Securities Act Registration No. 333-204808
Investment Company Act Registration No. 811-23066
Washington, D. C. 20549
Approximate date of proposed public offering: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of the Registration Statement.
() This post-effective amendment designates
a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
*Class A and Class C shares of the Fund are not
currently available for sale.
www.mainmgtfunds.com 1-855-907-3373
This Prospectus provides important information
about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved
by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of
this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by
regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder
reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will
be made available on the Fund’s website www.mainmgtfunds.com, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted
and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you have already elected to receive shareholder
reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder
reports and other communications from the Fund electronically anytime by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer
or bank).
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000
in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes
that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual
costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:
The Adviser believes that, over time, asset
allocation is more determinative than individual security selection in limiting the variability inherent in equity security investing.
Accordingly, the Adviser when investing in ETFs focuses its research primarily on asset allocation by carefully reviewing:
The Adviser seeks to create a diversified portfolio
to avoid significant allocations to particular market segments.
The Fund will pursue its objective by employing
an option strategy of writing (selling) covered call or index based options on an amount from 0% to 100% of the value of the ETF
shares in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund seeks to earn income and gains both from dividends paid on the ETFs owned by the
Fund and cash premiums received from writing or “selling”:
The Fund will “cover” its obligations
when it sells options or will earmark or segregate cash or liquid securities in accordance with applicable interpretations of the
staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Fund may not sell “naked” put or call
options, i.e., equity options representing more shares of an ETF than the Fund has cash on hand and available to purchase or index
options greater than the value of the underlying security.
Stock index options are put options and call
options on various stock indices. 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. A stock index fluctuates with changes
in the market value of the stocks included in the index. A call option on a security is a contract that gives the holder of the
option, in return for a premium, the right, but not the obligation, to buy from the writer of the option the security underlying
the option at a specified exercise or “strike” price by or before the contract’s expiration. A put option on
a security is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to sell to the writer of the option
the security underlying the option at a specified exercise or “strike” price. The writer of an option on a security
has the obligation upon exercise of the option to purchase the underlying security at the exercise price. The Adviser’s option
strategy typically targets one-month options. Options of any exercise price or maturity may be utilized.
The following describes the risks the Fund
bears directly or indirectly through investments in the underlying ETFs in its
investment portfolio. As
with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal.
HOW SHARES ARE PRICED
Shares of the Fund are sold at NAV. The NAV
of the Fund is determined at close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange
(“NYSE”) is open for business. The NAV is computed by determining, on a per class basis, the aggregate market value
of all assets of the applicable Fund, less its liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding ((assets-liabilities)/number
of shares = NAV). The NYSE is closed on weekends and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day,
Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day (“NYSE Close”). The NAV
takes into account, on a per class basis, the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management, administration, and distribution
fees, which are accrued daily. The determination of the NAV for the Fund for a particular day is applicable to all applications
for the purchase of shares, as well as all requests for the redemption of shares, received by the Fund (or an authorized broker
or agent, or its authorized designee) before the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.
Generally, the Fund’s
securities, including securities issued by ETFs, are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary
exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges (whether domestic or foreign) for which market quotations
are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary
exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on such exchange.
Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”)
National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price.
Securities that are not traded or dealt in any securities exchange (whether domestic or foreign) and for which over-the-counter
market quotations are readily available generally shall be valued at the last sale price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean
between the current bid and ask price on such over-the- counter market. Debt securities not traded on an exchange may be valued
at prices supplied by a pricing agent(s) based on broker or dealer supplied valuations or matrix pricing, a method of valuing securities
by reference to the value of other securities with similar characteristics, such as rating, interest rate and maturity.
If market quotations are not readily available,
securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the
Board. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may be
materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security. The fair value prices can differ from
market prices when they become available or when a price becomes available. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures
to a fair value team composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) Adviser.
The team may also enlist third-party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer on an as-needed
basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of this process and
the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.
The Fund may use independent pricing services
to assist in calculating the value of the Fund’s securities. In addition, market prices for foreign securities are not determined
at the same time of day as the NAV for the Fund. Because the Fund may invest in underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities
primarily listed on foreign exchanges, and these exchanges may trade on weekends or other days when the underlying ETFs do not
price their shares, the value of some of the Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you may not be able to buy
or sell Fund shares.
In computing the NAV, the Fund values foreign
securities held by the Fund at the latest closing price on the exchange in which they are traded immediately prior to closing of
the NYSE. Prices of foreign securities quoted in foreign
currencies are translated into U.S. dollars
at current rates. If events materially affecting the value of a security in the Fund’s portfolio, particularly foreign securities,
occur after the close of trading on a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares, the security will be valued at fair
value. For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before the Fund calculates its NAV, the Adviser
may need to price the security using the Fund’s fair value pricing guidelines. Without a fair value price, short-term traders
could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s
portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that
fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short term traders. The determination of fair value
involves subjective judgments. As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from
the prices used by other mutual funds to determine net asset value, or from the price that may be realized upon the actual sale
of the security.
With respect to any portion of the Fund’s
assets that are invested in one or more mutual funds registered under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s net asset value is calculated
based upon the net asset values of those mutual funds, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under
which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
Share Classes: This Prospectus describes
three classes of shares offered by the Fund: Class A, Class C, and Class I shares. The Fund offers these three classes of shares
so that you can choose the class that best suits your investment needs. The main differences between the share classes are sales
charges and ongoing fees. Class A are subject to a maximum sales charge of 4.75%. There is no sales charge for Class C or Class
I. Class A and Class C shares pay an annual fee of up to 0.25% and 1.00%, respectively, for distribution and shareholder services
expenses pursuant to a plan under Rule 12b-1. In choosing which class of shares to purchase, you should consider which will be
most beneficial to you, given the amount of your purchase and the length of time you expect to hold the shares. Each class of shares
in the Fund represents interest in the same portfolio of investments within the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to waive sales
charges. Not all share classes may be available for purchase in all states.
Class A Shares: Class A shares are offered
at their public offering price, which is the NAV plus an initial sales charge as described below, and is subject to 12b-1 distribution
fees of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares. The minimum initial investment in the Class A shares is
$2,500 for all types of accounts and there is no minimum subsequent investment. There are no sales charges on reinvested distributions.
You can qualify for a sales charge reduction or waiver through a right of accumulation or a letter of intent if you are a U.S.
resident. See the discussions of “Right of Accumulation” and “Letter of Intent” below. The following sales
charges apply to your purchases of Class A shares of the Fund:
Amount Invested
|
Sales Charge as a % of Offering Price(1)
|
Sales Charge as a % of Amount Invested
|
Dealer
Reallowance
|
Less than $50,000
|
4.75%
|
4.98%
|
4.25%
|
$50,000 but less than $100,000
|
4.50%
|
4.17%
|
3.50%
|
$100,000 to $249,999
|
3.50%
|
3.63%
|
3.00%
|
$250,000 to $499,999
|
2.50%
|
2.56%
|
2.00%
|
$500,000 to $999,999
|
2.00%
|
2.04%
|
1.50%
|
$1,000,000 and above
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
|
(1)
|
Offering
price includes the front-end sales load. The sales charge you pay may differ slightly from the amount set forth above because of
rounding that occurs in the calculations used to determine your sales charge.
|
Authorized dealers may retain commissions on
purchases of Class A shares over $1 million calculated as follows: 1.00% on purchases between $1 million and $3 million, 0.50%
on amounts over $3 million but less than $5 million, 0.25% on amounts over $5 million. The commission rate is determined based
on the purchase amount combined with the current market value of existing investments in Class A shares. The Fund will be reimbursed
for any such commissions retained.
As shown in the table above, investors that
purchase $1,000,000 or more of Fund shares will not pay any initial sales charge on the purchase. However, purchases of $1,000,000
or more of Fund shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) on shares redeemed during the first
18 months after their purchase in the amount of the commissions paid on those shares redeemed.
You may be able to buy Class A Shares without
a sales charge (i.e. “load-waived”) when you are:
-
reinvesting dividends or distributions,
-
participating in an investment advisory
or agency commission program under which you pay a fee to an investment advisor or other firm for portfolio management or brokerage
services,
-
exchanging an investment in Class A Shares
of another fund for an investment in the Fund,
-
a current or former director or trustee
of the Trust,
-
an employee (including the employee’s
spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, and any independent of the employee, as defined
in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code) of the Adviser or its affiliates or of a broker-dealer authorized to sell shares of
such funds,
-
purchasing shares through the Adviser,
or
-
purchasing shares through a financial
services firm (such as a broker-dealer, investment adviser or financial institution) that has a special arrangement with the Fund.
Right of Accumulation
For the purposes of determining the applicable
reduced sales charge, the right of accumulation allows you to include prior purchases of Class A shares of the Fund as part of
your current investment as well as reinvested dividends. To qualify for this option, you must be either:
-
an individual;
-
an individual and spouse purchasing shares
for your own account or trust or custodial accounts for your minor children; or
-
a fiduciary purchasing for any one trust,
estate or fiduciary account, including employee benefit plans created under Sections 401, 403 or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code,
including related plans of the same employer.
If you plan to rely on this right of accumulation,
you must notify the Fund’s distributor, Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), at the time of
your purchase. You will need to give the Distributor your account numbers. Existing holdings of family members or other related
accounts of a shareholder may be combined for purposes of determining eligibility.
If applicable, you will need to provide the
account numbers of your spouse and your minor children as well as the ages of your minor children.
Letter of Intent
The letter of intent allows you to count all
investments within a 13-month period in Class A shares of any fund as if you were making them all at once for the purposes of calculating
the applicable reduced sales charges. The minimum initial investment under a letter of intent is 5% of the total letter of intent
amount. The letter of intent does not preclude a fund from discontinuing sales of its shares. You may include a purchase not originally
made pursuant to a letter of intent under a letter of intent entered into within 60 days of the original purchase. To determine
the applicable sales charge reduction, you may also include: (1) the cost of shares of a fund which were previously purchased at
a price including a front end sales charge during the 90-day period prior to the Distributor receiving the letter of intent, and
(2) the historical cost of shares of other funds you currently own acquired in exchange for shares of funds purchased during that
period at a price including a front-end sales charge. You may combine purchases and exchanges by family members (limited to spouse
and children, under the age of 21, living in the same household). You should retain any records necessary to substantiate historical
costs because the Fund, the transfer agent, and any financial intermediaries may not maintain this information. Shares acquired
through reinvestment of dividends are not aggregated to achieve the stated investment goal.
Class C Shares: Class C shares of the
Fund are offered at their NAV without an initial sales charge. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares
of the Fund. Class C shares pay up to 1.00% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets as reimbursement or compensation
for service and distribution-related activities with respect to the Fund and/or shareholder services. Over time, fees paid under
this distribution and service plan will increase the cost of a Class C shareholder’s investment and may cost more than other
types of sales charges. The minimum initial investment in Class C shares is $2,500 for all types of accounts, and there is no minimum
subsequent investment.
Class I Shares: Institutional Class shares
of the Fund are offered at their NAV without an initial sales charge. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed
into shares of the Fund. The minimum initial investment in Class I shares is $100,000 for all types of accounts, and there is no
minimum subsequent investment.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Share
Class: When deciding which class of shares of the Fund to purchase, you should consider your investment goals, present and
future amounts you may invest in the Fund, and the length of time you intend to hold your shares. To help you make a determination
as to which class of shares to buy, please refer back to the examples of the Fund’s expenses over time in the Fees and
Expenses of the Fund section in this Prospectus. You also may wish to consult with your financial adviser for advice with regard
to which share class would be most appropriate for you.
Purchasing Shares: You may purchase shares
of the Fund by sending a completed application form to the following address:
via Regular Mail
Main BuyWrite Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 541150
Omaha, Nebraska 68154
|
via Overnight Mail
Main BuyWrite Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100
Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022-3474
|
The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions,
including the Fund, to adopt certain policies and programs to prevent money-laundering activities, including procedures to verify
the identity of customers opening new accounts. As requested on the application, you should supply your full name, date of birth,
social security number, and permanent street address. Mailing addresses containing a P.O. Box will not be accepted. This information
will assist the Fund in verifying your identity. Until such verification is made, the Fund may temporarily limit additional share
purchases. In addition, the Fund may limit additional share purchases or close an account if it is unable to verify a shareholder’s
identity. As required by law, the Fund may employ various procedures, such as comparing the information to fraud databases or requesting
additional information or documentation from you, to ensure that the information supplied by you is correct.
Purchase through Brokers: You may
invest in the Fund through brokers or agents who have entered into selling agreements with the Distributor. The brokers and agents
are authorized to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. Such brokers are 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 its designee receives the order. The broker or agent may set their own
initial and subsequent investment minimums. You may be charged a fee if you use a broker or agent to buy or redeem shares of the
Fund. Finally, various servicing agents use procedures and impose restrictions that may be in addition to, or different from those
applicable to investors purchasing shares directly from the Fund. You should carefully read the program materials provided to you
by your servicing agent.
Purchase by Wire: If you wish to wire
money to make an investment in the Fund, please call the Fund at 1-855-907-3373 for wiring instructions and to notify the Fund
that a wire transfer is coming. Any commercial bank can transfer same-day funds via wire. The Fund will normally accept wired funds
for investment on the day received if they are received by the Fund’s designated bank before the close of regular trading
on the NYSE. Your bank may charge you a fee for wiring same-day funds.
Automatic Investment Plan: You may participate
in the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money from your bank account and invests
it in the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers or automatic bank drafts. You may elect to make subsequent investments
by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established Fund account. Please contact the Fund at
1-855-907-3373 for more information about the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan.
Minimum and Additional Investment Amounts:
The minimum initial investment in the Fund for Class A and Class C shares is $2,500 for all account types. The minimum initial
investment for Class I shares is $100,000. There is no minimum subsequent investment amount for any share class or account type.
The Fund reserves the right to waive any investment minimum requirement.
The Fund, however, reserves the right, in
its sole discretion, to reject any application to purchase shares. Applications will not be accepted unless they are accompanied
by a check drawn on a U.S. bank, thrift institutions, or credit union in U.S. funds for the full amount of the shares to be purchased.
After you open an account, you may purchase additional shares by sending a check together with written instructions stating the
name(s) on the account and the account number, to the above address. Make all checks payable to the Fund. The Fund will not accept
payment in cash, cashier’s checks or money orders. Also, to prevent fraud, the Fund will not accept credit cards or third
party checks, U.S. Treasury checks, credit card checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares. Redemptions of shares of the
Funds purchased by check may be subject to a hold period until the check has been cleared by the issuing bank. To avoid such holding
periods, shares may be purchased through a broker or by wire, as described in this section.
Note: Gemini Fund Services, LLC, the
Fund’s transfer agent, will charge a $25 fee against a shareholder’s account, in addition to any loss sustained by
the Fund, for any check returned to the transfer agent for insufficient funds.
When Order is Processed: All shares
will be purchased at the NAV per share (plus applicable sales charges, if any) next determined after the Fund receives your application
or request in good order. All requests received in good order by the Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) will be processed on
that same day. Requests received after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) will be processed on the next business day.
Good Order: When making a purchase request,
make sure your request is in good order.
“Good order” means your purchase
request includes:
|
·
|
the dollar amount of shares to be purchased;
|
|
·
|
a completed purchase application or investment stub; and
|
|
·
|
check payable to the “Main BuyWrite Fund.”
|
Retirement Plans: You may purchase
shares of the Fund for your individual retirement plans. Please call the Fund at 1-855-907-3373 for the most current listing
and appropriate disclosure documentation on how to open a retirement account.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
Redeeming Shares: The Fund typically
expects that it will take up to three business days following the receipt of your redemption request to pay out redemption proceeds
by check or electronic transfer. The Fund typically expects to pay redemptions from cash, cash equivalent, proceeds from the sale
of Fund shares, any lines of portfolio securities. These redemption payment methods will be used in regular and stressed market
conditions. You may redeem all or any portion of the shares credited to your account by submitting a written request for redemption
to:
via Regular Mail
Main BuyWrite Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 541150
Omaha, Nebraska 68154
|
via Overnight Mail
Main BuyWrite Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100
Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022-3474
|
Redemptions by Telephone: The telephone
redemption privilege is automatically available to all new accounts except retirement accounts. If you do not want the telephone
redemption privilege, you must indicate this in the appropriate area on your account application or you must write to the Fund
and instruct it to remove this privilege from your account. The proceeds, which are equal to number of shares times the NAV less
any applicable deferred sales charges or redemption fees, will be sent by mail to the address designated on your account or sent
electronically, via ACH or wire, directly to your existing account in a bank or brokerage firm in the United States as designated
on our application. To redeem by telephone, call 1-855-907-3373. IRA accounts are not redeemable by telephone.
The Fund reserves the right to suspend the telephone
redemption privileges with respect to your account if the name(s) or the address on the account has been changed within the previous
30 days. Neither the Fund, the transfer agent, nor their respective affiliates will be liable for complying with telephone instructions
they reasonably believe to be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost, or expenses in acting on such telephone instructions and you
will be required to bear the risk of any such loss. The Fund or the transfer agent, or both, will employ reasonable procedures
to determine that telephone instructions are genuine. If the Fund and/or the transfer agent do not employ these procedures, they
may be liable to you for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures may include, among others, requiring
forms of personal identification prior to acting upon telephone instructions, providing written confirmation of the transactions
and/or tape recording telephone instructions.
Redemptions through Broker: If shares
of the Fund are held by a broker-dealer, financial institution or other servicing agent, you must contact that servicing agent
to redeem shares of the Fund. The servicing agent may charge a fee for this service.
Redemptions by Wire: You
may request that your redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. The
Fund’s transfer agent imposes a $15 fee
for each wire redemption and deducts the fee directly from your account. Your bank may also impose a fee for the incoming wire.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan: If your individual
account, IRA or other qualified plan account has a current account value of at least $50,000, you may participate in the Fund’s
Automatic Withdrawal Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money to your bank account from the Fund through the use
of electronic funds transfers. You may elect to make subsequent withdrawals by transfers of a minimum of $500 on specified days
of each month into your established bank account. Please contact the Fund at 1-855-907-3373 for more information about the Fund’s
Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Redemptions in Kind: The Fund reserves
the right to honor requests for redemption or repurchase orders by making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities
(“redemption in kind”) if the amount is greater than $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s assets. The securities will
be chosen by the Fund on a pro-rata basis to the extent feasible and valued using the Fund’s net asset value pricing procedures.
A shareholder will be exposed to market risk until these securities are converted to cash and may incur transaction expenses in
converting these securities to cash.
When Redemptions are Sent: Once the
Fund receives your redemption request in “good order” as described below, it will issue a check based on the next determined
NAV following your redemption request. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire within three business days
after receipt of a request in “good order.” If you purchase shares using a check and soon after request a redemption,
your redemption proceeds, which are payable at the next determined NAV following the receipt of your redemption request in “good
order,” as described below, will not be sent until the check used for your purchase has cleared your bank.
Good Order: Your redemption request will
be processed if it is in “good order.” To be in good order, the following conditions must be satisfied:
|
·
|
The request should be in writing, unless redeeming by telephone,
indicating the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed;
|
|
·
|
the request must identify your account number;
|
|
·
|
the request should be signed by you and any other person listed on
the account, exactly as the shares are registered; and
|
|
·
|
if you request that the redemption proceeds be sent to a person,
bank or an address other than that of record or paid to someone other than the record owner(s), or if the address was changed within
the last 30 days, or if the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000, the signature(s) on the request must be medallion
signature guaranteed by an eligible signature guarantor.
|
When You Need Medallion Signature Guarantees:
If you wish to change the bank or brokerage account that you have designated on your account, you may do so at any time by
writing to the applicable Fund with your signature guaranteed. A medallion signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine
and protects you from unauthorized account transfers. You will need your signature guaranteed if:
|
·
|
you request a redemption to be made payable to a person not on record
with the Fund;
|
|
·
|
you request that a redemption be mailed to an address other than
that on record with the Fund;
|
|
·
|
the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000;
|
|
·
|
any redemption is transmitted by federal wire transfer to a bank
other than the bank of record; or
|
|
·
|
your address was changed within 30 days of your redemption request.
|
Signatures may be guaranteed by any eligible
guarantor institution (including banks, brokers and dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities
associations, clearing agencies, and savings associations). Further documentation will be required to change the designated account
if shares are held by a corporation, fiduciary, or other organization. A notary public cannot guarantee signatures.
Retirement Plans: If you own an IRA or
other retirement plan, you must indicate on your redemption request whether the Fund should withhold federal income tax. Unless
you elect in your redemption request that you do not want to have federal tax withheld, the redemption will be subject to withholding.
Low Balances: If at any time your account
balance falls below $2,500, the Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least $2,500 within 30 days of
the notice, your account could be closed. After the notice period, the Fund may redeem all of your shares and close your account
by sending you a check to the address of record. Your
account will not be closed if the account balance
drops below $2,500 due to a decline in the NAV. The Fund will not charge any redemption fee on involuntary redemptions.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
March 30, 2020
This Statement of Additional Information
("SAI") is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the combined Prospectus of the Main BuyWrite Fund
(the "Fund") dated March 30, 2020. The Fund’s Prospectus is hereby incorporated by reference, which means it is
legally part of this document. You can obtain copies of the Fund’s Prospectus, annual or semi-annual reports without charge
by contacting the Fund’s transfer agent, Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100 Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022-3474
or by calling 1-855-907-3373. You may also obtain a Prospectus by visiting the website at www.mainmgtfunds.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE FUND
|
1
|
TYPES OF INVESTMENTS
|
2
|
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
|
19
|
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
|
20
|
MANAGEMENT
|
22
|
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
|
28
|
INVESTMENT ADVISER
|
28
|
THE DISTRIBUTOR
|
32
|
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
|
34
|
ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE
|
36
|
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
|
36
|
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
37
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
|
39
|
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM
|
39
|
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
|
40
|
TAX STATUS
|
45
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
51
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LEGAL COUNSEL
|
51
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
51
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APPENDIX A – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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52
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THE FUND
The Main BuyWrite Fund is
a diversified series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, a Delaware statutory trust organized on June 2, 2015 (the "Trust").
The Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the "Board"
or "Trustees").
The Fund may issue an
unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares have equal rights and privileges. Each share of the Fund is entitled
to one vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote. In addition, each share of the Fund is entitled to participate
equally with other shares (i) in dividends and distributions declared by the Fund and (ii) on liquidation to its proportionate
share of the assets remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities. Shares of the Fund are fully paid, non-assessable
and fully transferable when issued and have no pre-emptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionately
the same rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.
The Fund’s investment
objective, restrictions and policies are more fully described here and in the Prospectus. The Board may add classes to and reclassify
the shares of the Fund, start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.
The Fund offers three of
shares; Class A, Class C, and Class I shares. As of the date of this SAI only Class I shares are available for sale. Each share
class represents an interest in the same assets of the Fund, has the same rights and is identical in all material respects except
that (i) each class of shares may be subject to different (or no) sales loads, (ii) each class of shares may bear different (or
no) distribution fees; (iii) each class of shares may have different shareholder features, such as minimum investment amounts;
(iv) certain other class-specific expenses will be borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable, including
transfer agent fees attributable to a specific class of shares, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing
materials to current shareholders of a specific class, registration fees paid by a specific class of shares, the expenses of administrative
personnel and services required to support the shareholders of a specific class, litigation or other legal expenses relating to
a class of shares, Trustees’ fees or expenses paid as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares and accounting
fees and expenses relating to a specific class of shares and (v) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters
relating to its own distribution arrangements. The Board of Trustees may classify and reclassify the shares of the Fund into additional
classes of shares at a future date.
Under the Trust's Agreement
and Declaration of Trust, each Trustee will continue in office until the termination of the Trust or his/her earlier death, incapacity,
resignation or removal. Shareholders can remove a Trustee to the extent provided by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act") and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. Vacancies
may be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, except insofar as the 1940 Act may require the election by shareholders.
The Delaware Statutory Trust Act does not require annual shareholders’ meetings. As a result, normally no annual or regular
meetings of shareholders will be held unless matters arise requiring a vote of shareholders under the Agreement and Declaration
of Trust or the 1940 Act.
TYPES OF INVESTMENTS
The investment objective
of the Fund and the descriptions of the Fund’s principal investment strategies are set forth under "Investment Objective,”
“Principal Investment Strategies”, and “Principal Investment Risks" in the Prospectus. The Fund’s
investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of the Trust.
The following pages contain
more detailed information about the types of instruments in which the Fund may invest directly or through (i) mutual funds, (ii)
closed-end funds, (iii) exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), (iv) limited partnerships, (v) limited liability companies and
(vi) other types of pooled investment vehicles (each an “Underlying Fund” and, collectively, "Underlying Funds")
and strategies Main Management Fund Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) employs in pursuit of the Fund’s investment
objective and a summary of related risks.
Equity Securities
Equity securities include
common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and
options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of
individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity
securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations
can be significant.
Securities of Other Investment
Companies
Investments in ETFs involve
certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in such funds. Due to legal
limitations, the Fund will be prevented from: 1) purchasing more than 3% of an investment company's (including ETFs) outstanding
shares; 2) investing more than 5% of the Fund’s assets in any single such investment company, and 3) investing more than
10% of the Fund’s assets in investment companies overall; unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has
received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the SEC; and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund
take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. In the alternative, the Fund may rely on Rule 12d1-3, which
allows unaffiliated mutual funds to exceed the 5% limitation and the 10% limitation, provided the aggregate sales loads any investor
pays (i.e., the combined distribution expenses of both the acquiring fund and the acquired fund) does not exceed the limits on
sales loads established by FINRA for funds of funds. In addition to ETFs, the Fund may invest in other investment companies such
as mutual funds, within the limitations described above. 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.
Exchange Traded Funds
ETFs are both passive
and actively managed funds. Passive ETFs track their respective indexes 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 have two markets.
The primary market is where institutions called “Authorized Participants” or “APs” exchange "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 of an ETF 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
General
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.
Securities Options
The Fund may purchase and
write (i.e., sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may or may
not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options
trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than
the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation
than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.
A call option for a particular
security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation to sell, the underlying security
at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.
The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a
particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration
date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.
Stock index options are
put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks.
The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options,
the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by
delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if
the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the
case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the
stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with
changes in the market value of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market
index, such as the Standard & Poor's 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index or a narrower market index, such as the
Standard & Poor's 100®. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment, such as the NYSE Arca Oil and Gas Index
or the Computer and Business Equipment Index. Options on
stock indices are currently traded on the Chicago
Board Options Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ PHLX.
The Fund’s obligation
to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it,
may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which
is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series (i.e., same underlying instrument, exercise price
and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a
profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument
or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. The cost of such a liquidation
purchase plus transactions costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will
have paid a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option.
An option writer unable to effect a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument or liquidate
the assets held in a segregated account, as described below, until the option expires or the optioned instrument is delivered upon
exercise. In such circumstances, the writer will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument during
such period.
If an option purchased by
the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. If the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction
on an option purchased by it, the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more
than the premium paid to purchase the option, or a loss if it is less. If an option written by the Fund expires on the stipulated
expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing
purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold). If an option written by the Fund is exercised,
the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss.
Certain Risks Regarding
Options
There are several risks
associated with transactions in options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets
that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives.
In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, may be absent
for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed
by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be
imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances
may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all
times be adequate to handle current trading value; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be
compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event
the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options
that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable
in accordance with their terms.
Successful use by the Fund
of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the directions of the
stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. In
addition, the
Fund’s ability to effectively hedge all
or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation of or during a market decline, through transactions in put options
on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of
the securities held by the Fund. Inasmuch as the Fund’s securities will not duplicate the components of an index, the correlation
will not be perfect. Consequently, the Fund bears the risk that the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the
same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices. It is also possible that there may be a negative correlation
between the index and the Fund’s securities that would result in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock
indices acquired by the Fund.
The hours of trading for
options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets
close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets
that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment
techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index
options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result
of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.
There is no assurance that
a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some
options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Fund is unable to close out a call option on securities
that it has written before the option is exercised, the Fund may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy
its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect
to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur
transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.
Cover for Options Positions
Transactions using options
(other than options that the Fund has purchased) expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into
any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting ("covered") position in securities or other options or
(ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided
in (i) above. The Fund will comply with guidelines of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding
cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with
the Fund’s custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, the Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions
in which the Fund writes or sells options.
Assets used as cover or
held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced with
similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts could
impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
Options on Futures Contracts
The Fund may purchase and
sell options on the same types of futures in which it may invest. Options on futures are similar to options on underlying instruments
except that options on futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures
contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), rather than to purchase or sell
the futures contract, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the
delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by the delivery of
the accumulated balance in the writer's futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures
contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option
on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the
premium paid.
Common Stock
Common stock represents
an equity (ownership) interest in a company, and usually possesses voting rights and earns dividends. Dividends on common stock
are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer. Common stock generally represents the riskiest investment in a
company. In addition, common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential because increases and decreases
in earnings are usually reflected in a company's stock price.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock is a class
of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be
liquidated, although preferred stock is usually junior to the debt securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not
possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates.
The fundamental risk of
investing in common and preferred stock is the risk that the value of the stock might decrease. Stock values fluctuate in response
to the activities of an individual company or in response to general market and/or economic conditions. Historically, common stocks
have provided greater long-term returns and have entailed greater short-term risks than preferred stocks, fixed-income securities
and money market investments. The market value of all securities, including common and preferred stocks, is based upon the market's
perception of value and not necessarily the book value of an issuer or other objective measures of a company's worth.
Dealer Options
The Fund may engage in transactions
involving dealer options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While the
Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund were to purchase a dealer option it
would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer
to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.
Exchange-traded options
generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize
the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly,
when the
Fund writes a dealer option, it may generally
be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to
whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree
to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the
Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund,
as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities
(or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund
may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing
transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, because the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect
to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets, which it has segregated to secure the position while
it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when
such sale might be advantageous.
The Staff of the SEC has
taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. The Fund may treat the cover used for written dealer
options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be
calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum
purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat dealer options as
subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options,
the Fund will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.
Convertible Securities
Convertible securities include
fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer's underlying common
stock at the option of the holder during a specified period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred
stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of "usable" bonds and warrants or a combination of the features
of several of these securities. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks in an issuer's capital structure, but are usually
subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income
derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also gives
an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company
depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security's underlying common stock.
Real Estate Investment
Trusts
The Fund may invest in securities
of real estate investment trusts ("REITs"). REITs are publicly traded corporations or trusts that specialize in acquiring,
holding and managing residential, commercial or industrial real estate. A REIT is not taxed at the entity level on income distributed
to its shareholders or unitholders if it distributes to shareholders or unitholders at least 95% of its taxable income for each
taxable year and complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income.
REITs generally can be classified
as "Equity REITs," "Mortgage REITs" and "Hybrid REITs." An Equity REIT invests the majority of its
assets directly in real property and derives its income
primarily from rents and from capital gains
on real estate appreciation, which are realized through property sales. A Mortgage REIT invests the majority of its assets in real
estate mortgage loans and services its income primarily from interest payments. A Hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of an
Equity REIT and a Mortgage REIT. Although the Fund can invest in all three kinds of REITs, its emphasis is expected to be on investments
in Equity REITs.
Investments in the real
estate industry involve particular risks. The real estate industry has been subject to substantial fluctuations and declines on
a local, regional and national basis in the past and may continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real
property continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property may decline due to general and local
economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning
laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in neighborhoods and in demographics, increases
in market interest rates, or other factors. Factors such as these may adversely affect companies that own and operate real estate
directly, companies that lend to such companies, and companies that service the real estate industry.
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.
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 covers its short position, the Fund will incur a
loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased,
by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation
between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.
To the extent the Fund sells
securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales "against the box")
will maintain additional asset coverage in the
form of cash, U.S. government securities or
other liquid securities with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current
market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker. A short
sale is "against the box" to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost,
securities identical to those sold short.
Warrants
Warrants are options to
purchase common stock at a specific price (usually at a premium above the market value of the optioned common stock at issuance)
valid for a specific period of time. Warrants may have a life ranging from less than one year to twenty years, or they may be perpetual.
However, most warrants have expiration dates after which they are worthless. In addition, a warrant is worthless if the market
price of the common stock does not exceed the warrant's exercise price during the life of the warrant. Warrants have no voting
rights, pay no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase
or decrease in the market price of the warrant may tend to be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the market price
of the optioned common stock.
Spread Transactions
The Fund may purchase covered
spread options from securities dealers. These covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The
purchase of a spread option gives the Fund the right to put securities that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread
in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to the Fund, in addition
to the risks of dealer options described above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any transaction costs. The purchase
of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the
yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. This protection is provided only during the life of the spread
options.
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.
Certificates of Deposit
and Bankers' Acceptances
Certificates of deposit
are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited
plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the
secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers' acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable
businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an
acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank
by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then "accepted"
by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance
may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount
for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six
months or less.
Commercial Paper
Commercial paper consists
of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current
operations. It may be secured by letters of credit, a surety bond or other forms of collateral. Commercial paper is usually repaid
at maturity by the issuer from the proceeds of the issuance of new commercial paper. As a result, investment in commercial paper
is subject to the risk the issuer cannot issue enough new commercial paper to satisfy its outstanding commercial paper, also known
as rollover risk. Commercial paper may become illiquid or may suffer from reduced liquidity in certain circumstances. Like all
fixed income securities, commercial paper prices are susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates. If interest rates rise, commercial
paper prices will decline. The short-term nature of a commercial paper investment makes it less susceptible to interest rate risk
than many other fixed income securities because interest rate risk typically increases as maturity lengths increase. Commercial
paper tends to yield smaller returns than longer-term corporate debt because securities with shorter maturities typically have
lower effective yields than those with longer maturities. As with all fixed income securities, there is a chance that the issuer
will default on its commercial paper obligation.
Information on Time Deposits
and Variable Rate Notes
Time deposits are issued
by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to
the depositor on the date specified with respect to the deposit. Time deposits do not trade in the secondary market prior to maturity.
However, some time deposits may be redeemable prior to maturity and may be subject to withdrawal penalties.
The commercial paper
obligations are typically unsecured and may include variable rate notes. The nature and terms of a variable rate note (i.e.,
a "Master Note") permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct
arrangement between the Fund and the issuer. It permits daily changes in the amounts invested. The Fund, typically, has the
right at any time to increase, up to the full amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding
under the note. The issuer may prepay at any time and without penalty any part of or the full amount of the note. The note
may or may not be backed by one or more bank letters of credit. Because these notes are direct investment arrangements
between the Fund and the issuer, it is not generally contemplated that they will be traded; moreover, there is currently no
secondary market for them. Except as specifically provided in the Prospectus, there is no limitation on the type of issuer
from whom these notes may be purchased; however, in connection with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, the Adviser will
consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest
on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand simultaneously. Variable rate notes are
subject to the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities unless such notes can be put back to the issuer
(redeemed) on demand within seven days.
Insured Bank Obligations
The Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation ("FDIC") insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings and loan associations (collectively
referred to as "banks") up to $250,000. The Fund may elect to purchase bank obligations in small amounts so as to be
fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently, to remain fully insured as to principal, these investments must be limited
to $250,000 per bank; if the principal amount and accrued interest together exceed $250,000, the excess principal and accrued interest
will not be insured. Insured bank obligations may have limited marketability.
Securities of Other Investment
Companies
Investments in mutual
funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in such funds.
Due to legal limitations, the Fund will be prevented from: 1) purchasing more than 3% of an investment company's outstanding shares;
2) investing more than 5% of the Fund’s assets in any single such investment company, and 3) investing more than 10% of the
Fund’s assets in investment companies overall; unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has received
an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"); and (ii) the
underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. In the alternative,
the Fund may rely on Rule 12d1-3, which allows unaffiliated mutual funds to exceed the 5% limitation and the 10% limitation, provided
the aggregate sales loads any investor pays (i.e., the combined distribution expenses of both the acquiring fund and the acquired
fund) does not exceed the limits on sales loads established by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) for
funds of funds. In addition to ETFs, the Fund may invest in other investment companies such as open-end mutual funds, within the
limitations described above. Each investment company is subject to specific risks, depending on the nature of the fund. Mutual
funds may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying stock or other index upon which they are based.
Mutual Funds
The Fund and any "affiliated
persons," as defined by the 1940 Act, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any
Underlying Fund. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of the Underlying Fund, the Fund’s ability to invest
fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that
would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an Underlying Fund whose shares are purchased by the
Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the underlying Fund’s outstanding
securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an underlying Fund’s outstanding
securities, therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not
exceed 15% of the Fund’s total assets.
Under certain circumstances
an Underlying Fund may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of securities
from its portfolio, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the rules of the SEC. In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed
by an Underlying Fund until the Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.
Investment decisions
by the investment advisers of the Underlying Fund(s) are made independently of the Fund and the Adviser. Therefore, the investment
adviser of one Underlying Fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment adviser
of another such fund. The result would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.
Closed-End Investment
Companies
The Fund may invest its
assets in "closed-end" investment companies (or "closed-end funds"), subject to the investment restrictions
set forth above. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group
of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price. Such securities
are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System (commonly known as "NASDAQ") or, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares
of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the
Fund), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.
The Fund generally will
purchase shares of closed-end funds only in the secondary market. The Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases
similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market.
The Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end fund in an initial public offering when, in the opinion of the
Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end Fund’s proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions
and the level of demand for such securities, they represent an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The initial offering
price typically will include a dealer spread, which may be higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such
securities in the secondary market.
The shares of many closed-end
funds, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share, which is less than the NAV per share, the difference
representing the "market discount" of such shares. This market discount may be due in part to the investment objective
of long-term appreciation, which is sought by many closed-end funds, as well as to the fact that the shares of closed-end funds
are not redeemable by the holder upon demand to the issuer at the next determined NAV but rather are subject to the principles
of supply and demand in the secondary market. A relative lack of secondary market purchasers of closed-end fund shares also may
contribute to such shares trading at a discount to their NAV.
The Fund may invest in shares
of closed-end funds that are trading at a discount to NAV or at a premium to NAV. There can be no assurance that the market discount
on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by the Fund will ever decrease. In fact, it is possible that this market discount may
increase and the Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further decline in the market price of the securities
of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the NAV of the Fund’s shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance
that any shares of a closed-end fund purchased by the Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a premium or that the premium
will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund.
Closed-end funds may issue
senior securities (including preferred stock and debt obligations) for the purpose of leveraging the closed-end Fund’s common
shares in an attempt to enhance the current return to such closed-end Fund’s common shareholders. The Fund’s investment
in the
common shares of closed-end funds that are
financially leveraged may create an opportunity for greater total return on its investment, but at the same time may be expected
to exhibit more volatility in market price and NAV than an investment in shares of investment companies without a leveraged capital
structure.
United States Government
Obligations
These consist of various
types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations
of the United States government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable
government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis.
Debt
Issued by United States Government Agencies
These consist of debt securities
issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including the various types of instruments currently
outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, Government
National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae"), Farmer's Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States,
Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home
Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac"), the Farm
Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"), and the United States Postal Service. These securities
are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii)
guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency's
or instrumentality's right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., Fannie Mae Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only
by the issuing agency's or instrumentality's own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association).
Government-related guarantors
(i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae is
a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency)
residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations,
mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae are
guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by Fannie Mae but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States Government.
Freddie Mac was created
by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored
corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. Freddie Mac issues
participation certificates (“PCs”), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from Freddie Mac's national
portfolio. Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by
the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance
companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage
loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors
of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest
than government and government-related pools
because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment
of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan,
title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private
insurers and the mortgage poolers.
On September 7, 2008, the
U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Authority (the "FHFA") announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac had been placed into conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of
returning the entity to normal business operations. The U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA at the same time established a secured
lending facility and a Secured Stock Purchase Agreement with both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure that each entity had the
ability to fulfill its financial obligations. The FHFA announced that it does not anticipate any disruption in pattern of payments
or ongoing business operations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into
repurchase agreements. In a repurchase agreement, an investor (such as the Fund) purchases a security (known as the "underlying
security") from a securities dealer or bank. Any such dealer or bank must be deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. At that time,
the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon price on a designated future
date. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and
repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at an agreed upon rate due to the Fund on repurchase. In either case, the income
to the Fund generally will be unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying securities. Repurchase agreements must be "fully
collateralized," in that the market value of the underlying securities (including accrued interest) must at all times be equal
to or greater than the repurchase price. Therefore, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by the underlying
securities.
Repurchase agreements are
generally for a short period of time, often less than a week, and will generally be used by the Fund to invest excess cash or as
part of a temporary defensive strategy. Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated
as illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience
both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. These losses could result from: (a) possible decline in the value
of the underlying security while the Fund is seeking to enforce its rights under the repurchase agreement; (b) possible reduced
levels of income or lack of access to income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.
Trading in Futures Contracts
A futures contract provides
for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g.,
units of a stock index) for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Brokerage fees
are paid when a futures contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. Entering into a contract to buy is commonly
referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position. Entering into a contract to sell is commonly referred
to as selling a contract or holding a short position.
Unlike when the Fund purchases
or sells a security, no price would be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering
into a futures contract, and to maintain the Fund’s open positions in futures contracts, the Fund would be required to deposit
with its custodian or futures broker in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government
securities, suitable money market instruments, or other liquid securities, known as "initial margin." The margin required
for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from
time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that
may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.
If the price of an open
futures contract changes (by increase in underlying instrument or index in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase)
so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the
broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes
in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund.
These subsequent payments,
called "variation margin," to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets
fluctuate making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as "marking to
the market." The Fund 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.
Regulation as
a Commodity Pool Operator
The Trust, on behalf of
the Fund, has filed with the National Futures Association, a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity
pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgated
thereunder, with respect to both Funds’ operation. Accordingly, the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as
a commodity pool operator.
When-Issued, Forward
Commitments and Delayed Settlements
The Fund may purchase and
sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under
the section entitled "Custodian") will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account.
Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be required
subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the
Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside
portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.
The Fund does not intend
to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives. Because the Fund
will segregate liquid assets to satisfy purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability
of the Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued
securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.
The Fund purchases securities
on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed
advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered
into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement
date. In these cases the Fund may realize a taxable capital gain or loss. When the Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment
and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result
in the Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous.
The market value of the
securities underlying a when-issued purchase, forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any subsequent
fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when determining the market value of the Fund starting on the day the
Fund agrees to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until it
has paid for and delivered on the settlement date.
Illiquid and Restricted
Securities
The Fund may invest up to
15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions
on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"))
and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market
makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are
referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market.
Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.
Restricted and other illiquid
securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. the Fund might be unable to dispose
of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests
from shareholders. The Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them,
resulting in additional expense and delay.
Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.
A large institutional market
exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that there
are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity
of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise
subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a "safe harbor" from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced
liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such securities may continue to expand as a result of this regulation
and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered
securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by NASDAQ.
Under guidelines adopted
by the Board, the Adviser may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private
placement exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered.
A determination of whether such a security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Adviser will
consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the
security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the
security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or equity, date
of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g.,
the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating
of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the Adviser will also
determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two
highest rating categories by at least two Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations ("NRSROs") or, if only
one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.
Rule 144A securities and
Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Adviser to
determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section
4(a)(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities
if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.
Lending Portfolio Securities
For the purpose of achieving
income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S.
Government securities or cash or cash equivalents (cash, U.S. Government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers'
acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market
value of the securities loaned, (2) the Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of securities loaned, (3) the
Fund will receive any interest or dividends received on the loaned securities, and (4) the aggregate value of the securities loaned
will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the Fund. The Fund did not participate in lending of portfolio securities
during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Fund has adopted the
following investment restrictions that may not be changed without approval by a "majority of the outstanding shares"
of the Fund which, as used in this SAI, means the vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund represented at
a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more
than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund may not:
1. Issue senior securities,
except as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
2. Borrow money, except
(a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund;
or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding
5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering
into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments
of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions;
3. Purchase securities
on margin, participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any securities trading account, or underwrite securities. This
limitation does not preclude the Fund from obtaining such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases
and sales of its portfolio securities, and except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities
Act, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities;
4. Purchase or sell
real estate or interests in real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured
by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities
or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate
(including REITs);
5. Invest more than
25% of the market value of its assets in the securities of companies engaged in any one industry. This limitation does not apply
to investment in the securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
6. Purchase or sell commodities
(unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments) or commodity futures contracts, except that the Fund
may purchase and sell futures contracts and options to the full extent permitted under the 1940 Act, sell foreign currency contracts
in accordance with any rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, invest in securities or other instruments backed by commodities,
and invest in companies that are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities;
or
7. Make loans to others,
except that the Fund may, in accordance with its investment objective and policies, (i) lend portfolio securities, (ii) purchase
and hold debt securities or other debt instruments, including but not limited to loan participations and sub-participations, assignments,
and structured securities, (iii) make loans secured by mortgages on real property, (iv) enter into repurchase agreements, (v) enter
into transactions where each loan is represented by a note
executed by the borrower, and (vi) make time
deposits with financial institutions and invest in instruments issued by financial institutions. For purposes of this limitation,
the term "loans" shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or
other securities.
The Fund observes the
following policies, which are not deemed fundamental and which may be changed without shareholder vote. The Fund may not:
1. Invest in any issuer
for purposes of exercising control or management;
2. Mortgage, pledge,
hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection
with borrowings described in limitation (1) above. Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with
respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not
deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.
3. Purchase any security
when outstanding borrowings by the Fund represent more than 5% of its total assets.
If a restriction on the
Fund’s investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of Fund assets
invested in certain securities or other instruments of the Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value
of the Fund’s total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage
requirement applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by applicable law.
With respect to fundamental
investment restriction #5, if the Fund invests in one or more investment companies that concentrates its investments in a particular
industry, the Fund will examine its other investment company holdings to ensure that the Fund is not indirectly concentrating its
investments in a particular industry.
Although fundamental investment
restriction #7 reserves for the Fund the ability to make loans, there is no present intent to loan money and additional disclosure
will be provided if such a strategy is implemented in the future.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Trust has adopted policies
and procedures that govern the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to
ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders.
It is the Trust's policy
to: (1) ensure that any disclosure of portfolio holdings information is in the best interest of Trust shareholders; (2) protect
the confidentiality of portfolio holdings information; (3) have procedures in place to guard against personal trading based on
the information; and (4) ensure that the disclosure of portfolio holdings information does not create conflicts between the interests
of the Trust's shareholders and those of the Trust's affiliates.
The Fund discloses its
portfolio holdings by mailing the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the
fiscal year and semi-annual period. In addition, the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings reports on Forms N-CSR two months after
the end of each semi-annual period and Form N-PORT two months after the end of each quarter period. The Fund also discloses to
the general public top positional holdings and portfolio-related statistical information on the Fund’s website no earlier
than 14 days after the end of each calendar quarter.
The Fund may choose to make
portfolio holdings information available to rating agencies such as Lipper, Morningstar or Bloomberg more frequently on a confidential
basis.
Under limited circumstances,
as described below, the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed to, or known by, certain third parties in advance of their
filing with the SEC on Form N-CSR or Form N-PORT. In each case, a determination has been made that such advance disclosure is supported
by a legitimate business purpose and that the recipient is subject to a duty to keep the information confidential and is prohibited
from trading on material non-public information.
Separate account clients
of the Adviser have access to their portfolio holdings and are not subject to the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure policies.
Some of the separate accounts managed by the Adviser may have investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar
or identical to the Fund’s, and therefore potentially substantially similar, and in certain cases nearly identical, portfolio
holdings, as the Fund.
The Adviser. Personnel of the Adviser,
including personnel responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio, may have full daily access to Fund portfolio holdings
since that information is necessary in order for the Adviser to provide its management, administrative, and investment services
to the Fund. As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability,
as demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio managers in the trading of such securities,
Adviser personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.
Gemini Fund Services, LLC. Gemini Fund
Services, LLC is the transfer agent, fund accountant, administrator and custody administrator for the Fund; therefore, its personnel
have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide
the agreed-upon services for the Trust.
MUFG Union Bank, N.A. MUFG Union Bank,
N.A. is custodian for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that
information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.
Cohen & Company, Ltd. Cohen &
Company, Ltd. is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s
portfolio holdings in connection with auditing of the Fund’s annual financial statements and providing assistance and consultation
in connection with SEC filings.
Thompson Hine LLP. Thompson Hine LLP
is counsel to the Fund; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with review of
the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.
Additions to List of Approved Recipients
The Trust’s Chief
Compliance Officer (“CCO”) is the person responsible, and whose prior approval is required, for any disclosure of the
Fund’s portfolio securities at any time or to any persons other than those described above. In such cases, the recipient
must have a legitimate business need for the information and must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential and
not trade on any material, non-public information. There are no ongoing arrangements in place with respect to the disclosure of
portfolio holdings. In no event shall the Fund, the Adviser, or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in
connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
Compliance With Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
Procedures
The CCO will report periodically
to the Board with respect to compliance with the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure procedures, and from time to time will
provide the Board any updates to the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.
There is no assurance that
the Trust's policies on disclosure of portfolio holdings will protect The Fund from the potential misuse of holdings information
by individuals or firms in possession of that information.
MANAGEMENT
The business of the Trust
is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trust's By-laws (the
"Governing Documents"), which have been filed with the SEC and are available upon request. The Board consists of three
(3) individuals, each of whom are not "interested persons" (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust or any investment
adviser to any series of the Trust ("Independent Trustees"). Pursuant to the Governing Documents, the Trustees shall
elect officers including a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Principal Executive Officer and a Principal Accounting Officer.
The Board retains the power to conduct, operate and carry on the business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses,
which, in the opinion of the Board, are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the Trust's purposes. The Trustees, officers,
employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his
or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.
Board Leadership Structure
The Trust is led by Joseph
Breslin, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since July 2015. The Board of Trustees is comprised of three independent Trustees.
Additionally, under certain 1940 Act governance guidelines that apply to the Trust, the Independent Trustees will meet in executive
session, at least quarterly. Under the Governing Documents, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at board
meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, (c) executing and administering of Trust policies including (i) setting
the agendas for board meetings and (ii) providing information to board members in advance of each board meeting and between board
meetings. The Trust believes that its Chairman, the independent chair of the Audit Committee,
and, as an entity, the full Board of Trustees,
provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust, its funds
and each shareholder.
Board Risk Oversight
The Board of Trustees has
a standing independent Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Contract Review Committee, each with a separate
chair. The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management
and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its CCO at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc
basis, when and if necessary. The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting risk within its area of responsibilities. Generally,
the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the
CCO is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information. The primary purposes of the Nominating and Governance
Committee are to consider and evaluate the structure, composition and operation of the Board, to evaluate and recommend individuals
to serve on the Board of the Trust, and to consider and make recommendations relating to the compensation of the Trust’s
independent trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee may consider recommendations for candidates to serve on the
Board from any source it deems appropriate. The primary purpose of the Contract Review Committee is to oversee and guide the process
by which the Independent Trustees annually consider whether to approve or renew the Trust’s investment advisory, sub-advisory
and distribution agreements, Rule 12b-1 plans, and such other agreements or plans involving the Trust as specified in the Contract
Review Committee’s charter or as the Board determines from time to time.
Trustee Qualifications
Generally, the Trust believes
that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications,
(iii) attributes and (iv) skills. Mr. Breslin has over 20 years of business experience in the investment management and brokerage
business and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based,
in part, upon his years of service as an officer and/or Trustee to other registered investment companies. Thomas Sarkany is qualified
to serve as a Trustee based on his experience in various business and consulting positions, and through his experience from service
as a board member of the Trust and other investment companies. Since 2010, he has been the President of a financial services firm
and from 1994 through 2010, held various roles at a publicly held company providing financial research, publications and money
management services to retail and institutional investors, including Director of Marketing and Asset Management, Director of Index
Licensing, and member of the Board of Directors. In addition to his service as a Trustee of the Trust, Mr. Sarkany serves as a
trustee of the Northern Lights Fund Trust II and has previously served as a director of certain public companies. Charles R. Ranson
has more than 20 years’ experience in strategic analysis and planning, risk assessment, and capital formation in the operation
of complex organizations and entrepreneurial ventures. In addition to his service to the Trust, Mr. Ranson serves as an independent
trustee to another mutual fund complex. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his duties effectively also has been enhanced by
his educational background and professional training. The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a
Trustee's qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them each highly qualified.
The following is a list
of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and each person’s principal occupation over the last five years. The
business address of each Trustee and Officer is 225
Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, OH
45246. All correspondence to the Trustees and Officers should be directed to c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 541150, Omaha,
Nebraska 68154.
Independent Trustees
Name and Year of Birth
|
Position/Term of Office*
|
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years
|
Number of Funds in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee
|
Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years
|
Joseph Breslin
Year of Birth: 1953
|
Independent Trustee and Chairman of the Board since 2015
|
President and Consultant, Adviser Counsel, Inc. (formerly J.E.
Breslin & Co.) (management consulting firm to investment advisers), (since 2009); Senior Counsel, White Oak Global Advisors,
LLC. (since 2016).
|
2
|
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (for series not affiliated with the Fund since 2015); Director, Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc. (since 2000); Trustee, Kinetics Portfolios Trust (since 2000); Trustee, Forethought Variable Insurance Trust (since 2013); Trustee, BlueArc Multi-Strategy Fund (2014-2017); Hatteras Trust (2004-2016)
|
Thomas Sarkany
Year of Birth: 1946
|
Independent Trustee since 2015
|
Founder and President, TTS Consultants, LLC (financial services) (since 2010).
|
2
|
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (for series not affiliated with the Fund since 2015); Arrow Investments Trust (since 2014), Arrow ETF Trust (since 2012), Trustee, Northern Lights Fund Trust II (since 2011); Director, Aquila Distributors (since 1981)
|
Charles Ranson
Year of Birth: 1947
|
Independent Trustee since 2015
|
Principal, Ranson & Associates (strategic analysis and planning, including risk assessment and capital formation for entrepreneurial ventures) (since 2003).
|
2
|
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (for series not affiliated with the Fund since 2015); Advisors Preferred Trust (since November 2012)
|
Officers
Name and Year of Birth
|
Position/Term of Office*
|
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years
|
Number of Funds in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee
|
Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years
|
Wendy Wang
Year of Birth: 1970
|
President since 2015
|
Senior Vice President, Director of Tax and Compliance Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Sam Singh
Year of Birth: 1976
|
Treasurer since 2015
|
Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2015); Assistant Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2011-2014).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Jennifer Farrell
Year of Birth: 1969
|
Secretary since 2017
|
Manager, Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2018); Senior Paralegal, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2015); Legal Trainer, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2013-2015); Senior Paralegal, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006-2012).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
James Ash
Year of Birth: 1976
|
Chief Compliance Officer since 2019
|
Senior Compliance Officer, Northern Lights Compliance, LLC (since 2019); Senior Vice President, National Sales Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2017-2019); Senior Vice President and Director of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2012 - 2017).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
* The term of office for each Trustee and officer
listed above will continue indefinitely until the individual resigns or is removed.
** As of March
1, 2020, the Trust was comprised of 16 other active portfolios managed by unaffiliated investment advisers. The term “Fund
Complex” applies only to the Funds. The Fund does not hold itself out as related to any other series within the Trust
for investment purposes, nor do they share the same investment adviser with any other series.
Board Committees
Audit Committee
The Board has an Audit
Committee that consists of all the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940
Act. The Audit Committee's responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the
Trust's independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their
audit; (iii) discussing with the independent auditors certain matters relating to the Trust's financial statements, including any
adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent auditors, or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing
on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing
with the independent auditors any relationships
or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust's independent auditors and
recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor's independence; and (v)
considering the comments of the independent auditors and management's responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy
of the Trust's accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls. The Audit Committee operates pursuant
to an Audit Committee Charter. The Audit Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing nominee candidates for consideration
as Independent Trustees as is from time to time considered necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee generally will not consider
shareholder nominees. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and setting Independent Trustee compensation from time
to time when considered necessary or appropriate. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Audit Committee met four
times.
Nominating and Governance
Committee
The Board has a Nominating
and Governance Committee that consists of all the "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
The Committee’s responsibilities (which may also be conducted by the Board) include: (i) recommend persons to be nominated
or re-nominated as Trustees in accordance with the Independent Trustee's Statement of Policy on Criteria for Selecting Independent
Trustees; (ii) reviewing the Funds’ officers, and conduct CCO searches, as needed, and providing consultation regarding other
CCO matters, as requested; (iii) review trustee qualifications, performance, and compensation; (iv) review periodically with the
Board the size and composition of the Board as a whole; (v) annually evaluate the operations of the Board and its Committees and
assisting the Board in conducting its annual self-evaluation; (vi) make recommendations on the requirements for, and means of,
Board orientation and training; (vii) periodically review the Board’s corporate governance policies and practices and recommend,
as it deems appropriate, any changes to the Board; (ix) consider any corporate governance issues that arise from time to time,
and to develop appropriate recommendations for the Board; and (x) supervise counsel for the Independent Trustees. Mr. Ranson serves
as the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Nominating and Governance Committee operates pursuant to an Nominating
and Governance Committee Charter. The Chairman of the Contract Review Committee met with independent trust counsel, Trust Counsel
and Trust Officers quarterly to review and discuss the proposed 15(c) questionnaires submitted by each adviser regarding Board
approval of investment advisory contract. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Nominating and Governance Committee
met one time.
Contract Review Committee
The Board has a Contract
Review Committee that consists of all the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of
the 1940 Act. The primary purpose of the Contract Review Committee is to oversee and guide the process by which the Independent
Trustees annually consider whether to approve or renew the Trust’s investment advisory, sub-advisory and distribution agreements,
Rule 12b-1 plans, and such other agreements or plans involving the Trust as specified in the Contract Review Committee’s
charter or as the Board determines from time to time. The Board may also assign to the Contract Review Committee responsibility
to evaluate and make recommendations on contracts in unusual situations, for example, where a contract is expected to terminate
because of a change of control of an investment adviser. The Contract Review Committee's responsibilities include: (i) identifying
the scope and format of information to be requested from service providers in connection with the evaluation of each contract or
plan and meet and evaluate such information at least annually in advance of the automatic expiration of such contracts by operation
of law or by their terms; (ii) providing guidance to independent legal counsel regarding specific information
requests to be made by such counsel on behalf
of the Board or the Independent Trustees; (iii) evaluating regulatory and other developments coming to its attention that
might reasonably be expected to have an impact on the Independent Trustees’ consideration of how to evaluate and whether
or not to renew a contract or plan; (iv) assisting in circumscribing the range of factors considered by the Board relating
to the approval or renewal of advisory or sub-advisory agreements; (v) recommending to other committees and/or to the Independent
Trustees specific steps to be taken by them regarding the renewal process, including, for example, proposed schedules of meetings
by Independent Trustees; (vi) investigating and reporting on any other matter brought to its attention within the scope of
its duties; and (vii) performing such other duties as are consistent with the Contract Review Committee’s purpose or
that are assigned to it by the Board. Mr. Sarkany serves as the Chairman of the Contract Review Committee. The Chairman of the
Contract Review Committee met with independent trust counsel, Trust Counsel and Trust Officers quarterly to review and discuss
the proposed 15(c) questionnaires submitted by each adviser regarding Board approval of investment advisory contract. The
Contract Review Committee operates pursuant to a Contract Review Committee Charter. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019,
the Contract Review Committee met once.
Compensation
Effective
January 1, 2020, each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or an investment adviser to any series of the Trust (each an
"Independent Trustee") will receive a quarterly fee of $22,500 to be paid by the Trust within 10 days of the commencement
of each calendar quarter for his service as a Trustee of the Board of Trustees and for serving in his respective capacity as Chair
of the Audit Committee, Nomination and Governance Committee and Contract Review Committee, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable
expenses incurred for attending regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. Additionally, in the event that an in-person
meeting of the Board of Trustees other than its regularly scheduled meetings (a "Special Meeting") is required, each
Independent Trustee will receive a fee of $5,000 per Special Meeting, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred,
to be paid by the Trust or the relevant series of the Trust or its investment adviser depending on the circumstances necessitating
the Special Meeting. The Independent Trustees at their sole discretion shall determine when a particular meeting constitutes a
Special Meeting for purpose of the $5,000 fee.
None of the executive
officers receive compensation from the Trust.
The table
below details the amount of compensation the Trustees received from the Trust during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019. Each
Independent Trustee is expected to attend all quarterly meetings during the period. The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing,
pension or retirement plan.
Name and Position
|
Aggregate Compensation From Fund
|
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Funds Expenses
|
Annual Benefits Upon Retirement
|
Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex* Paid to Trustees
|
Joseph Breslin
|
$3,517
|
$0
|
$0
|
$8,453
|
Thomas Sarkany
|
$3,517
|
$0
|
$0
|
$8,453
|
Charles Ranson
|
$3,517
|
$0
|
$0
|
$8,453
|
* There are currently numerous series comprising
the Trust. The term “Fund Complex” refers only to the Main Funds, and not to any other series of the Trust.
Management and Trustee Ownership
As of December 31, 2019,
the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned no shares of the Fund or any of the Fund Complex’s outstanding shares.
CONTROL PERSONS AND
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
A principal shareholder
is any person who owns (either of record or beneficially) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a fund. A control person is one
who owns, either directly or indirectly more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control.
A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company
or acknowledged the existence of control.
As of March 4, 2020,
the following shareholders of record owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Name & Address
|
Shares
|
Percentage of Fund Share Class
|
Class I Shares
|
|
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc./ Special Custody A/C FBO Customers
Attn: Mutual Funds
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
|
1,115,621
|
16.70%
|
TD Ameritrade Inc. FBO
PO Box 2226
Omaha, NE 68103-2226
|
4,914,534
|
73.55%
|
Mary Miner TTEE/Survivors Trust
135 Main Street, Suite 1140
San Francisco, CA 94105
|
511,758
|
7.66%
|
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Investment Adviser
and Advisory Agreement
Main Management Fund
Advisors, LLC, 601 California Street, Suite 620, San Francisco, CA 94108, 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 Delaware
limited liability company formed in 2015 for the purpose of managing the Fund. Main Management, LLC, controls the Adviser because
it owns more than 25% of the membership interests in the Adviser. Kim D. Arthur and James W. Concidine may be deemed to indirectly
control the Adviser because they hold controlling interests in Main Management, LLC.
Subject to the oversight
of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the overall management of the Fund’s investment-related business
affairs. Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with the Trust, on behalf of the Fund,
the Adviser, in conformity with the stated policies of the Fund, manages the portfolio investment operations of the Fund. The Adviser
has overall supervisory responsibilities for the general management and investment of the Fund’s securities portfolio, as
detailed below, which are subject to review and approval by the Board of Trustees. In general, the Adviser's duties include setting
the Fund’s overall
investment strategies and asset allocation.
Pursuant to the Advisory
Agreement, the Adviser, agrees to invest the assets of the Fund in accordance with applicable law and the investment objective,
policies and restrictions set forth in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject
to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser. The Adviser shall act as
the investment adviser to the Fund and, as such shall, (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries,
business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities here under,
(ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective,
policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by the Fund,
and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to
be effected; provided, that the Adviser or its designee, directly, will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations
either directly with the issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best
price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and to
brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and pay such brokers in return a higher commission
or spread than may be charged by other brokers. The Adviser also provides the Fund with all necessary office facilities and personnel
for servicing the Fund’s investments, compensates all officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors
or employees of the Adviser, and all personnel of the Fund or the Adviser performing services relating to research, statistical
and investment activities. The Advisory Agreement was approved by the Board of the Trust, including by a majority of the Independent
Trustees, at a meeting held on October 7, 2015 and was most recently renewed at a meeting held on October 17, 2019.
In addition, the Adviser,
provides the management and supplemental administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund. These services include
providing assistance in supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents, accountants, underwriters and other
persons dealing with the Fund; assisting in the preparing of all general shareholder communications and conducting shareholder
relations; assisting in maintaining the Fund’s records and the registration of the Fund’s shares under federal securities
laws and making necessary filings under state securities laws; assisting in developing management and shareholder services for
the Fund; and furnishing reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the Trustees.
The Fund pays an annual
management fee (computed daily and payable monthly) of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets to the Adviser pursuant
to the Advisory Agreement. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2017, the Adviser earned $250,533 in advisory fees, and the Adviser
waived and/or reimbursed $124,404 in advisory fees and expenses during the period such that the Adviser received an annual net
advisory fee, in an amount equal to 0.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended November 30,
2018, the Adviser earned $434,748 in advisory fees, and the Adviser waived and/or reimbursed $121,016 in advisory fees and expenses
during the period such that the Adviser received an annual net advisory fee, in an amount equal to 0.72% of the Fund’s average
daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Adviser earned $689,943 in advisory fees, and the Adviser waived
and/or reimbursed $132,271 in advisory fees and expenses during the period such that the Adviser received an annual net advisory
fee, in an amount equal to 0.81% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
The Adviser has contractually
agreed to limit total annual operating expenses of the Fund through March 31, 2030 including the advisory fee, to ensure that total
annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or reimbursement excluding (i) any front-end or contingent deferred loads;
(ii) brokerage fees and commissions, (iii) acquired fund fees and expenses; (iv) fees and expenses associated with investments
in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); (v)
borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); (vi) taxes; and (vii) extraordinary expenses,
such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, contractual indemnification of Fund
service providers (other than the Adviser) will not exceed 1.45%, 2.20%, or 1.20% of the Fund’s average daily net assets
attributable to Class A, Class C, and Class I shares, respectively; subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years
on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be
achieved within the expense limitations in place at the time of waiver and the expense limitation in place at the time of recapture.
The expense limit arrangement may not be terminated during this time period without prior approval of the Board of Trustees on
60 days’ written notice to the Adviser.
Expenses not expressly assumed
by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement are paid by the Fund. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Fund is responsible
for the payment of the following expenses among others: (a) the fees payable to the Adviser, (b) the fees and expenses of Trustees
who are not affiliated persons of the Adviser or Distributor (as defined under the section entitled "The Distributor")
(c) the fees and certain expenses of the Custodian and Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent (as defined under the section entitled
"Transfer Agent"), including the cost of maintaining certain required records of the Fund and of pricing the Fund’s
shares, (d) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent accountants for the Fund, (e) brokerage commissions and any
issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its securities transactions, (f) all taxes and corporate fees
payable by the Fund to governmental agencies, (g) the fees of any trade association of which the Fund may be a member, (h) the
cost of fidelity and liability insurance, (i) the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the
Fund and of shares with the SEC, qualifying its shares under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the
Fund’s registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes, (j) all expenses of shareholders and Trustees' meetings
(including travel expenses of trustees and officers of the Trust who are not directors, officers or employees of the Adviser) and
of preparing, printing and mailing reports, proxy statements and prospectuses to shareholders in the amount necessary for distribution
to the shareholders and (k) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary
course of the Fund’s business.
The
Advisory Agreement continued in effect for two (2) years initially and continues 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. 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 dated November 30, 2019.
Codes of Ethics
The Trust, the Adviser and
the Distributor have each adopted codes of ethics (each a “Code”) under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that governs
the personal securities transactions of their board members, officers and employees who may have access to current trading information
of the Trust. Under the Codes, the Trustees are permitted to invest in securities that may also be purchased by the Fund.
In addition, the Trust has
adopted a code of ethics (the “Trust Code”), which applies only to the Trust's executive officers to ensure that these
officers promote professional conduct in the practice of corporate governance and management. The purpose behind these guidelines
is to promote (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between
personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents
that the Trust files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Fund; (iii) compliance with applicable
governmental laws, rule and regulations; (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Trust Code to an appropriate person
or persons identified in the Trust Code; and (v) accountability for adherence to the Trust Code.
Proxy Voting Policies
The Board has adopted
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures ("Policies") on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting
proxies to the Adviser or its designee, subject to the Board's continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser or its
designee vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and shareholders. The Policies also require
the Adviser or its designee to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser's Proxy Policies, or the proxy policies of
the Adviser's designee, and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser or its designee on behalf of the Fund, including a report
on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser as involving a conflict of interest.
Where a proxy proposal raises
a material conflict between the Adviser's interests and the Fund’s interests, the Adviser will resolve the conflict by voting
in accordance with the policy guidelines or at the client's directive using the recommendation of an independent third party. If
the third party's recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, the Adviser will abstain from voting the securities held
by that client's account. A copy of the Adviser's and proxy voting policies is attached hereto as Appendix A.
More information.
Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund during the most recent 12-month
period ending June 30 will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-855-907-3373; and (2) on the
SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures are also available
by calling 1-855-907-3373 and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.
THE DISTRIBUTOR
Northern Lights Distributors,
LLC, located at 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022-3474 (the "Distributor") serves as the
principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Trust pursuant to an underwriting agreement with the Trust
(the "Underwriting Agreement"). The Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and each state's securities laws and is a member of the FINRA. The offering of the Fund’s shares is continuous. The
Underwriting Agreement provides that the Distributor, as agent in connection with the distribution of the Fund’s shares,
will use reasonable efforts to facilitate the sale of the Fund’s shares.
The Underwriting Agreement
provides that, unless sooner terminated, it will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from
year to year, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority
of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of the Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Underwriting Agreement
may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of the
Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund on 60 days written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor
at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days written notice to the Fund. The Underwriting Agreement will automatically
terminate in the event of its assignment.
The following table sets forth the total compensation
received by the Distributor from the Funds for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2018:
Fund
|
Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions
|
Compensation on Redemptions and Repurchases
|
Brokerage Commissions
|
Other Compensation
|
Main BuyWrite Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
*
|
*The Distributor received $7,031 from the Adviser as compensation for its distribution services to the Funds.
|
The following table sets
forth the total compensation received by the Distributor from the Funds for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019:
Fund
|
Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions
|
Compensation on Redemptions and Repurchases
|
Brokerage Commissions
|
Other Compensation
|
Main BuyWrite Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
*
|
*The Distributor received $17,454 from the Adviser as compensation for its distribution services to the Funds.
|
The Distributor may enter
into selling agreements with broker-dealers that solicit orders for the sale of shares of the Fund and may allow concessions to
dealers that sell shares of the Fund.
Rule 12b-1 Plans
The Trust, with respect
to the Fund, has adopted the Trust’s Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
1940 Act (the "Plans") for each of Class A and Class C shares pursuant to which the Fund is authorized to pay the Distributor,
as compensation for Distributor's account maintenance services under the Plans. The Board has approved a distribution and shareholder
servicing fee at the rate of up to 0.25% for Class A shares and 1.00% for Class C shares of the Fund’s average daily net
assets attributable to the relevant class. Such fees are to be paid by the Fund monthly, or at such other intervals as the Board
shall determine. Such fees shall be based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets during the preceding month, and shall
be calculated and accrued daily. The Fund may pay fees to the Distributor at a lesser rate, as agreed upon by the Board of Trustees
and the Distributor. The Plans authorize payments to the Distributor as compensation for providing account maintenance services
to Fund shareholders, including arranging for certain securities dealers or brokers, administrators and others ("Recipients")
to provide these services and paying compensation for these services. The Fund will bear its own costs of distribution with respect
to its shares.
The services to be provided
by Recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following: assistance in the offering and sale of Fund shares and in other
aspects of the marketing of the shares to clients or prospective clients of the respective recipients; answering routine inquiries
concerning the Fund; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and in processing purchase
and redemption transactions; making the Fund’s investment plan and shareholder services available; and providing such other
information and services to investors in shares of the Fund as the Distributor or the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, may reasonably
request. The distribution services shall also include any advertising and marketing services provided by or arranged by the Distributor
with respect to the Fund.
The Distributor is required
to provide a written report, at least quarterly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, specifying in reasonable detail the amounts
expended pursuant to the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. Further, the Distributor will inform the
Board of any Rule 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Distributor to Recipients.
The Plans may not be
amended to increase materially the amount of the Distributor's compensation to be paid by the Fund, unless such amendment is approved
by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the affected class of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act).
All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees
by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plans. During the term of the Plan, the selection
and nomination of Independent Trustees of the Trust will be committed to the discretion of current Independent Trustees. The Distributor
will preserve copies of the Rule 12b-1 Plans, any related agreements, and all reports, for a period of not less than six years
from the date of such document and for at least the first two years in an easily accessible place.
Any agreement related
to a Plan will be in writing and provide that: (a) it may be terminated by the Trust or the Fund at any time upon sixty days written
notice, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the respective Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the Fund; (b) it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment
(as defined in the 1940 Act); and (c) it will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the date of its execution
or adoption only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a majority
of the Board and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such agreement.
For the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2019, the Fund paid the following allocated distribution fees:
Actual 12b-1 Expenditures Paid by
|
Main BuyWrite Fund Shares
|
During the Fiscal Period Ended November 30, 2019
|
|
Total Dollars Allocated
|
Advertising/Marketing
|
None
|
Printing/Postage
|
None
|
Payment to distributor
|
$0
|
Payment to dealers
|
$0
|
Compensation to sales personnel
|
None
|
Other
|
$0
|
Total
|
$0
|
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Kim D. Arthur, James
W. Concidine, and J. Richard Fredericks serve as the portfolio managers of the Fund.
As of November
30, 2019, the portfolio managers are responsible for the portfolio management of the following types of accounts in addition to
the Fund:
Total Other Accounts
By Type
|
Total Number of Accounts by Account Type
|
Total Assets By Account Type
(in millions)
|
Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance
Fee
(in millions)
|
Kim D. Arthur
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
1
|
$545.8
|
0
|
0
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
2
|
$106.7
|
0
|
0
|
Other Accounts
|
204
|
$1,533.4
|
0
|
0
|
Total Other Accounts
By Type
|
Total Number of Accounts by Account Type
|
Total Assets By Account Type
(in millions)
|
Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
James W. Concidine
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
1
|
$545.8
|
0
|
0
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
2
|
$106.7
|
0
|
0
|
Other Accounts
|
204
|
$1,533.4
|
0
|
0
|
Total Other Accounts
By Type
|
Total Number of Accounts by Account Type
|
Total Assets By Account Type
(in millions)
|
Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
J. Richard Fredericks
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
1
|
$545.8
|
0
|
0
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
2
|
$106.7
|
0
|
0
|
Other Accounts
|
204
|
$1,533.4
|
0
|
0
|
Conflicts of Interest
As a general matter, certain
conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager's management of the Fund’s investments, on the one
hand, and the investments of other accounts for which the portfolio manager is responsible, on the other. For example, it is possible
that the various accounts managed could have different investment strategies that, at times, might conflict with one another to
the possible detriment of the Fund. Alternatively, to the extent that the same investment opportunities might be desirable for
more than one account, possible conflicts could arise in determining how to allocate them. Other potential conflicts might include
conflicts created by specific portfolio manager compensation arrangements, and conflicts relating to selection of brokers or dealers
to execute the Fund’s portfolio trades and/or specific uses of commissions from the Fund’s portfolio trades (for example,
research, or "soft dollars," if any). The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures and has structured the portfolio
managers' compensation in a manner reasonably designed to safeguard the Fund from being negatively affected as a result of any
such potential conflicts.
Compensation
Mr. Arthur, Mr. Concidine,
and Mr. Fredericks have ownership interests in the Adviser and will participate in business profits accordingly. Mr. Arthur receives
a monthly partnership draw, and each of Mr. Arthur, Mr. Concidine, and Mr. Fredericks receive an annual bonus.
Ownership of Securities
The following table shows
the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Fund as of November 30, 2019.
Name of Portfolio Manager
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Main BuyWrite Fund
|
Kim D. Arthur
|
$100,001-$500,000
|
James W. Concidine
|
$100,001-$500,000
|
J. Richard Fredericks
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO
BROKERAGE
Specific decisions to purchase
or sell securities for the Fund are made by the co-portfolio managers who are employees of the Adviser. The Adviser is authorized
by the Trustees to allocate the orders placed by them on behalf of the Fund to brokers or dealers who may, but need not, provide
research or statistical material or other services to the Fund or the Adviser for the Fund’s use. Such allocation is to be
in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser may determine.
In selecting a broker
or dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Adviser will take the following into consideration:
-
the best net price available;
-
the reliability, integrity and financial
condition of the broker or dealer;
-
the size of and difficulty in executing
the order; and
-
the value of the expected contribution
of the broker or dealer to the investment performance of the Fund on a continuing basis.
Brokers or dealers executing a portfolio
transaction on behalf of the Fund may receive a commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would
have charged for executing the transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation
to the value of brokerage and research services provided to the Fund. In allocating portfolio brokerage, the Adviser may select
brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage, research and other services to other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment
discretion. Some of the services received as the result of Fund transactions may primarily benefit accounts other than the Fund,
while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit
the Fund.
For the fiscal years
ended November 30, 2017, November 30, 2018 and November 30, 2019, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $17,774, $56,612 and $174,643,
respectively.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund’s portfolio
turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly
average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. The calculation excludes from both the
numerator and the denominator securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover
involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. A
100% turnover rate would occur if all of the Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period. For
the fiscal years ended November 30, 2018, and November 30, 2019, the Fund’s portfolio rate was 22% and 51%, respectively.
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
Fund Administration, Fund Accounting and Transfer Agent Services
Gemini
Fund Services, LLC, (“GFS”), which has its principal office at 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska
68022-3474, serves as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent for the Fund pursuant to the Fund Services Agreement (the
“Agreement”) with the Fund and subject to the supervision of the Board. GFS is primarily in the business of providing
administrative, fund accounting and transfer agent services to retail and institutional mutual funds. GFS is an affiliate of the
Distributor. GFS may also provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees
of GFS or its affiliates.
The Agreement became
effective on December 22, 2015, and remained in effect for two years from the applicable effective date for the Fund, and will
continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually
by a majority of the Board. The Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 90 days’ written notice and may be assigned
by either party, provided that the Trust may not assign this agreement without the prior written consent of GFS. The Agreement
provides that GFS shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to the Agreement.
Under the Agreement,
GFS performs administrative services, including: (1) monitoring the performance of administrative and professional services rendered
to the Trust by others service providers; (2) monitoring Fund holdings and operations for post-trade compliance with the Fund’s
registration statement and applicable laws and rules; (3) preparing and coordinating the printing of semi-annual and annual financial
statements; (4) preparing selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses; (5) preparing and disseminating
materials for and attending and participating in meetings of the Board; (6) determining income and capital gains available for
distribution and calculating distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements; (7) reviewing the
Trust's federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust's independent public accountants; (8) preparing
and maintaining the Trust's operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to the Fund to calculate
its daily net asset value; (9) assisting in and monitoring the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination
to shareholders of amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders
and the SEC, notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2, proxy materials and reports to the SEC on Forms N-CEN, N-CSR, N-PORT and N-PX; (10)
coordinating the Trust's audits and examinations by assisting the Fund’s independent public accountants; (11) determining,
in consultation with others, the jurisdictions in which shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale and facilitating
such registration or qualification; (12) monitoring sales of shares and ensuring that the shares are properly and duly registered
with the SEC; (13) monitoring the calculation of performance data for the Fund; (14) preparing, or causing to be prepared, expense
and financial reports; (15) preparing authorizations for the payment of Trust expenses and paying, from Trust assets, all bills
of the Trust; (16) providing information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report
price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies; (17) upon request, assisting the Fund in the evaluation
and selection of other service providers, such as independent public accountants, printers, EDGAR providers and proxy solicitors
(such parties may be affiliates of GFS) and (18) performing other services, recordkeeping and assistance relating to the affairs
of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.
Effective February 1, 2019,
NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC, the parent company of GFS and its affiliated companies including NLD and Northern Lights
Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”)(collectively, the “Gemini Companies”), sold its interest in the Gemini
Companies to a third party private equity firm that contemporaneously acquired Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (an independent mutual
fund administration firm) and its affiliates (collectively, the “Ultimus Companies”). As a result of these separate
transactions, the Gemini Companies and the Ultimus Companies are now indirectly owned through a common parent entity, The Ultimus
Group, LLC.
For the administrative
services rendered to the Fund by GFS, the Fund pays GFS an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund
also pay GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2017, the Fund paid $35,023 for administrative
services, of which $6,000 were waived by GFS. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2018, the Fund paid $39,000 for administrative
services. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Fund paid $53,974 for administrative services.
GFS also provides the Fund
with accounting services, including: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and
records as required by the 1940 Act; (iii) production of the Fund’s listing of portfolio securities and general ledger reports;
(iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Fund; (vi) maintenance of certain
books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciliation of account information and balances among the
Custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluation of daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares
of the Fund.
For the fund accounting
services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS the greater of an annual minimum fee or an asset based fee,
which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended November
30, 2017, the Fund paid $19,068 for accounting services, of which $6,000 were waived by GFS. For the fiscal year ended November
30, 2018, the Fund paid $19,849 for accounting services. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Fund paid $22,401 for
accounting services.
GFS also acts as transfer,
dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to the Agreement. Under the Agreement, GFS is responsible
for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary
records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
For such services rendered
to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also
pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2017, the Fund paid $22,005 for transfer, dividend
disbursing, and shareholder servicing services, of which $6,000 were waived by GFS. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2018,
the Fund paid $24,071 for transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing services. For the fiscal year ended November
30, 2019, the Fund paid $24,200 for transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing services.
Custodian
MUFG Union Bank, N.A., (the
"Custodian" or “Union”), serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custody agreement
(the "Custody Agreement") by and between the Custodian and the Trust on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian's responsibilities
include safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and
collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, the
Custodian also maintains original entry documents
and books of record and general ledgers; posts cash receipts and disbursements; and records purchases and sales based upon communications
from the Adviser. The Fund may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board to hold foreign assets.
Compliance Officer
NLCS, 4221 North 203rd
Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022-3474, an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides a CCO to the Trust as well as
related compliance services pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust. NLCS’s compliance services consist
primarily of reviewing and assessing the policies and procedures of the Trust and its service providers pertaining to compliance
with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. For the compliance services rendered to the Fund,
the Fund pays NLCS a one-time fee plus an annual asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays
NLCS for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2017, November 30, 2018 and November 30, 2019, the
Fund paid $9,001, $11,574 and $12,501, respectively, for compliance services.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
Each share of beneficial
interest of the Trust has one vote in the election of Trustees. Cumulative voting is not authorized for the Trust. This means that
the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to
do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any Trustees.
Shareholders of the Trust
and any other future series of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by series except as otherwise required by law or when
the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interest of the shareholders of a particular series or classes.
Matters such as election of Trustees are not subject to separate voting requirements and may be acted upon by shareholders of the
Trust voting without regard to series.
The Trust is authorized
to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. Each share has equal, per-class, dividend, distribution and liquidation
rights. There are no conversion or preemptive rights applicable to any shares of the Fund. All shares issued are fully paid and
non-assessable.
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING
PROGRAM
The Trust has established
an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the "Program") as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 ("USA PATRIOT Act"). To ensure compliance
with this law, the Trust's Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of
anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness
of the Program. The Trust's secretary serves as its Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.
Procedures to implement
the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Fund’s Distributor and Transfer Agent have established
proper anti-money laundering procedures,
reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity
and a providing a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with
any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.
As a result of the Program,
the Trust may be required to "freeze" the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious
activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons,
or the Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.
PURCHASE,
REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
Calculation of Share
Price
As indicated in the Prospectus
under the heading "How Shares are Priced," the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares is determined
by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number
of shares outstanding (on a per-class basis) of the Fund.
Generally, the Fund’s
domestic securities (including underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges)
are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon
one or more securities exchanges for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale
shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at
the mean between the current bid and ask prices on such exchange. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ for which market quotations
are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If market quotations are not readily available,
securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s fair value committee in accordance
with procedures approved by the Board and as further described below. Securities that are not traded or dealt in any securities
exchange (whether domestic or foreign) and for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available generally shall be
valued at the last sale price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask price on such over-the-counter
market.
Certain securities or investments
for which daily market quotes are not readily available may be valued, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board, with reference
to other securities or indices. Debt securities not traded on an exchange may be valued at prices supplied by a pricing agent(s)
based on broker or dealer supplied valuations or matrix pricing, a method of valuing securities by reference to the value of other
securities with similar characteristics, such as rating, interest rate and maturity. Short-term investments having a maturity of
60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost when it approximated fair value.
Exchange traded options
are valued at the last quoted sales price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on the
exchange on which such options are traded. Futures and options on futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the
exchange, or, if no settlement price is available, at the last sale price as of the close of business prior to when the Fund calculates
NAV. Other securities for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by
the Board or persons acting at their direction. Swap agreements and other derivatives are generally valued daily depending on the
type of
instrument and reference assets based upon
market prices, the mean between bid and asked price quotations from market makers or by a pricing service or other parties in accordance
with the valuation procedures approved by the Board.
Under certain circumstances,
the Fund may use an independent pricing service to calculate the fair market value of foreign equity securities on a daily basis
by applying valuation factors to the last sale price or the mean price as noted above. The fair market values supplied by the independent
pricing service will generally reflect market trading that occurs after the close of the applicable foreign markets of comparable
securities or the value of other instruments that have a strong correlation to the fair-valued securities. The independent pricing
service will also take into account the current relevant currency exchange rate. A security that is fair valued may be valued at
a price higher or lower than actual market quotations or the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures.
Because foreign securities may trade on days when Fund shares are not priced, the value of securities held by the Fund can change
on days when Fund shares cannot be redeemed or purchased. In the event that a foreign security’s market quotations are not
readily available or are deemed unreliable (for reasons other than because the foreign exchange on which it trades closed before
the Fund’s calculation of NAV), the security will be valued at its fair market value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s
fair value committee in accordance with procedures approved by the Board as discussed below. Without fair valuation, it is possible
that short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation
of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there
is no assurance that it will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short-term traders. In addition, because the Fund may
invest in underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges, and these exchanges
may trade on weekends or other days when the underlying ETFs do not price their shares, the value of these portfolio securities
may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares.
Investments initially valued
in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to U.S. dollars using exchange rates obtained from pricing services or other
parties in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board. As a result, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may
be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The value of securities traded in markets outside
the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the New York
Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is closed and an investor is not able to purchase, redeem or exchange shares.
The Fund’s shares
are valued at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) (the "Exchange
Close") on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is open. For purposes of calculating the
NAV, the Fund normally uses pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the Exchange Close and do not normally
take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the Exchange Close. Domestic fixed income and foreign
securities are normally priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Information
that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to
retroactively adjust the price of the security or the NAV determined earlier that day.
When market quotations
are insufficient or not readily available, the Fund may value securities at fair value or estimate their value as determined in
good faith by the Board or their designees, pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. Fair valuation may also be used by the
Board if extraordinary events occur after the close of the relevant market but prior to the Exchange Close.
The Fund may hold securities,
such as private placements, interests in commodity pools, other non-traded securities or temporarily illiquid securities, for which
market quotations are not readily available or are determined to be unreliable. These securities will be valued at their fair market
value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board. The Board has delegated execution of these
procedures to a fair value committee composed of one of more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and
(iii) Adviser. The committee may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer
on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of
this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.
Fair Value Committee.
The fair value committee is composed of one of more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) Adviser.
The applicable investments are valued collectively via inputs from each of these groups. For example, fair value determinations
are required for the following securities: (i) securities for which market quotations are insufficient or not readily available
on a particular business day (including securities for which there is a short and temporary lapse in the provision of a price by
the regular pricing source), (ii) securities for which, in the judgment of the Adviser, the prices or values available do not represent
the fair value of the instrument. Factors which may cause the Adviser to make such a judgment include, but are not limited to,
the following: only a bid price or an asked price is available; the spread between bid and asked prices is substantial; the frequency
of sales; the thinness of the market; the size of reported trades; and actions of the securities markets, such as the suspension
or limitation of trading; (iii) securities determined to be illiquid; (iv) securities with respect to which an event that will
affect the value thereof has occurred (a “significant event”) since the closing prices were established on the principal
exchange on which they are traded, but prior to the Fund’s calculation of its NAV. Specifically, interests in commodity pools
or managed futures pools are valued on a daily basis by reference to the closing market prices of each futures contract or other
asset held by a pool, as adjusted for pool expenses. Restricted or illiquid securities, such as private placements or non-traded
securities are valued via inputs from the Adviser valuation based upon the current bid for the security from two or more independent
dealers or other parties reasonably familiar with the facts and circumstances of the security (who should take into consideration
all relevant factors as may be appropriate under the circumstances). If the Adviser is unable to obtain a current bid from such
independent dealers or other independent parties, the fair value committee shall determine the fair value of such security using
the following factors: (i) the type of security; (ii) the cost at date of purchase; (iii) the size and nature of the Fund’s
holdings; (iv) the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase and subsequent
thereto; (v) information as to any transactions or offers with respect to the security; (vi) the nature and duration of restrictions
on disposition of the security and the existence of any registration rights; (vii) how the yield of the security compares to similar
securities of companies of similar or equal creditworthiness; (viii) the level of recent trades of similar or comparable securities;
(ix) the liquidity characteristics of the security; (x) current market conditions; and (xi) the market value of any securities
into which the security is convertible or exchangeable.
Standards For Fair Value
Determinations. As a general principle, the fair value of a security is the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to
realize upon its current sale. The Trust has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820"). In accordance with ASC 820, fair value is
defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in
a timely transaction to an independent buyer
in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use
of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements
for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability,
including assumptions about risk, for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value
including such a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable.
Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed
based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the
reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed
based on the best information available under the circumstances.
Various inputs are used
in determining the value of the Fund’s investments relating to ASC 820. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels
listed below.
Level 1 – quoted prices
in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2 – other significant
observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3 – significant
unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
The fair value committee
takes into account the relevant factors and surrounding circumstances, which may include: (i) the nature and pricing history (if
any) of the security; (ii) whether any dealer quotations for the security are available; (iii) possible valuation methodologies
that could be used to determine the fair value of the security; (iv) the recommendation of a portfolio manager of the fund with
respect to the valuation of the security; (v) whether the same or similar securities are held by other funds managed by the Adviser
or other funds and the method used to price the security in those funds; (vi) the extent to which the fair value to be determined
for the security will result from the use of data or formula produced by independent third parties and (vii) the liquidity or illiquidity
of the market for the security.
Board of Trustees Determination.
The Board of Trustees meets at least quarterly to consider the valuations provided by the fair value committee and to ratify the
valuations made for the applicable securities. The Board of Trustees considers the reports provided by the fair value committee,
including follow up studies of subsequent market-provided prices when available, in reviewing and determining in good faith the
fair value of the applicable portfolio securities.
The Trust expects that
the Exchange will be closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good
Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Purchase of Shares
Orders for shares received
by the Fund in good order prior to the close of business on the Exchange on each day during such periods that the Exchange is open
for trading are priced at the public offering price, which is NAV plus any sales charge, or at net asset value per share on a per-
class basis (if no sales charges apply)
computed as of the close of the regular session of trading on the Exchange. Orders received in good order after the close of the
Exchange, or on a day it is not open for trading, are priced at the close of such Exchange on the next day on which it is open
for trading at the next determined net asset value per share plus sales charges, if any.
Notice to Texas Shareholders
Under section 72.1021(a)
of the Texas Property Code, initial investors in a Fund who are Texas residents may designate a representative to receive notices
of abandoned property in connection with Fund shares. Texas shareholders who wish to appoint a representative should notify the
Trust’s Transfer Agent by writing to the address below to obtain a form for providing written notice to the Trust:
Main BuyWrite Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services,
LLC
4221 North 203rd Street,
Suite 100
Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022-3474
Redemption of Shares
The Fund will redeem all
or any portion of a shareholder's shares of the Fund when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the "How
to Redeem Shares" section of the Prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, a shareholder's right to redeem shares and to receive payment
therefore may be suspended at times:
(a) when the Exchange
is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings;
(b) when trading on that
exchange is restricted for any reason;
(c) when an emergency exists
as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable
for the Fund to fairly to determine the value of net assets, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (or any
succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or
(d) when the SEC by order
permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption.
In case of suspension of
the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the net asset value next determined after the termination
of the suspension.
Supporting documents in
addition to those listed under "How to Redeem Shares" in the Prospectus will be required from executors, administrators,
trustees, or if redemption is requested by someone other than the shareholder of record. Such documents include, but are not restricted
to, stock powers, trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor, and certificates of corporate authority and
waiver of tax required in some states when settling estates.
Waivers of Redemption
Fees: The Fund has elected not to impose the redemption fee for:
|
·
|
redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares
acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions;
|
|
·
|
certain types of redemptions and exchanges
of Fund shares owned through participant-directed retirement plans;
|
|
·
|
redemptions or exchanges in discretionary
asset allocation, fee based or wrap programs ("wrap programs") that are initiated by the sponsor/financial advisor as
part of a periodic rebalancing;
|
|
·
|
redemptions or exchanges in a fee based
or wrap program that are made as a result of a full withdrawal from the wrap program or as part of a systematic withdrawal plan
including the Fund’s systematic withdrawal plan; involuntary redemptions, such as those resulting from a shareholder's failure
to maintain a minimum investment in the Fund, or to pay shareholder fees; or
|
|
·
|
other types of redemptions as the Adviser
or the Trust may determine in special situations and approved by the Adviser's chief compliance officer.
|
TAX STATUS
The following discussion
is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. All shareholders
should consult a qualified tax adviser regarding their investment in the Fund.
The Fund intends to qualify
as regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Tax Code"),
which requires compliance with certain requirements concerning the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and the
amount and timing of its distributions to shareholders. Such qualification does not involve supervision of management or investment
practices or policies by any government agency or bureau. By so qualifying, The Fund should not be subject to federal income or
excise tax on its net investment income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable
timing requirements. Net investment income and net capital gain of the Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of
the Tax Code.
Net investment income is
made up of dividends and interest less expenses. Net capital gain for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital
loss carryforward of the Fund. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning after December 22, 2010 may now be carried forward
indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could be carried forward
to offset any capital gains for only eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital losses, irrespective of the character
of the original loss. Capital loss carryforwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these
carryforwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.
As of November 30, 2019,
the Fund had capital loss carry forwards for federal income tax purposes available to offset future capital gains as follows:
|
|
|
Non-Expiring
|
|
|
Non-Expiring
|
|
|
|
|
Expiring
|
|
|
Short-Term
|
|
|
Long-Term
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
1,758,042
|
|
|
$
|
936,515
|
|
|
$
|
2,694,557
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Fund intends to distribute
all of its net investment income, any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, and any excess
of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Tax
Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Distributions of net investment income and
net capital gain will be made after the end of each fiscal year, and no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions
will be in shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.
To be treated as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Tax Code, the Fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends,
interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale
or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures
or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and (b) diversify its
holdings so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented
by cash, U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for purposes
of this calculation, generally limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of the
Fund’s assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its
assets is invested in the securities of (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment
companies) any one issuer, two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar
trades or businesses, or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.
If the Fund fails to qualify
as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year, it may be able to pay a tax penalty on the portion of
income that caused it to inadvertently violate Subchapter M or it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
If treated as a corporation, the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its net investment income and net realized capital
gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of the Fund generally would not be liable for income
tax on the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders,
whether from the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the
extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.
The Fund is subject to a
4% nondeductible excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital gain under a prescribed formula contained
in Section 4982 of the Tax Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing
at least 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income (i.e.,
the excess of its capital gains over capital losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year plus
100% of any income that was neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the preceding calendar year. Under ordinary circumstances,
the Fund expects to time its distributions so as to avoid liability for this tax.
The following discussion
of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders that are IRAs or other
qualified retirement plans are exempt from income taxation under the Tax Code.
Distributions of taxable
net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders
as ordinary income.
Distributions of net capital
gain ("capital gain dividends") generally are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length
of time the shares of the Fund have been held by such shareholders.
For taxable years beginning
after December 31, 2012, certain U.S. shareholders, including individuals and estates and trusts, will 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
advisers regarding the implications of the
additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Fund.
A redemption of the Fund’s
shares by a shareholder will result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the
amount realized and the shareholder's tax basis in his or her Fund shares. Such gain or loss is treated as a capital gain or loss
if the shares are held as capital assets. However, any loss realized upon the redemption of shares within six months from the date
of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as capital gain dividends during
such six-month period. All or a portion of any loss realized upon the redemption of shares may be disallowed to the extent shares
are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within 30 days before or after such redemption.
Distributions of taxable
net investment income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above, whether received in additional cash or shares. Shareholders
electing to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each
share so received equal to the net asset value of a share on the reinvestment date.
All distributions of taxable
net investment income and net capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each taxable shareholder
on his or her federal income tax return. Dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December as of a record date
in such a month, if any, will be deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of the following
year. Redemptions of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder and are also subject to these reporting
requirements.
Under the Tax Code, the
Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as
gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup
withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Tax Code, distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain and
proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal
income tax in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification
numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law, or if the Fund is notified by
the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect TIN or a previous failure to report taxable interest or dividends.
If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional
shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.
Other Reporting and Withholding
Requirements
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: (a) income dividends paid by the Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising
from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2016. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) 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 (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons
as owners or (ii) 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.
Options, Futures,
Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements
To the extent such investments
are permissible for the Fund, the Fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts,
straddles and foreign currencies will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash
sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments
in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert
short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of
distributions to shareholders.
To the extent such investments
are permissible, a certain percentage of the Fund’s hedging activities (including its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies
or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income.
If the Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess book income will be treated
as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from
tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient's basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter,
as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could
be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regular investment company that is accorded special tax
treatment.
Passive Foreign Investment
Companies
Investment by the Fund
in certain passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including
interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company,
which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a qualified
electing fund ("QEF"), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the company's income and net capital
gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company.
The Fund also may make an
election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings "to the market" as though it had sold and
repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as
ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of
cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed for the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore
may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement,
which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return.
Foreign Currency Transactions
The Fund’s transactions
in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and
forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results
from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned.
Foreign Taxation
Income received by the Fund
from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties and
conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s
total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may be able to elect to
"pass through" to the Fund’s shareholders the amount of eligible foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund.
If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable
dividends actually received) his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct
(as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his or her taxable income or to use it as a
foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to certain limitations. In particular, a shareholder
must hold his or her shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 more days during
the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a gain dividend.
No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions. Each shareholder will be notified
within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year whether the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will "pass through"
for that year.
Generally, a credit
for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder's U.S. tax attributable to his or her
total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of the Fund’s
income will flow through to shareholders of the Fund. With respect to the Fund, gains from the sale of securities will be
treated as derived from U.S. sources and certain currency fluctuation gains, including fluctuation gains from foreign
currency-denominated debt securities, receivables and payables will be treated as ordinary income derived from U.S. sources.
The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types
of income. A shareholder may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of his or her proportionate share of the foreign
taxes paid by the Fund. The foreign tax credit can be used to offset only 90% of the revised alternative minimum tax imposed
on corporations and individuals and foreign taxes generally are not deductible in computing alternative minimum taxable
income.
Original Issue Discount
and Pay-In-Kind Securities
Current federal tax law
requires the holder of a U.S. Treasury or other fixed income zero coupon security to accrue as income each year a portion of the
discount at which the security was purchased, even though the holder receives no interest payment in cash on the security during
the year. In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even
though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.
Some of the debt securities
(with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as
debt securities that are issued
originally at a discount. Generally, the amount
of the original issue discount ("OID") is treated as interest income and is included in income over the term of the debt
security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. A portion
of the OID includable in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate debt securities (including certain pay-in-kind securities)
may be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Some of the debt securities
(with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund in the secondary
market may be treated as having market discount. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment
of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment,
does not exceed the "accrued market discount" on such debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily
installments. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having market discount, which could
affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
Some debt securities (with
a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as having
acquisition discount, or OID in the case of certain types of debt securities. Generally, the Fund will be required to include the
acquisition discount, or OID, in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received
until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities
having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
The Fund that holds the
foregoing kinds of securities may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount, which is greater than the
total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by
liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains
or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may
receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such transactions.
Shareholders of the Fund
may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of the Fund’s shares.
A brief explanation of the
form and character of the distribution accompanies each distribution. In January of each year the Fund issues to each shareholder
a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.
Shareholders should consult
their tax advisers about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board has selected Cohen
& Company, Ltd., located at 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800, Cleveland, OH 44115, as its independent registered public accounting
firm for the current fiscal year. The firm provides services including (i) audit of annual financial statements, and (ii) assistance
and consultation in connection with SEC filings.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Thompson Hine LLP, 41 South
High Street, Suite 1700, Columbus, Ohio 43215, serves as the Trust's legal counsel.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial
statements and report of the independent registered public accounting firm required to be included in this SAI are hereby incorporated
by reference to the Annual Report for the Fund for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019. You can obtain a copy of the Annual
Report without charge by calling the Fund at 1-855-907-3373.