Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

Investor Class Shares

(Ticker Symbol: ESGSX)

Institutional Class Shares

(Ticker Symbol: KESGX)

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

Investor Class Shares

(Ticker Symbol: KSGRX)

Institutional Class Shares

(Ticker Symbol: KGROX)

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

Investor Class Shares

(Ticker Symbol: KSVLX)

Institutional Class Shares

(Ticker Symbol: KVALX)

PROSPECTUS

April 30, 2024

   

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “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.

   

 

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund
Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund
Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

Each a series of Investment Managers Series Trust II (the “Trust”)
The funds described in this Prospectus are each referred to as a “Fund” and, collectively, as the “Funds.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

summary section

 

1

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

 

1

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

 

7

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

 

13

More about the funds’ investment objectives, principal investment strategies and risks

 

19

management of the funds

 

27

distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees

 

32

your account with the funds

 

33

dividends and distributions

 

42

federal income tax consequences

 

43

financial highlights

 

45

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 30, 2024.

 

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

 

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund (the “Fund”) is 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.

Investor
Class Shares

Institutional
Class Shares

 

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

     

Wire fee

$20

$20

 

Overnight check delivery fee

$25

$25

 

Retirement account fees (annual maintenance fee)

$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%

 

Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees

0.25%

None

 

Other expenses

0.53%

0.53%

 

Total annual fund operating expenses

1.53%

1.28%

 

Fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed1

(0.46)%

(0.46)%

 

Total annual fund operating expenses after waiving fees and/or reimbursing expenses1

1.07%

0.82%

 

1            The Fund’s advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding any taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with SEC Form N-1A), expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed 1.07% and 0.82% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares of the Fund, 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. The Fund’s advisor is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Fund, subject to certain limitations, of fees waived or payments made to the Fund for a period ending three 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.

1

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

 

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

One Year

Three Years

Five Years

Ten Years

Investor Class shares

$109

$438

$791

$1,784

Institutional Class shares

$84

$360

$658

$1,505

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. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 58% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of small and mid capitalization companies. In particular, the Fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of common stock of domestic companies. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund’s advisor, Kennedy Capital Management LLC (the “Advisor”), defines small and mid capitalization companies as those with market capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Russell 2500TM Index (the “Index”) at the time of purchase. The capitalization range of companies in the Index may change with market conditions or due to changes in the composition of the Index. As of March 31, 2024, the market capitalization range of the Index was between $12.2 million and $56.5 billion. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the Index may continue to be held by the Fund in the Advisor’s sole discretion, and the Fund’s investments are not limited to the stocks included in the Index.

The Advisor’s investment decisions for the Fund are made primarily on the basis of bottom-up, fundamental research, integrated with an analysis of a company’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) characteristics. ESG factors are considered on both an inclusionary and exclusionary basis. The Advisor’s investment process involves examining four key components: (i) the company’s corporate performance (including traditional fundamentals and ESG variables); (ii) the systematic effects on the company’s business; (iii) the company’s competitive position; and (iv) the company’s intrinsic value. The Advisor’s environmental assessment process includes identifying companies that provide products or services that are tied to an environmental competitive advantage as compared to their peers. For example, the Fund may invest in companies offering products or services with superior energy efficiency, solutions to emissions regulations, or services related to recycling and product reuse. Social assessment includes identifying companies that promote societal benefits or address societal challenges. For example, the Fund may invest in companies that focus on lowering the cost of healthcare, combatting the opioid epidemic, or offering ethically sourced products. Governance assessment includes a focus on shareholder rights, senior management compensation, board structure and audit/accounting risk.

The Advisor may complement its internal ESG assessment of a company with relevant primary data from third parties regarding ESG considerations such as carbon emissions (reported or estimated) and carbon reserves, business involvement data for key social issues, and corporate governance. The Advisor does not rely on third party ESG rankings or a scoring mechanism in the Fund’s portfolio construction process; however, specific governance scores are a component of company assessments and stock selection. The Advisor engages in active dialogues with company management teams to further inform its investment decision-making and to foster discussion with management regarding ESG issues and opportunities.

The Fund is fossil fuel free, which means it excludes companies that hold fossil fuel reserves on their balance sheets. The Fund prioritizes reduced greenhouse gas emissions (reported and estimated) in the portfolio construction process. In addition, the Fund’s ESG criteria is designed to exclude companies that are involved in, and/or derive significant revenue from, certain industries or product lines, including tobacco, civil firearms (defined as those firearms typically available for consumer use in the United States) and controversial weapons (defined as cluster munitions and land mines). The Fund’s ESG criteria does not exclude traditional defense contractors with no exposure to controversial weapons or civil firearms.

2

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

 

The Fund invests in growth-oriented companies as well as those companies that the Advisor considers to be undervalued. The Advisor utilizes a company’s return on invested capital as a central component of its analysis to determine the intrinsic value of companies included in the Fund’s portfolio.

The Advisor may sell all or a portion of a position of the Fund’s portfolio holding when in its opinion one or more of the following occurs, among other reasons: (i) the issuer’s fundamentals deteriorate; (ii) there is a significant change in the company’s performance relative to ESG criteria or the Advisor’s assessment thereof; (iii) the Advisor’s valuation analysis determines a security has realized it full valuation; (iv) the Advisor identifies more attractive investment opportunities for the Fund; or (v) the Fund requires cash to meet redemption requests.

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.

Equity risk. The value of the equity securities held by the Fund may fall due to general market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate, or factors relating to specific companies in which the Fund invests.

Small-cap and mid-cap company risk. The securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements and may have lower trading volumes or more erratic trading than securities of larger, more established companies or market averages in general. In addition, such companies typically are more likely to be adversely affected than large capitalization companies by changes in earning results, business prospects, investor expectations or poor economic or market conditions.

Growth-oriented investment strategies risk. Growth funds generally focus on stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Growth securities typically are very sensitive to market movements because their market prices frequently reflect projections of future earnings or revenues, and when it appears that those expectations will not be met, the prices of growth securities typically fall.

Value-oriented investment strategies risk. Value stocks are those that are believed to be undervalued in comparison to their peers due to adverse business developments or other factors. Value investing is subject to the risk that the market will not recognize a security’s inherent value for a long time or at all, or that a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced or overvalued. In addition, during some periods (which may be extensive) value stocks generally may be out of favor in the markets.

Management and strategy risk. The value of your investment depends on the judgment of the Advisor about the quality, relative yield, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry, sector or region, which may prove to be incorrect.

3

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

 

ESG criteria risk. While the Advisor believes that the integration of ESG analysis 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 exclude 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 ESG characteristics. Furthermore, ESG information from third-party data providers may be incomplete, inaccurate, or unavailable, which could cause the Advisor to incorrectly assess a company’s ESG characteristics.

Sector focus risk. The Fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in one or more sectors than many other mutual funds, and thus will be more susceptible to negative events affecting those sectors. For example, as of December 31, 2023, 26.1% of the Fund’s assets were invested in the industrial sector. Performance of companies in the industrials sector may be affected by, among other things, supply and demand for their specific product or service and for industrials sector products in general. Moreover, government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments, fuel prices, labor agreements, insurance costs, and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies.

REIT risk. The Fund’s investment in REITs will subject the Fund to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic, supply and demand, interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes and operating expenses.

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. Illiquid assets may also be difficult to value.

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.

Cybersecurity risk. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or cause the Fund, the Advisor, and/or other service providers (including custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or loss of operational functionality. In an extreme case, a shareholders’ ability to exchange or redeem Fund shares may be affected. Issuers or securities in which the Fund invests are also subject to cybersecurity risks, and the value of those securities could decline if the issuers experience cybersecurity incidents.

4

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

 

Performance

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Institutional Class shares and by showing how the average annual total returns of each class of the Fund compare with the average annual total returns of a broad-based market index. Performance for classes other than those shown may vary from the performance shown to the extent the expenses for those classes differ. Updated performance information is available at the Fund’s website, www.kennedycapital.com, or by calling the Fund at 1-877-882-8825. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Calendar-Year Total Return (before taxes) Institutional Class Shares

For each calendar year at NAV

The year-to-date return as of March 31, 2024 was 7.38%.

Institutional Class Shares

   

Highest Calendar Quarter Return at NAV

27.93%

Quarter Ended 12/31/2020

Lowest Calendar Quarter Return at NAV

(27.72)%

Quarter Ended 03/31/2020

Average Annual Total Returns
(for periods ended December 31, 2023)

1 Year

Since Inception
(June 28, 2019)

Institutional Class Shares – Return Before Taxes

16.56%

10.71%

Institutional Class Shares – Return After Taxes on Distributions*

16.48%

10.22%

Institutional Class Shares – Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares*

9.86%

8.43%

Russell 2500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

17.42%

8.69%

*   After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

5

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

 

Investment Advisor

Kennedy Capital Management LLC

Portfolio Manager

Christian McDonald, CFA, Portfolio Manager of the Advisor, has been primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio since its inception on June 28, 2019.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

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

Minimum Investments

To Open
Your Account

To Add to
Your Account

Investor Class

   

Direct Regular Accounts

$2,500

$100

Direct Retirement Accounts

$2,500

$100

Automatic Investment Plan

$2,500

$100

Gift Account For Minors

$2,500

$100

Institutional Class

   

Direct Regular Accounts

$5,000

$100

Direct Retirement Accounts

$5,000

$100

Automatic Investment Plan

$5,000

$100

Gift Account For Minors

$5,000

$100

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-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Shareholders investing through such tax-advantaged arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements.

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 may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

6

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

 

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”) is 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.

Investor
Class Shares

 

Institutional
Class Shares

 

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

       

Wire fee

$20

 

$20

 

Overnight check delivery fee

$25

 

$25

 

Retirement account fees (annual maintenance fee)

$15

 

$15

 
         

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

       

Management fees

0.82%

 

0.82%

 

Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees

0.25%

 

None

 

Other expenses

32.62%

 

32.62%

 

Acquired fund fees and expenses1

0.01%

 

0.01%

 

Total annual fund operating expenses1

33.70%

 

33.45%

 

Fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed2

    (32.55)%

 

    (32.55)%

 

Total annual fund operating expenses after waiving fees and/or reimbursing expenses1,2

1.15%

 

0.90%

 

1            The total annual fund operating expenses and net operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursements do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets appearing in the financial highlights table, which reflects only the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

2            The Fund’s advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding any taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with SEC Form N-1A), expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed 1.14% and 0.89% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares of the Fund, 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. The Fund’s advisor is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Fund, subject to certain limitations, of fees waived or payments made to the Fund for a period ending three 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.

7

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

 

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

Five Years

Ten Years

Investor Class shares

$117

$5,252

$7,862

$10,064

Institutional Class shares

$92

$5,216

$7,839

$10,074

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. During the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 37% of the average value of its portfolios.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of small capitalization companies. Equity securities include domestic common and preferred stock, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and shares of investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) designed to track small capitalization indices. The Fund’s advisor, Kennedy Capital Management LLC (the “Advisor”), defines small capitalization companies as those with market capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Russell 2000® Growth Index (the “Index”) at the time of purchase. The capitalization range of companies in the Index may change with market conditions or due to changes in the composition of the Index. As of March 31, 2024, the market capitalization range of the Index was between $12.2 million and $56.5 billion. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the Index may continue to be held by the Fund in the Advisor’s sole discretion. The market capitalization of a security is measured at the time of purchase.

In seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective, the Advisor’s investment approach begins with fundamental, bottom-up research to evaluate investment opportunities, focusing on companies that it believes have superior management and which have business models with a high potential for earnings. The Advisor believes superior risk adjusted performance can be achieved by investing in a diversified portfolio of companies that (i) have durable business models, (ii) are able to deploy assets into a growing set of opportunities, and (iii) achieve superior rates of return on those investments. This investment philosophy is rooted in the understanding that value is created when a business can continue to generate attractive returns on its existing capital and have the opportunity to reinvest capital in the future at equal or greater returns. Each company under consideration for investment is primarily classified by the Advisor in one of the following three stages of the growth life cycle: Early Growth, Steady Compounder, or Material Positive Change. Companies classified as Early Growth are companies that have rapid asset growth, margins not yet to scale, improving returns on invested capital (“ROIC”) or cash flow return on investment (“CFROI®”) and low penetration in the end market. Companies classified as Steady Compounder are established companies that are able to sustain evaluated levels of asset growth, have consistently high or expanding returns on invested capital and have high barriers to entry. Companies classified as Material Positive Change demonstrate structural change (e.g., management divesting an underperforming business segment) that improves asset growth and/or ROIC/CFROI®, have a growth profile post-change and can be found anywhere along the growth life cycle. The Fund invests across the full spectrum of growth but may also invest in companies that the Advisor considers to be undervalued. The Advisor utilizes a company’s ROIC as a central component of its analysis to determine the intrinsic value of companies included in the Fund’s portfolio.

8

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

 

The Advisor may sell all or a portion of a position of the Fund’s portfolio holdings when, in its opinion, one or more of the following occurs, among other reasons: (i) there is a change in the Advisor’s analysis on a particular issuer; (ii) there is a change in the Advisor’s classification of the issuer; (iii) the issuer’s fundamentals deteriorate; (iv) the Advisor identifies more attractive investment opportunities for the Fund; (v) the issuer’s market capitalization consistently exceeds the capitalization range of the Index; or (vi) the Fund requires cash to meet redemption requests.

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.

Equity risk. The value of the equity securities held by the Fund may fall due to general market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate, or factors relating to specific companies in which the Fund invests.

Small-cap company risk. The securities of small-capitalization companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements and may have lower trading volumes or more erratic trading than securities of larger, more established companies or market averages in general. In addition, such companies typically are more likely to be adversely affected than large capitalization companies by changes in earning results, business prospects, investor expectations or poor economic or market conditions.

Growth-oriented investment strategies risk. Growth funds generally focus on stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Growth securities typically are very sensitive to market movements because their market prices frequently reflect projections of future earnings or revenues, and when it appears that those expectations will not be met, the prices of growth securities typically fall.

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. Foreign securities include ADRs and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”). Unsponsored ADRs and GDRs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the foreign issuer of the underlying securities, and involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply. In addition, the issuing bank may deduct shareholder distribution, custody, foreign currency exchange, and other fees from the payment of dividends.

9

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

 

REIT risk. The Fund’s investment in REITs will subject the Fund to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes and operating expenses.

ETF and mutual fund risk. Investing in ETFs or mutual funds will provide the fund with exposure to the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETFs or mutual funds hold. Shares of ETFs typically trade on securities exchanges and may at times trade at a premium or discount to their net asset values. In addition, 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 weighting 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, which are investment companies, involves duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. The Fund will pay brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. In addition, the Fund may invest in underlying funds which invest a larger portion of their assets in one or more sectors than many other mutual funds, and thus will be more susceptible to negative events affecting those sectors.

Preferred stock risk. Preferred stock represents an equity interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of other stocks such as common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. The market value of preferred stock is subject to company-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities and is also sensitive to changes in the company’s creditworthiness, the ability of the company to make payments on the preferred stock, and changes in interest rates, typically declining in value if interest rates rise.

Sector focus risk. The Fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in one or more sectors than many other mutual funds, and thus will be more susceptible to negative events affecting those sectors. For example, as of December 31, 2023, 29.4% of the Fund’s assets were invested in the industrials sector, and 24.9% of the Fund’s assets were invested in the information technology sector. Performance of companies in the industrials sector may be affected by, among other things, supply and demand for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Moreover, government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments, fuel prices, labor agreements, insurance costs, and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Companies in the information technology sector can be significantly affected by intense competition, consumer preferences, problems with product compatibility and government regulation.

Management and strategy risk. The value of your investment depends on the judgment of the Advisor 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.

Cybersecurity risk. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or cause the Fund, the Advisor, and/or other service providers (including custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or loss of operational functionality. In an extreme case, a shareholder’s ability to exchange or redeem Fund shares may be affected. Issuers of securities in which the Fund invests are also subject to cybersecurity risks, and the value of those securities could decline if the issuers experience cybersecurity incidents.

10

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

 

Performance

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Institutional Class shares and by showing how the average annual total returns of each class of the Fund compare with the average annual total returns of a broad-based market index. Performance for classes other than those shown may vary from the performance shown to the extent the expenses for those classes differ. Updated performance information is available at the Fund’s website, www.kennedycapital.com, or by calling the Fund at 1-877-882-8825. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Calendar-Year Total Return (before taxes) Institutional Class Shares

For each calendar year at NAV

The year-to-date return as of March 31, 2024, was 9.61%.

Institutional Class Shares

   

Highest Calendar Quarter Return at NAV

16.90%

Quarter Ended 12/31/2023

Lowest Calendar Quarter Return at NAV

(11.75)%

Quarter Ended 9/30/2023

Average Annual Total Returns
(for periods ended December 31, 2023)

1 Year

Since Inception
(April 27, 2022)

Institutional Class Shares – Return Before Taxes

16.53%

6.31%

Institutional Class Shares – Return After Taxes on Distributions*

16.37%

5.99%

Institutional Class Shares – Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares*

9.82%

4.71%

Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

18.66%

7.36%

*   After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

11

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

 

Investment Advisor

Kennedy Capital Management LLC

Portfolio Manager

The portfolio management team is comprised of Jean Barnard, CFA, Portfolio Manager of the Advisor, Alex Mosman, CFA, Assistant Portfolio Manager of the Advisor, and Ryan Dunnegan, CPA, Assistant Portfolio Manager of the Advisor. Ms. Barnard and Mr. Dunnegan have been portfolio managers since the Fund’s inception in April 2022, and Mr. Mosman has been a portfolio manager since January 2024. Ms. Barnard is the lead portfolio manager and is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

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

Minimum Investments

To Open
Your Account

To Add to
Your Account

Investor Class

   

Direct Regular Accounts

$2,500

$100

Direct Retirement Accounts

$2,500

$100

Automatic Investment Plan

$2,500

$100

Gift Account For Minors

$2,500

$100

Institutional Class

   

Direct Regular Accounts

$50,000

$100

Direct Retirement Accounts

$50,000

$100

Automatic Investment Plan

$50,000

$100

Gift Account For Minors

$50,000

$100

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-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Shareholders investing through such tax-advantaged arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements.

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 may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

12

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

 

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”) is 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.

Investor
Class Shares

Institutional
Class Shares

 

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

     

Wire fee

$20

$20

 

Overnight check delivery fee

$25

$25

 

Retirement account fees (annual maintenance fee)

$15

$15

 
       

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

     

Management fees

0.82%

0.82%

 

Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees

0.25%

None

 

Other expenses

1.59%

1.59%

 

Total annual fund operating expenses

2.66%

2.41%

 

Fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed1

(1.52)%

(1.52)%

 

Total annual fund operating expenses after waiving fees and/or reimbursing expenses1

1.14%

0.89%

 

1            The Fund’s advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding any taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with SEC Form N-1A), expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed 1.14% and 0.89% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares of the Fund, 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. The Fund’s advisor is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Fund, subject to certain limitations, of fees waived or payments made to the Fund for a period ending three 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.

13

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

 

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

One Year

Three Years

Five Years

Ten Years

Investor Class shares

$116

$682

$1,274

$2,880

Institutional Class shares

$91

$606

$1,148

$2,630

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. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of small capitalization companies. The equity securities in which the Fund invests are primarily domestic common stock, but may also include securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), warrants, rights, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), and shares of investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) designed to track small cap indices. The Fund’s advisor, Kennedy Capital Management LLC (the “Advisor”), defines small capitalization companies as those with market capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Russell 2000® Value Index (the “Index”) at the time of purchase. The capitalization range of companies in the Index may change with market conditions or due to changes in the composition of the Index. As of March 31, 2024, the market capitalization range of the Index was between $18.0 million and $10.0 billion. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the Index may continue to be held by the Fund in the Advisor’s sole discretion. The market capitalization of a security is measured at the time of purchase.

In seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective, the Advisor’s investment approach utilizes fundamental, bottom-up research to identify companies that are able to reinvest in their businesses at attractive rates of return, and invest in those companies when prices do not, in the view of the Advisor, adequately reflect the companies’ potential value creation from those investments. The Advisor believes that the operating cash-flow returns of a business is the best measure of a company’s performance and that the ability to reinvest cash flows into high return projects creates a powerful compounding effect, which in turn creates value for shareholders over time. The Advisor works in tandem with a research team of sector-specific analysts to perform fundamental analysis on new potential ideas for the strategy, as well as existing holdings, in order to invest across the full spectrum of value opportunities. Each company under consideration for investment is initially classified by the Advisor’s research team as one of these investment types: (i) Steady Compounder, (ii) Material Positive Change, (iii) Out of Favor, and (iv) Deep Value. Companies classified as Steady Compounder are established companies that are able to sustain evaluated levels of asset growth, have consistently high or expanding returns on invested capital and have high barriers to entry. Companies classified as Material Positive Change demonstrate structural change (e.g., management divesting an underperforming business segment) that improves asset growth and/or returns on invested capital (“ROIC”) or cash flow return on investment (“CFROI”) have a growth profile post-change and can be found anywhere along the growth life cycle. Companies classified as Out of Favor are those companies whose intrinsic business returns are undervalued and experience near term negative sentiment. Companies classified as Deep Value are those companies with a significant gap between intrinsic and market valuations and whose current levels of growth and ROIC/CFROI may be weak in comparison to their peers. This labor intensive, bottom-up approach, combined with discounted cash-flow valuation analysis, forms the basis of the Advisor’s investment process.

The Advisor may sell all or a portion of a position of the Fund’s portfolio holding when in its opinion one or more of the following occurs, among other reasons: (i) there is a change in the Advisor’s analysis on a particular issuer; (ii) a company’s stock price is at the high end of the company’s historical range; (iii) the issuer’s fundamentals deteriorate; (iv) the Advisor identifies more attractive investment opportunities for the Fund; (v) the issuer’s market capitalization consistently exceeds the capitalization range of the Index; or (vi) the Fund requires cash to meet redemption requests.

14

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

 

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.

Equity risk. The value of the equity securities held by the Fund may fall due to general market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate, or factors relating to specific companies in which the Fund invests.

Small-cap company risk. The securities of small-capitalization companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements and may have lower trading volumes or more erratic trading than securities of larger, more established companies or market averages in general. In addition, such companies typically are more likely to be adversely affected than large capitalization companies by changes in earning results, business prospects, investor expectations or poor economic or market conditions.

Value-oriented investment strategies risk. Value stocks are those that are believed to be undervalued in comparison to their peers due to adverse business developments or other factors. Value investing is subject to the risk that the market will not recognize a security’s inherent value for a long time or at all, or that a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced or overvalued. In addition, during some periods (which may be extensive) value stocks generally may be out of favor in the markets.

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. Foreign securities include ADRs and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”). Unsponsored ADRs and GDRs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the foreign issuer of the underlying securities, and involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply. In addition, the issuing bank may deduct shareholder distribution, custody, foreign currency exchange, and other fees from the payment of dividends.

REIT risk. The Fund’s investment in REITs will subject the Fund to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes and operating expenses.

15

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

 

ETF and mutual fund risk. Investing in ETFs or mutual funds will provide the fund with exposure to the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETFs or mutual funds hold. Shares of ETFs typically trade on securities exchanges and may at times trade at a premium or discount to their net asset values. In addition, 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 weighting 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, which are investment companies, involves duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. The Fund will pay brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. In addition, the Fund may invest in underlying funds which invest a larger portion of their assets in one or more sectors than many other mutual funds, and thus will be more susceptible to negative events affecting those sectors.

Management and strategy risk. The value of your investment depends on the judgment of the Advisor about the quality, relative yield, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry, sector or region, which may prove to be incorrect.

Warrants and rights risk. Warrants and rights may lack a liquid secondary market for resale. The prices of warrants and rights may fluctuate as a result of speculation or other factors. Warrants and rights can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants and rights do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of their underlying securities and are highly volatile and speculative investments. If a warrant or right expires without being exercised, the Fund will lose any amount paid for the warrant or right.

Sector focus risk. The Fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in one or more sectors than many other mutual funds, and thus will be more susceptible to negative events affecting those sectors. As of December 31, 2023, 25.2% of the Fund’s total assets were invested in the financial sector. Performance of companies in the financial sector may be adversely impacted by many factors, including, among others: government regulations of, or related to, the sector; governmental monetary and fiscal policies; economic, business or political conditions; credit rating downgrades; changes in interest rates; price competition; and decreased liquidity in credit markets. This sector has experienced significant losses and a high degree of volatility in the recent past, and the impact of more stringent capital requirements and of recent or future regulation on any individual financial company or on the sector as a whole cannot be predicted.

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.

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.

Cybersecurity risk. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or cause the Fund, the Advisor, and/or other service providers (including custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or loss of operational functionality. In an extreme case, a shareholder’s ability to exchange or redeem Fund shares may be affected. Issuers of securities in which the Fund invests are also subject to cybersecurity risks, and the value of those securities could decline if the issuers experience cybersecurity incidents.

16

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

 

Performance

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Institutional Class shares and by showing how the average annual total returns of each class of the Fund compare with the average annual total returns of a broad-based market index. Performance for classes other than those shown may vary from the performance shown to the extent the expenses for those classes differ. Updated performance information is available at the Fund’s website, www.kennedycapital.com, or by calling the Fund at 1-877-882-8825. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Calendar-Year Total Return (before taxes) Institutional Class Shares

For each calendar year at NAV

The year-to-date return as of March 31, 2024, was 5.42%.

Institutional Class Shares

   

Highest Calendar Quarter Return at NAV

13.44%

Quarter Ended 12/31/2023

Lowest Calendar Quarter Return at NAV

(1.46)%

Quarter Ended 9/30/2023

Average Annual Total Returns
(for periods ended December 31, 2023)

1 Year

Since Inception
(April 27, 2022)

Institutional Class Shares – Return Before Taxes

16.55%

9.32%

Institutional Class Shares – Return After Taxes on Distributions*

15.92%

8.68%

Institutional Class Shares – Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares*

10.00%

6.95%

Russell 2000 Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

14.65%

4.62%

*   After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

17

SUMMARY SECTION — Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

 

Investment Advisor

Kennedy Capital Management LLC

Portfolio Manager

Frank Latuda, Jr., CFA®, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of the Advisor, and McAfee Burke, CFA®, Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst of the Advisor, serve as the Fund’s portfolio managers. Messrs. Latuda and Burke have been portfolio managers since the Fund’s inception in April 2022, and are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

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

Minimum Investments

To Open
Your Account

To Add to
Your Account

Investor Class

   

Direct Regular Accounts

$2,500

$100

Direct Retirement Accounts

$2,500

$100

Automatic Investment Plan

$2,500

$100

Gift Account For Minors

$2,500

$100

Institutional Class

   

Direct Regular Accounts

$5,000

$100

Direct Retirement Accounts

$5,000

$100

Automatic Investment Plan

$5,000

$100

Gift Account For Minors

$5,000

$100

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-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Shareholders investing through such tax-advantaged arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements.

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 may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

18

MORE ABOUT THE FUNDS’ INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is 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 SAI.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of small and mid capitalization companies. The Fund will not change this investment policy unless it gives shareholders at least 60 days’ advance written notice. In particular, the Fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of common stock of domestic companies. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts. The Advisor defines small and mid capitalization companies as those with market capitalizations within the capitalization range of companies in the Russell 2500 Index at the time of purchase. The capitalization range of companies in the Index may change with market conditions or due to changes to the composition of the Index. As of March 31, 2024, the market capitalization range of the Russell 2500 Index was between $12.2 million and $56.5 billion. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the Index may continue to be held by the Fund in the Advisor’s sole discretion, and the Fund’s investments are not limited to the stocks included in the Index.

The Advisor’s investment decisions for the Fund are made primarily on the basis of bottom-up, fundamental research, integrated with an analysis of a company’s ESG characteristics. ESG factors are considered on both an inclusionary and exclusionary basis. The Advisor’s investment process involves examining four key components: (i) the company’s corporate performance (including traditional fundamentals and ESG variables); (ii) systematic effects on the company’s business; (iii) the company’s competitive position; and (iv) the company’s intrinsic value. First, the Advisor examines a company’s corporate performance by evaluating the operating history of the company, ESG profile, management’s ability and quality, and the company’s core competencies, culture and ability to evolve. The Advisor seeks to identify companies across the growth-to value spectrum. The Advisor places additional emphasis on business that provide solutions to environmental or societal problems, or exhibit an attractive governance profile. Next, in order to better understand the key drivers of a company’s business, the Advisor examines systematic effects, or the tailwinds and headwinds, on the company’s business, by evaluating the factors affecting the business and the company’s positioning in the market. The Advisor then evaluates the sustainability of the company’s competitive position and returns to determine whether there are any barriers to protect the company’s market position or opportunities for improvement. Lastly, the Advisor estimates the intrinsic value of the company compared to the price at which the company’s securities trade in the marketplace. The Advisor generally focuses on the securities of companies trading at a discount to intrinsic value.

The Advisor’s environmental assessment process includes identifying companies that provide products or services that are tied to an environmental competitive advantage as compared to their peers. For example, the Fund may invest in companies offering products or services with superior energy efficiency, solutions to emissions regulations, or services related to recycling and product reuse. The social assessment includes identifying companies that promote societal benefits or address societal challenges. For example, the Fund may invest in companies that focus on lowering the cost of healthcare, combatting the opioid epidemic, or offering ethically sourced products. The governance assessment includes a focus on shareholder rights, senior management compensation, board structure and audit/accounting risk.

The Advisor may complement its internal ESG assessment of a company with relevant data from third parties regarding ESG considerations, which may include: (i) reported and estimated greenhouse gas emissions; (ii) carbon reserves; (iii) industry exposure; (iv) business involvement, including exposure to tobacco, civil firearms, or controversial weapons; (v) board structure and diversity; (vi) executive compensation; (vii) audit and accounting risk; and (viii) shareholder rights.

19

The Advisor does not rely on third party ESG rankings or a scoring mechanism in the Fund’s portfolio construction process; however, specific governance scores are a component of company assessments and stock selection. The Advisor engages in active dialogues with company management teams to further inform its investment decision-making and to foster discussion with management on ESG issues and opportunities.

The Fund is fossil fuel free which means it excludes companies that hold fossil fuel reserves on their balance sheets. The Fund prioritizes reduced greenhouse gas emissions (reported and estimated) in the portfolio construction process. In addition, the Fund’s ESG criteria is designed to exclude companies that are involved in, and/or derive significant revenue from, certain industries or product lines, including tobacco, civil firearms (defined as those firearms typically available for consumer use in the United States) and controversial weapons (defined as cluster munitions and land mines). The Fund’s ESG criteria does not exclude traditional defense contractors with no exposure to controversial weapons or civil firearms.

The Fund invests in growth-oriented companies as well as those companies that are considered undervalued. The Advisor utilizes a company’s return on invested capital as a central component of its analysis to determine the intrinsic value of companies included in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund’s portfolio is generally managed on a sector neutral basis with modest over- and under-weights as compared to the Index, driven by bottom-up stock selection and ESG considerations. The Advisor seeks to manage investment risk by maintaining broad issuer and industry diversification among the Fund’s holdings, and by utilizing fundamental analysis of risk/return characteristics in the security selection process.

The Advisor may sell all or a portion of a position of the Fund’s portfolio holding when in its opinion one or more of the following occurs, among other reasons: (i) the issuer’s fundamentals deteriorate; (ii) there is a significant change in the company’s performance relative to ESG criteria or the Advisor’s assessment thereof; (iii) the Advisor’s valuation analysis determines a security has realized its full valuation; (iv) the Advisor identifies more attractive investment opportunities for the Fund; or (v) the Fund requires cash to meet redemption requests.

When the Advisor believes that current market, economic, political or other conditions are unsuitable and would impair the pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may invest some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, including but not limited to obligations of the U.S. government money market fund shares. When the Fund takes a temporary defensive position, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is 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 SAI.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of small capitalization companies. Equity securities include domestic common and preferred stock, ADRs, and securities of REITs and shares of investment companies, including ETFs designed to track small cap indices. The Advisor defines small capitalization companies as those with market capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Index at the time of purchase. The capitalization range of companies in the Index may change with market conditions or due to changes in the composition of the Index. As of March 31, 2024, the market capitalization range of the Russell 2000® Growth Index was between $12.2 million and $56.5 billion. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the Index may continue to be held by the Fund in the Advisor’s sole discretion. The market capitalization of a security is measured at the time of purchase.

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In seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective, the Advisor’s investment approach begins with fundamental, bottom-up research to evaluate investment opportunities, focusing on companies that it believes have superior management and which have business models with a high potential for earnings. The Advisor believes superior risk adjusted performance can be achieved by investing in a diversified portfolio of companies that (i) have durable business models, (ii) are able to deploy assets into a growing set of opportunities, and (iii) achieve superior rates of return on those investments. This investment philosophy is rooted in the understanding that value is created when a business can continue to generate attractive returns on its existing capital and have the opportunity to reinvest capital in the future at equal or greater returns. Each company under consideration for investment is primarily classified by the Advisor in one of the following three stages of the growth life cycle: Early Growth, Steady Compounder, or Material Positive Change. Companies classified as Early Growth are companies that have rapid asset growth, margins not yet to scale, improving ROIC or CFROI® and low penetration in the end market. Companies classified as Steady Compounder are established companies that are able to sustain evaluated levels of asset growth, have consistently high or expanding returns on invested capital and have high barriers to entry. Companies classified as Material Positive Change demonstrate structural change (e.g., management divesting an underperforming business segment) that improves asset growth and/or ROIC/CFROI®, have a growth profile post-change and can be found anywhere along the growth life cycle. The Fund invests across the full spectrum of growth but may also invest in companies that the Advisor considers to be undervalued. The Advisor utilizes a company’s ROIC as a central component of its analysis to determine the intrinsic value of companies included in the Fund’s portfolio.

The Advisor may sell all or a portion of a position of the Fund’s portfolio holdings when, in its opinion, one or more of the following occurs, among other reasons: (i) there is a change in the Advisor’s analysis on a particular issuer; (ii) there is a change in the Advisor’s classification of the issuer; (iii) the issuer’s fundamentals deteriorate; (iv) the Advisor identifies more attractive investment opportunities for the Fund; (v) the issuer’s market capitalization consistently exceeds the capitalization range of the Index; or (vi) the Fund requires cash to meet redemption requests.

When the Advisor believes that current market, economic, political or other conditions are unsuitable and would impair the pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may invest some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, including but not limited to obligations of the U.S. government money market fund shares. When the Fund takes a temporary defensive position, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is 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 SAI.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of small capitalization companies. The equity securities in which the Fund invests are primarily domestic common stock, but may also include securities of REITs, warrants, rights, ADRs, and shares of investment companies, including ETFs designed to track small cap indices. The Advisor defines small capitalization companies as those with market capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Index at the time of purchase. The capitalization range of companies in the Index may change with market conditions or due to changes in the composition of the Index. As of March 31, 2024, the market capitalization range of the Russell 2000® Value Index was between $18.0 million and $10.0 billion. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the Index may continue to be held by the Fund in the Advisor’s sole discretion. The market capitalization of a security is measured at the time of purchase.

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In seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective, the Advisor’s investment approach utilizes fundamental, bottom-up research to identify companies that are able to reinvest in their businesses at attractive rates of return, and invest in those companies when prices do not, in the view of the Advisor, adequately reflect the companies’ potential value creation from those investments. The Advisor believes that the operating cash-flow returns of a business is the best measure of a company’s performance and that the ability to reinvest cash flows into high return projects creates a powerful compounding effect, which in turn creates value for shareholders over time. The Advisor works in tandem with a research team of sector-specific analysts to perform fundamental analysis on new potential ideas for the strategy, as well as existing holdings, in order to invest across the full spectrum of value opportunities. Each company under consideration for investment is initially classified by the Advisor’s research team as one of these investment types: (i) Steady Compounder, (ii) Material Positive Change, (iii) Out of Favor, and (iv) Deep Value. Companies classified as Steady Compounder are established companies that are able to sustain evaluated levels of asset growth, have consistently high or expanding returns on invested capital and have high barriers to entry. Companies classified as Material Positive Change demonstrate structural change (e.g., management divesting an underperforming business segment) that improves asset growth and/or returns on invested capital (“ROIC”) or cash flow return on investment (“CFROI”) have a growth profile post-change and can be found anywhere along the growth life cycle. Companies classified as Out of Favor are those companies whose intrinsic business returns are undervalued and experience near term negative sentiment. Companies classified as Deep Value are those companies with a significant gap between intrinsic and market valuations and whose current levels of growth and ROIC/CFROI may be weak in comparison to their peers. This labor intensive, bottom-up approach, combined with discounted cash-flow valuation analysis, forms the basis of the Advisor’s investment process.

The Advisor may sell all or a portion of a position of the Fund’s portfolio holding when in its opinion one or more of the following occurs, among other reasons: (i) there is a change in the Advisor’s analysis on a particular issuer; (ii) a company’s stock price is at the high end of the company’s historical range; (iii) the issuer’s fundamentals deteriorate; (iv) the Advisor identifies more attractive investment opportunities for the Fund; (v) the issuer’s market capitalization consistently exceeds the capitalization range of the Index; or (vi) the Fund requires cash to meet redemption requests.

When the Advisor believes that current market, economic, political or other conditions are unsuitable and would impair the pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may invest some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, including but not limited to obligations of the U.S. government money market fund shares. When the Fund takes a temporary defensive position, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks of Investing

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

    Market risk (All Funds). 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. 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. 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 Advisor. In response to certain crises, the United States and other governments have taken steps to support

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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.

    Equity risk (All Funds). The value of equity securities held by a Fund may fall due to general market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate, or factors relating to specific companies in which the Fund invests. The price of common stock of an issuer in the Fund’s portfolio may decline if the issuer fails to make anticipated dividend payments because, among other reasons, the financial condition of the issuer declines. Common stock is subordinated to preferred stocks, bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority with respect to corporate income, and therefore will be subject to greater dividend risk than preferred stocks or debt instruments of such issuers. In addition, while broad market measures of common stocks have historically generated higher average returns than fixed income securities, common stocks have also experienced significantly more volatility in those returns.

    Small-cap company risk (Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund, Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund). Investing in small-capitalization companies generally involves greater risks than investing in large-capitalization companies. Small-cap companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources or may depend on the expertise of a few people and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established companies or market averages in general. Many small capitalization companies may be in the early stages of development. Since equity securities of smaller companies may lack sufficient market liquidity and may not be regularly traded, it may be difficult or impossible to sell securities at an advantageous time or a desirable price.

    Small-cap and mid-cap company risk (Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund). Investing in small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies generally involves greater risks than investing in large-capitalization companies. Small- or mid-cap companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources or may depend on the expertise of a few people and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established companies or market averages in general. Many small capitalization companies may be in the early stages of development. Since equity securities of smaller companies may lack sufficient market liquidity and may not be regularly traded, it may be difficult or impossible to sell securities at an advantageous time or a desirable price.

    Growth-oriented investment strategies risk (Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund, Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund). Growth funds generally focus on stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Growth securities typically are very sensitive to market movements because their market prices frequently reflect projections of future earnings or revenues, and when it appears that those expectations will not be met the prices of growth securities typically fall. Prices of these companies’ securities may be more volatile than those of other securities, particularly over the short term.

    Value-oriented investment strategies risk (Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund, Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund). Value stocks are those that are believed to be undervalued in comparison to their peers due to adverse business developments or other factors. Value investing carries the risk that the market will not recognize a security’s inherent value for a long time or at all, or that a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced or overvalued. In addition, during some periods (which may be extensive) value stocks generally may be out of favor in the markets. Therefore, the Fund is most suitable for long-term investors who are willing to hold their shares for extended periods of time through market fluctuations and the accompanying changes in share prices.

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    Portfolio turnover risk (Kennedy Small Cap Value Fund). 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.

    Foreign investment risk (Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund, Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund). 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. The Fund’s investments in depositary receipts (including ADRs) are subject to these risks, even if denominated in U.S. dollars, because changes in currency and exchange rates affect the values of the issuers of depositary receipts. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

    Sector focus risk (All Funds). From time to time, the Fund may invest a significant amount of its total assets in each of certain sectors of the economy. Each of those sectors may be subject to specific risks. These risks include governmental regulation of the sector and governmental monetary and fiscal policies, which may impact interest rates and currencies and affect corporate funding and international trade. Certain sectors may be more vulnerable than others to these factors. In addition, market sentiment and expectations toward a particular sector could affect a company’s market valuation and access to equity funding.

    REIT risk (All Funds). A Fund’s investments in REITs will subject the Fund to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes and operating expenses. Investment in REITs is subject to additional risks, such as poor performance by the manager of the REIT, adverse changes to the tax laws or failure by the REIT to qualify for the favorable tax treatment generally available to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In addition, some REITs have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.

    ETF and mutual fund risk (Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund, Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund). Investing in ETFs or mutual funds will provide a Fund with exposure to the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETFs or mutual funds hold. Shares of ETFs typically trade on securities exchanges and may at times trade at a premium or discount to their net asset values. In addition, 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 weighting of securities or the number of securities held. It may be more expensive for a 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, which are investment companies, involves duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. A Fund will pay brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. In addition, a Fund may invest in underlying funds which invest a larger portion of their assets in one or more sectors than many other mutual funds, and thus will be more susceptible to negative events affecting those sectors.

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    ESG criteria risk (Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund). While the Advisor believes that the integration of ESG analysis 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 exclude 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 ESG characteristics. While the Advisor believes its ESG criteria for excluding securities of certain issuers is reasonable, the Fund’s investments may include securities of issuers that derive revenue from non-ESG activities. Furthermore, ESG information from third-party data providers may be incomplete, inaccurate, or unavailable, which could cause the Advisor to incorrectly assess a company’s ESG characteristics. Moreover, 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.

    Liquidity risk (Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund). 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.

    Management and strategy risk (All Funds). The value of your investment depends on the judgment of the Advisor 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 Advisor in selecting investments for a Fund may not result in an increase in the value of your investment or in overall performance equal to other investments.

    Warrants and rights risk (Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund). A warrant gives the holder a right to purchase, at any time during a specified period, a predetermined number of shares of common stock at a fixed price. 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. Unlike a convertible debt security or preferred stock, a warrant or right does not pay fixed dividends. A warrant or right may lack a liquid secondary market for resale. The price of a warrant or right may fluctuate as a result of speculation or other factors. In addition, the price of the underlying security may not reach, or have reasonable prospects of reaching, a level at which the warrant or right can be exercised prudently (in which case the warrant or right may expire without being exercised, resulting in a loss of the Fund’s entire investment in the warrant or right). If the Fund owns common stock of a company, failing to exercise rights to purchase common stock would dilute the Fund’s interest in the issuing company. The market for rights is not well developed and the Fund may not always realize full value on the sale of rights.

    Recent market events (All Funds). 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.

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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.

    Cybersecurity risk (All Funds). Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or cause the Fund, the Advisor, and/or other service providers (including custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or loss of operational functionality. A cybersecurity incident may disrupt the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value, and prevent shareholders from redeeming their shares. Issuers of securities in which the Fund invests are also subject to cybersecurity risks, and the value of those securities could decline if the issuers experience cybersecurity incidents.

Portfolio Holdings Information

A description of each Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). Currently, disclosure of each 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 quarterly holdings report on Form N-PORT.

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

Investment Advisor

Kennedy Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, formed in 1980, which maintains its principal offices at 10829 Olive Boulevard, Suite 100, St. Louis, Missouri 63141, acts as the investment advisor to the Funds pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Trust. The Advisor is an investment advisor registered with the SEC and provides investment advice to open-end funds, private investment funds, collective investment trust funds, and institutional and high net worth clients. The Advisor has approximately $4.8 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2023.

On February 8, 2023 (the “Closing”), Azimut Group (“Azimut”), through Azimut US Holdings, Inc., purchased a 35% equity interest in the Advisor, with the remaining equity interests held by the Advisor’s existing employees. In connection with this transaction, following the second anniversary of the Closing, Azimut will have the option to purchase an additional equity interest in the Advisor such that, if exercised, Azimut would then own a majority of the Advisor.

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor is entitled to receive an annual advisory fee as listed below of each Fund’s average daily net assets for the services and facilities it provides, payable on a monthly basis. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Advisor received advisory fees, after waiving fees pursuant to its expense limitation agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Funds, as follows:

Fund

Contractual Advisory
Fees as a
Percentage of Average
Daily Net Assets

Advisory Fee (Net of
Fee Waivers) As a
Percentage of Average
Daily Net Assets

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

0.75%

0.29%

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

0.82%

0.00%

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

0.82%

0.00%

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Advisory Agreement is available in the Funds’ Semi-annual Report to shareholders dated as of June 30, 2023.

Portfolio Managers

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

Christian McDonald, CFA®, Portfolio Manager of the Advisor, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio and is the portfolio manager for the Advisor’s ESG SMID Cap strategy. Mr. McDonald also serves as the co-portfolio manager for the Small Cap Core Strategy and is the assistant portfolio manager for the Advisor’s Micro Cap strategy. In addition, Mr. McDonald serves as a research analyst at the Advisor, primarily responsible for selecting and monitoring securities within the industrials sector. Mr. McDonald joined the Advisor in 2005. Mr. McDonald earned a BS in Finance and Operations Management from Washington University and a MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Business.

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

Jean Barnard, CFA®, Director of Research and Portfolio Manager of the Advisor, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. Ms. Barnard is also a Portfolio Manager for the Advisor’s SMID Cap Growth strategy and also serves as a member of the Advisor’s Board of Directors. Ms. Barnard is responsible for the coordination and direction of internal research operations. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, most recently Ms. Barnard was Executive Vice President and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Janus Classic Growth Strategy (Janus Fund), a position she held since January 2016 after serving in the role of Assistant Portfolio Manager from 2014. Previously as the Sector Lead for Communications, Ms. Barnard led a team of analysts covering the internet, media, and telecommunications sectors

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globally. Ms. Barnard began her career at Janus Capital in 1992 as an equity research analyst, and was a founding member of the firm’s international team supporting the Janus Worldwide and Overseas strategies. Ms. Barnard earned a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Yale University, graduating with distinction in both majors.

Ryan Dunnegan, CPA, Portfolio Manager, Assistant Portfolio Manager, and Research Analyst of the Advisor is a member of the Fund’s portfolio management team. Mr. Dunnegan is also a Portfolio Manager for the Global Health Care and Biotechnology Sector strategies, Assistant Portfolio Manager for the SMID Cap Growth strategy, and Research Analyst. As a Research Analyst at KCM, Mr. Dunnegan is responsible for selecting and monitoring securities within the health care sector of KCM’s universe. Mr. Dunnegan also co-manages the Equity Research Internship Program. Mr. Dunnegan began his investment career at KCM in 2006 during a two-year internship. Mr. Dunnegan subsequently transitioned to the role of Associate Equity Analyst with KCM in 2008 through 2009, while simultaneously earning his Master of Accounting degree. Following completion of his master’s degree, Mr. Dunnegan spent nearly four years at KPMG LLP where he provided audit services in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRS standards to an array of public and privately held global companies. Mr. Dunnegan earned both his B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and a Master of Accounting from Saint Louis University.

Alex Mosman, CFA®, Portfolio Manager and Assistant Portfolio Manager of the Advisor, is a member of the Fund’s portfolio management team. Mr. Mosman is also a Portfolio Manager for the Small Cap Select and Small Cap Select SRI strategies and Assistant Portfolio Manager for the Small Cap Core and SMID Cap Growth strategies. Mr. Mosman was previously a full-time Research Analyst covering information technology for over 11 years at KCM after gaining experience in equity analysis through his two-year internship at KCM. Mr. Mosman graduated summa cum laude and earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Saint Louis University.

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

Frank Latuda, Jr., CFA®, Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) and Portfolio Manager of the Advisor, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. Mr. Latuda is also a Portfolio Manager for the Advisor’s SMID Cap Value, Mid Cap Value, and All Cap Value strategies. Mr. Latuda serves as a member of the Advisor’s Board of Directors and as CIO, Mr. Latuda is the Chairman of the Investment Policy Committee. Mr. Latuda began his investment career in 1992 and prior to joining the Advisor, he was an analyst with Burns, Pauli, Mahoney Company. Mr. Latuda joined the Advisor as an equity analyst in 1997 and served as Director of Research from 1998 until 2000. Mr. Latuda earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, as well as an M.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.B.A. from the University of Illinois.

McAfee Burke, CFA®, Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst of the Advisor, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. Mr. Burke is also a Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst for the Advisor’s SMID Cap Value strategy. As a Research Analyst, Mr. Burke is responsible for selecting and monitoring securities within the consumer and industrials sectors. He joined the Advisor in 2015. Mr. Burke began his investment career in 2005, and prior to joining the Advisor, he worked as a portfolio manager and senior equity analyst for Delaware Investments for 8 years. Mr. Burke earned a B.A. in Economics and Spanish from Bowdoin College.

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

Other Service Providers

IMST Distributors, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group (dba ACA Group) (the “Distributor”), is the Trust’s principal underwriter and acts as the Trust’s distributor in connection with the offering of Fund shares. The Distributor may enter into agreements with banks, broker-dealers, or other financial intermediaries through which investors may purchase or redeem shares. The Distributor is not affiliated with the Trust, the Advisor, or any other service provider for the Funds.

Fund Expenses

Each 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;

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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 Advisor 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 any 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), expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed the following. 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.

Fund

Expense Cap
as percent of the average daily net assets

Institutional Class

Investor Class

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

0.82%

1.07%

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

0.89%

1.14%

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

0.89%

1.14%

Any reduction in advisory fees or payment of the Fund’s expenses made by the Advisor in a fiscal year may be reimbursed by the Fund for a period ending three years after the date of reduction or payment if the Advisor 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 Advisor and will not include any amounts previously reimbursed to the Advisor by the Funds. Any such reimbursement is contingent upon the Board’s subsequent review of the reimbursed amounts. Each Fund must pay current ordinary operating expenses before the Advisor is entitled to any reimbursement of fees and/or Fund expenses.

Additional Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

The Advisor 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 Advisor, out of its own resources, and without additional cost to the Funds or their shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to broker-dealers or intermediaries that sell shares of the Funds. 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 Advisor may pay cash compensation for inclusion of the Funds 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 Funds’ shareholders. The Advisor may also pay cash compensation in the form of finder’s fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of the shares sold.

Prior Performance for Similar Accounts Managed by the Advisor

ESG SMID Cap Composite

The following table sets forth performance data relating to the historical performance of all private accounts managed by the Advisor for the periods indicated that have investment objectives, policies, and strategies substantially similar to those of the Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund (the “Fund”). The data is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Advisor in managing substantially similar accounts as measured against a market index and does not represent the performance of the Fund. You should not consider this performance data as an indication of future performance of the Fund.

29

The private accounts that are included in the performance data set forth below are not subject to the same types of expenses to which the Fund is subject, or to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Consequently, the performance results for these private accounts could have been adversely affected if the private accounts had been regulated as investment companies under the federal securities laws.

The composite returns below were calculated in accordance with recognized industry standards which are calculated differently than the SEC method for calculating performance for registered investment companies. Monthly returns of the composite combine the individual accounts’ returns (calculated on a time-weighted rate of return basis) by asset weighting each account’s asset value as of the beginning of the month. Annual returns are calculated by geometrically linking (i.e., calculating the product of) the monthly returns.

Average Annual Total Returns
For the Period Ended December 31, 2023

One Year

Five Years

Since
Inception
(January 1,
2017)

ESG SMID Cap Composite

     

Net Returns, after fees/expenses*

16.6%

14.3%

11.5%

Gross Returns

17.3%

15.0%

12.2%

Russell 2500™ Index

17.4%

11.7%

9.0%

*   The net returns for the composite are shown net of all actual fees and expenses. The fees and expenses of accounts included in the composite are lower than the anticipated operating expenses of the Fund and accordingly, the performance results of the composite are higher than what the Fund’s performance would have been.

The ESG SMID Cap Composite was created in January 2017 and includes all discretionary accounts managed in the strategy. The ESG SMID Cap Composite contains securities of value and growth companies that have a market capitalization ranging from small-cap to mid-cap. The Advisor places an additional emphasis on ESG criteria as part of the portfolio construction and stock selection process. Returns are presented net of trading costs. Net returns reflect the additional deduction of management fees and are based on the actual account level net returns. Performance is expressed in U.S. dollars. Dividends are recorded gross of withholding taxes.

The Russell 2500™ Index measures the performance of the small to mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe, commonly referred to as “smid” cap. The Russell 2500™ Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index. It includes approximately 2500 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The Russell 2500™ Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the small to mid-cap segment. The Index is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the true small to mid-cap opportunity set.

Small Cap Growth Composite

The following table sets forth performance data relating to the historical performance of all accounts managed by the Advisor for the periods indicated that have investment objectives, policies, and strategies substantially similar to those of the Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”). The data is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Advisor in managing substantially similar accounts as measured against a market index and does not represent the performance of the Fund. You should not consider this performance data as an indication of future performance of the Fund.

30

The private accounts that are included in the performance data set forth below are not subject to the same types of expenses to which the Fund is subject, or to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Consequently, the performance results for these private accounts could have been adversely affected if the private accounts had been regulated as investment companies under the federal securities laws.

The composite returns below were calculated in accordance with recognized industry standards which are calculated differently than the SEC method for calculating performance for registered investment companies. Monthly returns of the composite combine the individual accounts’ returns (calculated on a time-weighted rate of return basis) by asset weighting each account’s asset value as of the beginning of the month. Annual returns are calculated by geometrically linking (i.e., calculating the product of) the monthly returns.

Average Annual Total Returns
For the Period Ended December 31, 2023

One Year

Five Years

Ten Years

Small Cap Growth Composite

     

Net Returns, after fees/expenses*

14.8%

12.5%

9.1%

Gross Returns

15.5%

13.2%

9.8%

Russell 2000® Growth Index

18.7%

9.2%

7.2%

*   The net returns for the composite are shown net of all actual fees and expenses. The fees and expenses of accounts included in the composite are lower than the anticipated operating expenses of the Fund and accordingly, the performance results of the composite are higher than what the Fund’s performance would have been.

The Advisor is an investment advisor registered with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The Small Cap Growth Composite was created in June 2012 and includes all discretionary accounts managed in the strategy. The Small Cap Growth Composite invests in growth securities of predominantly small companies that generally have a market capitalization that is reflective of the Russell 2000® Growth Index. The Advisor seeks companies with durable business models able to deploy assets into growing sets of opportunities providing superior rates of return.

The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of the small-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000 companies with higher price-to-value ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell 2000® Growth Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the small-cap growth segment. The Russell 2000® Growth Index is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the true small-cap opportunity set and that the represented companies continue to reflect growth characteristics.

Small Cap Value Composite

The following table sets forth performance data relating to the historical performance of all accounts managed by the Advisor for the periods indicated that have investment objectives, policies, and strategies substantially similar to those of the Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund. The data is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Advisor in managing substantially similar accounts as measured against a market index and does not represent the performance of the Fund. You should not consider this performance data as an indication of future performance of the Fund.

The private accounts that are included in the performance data set forth below are not subject to the same types of expenses to which the Fund is subject, or to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or

31

Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Consequently, the performance results for these private accounts could have been adversely affected if the private accounts had been regulated as investment companies under the federal securities laws.

The composite returns below were calculated in accordance with recognized industry standards which are calculated differently than the SEC method for calculating performance for registered investment companies. Monthly returns of the composite combine the individual accounts’ returns (calculated on a time-weighted rate of return basis) by asset weighting each account’s asset value as of the beginning of the month. Annual returns are calculated by geometrically linking (i.e., calculating the product of) the monthly returns.

Average Annual Total Returns
For the Period Ended December 31, 2023

One Year

Five Years

Ten Years

Small Cap Value Composite

     

Net Returns, after fees/expenses*

17.0%

13.5%

8.3%

Gross Returns

18.0%

14.5%

9.3%

Russell 2000® Value Index

14.7%

10.0%

6.8%

*   The net returns for the composite are shown net of all actual fees and expenses. The fees and expenses of accounts included in the composite are lower than the anticipated operating expenses of the Fund and accordingly, the performance results of the composite are higher than what the Fund’s performance would have been.

The Advisor is an investment advisor registered with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The Small Cap Value Composite was created in January 1983 and includes all discretionary accounts managed in the strategy. The Small Cap Value Composite invests in small cap companies that have favorable cash flow values relative to their current market value.

The Russell 2000® Value Index measures the performance of small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000 companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The Russell 2000® Value Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the small-cap value segment. The Index is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the true small-cap opportunity set and that the represented companies continue to reflect value characteristics. The Index is unmanaged and represents total returns including reinvestment of dividends.

DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (Rule 12b-1) FEES

Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Fees (For Investor Class shares)

The Trust has adopted a plan on behalf of each Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”) which allows each Fund to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of its Investor Class shares and/or shareholder liaison service fees in connection with the provision of personal services to shareholders of Investor Class shares and the maintenance of their shareholder accounts. The 12b-1 Plan provides for the payment of such fees at the annual rate of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Investor Class shares. Since these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets attributable to the Fund’s Investor Class shares, 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 Investor Class shares will be reduced by the amount of distribution and shareholder liaison service fees and other expenses of the Fund associated with that class of shares.

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 expenses of the Fund applicable to each class of shares offered in this Prospectus.

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

32

YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE FUNDS

 

Share Price

The offering price of each class of the Funds’ shares is the net asset value per share (“NAV”) of that class. The difference among the classes’ NAVs reflects the daily expense accruals of the distribution fees applicable to Investor Class shares. Each 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, each 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 Advisor 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. Each 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 Funds does not value their shares, which may significantly affect the Funds’ NAVs on days when you are not able to buy or sell Fund shares.

The Funds’ securities generally are valued at market price. Securities are valued at fair value when market quotations are not readily available. The Board has designated the Advisor as each Fund’s valuation designee (the “Valuation Designee”) to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. As the Valuation Designee, the Advisor 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 Advisor, does not represent the security’s fair value), or when, in the judgment of the Advisor, 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 Advisor, 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 Advisor, 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 Advisor employs fair value pricing to ensure greater accuracy in determining daily the Funds’ 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 Advisor may value such foreign securities at fair value, taking into account the effect of such event, in order to calculate the Fund’s NAVs.

Other types of portfolio securities that the Advisor 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 Advisor, 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.

33

Purchase of Shares

This Prospectus offers two classes of shares of each Fund, designated as Investor Class  and Institutional Class. Currently, the Investor Class shares for each Fund are not available for purchase.

     Investor Class shares are subject to annual distribution fees.

     Institutional Class shares are not subject to any distribution fees.

By offering multiple classes of shares, the Funds permit 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. 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; and

     total costs and expenses associated with a particular share class.

Investor Class and Institutional Class shares are generally available to all investors; however, share class availability depends upon your financial intermediary’s policies and procedures. Institutional Class shares are subject to different eligibility requirements, fees and expenses, and may have different minimum investment requirements. You should consult with your financial advisor for more information to determine which share class is most appropriate for your situation.

Each class of shares generally has the same rights, except for the distribution fees, and 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 purchase shares of the Funds, generally you must invest at least the minimum amount indicated in the following table.

Minimum Investments

To Open
Your Account

To Add to
Your Account

Investor Class

   

Direct Regular Accounts

$2,500

$100

Direct Retirement Accounts

$2,500

$100

Automatic Investment Plan

$2,500

$100

Gift Account For Minors

$2,500

$100

Institutional Class

   

(Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund and Kennedy Capital
Small Cap Value Fund)

   

Direct Regular Accounts

$5,000

$100

Direct Retirement Accounts

$5,000

$100

Automatic Investment Plan

$5,000

$100

Gift Account For Minors

$5,000

$100

Institutional Class

   

(Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund only)

   

Direct Regular Accounts

$50,000

$100

Direct Retirement Accounts

$50,000

$100

Automatic Investment Plan

$50,000

$100

Gift Account For Minors

$50,000

$100

34

Shares of the Funds 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 respective Fund to receive purchase orders. Financial intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem shares, additional fees and different investment minimums. In addition, from time to time, a financial intermediary may modify or waive the initial and subsequent investment minimums. 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 these arrangements with your financial intermediary.

You may make an initial investment in an amount equal to or greater than the minimum amounts shown in the preceding table and the Fund may, from time to time, reduce or waive the minimum initial investment amounts. The minimum initial investment amount is automatically waived for Fund shares purchased by Trustees of the Trust and current or retired directors and employees of the Advisor and its affiliates.

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

In-Kind Purchases and Redemptions

Each Fund reserves the right to accept payment for shares in the form of securities that are permissible investments for the Fund. Each Fund also reserves the right to pay redemptions by an “in-kind” distribution of portfolio securities (instead of cash) from the Fund. 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.

Additional Investments

Additional subscriptions in a Fund generally may be made by investing at least the minimum amount shown in the table above. Exceptions may be made at the Fund’s discretion. You may purchase additional shares of a 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 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. The minimum additional investment amount is automatically waived for shares purchased by Trustees of the Trust and current or retired directors and employees of the Advisor and its affiliates. Please follow the procedures described in this Prospectus.

Dividend Reinvestment

You may reinvest dividends and capital gains distributions in shares of the Funds. Such shares are acquired at NAV 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 1-877-882-8825. 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 Funds reserve the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account at the relevant Fund’s current NAV and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.

Customer Identification Information

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, 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. Applications without such information will not be considered in good order. Each Fund reserves the right to deny any application if the application is not in good order.

35

This Prospectus should not be considered a solicitation to purchase or as an offer to sell shares of the Funds in any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so under the laws of that jurisdiction. 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 state law.

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 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 Fund’s transfer agent (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 1-877-882-8825 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.

Timing and Nature of Requests

The purchase price you will pay for the Fund’s shares will be the next NAV calculated after the Transfer Agent or your authorized financial intermediary receives your request in good order. “Good order” means that your purchase request includes: (1) the name of the Fund, (2) the dollar amount of shares to be purchased, (3) your purchase application or investment stub, and (4) a check payable to Kennedy Capital Funds. All requests received in good order before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on any business day will be processed on that same day. Requests received at or after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) will be transacted at the next business day’s NAV. All purchases must be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions.

Methods of Buying

Through a broker-
dealer or other
financial
intermediary

The Funds are offered through certain approved financial intermediaries (and their agents). The Funds are also offered directly. A purchase order placed with a financial intermediary or its authorized agent is treated as if such order were placed directly with the Funds, and will be deemed to have been received by the Funds when the financial intermediary or its authorized agent receives the order and executed at the next NAV calculated by the Funds. Your financial intermediary will hold your shares in a pooled account in its (or its agent’s) name. A Fund may pay your financial intermediary (or its agent) to maintain your individual ownership information, maintain required records, and provide other shareholder services. A financial intermediary which offers shares may charge its individual clients transaction fees which may be in addition to those described in this Prospectus. If you invest through your financial intermediary, its policies and fees may be different than those described in this Prospectus. For example, the financial intermediary may charge transaction fees or set different minimum investments. Your financial intermediary is responsible for processing your order correctly and promptly, keeping you advised of the status of your account, confirming your transactions and ensuring that you receive copies of the Funds’ Prospectus. Please contact your financial intermediary to determine whether it is an approved financial intermediary of the Funds or for additional information.

By mail

The Funds will not accept payment in cash, including cashier’s checks. Also, to prevent check fraud, a Fund will not accept third party checks, Treasury checks, credit card checks, traveler’s checks, money orders or starter checks for the purchase of shares. All checks must be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions.

36

To buy shares directly from a Fund by mail, complete an account application and send it together with your check for the amount you wish to invest to the Funds at the address indicated below. To make additional investments once you have opened your account, write your account number on the check and send it to the Funds together with the most recent confirmation statement received from the Transfer Agent. If your check is returned for insufficient funds, your purchase will be canceled and a $25 fee will be assessed against your account by the Transfer Agent.

 

Regular Mail
Kennedy Capital Funds
P.O. Box 2175
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201

Overnight Delivery
Kennedy Capital Funds
235 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

 

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

By telephone

To make additional investments by telephone, you must authorize telephone purchases on your account application. If you have given authorization for telephone transactions and your account has been open for at least 15 days, call the Transfer Agent toll-free at 877-882-8825 and you will be allowed to move money in amounts of at least $100, but not greater than $50,000, from your bank account to the Funds’ account upon request. Only bank accounts held at U.S. institutions that are ACH members may be used for telephone transactions. If your order is placed before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on a business day shares will be purchased in your account at the NAV calculated on that day. Orders received at or after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) will be transacted at the next business day’s NAV. For security reasons, requests by telephone will be recorded.

By wire

To open an account by wire, a completed account application form must be received by the Funds before your wire can be accepted. You may mail or send by overnight delivery your account application form to the Transfer Agent. Upon receipt of your completed account application form, an account will be established for you. The account number assigned to you will be required as part of the wiring instruction that should be provided to your bank to send the wire. Your bank must include the name of the relevant Fund, the account number, and your name so that monies can be correctly applied. Your bank should transmit monies by wire to:

 

UMB Bank, n.a.
ABA Number 101000695

For credit to “Kennedy Capital Funds”
A/C # 9872318927

For further credit to:
Your account number
Fund Name
Name(s) of investor(s)
Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number

 

Before sending your wire, please contact the Transfer Agent at 1-877-882-8825 to notify it of your intention to wire funds. This will ensure prompt and accurate credit upon receipt of your wire. Your bank may charge a fee for its wiring service.

 

Wired funds must be received prior to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on a business day to be eligible for same day pricing. The Funds and UMB Bank, n.a. are not responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from the banking or Federal Reserve wire system, or from incomplete wiring instructions.

37

Selling (Redeeming) Fund Shares

Through a broker-
dealer or other
financial
intermediary

If you purchased your shares through an approved financial intermediary, your redemption order generally must be placed through the same financial intermediary. Such financial intermediaries are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Funds’ behalf. The Funds will be deemed to have received a redemption order when a financial intermediary (or its authorized agent) receives the order. The financial intermediary must receive your redemption order prior to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on a business day for the redemption to be processed at the current day’s NAV. Orders received at or after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on a business day or on a day when the Funds do not value its shares will be transacted at the next business day’s NAV. Please keep in mind that your financial intermediary may charge additional fees for its services. In the event your approved financial intermediary is no longer available or in operation, you may place your redemption order directly with the Funds as described below.

By mail

You may redeem shares purchased directly from a Fund by mail. Send your written redemption request to Kennedy Capital Funds at the address indicated below. Your request must be in good order and contain the relevant Fund’s name, the name(s) on the account, your account number and the dollar amount or the number of shares to be redeemed. The redemption request must be signed by all shareholders listed on the account. Additional documents are required for certain types of shareholders, such as corporations, partnerships, executors, trustees, administrators, or guardians (i.e., corporate resolutions dated within 60 days, or trust documents indicating proper authorization).

 

Regular Mail
Kennedy Capital Funds
P.O. Box 2175
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201

Overnight Delivery
Kennedy Capital Funds
235 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

 

A Medallion signature guarantee must be included if any of the following situations apply:

 

   You wish to redeem more than $50,000 worth of shares;

   When redemption proceeds are sent to any person, address or bank account not on record;

   If a change of address was received by the Transfer Agent within the last 15 days;

   If ownership is changed on your account; or

   When establishing or modifying certain services on your account.

By telephone

To redeem shares by telephone, call the Funds at 1-877-882-8825 and specify the amount of money you wish to redeem. You may have a check sent to the address of record, or, if previously established on your account, you may have proceeds sent by wire or electronic funds transfer through the ACH network directly to your bank account. Wire transfers are subject to a $20 fee paid by the shareholder and your bank may charge a fee to receive wired funds. Checks sent via overnight delivery are subject to a $25 charge. You do not incur any charge when proceeds are sent via the ACH network; however, credit may not be available for two to three business days.

 

If you are authorized to perform telephone transactions (either through your account application form or by subsequent arrangement in writing with the Fund), you may redeem shares worth up to $50,000, by instructing the Funds by phone at 1-877-882-8825. Unless noted on the initial account application, a Medallion signature guarantee is required of all shareholders in order to qualify for or to change telephone redemption privileges.

38

Note: The Funds and all of their service providers will not be liable for any loss or expense in acting upon instructions that are reasonably believed to be genuine. To confirm that all telephone instructions are genuine, the caller must verify the following:

 

   The Fund account number;

   The name in which his or her account is registered;

   The Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number under which the account is registered; and

   The address of the account holder, as stated in the account application form.

Medallion Signature Guarantee

In addition to the situations described above, the Funds reserves the right to require a Medallion signature guarantee in other instances based on the circumstances relative to the particular situation.

Shareholders redeeming more than $50,000 worth of shares by mail should submit written instructions with a Medallion signature guarantee from an eligible institution acceptable to the Transfer Agent, such as a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association, or from any participant in a Medallion program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. The three currently recognized Medallion programs are Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, Stock Exchanges Medallion Program and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program. Signature guarantees that are not part of these programs will not be accepted. Participants in Medallion programs are subject to dollar limitations which must be considered when requesting their guarantee. The Transfer Agent may reject any signature guarantee if it believes the transaction would otherwise be improper. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.

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 $1,000 for you to be eligible to participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan (“SWP”). The minimum withdrawal amount is $100. 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 1-877-882-8825. 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.

Payment of Redemption Proceeds

You may redeem shares of a 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, a Fund may postpone payment of your redemption proceeds up to 15 calendar days while the Fund waits for the check to clear. Furthermore, a 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.

39

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.

A Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. A 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, a Fund may utilize a temporary overdraft facility offered through its custodian, UMB Bank, n.a., in order to assist the Fund in meeting redemption requests. The Funds use 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 a Fund’s remaining shareholders, a 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. A Fund may redeem shares in kind during both normal and stressed market conditions. Generally, in kind redemptions will be effected through a pro rata distribution of the Fund’s portfolio securities. If a 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.

A Fund may redeem all of the shares held in your account if your balance falls below the Fund’s minimum initial investment amount due to your redemption activity. In these circumstances, the relevant Fund will notify you in writing and request that you increase your balance above the minimum initial investment amount within 60 days of the date of the notice. If, within 60 days of a Fund’s written request, you have not increased your account balance, your shares will be automatically redeemed at the current NAV. A Fund will not require that your shares be redeemed if the value of your account drops below the investment minimum due to fluctuations of the Fund’s NAV.

Cost Basis Information

Federal tax law requires that regulated investment companies, such as the Funds, report their shareholders’ cost basis, gain/loss, and holding period to the Internal Revenue Service on the Funds’ 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.

Each 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 Funds’ 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 the sale of your shares. Certain shareholders may be subject to backup withholding.

Subject to certain limitations, you may choose a method other than the Funds’ 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.

Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions

The Trust’s Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by Fund shareholders. The Trust discourages excessive, short-term trading and other abusive trading practices that may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm the Fund’s performance. The Trust takes steps to reduce the frequency and effect of these activities on a Fund. These steps may include monitoring trading activity and using fair value pricing. In addition, the Trust may take action, which may include using its best efforts to restrict a shareholder from making additional purchases in a Fund, if that shareholder has engaged in four or more “round trips” in the Fund during a 12-month period. Although these efforts (which are described in more detail below) are designed to discourage abusive trading practices, these tools cannot eliminate the possibility that such activity may occur. Further, while the Trust makes efforts to identify and restrict frequent trading, the Trust receives purchase and sale orders through financial intermediaries and cannot always know or detect frequent trading that may be facilitated by the use of

40

intermediaries or the use of group or omnibus accounts by those intermediaries. The Trust seeks to exercise its judgment in implementing these tools to the best of its ability in a manner that the Trust believes is consistent with the interests of Fund shareholders.

Monitoring Trading Practices

The Trust may monitor trades in Fund shares in an effort to detect short-term trading activities. If, as a result of this monitoring, the Trust believes that a shareholder of a Fund has engaged in excessive short-term trading, it may, in its discretion, ask the shareholder to stop such activities or refuse to process purchases in the shareholder’s accounts. In making such judgments, the Trust seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interest of Fund shareholders. Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying abusive trading activity, there can be no assurance that the Trust’s efforts will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered abusive.

General Transaction Policies

Some of the following policies are mentioned above. In general, each Fund reserves the right to:

     vary or waive any minimum investment requirement;

     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;

     reject any purchase request for any reason (generally the Fund does this if the purchase is disruptive to the efficient management of the Fund due to the timing of the investment or an investor’s history of excessive trading);

     delay paying redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days after receiving a request, if an earlier payment could adversely affect the Fund;

     reject any purchase or redemption request that does not contain all required documentation; and

     subject to applicable law and with prior notice, adopt other policies from time to time requiring mandatory redemption of shares in certain circumstances.

If you elect telephone privileges on the account application or in a letter to a Fund, you may be responsible for any fraudulent telephone orders as long as the Fund and/or its service providers have taken reasonable precautions to verify your identity. In addition, once you place a telephone transaction request, it cannot be canceled or modified.

During periods of significant economic or market change, telephone transactions may be difficult to complete. If you are unable to contact a Fund by telephone, you may also mail your request to the Fund at the address listed under “Methods of Buying.”

Your broker or other financial intermediary may establish policies that differ from those of the Funds. For example, the organization may charge transaction fees, set higher minimum investments, or impose certain limitations on buying or selling shares in addition to those identified in this Prospectus. Contact your broker or other financial intermediary for details.

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 state law.

Exchange Privilege

You may exchange shares of each Fund for the same class of shares of other funds managed by the Advisor. The amount of the exchange must be equal to or greater than the required minimum initial investment of the other fund, 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. 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 and the account number(s), and is 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.

41

Conversion of Shares

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 Investor Class and Institutional Class shares of the Fund. Generally, share conversions occur when a shareholder becomes eligible for another share class of the Fund or no longer meets the eligibility criteria 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 also note, all share conversion requests must be approved by the Advisor.

A request for a share conversion will not be processed until it is received in “good order” (as defined above) 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 a Fund or your financial intermediary before 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time or the financial intermediary’s earlier applicable deadline. Please note that, because the NAV of each class of a Fund will generally vary from the NAV of the other class 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.

A 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 Funds reserve the right to terminate, suspend or modify the share conversion privilege for any shareholder or group of shareholders.

Each 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. A Fund will notify affected shareholders in writing prior to any mandatory conversion.

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.

Additional Information

Each Fund enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including among others the Advisor, 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 each Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Funds 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

 

Each Fund will make distributions of net investment income annually and net capital gains, if any, at least annually, typically in December. A 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 Funds reserve the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account at the Fund’s then current NAV and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.

42

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-advantaged 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 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 “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 a 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. Dividends received by a Fund from REITs generally are not expected to qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income or for the dividends-received deduction. Distributions that a 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 a 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.

You may want to avoid buying shares of a 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.

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

Dividends and distributions from a 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 a 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, a Fund may report interest-related dividends to the extent of its net income derived from U.S.-source interest and a 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

43

commonly referred to as “FATCA,” unless certain non-U.S. entities that hold 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 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 a 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 a Fund will qualify for treaty benefits.

44

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The following table is intended to help you understand the Funds’ financial performance. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total return figures represent the percentage that an investor in the Funds would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Funds (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The financial information for the periods shown has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Funds’ financial statements, is included in the Funds’ annual report, which is available upon request (see back cover).

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund
Institutional Class

Per share operating performance.
For a capital share outstanding throughout each period.

 





For the Year Ended December 31,

 

For the Period
June 28,

2019*
through
December
 31,
2019

   

2023

 

2022

 

2021

 

2020

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

12.59

 

 

$

15.39

 

 

$

13.11

 

 

$

10.86

 

 

$

10.00

 

Income from Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)1

 

 

0.05

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

(0.01

)

 

 

2

 

 

 

0.01

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

 

 

2.03

 

 

 

(2.74

)

 

 

3.31

 

 

 

2.28

 

 

 

0.87

 

Total from investment operations

 

 

2.08

 

 

 

(2.74

)

 

 

3.30

 

 

 

2.28

 

 

 

0.88

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From net investment income

 

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(0.01

)

 

 

 

 

 

(0.03

)

 

 

(0.02

)

From net realized gain

 

 

 

 

 

(0.05

)

 

 

(1.02

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total distributions

 

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(0.06

)

 

 

(1.02

)

 

 

(0.03

)

 

 

(0.02

)

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

14.63

 

 

$

12.59

 

 

$

15.39

 

 

$

13.11

 

 

$

10.86

 

Total return3

 

 

16.56

%

 

 

(17.82

)%

 

 

25.47

%

 

 

20.98

%

 

 

8.83

%4

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios and Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

 

$

57,743

 

 

$

38,891

 

 

$

13,327

 

 

$

6,368

 

 

$

1,390

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

1.28

%

 

 

1.52

%

 

 

2.49

%

 

 

15.92

%

 

 

19.45

%5

After fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

0.82

%

 

 

0.82

%

 

 

0.82

%

 

 

0.82

%

 

 

0.82

%5

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

(0.08

)%

 

 

(0.71

)%

 

 

(1.75

)%

 

 

(15.08

)%

 

 

(18.53

)%5

After fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

0.38

%

 

 

(0.01

)%

 

 

(0.08

)%

 

 

0.02

%

 

 

0.10

%5

Portfolio turnover rate

 

 

58

%

 

 

50

%

 

 

87

%

 

 

63

%

 

 

27

%4

*         Commencement of operations.

1        Based on average shares outstanding for the period.

2        Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

3        Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived or absorbed by the Advisor. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

4        Not annualized.

5        Annualized.

45

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund
Institutional Class

Per share operating performance.
For a capital share outstanding throughout each period.

 

For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2023

 

For the Period
April 27,

2022*
through
December
 31,
2022

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

9.42

 

 

$

10.00

 

Income from Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)1

 

 

(0.03

)

 

 

(0.04

)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

 

 

1.58

 

 

 

(0.45

)

Total from investment operations

 

 

1.55

 

 

 

(0.49

)

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From net investment income

 

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(—)2

 

From net realized gain

 

 

 

 

 

(0.09

)

Total distributions

 

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(0.09

)

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

10.93

 

 

$

9.42

 

Total return3

 

 

16.53

%

 

 

(4.89

)%4

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios and Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

 

$

554

 

 

$

475

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

33.44

%

 

 

37.88

%5

After fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

0.89

%

 

 

0.89

%5

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

(32.82

)%

 

 

(37.59

)%5

After fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

(0.27

)%

 

 

(0.60

)%5

Portfolio turnover rate

 

 

37

%

 

 

17

%4

*         Commencement of operations.

1        Based on average shares outstanding for the period.

2        Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

3        Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived or absorbed by the Advisor. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

4        Not annualized.

5        Annualized.

46

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund
Institutional Class

Per share operating performance.
For a capital share outstanding throughout each period.

 

For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2023

 

For the Period
April 27,

2022*
through
December
 31,
2022

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

9.84

 

 

$

10.00

 

Income from Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)1

 

 

0.12

 

 

 

0.08

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

 

 

1.50

 

 

 

(0.11

)

Total from investment operations

 

 

1.62

 

 

 

(0.03

)

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From net investment income

 

 

(0.09

)

 

 

(0.03

)

From net realized gain

 

 

(0.11

)

 

 

(0.10

)

Total distributions

 

 

(0.20

)

 

 

(0.13

)

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

11.26

 

 

$

9.84

 

Total return2

 

 

16.55

%

 

 

(0.34

)%3

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios and Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

 

$

15,243

 

 

$

5,615

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

2.41

%

 

 

10.08

%4

After fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

0.89

%

 

 

0.89

%4

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

(0.37

)%

 

 

(8.06

)%4

After fees waived and expenses absorbed/recovered

 

 

1.15

%

 

 

1.13

%4

Portfolio turnover rate

 

 

50

%

 

 

220

%3

*         Commencement of operations.

1        Based on average shares outstanding for the period.

2        Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived or absorbed by the Advisor. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

3        Not annualized.

4        Annualized.

47

Investment Advisor

Kennedy Capital Management LLC
10829 Olive Boulevard, Suite 100
St. Louis, Missouri 63141

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 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

Custodian

UMB Bank, n.a.
928 Grand Boulevard, 5th Floor
Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Distributor

IMST Distributors, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, Maine 04101
www.foreside.com

Counsel to the Trust and Independent Trustees

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

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund
Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund
Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

Each a series of Investment Managers Series Trust II

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

The SAI provides additional details about the investments and techniques of the Funds and certain other additional information. A current 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 Funds’ investments will be available in the Funds’ annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds’ annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds’ performance during its most recent fiscal year.

The Funds’ SAI is available and annual and semi-annual reports will be available, free of charge, on the Funds’ website at www.kennedycapital.com. You can also obtain a free copy of the Funds’ SAI or annual and semi-annual reports, request other information, or inquire about the Funds by contacting a broker that sells shares of the Funds or by calling the Funds (toll-free) at 1-877-882-8825 or by writing to:

Kennedy Capital Funds
P.O. Box 2175
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201

Reports and other information about the Funds are also available:

        Free of charge, on the SEC’s EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site 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 no. 811-22894.)

49

Statement of Additional Information
April 30, 2024

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund
Investor Class Shares (Ticker Symbol: ESGSX)
Institutional Class Shares (Ticker Symbol: KESGX)

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

Investor Class Shares (Ticker Symbol: KSGRX)
Institutional Class Shares (Ticker Symbol: KGROX)

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund
Investor Class Shares (Ticker Symbol: KSVLX)
Institutional Class Shares (Ticker Symbol: KVALX)

Each a series of Investment Managers Series Trust II

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus, and it should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated April 30, 2024, as may be amended from time to time, of the Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund, Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund, and Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”), each a series of Investment Managers Series Trust II (the “Trust”). Kennedy Capital Management LLC (the “Advisor”) is the investment advisor to the Funds. A copy of the Funds’ Prospectus may be obtained by contacting the Funds at the address or telephone number specified below. The Funds’ Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, is incorporated by reference herein. A copy of the Funds’ Annual Report can be obtained by contacting the Funds at the address and telephone number specified below.

Kennedy Capital Funds
P.O. Box 2175
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
1-877-882-8825

 

B-1

THE TRUST AND THE FUNDS

The Trust is an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware on August 20, 2013. The Trust currently consists of several other series of shares of beneficial interest. This SAI relates only to the Funds 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 Funds. The Prospectus of the Funds and this SAI omit certain 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.

Each 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.

Each Fund currently offers two classes of shares: the Investor Class and the Institutional Class. Currently, Investor Class Shares for each Fund are not 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 Funds 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 Funds’ Prospectus pertaining to the investment policies of the Funds.

Principal Investment Strategies, Policies and Risks

The Funds’ principal investment strategies and related risks are identified in the below table and described in detail following the table. To the extent a strategy is not identified as a principal investment strategy of a Fund, it is considered a non-principal investment strategy of that Fund.

Investments and Risks

Kennedy Capital ESG
SMID Cap Fund

Kennedy Capital Small
Cap Growth Fund

Kennedy Capital Small
Cap Value Fund

Market Conditions

X

X

X

Equity Securities:

X

X

X

Common Stock

X

X

X

Preferred Stock

 

X

 

Small- and Mid-Cap Stocks

X

X

X

Warrants and Rights

   

X

Foreign Investments:

 

X

X

Depositary Receipts

 

X

X

REITs

X

X

X

Investment Company Shares

 

X

X

Exchange Traded Funds

 

X

X

B-2

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.

Equity Securities

Common Stock

The Funds 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.

B-3

Small- and Mid-Cap Stocks

The Funds may invest in stock of companies with market capitalizations that are small compared to other publicly traded companies. Investments in larger companies present certain advantages in that such companies generally have greater financial resources, more extensive research and development, manufacturing, marketing and service capabilities, and more stability and greater depth of management and personnel. Investments in smaller, less seasoned companies may present greater opportunities for growth but also may involve greater risks than customarily are associated with more established companies. The securities of smaller companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than larger, more established companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or they may be dependent upon a limited management group. Their securities may be traded in the over-the-counter market or on a regional exchange, or may otherwise have limited liquidity. As a result of owning large positions in this type of security, the Fund is subject to the additional risk of possibly having to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous times and prices if redemptions require the Funds to liquidate its securities positions. In addition, it may be prudent for the Funds, as its asset size grows, to limit the number of relatively small positions it holds in securities having limited liquidity in order to minimize its exposure to such risks, to minimize transaction costs, and to maximize the benefits of research. As a consequence, as the Fund’s asset size increases, the Funds may reduce its exposure to illiquid small capitalization securities, which could adversely affect performance.

The Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund may also invest in stocks of companies with medium market capitalizations (i.e., mid-cap companies). Such investments share some of the risk characteristics of investments in stocks of companies with small market capitalizations described above, although mid cap companies tend to have longer operating histories, broader product lines and greater financial resources and their stocks tend to be more liquid and less volatile than those of smaller capitalization issuers.

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 Advisor. 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, 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 or right, 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.

Foreign Investments

The Funds 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 a Fund’s foreign investments.

B-4

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.

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 Funds 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.

Depositary Receipts

The Funds 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 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.

B-5

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.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)

The Funds may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs, or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of principal and interest payments. Similar to regulated investment companies such as the Funds, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with several requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Funds will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses incurred by REITs in which the Funds invest in addition to the expenses incurred directly by the Fund.

Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation.

Investing in REITs involves risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have had more price volatility than larger capitalization stocks.

REITs may fail to qualify for the favorable federal income tax treatment generally available to them under the Code and may fail to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. REITs (especially mortgage REITs) also are subject to interest rate risks. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, causing the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed-rate obligations.

Investment Company Shares

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

B-6

Under Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, the Funds 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 a Fund’s total assets, and (iii) 10% of the value of a Fund’s total assets when combined with all other Underlying Fund shares held by the Fund. The Funds 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 an acquired fund and acquiring fund relying on the rule make certain specified findings based on their evaluation of the relevant fund of funds structure; (4) requires funds that are relying on the rule, and which do not have the same investment adviser, to enter into a fund of funds investment agreement, 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 Funds may acquire the shares of affiliated and unaffiliated Underlying Funds subject to the following guidelines and restrictions:

   A 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.

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

i.      a 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.    a 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 a 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, a Fund may hold such securities until the Advisor determines it is appropriate to dispose of them. Such disposition will impose additional costs on the Fund.

B-7

Investment decisions by the investment advisors 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

The Funds may invest in ETFs. 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 UITs. Their shares are listed on stock exchanges and can be traded throughout the day at market-determined prices.

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 securities 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.

Other Investment Strategies, Policies and Risks

Each Fund may also invest, to a lesser extent, in the following investments, which are not identified as principal investments, and, to the extent it does, the Fund would be subject to the applicable risks.

Equity Securities

Convertible Securities

The Funds may invest in convertible securities. A convertible security is a preferred stock, 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. 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.

B-8

Debt Securities

The Funds 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 Advisor 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 Advisor 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. This and other government interventions may not work as intended, particularly if the efforts are perceived by investors as being unlikely to achieve the desired results. In addition, when the Federal Reserve determines to “taper” or reduce Quantitative Easing and/or raise the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates across the U.S. financial system will rise. 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.

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.

Foreign Investments

Emerging Markets

The Funds may invest in companies organized or doing substantial business in emerging market countries or developing countries as defined by the World Bank, International Financial Corporation, or the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) emerging market indices or other comparable indices. 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

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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 a 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 Funds 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 Funds or gains from the disposition of such securities.

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 Funds’ 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 Advisor otherwise believes is attractive, the Fund may incur losses. Any of these factors may adversely affect a Fund’s performance or the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective.

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Foreign Currency Transactions

The Funds may conduct foreign currency transactions on a spot, i.e., cash, basis at the prevailing rate in the foreign exchange market. The Fund may also conduct foreign currency transactions as a hedge to protect assets against adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates or regulations. Foreign currency transactions involve certain costs and risks. The Fund incurs foreign exchange expenses in converting assets from one currency to another. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. When the Funds use foreign currency transactions as a hedge, it may also limit potential gains that could result from an increase in the value of such currency. The Funds may be affected either favorably or unfavorably by fluctuations in currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign 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.

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 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.

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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.

Developments in the China Region

After nearly 30 years of unprecedented growth, the People’s Republic of China now faces a slowing economy. The real estate market, which many observers believed to be inflated, has begun to decline. Local governments, which had borrowed heavily to bolster growth, face high debt burdens and limited revenue sources. As a result, demand for Chinese exports by the United States and countries in Europe, and demands for Chinese imports from such countries, may weaken due to the effects of more limited economic growth. Additionally, Chinese actions to lay claim to disputed islands have caused relations with China’s regional trading partners to suffer, and could cause further disruption to regional and international trade. From time to time and as recently as January 2020, China has experienced outbreaks of infectious illnesses, and the country may be subject to other public health threats, infectious illnesses, diseases or similar issues in the future. Any spread of an infectious illness, public health threat or similar issue could reduce consumer demand or economic output, result in market closures, travel restrictions or quarantines, and generally have a significant impact on the Chinese economy. In the long run, China’s ability to develop and sustain a credible legal, regulatory, monetary, and socioeconomic system could influence the course of outside investment.

Illiquid and Restricted Securities

The Funds may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities that the Funds reasonably expect 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 Funds may have difficulty or be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices.

The Funds may invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold freely to the public absent registration under 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

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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 Funds’ inability to dispose of such securities promptly or at favorable prices. The Funds 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 generally, 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 Funds.

Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act requires, among other things, that the Funds 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 Funds have implemented a LRMP to meet the relevant requirements. Additionally, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved the designation of the Advisor as the Fund’s LRMP administrator to administer such program, and will review no less frequently than annually a written report prepared by the Advisor that addresses the operation of the LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness of implementation. 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 Funds’ 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.

The Funds will not purchase illiquid securities if, as a result of the purchase, more than 15% of a Fund’s net assets are invested in such securities. If at any time a portfolio manager and/or the Advisor determines that the value of illiquid securities held by the Funds exceeds 15% of the respective Fund’s net assets, the respective Fund’s portfolio managers and the Advisor will take such steps as they consider appropriate to reduce the percentage as soon as reasonably practicable.

Short-Term Investments

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

Certificates of Deposit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Time Deposits

The Funds 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 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 Funds 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 Funds’ 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 Funds hold 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 Funds invest only in debt obligations of U.S. domestic issuers. See “Foreign Investments” 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.

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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 Funds 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 Funds’ investments 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 Advisor 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 Advisor may actively expose the Funds to credit risk. However, there can be no guarantee that the Advisor will be successful in making the right selections and thus fully mitigate the impact of credit risk changes on the Funds.

Temporary Investments

The Funds 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 Advisor. 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 Funds 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 Funds are in some cases subject to certain fundamental investment restrictions. As a shareholder in a mutual fund, the Funds will bear their ratable share of its expenses, including management fees, and will remain subject to payment of the fees to the Advisor, with respect to assets so invested. The Funds may not achieve its investment objectives during temporary defensive periods.

Lending Portfolio Securities

Consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and the Funds’ investment restrictions, the Funds may lend portfolio securities to securities broker-dealers or financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time by the Funds (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 Funds 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 Funds’ 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 Funds’ total assets.

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A loan may generally be terminated by the borrower on one business day’s notice, or by the Funds 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 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 Funds’ 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 Funds. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan period would inure to the Funds. 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 Funds are unsettled. As a result, under extreme circumstances, there may be a restriction on the Funds’ ability to sell the collateral, and the Funds would suffer a loss. When voting or consent rights that accompany loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Funds 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 Funds’ investment in such loaned securities. The Funds will pay reasonable finder’s, administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities.

Borrowing

The Funds may engage in limited borrowing activities. Borrowing creates an opportunity for increased return, but, at the same time, creates special risks. Furthermore, if the Funds were to engage in borrowing, an increase in interest rates could reduce the value of the Fund’s shares by increasing the Funds’ interest expense. Subject to the limitations described under “Investment Limitations” below, the Funds may be permitted to borrow for temporary purposes and/ or for investment purposes. Such a practice will result in leveraging of the Funds’ assets and may cause the Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds’ total assets made for temporary administrative purposes. Any borrowings for temporary administrative purposes in excess of 5% of the Funds’ 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 Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds’ 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 Funds 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.

Large Shareholder Redemption Risk

Certain account holders may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of the Funds’ shares. Redemptions by these account holders of their shares in the Funds may impact the Funds’ liquidity and net asset value. Such redemptions may also force the Funds to sell securities at a time when it would not otherwise do so, which may increase the Funds’ broker costs and impact shareholder taxes.

Cybersecurity Risk

Investment companies, such as the Funds, 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 Funds or the Advisor, the Funds’ custodian or transfer agent, or intermediaries or other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Funds. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Funds’ ability to calculate its net

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asset value, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential company information, impede trading, subject the Funds to regulatory fines or financial losses, and cause reputational damage. The Funds may also incur additional costs for cybersecurity risk management purposes. While the Funds and their 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 Funds 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 Funds invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Funds’ investment in such portfolio companies to lose value.

Investment Restrictions

Each 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 a 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. Each Fund’s investment objective is a non-fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval.

The Funds may not:

1.   Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except that (i) the Funds 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 Funds from engaging in options transactions or short sales or investing in financial futures, swaps, when-issued or delayed delivery securities, or reverse repurchase agreements;

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

3.   With respect to 75% of the Funds’ total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, (a) more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or (b) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer;

4.   Invest 25% or more of its total assets, calculated at the time of purchase and taken at market value, in any one industry (other than securities issued by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities);

5.   Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate or real estate limited partnerships (although the Funds 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);

6.   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 Funds’ net assets; or

7.   Purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments. This limitation shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing, selling or entering into future contracts, or acquiring securities or other instruments and options thereon backed by, or related to, physical commodities.

B-17

The Funds observes the following restriction as a matter of operating but not fundamental policy, pursuant to positions taken by federal regulatory authorities:

Each Fund may not invest, in the aggregate, more than 15% of its net assets in 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.

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 a Fund will not be considered a violation.

B-18

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

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 Advisor, co-administrators, distributor, custodian and transfer agent. The day-to-day operations of the Trust are delegated to its officers, except that the Advisor is responsible for making day-to-day investment decisions in accordance with the Funds’ investment objective, 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. Thomas Knipper, Kathleen K. Shkuda, Larry D. Tashjian and John P. Zader 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:

Thomas Knipper, CPAa
(Born 1957)
Trustee

Since
September
2013

Retired (April 2022 – present);
Independent Consulting,
financial services organizations
(March 2021 – March 2022);
Vice President and
Chief Compliance Officer,
Ameritas Investment Partners,
a registered investment
advisor (1995 – March 2021).

3

Monachil Credit Income Fund, a closed-end investment company.

Kathleen K. Shkudaa
(born 1951)
Trustee

Since
September
2013

Zigzag Consulting, a
financial services consulting
firm (2008 – present).
Director, Managed Accounts,
Merrill Lynch (2007 – 2008).

3

None.

Larry D. Tashjiana
(born 1953)
Trustee and Chairman
of the Board

Since
September
2013

Principal, CAM Capital Advisors,
a family office (2001 – present).

3

General Finance Corporation.

John P. Zadera
(born 1961)
Trustee

Since
September
2013

Retired (June 2014 – present).
CEO, UMB Fund Services, Inc.,
a mutual fund and hedge fund
service provider, and the transfer
agent, fund accountant,
and co-administrator for the Funds
(December 2006 – June 2014).

3

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

B-19

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

Interested Trustees:

Terrance P. Gallaghera*
(born 1958)
Trustee and President

Since
July
2019

President, Investment
Managers Series Trust II
(September 2013 – present);
Executive Vice President and
Trust Platform Director,
(2024 – present);
Executive Vice President and
Director of Fund Accounting,
Administration and Tax,
UMB Fund Services, Inc.
(2007 – 2023).

3

Agility Multi-Asset Income Fund, Aspiriant Risk-Managed Real Asset Fund, Aspiriant Risk-Managed Capital Appreciation Fund, AFA Multi-Manager Credit Fund, Infinity Core Alternative Fund, Keystone Private Income Fund, First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund, Variant Alternative Income Fund, Variant Impact Fund, First Trust Private Assets Fund, First Trust Private Credit Fund, First Trust Real Assets Fund, Destiny Alternative Fund LLC, Destiny Alternative Fund (TEI) LLC, Pender Real Estate Credit Fund, First Trust Hedged Strategies Fund, and Felicitas Private Markets Fund, each a closed-end investment company.

B-20

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)
Trustee, Vice President
and Assistant Secretary

Since
January
2023

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

3

None.

Officers of the Trust:

Rita Damb
(born 1966)
Treasurer and
Assistant Secretary

Since
September
2013

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

N/A

N/A

Diane Drakeb
(born 1967)
Secretary

Since
January
2016

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

N/A

N/A

Martin Dziurab
(born 1959)
Chief Compliance
Officer

Since
September
2013

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

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

b   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.

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

B-21

d   The Trust is comprised of 37 series managed by unaffiliated investment advisors. Each Trustee serves as Trustee of each series of the Trust. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Funds managed by the same investment advisor. The Funds do not hold themselves out as related to any other series within the Trust, for purposes of investment and investor services, nor do they share the same investment advisor with any other series.

e   “Other Directorships Held” includes only directorship 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. Ausili is an “interested person” of the Trust by virtue of her position with Mutual Fund Administration, LLC.

*   Mr. Gallagher is an “interested person” of the Trust by virtue of his position with UMB Fund Services, Inc.

Effective January 19, 2023, Eric M. Banhazl, who served as a Trustee of the Trust from September 2013 to January 19, 2023, 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.

Compensation

Effective January 1, 2024, each Independent Trustee receives a quarterly retainer of $26,000; $5,000 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 $2,000 for each other special meeting attended by videoconference or teleconference at which Board action is taken and/or materials were prepared for review. 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 $26,000; $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 Funds 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.

B-22

Name of
Person/Position

Aggregate
Compensation
From the
Kennedy
Capital ESG
SMID Cap
Fund ($)1

Aggregate
Compensation
From the
Kennedy
Capital Small
Cap Growth
Fund

Aggregate
Compensation
From the
Kennedy
Capital Small
Cap Value
Fund

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
($)1,3

Thomas Knipper,
Independent
Trustee and Audit
Committee Chair

$2,544

$2,432

$2,457

None

None

$7,433

Kathleen K.
Shkuda,
Independent
Trustee

$2,544

$2,432

$2,457

None

None

$7,433

Larry D. Tashjian,
Independent
Trustee and
Chairman

$2,544

$2,432

$2,457

None

None

$7,433

John Zader,
Independent
Trustee and
Nominating,
Governance and
Regulatory Review
Committee Chair

$2,544

$2,432

$2,457

None

None

$7,433

1.     For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

2.     There are currently numerous portfolios comprising the Trust. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the series managed by the same investment advisor. The Funds do not hold themselves out as related to any other series within the Trust, for the purposes of investment and investor services, nor do they share the same investment advisor with any other series For the Fund’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the aggregate Independent Trustees’ fees for the Trust were $402,000.

3.     Messrs. Knipper, Tashjian, and Zader elected to defer payment of their compensation from the Funds under the Funds’ non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Trustees under which trustees may defer receipt of all or part of their compensation from the Funds. As of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the total amount of deferred compensation payable to Messrs. Knipper, Tashjian, and Zader was $80,803, $222,007, and $35,508, respectively.

Mr. Gallagher and Ms. Ausili are not compensated for their service as Trustees because of their affiliation with the Trust. Officers of the Trust are not compensated by the Funds 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 September 2013 (July 2019 for Mr. Gallagher and January 2023 for Ms. Ausili) 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.

B-23

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. Ausili, Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Zader (at that time), satisfying the criteria for not being classified as an “interested person” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act; and, as to Ms. Ausili and Mr. Gallagher, their positions with Mutual Fund Administration, LLC and UMB Fund Services, Inc., respectively, 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:

     Mr. Knipper has substantial experience with respect to the operation, administration and compliance programs of mutual funds and as a senior executive with a registered investment advisor.

     Ms. Shkuda has substantial experience in the investment management industry, including as a consultant with respect to operations and marketing of investment managers and distribution of mutual funds and other investment products.

     Mr. Tashjian has extensive leadership experience in the investment management industry, including as a principal and a chief executive officer of a registered investment advisor.

     Mr. Zader has substantial experience serving in senior executive positions at mutual fund administration service providers.

     Mr. Gallagher has substantial experience serving in senior executive positions at mutual fund administration service providers.

     Ms. Ausili 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. Knipper. 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. The Audit Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, with respect to the Funds.

The Audit Committee also serves as the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee (“QLCC”) 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.

B-24

     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. Zader. The Nominating and Governance Committee met twice during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Independent Trustees comprise 67% of the Board and Larry Tashjian, 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 Advisor 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 Advisor 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 Advisor’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.

B-25

Fund Shares Beneficially Owned by Trustees

Certain information regarding ownership by the Trustees of the Fund and other series of the Trust, as of December 31, 2023, is set forth in the following table.

Name of Trustee

Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Funds ($)
(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 ($)

Larry Tashjian, Independent Trustee

None

None

Kathy Shkuda, Independent Trustee

None

None

Thomas Knipper, Independent Trustee

None

None

John P. Zader, Independent Trustee

None

None

Terrance P. Gallagher, Interested Trustee

None

None

Joy Ausili, Interested Trustee

None

None

Control Persons, Principal Shareholders, and Management Ownership

The following table lists the control persons of the Fund as of March 31, 2024. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of control.1 Shareholders with a controlling interest could affect the outcome of voting or the direction of management of the Fund.

Control Persons

Jurisdiction

% of Total
Outstanding
Shares of the Fund as of
March 31, 2024

Kennedy ESG SMID Cap Fund

   

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc

San Francisco, CA 94105

CA

63.02%

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

   

Kennedy Capital Management

Saint Louis, MO 63141

MO

100%

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

   

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc

San Francisco, CA 94105

CA

46.93%

Capinco

Milwaukee, WI 53201

WI

35.47%

1   The Fund has no information regarding the beneficial owners of Fund shares owned through accounts with financial intermediaries.

B-26

The following table lists the principal shareholders of the Fund as of March 31, 2024. The principal shareholders are holders of record of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the indicated class(es) of the Fund(s), including the listed shareholders that are financial intermediaries.1

Principal Shareholders

% of Total
Outstanding Shares of
the Class as of
March 31, 2024

Kennedy ESG SMID Cap Fund – Institutional Class

 

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc

San Francisco, CA 94105

63.02%

SEI Private Trust Company

Oaks, PA 19456

11.28%

State Street Bank

Boston, MA 02111

9.66%

Reliance Trust Co. FBO

Atlanta, GA 30357

5.24%

Kennedy Small Cap Growth Fund – Institutional Class

 

Kennedy Capital Management

Saint Louis, MO 63141

100.00%

Kennedy Small Cap Value Fund – Institutional Class

 

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc

San Francisco, CA 94105

46.93%

Capinco

Milwaukee, WI 53201

35.47%

SEI Private Trust Company

Oaks, PA 19456F

6.52%

1   The Fund has no information regarding the beneficial owners of Fund shares owned through accounts with financial intermediaries.

As of March 31, 2024, 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 Advisor, the Fund’s distributor, IMST Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), or any of their respective affiliates.

The Advisor

Kennedy Capital Management LLC (“Kennedy Capital”), located at 10829 Olive Boulevard, Suite 100, St. Louis, Missouri 63141, acts as investment advisor to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Azimut Group (“Azimut”), through Azimut US Holdings, Inc., holds a 35% equity interest in Kennedy Capital, with the remainder widely held by existing Kennedy Capital employees.

On February 8, 2023 (the “Closing”), Azimut Group (“Azimut”), through Azimut US Holdings, Inc., purchased holds a 35% equity interest in Kennedy Capital, with the remainder widely held by existing Kennedy Capital’s employees. In connection with this transaction, following the second anniversary of the Closing, Azimut will have the option to purchase additional equity interest in Kennedy Capital such that Azimut would own a majority of the equity of Kennedy Capital.

Subject to such policies as the Board of Trustees may determine, the Advisor is ultimately responsible for investment decisions for the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor provides the Fund with such investment advice and supervision as it deems necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments. The Advisor also continuously monitors and maintains the Fund’s investment criteria and determines from time to time what securities may be purchased by the Fund.

B-27

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 Advisor 60 days’ written 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 Advisor 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 Advisor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust in 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 Advisor of its duties under the Advisory Agreement.

In consideration of the services to be provided by the Advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor 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.

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; 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.

The Advisor 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, any 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), expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed the limit set forth below. This agreement is effective through April 30, 2025, and it may be terminated before that date only by the Board of Trustees.

Expense Limit as Percent of
Average Daily Net Assets

Fund

Investor
Class

Institutional
Class

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

1.07%

0.82%

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

1.14%

0.89%

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

1.14%

0.89%

Any reduction in advisory fees or payment of a Fund’s expenses made by the Advisor in a fiscal year may be reimbursed by the Fund for a period ending three years after the date of reduction or payment if the Advisor so requests. This reimbursement may be requested from a Fund if the reimbursement will not cause the Funds’ 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 Advisor and will not include any amounts previously reimbursed to the Advisor by the Funds. Any such reimbursement is contingent upon the Board’s subsequent review of

B-28

the reimbursed amounts. The Funds must pay current ordinary operating expenses before the Advisor is entitled to any reimbursement of fees and/or Fund expenses.

The Funds paid the following advisory fees to the Advisor for the periods indicated:

Advisory
Fees
Accrued

Advisory
Fees
(Waived)/Recouped

Advisory
Fee
Retained

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023

     

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

$341,480

$(207,238)

$134,242

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

$4,128

$(4,128)

$0

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

$89,249

$(89,249)

$0

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022

     

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

$233,374

$(216,728)

$16,646

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund1

$2,663

$(2,663)

$0

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund1

$10,756

$(10,756)

$0

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021

     

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

$97,997

$(97,997)

$0

1   The Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund and the Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund each commenced operations on April 27, 2022.

Portfolio Managers

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

Registered
Investment Companies

Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles

Other
Accounts

Portfolio Managers

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in millions)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in millions)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in millions)

Christian McDonald, CFA

2

$248.2

1

$41.6

19

$484.1

Jean Barnard, CFA

1

$277.9

0

$0

19

$244.6

Ryan Dunnegan, CPA

1

$277.9

0

$0

23

$245.4

Alex Mosman, CFA

2

$410.6

0

$0

56

$333.7

Frank Latuda, Jr., CFA

5

$550.5

0

$0

53

$869.4

McAfee Burke, CFA

4

$414.1

0

$0

19

$494.3

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 millions)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in millions)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets
(in millions)

Christian McDonald, CFA

0

$0

0

$0

0

$0

Jean Barnard, CFA

0

$0

0

$0

0

$0

Ryan Dunnegan, CPA

0

$0

0

$0

0

$0

Alex Mosman, CFA

0

$0

0

$0

0

$0

Frank Latuda, Jr., CFA

0

$0

0

$0

0

$0

McAfee Burke, CFA

0

$0

0

$0

0

$0

B-29

Material Conflicts of Interest. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or other account. Where conflicts of interest arise between the Funds and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, the Advisor will proceed in a manner that ensures that the Funds will not be treated less favorably. There may be instances where 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 Advisor’s trade allocation policy.

Compensation. Each portfolio manager receives a base salary. A portfolio manager can also earn an increase in base salary based on revenue generated by the strategy/strategies managed by the portfolio manager. This revenue is directly tied to the value of assets managed by the portfolio manager, which would include the applicable Fund’s assets as well as (i) a bonus that is based on the performance of the strategy/strategies managed by the portfolio manager relative to its benchmark and peer group, and (ii) a bonus based on the assessment of the portfolio manager’s contribution toward firm-wide goals. Each portfolio manager may participate in the Advisor’s retirement plan, own equity in the firm, and may be offered additional opportunities to purchase equity in the firm in the form of shares or incentive units.

Ownership of the Funds by the Portfolio Managers.

The following chart sets forth the dollar range of Fund shares owned by each portfolio manager as of December 31, 2023:

Dollar Range of Securities in the Funds
(A: None, B: $1 - $10,000, C: $10,001 - $50,000,
D: $50,001 - $100,000, E: $100,001 - $500,000,
F: $500,001 - $1,000,000, G: Over $1,000,000)

 

Kennedy Capital Funds

 

Kennedy Capital ESG
SMID Cap Fund

Kennedy Capital Small
Cap Growth Fund

Kennedy Capital Small
Cap Value Fund

Christian McDonald, CFA

F

n/a

n/a

Jean Barnard, CFA

n/a

A

n/a

Ryan Dunnegan, CPA

n/a

A

n/a

Alex Mosman, CFA

n/a

A

n/a

Frank Latuda, Jr., CFA

n/a

n/a

G

McAfee Burke, CFA

n/a

n/a

C

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 Co-Administration Agreement.

B-30

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.

The Funds paid the following co-administration fees for the periods indicated:

Co-Administration
Fees*

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

 

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

$97,039

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

$71,151

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

$70,527

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

 

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

$87,936

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

$32,7961

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

$33,5881

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

 

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

$84,297

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

2

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

2

*      Includes Fund Administration and Accounting fees.

1   For the period of April 27, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

2   The Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund and the Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund each commenced operations on April 27, 2022.

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.

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

Distributor and the Distribution Agreement

IMST Distributors, 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 Advisor, 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 best 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.

B-31

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 Advisor, 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 Advisor pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect 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 in accordance with the 1940 Act. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). 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, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, should any amounts be retained by the Distributor, such amounts would not be held for profit by the Distributor, but instead would be used solely for distribution-related expenditures.

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 Investor Class 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 shareholder liaison services to holders of Investor Class 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 Investor Class 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 Investor Class 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, but not limited to: (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 such Class of the Fund; (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

B-32

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 Advisor 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 Advisor for distribution-related expenditures.

The 12b-1 Plan may not be amended to materially increase the amount to be paid by the Fund’s Investor Class 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 Investor Class Shares in accordance with its terms, the obligation of the Fund to make payments 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 is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay any expenses incurred by the Distributor other than fees already payable under the 12b-1 Plan, if the 12b-1 Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms for any reason.

The Funds did not make any payments to the Distributor under the Rule 12b-1 plan with respect to the Funds during the Funds’ last fiscal year.

Marketing and Support Payments

The Advisor, out of its own resources and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide cash payments or other compensation 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.

B-33

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor 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 over-the-counter 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 Advisor will use 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 Advisor that they may lawfully and appropriately use in their investment advisory capacities, as well as provide other services in addition to execution services. The Advisor considers such information, which is in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by it under its Advisory Agreement with 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 Advisor, even if the specific services are not directly useful to the Fund and may be useful to the Advisor 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 Advisor 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 Advisor’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 Advisor. 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 Advisor’s other client accounts.

B-34

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. The brokers may also supply the Fund with research, statistical and other services.

Brokerage
Commissions

Soft Dollar
Commissions

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

   

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

$37,071

$25,927

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

$29,2043

$21,597

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

$10,744

$8,458

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

   

For the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023

$309

$215

For the fiscal period ended December 31, 20221,2

$511

$368

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

   

For the fiscal period ended December 31, 20234

$11,249

$7,884

For the fiscal period ended December 31, 20221,2

$4,589

$3,127

1   For the period of April 27, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

2   The Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund and the Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund each commenced operations on April 27, 2022.

3   The significant increase in brokerage commissions for the Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund from 2021 to 2022 was due to an increase in shareholder activity.

4   The significant increase for the Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund from 2021 to 2022 was due to an increase in shareholder activity.

Holdings of Securities of the Funds’ Regular Brokers or Dealers

From time to time, the Funds 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. The following table indicates the value of each Fund’s aggregate holdings, in thousands, of the securities of its regular brokers or dealers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Dollar Amount of a Fund’s Aggregate Holdings
of Securities of Regular Broker or Dealer
(in thousands)

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

$0

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

$0

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

$0

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 Advisor, 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

B-35

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 generally be taxed at ordinary income tax rates for federal income tax purposes.

Fiscal Year Ended

 

December 31,
2023

December 31,
2022

Kennedy Capital ESG SMID Cap Fund

58%

50%

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund

37%

17%1,2

Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund

50%3

220%1,2

1   For the period of April 27, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

2   The Kennedy Capital Small Cap Growth Fund and the Kennedy Capital Small Cap Value Fund commenced operations on April 27, 2022.

3   The significant decrease in Portfolio Turnover from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023 for the Kennedy Small Cap Value Fund was due to the utilization of a larger asset base to calculate the portfolio turnover.

PROXY VOTING POLICY

The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Trust Policies”) on behalf of the Trust, which delegates the responsibility for voting the Funds’ proxies to the Advisor, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Trust Policies require that the Advisor vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund. The Trust Policies also require the Advisor to present to the Board, at least annually, the Advisor’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Advisor Policies”) and a record of each proxy voted by the Advisor on behalf of the Funds, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Advisor as involving a conflict of interest. See Appendix B for the Trust Policies and Advisor Policies. The Trust Policies and the Advisor Policies are intended to serve as guidelines and to further the economic value of each security held by the Funds. The Trust’s CCO will review the Trust Policies and Advisor 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 Advisor’s or it’s affiliates’ interests and the respective Fund’s interests, the Advisor will resolve the conflict by following the Advisor’s policy guidelines or the recommendation of an independent third party.

Each Fund is required to annually file Form N-PX, which lists each Fund’s complete proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30 of each year. Once filed, each Fund’s proxy voting record will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 1-877-882-8825, by visiting the Funds’ website at www.kennedycapital.com, or by visiting the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

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 Funds’ 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.

B-36

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 Funds, Advisor and other internal parties involved in the administration, operation or custody of the Funds, including, but not limited to UMBFS, MFAC, the Board of Trustees, counsel to the Trust and Independent Trustees, Morgan Lewis, and the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, Tait Weller (collectively, the “Service Providers”). Pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, non-public information concerning the Funds’ 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 Funds and the Advisor to the Funds’ shareholders. The Funds and their Service Providers may not receive compensation or any other consideration (which includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Funds or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or any affiliated person of the Advisor in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information of the Funds. The Funds’ 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 Funds’ public website (www.kennedycapital.com) or (2) disclosed in periodic regulatory filings on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Management of the Funds may make publicly available its portfolio holdings as of the most recent calendar quarter on the Funds’ 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 Funds 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 Funds’ Service Providers and others who need access to such information in the performance of their contractual or other duties and responsibilities to the Funds (e.g., custodians, accountants, the Advisor, 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 Funds, (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 Funds 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 Funds or its authorized service providers and the third party, if these conditions for disclosure are satisfied, there shall be no restriction on the frequency with which the Funds’ 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 Funds 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. A 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 Funds 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, a Fund or the Advisor 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

B-37

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 Advisor and its affiliates may provide investment advice to clients other than the Funds that have investment objectives that may be substantially similar to those of the Funds. These clients also may have portfolios consisting of holdings substantially similar to those of the Funds and generally have access to current portfolio holdings information for their accounts. These clients, subject to the terms of their investment advisory agreement with the Advisor, owe the Advisor a duty of confidentiality with respect to disclosure of their portfolio holdings, and are subject to a non-disclosure agreement which was previously approved by the CCO of the Trust.

Current Arrangements Regarding Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings. As of the date of this SAI, the Trust or at least one of the Funds 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 Advisor, MFAC and UMB (the Co-Administrators) and UMB Bank, N.A. (the Custodian) 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), and Morgan Lewis (attorneys) to which the Trust provides portfolio holdings information on a regular basis with varying lag times after the date of the information, (iii) Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc., pursuant to a proxy voting agreement under which the Fund’s portfolio holdings information is provided daily, subject to a one-day lag; (iv) 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; (v) Donnelley Financial Solutions, to which the Trust provides portfolio holdings information on a monthly basis in connection with filings of Form N-PORT; (vi) FilePoint, to which MFAC provides the Fund’s portfolio holdings on a monthly basis in connection with filings of Form N-PORT; (vii) FactSet Research Systems, Inc., which assist the Fund with classifying its holdings pursuant to its liquidity risk management program, and to which the Trust provides portfolio holdings information on a monthly basis with a one- to ten-day time lag; (viii) 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; and (ix) 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.

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

The net asset values per share (the “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 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 by (b) the number of shares outstanding. The NAV takes into account all of the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management fees and administration fees, which are accrued daily.

 

Net Assets

 

=

 

NAV

   

Shares Outstanding

 

Generally, a 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 Advisor pursuant to procedures approved by or under the direction of the Board. Pursuant to those procedures, the Board has designated the Advisor as each Fund’s valuation designee (the “Valuation Designee”)

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responsible for determining whether market quotations are readily available and reliable, 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 Advisor 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 a 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.

A 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.

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.

Securities that are traded on more than one exchange are valued on the exchange determined by the Advisor 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. Over-the-counter 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 a 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 Advisor’s procedures adopted, which have been approved by the Board. The Advisor will periodically test the appropriateness and accuracy of the fair value methodologies that have been selected for each Fund. A Fund may hold portfolio securities, such as those traded on foreign securities exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Funds’ 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 a 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 Funds are valued in such manner as the Advisor 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 Funds’ Prospectus. Shares of each Fund are sold at the next offering price calculated after receipt of an order for purchase. In order to purchase shares of a Fund, you must invest the initial minimum investment for the relevant class of shares. However, each 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.

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Each 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.

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 Funds 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 Funds. 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.

Each Fund is treated as a separate entity from other series of the Trust for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund has elected to be, and, 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 each Fund’s income, diversification of a Fund’s assets and timing of Fund distributions. To so qualify, a 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 a Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of a Fund’s assets is represented by cash, securities of other regulated investment companies, U.S. government securities and other securities, with such other

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securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of a 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 a 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, a 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, each 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. A Fund will be subject to income tax at the regular corporate tax rate on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders. The Funds’ 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 Funds will not be subject to any federal income or excise taxes.

If, for any taxable year, a 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 a 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 that year in order to qualify again as a regulated investment company. Under certain circumstances, a 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 a 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 a 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 a 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 a 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.

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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 received by a Fund from REITs generally do not qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income.

Dividends paid by a 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 a 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.

If a Fund receives a dividend (other than a capital gain dividend) in respect of any share of REIT stock with a tax holding period of at least 46 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend as to that dividend, then Fund dividends attributable to that REIT dividend income (as reduced by certain Fund expenses) may be reported by the Fund as eligible for the 20% deduction for “qualified REIT dividends” generally available to noncorporate shareholders under the Code. In order to qualify for this deduction, noncorporate shareholders must meet minimum holding period requirements with respect to their Fund shares.

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 a 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. A 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, a 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 a 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 a Fund. A 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 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, a 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.

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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. Distributions are includable in alternative minimum taxable income in computing a shareholder’s liability for the federal alternative minimum tax, which is imposed on individual taxpayers under the Code. 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.

A 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

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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.

A 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.

A 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 a 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 a 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).

A 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.

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.

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If a 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 a 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 interests in a foreign issuer 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 a 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.

Non-U.S. persons are subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a “United States real property interest” (a “USRPI”). Gain on such a disposition is sometimes referred to as “FIRPTA gain.” The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of “FIRPTA gain” if certain requirements are met. If the look-through rule applies, certain distributions attributable to income received by the Fund, e.g., from REITs, may be treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at rates of up to 21%, and require non-U.S. shareholders to file nonresident U.S. income tax returns.

A 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 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 a 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

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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 Funds, and counsel to the Trust has expressed no opinion in respect thereof.

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

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Each 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 a 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 Funds also may derive capital gains or losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Any net gain a 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 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 a 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 advisor.

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Any dividend or distribution paid by a Fund reduces the Fund’s NAV 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 a 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.

A 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 II is an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware on August 20, 2013. 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 each Fund, the Trust offers two classes of shares: Investor Class and Institutional Class. 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.

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.

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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.

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 and the Advisor 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 each Fund.

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Incorporated by reference herein is the Funds’ Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which includes the “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”, “Schedule of Investments”, “Statement of Assets and Liabilities”, “Statement of Operations”, “Statements of Changes in Net Assets”, “Financial Highlights” and “Notes to Financial Statements”. A copy of the Funds’ Annual Report can be obtained at no charge by calling 1-877-882-8825 or writing the Funds.

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APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

Corporate Bonds (Including Convertible Bonds)

Moody’s

   

Aaa

 

Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

Aa

 

Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A

 

Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa

 

Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba

 

Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B

 

Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa

 

Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca

 

Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery.

C

 

Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

BB

 

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.

BB, B, 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.

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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.

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.

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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 II
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Investment Managers Series Trust II (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 Advisors

The Board believes that the investment advisor of each Fund (each, an “Advisor” and, collectively, the “Advisors”), 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 Advisor of each Fund to make decisions on how to cast proxy votes on behalf of such Fund. An Advisor may delegate this responsibility to a Fund’s Sub-Advisor(s).

The Trust hereby designates the Advisor 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 Advisor 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 Advisor will perform these duties in accordance with the Advisor’s proxy voting policy, a copy of which will be presented to the Board for its review. Each Advisor 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 Advisor has a website, a copy of the Advisor’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 Advisor of any such request of proxy voting procedures. The Advisor 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 Advisor will provide a completed annual voting record, as required by the Proxy Rule, for each series of the Trust for which it acts as advisor, to the Trust’s co-administrator no later than July 31 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 Advisor 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 Advisor’s CCO must sign and return to MFAC no later than July 30th a Form N-PX Certification stating that the Advisor has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures in compliance with the SEC’s Proxy Voting Rule.

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KENNEDY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC POLICY WITH
RESPECT TO PROXY VOTING

Introduction

Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, sets forth the conditions under which advisers owe a fiduciary obligation with respect to each client for which the adviser exercises investment discretion, including the authority and responsibility to vote proxies. Advisers with proxy voting authority must monitor corporate developments and, where appropriate, vote proxies. In addition, advisers must cast proxy votes solely in the best interest of its clients. Kennedy Capital Management LLC (“KCM”) has adopted the following policies with respect to voting proxies on behalf of its clients:

1.   This written proxy voting policy, which is updated and supplemented from time-to-time, will be provided to each client for which KCM has been delegated the authority or responsibility to vote proxies;

2.   Clients will be advised about how to obtain a copy of the proxy voting policy and information about how their securities were voted;

3.   The proxy voting policy is consistently applied and records of votes maintained for each client;

4.   KCM documents the reasons for voting, including exceptions;

5.   KCM maintains records of such votes cast and client requests for proxy voting information for inspection by the client or governmental agencies;

6.   KCM monitors such voting for any potential conflicts with the interests of its clients; and

7.   KCM maintains systems to ensure that material conflicts will be resolved prior to voting, documenting in each case that its good faith determination was based on the clients’ best interests and did not result from the conflict.

Conflicts of Interests

KCM is an investment adviser to pension plans, public and private companies, mutual funds and individual investors, and provides sub-advisory services to investment companies, wrap fee programs, model programs as well as to clients of consultants and other investment advisors as described in KCM’s Form ADV. The management fees collected from such clients are KCM’s principal source of revenue. With respect to the fees received for advisory services rendered, conflicts of interest may occur when KCM must vote on ballot items of the public companies for which it manages assets and, in certain cases, KCM may have a relationship with the proponents of proxy proposals or participants in proxy contests.

To mitigate potential conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts, KCM does not allow employees to sit on the board of directors of any public company without Senior Management approval. To the extent that such conflicts occur, KCM will generally follow the recommendation of the proxy voting service to ensure that the best interests of its clients are not subordinated to KCM’s interests. KCM may, in selected matters, consult the Proxy Voting Committee to obtain guidance to vote proxies. Routine matters shall not constitute a material conflict with respect to this procedure.

The Proxy Voting Committee has a duty to make reasonable investigation of information relating to conflicts of interest. The Proxy Voting Committee is chaired by the Chief Operating Officer and is comprised of the Director of Research, the Chief Compliance Officer, the Portfolio Operations Manager and such other members as may be amended from time-to-time as required by a majority vote of its current members, with three members serving as a quorum. The Proxy Voting Committee will determine, prior to voting, whether any of the members of the Committee have a material personal or business conflict — in which case the committee member will abstain from voting.

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Engagement of Service Provider

In order to facilitate the proxy voting process, Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”) has been retained to provide proxy vote research and recommendations based on their own internal guidelines. Votes are cast through the ISS ProxyExchange platform (“ProxyExchange”). The services provided to KCM include access to ISS’ research analysis and voting recommendations, receipt of proxy ballots, vote execution based upon the recommendations of ISS, as well as reporting, auditing, working with custodial banks, and consulting assistance for the handling of proxy voting responsibilities. ProxyExchange also maintains proxy voting records and provides KCM with reports that reflect the proxy voting activities of client portfolios. KCM uses this information for appropriate monitoring of such delegated responsibilities.

KCM may, under soft dollar arrangements, pay for no more than the cost allocated to research services. The cost of that portion of the services not constituting “research” for the purposes of Section 28(e) (“mixed-use” services) will be reimbursed to the broker-dealer provider. Presently, ISS’ services are not provided to KCM by a broker-dealer under a soft dollar arrangement.

Proxies are voted through the ProxyExchange application in accordance with either the ISS Benchmark Research Policy, or the ISS Catholic Policy. It is the client’s decision as to which of these ISS policies will be used to vote its proxies. In the absence of a specific delegation of authority KCM is deemed to have voting authority and, under such circumstances, will vote received ballots in accordance with the ISS Benchmark Research Policy.

Policies Available

    ISS Benchmark Research Policy

    ISS Catholic Policy

The ISS Benchmark Research Policy is the default policy to be used for voting proxies for all clients’ accounts (both ERISA and non-ERISA related) unless the client specifically selects the Catholic Policy. KCM declines clients’ requests to implement customized proxy voting policies, as they tend to be expensive to implement and difficult to manage on an ongoing basis. KCM encourages the client to vote its own proxies if the client seeks to impose client-specific voting guidelines that may be inconsistent with one of the two policies offered by KCM. KCM does not generally advise a client on proxy voting issues when the client retains authority to handle such matters itself.

The ISS Benchmark Research Policy and the Catholic Policy are both available upon request. These policies provide a general indication as to how proxies will be voted on certain issues. Neither all potential voting issues nor the intricacies that surround individual proxy votes may be addressed therein, and for that reason, actual proxy votes may differ from the selected policy.

Procedures

KCM generally votes all proxies from a specific issuer the same way for each client; however, proxies may be voted differently for different clients on the same proxy issue based upon one of the two proxy policies chosen by the client. Upon certain circumstances and in KCM’s discretion, a client may direct KCM to vote a proxy different from the specific voting guidelines. The client must submit this request in writing to KCM in advance of the meeting date stated on the proxy ballot.

Although KCM generally votes in accordance with the recommendations of ISS, KCM’s Portfolio Managers (PMs) and analysts are consulted to determine how to vote on issues when the ISS recommendation differs from the recommendation of the issuer’s management. Furthermore, a PM or analyst may direct that proxies be voted in a manner different from that recommended by ISS if he or she is personally informed on the issue and has determined that a different vote is

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appropriate and in the best interests of KCM’s clients. Documentation of the rationale for any proxy voted contrary to the ISS recommendation will be maintained. KCM will vote in accordance with the recommendations of ISS for all short-term investment fund securities and any unsupervised assets retained in the same custodial account KCM has investment discretion over. In the event that ISS does not provide a recommendation on the aforementioned securities, no vote will be entered for these types of securities unless explicitly instructed by an authorized representative of the account.

A custodian may report ballots to ISS through an omnibus account. On occasion, these omnibus accounts may reflect ballots for shares held by different KCM investment strategies which in some instances may not be split. If after reviewing the ISS research, the PMs from the respective strategies are in disagreement on how to vote a particular issue, the issue will be referred to the Proxy Voting Committee who will consider all factors affecting each strategy and determine the best way to vote the block of shares.

KCM will make every reasonable effort to vote all proxies in a timely manner for which KCM has been delegated proxy voting discretion; however, instances may exist when KCM is unable to vote, (including but not limited to the following):

    Delays in account setup between ISS and the client’s custodian;

    Miscommunication between ISS and the client’s custodian;

    The client’s custodian did not receive the proxy ballot;

    The client’s custodian did not submit the proxy ballot to ISS in a timely manner;

    ProxyExchange does not reflect the proxy ballot information;

    The proxy ballot was received by KCM with insufficient time to submit a vote;

    KCM held shares on the record date, but sold the shares prior to the meeting date;

    The issuer is a non-U.S. company;

    Securities lending arrangements;

    A proxy is received for a client that has terminated KCM’s advisory relationship;

    The client’s custodian does not utilize ISS for submission of proxy materials; or

    KCM believes it is not in the best interest of the client to vote the proxy for any other reason not specified herein.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy

KCM recognizes that ESG issues can impact the valuation of the companies we invest in on behalf of our Clients. In order to effectively factor in ESG considerations when making voting decisions, proxy related research for all securities held in the ESG SMID Cap strategy are distributed to the PM for review.

Custodial Considerations

For each client account for which KCM has been delegated proxy voting discretion, KCM will notify ISS of the account relationship. KCM completes the initial document that ISS will send to the client’s custodian requesting proxy statements and materials received on behalf of the client account be sent to ISS.

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It is important to understand that from time-to-time custodial issues may arise which are beyond KCM’s control. In the event a client delegates proxy voting discretion to KCM, it remains the client’s obligation to instruct its custodian to forward applicable proxy materials directly to ISS so that its shares may be voted. Although KCM makes its best efforts to make sure that the client’s custodian has received KCM’s instructions through ISS, it is the responsibility of the client’s custodian to acknowledge receipt of our instructions and to establish the account correctly in order for proxy materials to be submitted to ISS in a timely manner. KCM is not able to vote shares if ISS does not receive proxy materials on a timely basis from the custodian.

It is within each custodian’s discretion as to whether it will provide ballots to ISS for issuers whose stocks are held in each client’s account. Instead, a custodian may select its own proxy voting provider and choose not to provide proxy ballots to ISS. In these instances, ISS is not able to vote proxies for the client’s account and KCM will not be able to accept voting authority for the client’s account.

When voting ballots, it is within each custodian’s discretion as to whether it will aggregate shares, held on behalf of various clients, in an omnibus account instead of submitting individual ballots for segregated accounts. In these cases, the custodian must rely on its internal records to differentiate the various underlying holdings. In these instances, ISS will not be able to provide KCM with a detailed history of voting records at the individual client account level.

Securities Lending Arrangements

The client may contract with its selected custodian to participate in a securities lending program. Under most securities lending arrangements, securities on loan to a borrower on the proxy record date is not voted by the lender unless the securities are recalled prior to the record date for the vote. As a general matter, KCM will not attempt to ask custodians to recall securities engaged in lending programs to facilitate proxy voting; therefore, the responsibility to vote proxies for securities on loan will typically reside with the borrower rather than the lender.

Notification of Account Termination and Closed Accounts

KCM will continue voting a client’s proxies after the client has provided notification to terminate its advisory relationship with KCM unless explicit instructions are received that state otherwise. Although ballots received prior to the actual account termination date will generally be voted, ballots received after the termination of the account will neither be reviewed nor voted.

Voting For Non U.S. Issuers

It is KCM’s policy to seek to vote all proxies for securities held in client accounts for which it has been delegated proxy voting discretion. In the case of non-U.S. issuers, proxies are voted on a best efforts basis and it may be difficult to vote or KCM may be prevented from voting due to a number of administrative issues that may include, but are not limited to, the following:

    KCM may not know when a meeting is taking place or may not be able to obtain relevant information. For example, KCM may receive meeting notices without enough time to fully consider the proxy or after the cut-off date for voting;

    Trading restrictions may have been placed on shares subject to voting.

A custodian may, in its sole discretion, determine that it will provide proxies to ISS for U.S. domestic companies, but not for non-U.S. issuers. Or, custodians may determine to provide proxies for non-U.S. issuers only to the custodians’ selected proxy voting provider. In these instances, ISS is not able to vote proxies for non-U.S. issuers held in a client’s accounts.

Generally, research coverage of non-U.S. issuers is provided by ISS. However, voting recommendations are not always provided with research; therefore, ballots for non-U.S. issuers are generally voted according to the chosen policy.

In certain circumstances, KCM will occasionally abstain from voting for non-U.S. issuers when unjustifiable costs and resources associated with voting a client’s proxy might exceed any anticipated benefits to the client.

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Active Communications with Corporate Management

KCM has actively voted against management-sponsored initiatives where deemed appropriate. This action is the most direct communication of the fiduciary voters’ concerns in some instances. Additional actions may include or have included direct meetings with corporate representatives, conference calls, inquiries through third parties and, on occasion, letter writing. KCM participates in a number of forums where its employees are able to meet and discuss issues with corporate representatives; these forums include conferences, seminars, user workshops, and other venues.

KCM has historically, and will in the future, review the proxy process for ERISA funds to adhere to two operative principles:

    Our duty of loyalty: What is in the best interest of the fund beneficiaries? Are their rights or ability to act being altered by this vote? Is it other than beneficial?

    Our duty of prudence: Is the action proposed other than in the long-term financial interest of the fund? If an issue is reviewed and found to be basically “ERISA-neutral,” less concern is possibly warranted than when it has a potential substantive adverse financial or best interest impact.

To date, KCM has been an active shareholder in the context of the proxy process and, when appropriate or necessary, has engaged in conversations with management and those who monitor the company. KCM will continue to carry out a detailed assessment of a company when evaluating areas of concern.

KCM has not, to date, actively considered filing shareholder proposals or writing letters to companies on a regular basis. These activities and others which could be considered expressions of activism are not under consideration at this time. Should a particular equity company become a concern, the evaluation and voting process will continue to be the first level of monitoring and communication. Participation in national forums and contacts with corporate representatives will also continue. A more individualized approach could evolve if these methods are not satisfactory in the context of a particular company. With numerous stocks to monitor and vote for client accounts, KCM recognizes it is not feasible or appropriate to be in active communication with 100% of companies.

As a result, it is believed that the current use of both internal and external resources to provide economies of scale and to more quickly identify concerns is an effective and appropriate use of time and assets in the management process. The final and perhaps most valuable tool KCM can use in the process of being an active and involved fiduciary remains the weight of its vote and, through that vote, we believe we can play a significant role in bringing concerns to corporate management on behalf of our clients.

Reconciliation

To the extent reasonably practicable, KCM shall seek to reconcile proxies as reflected on ProxyExchange against securities eligible to be voted in client accounts with the exception of accounts in a wrap program or where a client’s custodian wraps ballots1. Discrepancies identified between the expected ballots and actual ballot will be investigated with ISS and the client’s custodian to make a best effort to determine the cause of the discrepancy. Documentation of discrepancies will be maintained.

Maintenance of Proxy Voting Records & Program Responsibility

The documents listed below shall be maintained for no less than seven (7) years by KCM, by ISS or by another third-party service provider, on behalf of KCM; provided that ISS or another third party service provider shall undertake to provide KCM copies of such documents promptly upon its request:

    KCM’s proxy voting policies and procedures;

1      Proxy ballots for wrap account sponsors or in certain circumstances where a client’s custodian wraps ballots are provided to KCM on an aggregated basis for all accounts managed by KCM in the sponsor’s program or by that client’s custodian; therefore, KCM cannot reconcile the holdings in such accounts against the shares voted.

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    Proxy statements received for client and fund securities, provided that no copy of a proxy statement found on the SEC’s EDGAR website need be retained;

    Records of votes cast on behalf of clients and funds;

    Records of oral or written requests for proxy voting information and written responses from KCM; and

    Any documents prepared by KCM that were material to making a proxy voting decision or that memorialized the basis for the decision.

The Portfolio Operations Manager is responsible for the administration of KCM’s proxy voting activities.

Inquiries

Clients should contact KCM to request additional proxy voting information or for a record of proxies voted on their behalf. Client inquiries should be directed to Kennedy Capital Management LLC, attention Client Service Department, 10829 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63141, or by calling 800-859-5462.

Except as otherwise required by law, KCM has a general policy of not disclosing proxy voting records to an unaffiliated third party.

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