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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2025 

Registration No. 333-148723

Registration No. 811-22172 

 

 

UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

  Pre-Effective Amendment No.
  Post-Effective Amendment No. 490

 

and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

 

  Amendment No. 491

 

WORLD FUNDS TRUST 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, VA 23235

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(804) 267-7400

(Registrant’s Telephone Number)

 

The Corporation Trust Co. 

Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801 

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

With Copy to: 

 

John H. Lively 

Practus, LLP 

11300 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Suite 310

Leawood, KS 66211

 

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:


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

 

  Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b);
  on August 1, 2025 pursuant to paragraph (b);
  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1);
  on ___________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(1);
  75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2); or
  on ___________ (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

 

If appropriate, check the following box:

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

 

Title of Securities Being Registered: shares of beneficial interest.

 

 

 

 

 

Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund
Ticker: PHLOX

 

Prospectus
August 1, 2025

 

8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205
Richmond, Virginia 23235

 

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
FUND SUMMARY 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS 13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS 13
MANAGEMENT 24
HOW TO BUY SHARES 27
HOW TO SELL SHARES 31
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 35
NET ASSET VALUE 37
FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS 40
GENERAL INFORMATION 42
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS 44
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 46
FOR MORE INFORMATION 48

 

 

 

FUND SUMMARY

 

Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

The Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund (the “Fund”) seeks current income and long-term growth.

 

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.

 

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)  

 
Management Fees 1.00%
Distribution (12b-1) and Service Fees(1) 0.00%
Other Expenses  
 Shareholder Services Plan 0.10%
 Other Expenses(2) 0.35%
Total Other Expenses 0.45%
 Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.45%
(1)The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Shareholder Services (12b-1) Plan under which the Fund is authorized to pay an annual fee of up to 0.25% of the daily net assets of the Fund as compensation for certain shareholder service and distribution-related activities. The Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution to discontinue accrual of fees under the Rule 12b-1 Plan at this time, although the Board may authorize fee payments by the Fund pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan in the future. Prior to July 31, 2024, the Fund paid 0.05% of its daily net assets pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan.

 

1

 

(2) Other Expenses do not reflect the recovery of previously waived fees which increased the expense ratio by 0.06% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025.

 

(3) The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund, until at least July 31, 2026 to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or reimbursement (exclusive of interest, fees incurred under a plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, dividend expenses on short sales, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) will not exceed 1.50% of the Fund’s daily net assets; subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment does not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed both: (i) the Fund’s expense cap in place at the time such expenses were waived, and (ii) the Fund’s current expense cap at the time of recoupment.

 

Example.

The following 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 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 effect of the Adviser’s agreement to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses is reflected in the example shown below. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
$148 $459 $792 $1,735

 

2

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 105.51% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund attempts, under normal circumstances, to achieve its investment objective by investing in a unique blend of fixed-income securities, common stocks, and other equity securities, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). Kanen Wealth Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) uses a bottom-up, fundamental based proprietary research process emphasizing underfollowed and undervalued companies with strong economics of any capitalization, but with a focus on small-capitalization (“small-cap”) companies, in order for the Fund to capitalize on what the Adviser believes to be the inherent pricing inefficiencies of smaller capitalization securities and generate growth. The focus of the Fund’s investments will be on companies with mispriced securities that nevertheless generate significant free cash flow and benefit from near term catalysts that can unlock value. The Adviser considers securities to be mispriced if they are trading at a value significantly below their peers based on the Adviser’s assessment of the company’s price to book ratio, price to sales ratio and free cash flow, among other factors. Some of these catalysts may include significant changes in a company’s allocation of its existing capital (stock buybacks, spin-offs, mergers, or acquisitions), a restructuring of assets, or activism resulting in changes in senior management or significant changes in cost structure.

 

The Fund’s investments in equity securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), and securities convertible into common stocks. The Fund will seek growth of capital by investing a significant portion of its assets in non-income producing common stocks. The Fund will also seek to generate current income by investing in income producing equity securities, including dividend paying stocks that the Adviser judges to have favorable dividend yields and growth prospects relative to comparable stocks.

 

3

 

The Fund’s fixed income securities are used to provide current income and capital stability. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of all types of any maturity including, but not limited to, U.S government and government-related securities, corporate bonds, convertible bonds, and structured notes. The Fund will invest primarily in investment grade fixed income securities, but may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities.

 

The proportion of the Fund’s investments held in various fixed income securities will vary depending upon economic trends, changes in the shape of the yield curve, and sector analysis. In selecting fixed income securities, the Adviser will consider factors such as interest rate trends, yield curve analysis, credit ratings, liquidity, maturity, and appreciation potential.

 

The Fund will be managed as a non-diversified fund and its portfolio will consist of a relatively small number of both equity and fixed-income holdings – generally between 10 and 20 holdings in each asset class. The Fund may invest in, and may shift among, asset classes and market sectors. The Fund’s portfolio is expected to generally be comprised of approximately 75% equity securities and 25% fixed income securities, with approximately 50% of the portfolio invested in a combination of income producing fixed income or equity securities. A security will be sold when it no longer meets the Adviser’s criteria for investment or when a more attractive investment is available.

 

Principal Risks

 

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

 

4

 

The following describes the risks the Fund bears directly or indirectly through its investments. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal.

 

Market Risk. Overall market risks may also affect the value of the Fund. Factors such as domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels and political events affect the securities markets.

 

Equity Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that stock and other equity security prices may fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the price of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. These factors contribute to price volatility.

 

Fixed Income Securities Risk. While fixed income securities normally fluctuate less in price than stocks, there have been extended periods of increases in interest rates that have caused significant declines in fixed income securities prices.

 

Call Risk. An issuer may exercise its right to redeem a fixed income security earlier than expected (a call). Issuers may call outstanding securities prior to their maturity for a number of reasons (e.g., declining interest rates, changes in credit spreads and improvements in the issuer’s credit quality). If an issuer calls a security that the Fund has invested in, the Fund may not recoup the full amount of its initial investment and may be forced to reinvest in lower-yielding securities, securities with greater credit risks or securities with other, less favorable features.

 

Change in Rating Risk. If a rating agency gives a debt security a lower rating, the value of the debt security will decline because investors will demand a higher rate of return.

 

5

 

Credit Risk. The issuer of a fixed income security may not be able to make interest and principal payments when due. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security, the greater the risk that the issuer will default on its obligation.

 

Income Risk. The Fund’s income could decline due to falling market interest rates. In a falling interest rate environment, the Fund may be required to invest its assets in lower-yielding securities.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The value of the Fund may fluctuate based upon changes in interest rates and market conditions. As interest rates increase, the value of the Fund’s income-producing investments may go down. For example, bonds tend to decrease in value when interest rates rise.

 

Liquidity Risk. A limited market for a security may make it difficult for the Fund to sell that security at an advantageous time or price. Liquidity risk may be magnified in a rising interest rate environment or other circumstances where investor redemptions from fixed income mutual funds or ETFs may be higher than normal.

 

Maturity and Risk. Prices of fixed income securities with longer effective maturities are more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter effective maturities.

 

Small-Cap Stock Risk. The earnings and prospects of small-cap companies are more volatile than larger companies and may experience higher failure rates than larger companies. Small-cap companies normally have a lower trading volume than larger companies, which may tend to make their market price fall more disproportionately than larger companies in response to selling pressures and may have limited markets, product lines, or financial resources and lack management experience. These companies may not be well-known to the investing public, may not be followed by the financial press or industry analysts, and may not have institutional ownership. These factors affect the Adviser’s access to information about the companies and the stability of the markets for the companies’ securities.

 

6

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents Risk. To the extent that the Fund holds large positions in cash or cash equivalents, there is a risk of lower returns and potential lost opportunities to participate in overall market appreciation. See Credit Risk and Interest Rate Risk disclosures below.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the risks of stocks when the underlying stock price is high relative to the conversion price (because more of the security’s value resides in the conversion feature) and fixed income securities when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price (because the conversion feature is less valuable).

 

Dividend-Paying Securities Risk. Dividend-paying securities are subject to the risk that the company issuing such securities may fail and have to decrease or eliminate its dividend. In such an event, the Fund may not only lose the dividend payout, but the stock price of the company may fall.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. ETFs in which the Fund invests are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund. As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in the ETF and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds. ETFs may also trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value.

 

Government Securities Risk. U.S. Government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, depending upon whether the securities are supported by full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, only by the credit of the issuing U.S. Government agency, instrumentality or corporation or otherwise supported by the United States. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities, or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law. The guarantee of the U.S. Government does not extend to the yield or value of the U.S. Government securities held by the Fund or to the Fund’s shares.

 

7

 

Management Risk. The portfolio manager’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, and potential appreciation of securities in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect and there is no guarantee that the portfolio manager’s judgment will produce the desired results.

 

Non-Diversification and Focused Portfolio Risk. The Fund may have more volatility and is considered to have more risk than a diversified fund because changes in the value of a single issuer’s security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s NAV. To the extent that the Fund invests its assets in the securities of fewer issuers, the Fund will be subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decrease in value or becomes impaired. To the extent that the Fund’s investments are focused in a particular issuer, region, country, market, industry, asset class or other category, the Fund may be susceptible to loss due to adverse occurrences affecting that issuer, region, country, market, industry, asset class or other category.

 

Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk. To the extent that the Fund invests in non-investment grade securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds”), the Fund may be subject to greater levels of interest rate and credit risk than funds that do not invest in such securities. Junk bonds are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell these securities (liquidity risk). If the issuer of a security is in default with respect to interest or principal payments, an investor may lose its entire investment, which will affect the Fund’s return.

 

8

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is subject to the risks of equity securities as well as risks associated with fixed income securities, such as interest rate risk, because a company will generally pay dividends on preferred stock only after the company makes required payments to creditors, the value of a company’s preferred stock may react strongly to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or outlook.

 

Real Estate Investment Trust Risk. REITs may be subject to certain risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, and variations in rental income.

 

Sector Risk. The Fund may have significant exposure to a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same sector or group of sectors, though not more than 25% of the value of its net assets will be invested in any one industry or group of industries. Market conditions, interest rates, and economic, regulatory, or financial developments could significantly affect a single sector or a group of sectors, and the securities of companies in that sector or group of sectors could react similarly to these or other developments.

 

Structured Note Risk. Structured notes and other related instruments purchased by the Fund are generally privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a specific asset, benchmark asset, market, or interest rate (“reference measure”). Structured notes expose the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the structured product. Structured notes may be leveraged, increasing the volatility of each structured note’s value relative to the change in value of the reference measure. The value or interest rate of a structured note may increase or decrease if the value of the reference measure increases. Similarly, the value of a structured note may increase or decrease if the value of the reference measure decreases. Structured notes may also be less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional fixed income securities.

 

9

 

“Value” Investing Risk. “Value” stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time. “Value” stocks tend to be inexpensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to other types of stocks. However, “value” stocks can continue to be inexpensive for long periods of time and may not ever realize their full value.

 

Performance Information

 

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods indicated compare with those of a broad-based securities market index, the Russell 3000® Index, and the Russell 2000® Index, which is the Fund’s secondary benchmark index. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling toll-free 800-673-0550.

 

Year By Year Annual Returns

Years Returns
2022
2023
2024

 

10

 

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the Fund’s highest return for a calendar quarter was 24.14% (quarter ended 12/31/2024) and the Fund’s lowest return for a calendar quarter was -15.54% (quarter ended 06/30/2022).

 

The year-to-date return of the Fund as of June 30, 2025 was -7.43%.

 

 
Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2024
  1 Year Since Inception (8/20/2021)
Return Before Taxes 24.56% 5.21%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 23.73% 4.21%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 14.54% 3.64%
Russell 3000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)1 23.81% 9.20%
Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) 11.54% 2.29%
1 In connection with the newly adopted SEC regulations applicable to the Fund, the Russell 3000® Index is the Fund’s broad-based securities market index. The Fund will continue to show the performance for the Russell 2000® Index, the Fund’s previous broad-based securities market index.

 

Investment Adviser

 

Kanen Wealth Management, LLC serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

11

 

Portfolio Manager

 

David L. Kanen, the President of the Adviser, has served as the Fund’s portfolio manager since it commenced operations in 2021.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $2,500 for all account types. The minimum subsequent investment is $1,000 for all account types. You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. Redemption requests may be made in writing, by telephone, online, or through a financial intermediary and will be paid by an electronic bank transfer (ACH), check or wire transfer. The Fund and the Adviser each reserves the right to waive any investment minimum requirements.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions that you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred plan such as an IRA, 401(k) or 529 college savings plan. However, eventual withdrawals from tax-deferred plans generally are taxable.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

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

 

12

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS

 

This prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of investments described in this prospectus. In addition to the investments described in this prospectus, the Fund also may use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this prospectus, are described in detail in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) (for information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI, see the back cover of this prospectus). Of course, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks current income and long-term growth.

 

The Fund’s investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ written notice to shareholders. The Fund’s investment policies may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus or the SAI.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund attempts, under normal circumstances, to achieve its investment objective by investing in a unique blend of fixed income securities, common stocks, and other equity securities, including ETFs. The Adviser uses a bottom-up, fundamental based proprietary research process emphasizing underfollowed and undervalued companies with strong economics of any capitalization, but with a focus on small-cap companies, in order for the Fund to capitalize on what the Adviser believes to be the inherent pricing inefficiencies of smaller capitalization securities and generate growth. The focus of the Fund’s investments will be on companies with mispriced securities that nevertheless generate significant free cash flow and benefit from near term catalysts that can unlock value. The Adviser considers securities to be mispriced if they are trading at a value significantly below their peers based on the Adviser’s assessment of the company’s price to book ratio, price to sales ratio and free cash flow, among other factors. Some of these catalysts may include significant changes in a company’s allocation of its existing capital (stock buybacks, spin-offs, mergers, or acquisitions), a restructuring of assets, or activism resulting in changes in senior management or significant changes in cost structure.

 

13

 

The Fund’s investments in equity securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks, REITs, depositary receipts evidencing ownership of common stocks, and securities convertible into common stocks. The Fund will seek growth of capital by investing a significant portion of its assets in non-income producing common stocks. The Fund will also seek to generate current income by investing in income producing equity securities, including dividend paying stocks that the Adviser judges to have favorable dividend yields and growth prospects relative to comparable stocks.

 

The Fund’s fixed income securities are used to provide current income and capital stability. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of all types of any maturity including, but not limited to, U.S government and government-related securities, corporate bonds, convertible bonds, and structured notes. The Fund will invest primarily in investment grade fixed income securities, but may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities. Investment grade fixed income securities are securities that are rated in one of the four highest rating categories by any nationally recognized rating agency or unrated securities determined to be investment grade quality by the Adviser. Non-investment grade fixed income securities, often referred to as “junk bonds,” are rated below the four highest rating categories.

 

The proportion of the Fund’s investments held in various fixed income securities will vary depending upon economic trends, changes in the shape of the yield curve, and sector analysis. In selecting fixed income securities, the Adviser will consider factors such as interest rate trends, yield curve analysis, credit ratings, liquidity, maturity, and appreciation potential.

 

14

 

The Fund’s portfolio is expected to generally be comprised of approximately 75% equity securities and 25% fixed income securities, with approximately 50% of the portfolio invested in a combination of income producing fixed income or equity securities. A security will be sold when it no longer meets the Adviser’s criteria for investment or when a more attractive investment is available.

 

The Fund will be managed as a non-diversified fund and its portfolio will consist of a relatively small number of both equity and fixed-income holdings – generally between 10 and 20 holdings in each asset class. The Fund may invest in, and may shift among, asset classes and market sectors. The portion of the Fund’s net assets invested at any given time in securities of issuers engaged in industries within a particular business sector may be affected by valuation considerations and other investment characteristics of that sector. As a result, the Fund’s investments in various business sectors generally will change over time, and a significant allocation to any particular sector does not represent an investment policy or investment strategy to focus its investments in that sector. In addition, the Fund’s investments may represent a small number of sectors.

 

Although the Fund normally holds a concentrated portfolio of equity and fixed-income securities, the Fund is not required to be fully invested in such securities and may maintain a significant portion of its total assets in cash and securities generally considered to be cash equivalents. In certain market conditions, such as when the Adviser believes that appropriate investment opportunities are not available, the Adviser may determine that it is appropriate for the Fund to hold a significant cash position for an extended period.

 

15

 

Related Risks

 

As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. Many factors affect the Fund’s NAV and performance.

 

The following describes the risks the Fund bears directly or indirectly through its investments. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal.

 

Market Risk. Overall market risks may also affect the value of the Fund. Factors such as domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels and political events affect the securities markets.

 

Equity Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that stock and other equity security prices may fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the price of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. These factors contribute to price volatility.

 

Fixed Income Securities Risk. While fixed income securities normally fluctuate less in price than stocks, there have been extended periods of increases in interest rates that have caused significant declines in fixed income securities prices. The values of fixed income securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of their issuers. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security, the higher the degree of risk as to the payment of interest and return of principal.

 

Call Risk. An issuer may exercise its right to redeem a fixed income security earlier than expected (a call). Issuers may call outstanding securities prior to their maturity for a number of reasons (e.g., declining interest rates, changes in credit spreads and improvements in the issuer’s credit quality). If an issuer calls a security that the Fund has invested in, the Fund may not recoup the full amount of its initial investment and may be forced to reinvest in lower-yielding securities, securities with greater credit risks or securities with other, less favorable features.

 

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Change in Rating Risk. If a rating agency gives a debt security a lower rating, the value of the debt security will decline because investors will demand a higher rate of return.

 

Credit Risk. The issuer of a fixed income security may not be able to make interest and principal payments when due. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security, the greater the risk that the issuer will default on its obligation.

 

Income Risk. The Fund’s income could decline due to falling market interest rates. In a falling interest rate environment, the Fund may be required to invest its assets in lower-yielding securities. Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income or yield of the Fund for any particular period. In a falling interest rate environment, there may be lower-yielding securities.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The value of the Fund may fluctuate based upon changes in interest rates and market conditions. As interest rates increase, the value of the Fund’s income-producing investments may go down. For example, bonds tend to decrease in value when interest rates rise. Fixed income obligations with longer maturities typically offer higher yields, but are subject to greater price movements as a result of interest rate changes than fixed income obligations with shorter maturities.

 

Liquidity Risk. A limited market for a security may make it difficult for the Fund to sell that security at an advantageous time or price. Liquidity risk may be magnified in a rising interest rate environment or other circumstances where investor redemptions from fixed income mutual funds or ETFs may be higher than normal. The capacity of traditional dealers to engage in fixed income trading has not kept pace with the fixed income market’s growth, causing dealer inventories to be at or near historical lows relative to market size.

 

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Maturity Risk. Prices of fixed income securities with longer effective maturities are more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter effective maturities.

 

Small-Cap Stock Risk. Investing in the securities of small-cap companies generally involves substantially greater risk than investing in larger, more established companies. This greater risk is, in part, attributable to the fact that the securities of these companies usually have more limited marketability and, therefore, may be more volatile than securities of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. Because these companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies, it may be more difficult to buy or sell significant amounts of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Another risk factor is that these companies often have limited product lines, markets, or financial resources and may lack management depth. Additionally, these companies are typically subject to greater changes in earnings and business prospects than are larger, more established companies. These companies may not be well-known to the investing public, may not be followed by the financial press or industry analysts, and may not have institutional ownership. These factors affect the Adviser’s access to information about the companies and the stability of the markets for the companies’ securities. These companies may be more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments; the risk exists that the companies will not succeed; and the prices of the companies’ shares could dramatically decline in value. Therefore, an investment in the Fund may involve a substantially greater degree of risk than an investment in other mutual funds that seek capital growth by investing in more established, larger companies.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents Risk. To the extent that the Fund holds large positions in cash or cash equivalents, there is a risk of lower returns and potential lost opportunities to participate in overall market appreciation. See Credit Risk and Interest Rate Risk disclosures below.

 

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Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the risks of stocks when the underlying stock price is high relative to the conversion price (because more of the security’s value resides in the conversion feature) and fixed income securities when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price (because the conversion feature is less valuable). A convertible security is not as sensitive to interest rate changes as a similar non-convertible fixed income security, and generally has less potential for gain or loss than the underlying stock.

 

Dividend-Paying Securities Risk. Dividend-paying securities are subject to the risk that the company issuing such securities may fail and have to decrease or eliminate its dividend. In such an event, the Fund may not only lose the dividend payout but the stock price of the company may fall.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional registered mutual fund (i.e., one that is not exchange traded), including the risk that the general level of stock prices, or that the prices of stocks within a sector, may increase or decrease, thereby affecting the value of the shares of an ETF. Many ETFs are passively managed and track their related index. Such ETFs will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of the indices they track because the total return generated by the securities will be reduced by transaction costs incurred in adjusting the actual balance of the securities. This may result in a loss. Certain securities comprising the indices tracked by the ETFs may, from time to time, temporarily be unavailable, which may further impede the ETFs’ ability to track their applicable indices. ETFs in which the Fund invests are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund. As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in the ETF and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds. ETFs may also trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value or an active market may not develop.

 

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Government Securities Risk. U.S. Government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, depending upon whether the securities are supported by full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, only by the credit of the issuing U.S. Government agency, instrumentality or corporation or otherwise supported by the United States. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by the Fund may greatly exceed their current resources and it is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. In such a case, the Fund would have to look principally to the agency, instrumentality or sponsored enterprise issuing or guaranteeing the security for ultimate repayment, and the Fund may not be able to assert a claim against the U.S. Government itself in the event the agency, instrumentality or sponsored enterprise does not meet its commitment. Concerns about the capacity of the U.S. Government to meet its obligations may negatively impact the value of U.S. Government securities held by the Fund. The guarantee of the U.S. Government does not extend to the yield or value of the U.S. Government securities held by the Fund or to the Fund’s shares.

 

Management Risk. The portfolio manager’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of equity securities or other securities in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect and there is no guarantee that the portfolio manager’s judgment will produce the desired results. For example, a value stock may not increase in price as anticipated by the Adviser if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value and bid up the price, the markets favor faster-growing companies, or the factors that the investment manager believes will increase the price of the security do not occur or do not have the anticipated effect.

 

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Non-Diversification and Focused Portfolio Risk. The Fund may have more volatility and is considered to have more risk than a fund that invests in securities of a greater number of issuers because changes in the value of a single issuer’s security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s NAV. To the extent that the Fund invests its assets in the securities of fewer issuers, the Fund will be subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decrease in value or becomes impaired. To the extent that the Fund’s investments are focused in a particular issuer, region, country, market, industry, asset class or other category, the Fund may be susceptible to loss due to adverse occurrences affecting that issuer, region, country, market, industry, asset class or other category.

 

Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk. To the extent that the Fund invests in non-investment grade securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds”), the Fund may be subject to greater levels of interest rate and credit risk than funds that do not invest in such securities. Junk bonds are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell these securities (liquidity risk). If the issuer of a security is in default with respect to interest or principal payments, an investor may lose its entire investment, which will affect the Fund’s return.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is subject to the risks of equity securities as well as risks associated with fixed income securities, such as interest rate risk, because a company will generally pay dividends on preferred stock only after the company makes required payments to creditors, the value of a company’s preferred stock may react strongly to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or outlook. Preferred stock may be less liquid than common stock and generally has limited or no voting rights In addition, preferred stock is subject to the risk that a company may defer or not pay dividends, may call or redeem its preferred stock, or convert it to common stock.

 

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REIT Risk. The Fund may invest in REITs. REITs may be subject to certain risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, and variations in rental income. Generally, increases in interest rates will decrease the value of high yielding securities and increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could decrease the value of the REITs held in the Fund’s portfolio. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation and the possibility of failing to qualify for the tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code and to maintain their exemption from registration under the 1940 Act.

 

Sector Risk. The Fund may have significant exposure to a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same sector or group of sectors, though not more than 25% of the value of its net assets will be invested in any one industry or group of industries. Market conditions, interest rates, and economic, regulatory, or financial developments could significantly affect a single sector or a group of sectors, and the securities of companies in that sector or group of sectors could react similarly to these or other developments.

 

Structured Note Risk. Structured notes and other related instruments purchased by the Fund are generally privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a reference measure. Structured notes expose the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the structured product. Structured notes may be leveraged, increasing the volatility of each structured note’s value relative to the change in value of the reference measure. The value or interest rate of a structured note may increase or decrease if the value of the reference measure increases. Similarly, the value of a structured note may increase or decrease if the value of the reference measure decreases. Structured notes may also be less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional fixed income securities.

 

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“Value” Investing Risk. “Value” stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time. “Value” stocks tend to be inexpensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to other types of stocks. However, “value” stocks can continue to be inexpensive for long periods of time and may not ever realize their full value.

 

Temporary Investments

 

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

 

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

 

A description of the Fund’s policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund’s SAI. Complete holdings (as of the dates of such reports) are available in reports on Form N-PORT and Form N-CSR filed with the SEC.

 

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MANAGEMENT

 

The Investment Adviser

 

Kanen Wealth Management, LLC, located at 6810 Lyons Technology Circle, Suite 160, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073, serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. The Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a limited liability corporation formed in Florida. The Adviser also manages a private fund and separately managed accounts. As of March 31, 2025, the Adviser had approximately $320 million in assets under management.

 

Subject to the oversight of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for managing the Fund’s investments, executing transactions and providing related administrative services and facilities under an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser.

 

The management fee set forth in the Fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement is 1.00% annually, to be paid monthly. In addition to investment advisory fees, the Fund pays other expenses including costs incurred in connection with the maintenance of securities law registration, printing and mailing prospectuses and SAIs to shareholders, certain financial accounting services, taxes or governmental fees, custodial, transfer and shareholder servicing agent costs, expenses of outside counsel and independent accountants, preparation of shareholder reports, and expenses of trustee and shareholder meetings.

 

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, the Adviser earned an aggregate fee of 1.00% of the Fund’s daily net assets for investment advisory services performed, of which 0% was waived pursuant to the expense limitation agreement. In addition, the advisor recovered 0.06% of previously waived fees in accordance with the expense limitation agreement.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund, until at least July 31, 2026 to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or reimbursement (exclusive of interest, fees incurred under a plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, dividend expenses on short sales, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) will not exceed 1.50% of the Fund’s daily net assets; subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment does not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed both: (i) the Fund’s expense cap in place at the time such expenses were waived, and (ii) the Fund’s current expense cap at the time of recoupment. Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease the Fund’s expenses and boost its performance. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s reports filed on Form N-CSR for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025.

 

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The Portfolio Manager

 

David L. Kanen, the President of the Adviser, has served the Fund as its portfolio manager since it commenced operations in 2021.

 

Mr. Kanen founded Kanen Wealth Management in 2016 and has 28 years of investment experience. From 1988 to 2012, Mr. Kanen worked for several brokerage firms as an institutional securities broker. From 1992 to 2004, Mr. Kanen worked as a wealth manager/broker with A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., where he managed several retail and institutional accounts, including hedge funds, that focused on value investing. Mr. Kanen is the President and Portfolio Manager of Kanen Wealth Management, LLC and Philotimo Fund, L.P. Located in Coral Springs, Florida, the firm provides portfolio construction and market-responsive investment management strategies. Its investment philosophy focuses on value-based investing. Mr. Kanen graduated from Jacksonville University with a B.A. in Marketing in 1988.

 

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

 

Shareholder Services Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a shareholder services plan pursuant to which the Fund may pay an authorized firm up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of daily net assets attributable to its customers who are shareholders. For this fee, the authorized firms may provide a variety of services, including but not limited to: (i) arranging for bank wires; (ii) responding to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investment in the Funds; (iii) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (iv) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their position in shares; (v) forwarding shareholder communications from the Fund such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend distribution and tax notices to Fund shareholders; (vi) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholder and placing orders with the Fund or its service providers; (vii) providing sub-accounting with respect to shares beneficially owned by shareholders; and (viii) processing dividend payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders.

 

Because the Fund has adopted the shareholder services plan to compensate authorized firms for providing the types of services described above, the Fund believes the shareholder services plan is not covered by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which relates to payment of distribution fees. The Fund, however, follows the procedural requirements of Rule 12b-1 in connection with the implementation and administration of each shareholder services plan.

 

An authorized firm generally represents in a service agreement used in connection with the shareholder services plan that all compensation payable to the authorized firm from its customers in connection with the investment of their assets in the Funds will be disclosed by the authorized firm to its customers. It also generally provides that all such compensation will be authorized by the authorized firm’s customers.

 

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The Fund does not monitor the actual services being performed by an authorized firm under the plan and related service agreement. The Fund also does not monitor the reasonableness of the total compensation that an authorized firm may receive, including any service fee that an authorized firm may receive from the Fund and any compensation the authorized firm may receive directly from its clients.

 

HOW TO BUY SHARES

 

You may purchase shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries, such as fund supermarkets or through brokers or dealers who are authorized by Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”), the Fund’s distributor, to sell shares of the Fund, and through advisers and consultants and other investment professionals (collectively “Financial Intermediaries”). You may download a copy of the prospectus at https://theworldfundstrust.com/funds/Philotimo/Philotimo.php or request a copy of the prospectus by calling toll-free at 800-673-0550. Financial Intermediaries who offer shares of the Fund may require the payment of fees from their individual clients, which may be different from those described in this prospectus. For example, Financial Intermediaries may charge transaction fees or set different minimum investment amounts. They may also have policies and procedures that are different from those contained in this prospectus. Investors should consult their Financial Intermediary regarding its procedures for purchasing and selling shares of the Fund as the policies and procedures may be different.

 

The price you pay for a share of the Fund is the NAV next determined upon receipt of your purchase request by Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”) or an authorized Financial Intermediary. The Fund will be deemed to have received your purchase or redemption order when the authorized Financial Intermediary receives the order. Such Financial Intermediaries are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf.

 

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Certain Financial Intermediaries may have agreements with the Fund that allows them to enter confirmed purchase and redemption orders on behalf of clients and customers. Under these arrangements, the Financial Intermediary must send your payment to the Fund by the time the Fund prices its shares on the following business day.

 

The Fund is not responsible for ensuring that a Financial Intermediary carries out its obligations. You should look to the Financial Intermediary through whom you wish to invest for specific instructions on how to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund.

 

Minimum Investments. The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $2,500 for all account types. The Trust may waive the minimum initial investment requirement for purchases made by trustees, officers and employees of the Trust. The Trust may also waive the minimum investment requirement for purchases by its affiliated entities and certain related advisory accounts and retirement accounts (such as IRAs). The Trust may also change or waive policies concerning minimum investment amounts at any time. The Fund retains the right to refuse to accept an order.

 

Small Account Balances. If the value of your account falls below the minimum account balance of $1,000 the Fund may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still below the minimum balance after 60 days, the Fund may close your account and send you the proceeds. The Fund will not close your account if it falls below this amount solely as a result of Fund performance. Please check with your Financial Intermediary concerning required minimum account balances. You should note that should the Fund close your account and it is a non-retirement account, such redemption of Fund shares would be subject to taxation. Please refer to the section entitled “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes” below.

 

Proper Form. Your order to buy shares is in proper form when your completed and signed account application and payment is received. Your written request to sell shares is in proper form when written instructions signed by all registered owners, with a signature guarantee if necessary, is received by the Fund.

 

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Customer Identification Program. Federal regulations require that the Trust obtain certain personal information about you when opening a new account. As a result, the Trust must obtain the following information for each person that opens a new account:

 

ØName;

ØDate of birth (for individuals);

ØResidential or business street address (although post office boxes are still permitted for mailing); and

ØSocial security number, taxpayer identification number, or other identifying number.

 

You may also be asked for a copy of your driver’s license, passport, or other identifying document in order to verify your identity. In addition, it may be necessary to verify your identity by cross-referencing your identification information with a consumer report or other electronic database. Additional information may be required to open accounts for corporations and other entities.

 

After an account is opened, the Trust may restrict your ability to purchase additional shares until your identity is verified. The Trust also may close your account or take other appropriate action if it is unable to verify your identity within a reasonable time.

 

If your account is closed for this reason, your shares will be redeemed at the NAV next calculated after the account is closed.

 

Purchasing Fund Shares. For initial purchases, please visit https://theworldfundstrust.com/funds/Philotimo/Philotimo.php for detailed information on how to invest in the Fund. You may open certain types of accounts and request a purchase of shares through the Fund’s website once you are registered for online access. For subsequent purchases, please refer to the Fund’s website for detailed information on how to add to your account. If you have setup online access you will be able to make subsequent purchases through your online account.

 

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You may purchase shares of the Fund through an electronic bank transfer of money (automated clearing house or ACH) from a bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service for your account, you must designate the bank account online, complete a special form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account application. After the service is set up on your account, you can purchase shares by electronic bank transfer (ACH) on a regular schedule (Automatic Investment Plan) or upon request.

 

General. The Trust reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to withdraw all or any part of the offering of shares of the Fund when, in the judgment of the Fund’s management, such withdrawal is in the best interest of the Fund. An order to purchase shares is not binding on, and may be rejected by, the Fund until it has been confirmed in writing by the Fund and payment has been received. The price you pay for a share of the Fund is the NAV next determined upon receipt by the Transfer Agent or Financial Intermediary.

 

Other Purchase Information. You may purchase and redeem Fund shares, by contacting any broker authorized by the Distributor to sell shares of the Fund, by contacting the Fund toll-free at 800-673-0550 or by contacting the Transfer Agent at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235 or 800-628-4077. Brokers may charge transaction fees for the purchase or sale of the Fund’s shares, depending on your arrangement with the broker.

 

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HOW TO SELL SHARES

 

You may redeem your shares of the Fund at any time and in any amount by contacting your Financial Intermediary or by contacting the Fund by mail, online or telephone. For your protection, the Transfer Agent will not redeem your shares until it has received all information and documents necessary for your request to be considered in “proper form.” The Transfer Agent will promptly notify you if your redemption request is not in proper form. The Transfer Agent cannot accept redemption requests which specify a particular date for redemption or which specify any special conditions.

 

The Fund’s procedure is to redeem shares at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent or authorized Financial Intermediary receives the redemption request in proper form. Payment of redemption proceeds will be made promptly, as instructed by check, wire or automated clearing house (ACH) but no later than the seventh calendar day following the receipt of the request in proper form. The Fund may suspend the right to redeem shares for any period during which the NYSE is closed or the SEC determines that there is an emergency. In such circumstances, you may withdraw your redemption request or permit your request to be held for processing after the suspension is terminated.

 

The Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests through cash holdings or cash equivalents. The Fund typically expects to pay redemption proceeds for shares redeemed within the following days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in proper form: (i) for payment by check, the Fund typically expects to mail the check within two business days; and (ii) for payment by wire or ACH, the Fund typically expects to process the payment within two business days. Payment of redemption proceeds may take up to 7 days as permitted under the 1940 Act. Under unusual circumstances as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Fund may suspend the right of redemption or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than 7 days. When shares are purchased by check or through ACH, the proceeds from the redemption of those shares will not be paid until the purchase check or ACH transfer has been converted to federal funds, which could take up to 15 calendar days.

 

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To the extent cash holdings or cash equivalents are not available to meet redemption requests, the Fund will meet redemption requests by selling portfolio assets. In addition, if the Fund determines that it would be detrimental to the best interest of the Fund’s remaining shareholders to make payment in cash, the Fund may pay redemption proceeds in whole or in part by a distribution-in-kind of readily marketable securities.

 

If you sell your shares through a securities dealer or investment professional, it is such person’s responsibility to transmit the order to the Fund in a timely fashion. Any loss to you resulting from failure to do so must be settled between you and such person.

 

Delivery of the proceeds of a redemption of shares purchased and paid for by check or by ACH shortly before the receipt of the redemption request may be delayed until the Transfer Agent has completed collection of the purchase check or ACH, which may take up to 15 days. Also, payment of the proceeds of a redemption request for an account for which purchases were made by wire may be delayed until a completed account application for the account is received to verify the identity of the person redeeming the shares and to eliminate the need for backup withholding.

 

Redemption By Electronic Bank Transfer (ACH). You may have your redemption proceeds sent directly to a designated bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate a bank account online, complete a special form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account application. After the service is set up on your account, you can redeem shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Withdrawal Plan) or upon request.

 

Redemption By Mail. To redeem shares by mail, send a written request for redemption, signed by the registered owner(s) exactly as the account is registered, to: the name of the Fund, Attn: Redemptions, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235. Certain written requests to redeem shares may require signature guarantees. For example, signature guarantees may be required if you sell a large number of shares, if your address of record on the account application has been changed within the last 30 days, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Signature guarantees are used to help protect you and the Fund. You can obtain a signature guarantee from most banks or securities dealers, but not from a Notary Public. Please call the Transfer Agent toll-free at 800-628-4077 to learn if a signature guarantee is needed or to make sure that it is completed appropriately in order to avoid any processing delays. There is no charge to shareholders for redemptions by mail.

 

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Redemption By Telephone. You may redeem your shares by telephone if you requested this service on your initial account application. If you request this service at a later date, you must send a written request along with a signature guarantee to the Transfer Agent. Once your telephone authorization is in effect, you may redeem shares by calling the Transfer Agent toll-free at 800-628-4077. There is no charge to shareholders for redemptions by telephone. If it should become difficult to reach the Transfer Agent by telephone during periods when market or economic conditions lead to an unusually large volume of telephone requests, a shareholder may send a redemption request by overnight mail to the Transfer Agent at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235.

 

Redemption By Wire. If you request that your redemption proceeds be wired to you, please call your bank for instructions prior to writing or calling the Transfer Agent. Be sure to include your name, Fund name, Fund account number, your account number at your bank and wire information from your bank in your request to redeem by wire.

 

The Fund will not be responsible for any losses resulting from unauthorized transactions (such as purchases or sales) if they follow reasonable security procedures designed to verify the identity of the investor. You should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately after you receive them. There is no fee for redemptions by wire.

 

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Redemption In Kind. The Fund typically expects to satisfy requests by using holdings of cash or cash equivalents or selling portfolio assets. On a less regular basis, and if the Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders not to sell portfolio assets, the Fund may satisfy redemption requests by using short-term borrowing from the Fund’s custodian to the extent such arrangements are in place with the custodian.

 

In addition to paying redemption proceeds in cash, the Fund reserves the right to make payment for a redemption in securities rather than cash, which is known as a “redemption in kind.” While the Fund does not intend, under normal circumstances, to redeem shares by payment in kind, it is possible that conditions may arise in the future which would, in the opinion of the Trustees, make it undesirable for the Fund to pay for all redemptions in cash. In such a case, the Trustees may authorize payment to be made in readily marketable portfolio securities of the Fund, either through the distribution of selected individual portfolio securities or a pro-rata distribution of all portfolio securities held by the Fund.

 

Securities delivered in payment of redemptions would be valued at the same value assigned to them in computing the Fund’s net asset value per share. Shareholders receiving them may incur brokerage costs when these securities are sold and will be subject to market risk until such securities are sold. An irrevocable election has been filed under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940 Act, wherein the Fund must pay redemptions in cash, rather than in kind, to any shareholder of record of the Fund who redeems during any 90-day period, the lesser of (a) $250,000 or (b) 1% of the Fund’s net assets at the beginning of such period. Redemption requests in excess of this limit may be satisfied in cash or in kind at the Fund’s election. The Fund’s methods of satisfying shareholder redemption requests will normally be used during both regular and stressed market conditions.

 

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DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Capital Gain Distribution. Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually by the Fund. The Fund intends to distribute annually any net capital gain.

 

Dividends and distributions will automatically be reinvested in additional shares of the Fund, unless you elect to have the distributions paid to you in cash. There are no sales charges or transaction fees for reinvested dividends and distributions, and all shares will be purchased at NAV. Shareholders will be subject to tax on distributions (including dividends) whether paid to them in cash or reinvested in shares. If the investment in shares is made within an IRA or 401(k), all dividends and capital gain distributions must be reinvested.

 

Unless you are investing through a tax deferred retirement arrangement, such as an IRA or 401(k), it is not to your advantage to buy shares of the Fund shortly before the next distribution, because doing so can cost you money in taxes. This is known as “buying a dividend”. To avoid buying a dividend, check the Fund’s distribution schedule before you invest.

 

Taxes. In general, Fund distributions are taxable to you as either ordinary income or capital gain. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional shares of the Fund or receive them in cash. Any long-term capital gain the Fund distributes is taxable to you as long-term capital gain no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. Other Fund distributions (including distributions attributable to short-term capital gain of the Fund) will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income. After the close of the taxable year, you will receive a statement that shows the tax status of distributions you received for the previous year. Distributions declared in December but paid in January are taxable as if they were paid in December.

 

When you sell shares of the Fund, you may have a capital gain or loss. The individual tax rate on any gain from the sale of your shares depends, in part, on how long you have held your shares and your income for the year.

 

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Fund distributions and gains from the sale of your shares will generally be subject to applicable U.S. state and local income tax. The one major exception to these tax principles is that distributions on, and sales and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-deferred retirement arrangement) will not be currently taxable. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax. You should consult with your own tax advisor about the U.S. federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of your investment in the Fund.

 

The Fund must withhold 24% of your taxable distributions and proceeds if you fail to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number, you have under-reported dividend or interest income, or you fail to certify to the Fund that you are not subject to such backup withholding.

 

Cost Basis Reporting. The Fund must report its shareholders’ cost basis, gain/loss, and holding period of Fund shares to the IRS on the Fund’s shareholders’ Consolidated Form 1099s. The Fund has chosen average cost as its standing (default) tax lot identification method for all shareholders. A tax lot identification method is the way the Fund will determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing NAVs, and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Fund’s standing tax lot identification method is the method Fund shares will be reported on your Consolidated Form 1099 if you do not select a specific tax lot identification method. You may choose a method different than the Fund’s standing method and will be able to do so at the time of your purchase or upon the sale of Fund shares.

 

The Fund is responsible for maintaining accurate cost basis and tax lot information for tax reporting purposes. The Fund is not responsible for the reliability or accuracy of the information for those securities that are not covered by these rules. The Fund and its service providers do not provide tax advice. You should consult independent sources, which may include a tax professional, with respect to any decisions you may make with respect to choosing a tax lot identification method given your particular situation.

 

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NET ASSET VALUE

 

The Fund’s share price, called the NAV per share, is determined on each business day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading, as of the close of business of the regular session of the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time). NAV per share is computed by adding the total value of the Fund’s investments and other assets attributable to the Fund’s shares, subtracting any liabilities attributable to the applicable class and then dividing by the total number of the applicable classes’ shares outstanding.

 

Fund shares are bought at the public offering price per share next determined after a request has been received in proper form (as defined below). The public offering price of the Fund’s shares is equal to the NAV. Shares of the Fund held by you are sold at the NAV per share next determined after a request has been received in proper form. Any request received in proper form before the Valuation Time, will be processed the same business day. Any request received in Proper Form after the Valuation Time, will be processed the next business day.

 

Proper Form. Your order to buy shares is in Proper Form when your completed and signed account application and payment is received by the Transfer Agent. Your written request to sell shares is in proper form when written instructions signed by all registered owners, with a signature guarantee if necessary, is received. For online accounts, you must follow the instructions provided at the Fund’s website to establish and maintain your online account. Redemptions from an online account are processed by the Fund on the business day they are received assuming the redemption request is received prior to the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time). If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day. Additional information regarding how to purchase and redeem shares through an online account will be available at the Fund’s website or you may call 800-628-4077 for assistance.

 

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Fair Value Pricing. The Fund’s securities are valued at current market prices. Investments in securities traded on a principal exchange (U.S. or foreign) are valued at the last reported sales price on the exchange on which the securities are traded as of the close of business on the last day of the period or, lacking any sales, at the average of the bid and ask price on the valuation date. Securities traded on the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. In cases where securities are traded on more than one exchange, the securities are valued on the exchange designated by or under the authority of the Fund’s Board. Short-term debt securities (less than 60 days to maturity) are valued at their current market prices. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last available sale price in the over-the-counter market prior to time of valuation. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued on a consistent basis at fair value as determined in good faith by the Valuation Designee (as defined below). Depositary Receipts will be valued at the closing price of the instrument last determined prior to time of valuation unless the Fund is aware of a material change in value. Securities for which such a value cannot be readily determined will be valued at the closing price of the underlying security adjusted for the exchange rate. Portfolio securities which are primarily traded on foreign exchanges are generally valued at the closing price on the exchange on which they are traded, and those values are then translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. Other assets for which market prices are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Adviser, under procedures set by the Board. The Board has appointed the Adviser as its designee (the “Valuation Designee”) to be responsible for all fair value determinations for the Fund. Generally, trading in corporate bonds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments is substantially completed each day at various times before the scheduled close of the NYSE. The value of these securities used in computing the NAV is determined as of such times so long as the Valuation Designee believes that these values reflect fair value at the time the Fund’s NAV is determined.

 

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The Trust has a policy that contemplates the use of fair value pricing to determine the NAV per share of the Fund when market prices are unavailable as well as under special circumstances, such as: (i) if the primary market for a portfolio security suspends or limits trading or price movements of the security; and (ii) when an event occurs after the close of the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded that is likely to have changed the value of the security.

 

When the Trust uses fair value pricing to determine the NAV per share of the Fund, securities will not be priced on the basis of quotations from the primary market in which they are traded, but rather may be priced by another method that the Valuation Designee believes accurately reflects fair value. Any method used will be approved by the Board and results will be monitored to evaluate accuracy. The Trust’s policy is intended to result in a calculation of the Fund’s NAV that fairly reflects security values as of the time of pricing. However, fair values determined pursuant to the Trust’s procedures may not accurately reflect the price that the Fund could obtain for a security if they were to dispose of that security as of the time of pricing.

 

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FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

 

Frequent purchases and redemptions (“Frequent Trading”) of shares of the Fund may present a number of risks to other shareholders of the Fund. These risks may include, among other things, dilution in the value of shares of the Fund held by long-term shareholders, interference with the efficient management by the Adviser of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, and increased brokerage and administration costs. Due to the potential of an overall adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions affecting the sale price of portfolio securities, the Fund could face untimely losses as a result of having to sell portfolio securities prematurely to meet redemptions. Current shareholders of the Fund may face unfavorable impacts as portfolio securities concentrated in certain sectors may be more volatile than investments across broader ranges of industries as sector-specific market or economic developments may make it more difficult to sell a significant amount of shares at favorable prices to meet redemptions. Frequent Trading may also increase portfolio turnover, which may result in increased capital gains taxes for shareholders of the Fund. These capital gains could include short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income tax rates.

 

The Trustees have adopted a policy that is intended to identify and discourage Frequent Trading by shareholders of the Fund under which the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and Transfer Agent will monitor Frequent Trading using various surveillance techniques. Under these policies and procedures, shareholders may not engage in more than four “round-trips” (a purchase and sale or an exchange in and then out of the Fund) within a rolling twelve-month period. Shareholders exceeding four round-trips will be investigated by the Fund and if, because of this monitoring, the Fund believes that a shareholder has engaged in frequent trading, it may, in its discretion, ask the shareholder to stop such activities or refuse to process purchases in the shareholder’s accounts. The intent of the policies and procedures is not to inhibit legitimate strategies, such as asset allocation, dollar cost averaging or similar activities that may nonetheless result in Frequent Trading of Fund shares. To minimize harm to the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase of Fund shares with or without prior notice to the account holder. In the event the foregoing purchase and redemption patterns occur, it shall be the policy of the Trust that the shareholder’s account and any other account with the Fund under the same taxpayer identification number shall be precluded from investing in the Fund for such time period as the Trust deems appropriate based on the facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, the dollar amount involved and whether the Investor has been precluded from investing in the Fund before); provided that such time period shall be at least 30 calendar days after the last redemption transaction. The above policies shall not apply if the Trust determines that a purchase and redemption pattern is not a Frequent Trading pattern or is the result of inadvertent trading errors.

 

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These policies and procedures will be applied uniformly to all shareholders and, subject to certain permissible exceptions as described above, the Fund will not accommodate abusive Frequent Trading. The policies also apply to any account, whether an individual account or accounts with financial intermediaries such as investment advisers, broker dealers or retirement plan administrators, commonly called omnibus accounts, where the intermediary holds Fund shares for a number of its customers in one account. Omnibus account arrangements permit multiple investors to aggregate their respective share ownership positions and purchase, redeem and exchange Fund shares without the identity of the particular shareholder(s) being known to the Fund. Accordingly, the ability of the Fund to monitor and detect Frequent Trading activity through omnibus accounts may be more limited and there is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify shareholders who may be engaging in Frequent Trading through omnibus accounts or to curtail such trading. However, the Fund will establish information sharing agreements with intermediaries as required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act that require sharing of information about you and your account, and otherwise use reasonable efforts to work with intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in underlying accounts.

 

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If the Fund identifies that excessive short-term trading is taking place in a participant-directed employee benefit plan accounts, the Fund or its Adviser or Transfer Agent will contact the plan administrator, sponsor or trustee to request that action be taken to restrict such activity. However, the ability to do so may be constrained by regulatory restrictions or plan policies. In such circumstances, it is generally not the policy of the Fund to close the account of an entire plan due to the activity of a limited number of participants. However, the Fund will take such actions as deemed appropriate in light of all the facts and circumstances.

 

The Fund’s policies provide for ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of current policies and surveillance tools, and the Trustees reserves the right to modify these or adopt additional policies and restrictions in the future. Shareholders should be aware, however, that any surveillance techniques currently employed by the Fund or other techniques that may be adopted in the future, may not be effective, particularly where the trading takes place through certain types of omnibus accounts. As noted above, if the Fund is unable to detect and deter trading abuses, the Fund’s performance, and its long-term shareholders, may be harmed. In addition, shareholders may be harmed by the extra costs and portfolio management inefficiencies that result from Frequent Trading, even when the trading is not for abusive purposes.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Signature Guarantees. To help protect you and the Fund from fraud, signature guarantees are required for: (1) all redemptions ordered by mail if you require that the check be made payable to another person or that the check be mailed to an address other than the one indicated on the account registration; (2) all requests to transfer the registration of shares to another owner; and (3) all authorizations to establish or change telephone redemption service, other than through your initial account application. Signature guarantees may be required for certain other reasons. For example, a signature guarantee may be required if you sell a large number of shares or if your address of record on the account has been changed within the last thirty (30) days.

 

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In the case of redemption by mail, signature guarantees must appear on either: (1) the written request for redemption; or (2) a separate instrument of assignment (usually referred to as a “stock power”) specifying the total number of shares being redeemed. The Trust may waive these requirements in certain instances.

 

An original signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine so that you are protected from unauthorized account transactions. Notarization is not an acceptable substitute. Acceptable guarantors only include participants in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP2000). Participants in STAMP2000 may include financial institutions such as banks, savings and loan associations, trust companies, credit unions, broker-dealers and member firms of a national securities exchange.

 

Automatic Investment Plan. Existing shareholders, who wish to make regular monthly investments in amounts of $100 or more, may do so through the Automatic Investment Plan. Under the Automatic Investment Plan, your designated bank or other financial institution debits a pre-authorized amount from your account on or about the 15th day of each month and applies the amount to the purchase of Fund shares. To use this service, you must authorize the transfer of funds by completing the Automatic Investment Plan section of the account application and sending a blank voided check.

 

How to Transfer Shares. If you wish to transfer shares to another owner, send a written request to the Transfer Agent at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235. Your request should include: (i) the name of the Fund and existing account registration; (ii) signature(s) of the registered owner(s); (iii) the new account registration, address, taxpayer identification number and how dividends and capital gains are to be distributed; (iv) any stock certificates which have been issued for the shares being transferred; (v) signature guarantees (See “Signature Guarantees”); and (vi) any additional documents which are required for transfer by corporations, administrators, executors, trustees, guardians, etc. If you have any questions about transferring shares, call the Transfer Agent toll-free at 800-628-4077.

 

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Account Statements and Shareholder Reports. Each time you purchase, redeem or transfer shares of the Fund, you will receive a written confirmation. You will also receive a year-end statement of your account if any dividends or capital gains have been distributed, and an annual and a semi-annual report.

 

Shareholder Communications. The Fund may eliminate duplicate mailings of portfolio materials to shareholders who reside at the same address, unless instructed to the contrary. Investors may request that the Fund send these documents to each shareholder individually by calling the Fund, toll-free, at 800-673-0550.

 

General. The Fund will not be responsible for any losses from unauthorized transactions (such as purchases or sales) if they follow reasonable security procedures designed to verify the identity of the investor. You should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately after you receive them.

 

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

 

Distributor. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis.

 

Rule 12b-1 Fees

 

The Board has adopted a Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan for the Fund’s Shares (the “12b-1 Plan”). Pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan, the Fund imposes a fee of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s daily net assets to compensate financial intermediaries for certain marketing, distribution and shareholder servicing for the Fund. The 12b-1 Plan may finance certain activities or expenses that are intended primarily to result in the sale of shares of Fund Shares and for certain shareholder services. The Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution to discontinue accrual of fees under the Rule 12b-1 Plan at this time, although the Board may authorize fee payments by the Fund pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan in the future. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost more than paying other types of sales charges.

 

44

 

Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries. The Adviser and its affiliates may, at their own expense and out of their own assets including legitimate profits, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. Financial intermediaries include brokers, financial planners, banks, insurance companies, retirement or 401(k) plan administrators, and others. These payments are generally made to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder or administrative services, or marketing support. Marketing support may include access to sales meetings, sales representatives and financial intermediary management representatives, inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or other sales programs. These payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders.

 

Householding. To reduce expenses, the Fund mails only one copy of the prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the Fund at 800-673-0550 on days the Fund is open for business or contact your financial institution. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.

 

45

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance since the inception of the Fund. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share of the Fund. The total return in the table represents the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The financial highlights for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025 have been audited by Cohen & Company, Ltd., the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, whose unqualified report thereon, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Fund’s Form N-CSR and are incorporated by reference into the SAI. For the fiscal period August 20, 2021 (commencement of operations) through March 31, 2022, the financial highlights were audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm. Additional performance information for the Fund is included in the annual and semi-annual reports. The Fund’s Form N-CSR and the SAI are available at no cost from the Fund at the address and telephone number noted on the back page of this prospectus. The following information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto.

 

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PHILOTIMO FOCUSED GROWTH AND INCOME FUND

Financial Highlights

 

Selected Per Share Data Throughout Each Period     August 20, 2021(2) through March 31,
2022
    Years Ended March 31,    
    2025     2024     2023    
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 8.95     $ 8.76     $ 10.02     $ 10.00  
Investment activities                                
Net investment income (loss)(1)     0.13       0.20       0.08       0.08  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency transactions
    0.67       0.07       (0.83 )     0.08  
Total from investment activities     0.80       0.27       (0.75 )     0.16  
Distributions                                
Net investment income     (0.18 )     (0.08 )     (3)      (0.07 )
Net realized gain                 (0.21 )     (0.07 )
Return of capital                 (0.30 )      
Total distributions     (0.18 )     (0.08 )     (0.51 )     (0.14 )
Net asset value, end of period   $ 9.57     $ 8.95     $ 8.76     $ 10.02 (4) 
Total Return(5)     8.71 %     3.05 %     (7.36 %)     1.57 %
Ratios/Supplemental Data                                
Ratios to average net assets(6)                                
Expenses, gross     1.45 %(7)     1.64 %(8)     1.60 %(8)     1.70 %
Expenses, net of waiver or recovery     1.51 %(7)     1.59 %(8)     1.59 %(8)     1.50 %
Net investment income     1.37 %(7)     2.31 %     0.97 %     1.36 %
Portfolio turnover rate(5)     105.51 %     76.00 %     128.74 %     117.87 %
Net assets, end of period (000’s)   $ 95,679     $ 91,368     $ 77,920     $ 58,611  
(1) Per share amounts calculated using the average number of shares outstanding throughout the period.

(2) Commencement of operations.

(3) Less than $0.005 per share.

(4) Adjusted to conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

(5) Total return and portfolio turnover rate are for the year indicated and have not been annualized for periods less than one year.

(6) Ratios to average net assets have been annualized for periods less than one year.

(7) Recovery of previously waived fees increased the expense ratio and decreased the net investment income ratio by 0.06% for the year ended March 31, 2025.

(8) Gross and net expenses reflect the effect of proxy expense which is excluded from the Fund’s expense limitation agreement. Gross and net expenses excluding proxy expense would have been: 1.60% and 1.55%, respectively, for the year ended March 31, 2024; and 1.53% and 1.52%, respectively, for the year ended March 31, 2023.

 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

You will find more information about the Fund in the following documents:

 

Statement of Additional Information: The Fund’s SAI dated August 1, 2025, which is on file with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, contains additional information about the Fund.

 

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports: Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR. The Fund’s annual report you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. In Form N-CSR, you will find the Fund’s annual and semi-annual financial statements.

 

You can obtain a free copy of the SAI, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, and other information such as Fund financial statements by writing to Fund, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235, by calling toll free 800-673-0550, by e-mail at mail@ccofva.com. The Fund’s prospectus, SAI, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, and other information such as Fund financial statements are available for viewing/downloading at https://theworldfundstrust.com/funds/Philotimo/Philotimo.php.

 

General inquiries regarding the Fund may also be directed to the above address or telephone number.

 

Copies of these documents and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the Commission’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of these documents may also be obtained, after paying a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

Investment Company Act #811-22172

 

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Privacy Notice

 

The following is a description of the Fund’s policies regarding disclosure of nonpublic personal information that you provide to the Fund or that the Fund collects from other sources. In the event that you hold shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the privacy policy of your financial intermediary would govern how your nonpublic personal information would be shared with unaffiliated third parties.

 

Categories of Information the Fund Collects. The Fund collects the following nonpublic personal information about you:

 

• Information the Fund receives from you on or in applications or other forms, correspondence, or conversations (such as your name, address, phone number, social security number, assets, income and date of birth); and

 

• Information about your transactions with the Fund, its affiliates, or others (such as your account number and balance, payment history, parties to transactions, cost basis information, and other financial information).

 

Categories of Information the Fund Discloses. The Fund does not disclose any non-public personal information about their current or former shareholders to unaffiliated third parties, except as required or permitted by law. The Fund is permitted by law to disclose all of the information it collects, as described above, to their service providers (such as the Fund’s custodian, administrator and transfer agent) to process your transactions and otherwise provide services to you.

 

Confidentiality and Security. The Fund restricts access to your nonpublic personal information to those persons who require such information to provide products or services to you. The Fund maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your nonpublic personal information.

 

The Fund’s Privacy Notice is not part of this prospectus.

 

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Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund

 

Ticker: PHLOX

 

a Series of World Funds Trust

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

August 1, 2025

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI’) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund (the “Fund”) dated August 1, 2025. The Fund’s Prospectus is hereby incorporated by reference, which means it is legally part of this document. A free copy of the Fund’s Prospectus, SAI, semi-annual report and annual report can be obtained by writing to the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund, c/o Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235, or by calling toll-free at 800-673-0550.

 

The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, prospectus and SAI are all available for viewing/downloading at https://theworldfundstrust.com/funds/Philotimo/Philotimo.php. General inquiries regarding the Fund may also be directed to the above address or telephone number.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
THE TRUST 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUt INVESTMENT objectives and policies 1
investment limitations 12
investment adviser 13
portfolio manager 15
trustees and officers of the trust 16
control persons and principal securities holders 20
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE 20
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES 22
CODE OF ETHICS 23
TAXES 23
PRICING AND PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES 34
distribution 35
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND 38
ADDITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS 39
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 40
disclosure of portfolio securities holdings 42
proxy voting POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 44
financial STATEMENTS 45
EXHIBIT A (PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES OF TRUST) 46
EXHIBIT B (PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES OF ADVISER) 48
EXHIBIT C (NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER) 50

 

 

 

 

THE TRUST

 

General. The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 9, 2007. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and commonly known as a “mutual fund”. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund, and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets of such fund belong solely to that fund and would be subject to liabilities related thereto. Each fund of the Trust pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing, insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses; and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an investment adviser to a fund may be obligated through an investment advisory, expense limitation, or fee waiver agreement to assume, waive, reimburse, or otherwise assume responsibility for certain of the fund’s operating expenses – any such arrangements for a fund are described in that fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information.

 

Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate Statements of Additional Information.

 

The Fund. This SAI relates to the prospectus for the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund (the “Fund”), and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus. This SAI is incorporated by reference into the Fund’s prospectus. No investment in shares should be made without reading the prospectus. The Fund is a separate investment portfolio or series of the Trust.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

 

The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the prospectus. The Fund is a “non-diversified” series as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. The following information contains a discussion of some of the investments the Fund may make and some of the techniques it may use and the risks associated with such investments.

 

Portfolio Turnover. Average annual portfolio turnover rate is the ratio of the lesser of sales or purchases to the monthly average value of the portfolio securities owned during the year, excluding from both the numerator and the denominator all securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. A higher portfolio turnover rate involves greater transaction expenses to the Fund and may result in the realization of net capital gains, which would be taxable to shareholders when distributed. The Fund’s Adviser makes purchases and sales for the Fund’s portfolio whenever necessary, in the Adviser’s opinion, to meet the Fund’s objective. For the Fund’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 128.74% of the average value of its portfolio. For the Fund’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 76.00% of the average value of its portfolio. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 105.51% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

 

 

 

Equity Securities. The Fund may invest in equity securities such as common stock, preferred stock, convertible securities, rights and warrants. Common stocks, the most familiar type, represent an equity (ownership) interest in a corporation. Preferred stock is a class of capital stock that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. Most preferred stock is cumulative; if dividends are passed (not paid for any reason), they accumulate and must be paid before common dividends. A passed dividend on non-cumulative preferred stock is generally gone forever. Participating preferred stock entitles its holders to share in profits above and beyond the declared dividend, along with common shareholders, as distinguished from non-participating preferred, which is limited to the stipulated dividend. Adjustable rate preferred stock pays a dividend that is adjustable, usually quarterly, based on changes in the Treasury bill rate or other money market rates. Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at a specified price for a specific time period. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed by the issuer to its shareholders. Although equity securities have a history of long-term growth in value, their prices fluctuate based on changes in a company’s financial condition and on overall market and economic conditions.

 

Securities of Other Investment Companies. Investments in registered investment companies including mutual funds and ETFs involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in such funds. The Fund may invest in open-end mutual funds and ETFs, within the limitations imposed by the 1940 Act. Each investment company is subject to specific risks, depending on the nature of the fund. ETFs and mutual funds may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying stock or other index upon which they are based.

 

With respect to other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act requires that, as determined immediately after a purchase is made, (i) not more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment company, (ii) not more than 10% of the value of the Fund’s total assets will be invested in securities of investment companies as a group, and (iii) not more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company will be owned by the Fund. The Fund will limit its investments in funds in accordance with the Section 12(d)(1)(A) limitations set forth above, except to the extent that any rules, or regulations under the 1940 Act permits the Fund’s investments to exceed such limits. For example, Rule 12d1-4 permits the Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions. Among other conditions, the Rule prohibits a fund from acquiring control of another investment company (other than an investment company in the same group of investment companies), including by acquiring more than 25% of its voting securities. In addition, the Rule imposes certain voting requirements when a fund’s ownership of another investment company exceeds particular thresholds. If shares of a fund are acquired by another investment company, the “acquired” fund may not purchase or otherwise acquire the securities of an investment company or private fund if immediately after such purchase or acquisition, the securities of investment companies and private funds owned by that acquired fund have an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the fund, subject to certain exceptions. These restrictions may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies to the extent desired. In addition, other unaffiliated investment companies may impose other investment limitations or redemption restrictions which may also limit the Fund’s flexibility with respect to making investments in those unaffiliated investment companies.

 

In accordance with Section 12(d)(1)(F) and Rule 12d1-3 of the 1940 Act, the provisions of Section 12(d)(1) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Fund if (i) immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding stock of such registered investment company is owned by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund; and (ii) the Fund is not proposing to offer or sell any security issued by it through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price including a sales load that exceeds the limits set forth in Rule 2830 of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) applicable to a fund of funds (i.e., 8.5%).

 

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

 

ETFs typically have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap “creation units” in block-multiples of, for example, 50,000 shares for in-kind securities and cash in the form of dividends. The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded after hours once the NAV is calculated. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Derivatives. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governs the Fund’s use of derivative instruments and certain other transactions that create future payment and/or delivery obligations by the Fund. Rule 18f-4 permits the Fund to enter into Derivatives Transactions (as defined below) and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Fund, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”). In connection with the adoption of Rule 18f-4, the SEC eliminated the asset segregation framework arising from prior SEC guidance for covering Derivatives Transactions and certain financial instruments.

 

Under Rule 18f-4, “Derivatives Transactions” include the following: (i) any swap, security-based swap (including a contract for differences), futures contract, forward contract, option (excluding purchased options), any combination of the foregoing, or any similar instrument, under which the Fund is or may be required to make any payment or delivery of cash or other assets during the life of the instrument or at maturity or early termination, whether as margin or settlement payment or otherwise; (ii) any short sale borrowing; (iii) reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, if the Fund elects to treat these transactions as Derivatives Transactions under Rule 18f-4; and (iv) when-issued or forward-settling securities (e.g., firm and standby commitments, including to-be-announced (“TBA”) commitments, and dollar rolls) and non-standard settlement cycle securities, unless the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date.

 

Unless the Fund is relying on the Limited Derivatives User Exception (as defined below), the Fund must comply with Rule 18f-4 with respect to its Derivatives Transactions. Rule 18f-4, among other things, requires the Fund to (i) appoint a Derivatives Risk Manager, (ii) maintain a Derivatives Risk Management Program designed to identify, assess, and reasonably manage the risks associated with Derivatives Transactions; (iii) comply with certain value-at-risk (VaR)-based leverage limits (VaR is an estimate of an instrument’s or portfolio’s potential losses over a given time horizon and at a specified confidence level); and (iv) comply with certain Board reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

 

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Rule 18f-4 provides an exception from the requirements to appoint a Derivatives Risk Manager, adopt a Derivatives Risk Management Program, comply with certain VaR-based leverage limits, and comply with certain Board oversight and reporting requirements if the Fund’s “derivatives exposure” (as defined in Rule 18f-4) is limited to 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with Rule 18f-4) and the Fund adopts and implements written policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage its derivatives risks (the “Limited Derivatives User Exception”).

 

Pursuant to Rule 18f-4, if the Fund enters into reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions, the Fund will (i) aggregate the amount of indebtedness associated with all of its reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the amount of any other “senior securities” representing indebtedness (e.g., bank borrowings, if applicable) when calculating the Fund’s asset coverage ratio or (ii) treat all such transactions as Derivatives Transactions.

 

The requirements of Rule 18f-4 may limit the Fund’s ability to engage in Derivatives Transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and/or the performance of the Fund.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

A short sale is “against the box” to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

When-Issued, Forward Commitments and Delayed Settlements. The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. The Fund does not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives.

 

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

 

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

 

U.S. Government Securities. U.S. government securities are high-quality debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government. Not all U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of, or guaranteed by, the United States Treasury. For example, securities issued by the Farm Credit Banks or by the Federal National Mortgage Association are supported by the instrumentality’s right to borrow money from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances. Moreover, securities issued by other agencies or instrumentalities are supported only by the credit of the entity that issued them.

 

Structured Products. The Fund may invest in structured products, including instruments such as credit-linked securities, commodity-linked notes and structured notes, which are potentially high-risk derivatives. For example, a structured product may combine a traditional stock, bond, or commodity with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a structured product is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a benchmark). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a structured product may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark.

 

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

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts. The Fund may invest in securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs are publicly traded corporations or trusts that specialize in acquiring, holding and managing residential, commercial or industrial real estate. A REIT is not taxed at the entity level on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders if it distributes to shareholders or unitholders at least 90% of its taxable income for each taxable year and complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Restricted, Private Company and Illiquid Investments. Restricted securities are securities where the resale of which is subject to legal or contractual restrictions. Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions, in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933 or pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under such Act. Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expense, and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time such security may be sold under an effective registration statement. If during such a period adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than the price it could have obtained when it decided to sell. In accordance with Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Fund may hold up to 15% of its net assets in “illiquid investments”. For this purpose, the term “illiquid investments” are investments that the Fund cannot reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changes the market value of the investment. The Fund may, however, hold an illiquid investment if it becomes illiquid after purchase, subject to the 15% limitation. The Fund monitors the portion of the Fund’s total assets that are invested in illiquid securities on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that the value of illiquid securities held by the Fund does not exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

The Fund must classify each portfolio investment at least monthly into one of four liquidity categories (highly liquid, moderately liquid, less liquid and illiquid), which are defined pursuant to the Liquidity Rule. Such classification is to be made using information obtained after reasonable inquiry and taking into account relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations. Moreover, in making such classification determinations, the Fund determines whether trading varying portions of a position in a particular portfolio investment or asset class, in sizes that the Fund would reasonably anticipate trading, is reasonably expected to significantly affect its liquidity, and if so, the Fund takes this determination into account when classifying the liquidity of that investment. The Fund may be assisted in classification determinations by one or more third-party service providers. Investments classified according to this process as “illiquid investments” are those subject to the 15% limit on illiquid investments.

 

10

 

 

The Fund has a liquidity risk management program designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk. The program has been approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (“Board”), which has also approved the appointment of a liquidity program administrator (the “LPA”). The LPA is responsible for oversight of the Fund’s liquidity risk management efforts, including classifying the liquidity of the Fund’s investment, ensuring the Fund holds no more than 15% of net asset value in illiquid investments, ensuring that the Fund holds enough liquid assets to meet reasonably foreseeable redemption requests, and reporting to the Board regarding the effectiveness and operation of the liquidity risk management program.

 

Loans. The Fund may invest directly or indirectly (by investing in other investment companies that so invest) in loans, including senior secured loans, unsecured and/or subordinated loans, loan participations and unfunded contracts. These loans are typically made by or issued to corporations primarily to finance acquisitions, refinance existing debt, support organic growth, or pay out dividends, and are typically originated by large banks and are then syndicated out to institutional investors as well as to other banks. A senior secured loan holds a senior position in the issuer’s capital structure and is typically secured by collateral such that, under normal circumstances, holders (such as the Fund) enjoy a priority claim to some or all of the issuer’s assets in the event of default as compared to other creditors of the issuer. Variable and floating-rate loans generally pay interest at rates that adjust whenever a specified interest rate changes and/or reset on predetermined dates (such as the last day of a month or calendar quarter). Due to their lower place in the borrower’s capital structure, unsecured and/or subordinated loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than senior bank loans of the same borrower. Loan participations are loans that are shared by a group of lenders. Unfunded commitments are contractual obligations by lenders (such as a fund) to loan an amount in the future or that is due to be contractually funded in the future. Loans may have restrictive covenants limiting the ability of a borrower to further encumber its assets. The types of covenants included in loan agreements generally vary depending on market conditions, the creditworthiness of the borrower, the nature of the collateral securing the loan and other factors. Such restrictive covenants normally allow for early intervention and proactive mitigation of credit risk by providing lenders with the ability to (1) intervene and either prevent or restrict actions that may potentially compromise the borrower’s ability to repay the loan and/or (2) obtain concessions from the borrower in exchange for waiving or amending a particular covenant. Loans with fewer or weaker restrictive covenants may limit the Fund’s ability to intervene or obtain additional concessions from borrowers. Investing in loans, including bank loans, may expose the Fund to heightened credit risk, call risk and liquidity risk. If an issuer of a senior loan prepays or redeems the loan prior to maturity, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in instruments that pay lower interest rates.

 

Borrowing. At this time, the Fund does not expect to engage in borrowing. The Fund may engage in borrowing in the future and, to the extent it does so, the Fund will be permitted to borrow money up to one-third of the value of its total assets. Borrowing is a speculative technique that increases both investment opportunity and the Fund’s ability to achieve greater diversification. However, it also increases investment risk. Because the Fund’s investments will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowed funds may be fixed, during times of borrowing, the Fund’s NAV may tend to increase more when its investments increase in value, and decrease more when its investments decrease in value. In addition, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market interest rates and may partially offset or exceed the return earned on the borrowed funds. Also, during times of borrowing under adverse market conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.

 

Currently, subject to modification to conform to the 1940 Act as interpreted or modified from time to time, the Fund is permitted, consistent with the 1940 Act, to borrow, and pledge its shares to secure such borrowing, provided, that immediately thereafter there is asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings by the Fund from a bank. If borrowings exceed this 300% asset coverage requirement by reason of a decline in net assets of the Fund, the Fund will reduce its borrowings within three days (not including weekends and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 300% asset coverage requirement. The 1940 Act also permits the Fund to borrow for temporary purposes only in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets at the time when the loan is made. A loan shall be presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within 60 days and is not extended or renewed. To the extent outstanding borrowings of the Fund exceed 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund, the Fund will not make additional purchases of securities – the foregoing shall not be construed to prevent the Fund from settling portfolio transactions or satisfying shareholder redemptions orders.

 

11

 

 

Financial Services Industry Obligations. The Fund may invest in each of the following obligations of the financial services industry:

 

(1)Certificate of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates evidencing the indebtedness of a commercial bank or a savings and loan association to repay funds deposited with it for a definite period of time (usually from fourteen days to one year) at a stated or variable interest rate.

 

(2)Time Deposits. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution or a savings and loan association for a specified period of time at a stated interest rate.

 

(3)Bankers’ Acceptances. Bankers’ acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft which has been drawn on it by a customer, which instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument upon maturity.

 

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements fully collateralized by obligations issued by the U.S. government or agencies of the U.S. government (“U.S. Government Obligations”). A repurchase agreement is a short term investment in which the purchaser (i.e., the Fund) acquires ownership of a U.S. Government Obligation (which may be of any maturity) and the seller agrees to repurchase the obligation at a future time at a set price, thereby determining the yield during the purchaser’s holding period (usually not more than 7 days from the date of purchase). Any repurchase transaction in which the Fund engages will require full collateralization of the seller’s obligation during the entire term of the repurchase agreement. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of the seller, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses in value. However, the Fund intends to enter into repurchase agreements only with the custodian, other banks with assets of $1 billion or more and registered securities dealers determined by the Adviser to be creditworthy. The Adviser monitors the creditworthiness of the banks and securities dealers with which the Fund engages in repurchase transactions. The Fund may engage in repurchase agreement transactions to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Cash Investments. The Fund may invest its net assets in cash. When the Adviser believes market, economic or political conditions are unfavorable for investors, the Adviser may invest up to 100% of the Fund’s net assets in cash, cash equivalents or other short-term investments. Unfavorable market or economic conditions may include excessive volatility or a prolonged general decline in the securities markets, or the U.S. economy. The Adviser also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

Fundamental. The investment limitations described below have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are fundamental (“Fundamental”), i.e., they may not be changed without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As used in the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, the term “majority” of the outstanding shares of the Fund means the lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented at such meeting; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Other investment practices which may be changed by the Board of Trustees without the approval of shareholders to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation or regulatory policy are considered non-fundamental (“Non-Fundamental”).

 

12

 

 

1.Borrowing Money. The Fund may not borrow money except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

2.Senior Securities. The Fund may not issue any senior security to others, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

3.Underwriting. The Fund may not underwrite securities issued by others except to the extent the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities.

 

4.Real Estate. The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

5.Commodities. The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities or commodity futures contracts, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

6.Loans. The Fund may not make loans to others, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

7.Concentration. The Fund may not invest more than 25% of the value of its net assets in any one industry or group of industries (except that securities of the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities are not subject to these limitations).

 

With respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations on its investment policies and limitations, an excess above the fixed percentage will not be a violation of the policy or limitation unless the excess results immediately and directly from the acquisition of any security or the action taken. This paragraph does not apply to the borrowing policy set forth in paragraph 1 above. With respect to Fund’s policy on concentration, the Fund will use the Standard Industrial Classification Codes list that is maintained by the SEC to classify the Fund’s holdings by industry.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

Kanen Wealth Management, LLC, located at 6810 Lyons Technology Circle, Suite 160, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073, serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. The Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a limited liability company formed in Florida for the purpose of managing the Fund. David L. Kanen owns and controls the Adviser.

 

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Trustees, provides a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to securities, investments and cash equivalents, in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as set forth in the prospectus and this SAI. The Adviser is responsible for effecting all security transactions on behalf of the Fund, including the allocation of principal business and portfolio brokerage and the negotiation of commissions. The Adviser also maintains books and records with respect to the securities transactions of the Fund and furnishes to the trustees such periodic or other reports as the trustees may request.

 

13

 

 

The Fund pays an annual management fee (computed daily and payable monthly) of 1.00% of the Fund’s daily net assets to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses (exclusive of interest, fees incurred under a plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, dividend expenses on short sales, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) do not exceed 1.50% of the daily net assets of the Fund. The Adviser may not terminate this expense limitation agreement prior to July 31, 2026. Each waiver or reimbursement of an expense by the Adviser is subject to repayment by the Fund within the three years following the date such waiver and/or reimbursement was made, provided that the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the expense limitation in place at the time of the waiver or reimbursement and at the time the waiver or reimbursement is recouped. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Advisory Agreement is available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the year ended March 31, 2025.

 

The Advisory Agreement will continue in effect for two (2) years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year provided such continuance is approved at least annually by (a) a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and by (b) the majority vote of either all of the Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty on 60 days written notice by a vote of a majority of the Trustees or by the Adviser, or by holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares (with respect to the Fund). The Advisory Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 the Fund paid the following fees to the Advisor:

 

  2025 2024 2023
Fees Accrued $956,496 $798,783 $637,768
Fees Waived $0 $40,334 $5,780
Recovery of Previously Waived Fees $55,890 N/A N/A
Net Advisory Fee Paid $1,012,386 $758,449 $631,988

 

The total amounts of recoverable waivers and reimbursements as of March 31, 2025 are as follows:

 

Recoverable Waivers and Reimbursements and Expiration Date

 

2027 Total
$38,929 $38,929

 

14

 

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

 

David L. Kanen serves as the portfolio manager of the Fund. As of the date of this SAI, the portfolio manager is responsible for the portfolio management of the following types of accounts in addition to the Fund:

 

David L. Kanen

 

Total Other Accounts

By Type

Total Number of Accounts by Type Total Assets By Account Type (in millions) Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee Total Assets by Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee (in millions)
Registered Investment Companies 0 $0 0 $0
Other Pooled Investment Companies 0 $0 3 $145
Other Accounts 452 $178 0 $0

 

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

 

Compensation. Mr. David L. Kanen has an ownership interest in the Adviser and will participate in business profits accordingly.

 

Ownership of Securities. The table below shows the amount of the Fund’s equity securities beneficially owned by the Fund’s portfolio manager as of December 31, 2024 and stated as one of the following ranges: 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; and G = over $1,000,000.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager Dollar Range of Equity Securities
David L. Kanen G

 

15

 

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Trustees and Officers. The Trust is governed by the Board, which is responsible for protecting the interests of shareholders. The trustees are experienced businesspersons who meet throughout the year to oversee the Trust’s activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Fund and review performance. The names, addresses, and ages of the trustees and officers of the Trust, together with information as to their principal occupations during the past five years, are listed below.

 

Each Trustee was nominated to serve on the Board of Trustees based on their particular experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills. Generally, the Trust believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience; (ii) qualifications; (iii) attributes; and (iv) skills.

 

Ms. Mary Lou H. Ivey has business experience as a practicing tax accountant from 1996 to 2021 and, as such, brings tax, budgeting and financial reporting skills to the Board. Currently, Ms. Ivey serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the Episcopal Church Building Fund since 2022 utilizing her financial knowledge and skills.

 

Ms. Laura V. Morrison has over 30 years of experience in leadership roles at global stock exchanges and asset managers. She has extensive knowledge of ETFs as well as mutual funds, having set the strategy and managed the product development, sales distribution and marketing teams at a leading provider. Ms. Morrison also guided the growth of several listing exchanges in the U.S. and Europe including NYSE & Cboe Markets.

 

Dr. David J. Urban is Dean Emeritus and Professor of Marketing at the Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University. He earned a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Michigan. Dr. Urban also holds a master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan and an undergraduate degree in Commerce with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Virginia. His extensive career is marked by significant budget responsibility and accountability, with expertise in marketing, strategic planning, organizational leadership, and management contributing to the Board’s long-term goal setting.

 

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is Ms. Ivey, who is not an “interested person” of the Trust, within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Trust also has an independent Audit Committee that allows the Board to access the expertise necessary to oversee the Trust, identify risks, recognize shareholder concerns and needs and highlight opportunities. The Audit Committee is able to focus Board time and attention to matters of interest to shareholders and, through its private sessions with the Trust’s auditor, Chief Compliance Officer and legal counsel, stay fully informed regarding management decisions.

 

Mutual funds face a number of risks, including investment risk, compliance risk and valuation risk. The Board oversees management of the Fund’s risks directly and through its officers. While day-to-day risk management responsibilities rest with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, investment advisers and other service providers, the Board monitors and tracks risk by: (1) receiving and reviewing quarterly reports related to the performance and operations of the Fund; (2) reviewing and approving, as applicable, the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust, including the Trust’s valuation policies and transaction procedures; (3) periodically meeting with the portfolio manager to review investment strategies, techniques and related risks; (4) meeting with representatives of key service providers, including the Fund’s investment advisers, administrator, distributor, transfer agent and the independent registered public accounting firm, to discuss the activities of the Fund; (5) engaging the services of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund to monitor and test the compliance procedures of the Trust and its service providers; (6) receiving and reviewing reports from the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding the Fund’s financial condition and the Trust’s internal controls; and (7) receiving and reviewing an annual written report prepared by the Chief Compliance Officer reviewing the adequacy of the Trust’s compliance policies and procedures and the effectiveness of their implementation. The Board has concluded that its general oversight of the investment advisers and other service providers as implemented through the reporting and monitoring process outlined above allows the Board to effectively administer its risk oversight function.

 

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Trustee Emeritus

 

Mr. Theo H. Pitt is a Trustee Emeritus of the Trust. In his capacity as Trustee Emeritus, he does not have any fiduciary or oversight responsibilities to the Trust, and he does not vote on any matters that may be brought before the Board. As Trustee Emeritus, Mr. Pitt serves the Board in an advisory capacity, which allows the Board to capitalize on the institutional knowledge and experience Mr. Pitt has garnered over many decades in the financial services and investment management industries. Mr. Pitt began serving as Trustee Emeritus on January 1, 2025. Previously, Mr. Pitt served as an Independent Trustee of the Trust from August 2013 until he retired on December 31, 2024.

 

Following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and their principal occupation over the last five years. The mailing address of each Trustee and officer is 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond Virginia, 23235, unless otherwise indicated.

 

NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES

 

NAME, YEAR
OF BIRTH AND
POSITION
WITH THE TRUST
TERM OF
OFFICE
AND
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED
PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S)
DURING THE
PAST FIVE YEARS
NUMBER OF
FUNDS IN
FUND COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY TRUSTEE
OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD BY TRUSTEE

Mary Lou H. Ivey

1958

Trustee

Indefinite, Since June 2010 Chief Financial Officer - Finance, Episcopal Church Building Fund (national nonprofit organization), since January 2022. Accountant, Harris, Hardy & Johnstone, P.C. (accounting firm), 2008-2021. 22 Independent Trustee for the one hundred thirty-two series of the ETF Opportunities Trust; and Independent Trustee of Precidian ETFs Trust for the forty-eight series of that Trust (each a registered investment company).

Laura V. Morrison

1966

Trustee

Indefinite, Since July 2024 Owner, LVM Advisory LLC (consulting services to financial institutions) since 2024; Director and Member of Nominating and Governance Committee, Women in ETFs (not for profit) (2021 – present); Formerly, Chief Revenue Officer, Direxion (2022-2023); Senior Vice President, Global Head of Listings, Cboe Global Markets (2015-2022). 22 Independent Trustee for the one hundred thirty-two series of the ETF Opportunities Trust; and Independent Trustee of Precidian ETFs Trust for the forty-eight series of that Trust (each a registered investment company).

 

17

 

 

NAME, YEAR
OF BIRTH AND
POSITION
WITH THE TRUST
TERM OF
OFFICE
AND
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED
PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S)
DURING THE
PAST FIVE YEARS
NUMBER OF
FUNDS IN
FUND COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY TRUSTEE
OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD BY TRUSTEE

Dr. David J. Urban

1955

Trustee

Indefinite, Since June 2010 Dean Emeritus (since 2023) and Professor of Marketing (since 2013), Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University. 22 Independent Trustee for the one hundred thirty-two series of the ETF Opportunities Trust; and Independent Trustee of Precidian ETFs Trust for the forty-eight series of that Trust (each a registered investment company).

 

OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES

 

NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH AND
POSITION(S) WITH THE TRUST
TERM OF OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF TIME SERVED
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE
PAST FIVE YEARS

David A. Bogaert

1963

President

Indefinite, Since August 2017 Managing Director of Business Development, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., October 2013 to present.

Karen M. Shupe

1964

Treasurer and Principal Executive Officer

Indefinite, Since June 2008 Managing Director of Fund Operations, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., 2003 to present.

Ann T. MacDonald

1954

Assistant Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer

Indefinite, Since November 2015 Managing Director of Fund Accounting and Administration, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., 2003 to present.

John H. Lively

1969

Secretary

Indefinite, Since November 2013 Attorney, Practus, LLP (law firm), May 2018 to present.

J. Stephen King

1962
Assistant Secretary

Indefinite, Since November 2022

Attorney, Practus LLP (law firm), 2020 to present; The TCW Group, Inc. (investment management firm), 2017 to 2020.

 

Holly B. Giangiulio

1962

Assistant Secretary

Indefinite, Since November 2015 Managing Director, Corporate Operations, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., January 2015 to present.

Laura B. Wright
1972
Assistant Secretary

Indefinite, Since May 2022

Manager, Fund Administration, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., August 2023 to present; Fund Administrator, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., 2016 to 2023.

Julian G. Winters

1968

Chief Compliance Officer

Indefinite, Since August 2013 Managing Member of Watermark Solutions, LLC (investment management compliance and consulting firm) since March 2007.

 

18

 

 

The Board of Trustees oversees the Trust and certain aspects of the services that the Adviser and the Fund’s other service providers. Each trustee will hold office until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Each officer of the Trust serves at the pleasure of the Board and for a term of one year or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.

 

The Trust has a standing Audit Committee of the Board composed of Ms. Ivey, Ms. Morrison and Dr. Urban. The functions of the Audit Committee are to meet with the Trust’s independent auditors to review the scope and findings of the annual audit, discuss the Trust’s accounting policies, discuss any recommendations of the independent auditors with respect to the Trust’s management practices, review the impact of changes in accounting standards on the Trust’s financial statements, recommend to the Board the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm, and perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Audit Committee by the Board. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, the Audit Committee met ten times.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of Ms. Ivey, Ms. Morrison and Dr. Urban. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s purposes, duties and powers are set forth in its written charter, which is described in Exhibit C – the charter also describes the process by which shareholders of the Trust may make nominations. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, the Nominating Committee met three times.

 

The Qualified Legal Compliance Committee is comprised of Ms. Ivey, Ms. Morrison and Dr. Urban. The Qualified Legal Compliance Committee receives, investigates, and makes recommendations as to the appropriate remedial action in connection with any report of evidence of a material violation of the securities laws or breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Trust, its officers, Trustees, or agents. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, the Committee did not meet.

 

Trustee Compensation. Each Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Trust may receive compensation for their services to the Trust. All Trustees are reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings. Effective January 1, 2024, each Trustee receives an annual retainer of $81,000, paid quarterly. The Independent Chairperson receives an additional annual fee of $5,000, paid quarterly. Additionally, each Trustee receives a fee of $2,500 per special meeting attended. Compensation received from the Trust for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 is as follows:

 

Name of Trustee/Position

Aggregate
Compensation

From Fund

Pension or Retirement
Benefits Accrued As
Part of Funds Expenses
Estimated Annual
Benefits upon
Retirement
Total Compensation
From Fund and Fund
Complex Paid To Trustees (*)(1)
Mary Lou H. Ivey,
Trustee
$4,320 $0 $0 $4,320
Dr. David J. Urban,
Trustee
$4,066 $0 $0 $4,066
Laura V. Morrison
Trustee(2)
$3,054 $0 $0 $3,054

Theo H. Pitt, Jr.

Emeritus Trustee(3)

$3,297 $0 $0 $3,297

 

(*)Company does not pay deferred compensation.
(1)The “Fund Complex” consists of the Fund.

(2)Ms. Morrison was appointed as a Trustee on June 14, 2024.

(3)Mr. Theo H. Pitt, Jr. retired from the Trust on December 31, 2024 and no longer serves as a Trustee.

 

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Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares. The table below shows for each Trustee, the amount of Fund equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee, and the aggregate value of all investments in equity securities of the Funds of the Trust, as of December 31, 2024, and stated as one of the following ranges: A = None; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001-$50,000; D = $50,001-$100,000; and E = over $100,000.

 

Name of Trustee

Non-Interested Trustees

Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in all Registered
Investment Companies Overseen by
the Trustees in Family of Investment Companies
Mary Lou H. Ivey A A
Laura V. Morrison A A
Dr. David J. Urban A A

 

Policies Concerning Personal Investment Activities. The Fund and the Adviser have each adopted a Code of Ethics, pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that permit investment personnel, subject to their particular code of ethics, to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, for their own account.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITY HOLDERS

 

A principal shareholder is any person who owns (either of record or beneficially) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of such control. As a controlling shareholder, each of these persons could control the outcome of any proposal submitted to the shareholders for approval, including changes to the Fund’s fundamental policies or the terms of the management agreement with the Adviser.

 

As of June 30, 2025, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Company, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of the shares of the Fund.

 

Names and Addresses Percent of Class Type of Ownership

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

Attn: Mutual Funds Dept.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

100% Record

 

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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

 

Subject to policies established by the Board, the Adviser is responsible for the Fund’s portfolio decisions and the placing of the Fund’s portfolio transactions. In placing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks the best qualitative execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), the execution capability, financial responsibility and responsiveness of the broker or dealer and the brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. The Adviser generally seeks favorable prices and commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. The Adviser may not give consideration to sales of shares of the Trust as a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions. However, the Adviser may place portfolio transactions with brokers or dealers that promote or sell the Fund’s shares so long as such placements are made pursuant to policies approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees that are designed to ensure that the selection is based on the quality of the broker’s execution and not on its sales efforts.

 

The Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is specifically authorized to select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage and research services to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion and to pay such brokers or dealers a commission in excess of the commission another broker or dealer would charge if the Adviser determines in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. The determination may be viewed in terms of a particular transaction or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Trust and to other accounts over which it exercises investment discretion.

 

Research services include supplemental research, securities and economic analyses, statistical services and information with respect to the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities and analyses of reports concerning performance of accounts. The research services and other information furnished by brokers through whom the Fund effects securities transactions may also be used by the Adviser in servicing all of its accounts. Similarly, research and information provided by brokers or dealers serving other clients may be useful to the Adviser in connection with its services to the Fund. Although research services and other information are useful to the Fund and the Adviser, it is not possible to place a dollar value on the research and other information received. It is the opinion of the Board of Trustees and the Adviser that the review and study of the research and other information will not reduce the overall cost to the Adviser of performing its duties to the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement. Due to research services provided by brokers, the Fund may direct trades to certain brokers.

 

Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal market makers or with broker-dealers, if the same or a better price, including commissions and executions, is available. Fixed income securities are normally purchased directly from the issuer, an underwriter or a market maker. Purchases include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and the purchase price paid to a market maker may include the spread between the bid and asked prices.

 

When the Fund and another of the Adviser’s clients seek to purchase or sell the same security at or about the same time, the Adviser may execute the transaction on a combined (“blocked”) basis. Blocked transactions can produce better execution for the Fund because of the increased volume of the transaction. If the entire blocked order is not filled, 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 for the security. Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as large an execution of an order to sell or as high a price for any particular portfolio security if the other client desires to sell the same portfolio security at the same time. In the event that the entire blocked order is not filled, the purchase or sale will normally be allocated on a pro rata basis. The allocation may be adjusted by the Adviser, taking into account such factors as the size of the individual orders and transaction costs, when the Adviser believes an adjustment is reasonable.

 

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The following table shows the brokerage commissions paid during the periods indicated. The fluctuation in commissions was a function of varied turnover in the portfolio.

 

Total Brokerage Commissions Paid for Periods Ended March 31
2023 $169,937
2024 $125,772
2025 $212,684

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 9, 2007. The Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest in the Trust and to classify or reclassify any unissued shares into one or more series of shares. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust further authorizes the trustees to classify or reclassify any series of shares into one or more classes. The Trust’s shares of beneficial interest have no par value.

 

Shares have no preemptive rights and only such conversion or exchange rights as the Board may grant in its discretion. When issued for payment as described in the applicable prospectus, shares will be fully paid and non-assessable. In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Trust or an individual fund, shareholders of a fund are entitled to receive the assets available for distribution belonging to the particular fund, and a proportionate distribution, based upon the relative asset values of the respective fund, of any general assets of the Trust not belonging to any particular fund which are available for distribution.

 

Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held, and a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share held, and will vote in the aggregate and not by class, except as otherwise expressly required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted on affects only the interests of shareholders of a particular class. Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate of the Trust’s outstanding shares may elect all of the trustees, irrespective of the votes of other shareholders.

 

Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each fund affected by the matter. A particular fund is deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each fund in the matter are substantially identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the fund. Under the Rule, the approval of an investment management agreement or any change in an investment objective, if fundamental, or in a fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a fund only if approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of such fund. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the appointment of independent public accountants, the approval of principal underwriting contracts and the election of trustees may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series or class.

 

The Trust does not presently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. Upon the written request of shareholders owning at least 25% of the Trust’s shares, the Trust will call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more trustees and other certain matters. To the extent required by law, the Trust will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

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The Board has full power and authority, in its sole discretion, and without obtaining shareholder approval, to divide or combine the shares of any class or series thereof into a greater or lesser number, to classify or reclassify any issued shares or any class or series thereof into one or more classes or series of shares, and to take such other action with respect to the Trust’s shares as the Board may deem desirable. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust authorizes the trustees, without shareholder approval, to cause the Trust to merge or to consolidate with any corporation, association, trust or other organization in order to change the form of organization and/or domicile of the Trust or to sell or exchange all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust, or any series or class thereof, in dissolution of the Trust, or any series or class thereof. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust permits the termination of the Trust or of any series or class of the Trust by the trustees without shareholder approval. However, the exercise of such authority by the Board without shareholder approval may be subject to certain restrictions or limitations under the 1940 Act.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser and Administrator have each adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“access persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons. Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted to engage in personal securities transactions, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. The personnel subject to the Codes are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. In addition, certain access persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements, or are prohibited from making such investments. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

TAXES

 

The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders. The discussion reflects applicable U.S. federal income tax laws as of the date of this SAI, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), possibly with retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. income, estate or gift tax, or foreign, state or local tax concerns affecting the Fund and its shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the Fund). The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors to determine the tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.

 

In addition, no attempt is made to address tax concerns applicable to an investor with a special tax status such as a financial institution, real estate investment trust (“REIT”), insurance company, regulated investment company (“RIC”), individual retirement account, other tax-exempt entity, or dealer in securities. Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes shares of the Fund are held by U.S. shareholders (defined below) and that such shares are held as capital assets.

 

A U.S. shareholder is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

a citizen or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and former long-term residents);

a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

a trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or a trust that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

 

A “Non-U.S. shareholder” is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is an individual, corporation, trust or estate and is not a U.S. shareholder. If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of the Fund, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally depends upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner of a partnership that will hold shares of the Fund should consult its own tax advisors with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of the Fund by the partnership.

 

Taxation as a RIC. The Fund intends to qualify and remain qualified as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code”). There can be no assurance that it will so qualify. The Fund will qualify as a RIC if, among other things, it meets the source-of-income and the asset-diversification requirements. With respect to the source-of-income requirement, the Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income (including tax-exempt interest) from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and (ii) net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (the “Income Test”) A “qualified publicly traded partnership” is generally defined as a publicly traded partnership under Code Section 7704. Income derived from a partnership (other than a qualified publicly traded partnership) or trust is qualifying income to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership or trust which would be qualifying income if realized by the Fund in the same manner as realized by the partnership or trust.

 

The Fund intends to invest in ETFs. Some of those ETFs are taxable as RICs under the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, the income the Fund receives from such ETFs should be qualifying income for purposes of the Fund satisfying the Income Test described above. However, the Fund may also invest in one or more ETFs that are not taxable as RICs under the Internal Revenue Code and that may generate non-qualifying income for purposes of satisfying the Income Test. The Fund anticipates monitoring its investments in such ETFs so as to keep the Fund’s non-qualifying income within acceptable limits of the Income Test. However, it is possible that such non-qualifying income will be more than anticipated which could cause the Fund to inadvertently fail the Income Test thereby causing the Fund to fail to qualify as a RIC. In such a case, the Fund would be subject to the rules described below.

 

If a RIC fails the Income Test and such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, the RIC will not be subject to the U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to corporations. Instead, the amount of the penalty for non-compliance is U.S. federal corporate income tax on the amount by which the non-qualifying income exceeds one-ninth of the qualifying gross income.

 

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With respect to the asset-diversification requirement, the Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, the securities of other RICs and other securities, if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in securities other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs of (a) one issuer, (b) two or more issuers that are controlled by the Fund and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (c) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

If a RIC fails the Asset Test, such RIC, has a six-month period to correct any failure without incurring a penalty if such failure is “de minimis,” meaning that the failure does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the RIC’s assets, or $10 million.

 

Similarly, if a RIC fails the Asset Test and the failure is not de minimis, a RIC can cure the failure if: (i) the RIC files with the U.S. Treasury Department a description of each asset that caused the RIC to fail the Asset Test; (ii) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect; and (iii) the failure is cured within six months (or such other period specified by the U.S. Treasury Department). In such cases, a tax is imposed on the RIC equal to the greater of: (i) $50,000 or (ii) an amount determined by multiplying the highest corporate U.S. federal income tax rate (currently 21%) by the amount of net income generated during the period of the Asset Test failure from the assets that caused the RIC to fail the Asset Test.

 

If the Fund qualifies as a RIC and distributes to its shareholders, for each taxable year, at least 90% of the sum of (i) its “investment company taxable income” as that term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code (which includes, among other things, dividends, taxable interest, the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses and certain net foreign exchange gains as reduced by certain deductible expenses) without regard to the deduction for dividends paid, and (ii) the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest, if any, over certain deductions attributable to such interest that are otherwise disallowed the (“Distribution Test”), the Fund will be relieved of U.S. federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains, distributed to shareholders. However, any ordinary income or capital gain retained by the Fund will be subject to tax at regular corporate U.S. federal income tax rates (currently at a maximum rate of 21%). The Fund intends to distribute at least annually substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt interest, and net capital gain.

 

The Fund will generally be subject to a nondeductible 4% U.S. federal excise tax on the portion of its undistributed ordinary income with respect to each calendar year and undistributed capital gains if it fails to meet certain distribution requirements with respect to the one-year period ending on October 31 in that calendar year. To avoid the 4% U.S. federal excise tax, the required minimum distribution is generally equal to the sum of (i) 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income (computed on a calendar year basis), (ii) 98.2% of the Fund’s capital gain net income (generally computed for the one-year period ending on October 31) and (iii) any income realized, but not distributed, and on which the Fund paid no U.S. federal income tax in preceding years. The Fund generally intends to make distributions in a timely manner in an amount at least equal to the required minimum distribution and therefore, under normal market conditions, does not expect to be subject to this excise tax.

 

The Fund may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which it does not receive cash. For example, if the Fund holds debt obligations that are treated under applicable U.S. federal income tax rules as having original issue discount (“OID”), such as debt instruments with payment in kind interest or, in certain cases, with increasing interest rates or that are issued with warrants, the Fund must include in income each year a portion of the OID that accrues over the life of the obligation regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by the Fund in the same taxable year. Because any OID accrued will be included in the Fund’s “investment company taxable income” (discussed above) for the year of accrual, the Fund may be required to make a distribution to its shareholders to satisfy the Distribution Test, even though it will not have received an amount of cash that corresponds with the accrued income.

 

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A RIC is permitted to carry forward net capital losses indefinitely and may allow losses to retain their original character (as short or as long-term). These capital loss carryforwards may be utilized in future years to offset net realized capital gains of the Fund, if any, prior to distributing such gains to shareholders.

 

Except as set forth below in “Failure to Qualify as a RIC,” the remainder of this discussion assumes that the Fund will qualify as a RIC for each taxable year.

 

Failure to Qualify as a RIC. If the Fund is unable to satisfy the Distribution Test or otherwise fails to qualify as a RIC in any year, it will be subject to corporate U.S. federal income tax on all of its income and gain, regardless of whether or not such income was distributed. Distributions to the Fund’s shareholders of such income and gain will not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In such event, the Fund’s distributions, to the extent derived from the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, would constitute ordinary dividends, which would generally be eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporate U.S. shareholders, and U.S. non-corporate shareholders would generally be able to treat such distributions as “qualified dividend income” eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income taxation if certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied.

 

Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the shareholders’ tax basis in their shares of the Fund, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain. To qualify as a RIC in a subsequent taxable year, the Fund would be required to satisfy the Income Test, Asset Test and Distribution Test for that year and distribute any earnings and profits from any year in which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC. Subject to a limited exception applicable to RICs that qualified as such under the Code for at least one year prior to disqualification and that requalify as a RIC no later than the second year following the nonqualifying year, the Fund would be subject to tax on any unrealized built-in gains in the assets held by it during the period in which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC that are recognized within the subsequent five years, unless the Fund made a special election to pay corporate-level tax on such built-in gain at the time of its requalification as a RIC.

 

Taxation of U.S. Shareholders. Distributions paid to U.S. shareholders by the Fund from its investment company taxable income (which is, generally, the Fund’s ordinary income plus net realized short-term capital gains in excess of net realized long-term capital losses) are generally taxable to U.S. shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Such distributions (if designated by the Fund) may qualify (i) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders to the extent that the Fund’s income consists of dividend income from U.S. corporations, excluding distributions from tax-exempt organizations, exempt farmers’ cooperatives or REITs or (ii) in the case of individual U.S. shareholders, as qualified dividend income eligible to be taxed at preferential rates to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income, and provided in each case certain holding period and other requirements are met. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and qualified foreign corporations (which generally include foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a qualified comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States, or the stock with respect to which such dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A qualified foreign corporation generally excludes any foreign corporation, which for the taxable year of the corporation in which the dividend was paid, or the preceding taxable year, is a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”). Distributions made to a U.S. shareholder from an excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses (“Capital Gain Dividends”), including capital gain dividends credited to such U.S. shareholder but retained by the Fund, are taxable to such shareholder as long-term capital gain if they have been properly designated by the Fund, regardless of the length of time such shareholder owned the shares of the Fund. The maximum tax rate on Capital Gain Dividends received by individuals is generally 20%. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s earnings and profits will be treated by a U.S. shareholder, first, as a tax-free return of capital, which is applied against and will reduce the adjusted tax basis of the U.S. shareholder’s shares and, after such adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gain to the U.S. shareholder. The Fund is not required to provide written notice designating the amount of any qualified dividend income or capital gain dividends and other distributions. The Forms 1099 sent to the U.S. shareholders will instead serve this notice purpose.

 

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As a RIC, the Fund will be subject to the AMT, but any items that are treated differently for AMT purposes must be apportioned between the Fund and the shareholders and this may affect the U.S. shareholders’ AMT liabilities. The Fund intends in general to apportion these items in the same proportion that dividends paid to each shareholder bear to the Fund’s taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction.

 

For purpose of determining (i) whether the Distribution Test is satisfied for any year and (ii) the amount of Capital Gain Dividends paid for that year, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat a dividend that is paid during the following taxable year as if it had been paid during the prior taxable year. If the Fund makes such an election, a U.S. shareholder will still be treated as receiving the dividend in the taxable year in which the distribution is made. However, any dividend declared by the Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year, payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month and actually paid during January of the following year, will be treated as if it had been received by a U.S. shareholder on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.

 

The Fund intends to distribute all realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If, however, the Fund were to retain any net capital gain, the Fund may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to shareholders who, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the U.S. federal income tax paid by the Fund on the undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If such an event occurs, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, generally be increased by the difference between the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder.

 

Sales and other dispositions of the shares of the Fund, such as an exchange, generally are taxable events. U.S. shareholders should consult their own tax advisor with reference to their individual circumstances to determine whether any particular transaction in the shares of the Fund is properly treated as a sale or exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the following discussion assumes, and the tax treatment of any gains or losses recognized in such transactions. The sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund will generally result in capital gain or loss to a U.S. shareholder equal to the difference between the amount realized and the adjusted tax basis in the shares sold or exchanged, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year at the time of sale. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received (including amounts credited as an undistributed Capital Gain Dividends) by such shareholder with respect to such shares. A loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund generally will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares are acquired within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date that the shares are disposed of. In such case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income of corporations. For non-corporate U.S. taxpayers, short-term capital gain will currently be taxed at the rate applicable to ordinary income, while long-term capital gain generally will be taxed at a maximum rate of 20%. Capital losses are subject to certain limitations.

 

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The Fund is required to report its shareholders’ cost basis, gain/loss, and holding period to the IRS on the Fund’s shareholders’ Consolidated Form 1099s.

 

The Fund has chosen average cost as the standing (default) tax lot identification method for all shareholders. A tax lot identification method is the way the Fund will determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing net asset values, and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Fund’s standing tax lot identification method is the method shares will be reported on your Consolidated Form 1099 if the U.S. shareholder does not select a specific tax lot identification method. U.S. shareholders may choose a method different than the Fund’s standing method and will be able to do so at the time of a U.S. shareholder’s purchase or upon the sale of shares of the Fund. Please consult your own tax advisor with regard to your personal circumstances.

 

The Fund is responsible for maintaining accurate cost basis and tax lot information for tax reporting purposes. The Fund is not responsible for the reliability or accuracy of the information for those securities that are not covered by these rules. The Fund and its service providers do not provide tax advice. U.S. shareholders should consult independent sources, which may include a tax professional, with respect to any decisions they may make with respect to choosing a tax lot identification method.

 

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

 

Original Issue Discount, Pay-In-Kind Securities, Market Discount and Commodity-Linked Notes. Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the OID is treated as interest income and is included in the Fund’s taxable income (and required to be distributed by the Fund) over the term of the debt obligation, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security.

 

Some debt obligations that may be acquired by the Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having “market discount.” Very generally, market discount is the excess of the stated redemption price of a debt obligation (or in the case of an obligations issued with OID, its “revised issue price”) over the purchase price of such obligation. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt obligation having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt obligation. Alternatively, the Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Fund will be required to include the accrued market discount in the Fund’s income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in the Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects. In the case of higher-risk securities, the amount of market discount may be unclear. See below under “Higher-Risk Securities.”

 

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Some debt obligations that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as having “acquisition discount” (very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price over the purchase price), or OID in the case of certain types of debt obligations. The Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount, or OID, in income (as ordinary income) over the term of the debt obligation, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt obligations having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.

 

In addition, payment-in-kind securities will, and commodity-linked notes may, give rise to income that is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.

 

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

 

Higher-Risk Securities. To the extent such investments are permissible for the Fund, the Fund may invest in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income. In limited circumstances, it may also not be clear whether the Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, and if so, what amount of market discount the Fund should recognize. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund when, as and if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

 

Issuer Deductibility of Interest. A portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high yield discount obligations owned by the Fund may not be deductible to (and thus, may affect the cash flow of) the issuer. If a portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high yield discount obligations is not deductible, that portion will be treated as a dividend. In such cases, if the issuer of the high yield discount obligations is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by the Fund may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction to the extent of the deemed dividend portion of such accrued interest.

 

Interest paid on debt obligations owned by the Fund, if any, that are considered for U.S. federal income tax purposes to be payable in the equity of the issuer or a related party will not be deductible to the issuer, possibly affecting the cash flow of the issuer.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. A tax-exempt U.S. shareholder could recognize unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) by virtue of its investment in the Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt U.S. shareholder. Furthermore, a tax-exempt U.S. shareholder may recognize UBTI if the Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income” derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”) if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Fund’s investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund).

 

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In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”) that invest in a RIC that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. A CRT that realizes any UBTI for a taxable year, must pay an excise tax annually of an amount equal to such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI solely as a result of investing in the Fund if it recognizes “excess inclusion income.” Rather, if at any time during any taxable year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders) is a record holder of a share in the Fund and the Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income,” then the Fund will be subject to a tax on that portion of its “excess inclusion income” for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders, at the highest corporate U.S. federal income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder’s interest in the Fund. The Fund has not yet determined whether such an election will be made. CRTs and other tax-exempt investors are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of investing in the Fund.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Companies. A PFIC is any foreign corporation: (i) 75% or more of the gross income of which for the taxable year is passive income, or (ii) the average percentage of the assets of which produce or are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%. Generally, passive income for this purpose means dividends, interest, royalties, rents, annuities, the excess of gains over losses from certain property transactions and commodities transactions, and foreign currency gains.

 

Equity investments by the Fund in certain PFICs could potentially subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax or other charge (including interest charges) on the distributions received from the PFIC or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the PFIC. This tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, if the Fund is in a position to and elects to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF”), the Fund will be required to include its share of the PFIC s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the PFIC. Alternatively, the Fund may make an election to mark to market the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in its PFIC holdings as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in that PFIC on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet the Distribution Test, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

 

Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, the Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances.

 

Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Any such net gains could require a larger dividend be distributed by the Fund for the calendar year. Any such net losses will generally reduce and potentially require the recharacterization of prior ordinary income distributions. Such ordinary income treatment may accelerate Fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by the Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years.

 

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Master Limited Partnerships. To qualify for master limited partner (“MLP”) status, a partnership must generate at least 90% of its income from what the IRS deems “qualifying” sources, which include all manner of activities related to the production, processing or transportation of oil, natural gas and coal. MLPs, as partnerships, pay no corporate tax, and the IRS deems much of the distributions paid out as a return of capital, and taxes on such distributions are deferred until the Fund sells its position therein. As partnerships, MLPs pass through the majority of their income to investors in the form of regular quarterly distributions. U.S. shareholders of the Fund if the Fund holds an interest in a MLP will be responsible for paying tax on their share of distributions received by the Fund from the MLP. In addition, the regular quarterly cash payments MLPs pay out are known as distributions rather than dividends. With respect to each MLP in which the Fund invests, MLP investors, and therefore a U.S. shareholder as owner of the Fund, may be subject to the state tax of each state in which the MLP has operations or does business. If a MLP is held in a tax-sheltered arrangement, such as an IRA or 401(k), the portion of the distributions designated as “ordinary income” may be considered UBTI, and subject to tax. However, UBTI is usually a small percentage of total distributions and it will not be taxed as long as the amount of this income and all other sources of UBTI does not exceed $1,000 in any year.

 

Foreign Taxation. Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes.

 

The ETFs in which the Fund invests may invest in foreign securities. Dividends and interest received by an ETF’s holding of foreign securities may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If the ETF in which the Fund invests is taxable as a RIC and meets certain other requirements, which include a requirement that more than 50% of the value of such ETF’s total assets at the close of its respective taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, then the ETF should be eligible to file an election with the IRS that may enable its shareholders, including the Fund in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a tax deduction, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid the by Fund, subject to certain limitations.

 

A “qualified fund of funds” is a RIC that has at least 50% of the value of its total interests invested in other RICs at the end of each quarter of the taxable year. If the Fund satisfies this requirement or if it meets certain other requirements, which include a requirement that more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consist of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, then the Fund should be eligible to file an election with the IRS that may enable its shareholders to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a tax deduction, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations.

 

Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders. Capital Gain Dividends are generally not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax. Absent a specific statutory exemption, dividends other than Capital Gain Dividends paid by the Fund to a Non-U.S. shareholder are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person directly, would not be subject to withholding.

 

A RIC is not required to withhold any amounts (i) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to a Non-U.S. shareholder (a) that does not provide a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (b) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the Non-U.S. shareholder is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (c) that is within a foreign country that has inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (d) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the Non-U.S. shareholder and the Non-U.S. shareholder is a controlled foreign corporation) from U.S.-source interest income of types similar to those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by a Non-U.S. shareholder, to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders (“Interest Related Dividends”), and (ii) with respect to distributions (other than (a) distributions to an individual Non-U.S. shareholder who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (b) distributions subject to special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests (“USRPIs”) as described below) of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses to the extent such distributions are properly reported by the RIC (“Short-Term Capital Gain Dividends”). If the Fund invests in an underlying fund that pays such distributions to the Fund, such distributions retain their character as not subject to withholding if properly reported when paid by the Fund to Non-U.S. shareholders.

 

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The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as Interest Related or Short-Term Capital Gain Dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. These exemptions from withholding will not be available to Non-U.S. shareholders that do not currently report their dividends as Interest Related or Short-Term Capital Gain Dividends.

 

In the case of shares of the Fund held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports all or a portion of a payment as an Interest Related or Short-Term Capital Gain Dividends to shareholders. Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of these rules to their accounts.

 

A Non-U.S. shareholder generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of the Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such Non-U.S. shareholder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual Non-U.S. shareholder, the Non-U.S. shareholder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or the receipt of the Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of USRPIs apply to the Non-U.S. shareholder’s sale of shares of the Fund or to the Capital Gain Dividends received by the Non-U.S. shareholder (as described below).

 

Special rules would apply if the Fund were either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions to the definition thereof. Very generally, a USRPHC is a U.S. corporation that holds USRPIs the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USPRIs, interests in real property located outside the United States, and other assets. USRPIs are generally defined as any interest in U.S. real property and any interest (other than solely as a creditor) in a USRPHC or former USRPHC.

 

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If the Fund were a USRPHC or would be a USRPHC but for certain exceptions, any distributions by the Fund to a Non-U.S. shareholder (including, in certain cases, distributions made by the Fund in redemption of its shares) attributable to gains realized by the Fund on the disposition of USRPIs or to distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands generally would be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding. In addition, such distributions could result in a Non-U.S. shareholder being required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and pay tax on the distributions at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. The consequences to a Non-U.S. shareholder, including the rate of such withholding and character of such distributions (e.g., as ordinary income or USRPI gain), would vary depending upon the extent of the Non-U.S. shareholder’s current and past ownership of the Fund. This “look-through” USRPI treatment for distributions by the Fund, if it were either a USRPHC or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions, to Non-U.S. shareholders applies only to those distributions that, in turn, are attributable to distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier REIT, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise.

 

In addition, if the Fund were a USRPHC or former USRPHC, it could be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on the proceeds of a share redemption by a greater-than-5% Non-U.S. shareholder, in which case such Non-U.S. shareholder generally would also be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and pay any additional taxes due in connection with the redemption.

 

Whether or not the Fund is characterized as a USRPHC will depend upon the nature and mix of the Fund’s assets. The Fund does not expect to be a USRPHC. Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of these rules to their investment in the Fund.

 

If a Non-U.S. shareholder has a trade or business in the United States, and the dividends from the Fund are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. shareholder’s conduct of that trade or business, the dividend will be subject to net U.S. federal income taxation at regular income tax rates.

 

If a Non-U.S. shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by that Non-U.S. shareholder in the United States.

 

To qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, a Non-U.S. shareholder must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an applicable IRS Form W-8). Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their own tax advisors in this regard.

 

A Non-U.S. shareholder may be subject to state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the U.S. federal income tax referred to above.

 

Backup Withholding. The Fund generally is required to backup withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury Department a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any individual shareholder who fails to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to the Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding tax rate is currently 24%.

 

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

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FATCA. Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution (“FFI”) or a non-financial foreign entity (“NFFE”) within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on: (i) income dividends paid by the Fund, and (ii) possibly in the future, certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of shares of the Fund. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (i) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it enters into a valid agreement with the IRS to, among other requirements, report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (ii) by an NFFE, if it: (a) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (b) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. The Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of the Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA, generally on an applicable IRS Form W-8.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. If a shareholder of the Fund recognizes a loss with respect to shares of the Fund of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder generally must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. U.S. shareholders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the applicability of these rules in light of their individual circumstances.

 

Shares Purchased through Tax-Qualified Plans. Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the suitability of shares of the Fund as an investment through such plans, and the precise effect of an investment on their particular tax situation.

 

The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations in effect as they directly govern the taxation of the Fund and its shareholders. These provisions are subject to change by legislative and administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal income, estate or gift taxes, or foreign, state, local taxes or other taxes.

 

PRICING AND PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES

 

General Policy. The Fund adheres to Section 2(a)(41), and Rule 2a-4 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the by the Valuation Designee (as defined below).

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on the primary exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. ET if a security’s primary exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Valuation Designee (as defined below).

 

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Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents approved by the Board. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Valuation Designee (as defined below).

 

Fair Valuation. Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. As a general principle, the fair value of a security or other asset is the price that would be received upon the sale of the security or asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and time. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5, the Board has designated the Adviser as the valuation designee (“Valuation Designee”) for the Fund to perform fair value determinations relating to all Fund investments. The Adviser may carry out its designated responsibilities as Valuation Designee through a fair valuation committee, and may apply fair valuation methodologies approved by the Board, or utilize prices or inputs from pricing services, quotation reporting systems, valuation agents and other third-party sources that have been approved by the Board.

 

Fair valuation may require subjective determinations about the value of a security. While the Fund’s and Valuation Designee’s policies and procedures are intended to result in a calculation of the Fund’s NAV that fairly reflects security values as of the time of pricing, the Fund cannot ensure that fair values accurately reflect the price that the Fund could obtain for a security if it were to dispose of that security as of the time of pricing (for instance, in a forced or distressed sale). The prices used by the Fund may differ from the value that would be realized if the securities were sold.

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

Plan of Distribution. The Fund has a Plan of Distribution or “12b-1 Plan” under which it may finance certain activities primarily intended to sell such class of shares, provided the categories of expenses are approved in advance by the Board and the expenses paid under the Plan were incurred within the preceding 12 months and accrued while the 12b-1 Plan is in effect. The Trust has adopted the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. The Trust intends to operate the Plan in accordance with its terms and with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority rules concerning sales charges.

 

The 12b-1 Plan provides that the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s daily net assets in consideration for distribution and other shareholder servicing related activities and the assumption of related expenses in conjunction with the offering and sale of the Fund’s shares. The fee is paid to compensate financial intermediaries for distribution-related activities and shareholder servicing. The Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution to discontinue accrual of fees under the Rule 12b-1 Plan at this time, although the Board may authorize fee payments by the Fund pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan in the future. Prior to July 31, 2024, the Fund paid 0.05% of its daily net assets pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan. Accordingly, after the Fund’s marketing and distribution plan is more fully implemented, the Adviser may recommend to the Trust’s Board of Trustees an increase in the amount (not to exceed 0.25% of the Fund’s daily net assets) to be accrued and paid under the 12b-1 Plan. The Fund does not participate in any joint distribution activities.

 

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For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, the Fund incurred $14,726 in Rule 12b-1 fees, all of which were received by the Distributor as reimbursement for expenses. These amounts were paid as compensation to underwriters and reimbursement of marketing-related expenses.

 

Payments for distribution expenses under the 12b-1 Plan are subject to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12b-1 defines distribution expenses to include the cost of “any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares issued by the Trust.” Rule 12b-1 provides, among other things, that an investment company may bear such expenses only pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1. In accordance with Rule 12b-1, the 12b-1 Plan provides that a report of the amounts expended under the 12b-1 Plan, and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, will be made to the Board for its review at least quarterly. The 12b-1 Plan provides that it may not be amended to increase materially the costs which shares of the Fund may bear for distribution pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan without shareholder approval, and that any other type of material amendment must be approved by a majority of the Board, and by a majority of the trustees who are neither “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust nor have any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the 12b-1 Plan or in any related agreement (the “12b-1 Trustees”), by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments. Pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan, the Fund may also make payments to persons who provide support services in connection with the distribution of the Fund’s shares and servicing of the Fund’s shareholders. No 12b-1 Trustee has a financial interest in the operation of the Rule 12b-1 Plan or any agreement related thereto.

 

The Trust understands that certain service organizations may charge fees to their customers who are the beneficial owners of Fund shares, in connection with their accounts with such service organizations. Any such fees would be in addition to any amounts which may be received by an institution under the applicable 12b-1 Plan. Under the terms of each servicing agreement entered into with the Trust, service organizations are required to provide to their customers a schedule of any fees that they may charge in connection with customer investments in Fund shares.

 

The Board has concluded that there is a reasonable likelihood that the 12b-1 Plan will benefit the Fund. It is anticipated that the 12b-1 Plan will benefit shareholders because it is likely to stimulate additional sales of the Fund’s shares and assist the Fund in maintaining or increasing its present asset base in the face of competition from other mutual funds, which may help maintain and/or lower the Fund’s operating expense ratio. The 12b-1 Plan is subject to annual re-approval by a majority of the 12b-1 Trustees and is terminable at any time with respect to the Fund by a vote of a majority of the 12b-1 Trustees or by vote of the holders of a majority of outstanding shares of the Fund. Any agreement entered into pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan with a Service Organization is terminable with respect to the Fund without penalty, at any time, by vote of a majority of the 12b-1 Trustees, by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares, by Foreside or by the Service Organization. An agreement will also terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

As long as the 12b-1 Plan is in effect, the nomination of trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) must be committed to the discretion of the 12b-1 Trustees.

 

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Shareholder Services Plan. The Fund has adopted a shareholder services plan. Under a shareholder services plan, the Fund may pay an authorized firm up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of daily net assets attributable to its customers who are shareholders. For this fee, the authorized firms may provide a variety of services, including but not limited to: (i) arranging for bank wires; (ii) responding to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investment in the Fund; (iii) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (iv) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their position in shares; (v) forwarding shareholders communications from the Fund such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend distribution and tax notices to shareholders; (vi) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Fund or its service providers; (vii) providing sub-accounting with respect to shares beneficially owned by shareholders; and (viii) processing dividend payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders. Because the Fund has adopted the shareholder services plan to compensate authorized firms for providing the types of services described above, the Fund believes the shareholder services plan is not covered by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which relates to payment of distribution fees. The Fund, however, follows the procedural requirements of Rule 12b-1 in connection with the implementation and administration of each shareholder services plan.

 

An authorized firm generally represents in a service agreement used in connection with the shareholder services plan that all compensation payable to the authorized firm from its customers in connection with the investment of their assets in the Fund will be disclosed by the authorized firm to its customers. It also generally provides that all such compensation will be authorized by the authorized firm’s customers.

 

The Fund does not monitor the actual services being performed by an authorized firm under the plan and related service agreement. The Fund also does not monitor the reasonableness of the total compensation that an authorized firm may receive, including any service fee that an authorized firm may receive from the Fund and any compensation the authorized firm may receive directly from its clients.

 

Purchasing Shares. You may purchase shares of the Fund directly. You may also buy shares through accounts with brokers and other institutions (“authorized institutions”) that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through an authorized institution, you will have to follow its procedures. Your institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your authorized institution. The offering price per share is equal to the NAV next determined after the Fund or authorized institution receives your purchase order, plus any applicable sales charge.

 

Your authorized institution is responsible for transmitting all subscription and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. Certain authorized institutions have agreements with the Fund that allow them to enter confirmed purchase or redemption orders on behalf of clients and customers. Under this arrangement, the authorized institution must send your payment to the Fund by the time it prices its shares on the following day. If your authorized institution fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses.

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order and to suspend the offering of shares. Under certain circumstances the Trust or the Adviser may waive the minimum initial investment for purchases by officers, trustees, and employees of the Trust and its affiliated entities and for certain related advisory accounts and retirement accounts (such as IRAs). The Fund may also change or waive policies concerning minimum investment amounts at any time.

 

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Eligible Benefit Plans. An eligible benefit plan is an arrangement available to the employees of an employer (or two or more affiliated employers) having not less than 10 employees at the plan’s inception, or such an employer on behalf of employees of a trust or plan for such employees, their spouses and their children under the age of 21 or a trust or plan for such employees, which provides for purchases through periodic payroll deductions or otherwise. There must be at least 5 initial participants with accounts investing or invested in Fund shares and/or certain other funds.

 

The initial purchase by the eligible benefit plan and prior purchases by or for the benefit of the initial participants of the plan must aggregate not less than $2,500 and subsequent purchases must be at least $50 per account and must aggregate at least $250. Purchases by the eligible benefit plan must be made pursuant to a single order paid for by a single check or federal funds wire and may not be made more often than monthly. A separate account will be established for each employee, spouse or child for which purchases are made. The requirements for initiating or continuing purchases pursuant to an eligible benefit plan may be modified and the offering to such plans may be terminated at any time without prior notice.

 

Selling Shares. You may sell your shares by giving instructions to the Transfer Agent online, by mail or by telephone. The Fund will use reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine and, if the procedures are followed, will not be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone transactions.

 

The Fund’s procedure is to redeem shares at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent receives the redemption request in proper order, less any applicable deferred sales charge on purchases held for less than one year and for which no sales charge was paid at the time of purchase. Payment will be made promptly, but no later than the seventh day following the receipt of the redemption request in proper order. The Board may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment during any period when (a) trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC or such exchange is closed for other than weekends and holidays, (b) the SEC has by order permitted such suspension, or (c) an emergency, as defined by rules of the SEC, exists during which time the sale of Fund shares or valuation of securities held by the Fund are not reasonably practicable.

 

Purchases and Sales Through Broker Dealers. The Fund may be purchased through broker dealers and other intermediaries. The Fund may authorize one or more brokers to receive on its behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such brokers will be authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee, received the order. Customer orders will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after they are received by an authorized broker or the broker’s authorized designee.

 

REDEMPTIONS IN KIND

 

The Fund does not intend to redeem shares in any form except cash. However, if the redemption amount is over the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net assets, pursuant to an election under Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act by the Trust on behalf of the Fund, the Fund has the right to redeem your shares by giving you the amount that exceeds the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net assets in securities instead of cash. In the event that an in-kind distribution is made, a shareholder may incur additional expenses such as the payment of brokerage commissions on the sale or other disposition of the securities received from the Fund.

 

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ADDITONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Custodian. Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”), 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets. The Custodian has entered into a foreign sub-custody arrangement with The Bank of New York, as the approved foreign custody manager (the Delegate) to perform certain functions with respect to the custody of the Fund’s assets outside of the United States of America. The Delegate shall place and maintain the Fund’s assets with an eligible foreign custodian; provided that, the Delegate shall be required to determine that the Fund’s assets will be subject to reasonable care based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market.

 

Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent. Pursuant to a Fund Services Agreement, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. (“CFS” or the “Administrator”) 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235 serves as the Fund’s administrator, transfer agent and accounting agent.

 

In its capacity as administrator, CFS supervises all aspects of the operations of the Fund except those performed by the Adviser. CFS will provide certain administrative services and facilities for the Fund, including preparing and maintaining certain books, records, and monitoring compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements. CFS, as administrative agent for the Fund, will provide shareholder, recordkeeping, administrative and blue-sky filing services.

 

As transfer agent, CFS provides certain shareholder and other services to the Fund, including furnishing account and transaction information and maintaining shareholder account records. CFS will be responsible for processing orders and payments for share purchases. CFS will mail proxy materials (and receive and tabulate proxies), shareholder reports, confirmation forms for purchases and redemptions and prospectuses to shareholders. CFS will disburse income dividends and capital distributions and prepare and file appropriate tax-related information concerning dividends and distributions to shareholders.

 

CFS also provides accounting services to the Fund. CFS will be responsible for accounting relating to the Fund and its investment transactions; maintaining certain books and records of the Fund; determining daily the NAV per share of the Fund; and preparing security position, transaction and cash position reports. CFS also monitors periodic distributions of gains or losses on portfolio sales and maintains a daily listing of portfolio holdings. CFS is responsible for providing expenses accrued and payment reporting services, tax-related financial information to the Trust, and for monitoring compliance with the regulatory requirements relating to maintaining accounting records.

 

CFS receives, for administrative services, an asset-based fee based computed daily and paid monthly on the daily net assets of the Fund, subject to a minimum fee plus out-of-pocket expenses. CFS receives, for transfer agency services, per account fees computed daily and paid monthly, subject to a minimum fee plus out-of-pocket expenses. CFS receives, for fund accounting services, an asset-based fee, computed daily and paid monthly on the daily net assets of the Fund, subject to a minimum fee plus out-of-pocket expenses. Fees to CFS are computed daily and paid monthly.

 

The following table provides information regarding transfer agent, accounting and administrative services fees paid by the Fund:

 

Fiscal Period Ended Administrator Transfer Agent Fund Accountant
March 31, 2025 $80,721 $27,375 $46,901
March 31, 2024 $70,480 $30,423 $41,060
March 31, 2023 $54,987 $21,767 $30,967

 

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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The firm of Cohen & Company, Ltd., located at 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, has been selected as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Its services include auditing the Fund’s financial statements. Cohen & Co Advisory, LLC, an affiliate of Cohen & Company, Ltd., provides tax services as requested.

 

Legal Counsel. Practus, LLP, 11300 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Suite 310, Leawood, Kansas 66211, serves as legal counsel for the Trust and Fund.

 

Distributor. Foreside Fund Services, LLC (“Foreside” or the “Distributor”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (d/b/a ACA Group), located at 190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, Maine 04101 serves as the principal underwriter and distributor for the shares of the Fund pursuant to a Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”). The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor serves as the Fund’s principal underwriter and acts as exclusive agent for the Fund in selling its shares to the public on a commercially reasonable effort basis and then only in respect to orders placed – that is, the Distributor is under no obligations to sell any specific number of shares.

 

Foreside is registered as a broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The offering of the Fund’s shares is continuous. The Distributor may receive Distribution 12b-1 and Service Fees from the Fund, as described in the applicable prospectus and this SAI. The Distributor does not retain Rule 12b-1 fees for profit. Instead, these fees are kept in retention for future distribution related expenses. The Advisor compensates the Distributor for certain distribution related activities.

 

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

 

As described briefly in the applicable prospectus, the Fund offers the following shareholder services:

 

Regular Account. The regular account allows for voluntary investments to be made at any time. Available to individuals, custodians, corporations, trusts, estates, corporate retirement plans and others, investors are free to make additions and withdrawals to or from their account as often as they wish. Simply use the account application provided at the Fund’s website to open your account.

 

Telephone Transactions. A shareholder may redeem shares or transfer into another fund by telephone if this service is requested at the time the shareholder completes the initial account application. If it is not elected at that time, it may be elected at a later date by making a request in writing to the Transfer Agent and having the signature on the request guaranteed. The Fund employs reasonable procedures designed to confirm the authenticity of instructions communicated by telephone and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. As a result of this policy, a shareholder authorizing telephone redemption or transfer bears the risk of loss which may result from unauthorized or fraudulent transactions which the Fund believes to be genuine. When requesting a telephone redemption or transfer, the shareholder will be asked to respond to certain questions designed to confirm the shareholder’s identity as the shareholder of record. Cooperation with these procedures helps to protect the account and the Fund from unauthorized transactions.

 

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Automatic Investment Plan. Any shareholder may utilize this feature, which provides for automatic monthly investments into your account. Upon your request, the Transfer Agent will withdraw a fixed amount each month from a checking or savings account for investment into the Fund. This does not require a commitment for a fixed period of time. A shareholder may change the monthly investment, skip a month, or discontinue the Automatic Investment Plan as desired by notifying the Transfer Agent toll-free at 800-628-4077.

 

Retirement Plans. Fund shares are available for purchase in connection with the following tax-deferred retirement plans:

 

Traditional IRA. An individual retirement account. Your contribution may or may not be deductible depending on your circumstances. Assets can grow tax-deferred and distributions are taxable as income.

 

Roth IRA. An IRA with non-deductible contributions, tax-free growth of assets, and tax-free distributions for qualified distributions.

 

Spousal IRA. An IRA funded by a working spouse in the name of a non-earning spouse.

 

SEP-IRA. An individual retirement account funded by employer contributions. Your assets grow tax-deferred and distributions are taxable as income.

 

Keogh or Profit Sharing Plans. These plans allow corporations, partnerships and individuals who are self-employed to make tax-deductible contributions of up to $35,000 for each person covered by the plans.

 

403(b) Plans. An arrangement that allows employers of charitable or educational organizations to make voluntary salary reduction contributions to a tax-deferred account.

 

401(k) Plans. Allows employees of corporations of all sizes to contribute a percentage of their wages on a tax-deferred basis. These accounts need to be established by the trustee of the plan.

 

For information about eligibility requirements and other matters concerning these plans and to obtain the necessary forms to participate in these plans, please call the Trust toll-free at 800-673-0550. Each plan’s custodian charges nominal fees in connection with plan establishment and maintenance. These fees are detailed in the plan documents. You may wish to consult with your attorney or other tax advisor for specific advice concerning your tax status and plans.

 

Exchange Privilege. To the extent that the Adviser manages other funds in the Trust, shareholders may exchange their shares for shares of any other series of the Trust managed by the Adviser, provided the shares of the Fund the shareholder is exchanging into are registered for sale in the shareholder’s state of residence. As of the date of this prospectus, the Adviser does not manage any other funds in the Trust. Each account must meet the minimum investment requirements. Also, to make an exchange, an exchange order must comply with the requirements for a redemption or repurchase order and must specify the value or the number of shares to be exchanged. Your exchange will take effect as of the next determination of the Fund’s NAV per share (usually at the close of business on the same day). The Trust reserves the right to limit the number of exchanges or to otherwise prohibit or restrict shareholders from making exchanges at any time, without notice, should the Trust determine that it would be in the best interest of its shareholders to do so. For tax purposes, an exchange constitutes the sale of the shares of the fund from which you are exchanging and the purchase of shares of the fund into which you are exchanging. Consequently, the sale may involve either a capital gain or loss to the shareholder for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The exchange privilege is available only in states where it is legally permissible to do so.

 

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DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO SECURITY HOLDINGS

 

This Disclosure of Portfolio Securities Holdings Policy (the “Policy”) shall govern the disclosure of the portfolio securities holdings of the Fund. The Trust maintains this Policy to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio securities is in the best interests of the Fund and the Fund’s shareholders. The Board reviews these policies and procedures as necessary and compliance will be periodically assessed by the Board in connection with a report from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer. In addition, the Board has reviewed and approved the provision of portfolio holdings information to entities described below that may be prior to and more frequently than the public disclosure of such information (i.e., “non-standard disclosure”). The Board has also delegated authority to the officers of the Trust and Adviser to provide such information in certain circumstances (see below).

 

The Trust is required by the SEC to publicly file its complete portfolio holdings schedule with the SEC on a quarterly basis. This schedule is filed with the Trust’s Form N-CSR for the second and fourth fiscal quarters and on Form N-PORT for the first and third fiscal quarters. Certain portfolio information is also included on Form N-PORT that is filed for the second and fourth fiscal quarters. The portfolio holdings information provided in these reports is as of the end of the respective quarter. Form N-CSR must be filed with the SEC no later than ten (10) calendar days after the Trust transmits its annual or semi-annual report to its shareholders. Form N-PORT must be filed with the SEC and must be made publicly available no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the end of the applicable quarter. These portfolio holdings schedules filed on Form N-CSR and Form N-PORT are posted to the Fund’s website no later than sixty (60) days following the fiscal quarters.

 

Additionally, the Trust’s service providers which have contracted to provide services to the Trust and its funds, including, for example, the custodian, the fund accountants and other service providers assisting with materials utilized in the Board’s 15c processes that require portfolio holdings information in order to perform those services, may receive non-standard disclosure. Non-standard disclosure of portfolio holdings information may also be provided to a third-party when the Trust has a legitimate business purpose for doing so. The Trust has the following ongoing arrangements with certain third parties to provide the Fund’s portfolio holdings information:

 

  1. to the Trust’s auditors within sixty (60) days after the applicable fiscal period or other periods as necessary for use in providing audit opinions and other advice related to financial, regulatory, or tax reporting;
     
  2. to financial printers within sixty (60) days after the applicable fiscal period for the purpose of preparing Trust regulatory filings; and
     
  3. to the Trust’s administrator, custodian, transfer agent and accounting services provider on a daily basis in connection with their providing services to the Fund.

 

The Trust’s service providers may also disclose non-public portfolio holdings information if such disclosure is required by applicable laws, rules or regulations, or by regulatory authorities. Additionally, the Adviser may establish ongoing arrangements with certain third parties to provide the Fund’s portfolio holdings information that the Adviser determines that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so and the recipient is subject to a duty of confidentiality. These third parties may include:

 

  1. financial data processing companies that provide automated data scanning and monitoring services for the Fund;

 

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  2. research companies that allow the Adviser to perform attribution analysis for the Fund; and
     
  3. the Adviser’s proxy voting agent to assess and vote proxies on behalf of the Fund.

 

From time to time, employees of the Adviser may express their views orally or in writing on the Fund’s portfolio securities or may state that the Fund has recently purchased or sold, or continues to own, one or more securities. The securities subject to these views and statements may be ones that were purchased or sold since the Fund’s most recent quarter-end and therefore may not be reflected on the list of the Fund’s most recent quarter-end portfolio holdings. These views and statements may be made to various persons, including members of the press, brokers and other financial intermediaries that sell shares of the Fund, shareholders in the Fund, persons considering investing in the Fund or representatives of such shareholders or potential shareholders, such as fiduciaries of a 401(k) plan or a trust and their advisers, and other entities for which the Adviser may determine. The nature and content of the views and statements provided to each of these persons may differ. From time to time, employees of the Adviser also may provide oral or written information (“portfolio commentary”) about the Fund, including, but not limited to, how the Fund’s investments are divided among various sectors, industries, countries, investment styles and capitalization sizes, and among stocks, bonds, currencies and cash, security types, bond maturities, bond coupons and bond credit quality ratings. This portfolio commentary may also include information on how these various weightings and factors contributed to Fund performance. The Adviser may also provide oral or written information (“statistical information”) about various financial characteristics of the Fund or its underlying portfolio securities including, but not limited to, alpha, beta, R-squared, coefficient of determination, duration, maturity, information ratio, Sharpe ratio, earnings growth, payout ratio, price/book value, projected earnings growth, return on equity, standard deviation, tracking error, weighted average quality, market capitalization, percent debt to equity, price to cash flow, dividend yield or growth, default rate, portfolio turnover, and risk and style characteristics. This portfolio commentary and statistical information about the Fund may be based on the Fund’s portfolio as of the most recent quarter-end or the end of some other interim period, such as month-end. The portfolio commentary and statistical information may be provided to various persons, including those described in the preceding paragraph. The nature and content of the information provided to each of these persons may differ.

 

Additionally, employees of the Adviser may disclose one or more of the portfolio securities of the Fund when purchasing and selling securities through broker-dealers, requesting bids on securities, obtaining price quotations on securities, or in connection with litigation involving the Fund’s portfolio securities. The Adviser does not enter into formal non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements in connection with these situations; however, the Fund would not continue to conduct business with a person who the Adviser believed was misusing the disclosed information.

 

The Adviser or its affiliates may manage products sponsored by companies other than itself, including investment companies, offshore funds, and separate accounts and affiliates of the Adviser may provide investment related services, including research services, to other companies, including other investment companies, offshore funds, institutional investors and other entities. In each of these instances, the sponsors of these other companies and the affiliates of the Adviser may receive compensation for their services. In many cases, these other products may be managed in a similar fashion to the Fund and thus have similar portfolio holdings, and the other investment related services provided by affiliates of the Adviser may involve disclosure of information that is also utilized by the Adviser in managing the Fund. The sponsors of these other products may disclose the portfolio holdings of their products at different times than the Adviser discloses portfolio holdings for the Fund, and affiliates of the Adviser may provide investment related services to its clients at times that are different than the times disclosed to the Fund.

 

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The Trust and the Adviser currently have no other arrangements for the provision of non-standard disclosure to any party or shareholder. Other than the non-standard disclosure discussed above, if a third-party requests specific, current information regarding the Fund’s portfolio holdings, the Trust will refer the third-party to the latest regulatory filing.

 

All of the arrangements above are subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board to ensure such disclosure is for a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interests of the Trust and its shareholders. The Trust’s CCO is responsible for monitoring the use and disclosure of information relating to Fund portfolio securities. Although no material conflicts of interest are believed to exist that could disadvantage the Fund and its shareholders, various safeguards have been implemented to protect the Fund and its shareholders from conflicts of interest, including: the adoption of Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act designed to prevent fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative acts by officers and employees of the Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor in connection with their personal securities transactions; the adoption by the Adviser and Distributor of insider trading policies and procedures designed to prevent their employees’ misuse of material non-public information; and the adoption by the Trust of a Code of Ethics for Officers that requires the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Trust to report to the Board any affiliations or other relationships that could potentially create a conflict of interest with the Fund. There may be instances where the interests of the Trust’s shareholders respecting the disclosure of information about portfolio holdings may conflict or appear to conflict with the interests of the Adviser, the Distributor, or an affiliated person of the Trust, the Adviser or the Distributor. In such situations, the conflict must be disclosed to the Board and the Board will attempt to resolve the situation in a manner that it deems in the best interests of the Fund.

 

Affiliated persons of the Trust who receive non-standard disclosure are subject to restrictions and limitations on the use and handling of such information, including requirements to maintain the confidentiality of such information, pre-clear securities trades and report securities transactions activity, as applicable. Except as provided above, affiliated persons of the Trust and third-party service providers of the Trust receiving such non-standard disclosure will be instructed that such information must be kept confidential and that no trading on such information should be allowed.

 

Neither the Trust, the Fund, nor the Adviser receives compensation or other consideration in connection with the non-standard disclosure of information about portfolio securities.

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

The Trust is required to disclose information concerning the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures to shareholders. The Board has delegated to the Adviser the responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund. The Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of the Trust are included as Exhibit A. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which have been reviewed by the Board, and which are found in Exhibit B. Any material changes to the proxy policies and procedures will be submitted to the Board for approval. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ending June 30, will be available (1) without charge, upon request by calling toll-free 888-411-1875; by email at: mail@ccofva.com or by writing to the Fund at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235; (2) on or through the Fund’s website at https://theworldfundstrust.com/funds/Philotimo/Philotimo.php and (3) on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Annual Report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 has been filed with the SEC. The financial statements contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI. The financial statements and financial highlights for the Fund included in the Annual Report have been audited by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, Cohen & Company, Ltd., whose report thereon also appears in such Annual Report and is also incorporated herein by reference. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The financial statements in such Annual Report have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. You can receive free copies of reports, request other information and discuss your questions about the Fund by contacting the Fund directly at:

 

Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund

8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205

Richmond, Virginia 23235

Telephone: 800-673-0550

https://theworldfundstrust.com/funds/Philotimo/Philotimo.php

 

The Fund’s shareholder reports will be filed with the SEC. These reports will be available approximately 60 days after the completion of the relevant period end. Copies of these reports will be mailed to shareholders.

 

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Exhibit A

 

World Funds Trust

 

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures

 

The World Funds Trust (the “Trust”) is registered as an open-end management 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 Adviser

 

The Board believes that the investment adviser, or the investment sub-adviser as appropriate, of each Fund (each an “Adviser”), 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 shall therefore defer to, and rely on, the Adviser of each Fund to make decisions on how to cast proxy votes on behalf of such Fund.

 

The Trust hereby designates the Adviser of each Fund as the entity responsible for exercising proxy voting authority with regard to securities held in the Fund’s investment portfolio. Consistent with its duties under this Policy, each Adviser shall monitor and review corporate transactions of corporations in which the Fund has invested, obtain all information sufficient to allow an informed vote on all proxy solicitations, ensure that all proxy votes are cast in a timely fashion, and maintain all records required to be maintained by the Fund under the Proxy Rule and the 1940 Act. Each Adviser shall perform these duties in accordance with the Adviser’s proxy voting policy, a copy of which shall be presented to this Board for its review. Each Adviser shall promptly provide to the Board updates to its proxy voting policy as they are adopted and implemented.

 

Conflict of Interest Transactions

 

In some instances, an Adviser may be asked to cast a proxy vote that presents a conflict between the interests of a Fund’s shareholders and those of the Adviser or an affiliated person of the Adviser. In such case, the Adviser is instructed to abstain from making a voting decision and to forward all necessary proxy voting materials to the Trust to enable the Board to make a voting decision. When the Board is required to make a proxy voting decision, only the Trustees without a conflict of interest with regard to the security in question or the matter to be voted upon shall be permitted to participate in the decision of how the Fund’s vote will be cast. In the event that the Board is required to vote a proxy because an Adviser has a conflict of interest with respect to the proxy, the Board will vote such proxy in accordance with the Adviser’s proxy voting policy, to the extent consistent with the shareholders’ best interests, as determined by the Board in its discretion. The Board shall notify the Adviser of its final decision on the matter and the Adviser shall vote in accordance with the Board’s decision.

 

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Availability of Proxy Voting Policy and Records Available to Fund Shareholders

 

If a Fund has a website, the Fund may post a copy of its Adviser’s proxy voting policy and this Policy on such website. Effective July 1, 2024, the Fund shall make publicly available its most recently filed report on Form N-PX on or through its website as soon as reasonably practicable after filing the report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”). The information disclosed on Form N-PX shall be in a readable format. In addition, 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 administrator shall reply to any Fund shareholder request within three business days of receipt of the request, by first-class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery.

 

Each Adviser shall provide a complete voting record, as required by the Proxy Rule, for each series of the Trust for which it acts as adviser, to the Trust’s administrator within 30 days following the end of each 12-month period ending June 30. The Trust’s administrator will file a report based on such record on Form N-PX on an annual basis with the Commission no later than August 31st of each year.

 

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Exhibit B

 

KANEN WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC

PROXY VOTING POLICY

 

PROXY VOTING, TENDER OFFERS, & CLASS ACTIONS

 

KWM has a fiduciary duty to make investment decisions that are in our clients’ best interests. Proxy voting is a part of the process through which we support shareholders rights and activism regarding company issues related to corporate strategy, board of directors, financial matters, operations, mergers and acquisitions, and transparency practices.

 

Our proxy voting policies and procedures (hereinafter, “proxy voting policy”) as delineated herein are designed to ensure proxies are voted in the best interest of clients. Failing to vote clients’ shares (when the responsibility has been delegated to us), without consideration of the effects of the proposal’s recommendations, or voting arbitrarily with or against management, may violate our fiduciary duty. By authority delegated pursuant to our advisory agreement with clients, KWM votes proxies on behalf of clients and advisory affiliates. Moreover, we have an obligation to vote proxies in a timely manner.

 

This is assured in that each account custodian used by KWM, upon client consent, automatically forwards clients’ proxy-voting statements to us. The Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for voting client proxies.

 

Accordingly, we have developed the following guidelines to ensure that clients’ interests are given precedence when evaluating proxy proposals:

 

1.Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

We generally vote proposals in accordance with these guidelines, but we may deviate from the guidelines if warranted by the specific facts and circumstances of the situation. We apply these principles to our proxy decisions. We believe that a company’s corporate strategy, the board of directors, financial issues, operations, mergers and acquisitions, and transparency practices may have a significant effect on the value of company shares, and we consider these matters when voting. The decision of how to vote follows the same criteria we use in managing client accounts, that is, to vote for proposals in such a manner that, based on our analysis, will increase shareholder value.

 

There may be instances where we must evaluate proxy proposals on a case-by-case basis, and in such instances, the following criteria will guide our decision. On the other hand, in situations where our vote cannot be decided by an application of our guidelines, we will abstain from voting.

 

Also, proxy proposals not specifically addressed by these guidelines, whether submitted by management or shareholders, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, remaining cognizant of our fiduciary duty to make voting decisions that, by maximizing long-term shareholder value, are in our clients’ best interest.

 

In evaluating a particular proxy proposal, KWM takes into consideration, among other items:

– How the proxy proposal will impact clients (i.e., maximizing shareholder value);

– The period of time over which shares of the company are expected to be held in the client’s portfolio;

– The size of the position;

– The costs involved in voting the proxy proposal;

– Management’s assertions regarding the proxy proposal; and

– Other shareholder groups assertions regarding the proxy proposal.

 

Furthermore, in making decisions regarding our votes, we may engage with companies in advance of their annual meeting, and throughout the year. We believe such engagement provides the opportunity to share our philosophy, our corporate governance values, and, more importantly, affect positive change and offer a more holistic view of governance practices and relevant trends.

 

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We believe that authority and accountability for setting and executing corporate policies, goals, and compensation rests with the board of directors and senior management. In return, we support shareholder rights and activism that allow shareholders to hold directors and management accountable if they fail to act in the best interests of shareholders.

 

Accordingly, for proxy solicitations that do not align with our investment strategy, our vote will generally align with senior management recommendations. It most cases, we abstain from voting a proxy for a company that is not a part of our investment strategy or for which we do not make recommendation.

 

2.Research & Resources

In addition to adhering to our proxy voting guidelines, we will utilize one or more of the following research and resources to further evaluate proxy proposals:

 

– Ongoing research of the company (through business and trade publications)

– Company management recommendations accompanying proxies

– Company conference calls

– Company annual reports

– Analyst reports of the company

– Other documents received that contain recommendations on how to vote the proxy

 

3.Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs whenever our firm has competing interests

and/or where there is the potential to place one client’s interest ahead of another. KWM may encounter a material conflict in voting client proxies. KWM has a duty to recognize any material conflicts and to resolve such conflicts before voting a proxy. There is a potential material conflict of interest when we vote a proxy solicited by an issuer with whom KWM, our principals, affiliates, shareholders, members, partners, managers, directors, officers, or ~ 34 ~ employees have a material relationship that may affect how we vote on the issuer’s proxy KWM is required to identify conflicts of interest and seek to avoid or mitigate such conflicts of interest and fully disclose all material facts concerning any conflict..

 

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Exhibit C

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter

World Funds Trust

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Membership

 

1.The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of World Funds Trust (the “Trust”) shall be composed entirely of Independent Trustees.

 

Board Nominations and Functions

 

1.The Committee shall make nominations for Trustee membership on the Board of Trustees, including the Independent Trustees. The Committee shall evaluate candidates’ qualifications for Board membership and their independence from the investment advisers to the Trust’s series portfolios and the Trust’s other principal service providers. Persons selected as Independent Trustees must not be “interested person” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, nor shall Independent Trustee have and affiliations or associations that shall preclude them from voting as an Independent Trustee on matters involving approvals and continuations of Rule 12b-1 Plans, Investment Advisory Agreements and such other standards as the Committee shall deem appropriate. The Committee shall also consider the effect of any relationships beyond those delineated in the 1940 Act that might impair independence, e.g., business, financial or family relationships with managers or service providers. See Appendix A for Procedures with Respect to Nominees to the Board.

 

2.The Committee shall periodically review Board governance procedures and shall recommend any appropriate changes to the full Board of Trustees.

 

3.The Committee shall periodically review the composition of the Board of Trustees to determine whether it may be appropriate to add individuals with different backgrounds or skill sets from those already on the Board.

 

4.The Committee shall periodically review trustee compensation and shall recommend any appropriate changes to the Independent Trustees as a group.

 

Committee Nominations and Functions

 

1.The Committee shall make nominations for membership on all committees and shall review committee assignments at least annually.

 

2.The Committee shall review, as necessary, the responsibilities of any committees of the Board, whether there is a continuing need for each committee, whether there is a need for additional committees of the Board, and whether committees should be combined or reorganized. The Committee shall make recommendations for any such action to the full Board.

 

Other Powers and Responsibilities

 

1.The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including authority to retain special counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of the Trust.

 

2.The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any changes to the full Board of Trustees.

 

Adopted:     August 2, 2013

 

50

 

 

APPENDIX A TO THE NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER

 

WORLD FUNDS TRUST

 

PROCEDURES WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES TO THE BOARD

 

I.Identification of Candidates. When a vacancy on the Board of Trustees exists or is anticipated, and such vacancy is to be filled by an Independent Trustee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall identify candidates by obtaining referrals from such sources as it may deem appropriate, which may include current Trustees, management of the Trust, counsel and other advisors to the Trustees, and shareholders of the Trust who submit recommendations in accordance with these procedures. In no event shall the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consider as a candidate to fill any such vacancy an individual recommended by any investment adviser of any series portfolio of the Trust, unless the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has invited management to make such a recommendation.

 

II.Shareholder Candidates. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall, when identifying candidates for the position of Independent Trustee, consider any such candidate recommended by a shareholder if such recommendation contains: (i) sufficient background information concerning the candidate, including evidence the candidate is willing to serve as an Independent Trustee if selected for the position; and (ii) is received in a sufficiently timely manner as determined by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in its discretion. Shareholders shall be directed to address any such recommendations in writing to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, c/o the Secretary of the Trust. The Secretary shall retain copies of any shareholder recommendations which meet the foregoing requirements for a period of not more than 12 months following receipt. The Secretary shall have no obligation to acknowledge receipt of any shareholder recommendations.

 

III.Evaluation of Candidates. In evaluating a candidate for a position on the Board of Trustees, including any candidate recommended by shareholders of the Trust, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall consider the following: (i) the candidate’s knowledge in matters relating to the mutual fund industry; (ii) any experience possessed by the candidate as a director or senior officer of public companies; (iii) the candidate’s educational background; (iv) the candidate’s reputation for high ethical standards and professional integrity; (v) any specific financial, technical or other expertise possessed by the candidate, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Board’s existing mix of skills, core competencies and qualifications; (vi) the candidate’s perceived ability to contribute to the ongoing functions of the Board, including the candidate’s ability and commitment to attend meetings regularly and work collaboratively with other members of the Board; (vii) the candidate’s ability to qualify as an Independent Trustee and any other actual or potential conflicts of interest involving the candidate and the Trust; and (viii) such other factors as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determines to be relevant in light of the existing composition of the Board and any anticipated vacancies. Prior to making a final recommendation to the Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall conduct personal interviews with those candidates it concludes are the most qualified candidates.

 

51

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28. Exhibits

 

(a)(1) Certificate of Trust of World Funds Trust (formerly, Abacus World Funds Trust) (the “Registrant”) dated April 9, 2007 is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 241 on Form N-1A filed on October 4, 2017.
   
(a)(2) Certificate of Amendment dated January 7, 2008 to the Registrant’s Certificate of Trust dated April 9, 2007 is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 241 on Form N-1A filed on October 4, 2017.
   
(a)(3) Registrant’s Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 9, 2007 and amended on June 23, 2008 and November 16, 2016 is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 237 on Form N-1A filed on August 28, 2017.
   
(b) Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws dated November 16, 2016 is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 237 on Form N-1A filed on August 28, 2017.
   
(c) Not applicable.
   
(d)(1) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Union Street Partners, LLC with respect to the Union Street Partners Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 426 on Form N-1A filed on July 28, 2023.
   
(d)(2) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Union Street Partners, LLC and McGinn Investment Management, Inc. with respect to the Union Street Partners Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 426 on Form N-1A filed on July 28, 2023.
   
(d)(3) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Perkins Capital Management, Inc. with respect to the Perkins Discovery Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 426 on Form N-1A filed on July 28, 2023.
   
(d)(4) Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Applied Finance Advisors, LLC with respect to the Applied Finance Dividend Fund, Applied Finance Explorer Fund and Applied Finance Select Fund (collectively, the “Applied Finance Funds”) is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 429 on Form N-1A on August 28, 2023.
   
(d)(5) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and LDR Capital Management, LLC with respect to the LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 426 on Form N-1A filed on July 28, 2023.
   
(d)(6) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Clifford Capital Partners, LLC with respect to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund, the Clifford Focused Small Cap Value Fund and the Clifford Capital International Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 420 on Form N-1A filed on January 27, 2023.
   
(d)(7) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Vest Financial LLC, with respect to the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund and Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post Effective Amendment No. 463 on Form N-1A filed on April 29, 2024.

 

 

(d)(8) Management Agreement between Vest Cayman Subsidiary I and Vest Financial, LLC, with respect to the Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective No. 394 on Form N-1A filed on August 6, 2021.
   
(d)(9) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and OTG Asset Management, Ltd. with respect to the OTG Latin America Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 428 on Form N-1A filed on July 28, 2023.
   
(d)(10) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Rule One Partners, LLC with respect to the Rule One Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 465 on Form N-1A filed on April 29, 2024.
   
(d)(11) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Kanen Wealth Management, LLC with respect to the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 427 on Form N-1A filed on July 28, 2023.
   
(d)(12) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Curasset Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Curasset Capital Management Core Bond Fund and the Curasset Capital Management Limited Term Income Fund (the “Curasset Funds”) is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 426 on Form N-1A filed on July 28, 2023.
   
(d)(13) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Vest Financial, LLC with respect to the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies VI Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post Effective Amendment No. 463 on Form N-1A filed on April 29, 2024.
   
(d)(14) Investment Adviser Agreement between the Registrant and Tuttle Capital Management, LLC with respect to the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2024.
   
(d)(15) Investment Adviser Agreement between the Registrant and Cook & Bynum Capital Management, LLC with respect to The Cook & Bynum Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.
   
(e)(1) Principal Underwriter Agreement between the Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC dated March 9, 2021 with respect to the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 384 on Form N-1A filed on April 30, 2021.
   
(e)(2) First Amendment to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated August 24, 2021 between the Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC with respect to the Curasset Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 401 on Form N-1A Filed on October 20, 2021.  
   
(e)(3) Novation Distribution Agreement dated September 30, 2021 between Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 404 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2022.
   
(e)(4) First Amendment to the Novation Distribution Agreement dated December 1, 2021 between the Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC with respect to certain Funds of the Trust is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 409 on Form N-1A filed on April 18, 2022.
   
(e)(5) Second Amendment to the Novation Distribution Agreement dated February 23, 2022 between the Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC with respect to the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategy VI Fund and the Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategy VI Fund and the Clifford Capital International Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 409 on Form N-1A filed on April 18, 2022.

 

 

(e)(6) Third Amendment to the Novation Distribution Agreement dated February 28, 2022 between the Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC with respect to the name changes for the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies VI Fund and the Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies VI Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 409 on Form N-1A filed on April 18, 2022.
   
(e)(7) Fourth Amendment to the Novation Distribution Agreement dated March 28, 2022 between the Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC with respect to the name change for the LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 418 on Form N-1A filed on October 3, 2022.
(e)(8) Fifth Amendment to the Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC with respect to the T-Rex 1.5X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, the T-Rex 1.5X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 1.75X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, the T-Rex 1.75X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 438 on Form N-1A filed on February 28, 2024.
   
(e)(9) Sixth Amendment to the Novated Distribution Agreement dated March 15, 2024 between Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC with respect to certain Funds of the Trust is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2024.
   
(e)(10) Seventh Amendment to the Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC with respect to The Cook & Bynum Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.
   
(e)(11) ETF Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC with respect to the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2024.
   
(e)(12) First Amendment to the ETF Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC with respect to the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2024.
   
(e)(13) Form of Authorized Participant Agreement with Foreside Fund Services, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.
   
(f) Not applicable.
   
(g)(1) Custody Agreement dated July 30, 2008 between the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 241 on Form N-1A filed on October 4, 2017.
   
(g)(2) Amended Appendix B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the Union Street Partners Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 on Form N-1A filed on August 15, 2014.

 

 

(g)(3) Amended Appendix B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the Perkins Discovery Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 on Form N-1A filed on August 15, 2014.
   
(g)(4) Amended Appendix B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated August 15, 2014 between the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 418 on Form N-1A filed on October 3, 2022.
   
(g)(5) Amended Exhibit A to the Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Fifth Third Bank on behalf of certain portfolio series is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 465 on Form N-1A filed on April 29, 2024.
   
(g)(6) Amended Appendix B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement dated June 15, 2008 between the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the OTG Latin America Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 365 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2020.
   
(g)(7) ETF Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association on behalf of the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post Effective-Amendment No. 468 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2024.
   
(g)(8) Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and U. S. Bank, N.A., on behalf of The Cook & Bynum Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.
   
(g)(9) ETF Custody Agreement Amendment between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association on behalf of the T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.
   
(g)(10) Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, LLC on behalf of the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2024.
   
(g)(11) Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement Amendment between the Registrant and U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, LLC on behalf of the T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.
   
(h)(1) Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 on Form N-1A filed on February 23, 2016.
   
(h)(2) Amendment No. 1 and Exhibit A to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Union Street Partners Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 275 on Form N-1A filed on January 29, 2018.
   
(h)(3) Exhibit A to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Perkins Discovery Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 190 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2016.
   
(h)(4) Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 418 on Form N-1A filed on October 3, 2022.

 

 

(h)(5) Amended Fund Services Agreement dated August 29, 2019 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund, Clifford Capital Focused Small Cap Value Fund and the Clifford Capital International Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 409 on Form N-1A filed on April 18, 2022.
   
(h)(6) Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund and Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund, Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies VI Fund, Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies VI Fund (the “Vest Family of Funds”) is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 438 on Form N-1A filed on February 28, 2024.
   
(h)(7) Fund Services Agreement dated August 29, 2019 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Applied Finance Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 349 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2020.
   
(h)(8) Fund Services Agreement dated June 1, 2021 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the OTG Latin America Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 404 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2022.
   
(h)(9) Fund Services Agreement dated February 20, 2019 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Rule One Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 334 on Form N-1A filed on March 27, 2019.
   
(h)(10) Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 384 on Form N-1A filed on April 30, 2021.
   
(h)(11) Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Curasset Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 401 on Form N-1A filed on October 20, 2021.
   
(h)(12) Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post Effective- Amendment No. 468 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2024.
   
(h)(13) ETF Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2024.
   
(h)(14)

Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of The Cook & Bynum Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.

 

(h)(15) ETF Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement Amendment between the Registrant and U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, on behalf of the T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.

 

 

(h)(16) Fund Sub-Administration Servicing Agreement between the Registrant, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. and U.S. Bank Global Fund Services on behalf of the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2024.
   
(h)(17) Fund Sub-Administration Servicing Agreement Amendment between the Registrant, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. and U.S. Bank Global Fund Services on behalf of the T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.
   
(h)(18) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Union Street Partners, LLC with respect to the shares of the Union Street Partners Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 480 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(h)(19) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Perkins Capital Management, Inc. with respect to shares of the Perkins Discovery Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 489 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2025.
   
(h)(20) Amended Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Applied Finance Advisors, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 474 on Form N-1A filed on August 28, 2024.
   
(h)(21) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Vest Financial LLC, with respect to the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund and Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 484 on Form N-1A filed on February 28, 2025.
   
(h)(22) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and OTG Asset Management, Ltd. with respect to the OTG Latin America Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 474 on Form N-1A filed on August 28, 2024.
   
(h)(23) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Rule One Partners, LLC with respect to the Rule One Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 486 filed on April 30, 2025.
   
(h)(24) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Clifford Capital Partners, LLC with respect to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 482 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(h)(25) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Kanen Wealth Management, LLC with respect to the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund. (filed herewith)
   
(h)(26) Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Curasset Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Curasset Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 483 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(h)(27) Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Vest Financial, LLC with respect to the Vest VI Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 488 on Form N-1A filed on April 30, 2025.
   
(h)(28) Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Cook & Bynum Capital Management, LLC with the respect to The Cook & Bynum Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.
   
(h)(29) Shareholder Services Plan, dated December 21, 2016 (Schedule A amended August 29, 2019), with respect to Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares to the Applied Finance Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 349 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2020.

 

 

(h)(30) Amended Shareholder Services Plan with respect to the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund and Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund, Institutional Class Shares, Investor Class Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Class R Shares is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 438 on Form N-1A filed on February 28, 2024.
   
(h)(31) Amended Shareholder Services Plan with respect to the LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 418 on Form N-1A filed on October 3, 2022.
   
(h)(32) Shareholder Services Plan, dated February 20, 2019, with respect to the OTG Latin America Fund Class A Shares and Class C Shares is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 334 on Form N-1A filed on March 27, 2019.
   
(h)(33) Shareholder Services Plan with respect to the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund Institutional Shares is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 384 on Form N-1A filed on April 30, 2021.
   
(h)(34) Shareholder Services Plan with respect to the Curasset Funds Class A, Investor Class and Institutional Class is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No 401 on Form N-1A filed on October 20, 2021.
   
(h)(35) Shareholder Services Plan with respect to the Vest VI Funds Class I and Class Y is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 409 on Form N-1A filed on April 18, 2022.
   
(h)(36) Shareholder Services Plan with respect to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund, Clifford Capital Focused Small Cap Value Fund and Clifford Capital International Value Fund for the Investor and Institutional Shares is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 409 on Form N-1A filed on April 18, 2022.
   
(h)(37) Shareholder Services Plan with respect to the Rule One Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 465 on Form N-1A filed on April 29, 2024.
   
(i)(1) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for Union Street Partners Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 241 on Form N-1A filed on October 4, 2017.
   
(i)(2) Consent of Legal Counsel for Union Street Partners Value Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 480 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(i)(3) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for Perkins Discovery Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 241 on Form N-1A filed on October 4, 2017.
   
(i)(4) Consent of Legal Counsel for Perkins Discovery Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 489 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2025.
   
(i)(5) Consent of Legal Counsel for Applied Finance Funds was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 474 on Form N-1A filed on August 28, 2024.
   
(i)(6) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for Applied Finance Core Fund (formerly Toreador Core Fund) is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 117 on Form N-1A filed on May 8, 2015.

 

 

(i)(7) Opinion of Legal Counsel for Applied Finance Core Fund (formerly Toreador Core Fund) is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 117 on Form N-1A filed on May 8, 2015.
   
(i)(8) Opinion and Consent of Counsel regarding tax matters for the reorganization of the Applied Finance Core Fund (formerly Toreador Core Fund) from the Unified Series Trust into World Funds Trust is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 on Form N-1A filed on August 6, 2015.
   
(i)(9) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for Applied Finance Explorer Fund (formerly Toreador Explorer Fund) is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 on Form N-1A filed on April 29, 2015.
   
(i)(10) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for Applied Finance Select Fund (formerly Toreador Select Fund) is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 183 on Form N-1A filed on June 30, 2016.
   
(i)(11) Opinion and Consent of Counsel regarding tax matters for the reorganization of the Applied Finance Dividend Fund into the Applied Finance Core Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 369 on Form N-1A filed on August 28, 2020.
   
(i)(12) Opinion of Legal Counsel for the Applied Finance Core Fund and Applied Finance Dividend Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 369 on Form N-1A filed on August 28, 2020.
   
(i)(13) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for Clifford Capital Partners Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 155 on Form N-1A filed on February 8, 2016.
   
(i)(14) Consent of Legal Counsel for the Clifford Capital Partners Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 482 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(i)(17) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for the Vest Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 195 on Form N-1A filed on August 23, 2016.
   
(i)(19) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 394 on Form N-1A filed on August 6, 2021.
   
(i)(20) Consent of Legal Counsel for the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest US Large Cap 20% Strategies Fund, Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund and Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No 484 on Form N-1A filed on February 28, 2025.
   
(i)(21) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 230 on Form N-1A filed on July 25, 2017.
   
(i)(22) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for the Vest Funds with respect to the Class Y Shares is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 285 on Form N-1A filed on February 27, 2018.
   
(i)(23) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for OTG Latin America Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 328 on Form N-1A filed on February 27, 2019.

 

 

(i)(24) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for the OTG Latin America Fund with respect to the addition of Institutional Class Shares is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 418 on Form N-1A filed on October 3, 2022.
   
(i)(25) Consent of Legal Counsel for the OTG Latin America Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 470 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2024.
   
(i)(26) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for Rule One Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 334 on Form N-1A filed on March 27, 2019.
   
(i)(27) Consent of Legal Counsel for the Rule One Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 486 on Form N-1A on April 30, 2025.
   
(i)(28) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 384 on Form N-1A filed on April 30, 2021.
   
(i)(29) Consent of Legal Counsel for the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund. (Filed herewith)
   
(i)(30) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for the Union Street Partners Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 385 on Form N-1A filed on April 30, 2021.
   
(i)(31) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for the Curasset Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 401 on Form N-1A filed on October 20, 2021.
   
(i)(32) Consent of Legal Counsel for the Curasset Funds was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No 483 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(i)(33) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for the Vest VI Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 408 on Form N-1A on March 7, 2022.
   
(i)(34) Consent of Legal Counsel for the Vest VI Funds was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 488 on Form N-1A on April 30, 2025.
   
(i)(35) Consent of Legal Counsel for the LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 485 on Form N-1A on April 30, 2025.
   
(i)(36) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel regarding legality of securities registered with respect to the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 460 on Form N-1A filed on April 26, 2024.
   
(i)(37) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel regarding legality of securities registered with respect to The Cook & Bynum Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 473 on Form N-1A filed on August 21, 2024.
   
(i)(38) Consent of Legal Counsel for The Cook & Bynum Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 481 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(i)(39) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel regarding legality of securities registered with respect to the T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 479 on Form N-1A filed on October 18, 2024.

 

 

(i)(40) Consent of Legal Counsel for the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, the T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 487 on Form N-1A on April 30, 2025.
   
(j)(1) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for Union Street Partners Value Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 480 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(j)(2) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for Perkins Discovery Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No 489 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2025.
   
(j)(3) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for the LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund is filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post Effective Amendment No. 485 on Form N-1A filed on April 30, 2025.
   
(j)(4) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for the Applied Finance Funds was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 474 on Form N-1A filed on August 28, 2024.
   
(j)(5) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for the Clifford Capital Partners Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 482 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(j)(6) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund and Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 484 on Form N-1A filed on February 28, 2025.
   
(j)(7) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for Vest VI Funds as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 488 on Form N-1A filed on April 30, 2025.
   
(j)(8) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for the OTG Latin America Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 470 on Form N-1A on July 29, 2024.
   
(j)(9) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for Rule One Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 485 on Form N-1A on April 30, 2025.
   
(j)(10) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund. (Filed herewith)
   
(j)(11) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for Curasset Funds was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 483 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(j)(12) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for The Cook & Bynum Fund was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 481 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(j)(13) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, the T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, the T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF was filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 487 on Form N-1A on April 30, 2025.

 

 

(k) Not applicable.
   
(l) Not applicable.
   
(m)(1) Amended Schedule A to the Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Union Street Partners Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 on Form N-1A filed on October 31, 2014.
   
(m)(2) Fixed Compensation Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Perkins Discovery Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2014.
   
(m)(3) Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated August 31, 2019, for the Investor Class Shares of the Applied Finance Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 349 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2020.
   
(m)(4) Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Platform Class Shares of the LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 418 on Form N-1A filed on October 3, 2022.
   
(m)(5) Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated February 23, 2022, for the Clifford Capital Partners Fund, Clifford Capital Focused Small Cap Value Fund and Clifford Capital International Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 409 on Form N-1A filed on April 18, 2022.
   
(m)(6) Amended Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund and Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 438 on Form N-1A filed on February 28, 2024.
   
(m)(7) Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated February 20, 2019 for the OTG Latin America Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 334 on Form N-1A filed on March 27, 2019.
   
(m)(8) Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Curasset Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 401 on Form N-1A filed on October 20, 2021.
   
(m)(9) Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Vest VI Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 409 on Form N-1A filed on April 18, 2022.
   
(m)(10) Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 419 on Form N-1A filed on January 27, 2023.
   
(m)(11) Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Rule One Fund is herein incorporated by refence from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 465 on Form N-1A filed on April 29, 2024.
   
(n)(1) Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan for the Union Street Partners Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 480 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(n)(2) Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan for the Applied Finance Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 349 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2020.

 

 

(n)(3) Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan for the Clifford Capital Partners, Clifford Capital Focused Small Cap Value Fund and Clifford Capital International Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 409 on Form N-1A filed on April 18, 2022.
   
(n)(4) Amended Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan for the Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund and Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 438 on Form N-1A filed on February 28, 2024.
   
(n)(5) Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan for the OTG Latin America is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 416 on Form N-1A filed on August 4, 2022.
   
(n)(6) Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan for the Curasset Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 404 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2022.
   
(n)(7) Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan for the Vest VI Funds is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 409 on Form N-1A filed on April 18, 2022.
   
(n)(8) Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan for the LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 418 on Form N-1A filed on October 3, 2022.
   
(n)(9) Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan for Rule One Fund is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 465 on Form N-1A filed on April 29, 2024.
   
(o) Reserved.
   
(p)(1) Code of Ethics for the Registrant is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 436 on Form N-1A filed on January 26, 2024.
   
(p)(2) Code of Ethics for Union Street Partners, LLC. is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 241 on Form N-1A filed on October 4, 2017.
   
(p)(3) Code of Ethics for McGinn Investment Management, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 413 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2022.
   
(p)(4) Code of Ethics for Perkins Capital Management, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 241 on Form N-1A filed on October 4, 2017.
   
(p)(5) Code of Ethics for LDR Capital Management, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 413 on Form N-1A filed on July 29, 2022.
   
(p)(6) Code of Ethics for Applied Finance Advisors, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 474 on Form N-1A filed on August 28, 2024.
   
(p)(7) Code of Ethics for OTG Asset Management Ltd. is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 436 on Form N-1A filed on January 26, 2024.
   
(p)(8) Code of Ethics for Clifford Capital Partners, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 482 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.
   
(p)(9) Code of Ethics for Vest Financial LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 484 on Form N-1A filed on February 28, 2025.

 

 

(p)(10) Code of Ethics for Rule One Partners, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 334 on Form N-1A filed on March 27, 2019.
   
(p)(11) Code of Ethics for Kanen Wealth Management, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 422 on Form N-1A filed on February 28, 2023.
   
(p)(12) Code of Ethics for Curasset Capital Management, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 401 on Form N-1A filed on October 20, 2021.
   
(p)(13) Code of Ethics for Tuttle Capital Management, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 460 on Form N-1A filed on April 26, 2024.
   
(p)(14) Code of Ethics for The Cook & Bynum Capital Management, LLC is herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 473 on Form N-1A filed on August 21, 2024.
   
(q) Powers of Attorney are herein incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 480 on Form N-1A filed on January 28, 2025.

 

Item 29. Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control With Registrant

 

None.

 

Item 30. Indemnification

 

See Article VIII, Section 2 of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the section titled “Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, Employees and Other Agents” in the Registrant’s By-Laws.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and, therefore, is unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by trustees, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any act, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, officers or controlling persons in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.

 

 

 

Item 31. Business and other Connections of the Investment Adviser

 

The list required by this Item 31 as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each of the investment advisers and sub-advisers, and each director, officer or partner of such investment advisers or sub-advisers, is or has been engaged within the last two fiscal years for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, is incorporated herein by reference to Schedules A and D of each investment adviser’s or sub-adviser’s Form ADV listed opposite such investment adviser’s or sub-adviser’s name below, which is currently on file with the SEC as required by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Name of Investment Adviser / Sub-Adviser Form ADV File No.
Union Street Partners, LLC 801-72120
McGinn Penninger Investment Management, Inc. 801-40578
Perkins Capital Management, Inc. 801-22888
LDR Capital Management, LLC 801-75986
Applied Finance Advisors, LLC 801-66461
OTG Asset Management, Ltd. 801-119113
Clifford Capital Partners, LLC 801-78911
Vest Financial LLC 801-77463
Rule One Partners, LLC 801-114860
Kanen Wealth Management, LLC 801-116998
Curasset Capital Management, LLC 801-122383
Tuttle Capital Management, LLC 801-76982
Cook & Bynum Capital Management, LLC 801-69930

 

Item 32.Foreside Fund Services, LLC

 

Item 32(a)Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:

 

1.AB Active ETFs, Inc.

2.ABS Long/Short Strategies Fund

3.ActivePassive Core Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

4.ActivePassive Intermediate Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

5.ActivePassive International Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

6.ActivePassive U.S. Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

7.AdvisorShares Trust

8.AFA Private Credit Fund

9.AGF Investments Trust

10.AIM ETF Products Trust

11.Alexis Practical Tactical ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

12.AlphaCentric Prime Meridian Income Fund

13.American Century ETF Trust

14.Amplify ETF Trust

15.Applied Finance Dividend Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

16.Applied Finance Explorer Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

17.Applied Finance Select Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

18.Ardian Access LLC

19.ARK ETF Trust

20.ARK Venture Fund

21.Bitwise Funds Trust

22.BondBloxx ETF Trust

23.Bramshill Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

24.Bridgeway Funds, Inc.

25.Brinker Capital Destinations Trust

 

 

26.Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.

27.Build Funds Trust

28.Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund

29.Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund

30.Calamos Dynamic Convertible and Income Fund

31.Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund

32.Calamos Global Total Return Fund

33.Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund

34.Carlyle Tactical Private Credit Fund

35.Cascade Private Capital Fund

36.Catalyst Strategic Income Opportunities Fund

37.CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund

38.Center Coast Brookfield MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund

39.Clifford Capital Partners Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

40.Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund

41.Cliffwater Enhanced Lending Fund

42.Coatue Innovation Fund

43.Cohen & Steers ETF Trust

44.Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.

45.Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

46.CornerCap Small-Cap Value Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series

47.CrossingBridge Pre-Merger SPAC ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

48.Curasset Capital Management Core Bond Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

49.Curasset Capital Management Limited Term Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

50.CYBER HORNET S&P 500® and Bitcoin 75/25 Strategy ETF, Series of ONEFUND Trust

51.Davis Fundamental ETF Trust

52.Defiance Connective Technologies ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

53.Defiance Quantum ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

54.Denali Structured Return Strategy Fund

55.Dividend Performers ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

56.Dodge & Cox Funds

57.DoubleLine ETF Trust

58.DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund

59.DoubleLine Opportunistic Credit Fund

60.DoubleLine Yield Opportunities Fund

61.DriveWealth ETF Trust

62.EIP Investment Trust

63.Ellington Income Opportunities Fund

64.ETF Opportunities Trust

65.Exchange Listed Funds Trust

66.Exchange Place Advisors Trust

67.FlexShares Trust

68.Fortuna Hedged Bitcoin Fund, Series of Listed Funds Trust

69.Forum Funds

70.Forum Funds II

71.Forum Real Estate Income Fund

72.Fundrise Growth Tech Fund, LLC

73.Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

74.Grayscale Funds Trust

75.Guinness Atkinson Funds

76.Harbor ETF Trust

77.Harris Oakmark ETF Trust

78.Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust

79.Horizon Kinetics Blockchain Development ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

80.Horizon Kinetics Energy and Remediation ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

81.Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

82.Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

83.Horizon Kinetics Medical ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

84.Horizon Kinetics SPAC Active ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

85.IDX Funds

86.Innovator ETFs Trust

 

 

87.Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC

88.Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC

89.Jensen Quality Growth ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

90.John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust

91.Kurv ETF Trust

92.Lazard Active ETF Trust

93.LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

94.Mairs & Power Balanced Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

95.Mairs & Power Growth Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

96.Mairs & Power Minnesota Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

97.Mairs & Power Small Cap Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers

98.Manor Investment Funds

99.Milliman Variable Insurance Trust

100.MoA Funds Corporation

101.Moerus Worldwide Value Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

102.Morgan Stanley ETF Trust

103.Morgan Stanley Pathway Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Morgan Stanley Pathway Funds

104.Morgan Stanley Pathway Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF, Series of Morgan Stanley Pathway Funds

105.Morningstar Funds Trust

106.NEOS ETF Trust

107.Niagara Income Opportunities Fund

108.North Square Evanston Multi-Alpha Fund

109.NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

110.NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund

111.Opal Dividend Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

112.OTG Latin American Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

113.Overlay Shares Core Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

114.Overlay Shares Foreign Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

115.Overlay Shares Hedged Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

116.Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

117.Overlay Shares Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

118.Overlay Shares Short Term Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

119.Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

120.Palmer Square Funds Trust

121.Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund

122.Partners Group Private Income Opportunities, LLC

123.Perkins Discovery Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

124.Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

125.Plan Investment Fund, Inc.

126.Point Bridge America First ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions

127.Precidian ETFs Trust

128.Preferred-Plus ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

129.Rareview 2x Bull Cryptocurrency & Precious Metals ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

130.Rareview Dynamic Fixed Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

131.Rareview Systematic Equity ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

132.Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

133.Rareview Total Return Bond ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

134.REX ETF Trust

135.Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds

136.Reynolds Funds, Inc.

137.RiverNorth Enhanced Pre-Merger SPAC ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

138.RiverNorth Patriot ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

139.RMB Investors Trust

140.Robinson Opportunistic Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

141.Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

142.Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

143.Roundhill Cannabis ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

144.Roundhill ETF Trust

145.Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

146.Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

 

 

147.Roundhill Video Games ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

148.Rule One Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

149.Russell Investments Exchange Traded Funds

150.Securian AM Real Asset Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

151.Six Circles Trust

152.Sound Shore Fund, Inc.

153.SP Funds Trust

154.Sparrow Funds

155.Spear Alpha ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

156.STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

157.STF Tactical Growth ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

158.Strategic Trust

159.Strategy Shares

160.Swan Hedged Equity US Large Cap ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

161.Tekla World Healthcare Fund

162.Tema ETF Trust

163.The 2023 ETF Series Trust

164.The 2023 ETF Series Trust II

165.The Community Development Fund

166.The Cook & Bynum Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

167.The Finite Solar Finance Fund

168.The Private Shares Fund

169.The SPAC and New Issue ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust

170.Third Avenue Trust

171.Third Avenue Variable Series Trust

172.Tidal Trust I

173.Tidal Trust II

174.Tidal Trust III

175.TIFF Investment Program

176.Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock Enhanced ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

177.Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

178.Timothy Plan International ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

179.Timothy Plan Market Neutral ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

180.Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

181.Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Core Enhanced ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

182.Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan

183.Total Fund Solution

184.Touchstone ETF Trust

185.T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, Series of World Funds Trust

186.T-Rex 2x Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF, Series of World Funds Trust

187.T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, Series of World Funds Trust

188.T-Rex 2x Long Ether Daily Target ETF

189.TrueShares Active Yield ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

190.TrueShares Eagle Global Renewable Energy Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

191.TrueShares Structured Outcome (April) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

192.TrueShares Structured Outcome (August) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

193.TrueShares Structured Outcome (December) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

194.TrueShares Structured Outcome (February) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

195.TrueShares Structured Outcome (January) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

196.TrueShares Structured Outcome (July) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

197.TrueShares Structured Outcome (June) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

198.TrueShares Structured Outcome (March) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

199.TrueShares Structured Outcome (May) ETF, Listed Funds Trust

200.TrueShares Structured Outcome (November) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

201.TrueShares Structured Outcome (October) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

202.TrueShares Structured Outcome (September) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

203.TrueShares Technology, AI & Deep Learning ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

204.U.S. Global Investors Funds

205.Union Street Partners Value Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

206.Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

207.Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

 

 

208.Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

209.Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies VI Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

210.Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

211.Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies VI Fund, Series of World Funds Trust

212.Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund

213.Volatility Shares Trust

214.WEBs ETF Trust

215.Wedbush Series Trust

216.Wellington Global Multi-Strategy Fund

217.Wilshire Mutual Funds, Inc.

218.Wilshire Variable Insurance Trust

219.WisdomTree Digital Trust

220.WisdomTree Trust

221.XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Term Trust

 

Item 32(b)The following are the Officers and Manager of the Distributor, the Registrant’s underwriter. The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.

 

Name Address Position with Underwriter Position with Registrant
Teresa Cowan Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 President/Manager None
Chris Lanza Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 Vice President None
Kate Macchia Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 Vice President None
Alicia Strout Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer None
Kelly B. Whetstone Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 Secretary None
Susan L. LaFond Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 Treasurer None
Weston Sommers Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 Financial and Operations Principal and Chief Financial Officer None

 

Item 32(c)

Not applicable.

 

 

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

 

The accounts, books or other documents of the Registrant required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder are kept in several locations:

 

a)   Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235 (records relating to its function as transfer agent to Certain of the Funds).
     
b)   Foreside Fund Services, LLC, Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101 (records relating to its function as distributor to certain Funds of the Trust).
     
c)   U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 (records related to its function as transfer agent and fund accounting services for the T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF, and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF).
     
d)   Union Street Partners LLC, 1421 Prince Street, Suite 200 Alexandria, Virginia 22314. (records relating to its function as investment adviser to the Union Street Partners Value Fund).
     
e)   McGinn Penninger Investment Management, Inc., 277 South Washington Street, Suite 340 Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (records relating to its function as sub-adviser to the Union Street Partners Value Fund).
     
f)   Perkins Capital Management, Inc., 730 East Lake Street, Wayzata, Minnesota 55391-1769 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to the Perkins Discovery Fund).
     
g)   LDR Capital Management, LLC, 300 Park Avenue, Suite 501, New York, New York 10022 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund).
     
h)   Applied Finance Advisors, LLC, 17806 IH 10, Suite 300, San Antonio, Texas 78257 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Applied Finance Funds).
     
i)   OTG Asset Management, Ltd., Montenegro #1439 Torre Infrabol Piso 6, La Paz, Bolivia (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the OTG Latin America Fund).
     
j)   Clifford Capital Partners, LLC, 363 S. Main Street, #101 Alpine, Utah 84004 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund).
     
k)   Vest Financial LLC, 8350 Broad Street, Suite 240, McLean, Virginia 22102 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Vest Family of Funds).
     
l)   Rule One Partners, LLC, 811 Bear Creek Road, Moreland, Georgia 30259, (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Rule One Fund).
m)  

Kanen Wealth Management, LLC, 6810 Lyons Technology Circle, Suite 160, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund).

 

n)  

Curasset Capital Management, LLC, 50 Park Place, Suite 1004, Newark, New Jersey 07102 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Curasset Funds).

 

o)  

Tuttle Capital Management LLC, 155 Lockwood Road, Riverside, Connecticut 06878 (records relating to its function as adviser to T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, T-Rex 2X Long Ether Daily Target ETF, and the T-Rex 2X Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF).

 

p)  

Cook & Bynum Capital Management, LLC, 2830 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35223 (records relating to its function as adviser to The Cook & Bynum Fund). 

 

 

 

Item 34. Management Services

 

There are no management-related service contracts not discussed in Parts A or B of this Form.

 

Item 35. Undertakings

 

Not applicable.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 490 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia on the 29th day of July, 2025.

 

WORLD FUNDS TRUST

By:/s/ Karen M. Shupe  
 Karen M. Shupe  
 Treasurer and Principal Executive Officer  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 490 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
* Mary Lou H. Ivey   Trustee   July 29, 2025
         
* Laura V. Morrison   Trustee   July 29, 2025
         
*Dr. David J. Urban   Trustee   July 29, 2025
         
/s/ Karen M. Shupe   Treasurer and Principal Executive Officer   July 29, 2025
         
/s/ Ann T. MacDonald   Assistant Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer   July 29, 2025

 

*By: /s/ Karen M. Shupe

*Attorney-in-fact pursuant to Powers of Attorney

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

(h)(25) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Kanen Wealth Management, LLC with respect to the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund.
   
(i)(29) Consent of Legal Counsel for the Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund.
   
(j)(10) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting firm for Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund.

 


ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT

CONSENT OF LEGAL COUNSEL

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

XBRL SCHEMA FILE

XBRL DEFINITION FILE

XBRL LABEL FILE

XBRL PRESENTATION FILE

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