expenses in connection with the issuance and offering of shares; brokerage commissions and other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio holding of the Fund; and any litigation expenses.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that the total annual fund operating expenses (excluding, as applicable, taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with Form N-1A), professional fees related to services for the collection of foreign tax reclaims, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed 1.10%, 1.85% and 0.85% of the average daily net assets of the Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Institutional Class Shares, respectively. This agreement is in effect through April 30, 2025, and it may be terminated before that date only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

Any reduction in advisory fees or payment of the Fund’s expenses made by the Adviser in a fiscal year may be reimbursed by the Fund for a period ending three full fiscal years after the date of reduction or payment if the Adviser so requests. 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 in effect at the time such fees were waived or payments made, or (b) the expense limitation in effect at the time of the reimbursement. However, the reimbursement amount may not exceed the total amount of fees waived and/or Fund expenses paid by the Adviser and will not include any amounts previously reimbursed to the Adviser by the Fund. Any such reimbursement is contingent upon the Board’s subsequent review of the reimbursed amounts. The Fund must pay current ordinary operating expenses before the Adviser is entitled to any reimbursement of fees and/or Fund expenses.

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DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE PLAN

Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Fees (For Class A and Class C Shares)

The Trust has adopted a plan on behalf of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”) which allows the Fund to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of its Class A Shares and Class C Shares and/or shareholder liaison service fees in connection with the provision of personal services to shareholders of Class A Shares and Class C Shares and the maintenance of shareholder accounts.

Foreside Fund Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (d/b/a ACA Group), the Fund’s principal underwriter (the “Distributor”), acts as the Fund’s distributor in connection with the offering of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor may enter into arrangements with banks, broker-dealers and other financial institutions through which investors may purchase or redeem shares.

The Distributor is not affiliated with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.

For Class A Shares, the maximum annual fee payable to the Distributor for such distribution and/or shareholder liaison services is 0.25% of the average daily net assets of such shares. For Class C shares, the maximum annual fees payable to the Distributor for distribution services and shareholder liaison services are 0.75% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of such shares. Since these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets attributable to the Fund’s Class A Shares and Class C Shares, respectively, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and, over time, may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The net income attributable to Class A Shares and Class C Shares will be reduced by the amount of distribution and service fees and other expenses of the Fund associated with that respective class of shares. The Distributor may pay any or all amounts received under the Rule 12b-1 Plan to other persons for any distribution or administrative services provided by such persons to the Fund. Payments under the 12b-1 Plan are not tied exclusively to expenses actually incurred by the Distributor or others and the payments may exceed or be less than the amount of expenses actually incurred.

To promote the sale of the Fund’s Class C Shares and to pay for certain shareholder liaison services, the Distributor may pay broker-dealers up to 1.00% of the amount invested by their clients in the Class C Shares of the Fund at the time the Shares are purchased (which includes prepayment of the first year’s 0.25% shareholder liaison service fee). These up-front payments to broker-dealers are financed by the Adviser. However, the Distributor receives and can pay reimbursement to the Adviser all of the 12b-1 fees with respect to such shares. During the first 12 months, the Adviser may retain the full 1.00% 12b-1 fee to recoup the up-front payment advanced at the time of purchase. After the Distributor has reimbursed the Adviser for the amounts that the Adviser has financed, the broker-dealers will receive from the Distributor the ongoing 12b-1 fees associated with their clients’ investments.

Institutional Class Shares are not subject to any distribution fees under the 12b-1 Plan.

To assist investors in comparing classes of shares, the table under the Prospectus heading “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” provides a summary of expenses and an example of the sales charges and expenses of the Fund applicable to each class of shares offered in this Prospectus.

Shareholder Servicing Fee

The Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of its average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. Shareholder servicing agents provide non-distribution administrative and support services to their customers, which may include establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to shareholders, processing dividend and distribution payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders, forwarding communications from the Fund, providing sub-accounting with respect to Fund shares, and other similar services.

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Additional Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

The Adviser or the Sub-Adviser may pay service fees to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisors or other financial institutions, some of which may be affiliates, for sub-administration, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus accounts, other group accounts or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents.

The Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, out of its own resources, and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments to broker-dealers or intermediaries that sell shares of the Fund. These additional cash payments are generally made to intermediaries that provide shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary. The Adviser or the Sub-Adviser may provide cash payments for inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or in other sales programs, or may pay an expense reimbursement in cases where the intermediary provides shareholder services to the Fund’s shareholders. The Adviser or the Sub-Adviser may also pay cash compensation in the form of finder’s fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of the shares sold. In addition, the Adviser’s broker-dealer affiliate may provide non-cash compensation to these intermediaries or their representatives. Such cash and non-cash compensation may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Fund over another investment. Investors may wish to take these payments into account when considering and evaluating recommendations to purchase shares of the Fund. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

Although a financial intermediary that sells Fund shares may also act as a broker or dealer in connection with the purchase or sale of portfolio securities by the Fund or other funds advised by the Adviser, neither the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser nor any advisory affiliate considers a financial intermediary’s sales of shares of the Fund or other funds advised by the Adviser when choosing brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the Fund or other funds advised by the Adviser.

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PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

General

Currently, Class C Shares are not available for purchase. This Prospectus offers three classes of shares of the Fund, designated as Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Institutional Class Shares.

     Class A Shares generally incur sales loads at the time of purchase and annual distribution/service fees.

     Class C Shares may incur sales loads at the time of redemption and are subject to higher ongoing distribution fees and service fees.

     Institutional Class Shares incur no sales loads or distribution/service fees.

By offering multiple classes of shares, the Fund permits each investor to choose the class of shares that is most beneficial given the type of investor, the amount to be invested and the length of time the investor expects to hold the shares. As described more fully below, each class of shares offers a distinct structure of sales loads, distribution fees and service fees and other features that are designed to address the needs of a variety of investors.

Before you invest, you should compare the features of each share class, so that you can choose the class that is right for you. When selecting a share class, you should consider the following:

     which shares classes are available to you;

     how long you expect to own your shares;

     how much you intend to invest;

     total costs and expenses associated with a particular share class; and

     whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of sales charges.

Each class of shares generally has the same rights, except for the differing sales loads, distribution fees, service fees, any related expenses associated with each class of shares, and the exclusive voting rights by each class with respect to any distribution plan or service plan for such class of shares.

To the extent allowed by applicable law, the Fund reserves the right to discontinue offering shares at any time or to cease operating entirely.

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YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE FUND

 

Share Price

The offering price of each class of the Fund’s shares is the net asset value per share (“NAV”) of that class (plus sales charges, as applicable). The differences among the classes’ NAVs reflect the daily expense accruals of the distribution fees applicable to Class A Shares and Class C Shares.

The Fund’s NAVs are calculated as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the normal close of regular trading on the NYSE, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. If for example, the NYSE closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the Fund’s NAVs would still be determined as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In this example, portfolio securities traded on the NYSE would be valued at their closing prices unless the Adviser determines that a “fair value” adjustment is appropriate due to subsequent events. The NAV for each class is determined by dividing the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities, cash and other assets (including accrued interest) allocable to such class, less all liabilities (including accrued expenses) allocable to such class, by the total number of outstanding shares of such class. The Fund’s NAVs may be calculated earlier if permitted by the SEC. The NYSE is closed on weekends and most U.S. national holidays. However, foreign securities listed primarily on non-U.S. markets may trade on weekends or other days on which the Fund does not value its shares, which may significantly affect the Fund’s NAVs on days when you are not able to buy or sell Fund shares.

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 trading, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the day the securities are being valued or, if there are no sales, at the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices. Equity securities that are traded on NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price produced by NASDAQ each business day. Debt securities are valued at the mean between the last available bid and asked prices for such securities or, if such prices are not available, at fair value considering prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality, and type. The Fund values exchange-traded options at the last sales price, or, if no last sales price is available, at the last bid price.

The Fund’s securities generally are valued at market price or as otherwise described above. Securities are valued at fair value when market quotations are not readily available. The Board has designated the Adviser 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. The Fund has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when the Fund must utilize fair value pricing, including when reliable market quotations are not readily available, when the Fund’s pricing service does not provide a valuation (or provides a valuation that, in the judgment of the Adviser, or the Sub-Adviser subject to review by the Adviser, does not represent the security’s fair value), or when, in the judgment of the Adviser, or the Sub-Adviser subject to review by the Adviser, events have rendered the market value unreliable (see, for example, the discussion of fair value pricing of foreign securities in the paragraph below). Valuing securities at fair value involves reliance on the judgment of the Adviser, or the Sub-Adviser subject to review by the Adviser, and may result in a different price being used in the calculation of the Fund’s NAVs from quoted or published prices for the same securities. Fair value determinations are made by the Adviser after reasonable inquiry including but not limited to review of recommendations by the Sub-Adviser, in good faith, in accordance with procedures approved by the Board. There can be no assurance that the Fund will obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it sells the security.

In certain circumstances, the Fund may employ fair value pricing to ensure greater accuracy in determining the Fund’s daily NAVs and to prevent dilution by frequent traders or market timers who seek to exploit temporary market anomalies. Fair value pricing may be applied to foreign securities held by the Fund upon the occurrence of an event after the close of trading on non-U.S. markets but before the close of trading on the NYSE when the Fund’s NAVs are determined. If the event may result in a material adjustment to the price of the Fund’s foreign securities once non-U.S. markets open on the following business day (such as, for example, a significant surge or decline in the U.S. market), the Fund may value such foreign securities at fair value, taking into account the effect of such event, in order to calculate the Fund’s NAVs.

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Other types of portfolio securities that the Fund may fair value include, but are not limited to: (1) investments that are illiquid or traded infrequently, including “restricted” securities and private placements for which there is no public market; (2) investments for which, in the judgment of the Adviser, or the Sub-Adviser subject to review by the Adviser, the market price is stale; (3) securities of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (4) securities for which trading has been halted or suspended; and (5) fixed income securities for which there is no current market value quotation.

Pricing services generally value debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but such securities may be held or transactions may be conducted in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots often trade at lower prices than institutional round lots.

The price at which a purchase or redemption is effected is based on the next calculation of NAV after the order is placed, as described above.

NYSE Holiday Schedule.    The NYSE is open every weekday, Monday through Friday, except when the following holidays are celebrated: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (the third Monday in January), President’s Day (the third Monday in February), Good Friday, Memorial Day (the last Monday in May), Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day (the first Monday in September), Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November) and Christmas Day. Exchange holiday schedules are subject to change without notice. The NYSE may close early on the day before each of these holidays and the day after Thanksgiving Day.

Transactions through Third Parties.    Certain financial institutions may be appointed as agents for or authorized by the Fund to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption requests that are received in good order. Subject to Fund approval, certain of these companies may be authorized to designate other entities to accept purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. A purchase or redemption order placed with a financial institution or its authorized agent is treated as if such orders were placed directly with the Fund, and will be deemed to have been received by the Fund when the financial institution or its authorized agent receives such order. If you invest through a broker or other financial institution, the policies of and fees charged by that institution may be in addition to those of the Fund as described in this Prospectus. These financial institutions may charge transaction fees and may set different minimum investments or limitations on buying or selling shares. These institutions may also provide you with certain shareholder services such as periodic account statements and trade confirmations summarizing your investment activity. Consult a representative of your financial institution for more information.

The Fund may enter into arrangements with financial institutions through which investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares. The Adviser or the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, compensate the financial institutions in connection with the sale or expected sale of Fund shares and it may sponsor various educational activities held by the financial institutions. Certain financial institutions may provide administrative services (such as sub-transfer agency, record-keeping or shareholder communications services) to investors purchasing shares of the Fund through such companies. The Adviser or the Sub-Adviser may pay fees to these financial institutions for their services. The Adviser or the Sub-Adviser may also compensate a financial institution for providing certain marketing support services, including finder’s fees, third party marketing services, business planning assistance, advertising, educating personnel of the financial institution about the Fund and shareholder financial planning needs, providing placement on the financial institution’s list of offered funds, counseling on the preparation of sales material and presentations and access to sales meetings, and arranging access to sales representatives and management representatives of the financial institution. Such payments may create an incentive for the financial institutions to recommend that you purchase Fund shares.

Anti-Money Laundering Program.    Customer identification and verification are part of the Trust’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under Federal law. The Trust has adopted an Anti-Money Laundering Program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of terrorist activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right, to the extent permitted by law, to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Trust

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management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If an order is rescinded or your account is liquidated due to perceived threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity, you will not be able to recoup any sales charges assessed. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

How To Buy Shares

How to Make Payments.    Unless purchased through a third-party financial institution, all investments must be made by check, ACH, or wire. All checks must be payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by cash.

Checks. For all accounts, the check must be made payable on its face to “Liberty Street Funds.”

Regular Mail:

Overnight Delivery:

Liberty Street Funds

Liberty Street Funds

P.O. Box 2175

235 W. Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53201-2175

Milwaukee, WI 53212

To prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept Treasury checks, credit card checks, traveler’s checks, starter checks, money orders, bank drafts, third party check or cashier’s checks for the purchase of shares. The Fund is unable to accept post-dated checks, post-dated on-line bill pay checks, or any conditional order or payment.

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents.

ACH.    ACH refers to the “Automated Clearing House” system maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank, which allows banks to process checks, transfer funds and perform other tasks. Your financial institution may charge you a fee for this service.

Wires.    Instruct your financial institution with whom you have an account to make a Federal Funds wire payment to us. Your financial institution may charge you a fee for this service. Please contact UMB Fund Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”) at (800) 207-7108 for wire instructions.

The Fund reserves the right to refuse, change, discontinue, or temporarily suspend account services, including purchase or telephone redemption privileges (if redemption by telephone is not available, you may send your redemption order to the Fund via regular or overnight delivery), for any reason, particularly when requests could adversely affect the Fund or its operations.

The Transfer Agent will charge a fee against a shareholder’s account, in addition to any loss sustained by the Fund, for any payment that is returned. It is the policy of the Fund not to accept applications under certain circumstances or in amounts considered disadvantageous to shareholders. The Fund reserves the right to reject any application.

Checks sent via overnight delivery are also subject to a $25 charge (additional charge for Saturday delivery). There is also a $15.00 annual maintenance fee charged on retirement accounts or upon full redemption.

A Medallion signature guarantee must be obtained in those instances that require that a signature is guaranteed.

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Minimum Investments.    The Fund accepts investments in the following minimum amounts:

Minimum
Initial
Investment

Minimum
Additional
Investment

Class A Shares and Class C Shares*

   

Direct Regular Accounts

$2,500

$100

Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts

$2,500

$100

Accounts with Automatic Investment Plans

$2,500

$100

Qualified Retirement Plans

$2,500

$100

Institutional Class Shares

   

All Accounts

$1,000,000

$100,000

      The maximum investment amount for Class C Shares is $999,999. Currently, Class C Shares are not available for purchase.

No initial or subsequent investment minimum is required for accounts maintained by financial institutions for the benefit of their clients who purchase shares through investment programs such as employee benefit plans like 401(k) retirement plans. In addition, for financial institutions, including registered investment advisors, making investments for a group of clients, the initial or subsequent investment minimum can be met through an aggregated purchase order for more than one client. The minimum for the Institutional Class Shares is waived for purchases pursuant to asset allocation programs, wrap fee programs, and other investment programs offered by financial institutions, including registered investment advisors, in which investment decisions are made on a discretionary basis by investment professionals. No initial or subsequent investment minimum is required for Trustees or officers of the Trust, directors, officers and employees of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor or any of their affiliates, or the spouse, life-partner, parent, child, sibling or other close family member of any such person, any trust or individual retirement account or self-employed retirement plan for the benefit of any such person, or the estate of any such person. The Fund reserves the right to waive minimum investment amounts, if deemed appropriate by the Trust’s officers.

In addition, Institutional Class Shares may also be available on certain brokerage platforms of firms that have agreements with the Fund to offer such shares when acting solely on an agency basis for the purchase or sale of such shares. If you transact in Institutional Class Shares through one of these programs, the minimum is waived and you may be required to pay a commission and/or other forms of compensation to the broker. A list of these brokerage platforms can be found in Appendix A — Waivers and Discounts Available from Intermediaries and Conversion Policies.

Shares of the Fund may be purchased by check, by wire transfer of funds via a bank or through an approved financial intermediary (i.e., a supermarket, investment advisor, financial planner or consultant, broker, dealer or other investment professional and their agents) authorized by the Fund to receive purchase orders. Financial intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem shares, which may include different sales charges as described in this Prospectus, additional fees and different investment minimums. In addition, from time to time, a financial intermediary may modify or waive its initial and subsequent investment minimums. Your financial intermediary may receive different compensation for selling Class A Shares due to different sales charges among the share classes. Please see sections titled “Class A Shares — Sales Charge Schedule” and “Appendix A — Waivers and Discounts Available from Intermediaries and Conversion Policies” of the Prospectus. The share classes your financial intermediary sells may depend on, among other things, the type of investor account and the policies, procedures and practices adopted by your financial intermediary. You should review those arrangements with your financial intermediary.

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Account Requirements

Type of Account

Requirement

Individual, Sole Proprietorship and Joint Accounts

Individual accounts and sole proprietorship accounts are owned by one person. Joint accounts have two or more owners (tenants).

   Instructions must be signed by all persons required to sign exactly as their names appear on the account.

   Provide a power of attorney or similar document for each person that is authorized to open or transact business for the account if not a named account owner.

Gifts or Transfers to a Minor (UGMA, UTMA)

These custodial accounts provide a way to give money to a child and obtain tax benefits.

   Depending on state laws, you can set up a custodial account under the UGMA or the UTMA.

   The custodian must sign instructions in a manner indicating custodial capacity.

Business Entities

   Provide certified articles of incorporation, a government-issued business license or certificate, partnership agreement or similar document evidencing the identity and existence of the business entity.

   Submit a secretary’s (or similar) certificate listing the person(s) authorized to open or transact business for the account.

Trusts (including corporate pension plans)

   The trust must be established before an account can be opened.

   Provide the first and signature pages from the trust document identifying the trustees.

   Provide a power of attorney or similar document for each person that is authorized to open or transact business in the account if not a trustee of the trust.

Account Application and Customer Identity Verification.    To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

When you open an account, you will be asked for your name, date of birth (for a natural person), your residential address or principal place of business, and mailing address, if different, as well as your Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number. Additional information is required for corporations, partnerships and other entities, including the name, residential address, date of birth and Social Security Number of the underlying beneficial owners and authorized control persons of entity owners. If you do not supply the required information, the Fund will attempt to contact you or, if applicable, your financial advisor. If the Fund cannot obtain the required information within a timeframe established in our sole discretion, your application will be rejected.

When your application is in proper form and includes all required information, your application will normally be accepted and your order will be processed at the NAV next calculated after receipt of your application in proper form. If your application is accepted, the Fund will then attempt to verify your identity using the information you have supplied and other information about you that is available from third parties, including information available in public and private databases such as consumer reports from credit reporting agencies.

The Fund will try to verify your identity within a timeframe established in its sole discretion. If the Fund cannot do so, the Fund reserves the right to close your account at the NAV next calculated after the Fund decides to close your account and to remit proceeds to you via check, but only if your original check clears the bank.

If your account is closed, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to any related taxes and will not be able to recoup any sales charges assessed.

The Fund may reject your application under the Trust’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. Under this program, your money may not be returned to you if your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authorities.

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Limitations on Frequent Purchases and Redemptions.    The Board has adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by Fund shareholders. It is the Fund’s policy to discourage short-term trading. Frequent trading in the Fund such as trades seeking short-term profits from market momentum and other timing strategies may interfere with the management of the Fund’s portfolio and result in increased administrative and brokerage costs and a potential dilution in the value of Fund shares. As money is moved in and out, the Fund may incur expenses buying and selling portfolio securities and these expenses are borne by Fund shareholders. The Fund does not permit market timing and does not accommodate frequent purchases or redemptions. In addition, the Fund may take action, which may include using its best efforts to restrict a shareholder from making additional purchases in the Fund, if that shareholder has engaged in four or more “round trips” in the Fund within a one-year period.

The Fund focuses on identifying frequent redemption transactions which may be harmful to the Fund or its shareholders. These transactions are analyzed for offsetting purchases within a pre-determined period of time. If frequent trading trends are detected, an appropriate course of action is taken. The Fund reserves the right to cancel, restrict, or reject without any prior notice, any purchase order, including transactions representing excessive trading, transactions that may be disruptive to the management of the Fund’s portfolio, and purchase orders not accompanied by payment.

Because the Fund receives purchase and sale orders through financial intermediaries that use omnibus or retirement accounts, the Fund cannot always detect frequent purchases and redemptions. As a consequence, the Fund’s ability to monitor and discourage abusive trading practices in such accounts may be limited.

Policy on Prohibition of Foreign Shareholders.    The Fund requires that all shareholders must be a U.S. citizen residing in the United States or a U.S. Territory or a resident alien residing in the United States or a U.S. Territory, and they must also have a valid U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number to open an account with the Fund.

Investment Procedures

To contact the Fund, please call (800) 207-7108.

How to Open an Account

How to Add to Your Account

Through a Financial Advisor

   Contact your advisor using the method that is most convenient for you.

Through a Financial Advisor

   Contact your advisor using the method that is most convenient for you.

By Check

   Call or write us for an account application, or visit www.libertystreetfunds.com.

   Complete the application (and other required documents).

   Mail us your application (and other required documents) and a check.

By Check

   Fill out an investment slip from a confirmation or write us a letter.

   Write your account number on your check.

   Mail us the slip (or your letter) and the check.

Regular Mail:

Liberty Street Funds

P.O. Box 2175

Milwaukee, WI 53201-2175

 

Overnight Delivery:

Liberty Street Funds

235 W. Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents.

 

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By Wire

   Call or write us for an account application or visit www.libertystreetfunds.com.

   Complete the application (and other required documents).

   Call us to fax the completed application (and other required documents) and we will assign you an account number.

   Mail us your original application (and other required documents).

   Instruct your financial institution to wire your money to us.

By Wire

   Call to notify us of your incoming wire.

   Instruct your financial institution to wire your money to us.

 

By ACH Payment (For Systematic Investments)

   Complete the systematic investment section of the application.

   Attach a voided check to your application.

   Mail us the completed application and voided check.

   We will electronically debit the purchase amount from the financial institution account identified on your account application.

Automatic Investment Plan.    If you intend to use the Automatic Investment Plan (“AIP”), you may open your account with the initial minimum investment amount. Once an account has been opened, you may make additional investments in the Fund at regular intervals through the AIP. If elected on your account application, funds can be automatically transferred from your checking or savings account on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th or 25th of each month. In order to participate in the AIP, each additional subscription must be at least $100 for Class A and Class C Shares, at least $100,000 for Institutional Class shares, and your financial institution must be a member of the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) network. The first AIP purchase will be made 15 days after the Transfer Agent receives your request in good order. The Transfer Agent will charge a $25 fee for any ACH payment that is rejected by your bank. Your AIP will be terminated if two successive mailings we send to you are returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable. You may terminate your participation in the AIP at any time by notifying the Transfer Agent at (800) 207-7108 at least five days prior to the date of the next AIP transfer. The Fund may modify or terminate the AIP at any time without notice.

Canceled or Failed Payments.    The Fund accepts checks and ACH transfers at full value subject to collection. If the Fund does not receive your payment for shares or you pay with a check or ACH transfer that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled. You will be responsible for any losses or expenses incurred by the Fund or the Transfer Agent, and the Fund may redeem shares you own in the account (or another identically registered account that you maintain with the Transfer Agent) as reimbursement. A $25 fee will be imposed for any returned checks/ACH transactions. The Fund and its agents have the right to reject or cancel any purchase due to nonpayment.

Selling Shares

You may redeem shares of the Fund at a price equal to the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent and/or authorized agent receives your redemption request in good order. Generally, your redemption request cannot be processed on days the NYSE is closed. All requests received in good order by the Transfer Agent and/or authorized agent before the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE (generally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) will usually be sent to the bank you indicate or mailed or wired, as applicable, on the following business day to the address, or pursuant to the wiring instructions, on record. Except as specified below, the Fund will process your redemption request and send your proceeds within seven calendar days after the Fund receives your redemption request.

If you purchase shares using a check and request a redemption before the check has cleared, the Fund may postpone payment of your redemption proceeds up to 15 calendar days while the Fund waits for the check to clear. Furthermore, there are certain times when you may be unable to sell Fund shares or receive proceeds. Specifically, the Fund may

27

suspend the right to redeem shares or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven calendar days: (1) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend or holiday closings) or trading on the NYSE is restricted; (2) for any period during which an emergency exists affecting the sale of the Fund’s securities or making such sale or the fair determination of the value of the Fund’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders.

How to Sell Shares from Your Account

Through a Financial Advisor

   Contact your advisor by the method that is most convenient for you.

By Mail

   Prepare a written request including:

   Your name(s) and signature(s) of all account owners

   Your account number

   The Fund name and class

   The dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell

   How and where to send the redemption proceeds

   Obtain a Medallion signature guarantee (if required).

   Obtain other documentation (if required).

   Mail us your request and documentation.

Regular Mail:

Liberty Street Funds

P.O. Box 2175

Milwaukee, WI 53201-2175

Overnight Delivery:

Liberty Street Funds

235 W. Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents.

By Wire or ACH

   Wire or ACH redemptions are only available if your redemption is for $5,000 (except for systematic withdrawals) or more and you did not decline wire or ACH redemption privileges on your account application.

   Call us with your request (unless you declined telephone redemption privileges on your account application) (See “By Telephone”) or

   Mail us your request (See “By Mail”).

By Telephone

   Call us with your request (unless you declined telephone redemption privileges on your account application).

   Provide the following information:

   Your account number

   Exact name(s) in which the account is registered

   Additional form of identification

   Redemption proceeds will be:

   Mailed to you or

   Electronically credited to your account at the financial institution identified on your account application.

Systematically

   Complete the systematic withdrawal section of the application.

   Attach a voided check to your application.

   Mail us your completed application signed by all account owners.

   Redemption proceeds will be:

   Mailed to you or

   Electronically credited to your account at the financial institution identified on your account application.

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Wire or ACH Redemption Privileges.    You may redeem your shares by wire or ACH unless you declined wire or ACH redemption privileges on your account application. The minimum amount that may be redeemed by wire is $5,000, except for systematic withdrawals.

Telephone Redemption Privileges.    You may redeem your shares by telephone unless you declined telephone redemption privileges on your account application. You may be responsible for any unauthorized telephone order as long as the transfer agent takes reasonable measures to verify that the order is genuine. Telephone redemption orders may be difficult to complete during periods of significant economic or market activity. If you are not able to reach the Fund by telephone, you may send your redemption order to the Fund via regular or overnight delivery.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan.    You may request that a predetermined dollar amount be sent to you on a monthly or quarterly basis. Your account must maintain a value of at least $10,000 for you to be eligible to participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan (“SWP”). The minimum withdrawal amount is $50. If you elect to receive redemptions through the SWP, the Fund will send a check to your address of record, or will send the payment via electronic funds transfer through the ACH network, directly to your bank account on record. You may request an application for the SWP by calling the Transfer Agent toll-free at (800) 207-7108. The Fund may modify or terminate the SWP at any time. You may terminate your participation in the SWP by calling the Transfer Agent at least five business days before the next withdrawal.

Medallion Signature Guarantee Requirements.    To protect you and the Fund against fraud, signatures on certain requests must have a “Medallion signature guarantee.” A Medallion signature guarantee verifies the authenticity of your signature. You can obtain a Medallion signature guarantee from most banking institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. The transfer agent will need written instructions signed by all registered shareholders, with a Medallion signature guarantee for each shareholder, for any of the following (the following situations apply if you are requesting the transaction directly through the Fund):

     Written requests to redeem $100,000 or more;

     Changes to a shareholder’s record name;

     Redemptions from an account for which the address or account registration has changed within the last 30 days;

     Sending redemption and distribution proceeds to any person, address or financial institution account not on record;

     Sending redemption and distribution proceeds to an account with a different registration (name or ownership) from your account; or

     Adding or changing ACH or wire instructions, telephone redemption options or any other election in connection with your account.

The Transfer Agent reserves the right to require a Medallion signature guarantee on all redemptions.

Cost Basis Information.    Federal tax law requires that regulated investment companies, such as the Fund, report their shareholders’ cost basis, gain/loss, and holding period to the Internal Revenue Service on the shareholders’ Consolidated Form 1099s when “covered” shares of the regulated investment companies are sold. Covered shares are any shares acquired (including pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan) on or after January 1, 2012.

The Fund has chosen “first-in, first-out” (FIFO) as its standing (default) tax lot identification method for all shareholders, which means this is the method the Fund will use to determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing net asset values, and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Fund’s standing tax lot identification method is the method it will use to report the sale of covered shares on your Consolidated Form 1099 if you do not select a specific tax lot identification method. Redemptions are taxable and you may realize a gain or a loss upon redemption of your shares. Certain shareholders may be subject to backup withholding.

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Subject to certain limitations, you may choose a method other than the Fund’s standing method at the time of your purchase or upon the sale of covered shares. Please refer to the appropriate Treasury regulations or consult your tax advisor with regard to your personal circumstances.

Exchange Privileges

You may exchange Class A, Class C and Institutional Class shares of the Fund for shares of other funds managed by the Adviser, which are offered in separate prospectuses. The amount of the exchange must be equal to or greater than the required minimum initial investment (see “Minimum Investment” table), as stated in that fund’s prospectus. You may realize either a gain or loss on those shares and will be responsible for paying any applicable taxes. If you exchange shares through a broker, the broker may charge you a transaction fee. If you are not using a broker, you may exchange shares by sending a written request to the Fund or by telephone. Be sure that your written request includes the dollar amount or number of shares to be exchanged, the name(s) on the account, the account number(s), and signed by all shareholders on the account. In order to limit expenses, the Fund reserves the right to limit the total number of exchanges you can make in any year. If a CDSC applies to your redemption of Fund shares, it will be waived for the transaction to exchange shares of the Fund for shares of another fund managed by the Adviser; however, the CDSC and the remaining time period for which the CDSC applies will carry to the other fund.

Small Accounts

If the value of your account falls below $1,000 (excluding Qualified Retirement Accounts) with respect to Institutional Shares or $500 (excluding Qualified Retirement Accounts or accounts with systematic investment plans) with respect to Class A Shares and Class C Shares, the Fund may ask you to increase your balance. If, after 60 days, the account value is still below $1,000 for Institutional Shares (excluding Qualified Retirement Accounts or accounts with systematic investment plans) or $500 for Class A Shares and Class C Shares (excluding Qualified Retirement Accounts), the Fund may close your account if your balance falls below the Fund’s minimum initial investment amount due to your redemption activity. The Fund will not close your account if it falls below these amounts solely as a result of a reduction in your account’s market value. There are no minimum balance requirements for Qualified Retirement Accounts.

In-Kind Purchases and Redemptions

The Fund reserves the right to accept payment for shares in the form of securities that are permissible investments for the Fund. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise (and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders), the Fund may pay all or part of a shareholder’s redemption proceeds in liquid securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (known as redemption-in-kind). If the Fund redeems your shares in kind, you will bear any market risks associated with investment in these securities, and you will be responsible for the costs (including brokerage charges) of converting the securities to cash In-kind purchases and redemptions are generally taxable events and may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. See the SAI for further information about the terms of these purchases and redemptions.

Conversion of Shares

Shareholder Requests.    A share conversion is a transaction in which shares of one class of the Fund are exchanged for shares of another class of the Fund. Share conversions can occur between Class A, Class C and Institutional Class Shares of the Fund. In a conversion, a shareholder will receive shares of another class equal in number to the aggregate net asset value attributable to the shares of the current class held by the shareholder divided by the net asset value per share of the other class. Generally, a shareholder may request, or a financial intermediary through which a shareholder has invested in the Fund may request, a share conversion when a shareholder becomes eligible for another share class of the Fund or no longer meets the eligibility of the share class owned by the shareholder (and another class exists for which the shareholder would be eligible). Please note that a share conversion is generally a non-taxable event, but you should consult with your personal tax advisor on your particular circumstances. Please note, all share shareholder conversion requests must be approved by the Adviser.

A request for a share conversion will not be processed until it is received in good order by the Fund or your financial intermediary. To receive the NAV of the new class calculated that day, conversion requests must be received in good order by the Fund and approved by the Adviser before 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Please note that, because the NAV of each

30

class of the Fund will generally vary from the NAVs of the other classes due to differences in expenses, you will receive a number of shares of the new class that is different from the number of shares that you held of the old class, but the total value of your holdings will remain the same.

The Fund’s frequent trading policies will not be applicable to share conversions. If you hold your shares through a financial intermediary, please contact the financial intermediary for more information on share conversions. Please note that certain financial intermediaries may not permit all types of share conversions. The Fund reserves the right to terminate, suspend or modify the share conversion privilege for any shareholder or group of shareholders.

Mandatory Conversions.    The Fund reserves the right to automatically convert shareholders from one class to another if they either no longer qualify as eligible for their existing class or if they become eligible for another class. Such mandatory conversions may be as a result of a change in value of an account due to market movements, exchanges or redemptions. For mandatory conversions, no sales load, fee or other charge will be imposed by the Fund. The Fund will notify or cause certain financial intermediaries to notify affected shareholders in writing prior to any mandatory conversion.

Automatic Conversion of Class C Shares

Class C Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares on a load-waived basis approximately eight years after the date of purchase. It is the financial intermediary’s responsibility to ensure that the shareholder is credited with the proper holding period. Because the Fund receives purchase and sale orders through financial intermediaries that use omnibus or retirement accounts, the Fund’s Transfer Agent cannot always effect the automatic conversion. In such circumstances, the financial intermediary using omnibus or retirement accounts will effect the automatic conversion.

Class C Shares held for eight years, together with any Class C Shares acquired through a reinvestment of dividends or distributions during the eight-year period, are eligible for automatic conversion into Class A Shares of the same portfolio.

The automatic conversion feature of Class C shares of the Fund shall be suspended at any time that the Board of Trustees of the Fund determines that (i) the assessment of the higher fee under the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C results in the Fund’s dividends or distributions constituting a preferential dividend under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and (ii) the conversion of Class C Shares into Class A Shares constitutes a taxable event under federal income tax law. In addition, the Board of Trustees of the Fund may suspend the automatic conversion feature by determining that any other condition to conversion set forth in the relevant prospectus, as amended from time to time, is not satisfied. The terms of the Fund’s prospectus may also contain exceptions to the automatic conversion feature of Class C Shares described above, including but not limited to exceptions for certain types of Class C shareholders or for Class C Shares held through certain financial intermediaries.

The Board of Trustees of the Fund may also suspend the automatic conversion of Class C Shares if it determines that suspension is appropriate to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, or any rule or regulation issued thereunder, relating to voting by Class C shareholders on the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A Shares or, in the alternative, the Board of Trustees may provide Class C shareholders with alternative conversion or exchange rights.

The automatic conversion of Class C Shares to Class A Shares pursuant to this policy is not a taxable event for Federal income tax purposes. For automatic conversions, no sales load, fee or other charge will be imposed by the Fund. Please consult with your financial intermediary for additional information.

As described in Appendix A to this Prospectus, certain financial intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding automatic Class C Share conversions. For automatic Class C Share conversion policies applicable to a particular intermediary, please see “Appendix A — Waivers and Discounts Available from Intermediaries and Conversion Policies” of the Prospectus for a description.

Additional Investments

Additional subscriptions in the Fund generally may be made by investing at least the minimum amount shown in the table on page 24. Exceptions may be made at the Fund’s discretion. You may purchase additional shares of the Fund by sending a check together with the investment stub from your most recent account statement to the Fund at the applicable address listed in the table below. Please ensure that you include your account number on the check. If you do

31

not have the investment stub from your account statement, list your name, address and account number on a separate sheet of paper and include it with your check. You may also make additional investments in the Fund by wire transfer of funds or through an approved financial intermediary. Please follow the procedures described in this Prospectus.

Dividend Reinvestment

You may reinvest dividends and capital gains distributions in shares of the Fund. Such shares are acquired at NAV (without a sales charge) on the applicable payable date of the dividend or capital gain distribution. Unless you instruct otherwise, dividends and distributions on Fund shares are automatically reinvested in shares of the same class of the Fund paying the dividend or distribution. This instruction may be made by writing to the Transfer Agent or by telephone by calling (800) 207-7108. You may, on the account application form or prior to any declaration, instruct that dividends and/or capital gain distributions be paid in cash or be reinvested in the Fund at the next determined NAV. If you elect to receive dividends and/or capital gain distributions in cash and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver the check, or if a check remains outstanding for six months or more, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account at the Fund’s current NAV and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.

Lost Accounts

The Transfer Agent may consider your account “lost” if correspondence to your address of record is returned as undeliverable on two consecutive occasions, unless the transfer agent determines your new address. When an account is “lost”, all distributions on the account will be reinvested in additional Fund shares. In addition, the amount of any outstanding checks (unpaid for six months or more) or checks that have been returned to the Transfer Agent may be reinvested at the then-current NAV and the checks will be canceled. However, checks will not be reinvested into accounts with a zero balance, but may be held in an account for a period of time until the Transfer Agent locates you.

Please note that the value of your account may be transferred to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in the account within the time period specified by the state law.

Payment of Redemption Proceeds

You may redeem shares of the Fund at a price equal to the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent and/or authorized agent receives your redemption request in good order. Generally your redemption request cannot be processed on days the NYSE is closed. Redemption proceeds for requests received in good order by the Transfer Agent and/or authorized agent before the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) will usually be sent to the address of record or the bank you indicate, or wired using the wire instructions on record, on the following business day. Payment of redemption proceeds may take longer than typically expected, but will be sent within seven calendar days after the Fund receives your redemption request, except as specified below.

If you purchase shares using a check and request a redemption before the check has cleared, the Fund may postpone payment of your redemption proceeds up to 15 calendar days while the Fund waits for the check to clear. Furthermore, the Fund may suspend the right to redeem shares or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven calendar days: (1) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend or holiday closings) or trading on the NYSE is restricted; (2) for any period during which an emergency exists affecting the sale of the Fund’s securities or making such sale or the fair determination of the value of the Fund’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders.

Other Redemption Information

IRA and retirement plan redemptions from accounts for which UMB Bank, n.a. is the custodian must be completed on an IRA Distribution Form or other acceptable form approved by UMB Bank, n.a. Shareholders who hold shares of the Fund through an IRA or other retirement plan must indicate on their redemption requests whether to withhold federal income tax. Such redemption requests will generally be subject to a 10% federal income tax withholding unless a shareholder elects not to have taxes withheld. An IRA owner with a foreign residential address may not elect to forgo the 10% withholding. In addition, if you are a resident of certain states, state income tax also applies to non-Roth IRA distributions when federal withholding applies. Please consult with your tax professional.

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The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. The Fund typically expects to satisfy redemption requests by selling portfolio assets or by using holdings of cash or cash equivalents. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also satisfy redemption requests by utilizing a temporary overdraft facility offered through its custodian, UMB Bank, n.a. The Fund uses these methods during both normal and stressed market conditions. During conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and/or in order to protect the interests of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund may pay all or part of a shareholder’s redemption proceeds in portfolio securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption-in-kind) in lieu of cash. The Fund may redeem shares in kind during both normal and stressed market conditions. Generally, in-kind redemptions will be effected through pro rata distribution of the Fund’s portfolio securities. If the Fund redeems your shares in kind, you will bear any market risks associated with investment in these securities, and you will be responsible for the costs (including brokerage charges) of converting the securities to cash.

Choosing a Share Class

The Fund offers four classes of shares, each of which is designed for specific investors. Sales charges and fees may vary considerably between the Fund’s classes. You should carefully consider the differences in the fee and sales charge structures. Please review the Fee Table and Sales Charge Schedules before investing in the Fund. You may also want to consult with a financial advisor in order to help you determine which class is most appropriate for you. The following is a summary of the differences between Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Institutional Class Shares of the Fund:

Class A Shares

Class C Shares

Institutional Class Shares

   Designed for retail investors

   Designed for retail investors (available for purchase only through an approved broker-dealer or financial intermediary)

   Designed for institutions (financial institutions, corporations, trusts, estates and religious and charitable organizations) investing for proprietary programs, discretionary accounts, and corporate benefit plans. Institutional Class Shares may also be available on certain brokerage platforms of firms that have agreements with the Fund to offer such shares when acting solely on an agency basis for the purchase or sale of such shares. If you transact in Institutional Class Shares through one of these programs, the minimum is waived and you may be required to pay a commission and/or other forms of compensation to the broker. A list of these brokerage platforms can be found in Appendix A — Waivers and Discounts Available from Intermediaries and Conversion Policies.

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Class A Shares

Class C Shares

Institutional Class Shares

   Initial sales charge of 4.25% or less

   No initial sales charge applied to purchases of $1 million or more

   No initial sales charge

   Maximum investment amount of $999,999

   No initial or deferred sales charge. Institutional Class Shares may also be available on certain brokerage platforms of firms that have agreements with the Fund to offer such shares when acting solely on an agency basis for the purchase or sale of such shares. If you transact in Institutional Class Shares through one of these programs, the minimum is waived and you may be required to pay a commission and/or other forms of compensation to the broker. A list of these brokerage platforms can be found in Appendix A — Waivers and Discounts Available from Intermediaries and Conversion Policies.

   Deferred sales charge of 1.00% on purchases of $1 million or more on all fund shares liquidated in whole or in part within 12 months of the date of purchase

   Rule 12b-1 distribution or shareholder liaison services fee equal to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets

   Shareholder service fee equal to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets

   Deferred sales charge of 1.00% on purchases of fund shares liquidated in whole or in part within 12 months of the date of purchase

   Rule 12b-1 distribution fee equal to 0.75/0.25% breakdown of the class’ average daily net assets for distribution and shareholder liaison services fee, respectively

   Higher expense ratio than Class A Shares due to higher Rule 12b-1 distribution fee

   Shareholder service fee equal to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets

   No Rule 12b-1 distribution/service fee

   Lower expense ratio than Class A Shares and Class C Shares because no Rule 12b-1 distribution fees or shareholder liaison service fees

   Shareholder service fee equal to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets

Information on sales charges can be also found on the Fund’s website at www.libertystreetfunds.com, or please call (800) 207-7108, or consult with your financial advisor.

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Class A Shares.    Class A shares of the Fund are sold at the offering price, which is NAV plus an initial maximum sales charge that varies with the amounts you invest as shown in the following chart. This means that part of your investment in the Fund will be used to pay the sales charge.

Class A Shares – Sales Charge Schedule

 

Sales Charge (Load) as % of:

 

Amount of Purchase

Public
Offering
Price

Net Asset
Value
1

Broker/Dealer
Reallowance %

Less than $50,000

4.25%

4.44%

4.25%

At least $50,000 but less than $100,000

3.75%

3.90%

3.75%

At least $100,000 but less than $250,000

3.25%

3.36%

3.25%

At least $250,000 but less than $500,000

2.50%

2.56%

2.50%

At least $500,000 but less than $1,000,000

2.00%

2.04%

2.00%

$1,000,000 and greater2

None

None

None

1      Rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent. Because of rounding of the calculation in determining sales charges, the charges may be more or less than those shown in the table.

2      No initial sales charge applies on purchases of $1 million or more. A CDSC of up to 1.00% of the offering price will be charged on purchases of $1 million or more that are redeemed in whole or in part within 12 months of the date of purchase.

When purchasing Class A Shares, if the dollar amount of your purchase reaches a specified level, known as a breakpoint, you are entitled to pay a discounted initial sales charge. For example, a purchase of less than $50,000 of Class A shares of the Fund would pay an initial charge of 4.25%, while a purchase of $50,000 would pay an initial charge 3.75%. There are several breakpoints shown in the Class A Shares — Sales Charge Schedule table above. The greater the investment, the greater the sales charge discount. Investments above $1,000,000 have no front-end sales charge but may be subject to a CDSC (please see Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Schedule — Class A Shares and Class C Shares below for more information).

The offering price for Class A Shares includes the relevant sales charge. The commission received by the Distributor is the sales charge less the reallowance paid to certain financial institutions purchasing shares. Normally, reallowances are paid as indicated in the previous tables. Commissions received by the Distributor are not retained for compensation, but instead are retained to pay future distribution expenses.

The Adviser may pay a sales commission of up to 1.00% of the offering price of Class A shares to brokers that initiate and are responsible for purchases of $1 million or more according to the chart below. This does not apply to accounts for which an institution provides advisory or fiduciary services pursuant to an account management fee.

Sales Commission as % of Public Offering Price:

Aggregate Amount of Purchase1

 

Sales Commission

$1,000,000 but less than $5,000,000

1.00%

 

$5,000,000 but less than $10,000,000

0.75%

of the amount over $5,000,000 plus $50,000

$10,000,000 but less than $15,000,000

0.50%

of the amount over $10,000,000 plus $87,500

$15,000,000 and greater

0.25%

of the amount over $15,000,000 plus $112,500

1      Sales commissions will be calculated at the rate indicated in the table above based on the aggregate, not incremental, purchase amount.

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Reduced Sales Charges — Class A Shares.    You may qualify for a reduced initial sales charge on purchases of Class A Shares under rights of accumulation (“ROA”) or a letter of intent (“LOI”). The Class A Shares of other mutual funds managed by the Adviser may be included when considering eligibility for reduced sales charges under ROA or a LOI. The transaction processing procedures maintained by certain financial institutions through which you can purchase Fund shares may restrict the universe of accounts considered for purposes of calculating a reduced sales charge under ROA or LOI. For example, the processing procedures of a financial institution may limit accounts to those that share the same tax identification number or mailing address and that are maintained only with that financial institution. The Fund permits financial institutions to calculate ROA and LOI based on the financial institution’s transaction processing procedures. Please contact your financial institution before investing to determine the process used to identify accounts for ROA and LOI purposes.

For rights of accumulation, you may take into account accumulated holdings in all Class A Shares of the Fund and any other fund managed by the Adviser that were purchased previously for accounts (a) (i) in your name, (ii) in the name of your spouse, (iii) in the name of you and your spouse, or (iv) in the name of your minor child under the age of 21, and (b) sharing the same mailing address (“Accounts”). Subject to your financial institution’s capabilities, your accumulated holdings will be calculated as the higher of (a) the current value of your existing holdings (as of the day prior to your additional Fund investment) or (b) the amount you invested (including reinvested dividends and capital gains, but excluding capital appreciation) less any withdrawals.

To be entitled to a reduced sales charge based on shares already owned, you must ask for the reduction at the time of purchase.    You must also provide the Fund with your account number(s) and, if applicable, the account numbers for your spouse, children (provide the children’s ages), or other household members and, if requested by your financial institution, the following additional information regarding these Accounts:

     Information or records regarding Class A Shares held in all accounts in your name at the Fund’s Transfer Agent;

     Information or records regarding Class A Shares held in all accounts in your name at a financial intermediary; and

     Information or records regarding Class A Shares for accounts in the name of your spouse, children, or other household members, as applicable, at the Transfer Agent or another financial intermediary.

The Fund may amend or terminate this right of accumulation at any time.

You may also enter into an LOI, which expresses your intent to invest $50,000 or more in the Fund’s Class A Shares in accounts within a future period of 13 months. The Class A Shares of other mutual funds managed by the Adviser may be eligible to be included for purposes of calculating a reduced sales charge under a LOI. Each purchase under an LOI will be made at the public offering price applicable at the time of the purchase to a single transaction of the dollar amount indicated in the LOI. If you do not purchase the minimum investment referenced in the LOI, you must pay the Fund an amount equal to the difference between the dollar value of the sales charges paid under the LOI and the dollar value of the sales charges due on the aggregate purchases of the Class A Shares as if such purchases were executed in a single transaction. If incurred, these charges may be deducted directly from your account. Accounts subject to the LOI must be specifically identified in the LOI.

Elimination of Initial Sales Charges — Class A Shares.    Certain persons may also be eligible to purchase or redeem Class A Shares without a sales charge. No sales charge is assessed on the reinvestment of Class A Shares’ distributions. No sales charge is assessed on purchases made for investment purposes by:

     Shareholder investments in Class A Shares due to an automatic conversion from Class C Shares in accordance with the terms of this Prospectus;

     Investors with no associated broker/dealer who purchase shares directly through the Transfer Agent;

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     Investors purchasing shares through a financial institution that has an agreement with the Fund or the Distributor to waive sales charges or offer Class A shares through a no load network or platform (please see Appendix A for a list of financial institutions that have these arrangements);

     A qualified retirement plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (“the Code”) or a plan operating consistent with Section 403(b) of the Code;

     Any bank, trust company, savings institution, registered investment advisor, financial planner or financial institution on behalf of an account for which it provides advisory or fiduciary services pursuant to an account management fee;

     Trustees and officers of the Trust, directors, officers and full-time employees of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor, any of their affiliates or any organization which has a selling agreement with the Fund or the Distributor, with respect to the Fund; the spouse, life partner, parent, child, sibling or other close family members of any such person; any trust or individual retirement account or retirement plan for the benefit of any such person; or the estate of any such person;

     No sales charge is assessed on Class A Shares purchased as a result of an exchange of Class A Shares from another eligible fund managed by the Adviser that were subject to an initial sales charge;

     No sales charge is assessed on Class A Shares purchased within 90 days from the redemption of Class A Shares of another eligible fund managed by the Adviser that were subject to an initial sales charge;

     Reinstatement privileges.    If you redeem your Class A Shares that were subject to an initial sales charge and then decide to reinvest in Class A Shares, you may, within 90 calendar days of the date of your redemption, use all or any part of the proceeds of the redemption to reinstate, free of an initial sales charge, all or any part of your investment in Class A Shares of the Fund. The Transfer Agent must be informed that your new purchase represents a reinstated investment; or

     Any shares purchased as a result of reinvesting dividends or distributions.

The Fund requires appropriate documentation of an investor’s eligibility to purchase or redeem Class A Shares without a sales charge. Any shares of the Fund so purchased may not be resold except to the Fund.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Schedule — Class A Shares and Class C Shares.    A CDSC of 1.00% of the purchase or sales price, whichever is less, is assessed on redemptions of Class A Shares that were part of a purchase of $1 million or more and that are liquidated in whole or in part within 12 months of the date of purchase for the Fund. A CDSC of 1.00% of the purchase or sales price, whichever is less, is assessed on redemptions of Class C Shares that are liquidated in whole or in part within 12 months of the date of purchase for the Fund. The maximum investment amount for Class C Shares is $999,999. The transaction processing procedures maintained by certain financial institutions through which you can purchase Fund shares may impose lower maximum investment amounts for the Fund’s Class C Shares.

To satisfy a redemption request, the Fund will first liquidate shares that are not subject to a CDSC such as shares acquired with reinvested dividends and capital gains. The Fund will then liquidate shares in the order that they were first purchased until the redemption request is satisfied. Investors who think they may be eligible for a waiver of the CDSC should inform their financial advisor. An investor or financial intermediary must notify the Fund’s Transfer Agent prior to the redemption request to ensure receipt of the waiver.

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Waivers of CDSC.    A CDSC will not be assessed on the following redemptions of Class A Shares or Class C Shares:

     Redemptions following death or permanent disability (as defined by the Code) of an individual investor:

     Required minimum distributions from a tax-deferred retirement plan or an individual retirement account (IRA) as required under the Code;

     Redemptions to return excess contributions made to a retirement plan;

     Redemptions by any bank, trust company, savings institution, registered investment advisor, financial planner or financial institution on behalf of an account for which it provides advisory or fiduciary services pursuant to an account management fee; or

     Redemptions by trustees and officers of the Trust, directors, officers and full-time employees of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor, any of their affiliates or any organization with which the Distributor has entered into a dealer agreement, the spouse, life partner, parent, child, sibling or other close family members of any such person; any trust or individual retirement account or self-employed retirement plan for the benefit of any such person; or the estate of any such person.

     Exchanges into another eligible fund managed by the Adviser; however, the waiver of the CDSC shall only apply to the exchange transaction. The CDSC will still apply to the subsequent purchase of the other fund.

The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary. As described in Appendix A to this Prospectus, financial intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of CDSC waivers. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers or discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. Please see “Appendix A — Waivers and Discounts Available from Intermediaries and Conversion Policies” of the Prospectus for a description of waivers or discounts available through certain intermediaries.

Retirement Accounts

You may invest in Fund shares through IRA accounts, including traditional and Roth IRAs. The Fund may also be appropriate for other retirement plans. Before investing in any IRA or other retirement plan, you should consult your tax advisor. Whenever making an investment in an IRA, be sure to indicate the year in which the contribution is made.

Availability of Information

Information regarding sales charges of the Fund and the applicability and availability of discounts from sales charges is available free of charge on the Fund’s website at www.libertystreetfunds.com. The Prospectus and SAI are also available on the website.

Prospectus and Shareholder Report Mailings

In order to reduce the amount of mail you receive and to help reduce expenses, we generally send a single copy of any shareholder report and Prospectus to each household. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those of other members of your household, please contact your authorized dealer or the Transfer Agent.

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Additional Information

The Fund enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including among others the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third party”) beneficiaries of, those contractual arrangements.

The Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus nor the SAI is intended to give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

The Fund will make dividend distributions of net investment income, if any, monthly and of net capital gains, if any, at least annually, typically in December. The Fund may make additional payments of dividends or distributions if it deems it desirable at any other time during the year.

All dividends and distributions will be reinvested in Fund shares, unless you choose one of the following options: (1) to receive net investment income dividends in cash, while reinvesting capital gain distributions in additional Fund shares; or (2) to receive all dividends and distributions in cash. If you wish to change your distribution option, please write to the Transfer Agent before the payment date of the distribution.

If you elect to receive distributions in cash and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your check, or if your distribution check has not been cashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account at the Fund’s then current NAV and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.

39

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

 

The following discussion is very general and does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold Fund shares through an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-deferred account. The SAI contains further information about taxes. Because each shareholder’s circumstances are different and special tax rules may apply, you should consult your tax advisor about your investment in the Fund.

You will generally have to pay federal income taxes, as well as any state or local taxes, on distributions received from the Fund, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. If you sell Fund shares, it is generally considered a taxable event. If you exchange shares of the Fund for shares of another fund, the exchange will generally be treated as a sale of the Fund’s shares and any gain on the transaction may be subject to federal income tax.

Distributions of net investment income, other than distributions the Fund reports as “qualified dividend income,” are taxable for federal income tax purposes at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions of net short-term capital gains are also generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions from the Fund’s net capital gain (i.e., the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss) are taxable for federal income tax purposes as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long the shareholder has held Fund shares.

Dividends paid by the Fund (but none of the Fund’s capital gain distributions) may qualify in part for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders, provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Distributions that the Fund reports as “qualified dividend income” may be eligible to be taxed to non-corporate shareholders at the reduced rates applicable to long-term capital gain if derived from the Fund’s qualified dividend income and/or if certain other requirements are satisfied. “Qualified dividend income” generally is income derived from dividends paid by U.S. corporations or certain foreign corporations that are either incorporated in a U.S. possession or eligible for tax benefits under certain U.S. income tax treaties. In addition, dividends that the Fund receives in respect of stock of certain foreign corporations may be qualified dividend income if that stock is readily tradable on an established U.S. securities market.

To the extent that any portion of a distribution received by a shareholder from the Fund is treated as a return of capital, it will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares (but not below zero), which will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for federal income tax purposes on the later sale of such Fund shares. After a shareholder’s basis is reduced to zero, the shareholder’s share of any additional distributions in excess of the Fund’s earnings and profits will generally be treated as capital gains. The portion of the Fund’s distributions that may be classified as return of capital is uncertain and can be materially impacted by events that are not subject to the control of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser (e.g., mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and other capital transactions occurring at the individual CEF, Mutual Fund and ETF level). Because of these factors, the portion of the Fund’s distributions that is considered return of capital may vary materially from year to year. It is possible that a shareholder could receive a distribution treated as a return of capital during a taxable year in which the Fund operates at a loss.

There is no guarantee that future distributions will maintain the same classification for tax purposes as past distributions.

You may want to avoid buying shares of the Fund just before it declares a distribution (on or before the record date), because such a distribution will be taxable to you even though it may effectively be a return of a portion of your investment.

Although distributions are generally taxable when received, dividends declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record as of a date in such month and paid during the following January are treated as if received on December 31 of the calendar year when the dividends were declared.

40

Information on the federal income tax status of dividends and distributions is provided annually.

Dividends and distributions from the Fund and net gain from redemptions of Fund shares will generally be taken into account in determining a shareholder’s “net investment income” for purposes of the 3.8% Medicare contribution tax applicable to certain individuals, estates and trusts.

If you do not provide the Fund with your correct taxpayer identification number and any required certifications, you will be subject to backup withholding on your redemption proceeds, dividends and other distributions. The backup withholding rate is currently 24%.

Dividends and certain other payments made by the Fund to a non-U.S. shareholder are subject to withholding of federal income tax at the rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be determined in accordance with any applicable treaty). Dividends that are reported by the Fund as “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends” are generally exempt from such withholding. In general, the Fund may report interest-related dividends to the extent of its net income derived from U.S.-source interest and the Fund may report short-term capital gain dividends to the extent its net short-term capital gain for the taxable year exceeds its net long-term capital loss. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that have been subject to the 30% withholding tax described in this paragraph.

Under legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA,” unless certain non-U.S. entities that hold shares comply with requirements that will generally require them to report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to dividends payable to such entities. A non-U.S. shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the United States and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

Some of the Fund’s investment income may be subject to foreign income taxes that are withheld at the country of origin. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes, but there can be no assurance that the Fund will qualify for treaty benefits.

This discussion of distributions and taxes is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is different, we encourage you to consult with appropriate tax and accounting professionals about federal, state, local, or foreign tax consequences before considering an investment in the Fund.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Because the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, no financial information is available.

41

APPENDIX A — WAIVERS AND DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FROM INTERMEDIARIES AND CONVERSION POLICIES

 

The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred sales load (“CDSC”) waivers than those discussed below, which have been provided by the respective intermediaries. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. Please contact the applicable intermediary with any questions regarding how the intermediary applies the policies described below and to ensure that you understand what steps you must take to qualify for any available waivers or discounts.

Morgan Stanley

Effective July 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.

Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

    Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans

    Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules

    Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund

    Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account

    Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class conversion program

    Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge

Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., & each entity’s affiliates (“Raymond James”) — Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies

Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody service, will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s prospectus or SAI.

Front-end sales load waivers on Class A shares available at Raymond James

    Shares purchased in an investment advisory program.

42

    Shares purchased within the same fund family through a systematic reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend distributions.

    Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James.

    Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement).

    A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James.

CDSC Waivers on Classes A and C shares available at Raymond James

    Death or disability of the shareholder.

    Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus.

    Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.

    Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable regulations as described in the fund’s prospectus.

    Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James.

    Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.

Front-end load discounts available at Raymond James: breakpoints, rights of accumulation, and or letters of intent

    Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.

    Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

    Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase fund shares through a Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”) brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”), or back-end sales charge, waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s Prospectus or SAI.

43

Front-end sales charge* waivers on Class A shares available at Janney

    Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).

    Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney.

    Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement).

    Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans.

    Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.

    Class C shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures.

CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares available at Janney

    Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.

    Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s Prospectus.

    Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.

    Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and other retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the fund’s Prospectus.

    Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney.

    Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.

    Shares exchanged into the same share class of a different fund.

Front-end sales charge* discounts available at Janney: breakpoints, rights of accumulation, and/or letters of intent

    Breakpoints as described in the fund’s Prospectus.

    Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

    Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney Montgomery Scott may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

____________

*     Also referred to as an “initial sales charge.”

44

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“OPCO”)

Effective February 26, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an OPCO platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.

Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at OPCO

    Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan

    Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan

    Shares purchased through a OPCO affiliated investment advisory program

    Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)

    Shares purchased form the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same amount, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Restatement)

    A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of OPCO

    Employees and registered representatives of OPCO or its affiliates and their family members

    Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus

CDSC Waivers on A and C Shares available at OPCO

    Death or disability of the shareholder

    Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus

    Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account

    Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the prospectus

    Shares sold to pay OPCO fees but only if the transaction is initiated by OPCO

    Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement

Front-end load Discounts Available at OPCO: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

    Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.

    Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at OPCO. Eligible fund family assets not held at OPCO may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets

45

UBS Financial Services, Inc. (“UBS-FS”)

Pursuant to an agreement with the Fund, Institutional Class Shares may be available on certain brokerage platforms at UBS-FS. For such platforms, UBS-FS may charge commissions on brokerage transactions in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares. A shareholder should contact UBS-FS for information about the commissions charged by UBS-FS for such transactions. The minimum for the Institutional Class Share is waived for transactions through such brokerage platforms at UBS-FS.

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. (“Stifel”)

Effective July 1, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Stifel platform or account or who own shares for which Stifel or an affiliate is the broker-dealer of record are eligible for the following additional sales charge waiver.

Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares

    Class C shares that have been held for more than seven (7) years will be converted to Class A shares of the same Fund pursuant to Stifel’s policies and procedures.

    All other sales charges and reductions described elsewhere in the Fund’s Prospects or SAI still apply.

Robert W. Baird & Co. (“Baird”)

Effective June 15, 2020, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Baird platform or account will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI.

Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Investors A Shares Available at Baird

    Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund

    Shares purchase by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliate and their family members as designated by Baird

    Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement)

    Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs

CDSC Waivers on Investor A Shares Available at Baird

    Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder

    Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus

    Shares bought due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA Account

    Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable Internal Revenue Service regulations as described in the Fund’s prospectus

    Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird

    Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement

46

Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations

    Breakpoints as described in this prospectus

    Rights of accumulations which entitles shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of the fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible fund family assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets

    Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within fund family through Baird, over a 13-month period of time

******

Elimination of Initial Sales Charges — Class A Shares.    No sales charge is assessed on purchases made for investment purposes by investors purchasing shares through the following financial institutions:

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

National Financial Services LLC

TD Ameritrade, Inc.

Vanguard Marketing Corporation

47

Investment Adviser

Liberty Street Advisors, Inc.

88 Pine Street, 31st Floor

Suite 3101

New York, New York 10005

Sub-Adviser

Gramercy Funds Management LLC

20 Dayton Avenue

Greenwich, CT 06830

Fund Co-Administrator

Mutual Fund Administration, LLC

2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226

Glendora, California 91740

Fund Co-Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant

UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 W. Galena Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

Custodian

UMB Bank, n.a.

928 Grand Boulevard, 5th Floor

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Distributor

Foreside Fund Services, LLC

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100

Portland, Maine 04101

www.foreside.com

Counsel to the Trust

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

600 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1800

Costa Mesa, California 92626

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Tait, Weller & Baker LLP

Two Liberty Place

50 S. 16th Street, Suite 2900

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-2529

48

Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund
A series of Investment Managers Series Trust

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

The SAI provides additional details about the investments and techniques of the Fund and certain other additional information. The SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference. This means that the SAI is legally considered a part of this Prospectus even though it is not physically within this Prospectus.

Shareholder Reports

Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund’s annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its most recent fiscal year.

The Fund’s SAI and annual and semi-annual reports will be available, free of charge, on the Fund’s website at www.libertystreetfunds.com. You can obtain a free copy of the Fund’s SAI or annual and semi-annual reports, request other information, or inquire about the Fund by contacting a broker that sells shares of the Fund or by calling the Fund (toll-free) at (800) 207-7108 or by writing to:

Liberty Street Funds

P.O. Box 2175

Milwaukee, WI 53201

Reports and other information about the Fund are also available:

    Free of charge, on the SEC’s EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov; or

    For a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

(Investment Company Act file number 811-21719.)

49

Statement of Additional Information
April 1, 2024

Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund
a series of Investment Managers Series Trust

Class A Shares (GFEAX)
Class C Shares (GFECX)
Institutional Class Shares (GFEMX)

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus, and it should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated April 1, 2024, as may be amended from time to time, of the Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Investment Managers Series Trust (the “Trust”). Liberty Street Advisers, Inc. (the “Adviser”) is the investment adviser to the Fund. Gramercy Funds Management LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) is the sub-adviser to the Fund. A copy of the Fund’s Prospectus may be obtained by contacting the Fund at the address or telephone number specified below.

Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund
P.O. Box 2175
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
(800) 207-7108

 

B-1

THE TRUST AND THE FUND

The Trust is an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware on February 15, 2005. The Trust currently consists of several other series of shares of beneficial interest. This SAI relates only to the Fund and not to the other series of the Trust.

The Trust is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an open-end management investment company. Such a registration does not involve supervision of the management or policies of the Fund. The Prospectus of the Fund and this SAI omit certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC. Copies of such information may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the prescribed fee.

The Fund is classified as a diversified fund, which means it is subject to the diversification requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not, with respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of one issuer (and in not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer), excluding cash, Government securities, and securities of other investment companies. The Fund’s classification as a diversified fund may only be changed with approval of the Fund’s shareholders.

The Fund currently offers three classes of shares: Class A, Class C and Institutional Class. As of the date of this SAI, Class C Shares are not currently available for purchase. Other classes may be established from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”). Each class of shares of the Fund generally is identical in all respects except that each class of shares is subject to its own distribution expenses and minimum investments. Each class of shares also has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution fees.

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, POLICIES AND RISKS

The discussion below supplements information contained in the Fund’s Prospectus pertaining to the investment policies of the Fund.

Principal Investment Strategies, Policies and Risks

Market Conditions

Events in certain sectors historically have resulted, and may in the future result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. These events have included, but are not limited to: bankruptcies, corporate restructurings, and other events related to the sub-prime mortgage crisis in 2008; governmental efforts to limit short selling and high frequency trading; measures to address U.S. federal and state budget deficits; social, political, and economic instability in Europe; economic stimulus by the Japanese central bank; steep declines in oil prices; dramatic changes in currency exchange rates; China’s economic slowdown; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; and more recently, higher inflation. Interconnected global economies and financial markets increase the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. Such events may cause significant declines in the values and liquidity of many securities and other instruments. It is impossible to predict whether such conditions will recur. Because such situations may be widespread, it may be difficult to identify both risks and opportunities using past models of the interplay of market forces, or to predict the duration of such events.

An outbreak of infectious respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and then was detected globally. This coronavirus has resulted in certain travel restrictions, closed international borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, prolonged quarantines, cancellations, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of COVID-19, and other infectious illness outbreaks that may arise in the future, could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, individual issuers and capital markets in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. In addition, the impact of infectious illnesses in emerging market countries may be greater due to generally less established healthcare systems. Public health crises caused by the COVID-19 outbreak may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally. The duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.

B-2

Debt Securities

The Fund may invest in debt securities. Debt securities are used by issuers to borrow money. Generally, issuers pay investors periodic interest and repay the amount borrowed either periodically during the life of the security and/or at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest, but are purchased at a discount from their face values and accrue interest at the applicable coupon rate over a specified time period. Some debt securities pay a periodic coupon that is not fixed; instead payments “float” relative to a reference rate, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). This “floating rate” debt may pay interest at levels above or below the previous interest payment. The market prices of debt securities fluctuate depending on such factors as interest rates, credit quality and maturity. In general, market prices of debt securities decline when interest rates rise and increase when interest rates fall.

Lower rated debt securities, those rated Ba or below by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and/or BB or below by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) or unrated but determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable quality, are described by the rating agencies as speculative and involve greater risk of default or price changes than higher rated debt securities due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness or the fact that the issuer may already be in default. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than higher quality securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. It may be more difficult to sell or to determine the value of lower rated debt securities.

Certain additional risk factors related to debt securities are discussed below:

Sensitivity to interest rate and economic changes. Debt securities may be sensitive to economic changes, political and corporate developments, and interest rate changes. In addition, during an economic downturn or periods of rising interest rates, issuers that are highly leveraged may experience increased financial stress that could adversely affect their ability to meet projected business goals, obtain additional financing, and service their principal and interest payment obligations. Furthermore, periods of economic change and uncertainty can be expected to result in increased volatility of market prices and yields of certain debt securities. For example, prices of these securities can be affected by financial contracts held by the issuer or third parties (such as derivatives) related to the security or other assets or indices.

Payment expectations. Debt securities may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a lower interest rate environment, the Fund would have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in decreased income to investors. If the issuer of a debt security defaults on its obligations to pay interest or principal or is the subject of bankruptcy proceedings, the Fund may incur losses or expenses in seeking recovery of amounts owed to it.

Liquidity. Liquidity risk may result from the lack of an active market, or reduced number and capacity of traditional market participants to make a market in fixed income securities, and may be magnified in a rising interest rate environment or other circumstances where investor redemptions from fixed income mutual funds may be higher than normal, causing increased supply in the market due to selling activity. In such cases, the Fund, due to limitations on investments in illiquid securities and the difficulty in purchasing and selling such securities or instruments, may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain sector. To the extent that the Fund’s principal investment strategies involve investments in securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations, foreign non-U.S. securities, Rule 144A securities, illiquid sectors of fixed income securities, derivatives or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk, the Fund will tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk. Further, fixed income securities with longer durations until maturity face heightened levels of liquidity risk as compared to fixed income securities with shorter durations until maturity. Finally, liquidity risk also refers to the risk of unusually high redemption requests or other unusual market conditions that may make it difficult for the Fund to fully honor redemption requests within the allowable time period. Meeting such redemption requests could require the Fund to sell securities at reduced prices or under unfavorable conditions, which would reduce the value of the Fund. It may also be the case that other market participants may be attempting to liquidate fixed income holdings at the same time as the Fund, causing increased supply in the market and contributing to liquidity risk and downward pricing pressure.

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The Sub-Adviser attempts to reduce the risks described above through diversification of the Fund’s portfolio, credit analysis of each issuer, and by monitoring broad economic trends as well as corporate and legislative developments, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so. Credit ratings of debt securities provided by rating agencies indicate a measure of the safety of principal and interest payments, not market value risk. The rating of an issuer is a rating agency’s view of past and future potential developments related to the issuer and may not necessarily reflect actual outcomes. There can be a lag between corporate developments and the time a rating is assigned and updated.

Changing Fixed Income Market Conditions. Following the financial crisis that began in 2007, the U.S. government and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), as well as certain foreign governments and central banks, took steps to support financial markets, including by keeping interest rates at historically low levels and by purchasing large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities on the open market (“Quantitative Easing”). Similar steps were taken again in 2020 in an effort to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2022, the Federal Reserve began to unwind its balance sheet by not replacing existing bond holdings as they mature (“Quantitative Tightening”). Also in 2022, the Federal Reserve began raising the federal funds rate in an effort to help fight inflation. Such policy changes may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility and may reduce liquidity for certain Fund investments, which could cause the value of the Fund’s investments and share price to decline. If the Fund invests in derivatives tied to fixed income markets it may be more substantially exposed to these risks than a fund that does not invest in derivatives. Government interventions such as those described above may not work as intended, particularly if the efforts are perceived by investors as being unlikely to achieve the desired results.

Bond markets have consistently grown over the past three decades while the capacity for traditional dealer counterparties to engage in fixed income trading has not kept pace and in some cases has decreased. As a result, dealer inventories of corporate bonds, which provide a core indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to “make markets,” are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. Because market makers provide stability to a market through their intermediary services, the significant reduction in dealer inventories could potentially lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Such issues may be exacerbated during periods of economic uncertainty.

Bond Ratings. Bond rating agencies may assign modifiers (such as +/–) to ratings categories to signify the relative position of a credit within the rating category. Investment policies that are based on ratings categories should be read to include any security within that category, without considering the modifier. Please refer to Appendix A for more information about credit ratings.

Lower-Rated Debt Securities

The Fund may invest in lower-rated fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). The lower ratings reflect a greater possibility that adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer or in general economic conditions, or both, or an unanticipated rise in interest rates, may impair the ability of the issuer to make payments of interest and principal. The inability (or perceived inability) of issuers to make timely payment of interest and principal would likely make the values of securities held by the Fund more volatile and could limit the Fund’s ability to sell its securities at prices approximating the values the Fund had placed on such securities. In the absence of a liquid trading market for securities held by it, the Fund at times may be unable to establish the fair value of such securities. Securities ratings are based largely on the issuer’s historical financial condition and the rating agencies’ analysis at the time of rating. Consequently, the rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer’s current financial condition, which may be better or worse than the rating would indicate. In addition, the rating assigned to a security by Moody’s or S&P (or by any other nationally recognized securities rating agency) does not reflect an assessment of the volatility of the security’s market value or the liquidity of an investment in the security.

Like those of other fixed-income securities, the values of lower-rated securities fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. A decrease in interest rates will generally result in an increase in the value of the Fund’s fixed-income assets. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of the Fund’s fixed-income assets will generally decline. The values of lower-rated securities may often be affected to a greater extent by changes in general economic conditions and

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business conditions affecting the issuers of such securities and their industries. Negative publicity or investor perceptions may also adversely affect the values of lower-rated securities. Changes by nationally recognized securities rating agencies in their ratings of any fixed-income security and changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal may also affect the value of these investments. Changes in the value of portfolio securities generally will not affect income derived from these securities, but will affect the Fund’s net asset value and, indirectly, the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund will not necessarily dispose of a security when its rating is reduced below its rating at the time of purchase. However, the sub-adviser to the Fund will monitor the investment to determine whether its retention will assist in meeting the Fund’s investment objective. Issuers of lower-rated securities are often highly leveraged, so that their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired. Such issuers may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them and may be unable to repay outstanding obligations at maturity by refinancing.

The risk of loss due to default in payment of interest or repayment of principal by such issuers is significantly greater because such securities frequently are unsecured and subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness. It is possible that, under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities when the sub-adviser of the Fund believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if they were more widely held. Under these circumstances, it may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, the Fund may be required to participate in various legal proceedings or take possession of and manage assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities. This could increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value and, indirectly, the Fund’s net asset value. The ability of a holder of a tax-exempt security to enforce the terms of that security in a bankruptcy proceeding may be more limited than would be the case with respect to securities of private issuers. In addition, the Fund’s intention to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), may limit the extent to which the Fund may exercise its rights by taking possession of such assets. To the extent the Fund invests in securities in the lower rating categories, the achievement of the Fund’s investment objective is more dependent on the investment analysis of the Fund’s sub-adviser than would be the case if the Fund were investing in securities in the higher rating categories.

Contingent Convertible Securities

The Fund may invest in contingent convertible securities (“CoCos”). CoCos are hybrid debt securities that are intended to either convert into equity at a predetermined share price or have their principal written down or written off upon the occurrence of certain triggering events generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institution’s continued viability as a going concern. CoCos are subject to the risks associated with bonds and equities and to the risks specific to convertible securities in general. In addition, CoCos are inherently risky because of the difficulty of predicting triggering events that would require the debt to convert to equity. Since CoCos are typically issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments in order to provide the appropriate regulatory capital, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a conversion, the rights and claims of the holders of the CoCos against the issuer in respect of or arising under the terms of the CoCos will generally rank junior to the claims of all holders of unsubordinated obligations of the issuer. Also, the value of CoCos will be influenced by many factors, including: the creditworthiness of the issuer and/or fluctuations in the issuer’s capital ratios; the supply and demand for the CoCos; general market conditions and available liquidity; and economic, financial and political events that affect the issuer, the market it operates in or the financial markets in general. CoCos are a new form of instrument and the market and regulatory environment for these instruments is still evolving. As a result, it is uncertain how the overall market for CoCos would react to a trigger event or coupon suspension applicable to one issuer.

Sovereign Debt Obligations

The Fund may invest in sovereign debt obligations, which are securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments governmental agencies or instrumentalities and political subdivisions, including debt of developing countries. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Sovereign debt of developing countries may involve a high degree of risk, and may be in default or present the risk of default. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or rescheduling of debt payments. In addition, prospects

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for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. government. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by which sovereign debt on which governmental entities have defaulted may be collected in whole or in part.

Zero Coupon, Step Coupon, and Pay-In-Kind Securities

Within the parameters of its specific investment policies, the Fund may invest in zero coupon, pay-in-kind, and step coupon securities. Zero coupon bonds are securities that make no fixed interest payments but instead are issued and traded at a discount from their face value. They do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity. Step coupon bonds trade at a discount from their face value and pay coupon interest. The coupon rate is low for an initial period and then increases to a higher coupon rate thereafter. The discount from the face amount or par value depends on the time remaining until cash payments begin, prevailing interest rates, liquidity of the security, and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. Pay-in-kind bonds normally give the issuer an option to pay cash at a coupon payment date or give the holder of the security a similar bond with the same coupon rate and a face value equal to the amount of the coupon payment that would have been made.

Generally, the market prices of zero coupon, step coupon, and pay-in-kind securities are more volatile than the prices of securities that pay interest periodically and in cash and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than other types of debt securities having similar maturities and credit quality.

Floating Rate, Inverse Floating Rate and Index Obligations

The Fund may invest in debt securities with interest payments or maturity values that are not fixed, but float in conjunction with (or inversely to) an underlying index or price. These securities may be backed by sovereign or corporate issuers, or by collateral such as mortgages. The indices and prices upon which such securities can be based include interest rates, currency rates and commodities prices. Floating rate securities pay interest according to a coupon which is reset periodically. The reset mechanism may be formula based, or reflect the passing through of floating interest payments on an underlying collateral pool. Inverse floating rate securities are similar to floating rate securities except that their coupon payments vary inversely with an underlying index by use of a formula. Inverse floating rate securities tend to exhibit greater price volatility than other floating rate securities. Interest rate risk and price volatility on inverse floating rate obligations can be high, especially if leverage is used in the formula. Index securities pay a fixed rate of interest, but have a maturity value that varies by formula, so that when the obligation matures a gain or loss may be realized. The risk of index obligations depends on the volatility of the underlying index, the coupon payment and the maturity of the obligation.

Foreign Investments

Foreign Securities

The Fund may make foreign investments. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers and other non-U.S. investments may involve risks in addition to those normally associated with investments in the securities of U.S. issuers or other U.S. investments. All foreign investments are subject to risks of foreign political and economic instability, adverse movements in foreign exchange rates, and the imposition or tightening of exchange controls and limitations on the repatriation of foreign capital. Other risks stem from potential changes in governmental attitude or policy toward private investment, which in turn raises the risk of nationalization, increased taxation or confiscation of foreign investors’ assets. Additionally, the imposition of sanctions, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and/or other governments may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s foreign investments.

The financial problems in global economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, may continue to cause high volatility in global financial markets. In addition, global economies are increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact a different country or region. The severity or duration of these conditions may also be affected if one or more countries leave the Euro currency or by other policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations.

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Additional non-U.S. taxes and expenses may also adversely affect the Fund’s performance, including foreign withholding taxes on foreign securities’ dividends. Brokerage commissions and other transaction costs on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than in the United States. Foreign companies may be subject to different accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. To the extent foreign securities held by the Fund are not registered with the SEC or with any other U.S. regulator, the issuers thereof will not be subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC or any other U.S. regulator. Accordingly, less information may be available about foreign companies and other investments than is generally available on issuers of comparable securities and other investments in the United States. Foreign securities and other investments may also trade less frequently and with lower volume and may exhibit greater price volatility than U.S. securities and other investments.

Changes in foreign exchange rates will affect the value in U.S. dollars of any foreign currency-denominated securities and other investments held by the Fund. Exchange rates are influenced generally by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign currency markets and by numerous other political and economic events occurring outside the United States, many of which may be difficult, if not impossible, to predict.

Income from any foreign securities and other investments will be received and realized in foreign currencies, and the Fund is required to compute and distribute income in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, a decline in the value of a particular foreign currency against the U.S. dollar occurring after the Fund’s income has been earned and computed in U.S. dollars may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio securities or other investments to acquire sufficient U.S. dollars to make a distribution. Similarly, if the exchange rate declines between the time the Fund incurs expenses in U.S. dollars and the time such expenses are paid, the Fund may be required to liquidate additional portfolio securities or other investments to purchase the U.S. dollars required to meet such expenses.

The Fund may purchase foreign bank obligations. In addition to the risks described above that are generally applicable to foreign investments, the investments that the Fund makes in obligations of foreign banks, branches or subsidiaries may involve further risks, including differences between foreign banks and U.S. banks in applicable accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, and the possible establishment of exchange controls or other foreign government laws or restrictions applicable to the payment of certificates of deposit or time deposits that may affect adversely the payment of principal and interest on the securities and other investments held by the Fund.

Emerging Markets

The Fund may invest in companies organized or doing substantial business in emerging market countries or developing countries. For these purposes, an “emerging market” country means a country included in the J.P. Morgan EM Equal Weight Index. Investing in emerging markets involves additional risks and special considerations not typically associated with investing in other more established economies or markets. Such risks may include (i) increased risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation; (ii) greater social, economic and political uncertainty, including war; (iii) higher dependence on exports and the corresponding importance of international trade; (iv) greater volatility, less liquidity and smaller capitalization of markets; (v) greater volatility in currency exchange rates; (vi) greater risk of inflation; (vii) greater controls on foreign investment and limitations on realization of investments, repatriation of invested capital and on the ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; (viii) increased likelihood of governmental involvement in and control over the economy; (ix) governmental decisions to cease support of economic reform programs or to impose centrally planned economies; (x) differences in regulatory, accounting, auditing, and financial reporting and recordkeeping standards, which may result in the unavailability of material information about issuers; (xi) less extensive regulation of the markets; (xii) longer settlement periods for transactions and less reliable clearance and custody arrangements; (xiii) less developed corporate laws regarding fiduciary duties of officers and directors and the protection of investors; (xiv) certain considerations regarding the maintenance of the Fund’s securities with local brokers and securities depositories and (xv) the imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividends, interest, capital gains, other income or gross sale or disposition proceeds.

Repatriation of investment income, assets and the proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require governmental registration and/or approval in some emerging market countries. The Fund could be adversely affected by delays in or a refusal to grant any required governmental registration or approval for such repatriation, or by withholding taxes imposed by emerging market countries on interest or dividends paid on securities held by the Fund or gains from the disposition of such securities.

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In emerging markets, there is often less government supervision and regulation of business and industry practices, stock exchanges, over-the-counter markets, brokers, dealers, counterparties and issuers than in other more established markets. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, for example, may be unable to inspect audit work and practices in certain countries. If the PCAOB is unable to oversee the operations of accounting firms in such countries, inaccurate or incomplete financial records of an issuer’s operations may not be detected, which could negatively impact the Fund’s investments in such company. Any regulatory supervision that is in place may be subject to manipulation or control. Some emerging market countries do not have mature legal systems comparable to those of more developed countries. Moreover, the process of legal and regulatory reform may not be proceeding at the same pace as market developments, which could result in investment risk. Legislation to safeguard the rights of private ownership may not yet be in place in certain areas, and there may be the risk of conflict among local, regional and national requirements. In certain cases, the laws and regulations governing investments in securities may not exist or may be subject to inconsistent or arbitrary appreciation or interpretation. Both the independence of judicial systems and their immunity from economic, political or nationalistic influences remain largely untested in many countries. It may also be difficult or impossible for the Fund to pursue legal remedies or to obtain and enforce judgments in local courts.

Many Chinese companies have created variable interest entities (“VIEs”) as a means to circumvent limits on foreign ownership of equity in Chinese companies. Investments in companies that use a VIE structure may pose additional risks because the investment is made through an intermediary entity that exerts control of the underlying operating business through contractual means rather than equity ownership and, as a result, may limit the rights of an investor. Although VIEs are a longstanding industry practice and well known to officials and regulators in China, VIE structures are not formally recognized under Chinese law. Investors face uncertainty about future actions by the government of China that could significantly affect an operating company’s financial performance and the enforceability of the VIE’s contractual arrangements. It is uncertain whether Chinese officials or regulators will withdraw their implicit acceptance of the VIE structure, or whether any new laws, rules, or regulations relating to VIE structures will be adopted or, if adopted, what impact they would have on the interests of foreign shareholders. Under extreme circumstances, China might prohibit the existence of VIEs, or sever their ability to transmit economic and governance rights to foreign individuals and entities; if so, the market value of the Fund’s associated portfolio holdings would likely suffer significant, detrimental, and possibly permanent effects, which could result in substantial investment losses.

There may also be restrictions on imports from certain countries, such as Russia, and dealings with certain state-sponsored entities. For example, 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 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 Adviser or Sub-Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, the Fund may incur losses. Any of these factors may adversely affect the Fund’s performance or the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective.

Foreign Currency Transactions

The Fund may conduct foreign currency transactions on a spot, i.e., cash, basis at the prevailing rate in the foreign exchange market or by entering into a forward foreign currency contract. A forward foreign currency contract (“forward contract”) involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward contracts are considered to be derivatives. The Fund enters into forward contracts in order to “lock in” the exchange rate between the currency it will deliver and the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. In addition, the Fund may enter into forward contracts to hedge against risks arising from securities the Fund owns or anticipates purchasing or the U.S. dollar value of interest and dividends paid on those securities.

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If the Fund delivers the foreign currency at or before the settlement of a forward contract, it may be required to obtain the currency by selling some of the Fund’s assets that are denominated in that specific currency. The Fund may close out a forward contract obligating it to purchase a foreign currency by selling an offsetting contract, in which case it will realize a gain or a loss.

Foreign currency transactions involve certain costs and risks. The Fund incurs foreign exchange expenses in converting assets from one currency to another. Forward contracts involve a risk of loss if the Sub-Adviser is inaccurate in predicting currency movements. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. The precise matching of forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved is generally not possible. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional foreign currency if the market value of the security is less than the amount of the foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver under the forward contract and the decision is made to sell the security and deliver the foreign currency. The use of forward contracts as a hedging technique does not eliminate the fluctuation in the prices of the underlying securities the Fund owns or intends to acquire, but it fixes a rate of exchange in advance. Although forward contracts can reduce the risk of loss if the values of the hedged currencies decline, these instruments also limit the potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the hedged currencies.

There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies, and there is no regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Quotation information available is generally representative of very large transactions in the interbank market. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global around-the-clock market. Since foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of foreign currency options, the Fund may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots. The Fund may take positions in options on foreign currencies in order to hedge against the risk of foreign exchange fluctuation on foreign securities the Fund holds in its portfolio or which it intends to purchase.

Europe – Recent Events

A number of countries in Europe have experienced severe economic and financial difficulties. Many non-governmental issuers, and even certain governments, have defaulted on, or been forced to restructure, their debts; many other issuers have faced difficulties obtaining credit or refinancing existing obligations; financial institutions have in many cases required government or central bank support, have needed to raise capital, and/or have been impaired in their ability to extend credit; and financial markets in Europe and elsewhere have experienced extreme volatility and declines in asset values and liquidity. These difficulties may continue, worsen or spread within or outside Europe. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world.

The European Union (the “EU”) currently faces major issues involving its membership, structure, procedures and policies, including the successful political, economic and social integration of new member states, the EU’s resettlement and distribution of refugees, and resolution of the EU’s problematic fiscal and democratic accountability. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the Euro, the common currency of the EU, and/or withdraw from the EU. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching.

United Kingdom Exit from the EU. On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”) and, after a transition period, left the EU single market and customs union under the terms of a new trade agreement, effective January 1, 2021. The agreement governs the relationship between the UK and EU with respect to trading goods and services, but certain aspects of the relationship remain unresolved and subject to further negotiation and agreement. The effects of Brexit are also being shaped by the trade agreements that the UK negotiates with other countries. Although the longer term political, regulatory, and economic consequences of Brexit are uncertain, Brexit has caused volatility in UK, EU, and global markets. The potential negative effects of

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Brexit on the UK and EU economies and the broader global economy could include, among others, business and trade disruptions, increased volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, and potentially lower economic growth of markets in the UK, EU, and globally, which could negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations while the relationship between the UK and EU continues to be defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate.

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine. Russia has attempted to assert its influence in Eastern Europe in the recent past through economic and military measures, including military incursions into Georgia in 2008 and eastern Ukraine in 2014, heightening geopolitical risk in the region and tensions with the West. On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a large-scale invasion of Ukraine resulting in the displacement of millions of Ukrainians from their homes, a substantial loss of life, and the widespread destruction of property and infrastructure throughout Ukraine. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the governments of the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and many other nations joined together to impose heavy economic sanctions on certain Russian individuals, including its political leaders, as well as Russian corporate and banking entities and other Russian industries and businesses. The sanctions restrict companies from doing business with Russia and Russian companies, prohibit transactions with the Russian central bank and other key Russian financial institutions and entities, ban Russian airlines and ships from using many other countries’ airspace and ports, respectively, and place a freeze on certain Russian assets. The sanctions also removed some Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT), the electronic network that connects banks globally to facilitate cross-border payments. In addition, the United States has banned oil and other energy imports from Russia, and the United Kingdom made a commitment to phase out oil imports from Russia by the end of 2022. The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and their global allies may impose additional sanctions or other intergovernmental actions against Russia in the future, but Russia may respond in kind by imposing retaliatory economic sanctions or countermeasures. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including oil and natural gas, throughout the world. Further, an escalation of the military conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders could result in significant, long-lasting damage to the economies of Eastern and Western Europe as well as the global economy.

General. Whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets. The Fund may also be susceptible to these events to the extent that the Fund invests in municipal obligations with credit support by non-U.S. financial institutions.

Over-the-Counter Transactions – Fixed Income Securities

The Fund may enter into over-the-counter (“OTC”) transactions involving fixed income securities. OTC transactions differ from exchange-traded transactions in several respects. OTC transactions are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation. Without the availability of a clearing corporation, OTC transaction pricing is normally done by reference to information from market makers, which information is carefully monitored by the Adviser and verified in appropriate cases. As OTC transactions are transacted directly with dealers, there is a risk of nonperformance by the dealer as a result of the insolvency of such dealer or otherwise. The Fund intends to enter into OTC transactions only with dealers which agree to, and which are expected to be capable of, entering into closing transactions with the Fund. There is also no assurance that the Fund will be able to liquidate an OTC transaction at any time prior to expiration.

Convertible Securities

The Fund may invest in convertible securities. A convertible security is a bond, preferred stock, right, warrant or other security that may be converted or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock or other security of the same or a different issuer or into cash within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security generally entitles the holder to receive the dividend or interest until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities generally have characteristics similar to both fixed income and equity securities. Although to a lesser extent than with fixed income securities generally, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline.

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In addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible securities tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying common stocks and, therefore, also will react to variations in the general market for equity securities. A significant feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so they may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.

ESG Criteria Risk

The Sub-Adviser integrates research on environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors into the Fund’s overall investment process. ESG investments may be viewed as “sustainable,” “responsible,” or “socially conscious,” among other names and there are significant differences in the interpretation of what it means for an issuer to have positive ESG characteristics. ESG factors may include, but are not limited to, matters regarding board diversity, climate change policies, and supply chain and human rights policies. Incorporating ESG criteria and investing in instruments that have certain ESG characteristics, as determined by the Sub-Adviser, carries the risk that the Fund may perform differently, including underperforming, funds that do not utilize ESG criteria or an ESG investment strategy. Integration of ESG factors into the Fund’s investment process may result in the Sub-Adviser making different investments for the Fund than for a fund with a similar investment universe and/or investment style that does not incorporate such considerations in its investment strategy or processes. In addition, because the Sub-Adviser’s ESG screening process excludes securities of certain issuers, the Fund may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use these criteria. The ESG characteristics utilized in the Fund’s investment process may change over time, and different ESG characteristics may be relevant to different investments. Successful integration of ESG factors will depend on the Sub-Adviser’s skill in researching and identifying these factors as well as the availability of relevant data. The method of evaluating ESG factors and subsequent impact on portfolio composition, performance, proxy voting decisions and other factors, is subject to the interpretation of the Adviser in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies.

Cybersecurity Risk

Investment companies, such as the Fund, and its service providers may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cybersecurity breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Fund, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, the Fund’s custodian or transfer agent, or intermediaries or other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential company information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses, and cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cybersecurity risk management purposes. While the Fund and its service providers have established business continuity plans and risk management systems designed to prevent or reduce the impact of cybersecurity attacks, such plans and systems have inherent limitations due in part to the ever-changing nature of technology and cybersecurity attack tactics, and there is a possibility that certain risks have not been adequately identified or prepared for. Furthermore, the Fund cannot control any cybersecurity plans or systems implemented by its service providers.

Similar types of cybersecurity risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment in such portfolio companies to lose value.

Derivatives

The Fund may utilize a variety of derivatives, contracts, such as futures, options, swaps and forward contracts, both for investment purposes and for hedging purposes. Hedging involves special risks including the possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Sub-Adviser’s assessment of certain market movements

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is incorrect, the risk that the use of hedging could result in losses greater than if hedging had not been used. Nonetheless, with respect to certain investment positions, the Fund may not be sufficiently hedged against market fluctuations, in which case an investment position could result in a loss greater than if the Sub-Adviser had been sufficiently hedged with respect to such position.

The Sub-Adviser will not, in general, attempt to hedge all market or other risks inherent in the Fund’s positions, and may hedge certain risks, if at all, only partially. Specifically, the Sub-Adviser may choose not, or may determine that it is economically unattractive, to hedge certain risks, either in respect of particular positions or in respect of the Fund’s overall portfolio. Moreover, it should be noted that the Fund’s portfolio always will be exposed to unidentified systematic risk factors and to certain risks that cannot be completely hedged, such as credit risk (relating both to particular securities and to counterparties). The Fund’s portfolio composition may result in various directional market risks remaining unhedged, although the Sub-Adviser may rely on diversification to control such risks to the extent that the Sub-Adviser believes it is desirable to do so.

The regulation of derivatives markets in the United States is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), signed into law in 2010, granted significant authority to the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) to impose comprehensive regulations on the over-the-counter and cleared derivatives markets. These regulations include, but are not limited to, mandatory clearing of certain derivatives and requirements relating to disclosure, margin and trade reporting. New regulations could adversely affect the value, availability and performance of certain derivative instruments, may make them more costly, and may limit or restrict their use by the Fund.

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”) requires investment companies that enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions that create future payment or delivery obligations to, among other things, (i) comply with a value-at-risk (“VaR”) leverage limit, and (ii) adopt and implement a comprehensive written derivatives risk management program. These and other requirements apply unless (a) the Fund qualifies as a “limited derivatives user,” which the Derivatives Rule defines as a fund that limits its derivatives exposure to 10% of its net assets, or (b) the Fund does not engage in derivatives transactions as defined in the Derivatives Rule. Complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. The Derivatives Rule may not be effective to limit the Fund’s risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in the Fund’s derivatives or other investments. Other potentially adverse regulatory obligations can develop suddenly and without notice.

Certain additional risk factors related to derivatives are discussed below:

Derivatives Risk. Under recently adopted rules by the CFTC, transactions in some types of interest rate swaps and swaps on North American and European indices will be required to be cleared. In a cleared derivatives transaction, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house (such as CME Clearing, ICE Clearing or LCH.Clearnet), rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members, who are futures commission merchants that are members of the clearing houses and who have the appropriate regulatory approvals to engage in swaps. The Fund will make and receive payments owed under cleared derivatives transactions (including margin payments) through accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house. In contrast to bilateral derivatives transactions, following a period of advance notice to the Fund, clearing members generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time and increases in margin above the margin that it required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing transactions and to terminate transactions. Any such increase or termination could interfere with the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Also, the Fund is subject to execution risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or that the Sub-Adviser expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. While the documentation in place between the Fund and its clearing members generally provides that the clearing members will accept for clearing all transactions submitted for clearing that are within credit limits specified by the clearing members in advance, the Fund could

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be subject to this execution risk if the Fund submits for clearing transactions that exceed such credit limits, if the clearing house does not accept the transactions for clearing, or if the clearing members do not comply with their agreement to clear such transactions. In that case, the transaction might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of any increase in the value of the transaction after the time of the transaction. In addition, new regulations could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund or increasing margin or capital requirements. If the Fund is not able to enter into a particular derivatives transaction, the Fund’s investment performance and risk profile could be adversely affected as a result.

Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk with respect to OTC derivatives may be affected by new regulations promulgated by the CFTC and SEC affecting the derivatives market. As described under “Derivatives Risk” above, some derivatives transactions will be required to be cleared, and a party to a cleared derivatives transaction is subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivative transaction. Clearing members are required to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to cleared derivatives transactions from the clearing member’s proprietary assets. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are generally held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account, which may also invest those funds in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulations. The assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the Fund’s clearing member because the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s customers for a relevant account class. Also, the clearing member transfers to the clearing house the amount of margin required by the clearing house for cleared derivatives transactions, which amounts are generally held in an omnibus account at the clearing house for all customers of the clearing member. For commodities futures positions, the clearing house may use all of the collateral held in the clearing member’s omnibus account to meet a loss in that account, without regard to which customer in fact supplied that collateral. Accordingly, in addition to bearing the credit risk of its clearing member, each customer to a futures transaction also bears “fellow customer” risk from other customers of the clearing member. However, with respect to cleared swaps, recent regulations promulgated by the CFTC require that the clearing member notify the clearing house of the amount of initial margin provided by the clearing member to the clearing house that is attributable to each customer. Because margin in respect of cleared swaps must be earmarked for specific clearing member customers, the clearing house may not use the collateral of one customer to cover the obligations of another customer. However, if the clearing member does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is subject to the risk that a clearing house will use the Fund’s assets held in an omnibus account at the clearing house to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing house. In addition, a clearing member may generally choose to provide to the clearing house the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of the clearing member’s customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount of each customer. The Fund is therefore subject to the risk that a clearing house will not make variation margin payments owed to the Fund if another customer of the clearing member has suffered a loss and is in default.

Options on Securities and Securities Indices

The Fund may invest in options on securities and stock indices. A call option entitles the purchaser, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the option period. A put option entitles the purchaser, in return for the premium paid, to sell specified securities during the option period. The Fund may invest in both European-style or American-style options. A European-style option is only exercisable immediately prior to its expiration. American-style options are exercisable at any time prior to the expiration date of the option.

Writing Call Options. The Fund may write covered call options. A call option is “covered” if the Fund owns the security underlying the call or has an absolute right to acquire the security without additional cash consideration or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or cash equivalents in such amounts as held in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian. The writer of a call option receives a premium and gives the purchaser the right to buy the security underlying the option at the exercise price. The writer has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price during the option period. If the writer of an exchange-traded option wishes

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to terminate his obligation, he may effect a “closing purchase transaction.” This is accomplished by buying an option of the same series as the option previously written. A writer may not effect a closing purchase transaction after it has been notified of the exercise of an option.

Effecting a closing transaction in a written call option will permit the Fund to write another call option on the underlying security with either a different exercise price, expiration date or both. Also, effecting a closing transaction will permit the cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale of any securities subject to the option to be used for other investments of the Fund. If the Fund desires to sell a particular security from its portfolio on which it has written a call option, it will effect a closing transaction prior to or concurrent with the sale of the security.

The Fund will realize a gain from a closing transaction if the cost of the closing transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option or if the proceeds from the closing transaction are more than the premium paid to purchase the option. The Fund will realize a loss from a closing transaction if the cost of the closing transaction is more than the premium received from writing the option or if the proceeds from the closing transaction are less than the premium paid to purchase the option. However, because increases in the market price of a call option will generally reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security, any loss to the Fund resulting from the repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset in whole or in part by appreciation of the underlying security owned by the Fund.

If the Fund were assigned an exercise notice on a call it has written, it would be required to liquidate portfolio securities in order to satisfy the exercise, unless it has other liquid assets that are sufficient to satisfy the exercise of the call. If the Fund has written a call, there is also a risk that the market may decline between the time the Fund has a call exercised against it, at a price which is fixed as of the closing level of the index on the date of exercise, and the time it is able to sell securities in its portfolio.

In addition to covered call options, the Fund may write uncovered (or “naked”) call options on securities, including shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and indices.

Writing Covered Index Call Options. The Fund may sell index call options. The Fund may also execute a closing purchase transaction with respect to the option it has sold and then sell another option with either a different exercise price and/or expiration date. The Fund’s objective in entering into such closing transactions is to increase option premium income, to limit losses or to protect anticipated gains in the underlying stocks. The cost of a closing transaction, while reducing the premium income realized from the sale of the option, should be offset, at least in part, by the appreciation in the value of the underlying index, and by the opportunity to realize additional premium income from selling a new option.

When the Fund sells an index call option, it does not deliver the underlying stocks or cash to the broker through whom the transaction is effected. In the case of an exchange-traded option, the Fund establishes an escrow account. The Fund’s custodian (or a securities depository acting for the custodian) acts as the Fund’s escrow agent. The escrow agent enters into documents known as escrow receipts with respect to the stocks included in the Fund (or escrow receipts with respect to other acceptable securities). The escrow agent releases the stocks from the escrow account when the call option expires or the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. Until such release, the underlying stocks cannot be sold by the Fund. The Fund may enter into similar collateral arrangements with the counterparty when it sells OTC index call options.

The purchaser of an index call option sold by the Fund may exercise the option at a price fixed as of the closing level of the index on exercise date. Unless the Fund has liquid assets sufficient to satisfy the exercise of the index call option, the Fund would be required to liquidate portfolio securities to satisfy the exercise. The market value of such securities may decline between the time the option is exercised and the time the Fund is able to sell the securities. For example, even if an index call which the Fund has written is “covered” by an index call held by the Fund with the same strike price, it will bear the risk that the level of the index may decline between the close of trading on the date the exercise notice is filed with the Options Clearing Corporation and the close of trading on the date the Fund exercises the call it holds or the time it sells the call, which in either case would occur no earlier than the day following the day the exercise notice was filed. If the Fund fails to anticipate an exercise, it may have to borrow from a bank (in amounts not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets) pending settlement of the sale of the portfolio securities and thereby incur interest charges. If trading is interrupted on the index, the Fund would not be able to close out its option positions.

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Risks of Transactions in Options. There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities and indices. Options may be more volatile than the underlying securities and, therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation in value than an investment in the underlying securities themselves. There are also 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 objective. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options 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 of underlying securities; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or clearing corporation may not be adequate to handle current trading volume at all times; 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 a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. The extent to which the Fund may enter into options transactions may be limited by the requirements of the Code for qualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company.

OTC Options. The Fund may engage in transactions involving OTC options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to OTC options. The Fund may engage a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, but if the Fund purchased an OTC option, it must then rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option if the option is 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.

Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while OTC options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of an OTC option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes an OTC option, the Fund 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 OTC options only with dealers who will agree to and 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 an OTC option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered OTC 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 an OTC 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.

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

Stock Index Options. The Fund may invest in options on indices, including broad-based security indices. Puts and calls on indices are similar to puts and calls on other investments except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question rather than on price movements in individual securities. When the Fund writes a call on an index, it receives a premium and agrees that, prior to the expiration date, the purchaser of the call, upon exercise of the call, will receive from the Fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the call is based is greater than the exercise price of the call. The amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (“multiplier”), which determines the total dollar value for each point of such difference. When the Fund buys a call on an index, it pays a premium and has the same rights as to such call as are indicated above. When the Fund buys a put on an index, it pays a premium and has the

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right, prior to the expiration date, to require the seller of the put, upon the Fund’s exercise of the put, to deliver to the Fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the put, which amount of cash is determined by the multiplier, as described above for calls. When the Fund writes a put on an index, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the Fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the difference between the closing level of the index and exercise price times the multiplier if the closing level is less than the exercise price.

The risks of investment in options on indices may be greater than options on securities. Because index options are settled in cash, if the Fund writes a call on an index it cannot provide in advance for its potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying index. The Fund can offset some of the risk of writing a call index option by holding a diversified portfolio of securities or instruments similar to those on which the underlying index is based. However, the Fund cannot, as a practical matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same securities or instruments as underlie the index and, as a result, bears a risk that the value of the securities or instruments held will vary from the value of the index.

Even if the Fund could assemble a portfolio that exactly reproduced the composition of the underlying index, it still would not be fully covered from a risk standpoint because of the “timing risk” inherent in writing index options. When an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is entitled to receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price and the closing index level on the date when the option is exercised. As with other kinds of options, the Fund as the call writer will not learn of the assignment until the next business day at the earliest. The time lag between exercise and notice of assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call on a specific underlying security or instrument, such as common stock, because there the writer’s obligation is to deliver the underlying security or instrument, not to pay its value as of a fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns the underlying security or instrument, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply delivering it, and the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise date is borne by the exercising holder. In contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds investments that exactly match the composition of the underlying index, it will not be able to satisfy its assignment obligations by delivering those investments against payment of the exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an amount based on the closing index value on the exercise date. By the time it learns that it has been assigned, the index may have declined, with a corresponding decline in the value of its portfolio. This “timing risk” is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their risk exposure by holding security or instrument positions.

If the Fund has purchased an index option and exercises it before the closing index value for that day is available, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the Fund will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.

Futures and Options on Futures

The Fund may use interest rate, foreign currency, index and other futures contracts. The Fund may use options on futures contracts. A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified quantity of the security or other financial instrument at a specified price and time. A futures contract on an index is an agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index contract originally was written. Although the value of an index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, physical delivery of these securities is not always made. A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of indexes, as well as financial instruments, including, without limitation: U.S. Treasury bonds; U.S. Treasury notes; GNMA Certificates; three-month U.S. Treasury bills; 90-day commercial paper; bank certificates of deposit; Eurodollar certificates of deposit; the Australian dollar; the Canadian dollar; the British Pound; the Japanese Yen; the Swiss Franc; the Mexican Peso; and certain multinational currencies, such as the Euro. It is expected that other futures contracts will be developed and traded in the future.

The Fund may purchase and write (sell) call and put futures options. Futures options possess many of the same characteristics as options on securities and indexes (discussed above). A futures option gives the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price upon expiration of, or at any time during the period of, the option. Upon exercise of a call option,

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the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true. When a purchase or sale of a futures contract is made by the Fund, the Fund is required to deposit with its futures commission merchant a specified amount of liquid assets (“initial margin”). The margin required for a futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded and may be modified during the term of the contract. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract that is returned to the Fund upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The Fund expects to earn taxable interest income on its initial margin deposits. The Fund, as a writer of an option, may have no control over whether the underlying futures contracts may be sold (call) or purchased (put) and as a result, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the valuation of the futures contracts underlying the written option. The Fund, as a purchaser of an option, bears the risk that the counterparties to the option may not have the ability to meet the terms of the option contract.

The Fund invests in futures, options on futures and other instruments subject to regulation by the CFTC in reliance upon and in accordance with CFTC Regulation 4.5. Under Regulation 4.5, if the Fund uses futures, options on futures, or swaps other than for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums on these positions (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options are “in-the-money” at the time of purchase of a new position) may not exceed 5% of the Fund’s liquidation value, or alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of those positions at the time may not exceed 100% of the Fund’s liquidation value (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). The Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with CFTC Regulation 4.5. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund is not deemed to be a “commodity pool” or “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and it is not subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA. In addition, as of the date of this SAI, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser are not deemed to be “commodity pool operators” or “commodity trading advisers” with respect to the advisory services they provide to the Fund. In the future, if the Fund’s use of futures, options on futures, or swaps requires the Adviser and Sub-Adviser to register as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser will do so at that time.

A futures contract held by the Fund is valued daily at the official settlement price of the exchange on which it is traded. Each day the Fund pays or receives cash, called “variation margin”, equal to the daily change in value of the futures contract. This process is known as “marking to market”. Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by the Fund but is instead a settlement between the Fund and the broker of the amount one would owe the other if the futures contract expired. In computing daily net asset value, the Fund will mark to market its open futures positions. The Fund also is required to deposit and to maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it. Such margin deposits will vary depending on the nature of the underlying futures contract (and the related initial margin requirements), the current market value of the option and other futures positions held by the Fund. Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying securities, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (involving the same exchange, underlying security or index and delivery month). If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. The transaction costs also must be included in these calculations.

The Fund may write covered straddles consisting of a call and a put written on the same underlying futures contract. A straddle will be covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet the Fund’s immediate obligations. The Fund may use the same liquid assets to cover both the call and put options if the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or if the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put.

U.S. Treasury Futures Contracts Hedge Risk

The Sub-Adviser, when it deems appropriate, may seek to hedge against interest rate risk by shorting U.S. Treasury futures contracts. To the extent the Fund holds such short positions, should market conditions cause U.S. Treasury prices to rise, the Fund’s portfolio could experience a loss; and should U.S. Treasury prices rise at the same time municipal bond and/or closed-end municipal bond fund prices fall, these losses may be greater than if the hedging strategy had

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not been in place. The hedging strategy depends on market conditions and the judgment of the Sub-Adviser, and there is no guarantee that the hedging strategy will be successful in mitigating interest rate risk or preventing losses to the Fund’s portfolio.

Stock Index Futures

The Fund may invest in stock index futures only as a substitute for a comparable market position in the underlying securities. A stock index future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to accept), effectively, an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific stock index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying stocks in the index is made. With respect to stock indices that are permitted investments, the Fund intends to purchase and sell futures contracts on the stock index for which it can obtain the best price with consideration also given to liquidity.

Swaps

The Fund may enter into interest rate, currency and index swaps and the purchase or sale of related caps, floors and collars. The Fund may enter into these transactions to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency fluctuations or to protect against any increase in the price of securities it anticipates purchasing at a later date. Swaps may be used in conjunction with other instruments to offset interest rate, currency or other underlying risks. For example, interest rate swaps may be offset with “caps,” “floors” or “collars”. A “cap” is essentially a call option which places a limit on the amount of floating rate interest that must be paid on a certain principal amount. A “floor” is essentially a put option which places a limit on the minimum amount that would be paid on a certain principal amount. A “collar” is essentially a combination of a long cap and a short floor where the limits are set at different levels.

The Fund will usually enter into swaps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.

Total Return Swaps. The Fund may enter into total return swaps for investment purposes. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the change in market value of the underlying assets, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or security indexes during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate of the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swaps may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or market, including in cases in which there may be disadvantages associated with direct ownership of a particular security. In a typical total return equity swap, payments made by the Fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular reference asset or assets (such as an equity security, a combination of such securities, or an index). That is, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, basket of stocks, or stock index in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Total return swaps involve not only the risk associated with the investment in the underlying securities, but also the risk of the counterparty not fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.

Credit Default Swaps. The Fund may enter into credit default swaps for investment purposes. A credit default swap may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. Credit default swaps may also be structured based on the debt of a basket of issuers, rather than a single issuer, and may be customized with respect to the default event that triggers purchase or other factors. As a seller, the Fund would generally receive an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap, which typically is between six months and three years, provided that there is no credit event. If a credit event occurs, generally the seller must pay the buyer the full face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference obligations that may have little or no value. If the Fund were a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund would recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference obligation

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that may have little or no value. The use of swaps by the Fund entails certain risks, which may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the securities and other investments that are the referenced asset for the swap. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques, risk analyses, and tax planning different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index, but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all the possible market conditions. Because some swaps have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.

The Fund may also purchase credit default swaps in order to hedge against the risk of default of the debt of a particular issuer or basket of issuers, in which case the Fund would function as the counterparty referenced in the preceding paragraph. This would involve the risk that the investment may expire worthless and would only generate income in the event of an actual default by the issuer(s) of the underlying obligation(s) (or, as applicable, a credit downgrade or other indication of financial instability). It would also involve the risk that the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Fund in the event of a default. The purchase of credit default swaps involves costs, which will reduce the Fund’s return.

Currency Swaps. The Fund may enter into currency swaps for investment purposes. Currency swaps are similar to interest rate swaps, except that they involve multiple currencies. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has exposure to one currency and desires exposure to a different currency. Typically the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. In addition to paying and receiving amounts at the beginning and termination of the agreements, both sides will also have to pay in full periodically based upon the currency they have borrowed. Change in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

Interest Rate Swaps. The Fund may enter into an interest rate swap in an effort to protect against declines in the value of fixed income securities held by the Fund. In such an instance, the Fund may agree to pay a fixed rate (multiplied by a notional amount) while a counterparty agrees to pay a floating rate (multiplied by the same notional amount). If interest rates rise, resulting in a diminution in the value of the Fund’s portfolio, the Fund would receive payments under the swap that would offset, in whole or in part, such diminution in value.

Options on Swaps. The Fund may enter into options on swaps. An option on a swap, or a “swaption,” is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a new swap or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap, at some designated future time on specified terms. In return, the purchaser pays a “premium” to the seller of the contract. The seller of the contract receives the premium and bears the risk of unfavorable changes on the underlying swap. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions. The Fund may also enter into swaptions on either an asset-based or liability-based basis, depending on whether the Fund is hedging its assets or its liabilities. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions to the same extent it may make use of standard options on securities or other instruments. The Fund may enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its holdings, as a duration management technique, to protect against an increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or for any other purposes, such as for speculation to increase returns. Swaptions are generally subject to the same risks involved in the Fund’s use of options.

Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than it will incur when it purchases a swaption. When the Fund purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swaption, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

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OTC Derivatives Transactions

The Fund may enter into OTC derivatives transactions. The Dodd-Frank Act established a new statutory framework that comprehensively regulated the OTC derivatives markets for the first time. Key Dodd-Frank Act provisions relating to OTC derivatives require rulemaking by the SEC and the CFTC, not all of which has been proposed or finalized as at the date of this SAI. Prior to the Dodd-Frank Act, the OTC derivatives markets were traditionally traded on a bilateral basis (so-called “bilateral OTC transactions”). Now certain OTC derivatives contracts are required to be centrally cleared and traded on exchanges or electronic trading platforms called swap execution facilities (“SEFs”).

Bilateral OTC transactions differ from exchange-traded or cleared derivatives transactions in several respects. Bilateral OTC transactions are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation. Without the availability of a clearing corporation, bilateral OTC transaction pricing is normally done by reference to information from market makers, which information is carefully monitored by the Sub-Adviser and verified in appropriate cases. As bilateral OTC transactions are entered into directly with a dealer, there is a risk of nonperformance by the dealer as a result of its insolvency or otherwise. Under recently-adopted CFTC regulations, counterparties of registered swap dealers and major swap participants have the right to elect segregation of initial margin in respect of uncleared swaps. If a counterparty makes such an election, any initial margin that is posted to the swap dealer or major swap participant must be segregated in individual customer accounts held at an independent third party custodian. In addition, the collateral may only be invested in certain categories of instruments identified in the CFTC’s regulations. Agreements covering these segregation arrangements must generally provide for consent by both the counterparty and the swap dealer or major swap participant to withdraw margin from the segregated account. Given these limitations on the use of uncleared swaps collateral, there is some likelihood that the electing counterparty will experience an increase in the costs associated with trading swaps with the relevant swap dealer or major swap participant. Certain other protections apply to a counterparty to uncleared swaps under the CFTC’s regulations even if the counterparty does not elect segregation of its initial margin. These regulations are newly adopted, and it remains unclear whether they will be effective in protecting initial margin in the manner intended in the event of significant market stress or the insolvency of a swap dealer or major swap participant.

Furthermore, a bilateral OTC transaction may only be terminated voluntarily by entering into a closing transaction with the dealer with which the Fund originally dealt. Any such cancellation may require the Fund to pay a premium to that dealer. In those cases in which the Fund has entered into a covered transaction and cannot voluntarily terminate the transaction, the Fund will not be able to sell the underlying security until the transaction expires or is exercised or different cover is substituted. The Fund will seek to enter into OTC transactions only with dealers which agree to, and which are expected to be capable of, entering into closing transactions with the Fund. There is also no assurance that the Fund will be able to liquidate an OTC transaction at any time prior to expiration.

The requirement to execute certain OTC derivatives contracts on SEFs may offer certain advantages over traditional bilateral OTC trading, such as ease of execution, price transparency, increased liquidity and/or favorable pricing. However, SEF trading may make it more difficult and costly for the Fund to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions and may result in additional costs and risks. Market participants such as the Fund that execute derivatives contracts through a SEF, whether directly or through a broker intermediary, are required to submit to the jurisdiction of the SEF and comply with SEF and CFTC rules and regulations which impose, among other things disclosure and recordkeeping obligations. In addition, the Fund will generally incur SEF or broker intermediary fees when it trades on a SEF. The Fund may also be required to indemnify the SEF or broker intermediary for any losses or costs that may result from the Fund’s transactions on the SEF.

Other Investment Strategies, Policies and Risks

Foreign Investments

Depositary Receipts

The Fund may invest in depositary receipts. American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) are negotiable receipts issued by a U.S. bank or trust company that evidence ownership of securities in a foreign company which have been deposited with such bank or trust company’s office or agent in a foreign country. European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) are negotiable

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certificates held in the bank of one country representing a specific number of shares of a stock traded on an exchange of another country. Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) are negotiable certificates held in the bank of one country representing a specific number of shares of a stock traded on an exchange of another country. Canadian Depositary Receipts (“CDRs”) are negotiable receipts issued by a Canadian bank or trust company that evidence ownership of securities in a foreign company which have been deposited with such bank or trust company’s office or agent in a foreign country.

Investing in ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs presents risks that may not be equal to the risk inherent in holding the equivalent shares of the same companies that are traded in the local markets even though the Fund will purchase, sell and be paid dividends on ADRs, in U.S. dollars. These risks include fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which are affected by international balances of payments and other economic and financial conditions; government intervention; speculation; and other factors. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, political and social upheaval, and economic instability. The Fund may be required to pay foreign withholding or other taxes on certain ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, or CDRs that it owns, but investors may or may not be able to deduct their pro-rata share of such taxes in computing their taxable income, or take such shares as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax. See “Federal Income Tax Matters.” ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs may be sponsored by the foreign issuer or may be unsponsored. Unsponsored ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the foreign issuer of the underlying securities. Unsponsored ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs are offered by companies which are not prepared to meet either the reporting or accounting standards of the United States. While readily exchangeable with stock in local markets, unsponsored ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs may be less liquid than sponsored ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs. Additionally, there generally is less publicly available information with respect to unsponsored ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs.

Debt Securities

Collateralized Loan Obligations

The Fund may invest in CLOs. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. The loans generate cash flow that is allocated among one or more classes of securities (“tranches”) that vary in risk and yield. The most senior tranche has the best credit quality and the lowest yield compared to the other tranches. The equity tranche has the highest potential yield but also has the greatest risk, as it bears the bulk of defaults from the underlying loans and helps to protect the more senior tranches from risk of these defaults. However, despite the protection from the equity and other more junior tranches, more senior tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults and decreased market value due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CLO securities as a class.

Normally, CLOs are privately offered and sold and are not registered under state or federal securities laws. Therefore, investments in CLOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities. However, an active dealer market may exist for CLOs allowing a CLO to qualify for transactions pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to be deemed liquid.

The riskiness of investing in CLOs depends largely on the quality and type of the collateral loans and the tranche of the CLO in which the Fund invests. In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed-income securities (such as interest rate risk and credit risk) and the risks associated with investing in CDOs, CLOs carry additional risks including that interest on certain tranches of a CLO may be paid in-kind (meaning that unpaid interest is effectively added to principal), which involves continued exposure to default risk with respect to such payments. Certain CLOs may receive credit enhancement in the form of a senior-subordinate structure, over-collateralization or bond insurance, but such enhancement may not always be present and may fail to protect the Fund against the risk of loss due to defaults on the collateral. Certain CLOs may not hold loans directly, but rather, use derivatives such as swaps to create “synthetic” exposure to the collateral pool of loans. Such CLOs entail the risks of derivative instruments.

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Bank Loans

The Fund may invest in bank loans. There are a number of risks associated with an investment in senior floating rate bank loans, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Lack of an active trading market, restrictions on resale, irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods in excess of seven days all would likely impair the Fund’s ability to sell bank loans within its desired time frame or at an acceptable price and its ability to accurately value existing and prospective investments. Extended trade settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result of such illiquidity, the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions to raise cash to meet its obligations.

Bank loans in which the Fund invests have similar risks to below investment grade fixed income securities. Changes in the financial condition of the borrower or economic conditions or other circumstances could reduce the capacity of the borrower to make principal and interest payments on such instruments and may lead to defaults. Secured bank loans are supported by collateral; however, the value of the collateral may be insufficient to cover the amount owed to the Fund. If the Fund relies on a third party to administer a loan, the Fund is subject to the risk that the third party will fail to perform its obligations. In addition, if the Fund holds only a participation interest in a loan made by a third party, the Fund’s receipt of payments on the loan will be dependent on the third party’s willingness and ability to make those payments to the Fund.

Loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. The liquidity of loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary market trading in such loans, varies significantly over time and among individual loans. For example, if the credit quality of a loan unexpectedly declines significantly, secondary market trading in that loan can also decline for a period of time. During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a loan can be more difficult and buying and selling a loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed. Difficulty in selling a loan can result in a loss. Due to their subordination in the borrower’s capital structure, subordinated loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than senior bank loans of the same borrower.

Subordinated loans generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in senior loans, except that such loans are subordinated in payment and/or lower in lien priority to first lien holders or may be unsecured. In the event of default on a subordinated loan, the first priority lien holder has first claim to the underlying collateral of the loan. These loans are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior unsecured or senior secured obligations of the borrower. This risk is generally higher for subordinated unsecured loans or debt that is not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral. Subordinated loans generally have greater price volatility than senior loans and may be less liquid. Although loan investments are generally subject to certain restrictive covenants in favor of the investors, many of these loans may from time to time be reissued or offered as “covenant lite” loans, which may entail potentially increased risk, because they may have fewer or no financial maintenance covenants or restrictions that would normally allow for early intervention and proactive mitigation of credit risk. In the event of a breach of a covenant in non-covenant lite loans or debt securities, lenders may have the ability to intervene and either prevent or restrict actions that may potentially compromise the company’s ability to pay or lenders may be in a position to obtain concessions from the borrowers in exchange for a waiver or amendment of the specific covenant(s). In contrast, covenant lite loans do not always or necessarily offer the same ability to intervene or obtain additional concessions from borrowers. This risk is offset to varying degrees by the fact that the same financial and performance information may be available with or without covenants to lenders and the public alike and can be used to detect such early warning signs as deterioration of a borrower’s financial condition or results. With such information, the Sub-Adviser is normally able to take appropriate actions without the help of covenants in the loans. Covenant lite bank loans, however, may foster a capital structure designed to avoid defaults by giving borrowers or issuers increased financial flexibility when they need it the most.

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Equity Securities

Common Stock

The Fund may invest in 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.

The fundamental risk of investing in common stock is 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. While common stocks have historically provided greater long-term returns than preferred stocks, fixed-income and money market investments, common stocks have also experienced significantly more volatility than the returns from those other investments.

Preferred Stock

The Fund may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and a share of the proceeds resulting from the, issuer’s liquidation although preferred stock is usually subordinate to the debt securities of the issuer. Some preferred stocks also entitle their holders to receive additional liquidation proceeds on the same basis as the holders of the issuer’s common stock. Preferred stock typically does not possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as call/redemption provisions prior to maturity, a negative feature when interest rates decline. In addition, the Fund may receive stocks or warrants as a result of an exchange or tender of fixed income securities. Preference stock, which is more common in emerging markets than in developed markets, is a special type of common stock that shares in the earnings of an issuer, has limited voting rights, may have a dividend preference, and may also have a liquidation preference. Depending on the features of the particular security, holders of preferred and preference stock may bear the risks regarding common stock or fixed income securities.

Warrants and Rights

The Fund may invest in warrants or rights (including those acquired in units or attached to other securities) that entitle (but do not obligate) the holder to buy equity securities at a specific price for a specific period of time but will do so only if such equity securities are deemed appropriate by the Sub-Adviser. Rights are similar to warrants but typically have a shorter duration and are issued by a company to existing stockholders to provide those holders the right to purchase additional shares of stock at a later date. Warrants and rights do not have voting rights, do not earn dividends, and do not entitle the holder to any rights with respect to the assets of the company that has issued them. They do not represent ownership of the underlying companies but only the right to purchase shares of those companies at a specified price on or before a specified exercise date. Warrants and rights tend to be more volatile than the underlying stock, and if at a warrant’s expiration date the stock is trading at a price below the price set in the warrant or right, the warrant will expire worthless. Conversely, if at the expiration date the stock is trading at a price higher than the price set in the warrant, the Fund can acquire the stock at a price below its market value. The prices of warrants and rights do not necessarily parallel the prices of the underlying securities. An investment in warrants or rights may be considered speculative.

Investment Company Shares

The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies (each, an “Underlying Fund”), including open-end funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts (“UITs”) and ETFs, to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain restrictions set forth in this SAI.

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Under Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, the Fund may acquire shares of an Underlying Fund in amounts which, as determined immediately after the acquisition is made, do not exceed (i) 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of such Underlying Fund, (ii) 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets, and (iii) 10% of the value of the Fund’s total assets when combined with all other Underlying Fund shares held by the Fund. The Fund may exceed these statutory limits when permitted by SEC order or other applicable law or regulatory guidance, such as is the case with many ETFs. In October 2020, the SEC adopted certain regulatory changes and took other actions related to the ability of an investment company to invest in the shares of another investment company. These changes include, in part, the rescission of certain SEC exemptive orders permitting investments in excess of the statutory limits, the withdrawal of certain related SEC staff no-action letters, and the adoption of Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act, which permits the Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions. Rule 12d1-4, among other things, (1) applies to both “acquired funds” and “acquiring funds,” each as defined under the rule; (2) includes limits on control and voting of acquired funds’ shares; (3) requires that the investment advisers of acquired funds and acquiring funds relying on the rule make certain specified findings based on their evaluation of the relevant fund of funds structure; (4) requires acquired funds and acquiring funds that are relying on the rule, and which do not have the same investment adviser, to enter into fund of funds investment agreements, which must include specific terms; and (5) includes certain limits on complex fund of funds structures.

Generally, under Sections 12(d)(1)(F) and 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act and SEC rules adopted pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Fund may acquire the shares of affiliated and unaffiliated Underlying Funds subject to the following guidelines and restrictions:

        The Fund may own an unlimited amount of the shares of any registered open-end fund or registered unit investment trust that is affiliated with the Fund, so long as any such Underlying Fund has a policy that prohibits it from acquiring any shares of registered open-end funds or registered UITs in reliance on certain sections of the 1940 Act.

        The Fund and its “affiliated persons” may own up to 3% of the outstanding stock of any fund, subject to the following restrictions:

i.    the Fund and each Underlying Fund, in the aggregate, may not charge a sales load greater than the limits set forth in Rule 2830(d)(3) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) applicable to funds of funds;

ii.    each Underlying Fund is not obligated to redeem more than 1% of its total outstanding shares during any period less than 30 days; and

iii.   the Fund is obligated either to (i) seek instructions from its shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies with respect to the Underlying Fund and to vote in accordance with such instructions, or (ii) to vote the shares of the Underlying Fund held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders of the Underlying Fund.

Underlying Funds typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company shares results in the layering of expenses as Fund shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses. In addition, the shares of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to certain leverage risks. The net asset value and market value of leveraged securities will be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged securities. Investment companies may have investment policies that differ from those of the Fund.

Under certain circumstances an open-end investment company in which the Fund invests may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or in part by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, instead of in cash. As a result, the Fund may hold such securities until the Adviser determines it is appropriate to dispose of them. Such disposition will impose additional costs on the Fund.

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Investment decisions by the investment advisers to the registered investment companies in which the Fund invests are made independently of the Fund. At any particular time, one Underlying Fund may be purchasing shares of an issuer whose shares are being sold by another Underlying Fund. As a result, under these circumstances the Fund indirectly would incur certain transactional costs without accomplishing any investment purpose.

Exchange-Traded Funds and Mutual Funds

The Fund may invest in ETFs and Mutual Funds. ETFs are pooled investment vehicles that generally seek to track the performance of specific indices. ETFs may be organized as open-end funds or as unit investment trusts. Their shares are listed on stock exchanges and can be traded throughout the day at market-determined prices. Investing in ETFs or Mutual Funds provides the Fund with exposure to the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETFs or Mutual Funds hold. An ETF or a Mutual Fund, if the Mutual Fund is an index fund, may not replicate exactly the performance of the benchmark index it seeks to track for a number of reasons, including transaction costs incurred by the ETF or Mutual Fund, the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market, or discrepancies between the ETF or Mutual Fund and the index with respect to the weightings of securities or the number of securities held. It may be more expensive for the Fund to invest in an ETF or Mutual Fund than to own the portfolio securities of these investment vehicles directly. Investing in ETFs and Mutual Funds involves duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses.

An ETF generally issues index-based investments in large aggregations of shares known as “Creation Units” in exchange for a “Portfolio Deposit” consisting of (a) a portfolio of designated by the ETF, (b) a cash payment equal to a pro rata portion of the dividends accrued on the ETF’s portfolio securities since the last dividend payment by the ETF, net of expenses and liabilities, and (c) a cash payment or credit (“Balancing Amount”) designed to equalize the net asset value of the shares and the net asset value of a Portfolio Deposit.

Shares of ETFs are not individually redeemable, except upon the reorganization, merger, conversion or liquidation of the ETF. To redeem shares of an ETF, an investor must accumulate enough shares of the ETF to reconstitute a Creation Unit. The liquidity of small holdings of ETF shares, therefore, will depend upon the existence of a secondary market for such shares. Upon redemption of a Creation Unit, the investor will receive securities designated by the ETF (“Redemption Securities”) and a cash payment in an amount equal to the difference between the net asset value of the shares being redeemed and the net asset value of the Redemption Securities.

The price of ETF shares is based upon (but not necessarily identical to) the value of the securities held by the ETF. Accordingly, the level of risk involved in the purchase or sale of ETF shares is similar to the risk involved in the purchase or sale of traditional common stock, with the exception that the pricing mechanism for ETF shares is based on a basket of stocks. Disruptions in the markets for the securities underlying ETF shares purchased or sold by the Fund could result in losses on such shares. There is no assurance that the requirements of the national securities exchanges necessary to maintain the listing of shares of any ETF will continue to be met.

Structured Investments

The Fund may invest in structured investments. A structured investment is a security having a return tied to an underlying index or other security or asset class. Structured investments generally are individually negotiated agreements and may be traded OTC. Structured investments are organized and operated to restructure the investment characteristics of the underlying security. This restructuring involves the deposit with or purchase by an entity, such as a corporation or trust, on specified instruments (such as commercial bank loans) and the issuance by that entity or one or more classes of securities (“structured securities”) backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued structured securities to create securities with different investment characteristics, such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of such payments made with respect to structured securities is dependent on the extent of the cash flow on the underlying instruments. Because structured securities typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. Investments in structured securities are generally of a class of structured securities that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated

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structured securities. Structured securities are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for structured securities. Investments in government and government-related and restructured debt instruments are subject to special risks, including the inability or unwillingness to repay principal and interest, requests to reschedule or restructure outstanding debt and requests to extend additional loan amounts. Certain issuers of structured investments may be deemed to be “investment companies” as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, the Fund’s investment in these structured investments may be limited by the restrictions contained in the 1940 Act. Structured investments are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for structured investments.

When-Issued or Delayed-Delivery Securities

The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. For example, delivery of and payment for these securities can take place a month or more after the date of the purchase commitment. The purchase price and the interest rate payable, if any, on the securities are fixed on the purchase commitment date or at the time the settlement date is fixed. The value of such securities is subject to market fluctuations and, in the case of fixed income securities, no interest accrues to the Fund until settlement takes place. When purchasing a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations. Accordingly, at the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it will record the transaction, reflect the value each day of such securities in determining its net asset value and, if applicable, calculate the maturity for the purposes of average maturity from that date. At the time of its acquisition, a when-issued security may be valued at less than the purchase price. The Fund will make commitments for such when-issued transactions only when it has the intention of actually acquiring the securities. If, however, the Fund chooses to dispose of the right to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition, it could, as with the disposition of any other portfolio obligation, recognize taxable capital gain or loss due to market fluctuation. Also, the Fund may be disadvantaged if the other party to the transaction defaults.

A transaction in when-issued or delayed-delivery securities would be deemed not to involve a senior security (i.e., it will not be considered a derivatives transaction or subject to asset segregation requirements), provided that (i) the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction, and (ii) the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date. If such a transaction were considered to be a derivatives transaction it would be subject to the requirements of the Derivatives Rule described in the “Derivatives” section of this SAI.

Temporary Investments

The Fund may take temporary defensive measures that are inconsistent with the Fund’s normal fundamental or non-fundamental investment policies and strategies in response to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions as determined by the Sub-Adviser. Such measures could include, but are not limited to, investments in (1) highly liquid short-term fixed income securities issued by or on behalf of municipal or corporate issuers, obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies, commercial paper, and bank certificates of deposit; (2) repurchase agreements involving any such securities; and (3) other money market instruments. The Fund also may invest in shares of money market mutual funds to the extent permitted under applicable law. Money market mutual funds are investment companies, and the investments in those companies by the Fund are in some cases subject to certain fundamental investment restrictions. As a shareholder in a mutual fund, the Fund will bear its ratable share of its expenses, including management fees, and will remain subject to payment of the fees to the Adviser, with respect to assets so invested. The Fund may not achieve its investment objectives during temporary defensive periods.

Short-Term Investments

The Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:

Certificates of Deposit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Time Deposits. The Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits in U.S. dollar or foreign currencies. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against monies deposited in a commercial bank, or savings and loan association for a definite period of time that earn a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or

B-26

exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning in effect that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate. The Fund may only acquire certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, and time deposits issued by commercial banks or savings and loan associations that, at the time of the Fund’s investment, have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million (including assets of both domestic and foreign branches), based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such obligations are fully insured by the U.S. government. If the Fund holds instruments of foreign banks or financial institutions, it may be subject to additional investment risks that are different in some respects from those incurred if the Fund invests only in debt obligations of U.S. domestic issuers. See “Foreign Securities” above. Such risks include future political and economic developments, the possible imposition of withholding taxes by the particular country in which the issuer is located, the possible confiscation or nationalization of foreign deposits, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which may adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on these securities.

Domestic banks and foreign banks are subject to different governmental regulations with respect to the amount and types of loans that may be made and interest rates that may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry depends largely upon the availability and cost of funds and the interest income generated from lending operations. General economic conditions and the quality of loan portfolios affect the banking industry.

As a result of federal and state laws and regulations, domestic banks are required to maintain specified levels of reserves, are limited in the amount that they can loan to a single borrower, and are subject to regulations designed to promote financial soundness. However, such laws and regulations may not necessarily apply to foreign banks, thereby affecting the risk involved in bank obligations that the Fund may acquire.

Commercial Paper, Short-Term Notes and Other Corporate Obligations. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in commercial paper and short-term notes. Commercial paper consists of unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations. Issues of commercial paper and short-term notes will normally have maturities of less than nine months and fixed rates of return, although such instruments may have maturities of up to one year.

The Fund’s investment in commercial paper and short-term notes will consist of issues rated at the time of purchase “A-2” or higher by S&P, “Prime-1” or “Prime-2” by Moody’s, or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization or, if unrated, will be determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable quality. These rating symbols are described in Appendix A.

Corporate debt obligations are subject to the risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligations, i.e., credit risk. The Sub-Adviser may actively expose the Fund to credit risk. However, there can be no guarantee that the Sub-Adviser will be successful in making the right selections and thus fully mitigate the impact of credit risk changes on the Fund.

Government Obligations

The Fund may invest in U.S. government obligations. Such obligations include Treasury bills, certificates of indebtedness, notes and bonds. U.S. government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government securities, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis. U.S. government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises.

Payment of principal and interest on U.S. government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities, including government-sponsored enterprises, where it is not obligated to do so. In addition, U.S. government obligations are subject to fluctuations in

B-27

market value due to fluctuations in market interest rates. As a general matter, the value of debt instruments, including U.S. government obligations, declines when market interest rates increase and rises when market interest rates decrease. Certain types of U.S. government obligations are subject to fluctuations in yield or value due to their structure or contract terms.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with respect to its portfolio securities. Pursuant to such agreements, the Fund acquires securities from financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers deemed to be creditworthy by the Sub-Adviser, subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase and the Fund’s agreement to resell such securities at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The repurchase price generally equals the price paid by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates (which may be more or less than the rate on the underlying portfolio security). Securities subject to repurchase agreements will be held by the custodian or in the Federal Reserve/Treasury Book-Entry System or an equivalent foreign system. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of the underlying securities at not less than 102% of the repurchase price under the agreement. If the seller defaults on its repurchase obligation, the Fund will suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from a sale of the underlying securities are less than the repurchase price under the agreement. Bankruptcy or insolvency of such a defaulting seller may cause the Fund’s rights with respect to such securities to be delayed or limited. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans under the 1940 Act.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into “reverse” repurchase agreements to avoid selling securities during unfavorable market conditions to meet redemptions. Pursuant to a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund will sell portfolio securities and agree to repurchase them from the buyer at a particular date and price. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings by the Fund. The Fund may elect to (i) treat the reverse repurchase agreements as borrowings and comply with the asset coverage requirements of Section 18, and combine the aggregate amount of indebtedness associated with all reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of any other senior securities representing indebtedness when calculating the asset coverage ratio; or (ii) treat all reverse repurchasing agreements or similar financing transactions as “derivatives transactions” as defined in Rule 18f-4 of the 1940 Act and comply with all requirements of Rule 18f-4.

Borrowing

The Fund may engage in limited borrowing activities. Borrowing creates an opportunity for increased return, but, at the same time, creates special risks. Furthermore, if the Fund were to engage in borrowing, an increase in interest rates could reduce the value of the Fund’s shares by increasing the Fund’s interest expense. Subject to the limitations described under “Investment Limitations” below, the Fund may be permitted to borrow for temporary purposes and/or for investment purposes. Such a practice will result in leveraging of the Fund’s assets and may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. This borrowing may be secured or unsecured. Provisions of the 1940 Act require the Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed, with an exception for borrowings not in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets made for temporary administrative purposes. Any borrowings for temporary administrative purposes in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets will count against this asset coverage requirement. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint if the Fund sells securities at that time. Borrowing will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest charges which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased, if any. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowings or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.

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Illiquid and Restricted Securities

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities that the Fund reasonably expects cannot 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 securities. Illiquid securities may be difficult to value, and the Fund may have difficulty or be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. The Fund will not purchase any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, its illiquid investments that are assets would exceed the 15% limit.

The Fund may invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold freely to the public absent registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or an exemption from registration. While restricted securities are generally presumed to be illiquid, it may be determined that a particular restricted security is liquid. Rule 144A under the 1933 Act establishes a safe harbor from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act for resales of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Institutional markets for restricted securities sold pursuant to Rule 144A in many cases provide both readily ascertainable values for restricted securities and the ability to liquidate an investment to satisfy share redemption orders. Such markets might include automated systems for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers, such as the PORTAL System sponsored by NASDAQ. An insufficient number of qualified buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A eligible restricted securities, however, could adversely affect the marketability of such portfolio securities and result in the Fund’s inability to dispose of such securities promptly or at favorable prices.

The Fund may purchase commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act. 4(a)(2) commercial paper typically has the same price and liquidity characteristics as commercial paper, except that the resale of 4(a)(2) commercial paper is limited to the institutional investor marketplace. Such a restriction on resale makes 4(a)(2) commercial paper technically a restricted security under the 1933 Act. In practice, however, 4(a)(2) commercial paper can be resold as easily as any other unrestricted security held by the Fund.

Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act requires, among other things, that the Fund establish a liquidity risk management program (“LRMP”) that is reasonably designed to assess and manage liquidity risk. Rule 22e-4 defines “liquidity risk” as the risk that a fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the fund without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interests in the fund. The Fund has implemented a LRMP to meet the relevant requirements. Among other things, the LRMP provides for the classification of each Fund investment as a “highly liquid investment,” “moderately liquid investment,” “less liquid investment” or “illiquid investment.” The liquidity risk classifications of the Fund’s investments are determined after reasonable inquiry and taking into account relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations. To the extent that a Fund investment is deemed to be an “illiquid investment” or a “less liquid investment,” the Fund can expect to be exposed to greater liquidity risk. There is no guarantee the LRMP will be effective in its operations, and complying with Rule 22e-4, including bearing related costs, could impact the Fund’s performance and its ability to seek its investment objective.

Lending Portfolio Securities

Consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and the Fund’s investment restrictions, the Fund may lend portfolio securities to securities broker-dealers or financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time by the Fund (subject to notice provisions described below), and are at all times secured by cash or cash equivalents, which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are at least equal to the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned securities while at the same time earns interest on the cash amounts deposited as collateral, which will be invested in short-term obligations. The Fund will not lend portfolio securities if such loans are not permitted by the laws or regulations of any state in which its shares are qualified for sale. The Fund’s loans of portfolio securities will be collateralized in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and no loan will cause the value of all loaned securities to exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets.

A loan may generally be terminated by the borrower on one business day’s notice, or by the Fund on five business days’ notice. If the borrower fails to deliver the loaned securities within five days after receipt of notice or fails to maintain the requisite amount of collateral, the Fund could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower liable

B-29

for any excess of replacement cost over collateral. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio securities will only be made to firms deemed by the Fund’s management to be creditworthy and when the income that can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan period would inure to the Fund. The risks associated with loans of portfolio securities are substantially similar to those associated with repurchase agreements. Thus, if the counterparty to the loan petitions for bankruptcy or becomes subject to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the law regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. As a result, under extreme circumstances, there may be a restriction on the Fund’s ability to sell the collateral, and the Fund would suffer a loss. When voting or consent rights that accompany loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities, to be delivered within one day after notice, to permit the exercise of such rights if the matters involved would have a material effect on the Fund’s investment in such loaned securities. The Fund will pay reasonable finder’s, administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities.

LIBOR Risk

The London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) was a leading benchmark or reference rate for various commercial and financial contracts, including corporate and municipal bonds, bank loans, asset-backed and mortgage-related securities, interest rate swaps and other derivatives. On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced the gradual phase out of the LIBOR rate, with nearly all LIBOR rate publications having ceased as of June 30, 2023 (some LIBOR rates continue to be published, but only on a temporary and synthetic basis). Alternatives to LIBOR have been established and others may be developed. The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions, has identified SOFR as the preferred alternative rate to LIBOR. SOFR is a relatively new index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities. There remains uncertainty surrounding the nature of any replacement rates.

The transition to a new reference rate may result in (i) increased volatility or illiquidity in markets for instruments or contracts that previously relied on or still rely on LIBOR; (ii) a reduction in the value of certain instruments or contracts held by the Fund; (iii) reduced effectiveness of related Fund transactions, such as hedging; (iv) additional tax, accounting and regulatory risks; or (v) costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades. Any pricing adjustments to the Fund’s investments resulting from a substitute reference rate may also adversely affect the Fund’s performance and/or NAV. There is no assurance that the composition or characteristics of any such alternative reference rate will be similar to or produce the same value or economic equivalence as LIBOR or that instruments or contracts using an alternative rate will have the same volume or liquidity.

Investment Restrictions

The Fund has adopted the following restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without the favorable “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund means the vote of the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund’s investment objective is a non-fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval.

The Fund may not:

1.   Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except that (i) the Fund may borrow from banks in amounts not exceeding one-third of its net assets (including the amount borrowed); and (ii) this restriction shall not prohibit the Fund from engaging in or writing options transactions or short sales or investing in or writing financial futures, swaps, when-issued or delayed delivery securities, or reverse repurchase agreements;

2.   Act as underwriter, except to the extent the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the sale of securities in its investment portfolio;

B-30

3.   Invest 25% or more of its total assets, calculated at the time of purchase, in any one industry (other than in securities issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities).

4.   Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate or real estate limited partnerships (although the Fund may purchase and sell securities which are secured by real estate and securities of companies which invest or deal in real estate, such as REITs);

5.   Make loans of money, except (a) for purchases of debt securities consistent with the investment policies of the Fund, (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements or, (c) through the loan of portfolio securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of the Fund’s net assets; or

6.  Purchase or sell commodities, except that the Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and options; may enter into foreign exchange contracts; may enter into swap agreements and other financial transactions not requiring the delivery of physical commodities in compliance with applicable commodities laws.

In applying the Fund’s fundamental policy concerning industry concentration described above, it is a matter of nonfundamental policy that investments in certain broader categories of companies will not be considered to be investments in the same industry, for example: technology companies will be divided according to their products and services so that hardware, software, information services and outsourcing, and telecommunications will each be considered separate industries; financial service companies will be classified according to the end users of their services so that automobile finance, bank finance and diversified finance will each be considered separate industries; asset-backed securities will be classified according to the underlying assets securing such securities; and utility companies will be divided according to their services so that gas, gas transmission, electric and telephone will each be considered separate industries.

Except with respect to borrowing, if a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth herein or in the Prospectus is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation.

B-31

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Trustees and Officers

The overall management of the business and affairs of the Trust is vested with its Board of Trustees. The Board approves all significant agreements between the Trust and persons or companies furnishing services to it, including the agreements with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, co-administrators, distributor, custodian and transfer agent. The day-to-day operations of the Trust are delegated to its officers, except that the Sub-Adviser is responsible for making day-to-day investment decisions in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, strategies, and policies, all of which are subject to general supervision by the Board.

The Trustees and officers of the Trust, their years of birth and positions with the Trust, term of office with the Trust and length of time served, their business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years and other directorships held during the past five years are listed in the table below. Unless noted otherwise, each person has held the position listed for a minimum of five years. Charles H. Miller, Ashley Toomey Rabun, William H. Young and James E. Ross are all of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (collectively, the “Independent Trustees”).

Name, Address,
Year of Birth and
Position(s) held
with Trust

Term of
Office
c and
Length of
Time Served

Principal Occupation
During the Past Five Years
and Other Affiliations

Number of
Portfolios
in the Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
d

Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
e

“Independent” Trustees:

Charles H. Millera
(born 1947)
Trustee

Since November 2007

Retired (2013 – present); Executive Vice President, Client Management and Development, Access Data, a Broadridge company, a provider of technology and services to asset management firms (1997 – 2012).

5

None.

Ashley Toomey Rabuna
(born 1952)
Trustee and
Chairperson of the Board

Since November 2007

Retired (2016 – present); President and Founder, InvestorReach, Inc. a financial services consulting firm (1996 – 2015).

5

Select Sector SPDR Trust, a registered investment company (includes 11 portfolios).

William H. Younga
(born 1950)
Trustee

Since November 2007

Retired (2014 – present); Independent financial services consultant (1996 – 2014); Interim CEO, Unified Fund Services (now Huntington Fund Services), a mutual fund service provider (2003 – 2006); Senior Vice President, Oppenheimer Management Company (1983 – 1996); Chairman, NICSA, an investment management trade association (1993 – 1996).

5

None.

B-32

Name, Address,
Year of Birth and
Position(s) held
with Trust

Term of
Office
c and
Length of
Time Served

Principal Occupation
During the Past Five Years
and Other Affiliations

Number of
Portfolios
in the Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
d

Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
e

James E. Rossa
(born 1965)
Trustee

Since December 2022

Non-Executive Chairman and Director, Fusion Acquisition Corp. II, a special purpose acquisition company (March 2021 – present); Non-Executive Chairman and Director, Fusion Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (June 2020 – September 2021); Executive Vice President, State Street Global Advisers, a global asset management firm (2012 – March 2020); Chairman and Director, SSGA Funds Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser (2005 – March 2020); Chief Executive Officer, Manager and Director, SSGA Funds Distributor, LLC, a broker-dealer (2017 – March 2020).

5

SPDR Index Shares Funds, a registered investment company (includes 26 portfolios); SPDR Series Trust, a registered investment company (includes 125 portfolios); Select Sector SPDR Trust, a registered investment company (includes 11 portfolios); SSGA Active Trust, a registered investment company (includes 14 portfolios); Fusion Acquisition Corp II.

Interested Trustee:

Maureen Quilla*
(born 1963)
Trustee and President

Since June 2019

President, Investment Managers Series Trust (June 2014 – present); President, Investment Managers Series Trust III (June 2023 – present); EVP/Executive Director Registered Funds (January 2018 – present), Chief Operating Officer (June 2014 – January 2018), and Executive Vice President (January 2007 – June 2014), UMB Fund Services, Inc.; President, UMB Distribution Services (March 2013 – December 2020); Vice President, Investment Managers Series Trust (December 2013 – June 2014).

5

Investment Managers Series Trust III, a registered investment company (includes 7 portfolios), Source Capital, Inc., a closed-end investment company.

Officers of the Trust:

Rita Damb
(born 1966)
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

Since December 2007

Co-Chief Executive Officer (2016 – present), and Vice President (2006 – 2015), Mutual Fund Administration, LLC; Co-President, Foothill Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser (2018 – 2022).

N/A

N/A

B-33

Name, Address,
Year of Birth and
Position(s) held
with Trust

Term of
Office
c and
Length of
Time Served

Principal Occupation
During the Past Five Years
and Other Affiliations

Number of
Portfolios
in the Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
d

Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
e

Joy Ausilib
(born 1966)
Vice President,
Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer

Since March 2016

Co-Chief Executive Officer (2016 – present), and Vice President (2006 – 2015), Mutual Fund Administration, LLC; Co-President, Foothill Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser (2018 – 2022); Secretary and Assistant Treasurer, Investment Managers Series Trust (December 2007 – March 2016).

N/A

N/A

Diane Drakeb
(born 1967)
Secretary

Since March 2016

Senior Counsel, Mutual Fund Administration, LLC (October 2015 – present); Chief Compliance Officer, Foothill Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser (2018 – 2019).

N/A

N/A

Martin Dziurab
(born 1959)
Chief Compliance Officer

Since June 2014

Principal, Dziura Compliance Consulting, LLC (October 2014 – present); Managing Director, Cipperman Compliance Services (2010 – September 2014); Chief Compliance Officer, Hanlon Investment Management (2009 – 2010); Vice President − Compliance, Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2000 − 2009).

N/A

N/A

      Address for certain Trustees and certain officers: 235 W. Galena Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212.

      Address for Ms. Ausili, Ms. Dam and Ms. Drake: 2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226, Glendora, California 91740.

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

      Trustees and officers serve until their successors have been duly elected.

d      The Trust is comprised of 39 series managed by unaffiliated investment advisers. Each Trustee serves as Trustee of each series of the Trust. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the series managed by the same investment adviser. The Fund’s Adviser also serves as investment adviser to the Bramshill Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Robinson Opportunistic Income Fund, Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, and West Loop Realty Fund (and together with the Fund, the “Liberty Street Funds”), which are offered in separate prospectuses. The Liberty Street Funds do not hold themselves out as related to any other series within the Trust, for purposes of investment and investor services.

      “Other Directorships Held” includes only directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (that is, “public companies”), or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

      Ms. Quill is an “interested person” of the Trust by virtue of her position with UMB Fund Services, Inc.

Effective June 16, 2022, Eric M. Banhazl, who served as a Trustee of the Trust from January 2008 to June 14, 2022, is serving as a Trustee Emeritus of the Trust. As a Trustee Emeritus, Mr. Banhazl may attend the meetings of the Board of Trustees or any of its committees, but has no duties, powers or responsibilities with respect to the Trust.

B-34

Compensation

Effective January 1, 2024, each Independent Trustee receives a quarterly retainer of $40,000; $4,000 for each special meeting attended in person; $2,500 for each special in-person meeting attended by videoconference or teleconference in lieu of in-person attendance in accordance with SEC exemptive relief or to address particularly complex matters or matters requiring review of significant materials in advance of the meeting; and $1,500 for any other special meeting attended by videoconference or teleconference at which Board action is taken and/or materials were prepared for review. Each Independent Trustee also receives an additional annual retainer of $5,000 for serving on any committee of the Board of Trustees. In addition, Ms. Rabun receives an additional annual retainer of $35,000 for serving as Chairperson of the Board; Mr. Young receives an additional annual retainer of $15,000 for serving as Chairperson of the Audit Committee; and Mr. Miller receives an additional annual retainer of $15,000 for serving as Chairperson of the Nominating, Governance and Regulatory Review Committee. The Trust has no pension or retirement plan. No other entity affiliated with the Trust pays any compensation to the Trustees.

Prior to January 1, 2024, each Independent Trustee received a quarterly retainer of $40,000; $4,000 for each special in-person meeting attended, or any special meeting attended by videoconference or teleconference in lieu of in-person attendance in accordance with SEC exemptive relief or to address particularly complex matters or matters requiring review of significant materials in advance of the meeting; and $1,500 for any other special meeting attended by videoconference or teleconference at which Board action was taken and/or materials were prepared for review.

The Trustees may elect to defer payment of their compensation from the Fund(s) pursuant to the Trust’s non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Trustees which permits the Trustees to defer receipt of all or part of their compensation from the Trust. Amounts deferred are deemed invested in shares of one or more series of the Trust, as selected by the Trustee from time to time. A Trustee’s deferred compensation account will be paid in cash at such times as elected by the Trustee, subject to certain mandatory payment provisions in the Deferred Compensation Plan. Deferral and payment elections under the Deferred Compensation Plan are subject to strict requirements for modification.

Name of Person/Position

Aggregate
Compensation
From the
Fund ($)
1

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits
Accrued as
Part of Fund’s
Expenses ($)

Estimated
Annual
Benefits
Upon
Retirement
($)

Total
Compensation
from Fund
and Fund
Complex Paid
to Trustees
($)
1,2

Independent Trustees

       

Charles H. Miller, Trustee and Nominating, Governance and Regulatory Review Committee Chair

$2,400

None

None

$12,500

Ashley Toomey Rabun, Trustee and Chairperson

$2,600

None

None

$13,000

William H. Young, Trustee and Audit Committee Chair

$2,400

None

None

$12,500

James E. Ross, Trustee

$2,400

None

None

$12,500

1      Estimated annual compensation for the first year.

2      There are currently numerous portfolios comprising the Trust. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the series managed by the same investment adviser. The Adviser also serves as investment adviser to the Bramshill Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Robinson Opportunistic Income Fund, Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, and West Loop Realty Fund, which are offered in separate prospectuses. The Liberty Street Funds do not hold themselves out as related to any other series within the Trust, for purposes of investment and investor services.

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Ms. Quill is not compensated for her service as Trustee because of her affiliation with the Trust. Officers of the Trust are not compensated by the Fund for their services.

As a Trustee Emeritus of the Trust, Mr. Banhazl does not receive any compensation from the Trust; however, he is entitled to reimbursement of expenses related to his attendance at any meetings of the Board of Trustees or its committees.

Additional Information Concerning the Board and the Trustees

The current Trustees were selected in November 2007 (June 2019 for Ms. Quill and December 2022 for Mr. Ross) with a view towards establishing a Board that would have the broad experience needed to oversee a registered investment company comprised of multiple series employing a variety of different investment strategies. As a group, the Board has extensive experience in many different aspects of the financial services and asset management industries.

The Trustees were selected to join the Board based upon the following factors, among others: character and integrity; willingness to serve and willingness and ability to commit the time necessary to perform the duties of a Trustee; as to each Trustee other than Ms. Quill, satisfying the criteria for not being classified as an “interested person” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act; and, as to Ms. Quill, her position with UMB Fund Services, Inc., one of the Trust’s co-administrators. In addition, the Trustees have the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills relevant to the operations of the Trust:

    Ms. Rabun has substantial senior executive experience in mutual fund marketing and distribution and serving in senior executive and board positions with mutual funds, including multiple series trusts similar to the Trust.

    Mr. Miller has significant senior executive experience with respect to marketing and distribution of mutual funds, including multiple series trusts similar to the Trust.

    Mr. Young has broad senior executive experience with respect to the operations and management of mutual funds and administration service providers, including multiple series trusts similar to the Trust.

    Mr. Ross has significant senior executive experience with respect to marketing and distribution of mutual funds, including exchange-traded funds.

    Ms. Quill has substantial experience serving in senior executive positions at mutual fund administration service providers.

In its periodic self-assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Fund. The summaries set forth above as to the qualifications, attributes and skills of the Trustees are required by the registration form adopted by the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and do not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board as a whole than would otherwise be the case.

The Board of Trustees has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and the Nominating, Governance and Regulatory Review Committee (the “Nominating Committee”).

    The function of the Audit Committee, with respect to each series of the Trust, is to review the scope and results of the series’ annual audit and any matters bearing on the audit or the series’ financial statements and to assist the Board’s oversight of the integrity of the series’ pricing and financial reporting. The Audit Committee is comprised of all of the Independent Trustees and is chaired by Mr. Young. It does not include any Interested Trustees. The Audit Committee is expected to meet at least twice a year with respect to each series of the Trust.

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The Audit Committee also serves as the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee for the Trust for the purpose of compliance with Rules 205.2(k) and 205.3(c) of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding alternative reporting procedures for attorneys retained or employed by an issuer who appear and practice before the SEC on behalf of the issuer.

    The Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing matters pertaining to composition, committees, and operations of the Board, as well as assisting the Board in overseeing matters related to certain regulatory issues. The Nominating Committee meets from time to time as needed. The Nominating Committee will consider trustee nominees properly recommended by the Trust’s shareholders. Shareholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send nominations that include, among other things, biographical data and the qualifications of the proposed nominee to the Trust’s Secretary. The Independent Trustees comprise the Nominating Committee, and the Committee is chaired by Mr. Miller. The Nominating Committee meets as needed.

Independent Trustees comprise 80% of the Board and Ashley Toomey Rabun, an Independent Trustee, serves as Chairperson of the Board. The Chairperson serves as a key point person for dealings between the Trust’s management and the other Independent Trustees. As noted above, through the committees of the Board the Independent Trustees consider and address important matters involving each series of the Trust, including those presenting conflicts or potential conflicts of interest. The Independent Trustees also regularly meet outside the presence of management and are advised by independent legal counsel. The Board has determined that its organization and leadership structure are appropriate in light of its fiduciary and oversight obligations, the special obligations of the Independent Trustees, and the relationship between the Interested Trustees and the Trust’s co-administrators. The Board also believes that its structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from management.

Consistent with its responsibility for oversight of the Fund in the interests of shareholders, the Board among other things oversees risk management of the Fund’s investment programs and business affairs directly and through the Audit Committee. The Board has emphasized to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management programs and procedures.

The Fund faces a number of risks, such as investment risk, valuation risk, reputational risk, risk of operational failure or lack of business continuity, and legal, compliance and regulatory risk. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Fund. Under the overall supervision of the Board, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and other service providers to the Fund employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various of those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. Various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”), the Adviser’s management, the Sub-Adviser’s management and other service providers (such as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm) make periodic reports to the Board or to the Audit Committee with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Fund’s investment objective, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations.

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Fund Shares Beneficially Owned by Trustees

Certain information regarding ownership by the Trustees of the Fund and other series of the Trust, as of the date of this SAI, is set forth in the following table.

Name of Trustee

Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund
(None, $1-$10,000, $10,001-
$50,000, $50,001-$100,000,
Over $100,000) ($)

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in all
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by
Trustee in Family of
Investment Companies ($)

Charles H. Miller, Independent Trustee

None

None

Ashley Toomey Rabun, Independent Trustee

None

None

William H. Young, Independent Trustee

None

None

James E. Ross, Independent Trustee

None

None

Maureen Quill, Interested Trustee

None

None

Control Persons, Principal Shareholders, and Management Ownership

As of the date of this SAI, the Fund is under the control of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser which collectively had voting authority with respect to 98% of the outstanding shares in the Fund on such date. However, once the Fund commences investment operations and its shares are sold to the public, this control will be diluted.

As of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group did not own more than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Furthermore, neither the Independent Trustees, nor members of their immediate families, own securities beneficially or of record in the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, the Fund’s distributor, Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”), or any of their respective affiliates.

The Adviser

The Adviser, Liberty Street Advisers, Inc., 88 Pine Street, 31st Floor, Suite 3101, New York, New York 10005, serves as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Trust (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser is a corporation organized in New York. The Adviser is privately owned with the controlling interests held by Raymond A. Hill, III, Timothy Reick, Victor J. Fontana, Sr., and Scott Daniels.

Pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides the Fund with investment advice, makes recommendations with respect to the selection and continued employment of the Sub-Adviser to manage the Fund’s assets, supervises the investment program of the Fund and the composition of its investment portfolio, reviews investment performance and adherence to compliance procedures, and oversees the investments made by the Sub-Adviser. The Adviser also continuously monitors the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions. Subject to such policies as the Board of Trustees may determine, the Adviser is ultimately responsible for investment decisions for the Fund.

The Advisory Agreement will remain in effect for an initial two-year period. After the initial two-year period, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect with respect to the Fund from year to year only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Advisory Agreement. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund, upon giving the Adviser 60 days’ notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by a vote of a majority of the Board, or by the Adviser on 60 days’ written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust in

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connection with the Advisory Agreement, except for a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, or for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by the Adviser of its duties under the Advisory Agreement.

In consideration of the services to be provided by the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive from the Fund an investment advisory fee computed daily and paid monthly based on an annual rate equal to a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets specified in the Prospectus.

The Sub-Adviser

Gramercy Funds Management LLC, 20 Dayton Ave., Greenwich, Connecticut 06830, serves as the sub-adviser for the Fund pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement with the Adviser (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Subject to the oversight of the Board and the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser makes decisions regarding the investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets.

The Sub-Adviser is a limited liability company organized in Delaware. The Sub-Adviser is privately owned, with controlling interests held by Robert Koenigsberger and Scott Seaman. San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association and Kudu Investment Management, LLC also hold interests in the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser’s Chair, Dr. Mohamed A. El-Erian, holds substantial ownership through synthetic equity in the Sub-Adviser.

The Adviser compensates the Sub-Adviser out of the investment advisory fees the Adviser receives from the Fund. The Sub-Adviser makes investment decisions for the assets it has been allocated to manage, subject to the overall supervision of the Adviser.

The Sub-Advisory Agreement will remain in effect for an initial two-year period. After the initial two-year period, the Sub-Advisory Agreement will continue from year to year only as long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund, and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to the Sub-Advisory Agreement or interested persons of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser or the Trust. The Sub-Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund, or by the Sub-Adviser or the Adviser upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party. Additionally, the Sub-Advisory Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment. The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the Sub-Advisory Agreement, except for a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, or for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by the Sub-Adviser of its duties under the Sub-Advisory Agreement.

Fund Expenses

For services rendered by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a fee, payable monthly, in an annual amount equal to 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Sub-Adviser’s fee, payable monthly and calculated as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets, is paid by the Adviser and not the Fund.

The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses (all of which will be borne directly or indirectly by the Fund’s shareholders), including among others, legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Fund and the Fund’s Independent Trustees; insurance (including Trustees’ and officers’ errors and omissions insurance); auditing and accounting expenses; taxes and governmental fees; listing fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; fees and expenses of the Fund’s custodians, administrators, transfer agents, registrars and other service providers; expenses for portfolio pricing services by a pricing agent, if any; expenses in connection with the issuance and offering of shares; expenses relating to investor and public relations; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for public sale; brokerage commissions and other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio holding of the Fund; expenses of preparation and distribution of reports, notices and dividends to shareholders; expenses of the dividend reinvestment plan; compensation and expenses of trustees; any litigation expenses; and costs of shareholders’ and other meetings.

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The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that the total annual fund operating expenses (excluding, as applicable, taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commission, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with Form N-1A), professional fees related to services for the collection of foreign tax reclaims, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed 1.10%, 1.85% and 0.85% of the average daily net assets of the Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Institutional Class Shares of the Fund, respectively. Class C Shares are not currently available for purchase. This agreement is effective through April 30, 2025, and may be terminated before that date only by the Board of Trustees.

Any reduction in advisory fees or payment of the Fund’s expenses made by the Adviser in a fiscal year may be reimbursed by the Fund for a period ending three full fiscal years after the date of reduction or payment if the Adviser so requests. 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 in effect at the time such fees were waived or payments made, or (b) the expense limitation in effect at the time of the reimbursement. However, the reimbursement amount may not exceed the total amount of fees waived and/or Fund expenses paid by the Adviser and will not include any amounts previously reimbursed to the Adviser by the Fund. Any such reimbursement is contingent upon the Board’s subsequent review of the reimbursed amounts. The Fund must pay current ordinary operating expenses before the Adviser is entitled to any reimbursement of fees and/or Fund expenses.

Portfolio Managers

The Fund is team-managed by Philip Meier and Belinda Hill.

Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers. As of December 31, 2023, information on other accounts managed by the Fund’s portfolio managers is as follows.

Registered Investment
Companies

Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles

Other Accounts

Portfolio Managers

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in Million)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in Million)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in Million)

Philip Meier

0

$0.00

2

$199.4

4

$821.1

Belinda Hill

0

$0.00

2

$199.4

4

$821.1

Number of Accounts with Advisory Fee Based on Performance

 

Registered Investment
Companies

Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles

Other Accounts

Portfolio Managers

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in Million)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in Million)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in Million)

Philip Meier

0

$0.00

2

$397.7

3

$1,186.0

Belinda Hill

0

$0.00

0

$0.00

0

$0.00

Material Conflicts of Interest. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when the portfolio managers has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or other account. Where conflicts of interest arise between the Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, the Sub-Adviser will proceed in a manner that ensures that the Fund will not be treated less favorably. There may be instances in which similar portfolio transactions may be executed for the same security for numerous accounts managed by the portfolio managers. In such instances, securities will be allocated in accordance with the Sub-Adviser’s trade allocation policy. Though the Sub-Adviser has policies and procedures in place to address conflicts of interest, there is no guarantee that the Sub-Adviser’s procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

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Compensation. As of the date of this SAI, Mr. Meier and Mrs. Hill receive compensation in the form of a fixed salary and incentive bonus from the Sub-Adviser, or, in the case of Mr. Meier, an affiliated entity in the U.K. The portfolio managers’ incentive bonus is adjusted based on the performance of the overall firm as well as the performance of the strategies and portfolios managed by the portfolio managers (in each case, measured based on actual cash revenue received). The Sub-Adviser (directly or through its U.K. affiliate, as applicable) also provides the portfolio managers a 401(k) plan (or U.K. equivalent pension scheme), a Profit Sharing Plan which provides additional benefits including pre-tax deferral elections, Roth (post-tax) deferral elections, employer matching contributions and discretionary Profit Sharing allocations. The portfolio managers also share in a Performance Unit Plan which grants synthetic equity to the firm’s staff.

Ownership of the Fund by the Portfolio Managers. As of the date of this SAI, the portfolio managers owned the following securities in the Fund:

Name of Portfolio Managers

Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned
(None, $1-$10,000, $10,001-$50,000,
$50,001-$100,000, $100,001-$500,000,
$500,001-$1,000,000, Over $1,000,000)

Philip Meier

None

Belinda Hill

$1-$10,000

Service Providers

Pursuant to a Co-Administration Agreement (the “Co-Administration Agreement”), UMB Fund Services, Inc. (“UMBFS”), 235 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212, and Mutual Fund Administration, LLC (“MFAC”), 2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226, Glendora, California 91740 (collectively the “Co-Administrators”), act as co-administrators for the Fund. The Co-Administrators provide certain administrative services to the Fund, including, among other responsibilities, coordinating the negotiation of contracts and fees with, and the monitoring of performance and billing of, the Fund’s independent contractors and agents; preparing for signature by an officer of the Trust of all documents required to be filed for compliance with applicable laws and regulations including those of the securities laws of various states; arranging for the computation of performance data, including net asset value and yield; arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the Fund; and providing, at their own expense, office facilities, equipment and personnel necessary to carry out their duties. In this capacity, the Co-Administrators do not have any responsibility or authority for the management of the Fund, the determination of investment policy, or for any matter pertaining to the distribution of Fund shares. The Co-Administration Agreement provides that neither Co-Administrator shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or its series, except for losses resulting from a Co-Administrator’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under the Agreement.

Pursuant to the Co-Administration Agreement, the Fund pays the Co-Administrators a fee for administration services. The fee is payable monthly based on the Fund’s average daily net assets. Because the Fund is a newly formed fund and has yet to commence operations, the Fund has not paid any fees to the Co-Administrators as of the date of this SAI.

UMBFS also acts as the Trust’s fund accountant, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent pursuant to separate agreements.

UMB Bank, n.a. (the “Custodian”), an affiliate of UMBFS, is the custodian of the assets of the Fund pursuant to a custody agreement between the Custodian and the Trust, whereby the Custodian provides services for fees on a transactional basis plus out-of-pocket expenses. The Custodian’s address is 928 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The Custodian does not participate in decisions pertaining to the purchase and sale of securities by the Fund.

Tait, Weller & Baker LLP (“Tait Weller”), Two Liberty Place, 50 S. 16th Street, Suite 2900, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-2529, is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. Its services include auditing the Fund’s financial statements and the performance of related tax services.

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Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (“Morgan Lewis”), 600 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1800, Costa Mesa, California 92626, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

Paul Hastings LLP (“Paul Hastings”), 101 California Street, 48th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111, serves as legal counsel to the Independent Trustees.

Distributor and the Distribution Agreement

Foreside Fund Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (d/b/a ACA Group), is the distributor (also known as the principal underwriter) of the shares of the Fund and is located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of FINRA. The Distributor is not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or any other service provider for the Fund.

Under a Distribution Agreement with the Trust dated September 30, 2021 (the “Distribution Agreement”), the Distributor acts as the agent of the Trust in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund. The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a commercially reasonable efforts basis. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares. The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Trust.

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

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein. Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares. Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary. The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary. The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective. The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, gross negligence or fraud in the performance of such duties and obligations. The Distribution Agreement will continue in effect with respect to the Fund only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and, in either case, by a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the Distribution Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund on 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by vote of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, or by the Distributor on 60 days’ written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).

The Distributor does not retain sales charges for the sale of the Fund’s Class A Shares. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, should any amounts be retained by the Distributor, such amounts would not be held for profit at the Distributor, but instead would be used solely for distribution related expenditures.

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Rule 12b-1 Plan

The Trust has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”) that provides for Fund assets to be used for the payment for distribution services for Class A and Class C shares. The 12b-1 Plan provides alternative methods for paying sales charges and may help the Fund grow or maintain asset levels to provide operational efficiencies and economies of scale. The 12b-1 Plan also provides for the payment of service fees in connection with the provision of post-sales shareholders liaison services to holders of Class A and Class C shares as defined in FINRA regulations, including personal services such as responding to customer inquiries, and services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts. Because 12b-1 fees are paid out of Fund assets attributable to Class A and Class C shares on an ongoing basis, they will, over time, increase the cost of an investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges.

The 12b-1 Plan provides that the distribution fees paid by Class A or Class C Shares of the Fund may be used to pay for any expenses primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of such Class, including: (a) costs of payments, including incentive compensation, made to agents for and consultants to the Distributor or the Trust, including pension administration firms that provide distribution services and broker-dealers that engage in the distribution of the shares of the Fund or Class; (b) payments made to, and expenses of, persons who provide support services in connection with the distribution of shares of such Class of the Fund; (c) payments made pursuant to any dealer agreements between the Distributor and certain broker-dealers, financial institutions and other service providers with respect to such Class of the Fund; (d) costs relating to the formulation and implementation of marketing and promotional activities; (e) costs of printing and distributing prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports of the Fund to prospective shareholders of such Class of the Fund; (f) costs involved in preparing, printing and distributing sales literature pertaining to such Class of the Fund; (g) costs involved in obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities that the Trust may deem advisable with respect to such Class of the Fund, and (h) reimbursement to the Adviser for expenses advanced on behalf of the Fund or Class with respect to such activities. The 12b-1 Plan is a compensation plan, which means that the Distributor is compensated regardless of its expenses, as opposed to a reimbursement plan which reimburses only for expenses incurred. The Distributor does not retain any 12b-1 fees for profit. All 12b-1 fees are held in a retention account by the Distributor to pay for and/or reimburse the Fund, the Adviser, and its related parties for distribution related expenditures.

The 12b-1 Plan may not be amended to materially increase the amount to be paid by the Fund’s Class A and Class C shares for distribution services without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such shares. The 12b-1 Plan shall continue in effect indefinitely with respect to a Class, provided that such continuance is approved at least annually by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose or by vote of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Class. The 12b-1 Plan may be terminated with respect to a Class at any time without penalty by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Class.

If the 12b-1 Plan is terminated for the Fund’s Class A and Class C shares in accordance with its terms, the obligation of the Fund to make payments to the Distributor pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan will cease and the Fund will not be required to make any payments past the termination date. Thus, there will be no legal obligation for the Fund to pay any expenses incurred by the Distributor other than for fees already payable under the 12b-1 Plan, if the 12b-1 Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms for any reason.

Shareholder Service Plan

The Board has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, a Shareholder Service Plan (the “Service Plan”) under which the Adviser will provide, or arrange for others (such as banks, trust companies, broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries (each, a “Service Organization”)) to provide, certain specified non-distribution shareholder servicing functions for Fund shares owned by its respective customers, including but not limited to (a) establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to customers who invest in the Fund; (b) aggregating and processing orders involving Fund shares; (c) processing dividend and other distribution payments from the Fund on behalf of customers; (d) preparing tax reports or forms on behalf of customers; (e) forwarding communications from the Fund; (f) providing sub-accounting with respect to Fund shares; (g) providing customers with a service that invests the assets of their accounts in Fund shares pursuant to specific or pre-authorized instructions; and (h) providing such other similar services as the Adviser may

B-43

reasonably request to the extent it or a Service Organization is permitted to do so under applicable statutes, rules or regulations. The Fund will pay the Adviser or Service Organizations, as applicable, at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, payable monthly. The amount paid by the Fund to any Service Organization may be expressed in terms of a dollar amount per shareholder account in the Fund held by clients of the Service Organization, and/or in terms of percentage of the net assets of such accounts.

Marketing and Support Payments

The Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, out of its own resources and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, provides cash payments to certain financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. These payments are in addition to other fees described in the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI, and are generally provided for shareholder services or marketing support. Payments for marketing support are typically for inclusion of the Fund on sales lists, including electronic sales platforms. Investors may wish to take these payments into account when considering and evaluating recommendations to purchase shares of the Fund. The Adviser’s affiliated broker-dealer, HRC Fund Associates, LLC (“HRC”), markets the Fund shares pursuant to a marketing agreement with the Adviser. HRC acts as a wholesaling agent which markets the Fund to financial intermediaries, who in turn and at their discretion may recommend the Fund for purchase to their clients. HRC may also market the Fund to institutional investors. The Adviser pays HRC out of its own resources and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders.

Dealer Reallowances

The Fund’s Class A shares are subject to a sales charge that includes a dealer reallowance, which varies depending on how much the shareholder invests. The Distributor pays the appropriate dealer reallowance to dealers who have entered into an agreement with the Distributor to sell shares of the Fund. More detailed information on the sales charge and its application is contained in the Prospectus. The Distributor does not retain sales charges for the sale of the Fund’s Class A Shares.

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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

The Sub-Adviser determines which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which broker-dealers are eligible to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The purchases and sales of securities in the OTC market will generally be executed by using a broker for the transaction.

Purchases of portfolio securities for the Fund also may be made directly from issuers or from underwriters. Where possible, purchase and sale transactions will be effected through dealers (including banks) that specialize in the types of securities which the Fund will be holding unless better executions are available elsewhere. Dealers and underwriters usually act as principals for their own accounts. Purchases from underwriters will include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and purchases from dealers will include the spread between the bid and the asked price. If the execution and price offered by more than one dealer or underwriter are comparable, the order may be allocated to a dealer or underwriter that has provided research or other services as discussed below.

In placing portfolio transactions, the Sub-Adviser will use its reasonable efforts to choose broker-dealers capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable price and execution available. The full range and quality of services available will be considered in making these determinations, such as the size of the order, the difficulty of execution, the operational facilities of the broker-dealer involved, the risk in positioning the block of securities, and other factors. In those instances where it is reasonably determined that more than one broker-dealer can offer the services needed to obtain the most favorable price and execution available, consideration may be given to those broker-dealers which furnish or supply research and statistical information to the Sub-Adviser that they may lawfully and appropriately use in their investment advisory capacities, as well as provide other services in addition to execution services. The Sub-Adviser considers such information, which is in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by it under its Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to the Fund, to be useful in varying degrees, but of indeterminable value.

While it is the Fund’s general policy to seek to obtain the most favorable price and execution available in selecting a broker-dealer to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund, weight is also given to the ability of a broker-dealer to furnish brokerage and research services as defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to the Fund or to the Sub-Adviser, even if the specific services are not directly useful to the Fund and may be useful to the Sub-Adviser in advising other clients. In negotiating commissions with a broker or evaluating the spread to be paid to a dealer, the Fund may therefore pay a higher commission or spread than would be the case if no weight were given to the furnishing of these supplemental services, provided that the amount of such commission or spread has been determined in good faith by the Sub-Adviser to be reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such broker-dealer. The standard of reasonableness is to be measured in light of the Sub-Adviser’s overall responsibilities to the Fund.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other client accounts that may be managed or advised by the Sub-Adviser. Nevertheless, it is possible that at times, identical securities will be acceptable for both the Fund and one or more of such client accounts. In such event, the position of the Fund and such client accounts in the same issuer may vary and the holding period may likewise vary. However, to the extent any of these client accounts seek to acquire the same security as the Fund at the same time, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a position in such security as it desires, or it may have to pay a higher price or obtain a lower yield for such security. Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as high a price for, or as large an execution of, an order to sell any particular security at the same time as the Sub-Adviser’s other client accounts.

The Fund does not effect securities transactions through brokers in accordance with any formula, nor does it effect securities transactions through brokers for selling shares of the Fund. However, broker-dealers who execute brokerage transactions may effect purchase of shares of the Fund for their customers.

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Holdings of Securities of the Fund’s Regular Brokers and Dealers

From time to time, the Fund may acquire and hold securities issued by its “regular brokers or dealers” or the parents of those brokers or dealers. “Regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund are the ten brokers or dealers that, during the most recent fiscal year, (i) received the greatest dollar amounts of brokerage commissions from the Fund’s portfolio transactions, (ii) engaged as principal in the largest dollar amounts of the portfolio transactions of the Fund, or (iii) sold the largest dollar amounts of the Fund’s shares. Any securities of any “regular brokers or dealers” held by the Fund during a fiscal year will be disclosed by the Fund after the end of such fiscal year.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

Although the Fund generally will not invest for short-term trading purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Sub-Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in the Fund’s portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions. To the extent net short-term capital gains are realized, any distributions resulting from such gains will be taxed at ordinary income tax rates for federal income tax purposes. The Fund is newly-created and, as a result, does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate.

PROXY VOTING POLICY

The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Trust Policies”) on behalf of the Trust, which delegates the responsibility for voting the Fund’s proxies to the Sub-Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Trust Policies require that the Sub-Adviser vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund. The Trust Policies also require the Sub-Adviser to present to the Board, at least annually, the Sub-Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Sub-Adviser’s Proxy Policies”) and a record of each proxy voted by the Sub-Adviser on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Sub-Adviser as involving a conflict of interest. See Appendix B for the Trust Policies and Sub-Adviser’s Proxy Policies. These policies are intended to serve as guidelines and to further the economic value of each security held by the Fund. The Trust’s CCO will review the Trust Policies and the Sub-Adviser Policies annually. Each proxy will be considered individually, taking into account the relevant circumstances at the time of each vote.

If a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Sub-Adviser’s or its affiliates’ interests and the Fund’s interests, the Sub-Adviser will resolve the conflict by following the policy guidelines or the recommendation of an independent third party.

The Fund is required to annually file Form N-PX, which lists the Fund’s complete proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30 of each year. Once filed, the Fund’s proxy voting record will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free (800) 207-7108, by visiting the Fund’s website at www.libertystreetfunds.com, or by visiting the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

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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”). In order to ensure compliance with this law, the Program provides for the development and implementation 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.

Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Distributor and the Fund’s Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures, reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity, checking shareholder names against designated government lists, including Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), and 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.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Trust has adopted policies and procedures regarding disclosure of portfolio holdings information (the “Disclosure Policy”). The Board of Trustees determined that the adoption of the Disclosure Policy, including the disclosure permitted therein, was in the best interests of the Trust. The Disclosure Policy applies to the Fund, Adviser, Sub-Adviser, and other internal parties involved in the administration, operation or custody of the Fund, including, but not limited to UMBFS, MFAC, the Board of Trustees, counsel to the Trust, Morgan Lewis, counsel to the Independent Trustees, Paul Hastings, and the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, Tait Weller (collectively, the “Service Providers”). Pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, non-public information concerning the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed to its Service Providers only if such disclosure is consistent with the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the fiduciary duties owed by the Fund, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser to the Fund’s shareholders. 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 Sub-Adviser or any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser) in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information of the Fund. The Fund’s Disclosure Policy is implemented and overseen by the CCO of the Trust, subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to the Trust’s Board.

Portfolio holdings information will be deemed public when it has been (1) posted to the Fund’s public website (www.libertystreetfunds.com) or (2) disclosed in periodic regulatory filings on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). The Adviser may make publicly available the Fund’s total portfolio holdings as of the most recent calendar quarter on the Fund’s public website no earlier than five days after the date of such information (e.g., information as of January 31 may be made available no earlier than February 5).

Non-Public Portfolio Holdings Information Policy. All portfolio holdings information that has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally as described above is considered non-public portfolio holdings information for the purposes of the Disclosure Policy. Pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, the Fund or its Service Providers may disclose non-public portfolio holdings information to certain third parties who fall within pre-authorized categories on a daily basis, with no lag time unless otherwise specified below. These third parties include: (i) the Fund’s Service Providers and others who need access to such information in the performance of their contractual or other duties and responsibilities to the Fund (e.g., custodians, accountants, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, administrators, attorneys, officers and Trustees) and who are subject to duties of confidentiality imposed by law or contract, (ii) brokers who execute trades for the Fund, (iii) evaluation service providers (as described below) and (iv) shareholders receiving in-kind redemptions (as described below).

Evaluation Service Providers. These third parties include mutual fund evaluation services, such as Morningstar, Inc. and Lipper, Inc., if the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for disclosing the information, provided that the third party expressly agrees to maintain the non-public portfolio holdings information in confidence and not to trade portfolio securities based on the non-public portfolio holdings information. Subject to the terms and conditions of any agreement between the Fund or its authorized service providers and the third party, if these conditions for disclosure

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are satisfied, there shall be no restriction on the frequency with which the Fund’s non-public portfolio holdings information is released, and no lag period shall apply. In addition, persons who owe a duty of trust or confidence to the Fund or its Service Providers (such as legal counsel) may receive non-public portfolio holdings information without entering into a non-disclosure agreement.

Shareholder In-Kind Distributions. The Fund may, in certain circumstances, pay redemption proceeds to a shareholder by an in-kind distribution of portfolio securities (instead of cash). In such circumstances, pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, Fund shareholders may receive a complete listing of the portfolio holdings of the Fund up to seven (7) calendar days prior to making the redemption request provided that they represent orally or in writing that they agree to maintain the confidentiality of the portfolio holdings information and not to trade portfolio securities based on the non-public holdings information.

Other Entities. Pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, the Fund, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser may disclose non-public portfolio holdings information to a third party who does not fall within the pre-approved categories, and who are not executing broker-dealers; however, prior to the receipt of any non-public portfolio holdings information by such third party, the recipient must have entered into a non-disclosure agreement and the disclosure arrangement must have been approved by the CCO of the Trust. The CCO will report to the Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis regarding any recipients of non-public portfolio holdings information approved pursuant to this paragraph. There are no other ongoing arrangements as of the date of this SAI.

The Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, and its affiliates may provide investment advice to clients other than the Fund that have investment objectives that may be substantially similar to those of the Fund. These clients also may have portfolios consisting of holdings substantially similar to those of the Fund and generally have access to current portfolio holdings information for their accounts. These clients do not owe the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or the Fund a duty of confidentiality with respect to disclosure of their portfolio holdings.

Current Arrangements Regarding Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings. As of the date of this SAI, the Trust or the Fund has ongoing business arrangements with the following entities which involve making portfolio holdings information available to such entities as an incidental part of the services they provide to the Trust: (i) the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, MFAC and UMBFS, and UMB Bank, N.A., pursuant to investment management, administration and custody agreements, respectively, under which the Trust’s portfolio holdings information is provided daily on a real-time basis (i.e. with no time lag); (ii) Tait Weller (independent registered public accounting firm), Morgan Lewis and Paul Hastings (attorneys) to which the Trust provides portfolio holdings information on a regular basis with varying lag times after the date of the information; (iii) Practical Computer Application, to which MFAC provides the Trust’s portfolio holdings information on a daily basis for programming and database hosting services in connection with MFAC’s administrative services to the Trust; (iv) Donnelley Financial Solutions, to which the Trust provides portfolio holdings information on a monthly basis in connection with filings of Form N-PORT; (v) FilePoint, to which MFAC provides the Fund’s portfolio holdings on a monthly basis in connection with filings of Form N-PORT; (vi) Morningstar, Inc., Lipper Inc., Refinitiv, Thomson Financial, Vickers Stock Research Corporation, and Bloomberg L.P., to which the Fund’s portfolio holdings information is provided quarterly after the end of the previous fiscal quarter, with a 60-day time lag and no earlier than the date such information is filed on the SEC’s EDGAR system on Form N-PORT (for the first and third fiscal quarters) or the Annual or Semi-Annual Report is mailed to shareholders (for the second and fourth fiscal quarters), as applicable; (vii) VATIT USA Inc. (d/b/a WTax), to which the Fund’s portfolio holdings information is provided on a regular basis with varying lag times after the date of the information for tax services relating to foreign securities; and (viii) Gainskeeper, Inc. and its affiliates, pursuant to an administrative agency agreement under which the Trust provides the Fund’s portfolio tax lot holdings and transaction level data information on a daily basis.

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DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

The net asset values per share (“NAVs”) of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate and are determined as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the normal close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The NAVs may be calculated earlier if permitted by the SEC. The NYSE annually announces the days on which it will not be open for trading. The most recent announcement indicates that the NYSE will not be open for the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. However, the NYSE may close on days not included in that announcement.

The NAV of each class is computed by dividing (a) the difference between the value of the Fund’s securities, cash and other assets and the amount of the Fund’s expenses and liabilities attributable to the class by (b) the number of shares outstanding in that class (assets – liabilities / # of shares = NAV). Each NAV takes into account all of the expenses and fees of that class of the Fund, including management fees and administration fees, which are accrued daily.

 

Net Assets

 

=

 

NAV

   

Shares Outstanding

 

Generally, the Fund’s investments are valued at market value or, in the absence of a market value, at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser pursuant to procedures approved by or under the direction of the Board. Pursuant to those procedures, the Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee (the “Valuation Designee”) responsible for determining whether market quotations are readily available and reliable, reviewing recommendations made by the Fund’s Sub-Adviser, and making good faith determinations of fair value when appropriate. The Valuation Designee carries out its responsibilities with respect to fair value determinations through its Valuation Committee. As the Valuation Designee, the Adviser is responsible for the establishment and application, in a consistent manner, of appropriate methodologies for determining the fair value of investments, periodically reviewing the selected methodologies used for continuing appropriateness and accuracy, and making any changes or adjustments to the methodologies as appropriate. The Valuation Designee is also responsible for the identification, periodic assessment, and management of material risks, including material conflicts of interest, associated with fair value determinations, taking into account the Fund’s investments, significant changes in the Fund’s investment strategies or policies, market events, and other relevant factors. The Valuation Designee is subject to the general oversight of the Board.

The Fund’s securities which are traded on securities exchanges are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any reported sales, at the mean between the last available bid and ask prices.

Debt securities are valued at the mean between the last available bid and asked prices for such securities or, if such prices are not available, at fair value considering prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality, and type. Pricing services generally value debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but such securities may be held or transactions may be conducted in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots often trade at lower prices than institutional round lots. The Fund values exchange-traded options at the last sales price, or, if no last sales price is available, at the last bid price.

Securities that are traded on more than one exchange are valued on the exchange determined by the Sub-Adviser to be the primary market. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (“NASDAQ”), National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has not been any sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and ask prices. OTC securities which are not traded in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the most recent trade price.

Stocks that are “thinly traded” or events occurring when a foreign market is closed but the NYSE is open (for example, the value of a security held by the Fund has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded) may create a situation where a market quote would not be readily available. When a market quote is not readily available, the security’s value is based on “fair value” as determined by the Fund’s procedures, which have been approved by the Board. The Adviser will periodically test the appropriateness and

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accuracy of the fair value methodologies that have been selected for the Fund. The Fund may hold portfolio securities, such as those traded on foreign securities exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund’s shares are not priced. Therefore, the value of the Fund’s shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

Short-term debt obligations with remaining maturities in excess of 60 days are valued at current market prices, as discussed above. Short-term securities with 60 days or less remaining to maturity are, unless conditions indicate otherwise, amortized to maturity based on their cost to the Fund if acquired within 60 days of maturity or, if already held by the Fund on the 60th day, based on the value determined on the 61st day.

All other assets of the Fund are valued in such manner as the Adviser, in good faith, deems appropriate to reflect as their fair value.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

Detailed information on the purchase and redemption of shares is included in the Fund’s Prospectus. Shares of the Fund are sold at the next offering price calculated after receipt of an order for purchase. In order to purchase shares of the Fund, you must invest the initial minimum investment for the relevant class of shares. However, the Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive the minimum initial investment amount for certain investors, or to waive or reduce the minimum initial investment for 401(k) plans or other tax-deferred retirement plans. You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business by placing orders with the Fund.

The Fund reserves the right to refuse any purchase requests, particularly those that would not be in the best interests of the Fund or its shareholders and could adversely affect the Fund or its operations. This includes those from any individual or group who, in the Fund’s view, is likely to engage in or has a history of excessive trading (usually defined as more than four round-trip transactions out of the Fund within a calendar year). Furthermore, the Fund may suspend the right to redeem its shares or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven calendar days (i) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend or holiday closings) or trading on the NYSE is restricted; (ii) for any period during which an emergency exists affecting the sale of the Fund’s securities or making such sale or the fair determination of the value of the Fund’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or (iii) for such other periods as the SEC may permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders. In addition, if shares are purchased using a check and a redemption is requested before the check has cleared, the Fund may postpone payment of the redemption proceeds up to 15 days while the Fund waits for the check to clear.

Redemptions In Kind. The Trust has filed an election under SEC Rule 18f-1 committing to pay in cash all redemptions by a shareholder of record up to amounts specified by the rule (the lesser of (i) $250,000 or (ii) 1% of the Fund’s assets). The Fund has reserved the right to pay the redemption price of its shares in excess of the amounts specified by the rule, either totally or partially, by an in-kind distribution of portfolio securities (instead of cash). The securities so distributed would be valued at the same amounts as those assigned to them in calculating the NAV for the Fund shares being redeemed. If a shareholder receives an in-kind distribution, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.

The Fund does not intend to hold any significant percentage of its portfolio in illiquid securities, although the Fund, like virtually all mutual funds, may from time to time hold a small percentage of securities that are illiquid. In the unlikely event the Fund were to elect to make an in-kind redemption, the Fund expects that it would follow the normal protocol of making such distribution by way of a pro rata distribution based on its entire portfolio. If the Fund held illiquid securities, such distribution may contain a pro rata portion of such illiquid securities or the Fund may determine, based on a materiality assessment, not to include illiquid securities in the in-kind redemption. The Fund does not anticipate that it would ever selectively distribute a greater than pro rata portion of any illiquid securities to satisfy a redemption request. If such securities are included in the distribution, shareholders may not be able to liquidate such securities and may be required to hold such securities indefinitely. Shareholders’ ability to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind may be restricted by resale limitations or substantial restrictions on transfer imposed by the issuers of the securities or by law. Shareholders may only be able to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind at a substantial discount from their value, and there may be higher brokerage costs associated with any subsequent disposition of these securities by the recipient.

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FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS

The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal (and, where noted, state and local) income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders. The discussion is very general. Current and prospective shareholders are therefore urged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the specific federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of investing in the Fund. The summary is based on the laws in effect on the date of this SAI and existing judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.

The Fund is treated as a separate entity from other series of the Trust for federal income tax purposes. The Fund has elected (or intends to elect) to be, and intends to qualify each year for treatment as, a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code by complying with all applicable requirements of the Code, including, among other things, requirements as to the sources of the Fund’s income, diversification of the Fund’s assets and timing of Fund distributions. To so qualify, the Fund must, among other things: (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (i.e., partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or tradable on a secondary market, other than partnerships that derive 90% of their income from interest, dividends, capital gains, and other traditionally permitted mutual fund income); (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, securities of other regulated investment companies, U.S. government securities and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the Fund’s assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, in the securities (other than the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or in the securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships;” and (c) distribute an amount equal to the sum of at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction) and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (including, for purposes of satisfying this distribution requirement, certain distributions made by the Fund after the close of its taxable year that are treated as made during such taxable year).

As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its taxable investment income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders provided that it satisfies a minimum distribution requirement. In order to also avoid liability for a non-deductible federal excise tax, the Fund must distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) 98.2% of the excess of its realized capital gains over its realized capital losses for the 12-month period generally ending on October 31 during such year and (iii) any amounts from the prior calendar year that were not distributed and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax. The Fund will be subject to income tax at the applicable corporate tax rate on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders. The Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders all investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and any net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) for each fiscal year in a manner that complies with the distribution requirements of the Code, so that the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or excise taxes.

If, for any taxable year, the Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company or were to fail to meet certain minimum distribution requirements under the Code, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In addition, in the event of a failure to qualify, the Fund’s distributions, to the extent derived from the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, including any distributions of net capital gain, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividend income for federal income tax purposes. However, such dividends would be eligible, subject to any generally applicable limitations, (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals, and (ii) for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. Moreover, if the Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company in any year, it would be required to distribute its earnings and profits accumulated in

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that year in order to qualify again as a regulated investment company. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may be able to cure a failure to qualify as a regulated investment company, but in order to do so the Fund might incur significant Fund-level taxes and might be forced to dispose of certain assets. If the Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund would generally be required to recognize any net built-in gains with respect to certain of its assets upon a disposition of such assets within five years of qualifying as a regulated investment company in a subsequent year.

Shareholders generally will be subject to federal income taxes on distributions made by the Fund whether paid in cash or additional shares. Distributions of net investment income (including interest, dividend income and net short-term capital gain in excess of any net long-term capital loss, less certain expenses), other than qualified dividend income, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions of qualified dividend income generally will be taxed to non-corporate shareholders at the federal income tax rates applicable to net capital gain, provided the Fund reports the amount distributed as qualified dividend income.

In general, dividends may be reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund. Qualified dividend income generally means dividend income received from the Fund’s investments in common and preferred stock of U.S. companies and stock of certain qualified foreign corporations, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met by both the Fund and its shareholders. If 95% or more of the Fund’s gross income (calculated without taking into account net capital gain derived from sales or other dispositions of stock or securities) consists of qualified dividend income, the Fund may report all distributions of such income as qualified dividend income.

A foreign corporation is treated as a qualified foreign corporation for this purpose if it is incorporated in a possession of the United States or it is eligible for the benefits of certain income tax treaties with the United States and meets certain additional requirements. Certain foreign corporations that are not otherwise qualified foreign corporations will be treated as qualified foreign corporations with respect to dividends paid by them if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Passive foreign investment companies are not qualified foreign corporations for this purpose.

Dividends paid by the Fund may qualify in part for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders, provided the Fund reports the amount distributed as a qualifying dividend and certain holding period and other requirements under the Code are satisfied. The reported amount, however, cannot exceed the aggregate amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for its taxable year. Eligibility for qualified dividend income treatment and the dividends-received deduction may be reduced or eliminated if, among other things, (i) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property or (ii) certain holding period requirements are not satisfied at both the Fund and shareholder levels. In addition, qualified dividend income treatment is not available if a shareholder elects to have the dividend income treated as investment income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of investment interest.

Under Section 163(j) of the Code, a taxpayer’s business interest expense is generally deductible to the extent of the taxpayer’s business interest income plus certain other amounts. If the Fund earns business interest income, it may report a portion of its dividends as “Section 163(j) interest dividends,” which its shareholders may be able to treat as business interest income for purposes of Section 163(j) of the Code. The Fund’s “Section 163(j) interest dividend” for a tax year will be limited to the excess of its business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. In general, the Fund’s shareholders may treat a distribution reported as a Section 163(j) interest dividend as interest income only to the extent the distribution exceeds the sum of the portions of the distribution reported as other types of tax-favored income. To be eligible to treat a Section 163(j) interest dividend as interest income, a shareholder may need to meet certain holding period requirements in respect of the Fund shares and must not have hedged its position in the Fund shares in certain ways.

Distributions of net capital gain, if any, that the Fund reports as capital gain dividends will be taxable to non-corporate shareholders as long-term capital gain without regard to how long a shareholder has held shares of the Fund. The Fund may retain certain amounts of capital gains and designate them as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, who (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amounts so designated, (ii) will be entitled to credit their

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proportionate shares of the income tax paid by the Fund on those undistributed amounts against their federal income tax liabilities and to claim refunds to the extent such credits exceed their liabilities and (iii) will be entitled to increase their federal income tax basis in their shares by an amount equal to the excess of the amounts of undistributed net capital gain included in their respective income over their respective income tax credits.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund is permitted to carry forward indefinitely a net capital loss from any taxable year to offset its capital gains, if any, in years following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to shareholders. Generally, the Fund may not carry forward any losses other than net capital losses. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to treat certain losses as though they were incurred on the first day of the taxable year immediately following the taxable year in which they were actually incurred.

Distributions in excess of earnings and profits will, as to each shareholder, be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the shareholder’s basis in his or her Fund shares. A distribution treated as a return of capital will reduce the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, which will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or a decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on a later sale of such shares. After the shareholder’s basis is reduced to zero, any distributions in excess of earnings and profits will be treated as a capital gain, assuming the shareholder holds his or her shares as capital assets.

A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax generally applies to all or a portion of the net investment income of a shareholder who is an individual and not a nonresident alien for federal income tax purposes and who has adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) that exceeds a threshold amount ($250,000 if married filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For these purposes, interest, dividends and certain capital gains (among other categories of income) are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income.

Certain tax-exempt educational institutions are subject to a 1.4% tax on net investment income. For these purposes, certain dividends and capital gain distributions, and certain gains from the disposition of Fund shares (among other categories of income), are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income.

Distributions are generally taxable when received. However, distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in such a month and paid the following January are taxable for federal income tax purposes as if received on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. In addition, certain distributions made after the close of a taxable year of the Fund may be “spilled back” and treated for certain purposes as paid by the Fund during such taxable year. In such case, shareholders generally will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made. For purposes of calculating the amount of a regulated investment company’s undistributed income and gain subject to the 4% excise tax described above, such “spilled back” dividends are treated as paid by the regulated investment company when they are actually paid.

A redemption of Fund shares may result in recognition of a taxable gain or loss. The gain or loss will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year, and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for one year or less. Any loss realized upon a redemption or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gains during such six-month period. Any loss realized upon a redemption may be disallowed under certain wash sale rules to the extent shares of the Fund or substantially identical stock or securities are purchased (through reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the redemption.

If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases exempted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not exempted. The fact that a loss is so reportable does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper.

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The Fund’s transactions in options and other similar transactions, such as futures, may be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, affect the character of any income realized by the Fund from such investments, accelerate recognition of income to the Fund, defer Fund losses, affect the holding period of the Fund’s securities, affect whether distributions will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction or be treated as qualified dividend income and affect the determination of whether capital gain and loss is characterized as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions may also require the Fund to “mark-to-market” certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding U.S. federal income and excise taxes. The Fund will monitor these transactions and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records, and if the Fund deems it advisable, will make appropriate elections if available in order to mitigate the effect of these rules, prevent disqualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company and minimize the imposition of U.S. federal income and excise taxes.

The Fund’s transactions in broad based equity index futures contracts, exchange-traded options on such indices and certain other futures contracts are generally considered “Section 1256 contracts” for federal income tax purposes. Any unrealized gains or losses on such Section 1256 contracts are treated as though they were realized at the end of each taxable year. The resulting gain or loss is treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Gain or loss recognized on actual sales of Section 1256 contracts is treated in the same manner. As noted above, distributions of net short-term capital gain are generally taxable to shareholders as ordinary income while distributions of net long-term capital gain are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long the shareholder has held shares of the Fund.

The Fund’s entry into a short sale transaction, an option or certain other contracts, such as futures, could be treated as the constructive sale of an appreciated financial position, causing the Fund to realize gain, but not loss, on the position.

If the Fund invests in certain pay-in-kind securities, zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities or, in general, any other securities with original issue discount (or with market discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the Fund must accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Fund must distribute, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), including such accrued income to shareholders to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities (potentially under disadvantageous circumstances) to generate cash, or may have to undertake leverage by borrowing cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements. Dispositions of portfolio securities may result in additional gains and additional distribution requirements.

If the Fund invests in a market discount bond, it will be required to treat any gain recognized on the disposition of such market discount bond as ordinary income (instead of capital gain) to the extent of the accrued market discount, unless the Fund elects to include the market discount in income as it accrues as discussed above. A market discount bond is a security acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value (or its adjusted issue price if it is also an original issue discount bond).

The Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries, including taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains with respect to its investments in those countries, which would, if imposed, reduce the yield on or return from those investments. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. So long as the Fund qualifies for treatment as a regulated investment company and incurs “qualified foreign taxes,” if more than 50% of its net assets at the close of its taxable year consist of stock or securities of foreign corporations, which for this purpose may include obligations of foreign governmental issuers, the Fund may elect to “pass through” to its shareholders the amount of such foreign taxes paid. If this election is made, information with respect to the amount of the foreign income taxes that are allocated to the Fund’s shareholders will be provided to them and any shareholder subject to tax on dividends will be required (i) to include in ordinary gross income (in addition to the amount of the taxable dividends actually received) his/her proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid that are attributable to such dividends; and (ii) either to deduct his/her proportionate share of such foreign taxes in computing his/her taxable income or to claim that amount as a foreign tax credit (subject to applicable limitations) against U.S. income taxes.

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Shareholders who do not itemize deductions for U.S. federal income tax purposes will not be able to deduct their pro rata portion of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund, although such shareholders will be required to include their shares of such taxes in gross income if the Fund makes the election described above. Qualified foreign taxes generally include taxes that would be treated as income taxes under U.S. tax regulations but do not include most other taxes, such as stamp taxes, securities transaction taxes, and similar taxes. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability.

If the Fund makes the election to pass through qualified foreign taxes and a shareholder chooses to take a credit for the foreign taxes deemed paid by such shareholder, the amount of the credit that may be claimed in any year may not exceed the same proportion of the U.S. tax against which such credit is taken that the shareholder’s taxable income from foreign sources (but not in excess of the shareholder’s entire taxable income) bears to his entire taxable income. For this purpose, long-term and short-term capital gains the Fund realizes and distributes to shareholders will generally not be treated as income from foreign sources in their hands, nor will distributions of certain foreign currency gains subject to Section 988 of the Code or of any other income realized by the Fund that is deemed, under the Code, to be U.S.-source income in the hands of the Fund. This foreign tax credit limitation may also be applied separately to certain specific categories of foreign-source income and the related foreign taxes. As a result of these rules, which may have different effects depending upon each shareholder’s particular tax situation, certain shareholders may not be able to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Shareholders who are not liable for U.S. federal income taxes, including tax-exempt shareholders, will ordinarily not benefit from this election. If the Fund does make the election, it will provide required tax information to shareholders. The Fund generally may deduct any foreign taxes that are not passed through to its shareholders in computing its income available for distribution to shareholders to satisfy applicable tax distribution requirements. Under certain circumstances, if the Fund receives a refund of foreign taxes paid in respect of a prior year, the value of the Fund’s shares could be affected, or any foreign tax credits or deductions passed through to shareholders in respect of the Fund’s foreign taxes for the current year could be reduced.

Foreign exchange gains or losses realized by the Fund in connection with certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt securities, certain options and futures contracts relating to foreign currency, foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currencies, or payables or receivables denominated in a foreign currency are subject to Section 988 of the Code, which generally causes such gains or losses to be treated as ordinary gain or loss and may affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.

If a sufficient percentage of the equity interests in a foreign issuer that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes are held by the Fund, independently or together with certain other U.S. persons, that issuer may be treated as a “controlled foreign corporation” (a “CFC”) with respect to the Fund, in which case the Fund will be required to take into account each year, as ordinary income, its share of certain portions of that issuer’s income, whether or not such amounts are distributed. The Fund may have to dispose of its portfolio securities (potentially resulting in the recognition of taxable gain or loss, and potentially under disadvantageous circumstances) to generate cash, or may have to borrow the cash, to meet its distribution requirements and avoid Fund-level taxes. In addition, some Fund gains on the disposition of interests in such an issuer may be treated as ordinary income. The Fund may limit and/or manage its holdings in issuers that could be treated as CFCs in order to limit its tax liability or maximize its after-tax return from these investments.

In addition, if the Fund owned 10% or more of the voting power of a foreign entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the last tax year of the foreign entity beginning before January 1, 2018, the Fund may have been required to include in its income its share of certain deferred foreign income of that foreign entity. Under those circumstances, the Fund may have been able to make an election to pay tax liability in respect of its share of any such income over eight years. It is possible that these deferred payments could affect the value of shares, even though all or some of the Fund’s shareholders at the time of any deferred payment may have derived no economic benefit from the foreign entity’s deferred income.

The Fund is required to withhold (as “backup withholding”) a portion of reportable payments, including dividends, capital gain distributions and the proceeds of redemptions and exchanges or repurchases of Fund shares, paid to shareholders who have not complied with certain IRS regulations. The backup withholding rate is currently 24%. In order to avoid this withholding requirement, shareholders, other than certain exempt entities, must certify on IRS

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Forms W-9 or on certain other documents, that the Social Security Numbers or other Taxpayer Identification Numbers they provide are their correct numbers and that they are not currently subject to backup withholding, or that they are exempt from backup withholding. The Fund may nevertheless be required to backup withhold if it receives notice from the IRS or a broker that a number provided is incorrect or that backup withholding is applicable as a result of previous underreporting of interest or dividend income.

Ordinary dividends and certain other payments made by the Fund to non-U.S. shareholders are generally subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate (or a lower rate as may be determined in accordance with any applicable treaty). In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN or similar form certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty. The withholding tax does not apply to regular dividends paid to a non-U.S. shareholder who provides an IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the non-U.S. shareholder were a U.S. shareholder. A non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate).

The 30% withholding tax described in the preceding paragraph generally will not apply to distributions of net capital gain, to redemption proceeds, or to dividends that the Fund reports as (a) interest-related dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the Fund’s “qualified net interest income,” or (b) short-term capital gain dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the Fund’s “qualified short-term gain.” “Qualified net interest income” is the Fund’s net income derived from U.S.-source interest and original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. “Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of the net short-term capital gain of the Fund for the taxable year over its net long-term capital loss, if any. In order to qualify for an exemption from withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form). Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to this 30% withholding tax.

Unless certain non-U.S. entities that hold Fund shares comply with IRS requirements that will generally require them to report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to the Fund’s dividends payable to such entities. A non-U.S. shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the United States and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.

This discussion and the related discussion in the Prospectus have been prepared by management of the Fund, and counsel to the Trust has expressed no opinion in respect thereof.

Shareholders and prospective shareholders of the Fund should consult their own tax Advisers concerning the effect of owning shares of the Fund in light of their particular tax situations.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund will receive income in the form of dividends and interest earned on its investments in securities. This income, less the expenses incurred in its operations, is the Fund’s net investment income, substantially all of which will be declared as dividends to the Fund’s shareholders.

The amount of income dividend payments by the Fund is dependent upon the amount of net investment income received by the Fund from its portfolio holdings, is not guaranteed and is subject to the discretion of the Board. The Fund does not pay “interest” or guarantee any fixed rate of return on an investment in its shares.

The Fund also may derive capital gains or losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Any net gain the Fund may realize from transactions involving investments held for less than the period required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing short-term capital gains and losses (taking into account any available carryover of capital losses), although a distribution from capital gains, will be distributed to shareholders

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with and as a part of the income dividends paid by the Fund and will generally be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. If during any year the Fund realizes a net gain on transactions involving investments held for more than the period required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing long-term capital gains and losses, the Fund will have a net long-term capital gain. After deduction of the amount of any net short-term capital loss, the balance (to the extent not offset by any capital losses available to be carried over) generally will be distributed and treated as long-term capital gains in the hands of the shareholders regardless of the length of time the Fund’s shares may have been held by the shareholders. For more information concerning applicable capital gains tax rates, see your tax Adviser.

Any dividend or distribution paid by the Fund reduces the Fund’s NAVs on the date paid by the amount of the dividend or distribution per share. Accordingly, a dividend or distribution paid shortly after a purchase of shares by a shareholder will generally be taxable, even if it effectively represents a partial return of the shareholder’s capital.

Dividends and other distributions will be made in the form of additional shares of the Fund unless the shareholder has otherwise indicated. Investors have the right to change their elections with respect to the reinvestment of dividends and distributions by notifying the Transfer Agent in writing, but any such change will be effective only as to dividends and other distributions for which the record date is seven or more business days after the Transfer Agent has received the written request.

The Fund’s investments in partnerships, if any, including in qualified publicly traded partnerships, may result in that Fund being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Investment Managers Series Trust is an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware on February 15, 2005. The Trust has a number of outstanding series of shares of beneficial interest, each of which represents interests in a separate portfolio of securities.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to create additional series of shares, to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest of each series, including the Fund, and to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the series. The assets belonging to a series are charged with the liabilities in respect of that series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that series only. Therefore, any creditor of any series may look only to the assets belonging to that series to satisfy the creditor’s debt. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as pertaining to any particular series are allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among the existing series in the sole discretion of the Trustees. Each share of the Fund represents an interest in the Fund proportionately equal to the interest of each other share. Upon the Fund’s liquidation, all shareholders would share pro rata in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders.

The Trust may offer more than one class of shares of any series. Each share of a series or class represents an equal proportionate interest in that series or class with each other share of that series or class. With respect to the Fund, the Trust currently offers the following classes of shares: Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Institutional Class Shares. As of the date of this SAI, Class C Shares are not available for purchase. The Trust has reserved the right to create and issue additional series or classes. Each share of a series or class represents an equal proportionate interest in that series or class with each other share of that series or class.

The shares of each series or class participate equally in the earnings, dividends and assets of the particular series or class. Expenses of the Trust, which are not attributable to a specific series or class, are allocated among all the series in a manner believed by management of the Trust to be fair and equitable. Shares issued do not have pre-emptive or conversion rights. Shares when issued are fully paid and non-assessable, except as set forth below. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held. Shares of each series or class generally vote together, except when required under federal securities laws to vote separately on matters that only affect a particular series or class, such as the approval of distribution plans for a particular class.

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The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders but will hold special meetings of shareholders of a series or class when, in the judgment of the Board, it is necessary or desirable to submit matters for a shareholder vote. Shareholders have, under certain circumstances, the right to communicate with other shareholders in connection with requesting a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of removing one or more trustees. Shareholders also have, in certain circumstances, the right to remove one or more trustees without a meeting. No material amendment may be made to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each portfolio affected by the amendment.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides that, at any meeting of shareholders of the Trust or of any series or class, a shareholder servicing agent may vote any shares as to which such shareholder servicing agent is the agent of record for shareholders who are not represented in person or by proxy at the meeting, proportionately in accordance with the votes cast by holders of all shares of that portfolio otherwise represented at the meeting in person or by proxy as to which such shareholder servicing agent is the agent of record. Any shares so voted by a shareholder servicing agent will be deemed represented at the meeting for purposes of quorum requirements. Any series or class may be terminated (i) upon the merger or consolidation with, or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of its assets to, another entity, if approved by the vote of the holders of two-thirds of its outstanding shares, except that if the Board recommends such merger, consolidation or sale or disposition of assets, the approval by vote of the holders of a majority of the series’ or class’ outstanding shares will be sufficient, or (ii) by the vote of the holders of a majority of its outstanding shares, or (iii) by the Board by written notice to the series’ or class’ shareholders. Unless each series and class is so terminated, the Trust will continue indefinitely.

Shareholders may send communications to the Board. Shareholders should send communications intended for the Board by addressing the communications to the Board, in care of the Secretary of the Trust and sending the communication to 2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226, Glendora, California 91740. A shareholder communication must (i) be in writing and be signed by the shareholder, (ii) provide contact information for the shareholder, (iii) identify the Fund to which it relates, and (iv) identify the class and number of shares held by the shareholder. The Secretary of the Trust may, in good faith, determine that a shareholder communication should not be provided to the Board because it does not reasonably relate to the Trust or its operations, management, activities, policies, service providers, Board, officers, shareholders or other matters relating to an investment in the Fund or is otherwise immaterial in nature. Other shareholder communications received by the Fund not directly addressed and sent to the Board will be reviewed and generally responded to by management, and will be forwarded to the Board only at management’s discretion based on the matters contained therein.

The Declaration of Trust provides that no Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be subject to any personal liability in connection with the assets or affairs of the Trust or any of its series except for losses in connection with his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. The Trust has also entered into an indemnification agreement with each Trustee which provides that the Trust shall advance expenses and indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee in certain circumstances against any expenses incurred by the Trustee in any proceeding arising out of or in connection with the Trustee’s service to the Trust, to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, and which provides for certain procedures in connection with such advancement of expenses and indemnification.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust shall maintain appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity bonding and errors and omissions insurance) for the protection of the Trust, its shareholders, trustees, officers, employees and agents covering possible tort and other liabilities.

The Declaration of Trust does not require the issuance of stock certificates. If stock certificates are issued, they must be returned by the registered owners prior to the transfer or redemption of shares represented by such certificates.

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Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that as to any investment company which has two or more series outstanding and as to any matter required to be submitted to shareholder vote, such matter is not deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a “majority” (as defined in the rule) of the voting securities of each series affected by the matter. Such separate voting requirements do not apply to the election of Trustees or the ratification of the selection of accountants. The Rule contains special provisions for cases in which an advisory contract is approved by one or more, but not all, series. A change in investment policy may go into effect as to one or more series whose holders so approve the change even though the required vote is not obtained as to the holders of other affected series.

The Trust, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have adopted Codes of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics permit, subject to certain conditions, personnel of each of those entities to invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As the Fund has recently commenced operations, there are no financial statements available at this time. Shareholders of the Fund will be informed of the Fund’s progress through periodic reports when those reports become available. Financial statements certified by the independent registered public accounting firm will be submitted to shareholders at least annually.

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APPENDIX A

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

Corporate Bonds (Including Convertible Bonds)

Moody’s

Aaa

 

Bonds that are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt edged.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.

Aa

 

Bonds that are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present, which make the long-term risk, appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities.

A

 

Bonds that are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium-grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

Baa

 

Bonds that are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations (i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

Ba

 

Bonds that are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.

B

 

Bonds that are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.

Caa

 

Bonds that are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest. Ca Bonds, which are rated Ca, represent obligations that are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C

 

Bonds that are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

Note

 

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

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S&P

   

AAA

 

An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA

 

An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only in small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A

 

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

BBB

 

An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

Note

 

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

BB

 

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

B

 

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

CCC

 

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

CC

 

An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C

 

The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action has been taken, but payments on this obligation are being continued.

D

 

An obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Note

 

Plus (+) or minus (-). The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories. The “r” symbol is attached to the ratings of instruments with significant noncredit risks. It highlights risks to principal or volatility of expected returns, which are not addressed in the credit rating. Examples include: obligations linked or indexed to equities, currencies, or commodities; obligations exposed to severe prepayment risk-such as interest-only or principal-only mortgage securities; and obligations with unusually risky interest terms, such as inverse floaters.

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Preferred Stock

Moody’s

   

Aaa

 

An issue that is rated “Aaa” is considered to be a top-quality preferred stock. This rating indicates good asset protection and the least risk of dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stocks.

Aa

 

An issue that is rated “Aa” is considered a high-grade preferred stock. This rating indicates that there is a reasonable assurance the earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well maintained in the foreseeable future.

A

 

An issue that is rated “A” is considered to be an upper-medium grade preferred stock. While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the “Aaa” and “Aa” classification, earnings and asset protection are, nevertheless, expected to be maintained at adequate levels.

Baa

 

An issue that is rated “Baa” is considered to be a medium-grade preferred stock, neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Earnings and asset protection appear adequate at present but may be questionable over any great length of time.

Ba

 

An issue that is rated “Ba” is considered to have speculative elements and its future cannot be considered well assured. Earnings and asset protection may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during adverse periods. Uncertainty of position characterizes preferred stocks in this class.

B

 

An issue that is rated “B” generally lacks the characteristics of a desirable investment. Assurance of dividend payments and maintenance of other terms of the issue over any long period of time may be small.

Caa

 

An issue that is rated “Caa” is likely to be in arrears on dividend payments. This rating designation does not purport to indicate the future status of payments.

Ca

 

An issue that is rated “Ca” is speculative in a high degree and is likely to be in arrears on dividends with little likelihood of eventual payments.

C

 

This is the lowest rated class of preferred or preference stock. Issues so rated can thus be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

Note

 

Moody’s applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each rating classification: the modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

S&P

   

AAA

 

This is the highest rating that may be assigned by Standard & Poor’s to a preferred stock issue and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay the preferred stock obligations.

AA

 

A preferred stock issue rated AA also qualifies as a high-quality, fixed-income security. The capacity to pay preferred stock obligations is very strong, although not as overwhelming as for issues rated AAA.

A

 

An issue rated A is backed by a sound capacity to pay the preferred stock obligations, although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions.

BBB

 

An issue rated BBB is regarded as backed by an adequate capacity to pay the preferred stock obligations. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to make payments for a preferred stock in this category than for issues in the A category.

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BBB, CCC

 

Preferred stock rated BB, B, and CCC is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay preferred stock obligations. BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and CCC the highest. While such issues will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.

CC

 

The rating CC is reserved for a preferred stock issue that is in arrears on dividends or sinking fund payments, but that is currently paying.

C

 

A preferred stock rated C is a nonpaying issue.

D

 

A preferred stock rated D is a nonpaying issue with the issuer in default on debt instruments.

N.R.

 

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

Note

 

Plus (+) or minus (-). To provide more detailed indications of preferred stock quality, ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

Short Term Ratings

Moody’s

Moody’s employs the following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

Prime-1

 

Issuers rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics:

   

●      Leading market positions in well-established industries.

   

●      High rates of return on funds employed.

   

●      Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection.

   

●      Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation.

   

●      Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

Prime-2

 

Issuers rated Prime-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

Prime-3

 

Issuers rated Prime-3 (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

Not Prime

 

Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

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S&P

   

A-1

 

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

A-2

 

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

A-3

 

A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B

 

A short-term obligation rated B is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties, which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

C

 

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

D

 

A short-term obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

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APPENDIX B

INVESTMENT MANAGERS SERIES TRUST

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Investment Managers Series Trust (the “Trust”) is registered as an open-end investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust offers multiple series (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”). Consistent with its fiduciary duties and pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Proxy Rule”), the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) has adopted this proxy voting policy on behalf of the Trust (the “Policy”) to reflect its commitment to ensure that proxies are voted in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders.

Delegation of Proxy Voting Authority to Fund Advisers

The Board believes that the investment adviser of each Fund (each an “Adviser” and, collectively, the “Advisers”), as the entity that selects the individual securities that comprise its Fund’s portfolio, is the most knowledgeable and best-suited to make decisions on how to vote proxies of portfolio companies held by that Fund. The Trust will therefore defer to, and rely on, the Adviser of each Fund to make decisions on how to cast proxy votes on behalf of such Fund. An Adviser may delegate this responsibility to a Fund’s Sub-Adviser(s).

The Trust hereby designates the Adviser of each Fund as the entity responsible for exercising proxy voting authority with regard to securities held in the Fund’s investment portfolio. Consistent with its duties under this Policy, each Adviser shall monitor and review corporate transactions of corporations in which the Fund has invested, obtain all information sufficient to allow an informed vote on all proxy solicitations, ensure that all proxy votes are cast in a timely fashion, and maintain all records required to be maintained by the Fund under the Proxy Rule and the 1940 Act. Each Adviser will perform these duties in accordance with the Adviser’s proxy voting policy, a copy of which will be presented to the Board for its review. Each Adviser will promptly provide to the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) updates to its proxy voting policy as they are adopted and implemented, and the Trust’s CCO will then report such updates to the Board.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policy and Records Available to Fund Shareholders

If a Fund or an Adviser has a website, a copy of the Adviser’s proxy voting policy and this Policy may be posted on such website. A copy of such policies and of each Fund’s proxy voting record shall also be made available, without charge, upon request of any shareholder of the Fund, by calling the applicable Fund’s toll-free telephone number as printed in the Fund’s prospectus. The Trust’s transfer agent will notify the Adviser of any such request of proxy voting procedures. The Adviser shall reply to any Fund shareholder request within three (3) business days of receipt of the request, by first-class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery.

Each Adviser will provide a complete annual voting record, as required by the Proxy Rule, for each series of the Trust for which it acts as Adviser, to the Trust’s co-administrator no later than July 31st of each year. The Trust’s co-administrator, MFAC, will file a report based on such record on Form N-PX on an annual basis with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than August 31st of each year.

Each Adviser is responsible for providing its current proxy voting policies and procedures and any subsequent amendments to the Trust’s CCO. SEC Form N-PX is filed with respect to each Fund by MFAC (acting as filing agent), by no later than August 31st of each year. Each such filing details all proxies voted on behalf of the Fund for the prior twelve months ended June 30th. In connection with each filing on behalf of the Fund, the Adviser’s CCO must sign and return to MFAC no later than July 30th a Form N-PX Certification stating that the Adviser has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures in compliance with the SEC’s Proxy Voting Rule.

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SUB-ADVISER’S PROXY POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

PROXY VOTING AND OTHER VOTING OR CONSENT/ACTION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Revised as of July 2020

I.          Introduction

The following proxy voting and other voting or consent/action policies and procedures and corresponding guidelines have been adopted by Gramercy to comply with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act and other fiduciary obligations. The policies apply to any proxy and any other shareholder or beneficial owner vote, consent, action or similar determination, and has been designed to ensure that Gramercy votes proxies, consents or otherwise acts in the best interest of its advisory clients. In accordance with its obligations under this rule, Gramercy has designed and adopted the following guidelines to ensure that proxies, consents or other actions are voted at all times in the best interest of Gramercy’s advisory clients holding such securities or investments. Any questions or concerns regarding these policies and guidelines, or whether a particular issue may present a material conflict of interest with respect to Gramercy’s voting of advisory client proxies, consents or other actions should be directed to the CCO.

II.        Policy Statement

These policies apply to those advisory clients that own voting securities and for which Gramercy has authority to vote proxies, consents or otherwise act. Clients include investment funds.

When proxies, consents or other actions are voted for clients, Gramercy’s primary objective is to make decisions in the best interest of those clients. Gramercy votes (or refrains from voting) the proxies, consents or other actions solely in accordance with Gramercy’s determination of what is in the best interests of the client. In fulfilling its obligations to clients pursuant to these policies, Gramercy will act in a manner deemed to be prudent and diligent and which is intended to enhance the economic value of the underlying securities held by the client.

The financial interest of the client is the primary consideration in determining how proxies, consents or other actions should be voted. Gramercy has a responsibility to analyze issues with respect to proxies, consents or other actions and vote, consent or otherwise act in a way consistent with those financial interests. In the case of social and political responsibility issues, which do not involve financial considerations, it is not possible to fairly represent the diverse views of the clients, and thus, Gramercy generally abstains from voting, consenting or otherwise acting on these issues.

III.       Proxy Voting Process

Proxies, consents or other actions will be received, processed and voted, consented, or otherwise acted by Gramercy pursuant to the below guidelines, which may be changed from time to time.

IV.        Conflicts of Interests

In acting upon these matters on behalf of its advisory clients, Gramercy will seek to avoid material conflicts of interest between the interests of Gramercy on the one hand and the interests of its advisory client on the other. Gramercy’s CCO monitors Gramercy’s positions to determine positions, which present a potential for conflict in the voting process with Gramercy.

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V.         Records

Records, noted in detail below, will be maintained in connection with this policy. Clients can obtain a copy of this proxy voting and other voting or consent/action policies and procedures or information on how Gramercy has voted proxies, consents or other actions pertinent to the client by contacting Gramercy’s CCO. All requests for such information by clients, including fund investors, must be approved by senior management. The CCO shall make and retain a copy of each request received for information concerning how proxies, consents or other actions were voted, or otherwise consented or acted upon, senior management’s response with respect to the request, and each request for a copy of this proxy voting and other voting or consent/action policies and procedures, together with a copy of each response provided.

VI.       Deviations from Guidelines and Special Situations

Gramercy recognizes that it may not always be in the best interest of clients to vote, consent or otherwise act in accordance with these guidelines on a particular issue. In such circumstances, Gramercy may deviate from the guidelines. The CCO or CLO must approve any deviation from the guidelines listed below.

An officer of Gramercy must approve the decision for proposals of a unique nature requiring a case-by-case analysis. Gramercy may consider the views of the management of a portfolio company, as well as the view of Gramercy’s investment professionals, when analyzing potential deviations from the guidelines and for those proposals requiring a case-by-case evaluation.

VII.      Guidelines

The guidelines are briefly described as follows:

1.   Gramercy generally votes with the recommendations of a company’s board of directors on general corporate governance issues such as changing the company’s name, ratifying the appointment of auditors and procedural matters relating to stockholder meetings.

2.   Gramercy generally opposes the adoption of, and supports the elimination of, anti-takeover proposals, including those relating to classified Boards, supermajority votes, poison pills, issuance of blank check preferred and establishment of classes with disparate voting rights.

3.   Gramercy generally abstains from voting on issues relating to social and/or political responsibility, except for matters relating to disclosure issues if not deemed unduly burdensome for the company (e.g., political contributions).

4.   Gramercy generally votes for stock option plans, increases in the number of shares under existing stock option plans and other amendments to the terms of such plans; provided, that the overall dilution of all active stock option plans does not exceed ten percent (10%) on a fully diluted basis and are otherwise considered to align the interest of the company with those of stockholders (e.g., all such plans must specifically prohibit re-pricing).

5.   Gramercy generally votes with the recommendations of a company’s board of directors on other matters relating to executive compensation, unless considered excessive.

6.   Gramercy generally will withhold voting for the entire board of directors (or individual directors as the case may be) or vote against if: (a) the director up for election is not independent; (b) the board has a nominating or compensation committee of which less than seventy-five percent (75%) of its members are independent; (c) the board has recommended stockholders vote for an anti-takeover device which Gramercy votes against; or (d) the board has recommended a matter relating to a stock option plan or stock purchase plan which Gramercy votes against. Gramercy will vote for proposals relating to the authorization of additional common stock up to five (5) times that currently outstanding.

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7.   Gramercy will vote for proposals to effect stock splits.

8.   Gramercy will vote for proposals authorizing share repurchase programs.

9.   Gramercy will vote against authorization to transact unidentified business at the meeting.

10. Acquisitions, mergers, restructurings, reorganizations, reincorporations and other similar transactions will be voted on a case-by-case basis.

11. Proposals to amend a company’s charter or by-laws (other than as identified above) will be voted on a case-by-case basis.

12. Gramercy will vote against all proposals where the company did not provide adequate information to make a decision.

13. Gramercy abstains from voting if any expense related to voting is felt to outweigh any benefit from voting, such as the case where the proposals are non-controversial and not opposed.

VIII.    Proxy Agent Retention and Oversight

Gramercy retains ProxyEdge and its custodian as its proxy agent.

When considering whether to retain or continue to retain a proxy agent to facilitate the voting of proxies, Gramercy will ascertain whether the proxy agent has the capacity and competency to adequately provide the proxy services, including the adequacy and quality of the proxy advisory firm’s staffing and personnel and the robustness of its policies and procedures regarding its ability to ensure that it provides timely and accurate proxy voting services. More specifically, in accordance with recent SEC guidance, Gramercy will evaluate whether the proxy agent firm: (i) has an effective process in place for obtaining input on a timely basis from issuers and proxy advisory firm clients regarding its proxy voting policies, methodologies, and peer group constructions; (ii) adequately discloses and updates its methodologies and guidelines in formulating voting recommendations; (iii) uses third-party information sources as a basis for its voting recommendations, and if so, the nature of this information; (iv) has policies and procedures that adequately identify, evaluate, disclose, and address actual and potential conflicts of interest; and/or (v) has policies and procedures to effectively obtain current and accurate information relevant to its voting recommendations. Gramercy will also require the proxy agent to provide regular, ongoing updates regarding relevant business changes. Gramercy will, as deemed necessary by the CCO, engage in ongoing oversight of the proxy agent in order to ensure that Gramercy, acting through the proxy agent, continues to vote proxies in the best interests of Gramercy’s clients. If Gramercy is made aware of potential factual errors, methodological weaknesses, or other defects or inadequacies in a proxy advisory firm’s analysis that may materially affect Gramercy’s voting determination, then it will conduct a reasonable investigation into the matter. When making this determination, Gramercy will consider the potential effect of the vote on the value of its client’s investments.

IX.       Recordkeeping

The CCO will maintain files relating to Gramercy’s proxy voting and other voting or consent/action policies and procedures in an easily accessible place. Records will be maintained and preserved for five (5) years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on a record, with records for the first two (2) years kept in the offices of Gramercy. Gramercy will perform reconciliations to ensure that all proxies are voted (e.g., reconcile the list of clients for which Gramercy has proxy voting obligations against a list of votes cast by Gramercy or by a proxy voting service for clients) or that Gramercy has determined that not voting for a particular client is appropriate. Records of the following will be included in the files:

•    Copies of this proxy voting and other voting or consent/action policies and procedures, and any amendments thereto.

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•    A copy of each proxy statement that Gramercy receives, provided however that Gramercy may rely on obtaining a copy of proxy statements from the SEC’s EDGAR system for those proxy statements that are so available.23

•    A record of each vote, consent or action taken by Gramercy on behalf of its clients.24

•    A copy of any document Gramercy created that was material to making a decision how to vote proxies, consent or otherwise act or that memorializes that decision.

•    A copy of each written client request for information on how Gramercy voted such client’s proxies, or otherwise consented or acted and a copy of any written response to any (written or oral) client request for information.

____________

23          Gramercy may choose instead to have a third party retain a copy of proxy statements (provided that the third party undertakes to provide a copy of the proxy statements promptly upon request).

24          Gramercy may also rely on a third party to retain a copy of the votes cast (provided that the third party undertakes to provide a copy of the record promptly upon request).

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PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund

ITEM 28.  EXHIBITS

(a)

 

(1)

     

Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Registrant dated June 16, 2022 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1182 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the Commission on July 26, 2022.

   

(2)

     

Certificate of Trust of the Registrant dated February 15, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 filed with the Commission on March 31, 2006.

   

(3)

     

Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of the Registrant dated May 31, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 filed with the Commission on March 31, 2006.

   

(4)

     

Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of the Registrant dated December 3, 2007 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed with the Commission on December 5, 2007.

   

(5)

     

Certificate of Correction to Certificate of Trust dated November 23, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 filed with the Commission on December 30, 2009.

   

(6)

     

Certificate of Designation of the Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1220 filed with the Commission on January 17, 2024.

(b)

         

By-Laws of Registrant as amended on January 9, 2008, March 25, 2009, December 5, 2013, March 10, 2016, and June 16, 2022 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1182 filed with the Commission on July 26, 2022.

(c)

         

Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders is incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws.

(d)

         

Investment Advisory Agreement:

   

(1)

     

Form of Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund – filed herewith.

   

(2)

     

Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to the Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund – filed herewith.

(e)

         

Form of Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 filed with the Commission on August 14, 2009.

   

(1)

     

Form of Novation to Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1202 filed with the Commission on March 1, 2023.

   

(2)

     

Form of First Amendment to Distribution Agreement dated April 1, 2024 – filed herewith.

(f)

         

Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts is not applicable.

(g)

         

Custody Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 filed with the Commission on February 1, 2008.

   

(1)

     

Amendment to Custody Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1145 filed with the Commission on March 29, 2021.

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(h)

         

Other Material Contracts:

   

(1)

     

Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement dated March 25, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 filed with the Commission on April 1, 2009.

       

(i)

 

Amended and Restated Schedule B to the Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement dated March 25, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(1)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 571 filed with the Commission on October 24, 2014.

   

(2)

     

Amended and Restated Fund Accounting Agreement dated March 5, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(2)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 490 filed with the Commission on March 28, 2014.

   

(3)

     

Amended and Restated Co-Administration Agreement dated March 5, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(3)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 490 filed with the Commission on March 28, 2014.

       

(i)

 

Amendment to Co-Administration Agreement dated August 4, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(3)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 571 filed with the Commission on October 24, 2014.

   

(4)

     

Form of Operating Expenses Limitation Agreement – filed herewith.

   

(5)

     

Amended and Restated Shareholder Service Plan – filed herewith.

(i)

         

Legal Opinion with respect to the Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund – filed herewith.

(j)

         

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – filed herewith.

(k)

         

Not applicable.

(l)

         

Form of Subscription Agreement with respect to Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund – filed herewith.

(m)

         

Amended and Restated Distribution Plan – filed herewith.

(n)

         

Amended Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 – filed herewith.

(o)

         

Power of Attorney dated March 16, 2023 for Ashley Rabun, Charles Miller, William Young, James Ross and Maureen Quill is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (o) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1203 filed with the Commission on March 27, 2023.

(p)

         

Code of Ethics:

   

(1)

     

Code of Ethics of the Trust is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 998 filed with the Commission on February 26, 2019.

   

(2)

     

Code of Ethics of the Advisor is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1207 filed with the Commission on April 28, 2023.

   

(3)

     

Code of Ethics of the Sub-Adviser with respect to the Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund – filed herewith.

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ITEM 29.  PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE FUND

See the Statement of Additional Information.

ITEM 30.  INDEMNIFICATION

Pursuant to Del. Code Ann. Title 12 Section 3817, a Delaware statutory trust may provide in its governing instrument for the indemnification of its officers and Trustees from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.

Reference is made to Article 8, Section 8.4 of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which provides:

Subject to the limitations, if applicable, hereinafter set forth in this Section 8.4, the Trust shall indemnify (from the assets of the Series or Series to which the conduct in question relates) each of its Trustees, officers, employees and agents (including Persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter, together with such Person’s heirs, executors, administrators or personal representative, referred to as a “Covered Person”)) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, except with respect to any matter as to which it has been determined that such Covered Person (i) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust; (ii) had acted with willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office (iii) for a criminal proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful (the conduct described in (i), (ii) and (iii) being referred to hereafter as “Disabling Conduct”). A determination that the Covered Person is entitled to indemnification may be made by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Covered Person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action or an administrative proceeding against a Covered Person for insufficiency of evidence of Disabling Conduct, or (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnity was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act nor parties to the proceeding (the “Disinterested Trustees”), or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by one or more Series to which the conduct in question related in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding; provided that the Covered Person shall have undertaken to repay the amounts so paid to such Series if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article 8 and (i) the Covered Person shall have provided security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the disinterested Trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

Insofar as indemnification for liability 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 the 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 the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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The Registrant has also entered into Indemnification Agreements with each of its trustees which provide that the Registrant shall advance expenses and indemnify and hold harmless each trustee in certain circumstances against any expenses incurred by a trustee in any proceeding arising out of or in connection with the trustee’s service to the Registrant, to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, and which provide for certain procedures in connection with such advancement of expenses and indemnification.

Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement between the Trust and Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”), the Trust has agreed to indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor, and each of, its present or former directors, members, officers, employees, representatives and any person who controls or previously controlled the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (“Distributor Indemnitees”), free and harmless (a) from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, charges, payments, costs and expenses (including the costs of investigating or defending any alleged losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, charges, payments, costs or expenses and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) of any and every nature (“Losses”) which Distributor and/or each of the Distributor Indemnitees may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other statute (including Blue Sky laws) or any rule or regulation thereunder, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in the registration statement or any prospectus, an annual or interim report to shareholders or sales literature or any amendments or supplements thereto, or arising out of or based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Trust’s obligation to indemnify Distributor and any of the Distributor Indemnitees shall not be deemed to cover any Losses arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Distributor and furnished to the Trust or its counsel by Distributor in writing for the purpose of, and used in, the preparation thereof; (b) from and against any and all Losses which Distributor and/or each of the Distributor Indemnitees may incur in connection with this Agreement or the Distributor’s performance hereunder, except to the extent the Losses result from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, (c) from and against any and all Losses which Distributor and/or each of the Distributor Indemnitees may incur resulting from the actions or inactions of any prior service provider to the Trust or any Funds in existence prior to, and added to Schedule A after, the date of this Agreement, or (d) from and against any and all Losses which Distributor and/or each of the Distributor Indemnitees may incur when acting in accordance with instructions from the Trust or its representatives; and provided further that to the extent this agreement of indemnity may require indemnity of any Distributor Indemnitee who is also a trustee or officer of the Trust, no such indemnity shall inure to the benefit of such trustee or officer if to do so would be against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act.

ITEM 31.  BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

With respect to the Adviser, the response to this Item is incorporated by reference to the Advisor’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Advisor’s Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

With respect to the Sub-Adviser, the response to this Item is incorporated by reference to the Sub-Adviser’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Item 32.  FORESIDE FUND SERVICES, LLC

Item 32(a)  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.     AB Active ETFs, Inc.

2.     ABS Long/Short Strategies Fund

3.     Absolute Shares Trust

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4.     ActivePassive Core Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

5.     ActivePassive Intermediate Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

6.     ActivePassive International Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

7.     ActivePassive U.S. Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

8.     Adaptive Core ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

9.     AdvisorShares Trust

10.   AFA Multi-Manager Credit Fund

11.   AGF Investments Trust

12.   AIM ETF Products Trust

13.   Alexis Practical Tactical ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

14.   AlphaCentric Prime Meridian Income Fund

15.   American Century ETF Trust

16.   Amplify ETF Trust

17.   Applied Finance Dividend Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

18.   Applied Finance Explorer Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

19.   Applied Finance Select Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

20.   ARK ETF Trust

21.   ARK Venture Fund

22.   Bitwise Funds Trust

23.   Bluestone Community Development Fund

24.   BondBloxx ETF Trust

25.   Bramshill Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

26.   Bridgeway Funds, Inc.

27.   Brinker Capital Destinations Trust

28.   Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.

29.   Build Funds Trust

30.   Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund

31.   Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund

32.   Calamos Dynamic Convertible and Income Fund

33.   Calamos ETF Trust

34.   Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund

35.   Calamos Global Total Return Fund

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36.   Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund

37.   Carlyle Tactical Private Credit Fund

38.   Cascade Private Capital Fund

39.   Center Coast Brookfield MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund

40.   Clifford Capital Focused Small Cap Value Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

41.   Clifford Capital International Value Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

42.   Clifford Capital Partners Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

43.   Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund

44.   Cliffwater Enhanced Lending Fund

45.   Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.

46.   Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

47.   CornerCap Small-Cap Value Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series

48.   CrossingBridge Pre-Merger SPAC ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

49.   Curasset Capital Management Core Bond Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

50.   Curasset Capital Management Limited Term Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

51.   CYBER HORNET S&P 500® and Bitcoin 75/25 Strategy ETF, Series of ONEFUND Trust

52.   Davis Fundamental ETF Trust

53.   Defiance Daily Short Digitizing the Economy ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

54.   Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

55.   Defiance Israel Bond ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

56.   Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

57.   Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

58.   Defiance Pure Electric Vehicle ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

59.   Defiance Quantum ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

60.   Direxion Funds

61.   Direxion Shares ETF Trust

62.   Dividend Performers ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

63.   Dodge & Cox Funds

64.   DoubleLine ETF Trust

65.   DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund

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66.   DoubleLine Opportunistic Credit Fund

67.   DoubleLine Yield Opportunities Fund

68.   DriveWealth ETF Trust

69.   EIP Investment Trust

70.   Ellington Income Opportunities Fund

71.   ETF Opportunities Trust

72.   Evanston Alternative Opportunities Fund

73.   Exchange Listed Funds Trust

74.   FlexShares Trust

75.   Forum Funds

76.   Forum Funds II

77.   Forum Real Estate Income Fund

78.   Goose Hollow Enhanced Equity ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

79.   Goose Hollow Multi-Strategy Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

80.   Goose Hollow Tactical Allocation ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

81.   Grayscale Future of Finance ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

82.   Guinness Atkinson Funds

83.   Harbor ETF Trust

84.   Horizon Kinetics Blockchain Development ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

85.   Horizon Kinetics Energy and Remediation ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

86.   Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

87.   Horizon Kinetics Medical ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

88.   Horizon Kinetics SPAC Active ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

89.   IDX Funds

90.   Innovator ETFs Trust

91.   Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC

92.   Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC

93.   John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust

94.   LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

95.   Mairs & Power Balanced Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

96.   Mairs & Power Growth Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

97.   Mairs & Power Minnesota Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

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98.   Mairs & Power Small Cap Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

99.   Manor Investment Funds

100. Milliman Variable Insurance Trust

101. Mindful Conservative ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

102. Moerus Worldwide Value Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

103. Mohr Growth ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

104. Mohr Industry Nav ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

105. Mohr Sector Nav ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

106. Morgan Stanley ETF Trust

107. Morningstar Funds Trust

108. Mutual of America Investment Corporation

109. NEOS ETF Trust

110. Niagara Income Opportunities Fund

111. North Square Investments Trust

112. OTG Latin American Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

113. Overlay Shares Core Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

114. Overlay Shares Foreign Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

115. Overlay Shares Hedged Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

116. Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

117. Overlay Shares Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

118. Overlay Shares Short Term Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

119. Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

120. Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund

121. Partners Group Private Income Opportunities, LLC

122. Performance Trust Mutual Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

123. Perkins Discovery Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

124. Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

125. Plan Investment Fund, Inc.

126. PMC Core Fixed Income Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

127. PMC Diversified Equity Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

128. Point Bridge America First ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

129. Preferred-Plus ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

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130. Putnam ETF Trust

131. Rareview Dynamic Fixed Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

132. Rareview Systematic Equity ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

133. Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

134. Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds

135. Reynolds Funds, Inc.

136. RiverNorth Enhanced Pre-Merger SPAC ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

137. RiverNorth Patriot ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

138. RMB Investors Trust

139. Robinson Opportunistic Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

140. Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

141. Roundhill Alerian LNG ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

142. Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

143. Roundhill Cannabis ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

144. Roundhill ETF Trust

145. Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

146. Roundhill S&P Global Luxury ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

147. Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

148. Roundhill Video Games ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

149. Rule One Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

150. Securian AM Real Asset Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

151. Six Circles Trust

152. Sound Shore Fund, Inc.

153. SP Funds Trust

154. Sparrow Funds

155. Spear Alpha ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

156. STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

157. STF Tactical Growth ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

158. Strategic Trust

159. Strategy Shares

160. Swan Hedged Equity US Large Cap ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

161. Syntax ETF Trust

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162. Tekla World Healthcare Fund

163. Tema ETF Trust

164. Teucrium Agricultural Strategy No K-1 ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

165. Teucrium AiLA Long-Short Agriculture Strategy ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

166. Teucrium AiLA Long-Short Base Metals Strategy ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

167. The 2023 ETF Series Trust

168. The 2023 ETF Series Trust II

169. The Community Development Fund

170. The Finite Solar Finance Fund

171. The Private Shares Fund

172. The SPAC and New Issue ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

173. Third Avenue Trust

174. Third Avenue Variable Series Trust

175. Tidal ETF Trust

176. Tidal Trust II

177. TIFF Investment Program

178. Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock Enhanced ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

179. Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

180. Timothy Plan International ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

181. Timothy Plan Market Neutral ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

182. Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

183. Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Core Enhanced ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

184. Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

185. Total Fund Solution

186. Touchstone ETF Trust

187. TrueShares Eagle Global Renewable Energy Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

188. TrueShares Low Volatility Equity Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

189. TrueShares Structured Outcome (April) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

190. TrueShares Structured Outcome (August) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

191. TrueShares Structured Outcome (December) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

192. TrueShares Structured Outcome (February) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

193. TrueShares Structured Outcome (January) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

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194. TrueShares Structured Outcome (July) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

195. TrueShares Structured Outcome (June) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

196. TrueShares Structured Outcome (March) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

197. TrueShares Structured Outcome (May) ETF, Listed Funds Trust

198. TrueShares Structured Outcome (November) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

199. TrueShares Structured Outcome (October) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

200. TrueShares Structured Outcome (September) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

201. TrueShares Technology, AI & Deep Learning ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

202. U.S. Global Investors Funds

203. Union Street Partners Value Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

204. Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

205. Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

206. Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

207. Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies VI Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

208. Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

209. Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies VI Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

210. VictoryShares Core Intermediate Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

211. VictoryShares Core Plus Intermediate Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

212. VictoryShares Corporate Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

213. VictoryShares Developed Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

214. VictoryShares Dividend Accelerator ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

215. VictoryShares Emerging Markets Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

216. VictoryShares Free Cash Flow ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

217. VictoryShares International High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

218. VictoryShares International Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

219. VictoryShares International Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

220. VictoryShares NASDAQ Next 50 ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

221. VictoryShares Short-Term Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

222. VictoryShares THB Mid Cap ESG ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

223. VictoryShares US 500 Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

224. VictoryShares US 500 Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

225. VictoryShares US Discovery Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

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226. VictoryShares US EQ Income Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

227. VictoryShares US Large Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

228. VictoryShares US Multi-Factor Minimum Volatility ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

229. VictoryShares US Small Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

230. VictoryShares US Small Cap Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

231. VictoryShares US Small Mid Cap Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

232. VictoryShares US Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

233. VictoryShares WestEnd US Sector ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II

234. Volatility Shares Trust

235. West Loop Realty Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

236. Wilshire Mutual Funds, Inc.

237. Wilshire Variable Insurance Trust

238. WisdomTree Digital Trust

239. WisdomTree Trust

240. WST Investment Trust

241. XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Term Trust

Item 32(b) 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, Maine 04101.

Name

 

Address

 

Position with Underwriter

 

Position with Registrant

Teresa Cowan

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101

 

President/Manager

 

None

Chris Lanza

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101

 

Vice President

 

None

Kate Macchia

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101

 

Vice President

 

None

Nanette K. Chern

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101

 

Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer

 

None

Kelly B. Whetstone

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101

 

Secretary

 

None

Susan L. LaFond

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101

 

Treasurer

 

None

Weston Sommers

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101

 

Financial and Operations Principal and Chief Financial Officer

 

None

Item 32(c)  Not applicable.

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ITEM 33.  LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.

The books and records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 are maintained at the following locations:

Records Relating to:

Are located at:

Registrant’s Transfer Agent, Fund Accountant and Co-Administrator

UMB Fund Services, Inc.
235 W. Galena Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

Registrant’s Co-Administrator

Mutual Fund Administration, LLC
2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226
Glendora, California 91740

Registrant’s Custodian

UMB Bank, n.a.
928 Grand Boulevard
Kansas City, Missouri 64141

Registrant’s Investment Adviser

Liberty Street Advisors, Inc.
88 Pine Street, 31st Floor Suite 3101
New York, New York 10005

Funds’ Distributor

Foreside Fund Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, Maine 04101

The documents required to be maintained by paragraphs (5), (6), (10) and (11) of Rule 31a-1(b) will be maintained by the Funds’ Sub-Adviser:

Records Relating to:

Are located at:

Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund’s Sub-Adviser

Gramercy Funds Management LLC
20 Dayton Avenue
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830

ITEM 34.  MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Not applicable.

ITEM 35.  UNDERTAKINGS

Not applicable.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, on the 28th day of March, 2024.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGERS SERIES TRUST

   

By:

 

/s/ Maureen Quill

       

Maureen Quill, President and Principal
Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed on the 28th day of March, 2024, by the following persons in the capacities set forth below.

Signature

 

Title

   

Ashley Toomey Rabun

 

Trustee

   

William H. Young

 

Trustee

   

Charles H. Miller

 

Trustee

   

James E. Ross

 

Trustee

/s/ Maureen Quill

   

Maureen Quill

 

Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer

/s/ Rita Dam

   

Rita Dam

 

Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer, and Principal Financial Officer

By

 

/s/ Rita Dam

   

Attorney-in-fact, pursuant to power of attorney previously
filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1203 on March 27, 2023.

C-14

C-15

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ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.28(D)(1)

EXHIBIT 99.28(D)(2)

EXHIBIT 99.28(E)(2)

EXHIBIT 99.28(H)(4)

EXHIBIT 99.28(H)(5)

EXHIBIT 99.28(I)

EXHIBIT 99.28(J)

EXHIBIT 99.28(L)

EXHIBIT 99.28(M)

EXHIBIT 99.28(N)

EXHIBIT 99.28(P)(3)

XBRL SCHEMA FILE

XBRL CALCULATION FILE

XBRL DEFINITION FILE

XBRL LABEL FILE

XBRL PRESENTATION FILE

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