Form 485APOS NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL

June 25, 2026 3:27 PM EDT
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2026

Securities Act of 1933 Registration No. 2-80543

Investment Company Act of 1940 Registration No. 811-03605

 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

    THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933   
    Pre-Effective Amendment No.   
    Post-Effective Amendment No. 116   

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

    THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940   
    Amendment No. 150   

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

 

 

NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

50 S. LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

800-637-1380

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

 

 

 

Name and Address of Agent for Service:   with a copy to:

Michael Mabry

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP

2005 Market Street

Suite 2600

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

Kevin P. O’Rourke

Jose J. Del Real

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

 

 

It Is Proposed That This Filing Become Effective (Check Appropriate Box):

 

 

immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

 

on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

 

60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

 

 

On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

 

 

75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

 

 

On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)


Table of Contents

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

 

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

 
 


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Preliminary Prospectus dated June 25, 2026

Subject to Completion

 

The information in the prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

 

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO 

 

   NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS
 

 

 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO

    SHARES ([ ])
    PREMIER SHARES ([ ])
 

 

 Prospectus dated [ ], 2026

 

 

  You could lose money by investing in the Portfolio.
  Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so.
  An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), any other government agency, or The Northern Trust Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries or any other bank. The Portfolio’s sponsor is not required to reimburse the Portfolio for losses, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Portfolio at any time, including during periods of market stress.
  The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS PROSPECTUS 1 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO


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  STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO    

  

 

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO 2 NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS PROSPECTUS


Table of Contents

  

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO 

 

 PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

  STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO—SHARES

 

 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Portfolio seeks to maximize current income to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity.

 

 FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell Shares of the Portfolio. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a financial intermediary for transactions in Shares, which are not reflected in the tables or the examples below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

None

 

 

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

 

     Shares  

Management Fees

     [ ]%  

Other Expenses(1)

     [ ]%  

Transfer Agent Fees

     [ ]%   

Service Fees

      None  

Other Operating Expenses

      [ ]%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

     [ ]%  

Expense Reimbursement(2)

     [ ]%  

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement

     [ ]%  

 

  (1) 

“Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

 

  (2)

Northern Trust Investments, Inc. (“NTI”) has contractually agreed to reimburse a portion of the operating expenses of the Portfolio so that after such reimbursement the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of the Portfolio (excluding (i) acquired fund fees and expenses; (ii) service fees; (iii) the compensation paid to each Independent Trustee of the Trust; (iv) expenses of third party consultants engaged by the Board of Trustees; (v) membership dues paid to the Investment Company Institute and Mutual Fund Directors Forum; (vi) expenses in connection with the negotiation and renewal of the revolving credit facility; and (vii) extraordinary expenses and interest) do not exceed [ ]%. This contractual limitation may not be terminated before [ ] without the approval of the Board of Trustees.

 

 EXAMPLE

The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other

mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio 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 Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same (taking into account the expense reimbursement arrangement for one year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year    3 Years
$[ ]    $[ ]

 

 PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, in:

 

  Cash;

 

  Treasury bills, Treasury notes, and Treasury bonds (“Treasury Obligations”) with a remaining maturity of 93 days or less; and

 

  Overnight repurchase agreements collateralized by Treasury Obligations.

Repurchase agreements are agreements in which the Portfolio agrees to purchase portfolio securities from financial institutions subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price.

The Portfolio operates as a “government money market fund” under Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. As a “government money market fund” under Rule 2a-7, the Portfolio (1) is permitted to use the amortized cost method of valuation to seek to maintain a stable net asset value (“NAV”) of $1.00 share price, and (2) is not required to impose a liquidity fee on Portfolio redemptions that might apply to other types of money market funds.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) imposes strict requirements on the investment quality, maturity, diversification and liquidity of the Portfolio’s investments. The Portfolio maintains a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of no more than 60 calendar days. The Portfolio will limit its investments to “eligible securities,” as defined by applicable regulations, at the time of acquisition (e.g., government securities (further limited to Treasury Obligations) and securities that present minimal credit risks as determined by NTI, pursuant to guidelines approved by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees).

 

 

NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS PROSPECTUS 3 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO


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 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO          

  

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO—SHARES

 

The Portfolio’s investment adviser may consider, among other things, credit and interest rate risks as well as general market conditions when deciding whether to buy or sell investments for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will generally hold a portion of its assets in cash to accommodate anticipated redemptions.

Shares of the Portfolio are intended to serve as reserves backing outstanding payment stablecoins. The Portfolio does not invest in stablecoins.

 

 PRINCIPAL RISKS

As with any investment, you could lose all or part of your investment in the Portfolio, and the Portfolio’s performance could trail that of other investments. The Portfolio is subject to certain risks, including the principal risks noted below, any of which may adversely affect the Portfolio’s NAV, yield, total return and ability to meet its investment objective. Each risk noted below is considered a principal risk of investing in the Portfolio, regardless of the order in which it appears. The significance of each risk factor below may change over time and you should review each risk factor carefully.

STABLE NAV RISK is the risk that the Portfolio will not be able to maintain a NAV per share of $1.00 at all times. A significant enough market disruption or drop in market prices of securities held by the Portfolio, especially at a time when the Portfolio needs to sell securities to meet shareholder redemption requests, could cause the value of the Portfolio’s shares to decrease to a price less than $1.00 per share. If the Portfolio fails to maintain a stable NAV (or if there is a perceived threat of such a failure) the Portfolio could be subject to increased redemption activity, which could adversely affect its NAV.

INTEREST RATE RISK is the risk that during periods of rising interest rates, the market value of the Portfolio’s securities will tend to be lower than prevailing market rates and in periods of falling interest rates, the market value of the Portfolio’s securities will tend to be higher. The Portfolio’s yield will vary as short-term securities in its portfolio mature and the proceeds are reinvested in securities with

different interest rates. In general, securities with longer maturities or durations are more sensitive to interest rate changes. A general rise in interest rates may cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which could adversely affect the price and liquidity of fixed income securities and could also result in increased redemptions for the Portfolio. During periods when inflation rates are high or rising, or during periods of low interest rates, the Portfolio may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable and may have unpredictable effects on the markets and the Portfolio’s investment, may result in heightened market volatility, may impact the liquidity of fixed-income securities and of the Portfolio, and may detract from Portfolio performance.

CREDIT (OR DEFAULT) RISK is the risk that the inability or unwillingness of an issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or a counterparty to a repurchase or other transaction, to meet its principal or interest payments or other financial obligations in a timely manner will adversely affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments and its returns. Changes in an issuer’s financial strength, the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness, or in the credit rating of the issuer or the security may also affect the value of the Portfolio’s investment in that issuer.

DEBT EXTENSION RISK is the risk that when interest rates rise an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on certain debt securities held by the Portfolio later than expected. This will cause the value of the security to decrease and the Portfolio may lose opportunities to invest in higher yielding securities.

INCOME RISK is the risk that the Portfolio’s ability to distribute income to shareholders depends on the yield available from the Portfolio’s investments. Falling interest rates will cause the Portfolio’s income to decline. Income risk is generally higher for short-term debt securities.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS RISK is the risk that the counterparty may default on its obligation to repurchase the underlying instruments collateralizing the repurchase agreement, which may cause the Portfolio to lose money.

 

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO 4 NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS PROSPECTUS


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STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO—SHARES

 

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS RISK is the risk that because securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity, the market prices for such securities will fluctuate. Changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Treasury Obligations held by the Portfolio to decline. U.S. Treasury Obligations that are held to maturity have historically involved minimal risk of loss of principal. Notwithstanding that U.S. Treasury Obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, circumstances could arise that could prevent the timely payment of interest or principal, which could result in losses to and redemptions from the Portfolio. Such non-payment could also result in substantial negative consequences for the U.S. economy and the global financial system.

MARKET RISK is the risk that the value of the Portfolio’s investments may increase or decrease in response to expected, real or perceived economic, political or financial events in the U.S. or global markets. The frequency and magnitude of such changes in value cannot be predicted. Certain securities and other investments held by the Portfolio may experience increased volatility, illiquidity, or other potentially adverse effects in response to changing market conditions, inflation, elevated levels of government debt, changes in interest rates, lack of liquidity in the bond or equity markets or volatility in the equity markets. Market disruptions caused by local or regional events such as financial institution failures, changes in trade regulation or economic sanctions, internal unrest and discord, war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness (including epidemics and pandemics) or other public health issues, recessions, the threat or occurrence of a government shutdown, or other events or adverse investor sentiment could have a significant impact on the Portfolio and its investments. During periods of market disruption or other abnormal market conditions, the Portfolio’s exposure to risks described elsewhere in this summary will likely increase.

CASH POSITIONS RISK is the risk that maintaining cash positions may negatively affect the Portfolio’s performance and potentially limit investment opportunities as a result of the Portfolio’s uninvested assets. Maintaining cash positions may also subject the Portfolio to increased credit risk exposure to the custodian bank.

MANAGEMENT RISK is the risk that a strategy used by the Portfolio’s investment adviser may fail to produce the intended results or that imperfections, errors or limitations in the tools and data used by the investment adviser may cause unintended results.

STABLECOIN RESERVE RISK is the risk that because shares of the Portfolio are expected to be held primarily by one or more stablecoin issuers as all or a portion of the reserve assets that back the payment stablecoins issued to their customers, the Portfolio may experience adverse effects to the extent such shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Portfolio. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that are designed to maintain a stable value by pegging their value to another asset, such as a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar, and stablecoin holders generally are permitted to redeem their stablecoins for a fixed amount of value. Although the Portfolio does not invest in stablecoins, the assets of the Portfolio are expected to fluctuate depending on the creation (minting) of additional

stablecoins or the redemption (burning) of outstanding stablecoins. Stablecoins may face periods of uncertainty and volatility that result in the potential for rapid or unexpected redemption requests by one or more stablecoin issuers, which could adversely affect remaining Portfolio shareholders, the Portfolio’s liquidity and yield, and the Portfolio’s ability to maintain a stable NAV. Such uncertainty or volatility may result from events that are not specifically related to a stablecoin issuer, such as changes in general market conditions, economic, technological or legal trends or changes to the laws or regulation of stablecoins, or events that are specifically related to a particular stablecoin issuer. Because the Portfolio intends to invest only in certain eligible reserve assets in which payment stablecoin issuers are permitted to maintain under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (“GENIUS Act”), the Portfolio’s yield may be lower than other money market funds that are permitted to invest in a wider universe of investments. Future legislative or regulatory developments and uncertainties associated with the GENIUS Act, including, but not limited to, rulemaking pursuant to the GENIUS Act, may impact the investments or investment strategies available in connection with managing the Portfolio.

LARGE SHAREHOLDER RISK is the risk that a large proportion of the interests of the Portfolio may be held by a small number of investors (or a single investor) and the Portfolio may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders, including funds or accounts over which the Portfolio’s investment adviser or an affiliate of the investment adviser has investment discretion, purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Portfolio. Such large shareholder redemptions, which may occur rapidly and unexpectedly, may cause the Portfolio to sell its securities at times it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact its liquidity and/or NAV. Such sales may also accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders if these sales result in gains, and may also increase transaction costs. In addition, large redemptions could lead to an increase in the Portfolio’s expense ratio due to expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base. Large purchases of the Portfolio’s shares or having a more concentrated shareholder base may also adversely affect the Portfolio’s performance to the extent that the Portfolio is delayed in investing new cash or otherwise maintains a larger cash position than it ordinarily would. Because shares of the Portfolio are intended to be held by stablecoin issuers as reserves backing their outstanding payment stablecoins, this risk is heightened to the extent there is an event impacting multiple stablecoin issuers at the same time, or impacting stablecoins in general, that causes such investors to redeem their shares at the same time.

 

 

NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS PROSPECTUS 5 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO


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You could lose money by investing in the Portfolio. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, the Portfolio cannot guarantee it will do so.

An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, any other government agency, or The Northern Trust Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries or any other bank.

The Portfolio’s sponsor is not required to reimburse the Portfolio for losses, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Portfolio at any time, including during periods of market stress.

 

 PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

The Portfolio is new and therefore does not have a performance history for a full calendar year. Performance information for the Portfolio will be provided once it has annual returns for a full calendar year.

The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.

Updated performance information for the Portfolio, when available, may be obtained on the Portfolio’s website at https://ntam.northerntrust.com/united-states/institutional/strategies/cash/northern-institutional-funds#performance or by calling 800-637-1380.

 

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO 6 NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS PROSPECTUS


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 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO          

  

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO—SHARES

 

 MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT ADVISER. NTI, an indirect subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation, serves as the investment adviser of the Portfolio. The Northern Trust Company, an affiliate of NTI, serves as transfer agent, custodian and sub-administrator to the Portfolio.

 

 PURCHASE AND SALE OF PORTFOLIO SHARES

The Portfolio is designed for purchase by stablecoin issuers and institutional investors.

You may purchase Shares of the Portfolio through an account directly with Northern Institutional Funds (the “Trust”) generally with a minimum initial investment of $5 million in one or more of the Trust’s portfolios. There is no minimum for subsequent investments. The Trust reserves the right to waive the minimum investment requirement in connection with the purchase of Portfolio Shares.

You may also purchase Shares of the Portfolio through an institutional account at Northern Trust (or an affiliate) or an authorized intermediary with no minimum initial or subsequent investment minimum. The Shares class of the Portfolio is not offered for purchase through Northern Trust custody sweep.

If you purchase or sell (redeem) Shares through an authorized intermediary, you may be required to pay a commission and/or other forms of compensation to the intermediary. In addition, an authorized intermediary may impose different investment minimums than those set forth above. The Portfolio is not responsible for any investment minimums imposed by authorized intermediaries or for notifying shareholders of any changes to them.

On any business day, you may sell (redeem) Portfolio shares through your institutional account by contacting your Northern Trust account representative or authorized intermediary. If you purchase Portfolio shares directly from the Trust, you may sell (redeem) your shares in one of the following ways:

 

By Mail – Send a written request to: Northern Institutional Funds, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, Illinois 60675-5986.

 

By Telephone – Call the Northern Institutional Funds Center at 800-637-1380 for instructions.

 

By Wire – Authorize wire redemptions on your New Account Application and have proceeds sent by federal wire transfer to a previously designated bank account (the minimum redemption amount by this method is $10,000).

 

 TAX INFORMATION

The Portfolio’s distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, unless you are investing through a tax-exempt or tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Distributions may be taxable upon withdrawal from tax-advantaged accounts.

 

 PAYMENTS TO BROKERS DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL

 INTERMEDIARIES

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

 

 

NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS PROSPECTUS 7 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO


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STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO—PREMIER SHARES

 

 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Portfolio seeks to maximize current income to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity.

 

 FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell Premier Shares of the Portfolio. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a financial intermediary for transactions in Premier Shares, which are not reflected in the tables or the examples below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

None

 

 

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as

a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

     Premier 
Shares 
 

Management Fees

     [ ]%  

Other Expenses(1)

     [ ]%  

Transfer Agent Fees

     [ ]%    

Service Fees

     [ ]%    

Other Operating Expenses

     [ ]%    

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

     [ ]%  

Expense Reimbursement(2)

     [ ]%  

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement

     [ ]%  

 

(1) 

“Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

 

(2)

Northern Trust Investments, Inc. (“NTI”) has contractually agreed to reimburse a portion of the operating expenses of the Portfolio so that after such reimbursement the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of the Portfolio (excluding (i) acquired fund fees and expenses; (ii) service fees; (iii) the compensation paid to each Independent Trustee of the Trust; (iv) expenses of third party consultants engaged by the Board of Trustees; (v) membership dues paid to the Investment Company Institute and Mutual Fund Directors Forum; (vi) expenses in connection with the negotiation and renewal of the revolving credit facility; and (vii) extraordinary expenses and interest) do not exceed [ ]%. [The “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement” may be higher than the contractual limitation as a result of certain Portfolio expenses, including but not limited to service fees, that are not reimbursed.] This contractual limitation may not be terminated before [ ] without the approval of the Board of Trustees.

 

 

 EXAMPLE

The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Premier Shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio 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 Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same (taking into account the expense reimbursement arrangement for one year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year    3 Years
$[ ]    $[ ]

 

 PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, in:

 

  Cash;

 

  Treasury bills, Treasury notes, and Treasury bonds (“Treasury Obligations”) with a remaining maturity of 93 days or less; and

 

  Overnight repurchase agreements collateralized by Treasury Obligations.

Repurchase agreements are agreements in which the Portfolio agrees to purchase portfolio securities from financial institutions subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price.

The Portfolio operates as a “government money market fund” under Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. As a “government money market fund” under Rule 2a-7, the Portfolio (1) is permitted to use the amortized cost method of valuation to seek to maintain a stable net asset value (“NAV”) of $1.00 share price, and (2) is not required to impose a liquidity fee on Portfolio redemptions that might apply to other types of money market funds.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) imposes strict requirements on the investment quality, maturity, diversification and liquidity of the Portfolio’s investments. The Portfolio maintains a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of no more than 60 calendar days. The Portfolio will limit its investments to “eligible securities,” as defined by applicable regulations, at the time of acquisition (e.g., government securities (further limited to Treasury Obligations) and securities that present minimal credit risks as determined by NTI, pursuant to guidelines approved by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees).

 

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO  8  NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS PROSPECTUS


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 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO          

  

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO—PREMIER SHARES

 

The Portfolio’s investment adviser may consider, among other things, credit and interest rate risks as well as general market conditions when deciding whether to buy or sell investments for the Portfolio. The Portfolio will generally hold a portion of its assets in cash to accommodate anticipated redemptions.

Shares of the Portfolio are intended to serve as reserves backing outstanding payment stablecoins. The Portfolio does not invest in stablecoins.

 

  PRINCIPAL RISKS

As with any investment, you could lose all or part of your investment in the Portfolio, and the Portfolio’s performance could trail that of other investments. The Portfolio is subject to certain risks, including the principal risks noted below, any of which may adversely affect the Portfolio’s NAV, yield, total return and ability to meet its investment objective. Each risk noted below is considered a principal risk of investing in the Portfolio, regardless of the order in which it appears. The significance of each risk factor below may change over time and you should review each risk factor carefully.

STABLE NAV RISK is the risk that the Portfolio will not be able to maintain a NAV per share of $1.00 at all times. A significant enough market disruption or drop in market prices of securities held by the Portfolio, especially at a time when the Portfolio needs to sell securities to meet shareholder redemption requests, could cause the value of the Portfolio’s shares to decrease to a price less than $1.00 per share. If the Portfolio fails to maintain a stable NAV (or if there is a perceived threat of such a failure) the Portfolio could be subject to increased redemption activity, which could adversely affect its NAV.

INTEREST RATE RISK is the risk that during periods of rising interest rates, the market value of the Portfolio’s securities will tend to be lower than prevailing market rates and in periods of falling interest rates, the market value of the Portfolio’s securities will tend to be higher. The Portfolio’s yield will vary as short-term securities in its portfolio mature and the proceeds are reinvested in securities with

different interest rates. In general, securities with longer maturities or durations are more sensitive to interest rate changes. A general rise in interest rates may cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which could adversely affect the price and liquidity of fixed income securities and could also result in increased redemptions for the Portfolio. During periods when inflation rates are high or rising, or during periods of low interest rates, the Portfolio may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable and may have unpredictable effects on the markets and the Portfolio’s investment, may result in heightened market volatility, may impact the liquidity of fixed-income securities and of the Portfolio, and may detract from Portfolio performance.

CREDIT (OR DEFAULT) RISK is the risk that the inability or unwillingness of an issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or a counterparty to a repurchase or other transaction, to meet its principal or interest payments or other financial obligations in a timely manner will adversely affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments and its returns. Changes in an issuer’s financial strength, the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness, or in the credit rating of the issuer or the security may also affect the value of the Portfolio’s investment in that issuer.

DEBT EXTENSION RISK is the risk that when interest rates rise an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on certain debt securities held by the Portfolio later than expected. This will cause the value of the security to decrease and the Portfolio may lose opportunities to invest in higher yielding securities.

INCOME RISK is the risk that the Portfolio’s ability to distribute income to shareholders depends on the yield available from the Portfolio’s investments. Falling interest rates will cause the Portfolio’s income to decline. Income risk is generally higher for short-term debt securities.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS RISK is the risk that the counterparty may default on its obligation to repurchase the underlying instruments collateralizing the repurchase agreement, which may cause the Portfolio to lose money.

 

 

NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS PROSPECTUS 9 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO


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STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO—PREMIER SHARES

 

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS RISK is the risk that because securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity, the market prices for such securities will fluctuate. Changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Treasury Obligations held by the Portfolio to decline. U.S. Treasury Obligations that are held to maturity have historically involved minimal risk of loss of principal. Notwithstanding that U.S. Treasury Obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, circumstances could arise that could prevent the timely payment of interest or principal, which could result in losses to and redemptions from the Portfolio. Such non-payment could also result in substantial negative consequences for the U.S. economy and the global financial system.

MARKET RISK is the risk that the value of the Portfolio’s investments may increase or decrease in response to expected, real or perceived economic, political or financial events in the U.S. or global markets. The frequency and magnitude of such changes in value cannot be predicted. Certain securities and other investments held by the Portfolio may experience increased volatility, illiquidity, or other potentially adverse effects in response to changing market conditions, inflation, elevated levels of government debt, changes in interest rates, lack of liquidity in the bond or equity markets or volatility in the equity markets. Market disruptions caused by local or regional events such as financial institution failures, changes in trade regulation or economic sanctions, internal unrest and discord, war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness (including epidemics and pandemics) or other public health issues, recessions, the threat or occurrence of a government shutdown, or other events or adverse investor sentiment could have a significant impact on the Portfolio and its investments. During periods of market disruption or other abnormal market conditions, the Portfolio’s exposure to risks described elsewhere in this summary will likely increase.

CASH POSITIONS RISK is the risk that maintaining cash positions may negatively affect the Portfolio’s performance and potentially limit investment opportunities as a result of the Portfolio’s uninvested assets. Maintaining cash positions may also subject the Portfolio to increased credit risk exposure to the custodian bank.

MANAGEMENT RISK is the risk that a strategy used by the Portfolio’s investment adviser may fail to produce the intended results or that imperfections, errors or limitations in the tools and data used by the investment adviser may cause unintended results.

STABLECOIN RESERVE RISK is the risk that because shares of the Portfolio are expected to be held primarily by one or more stablecoin issuers as all or a portion of the reserve assets that back the payment stablecoins issued to their customers, the Portfolio may experience adverse effects to the extent such shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Portfolio. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that are designed to maintain a stable value by pegging their value to another asset, such as a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar, and stablecoin holders generally are permitted to redeem their stablecoins for a fixed amount of value. Although the Portfolio does not invest in stablecoins, the assets of the Portfolio are expected to fluctuate depending on the creation (minting) of additional

stablecoins or the redemption (burning) of outstanding stablecoins. Stablecoins may face periods of uncertainty and volatility that result in the potential for rapid or unexpected redemption requests by one or more stablecoin issuers, which could adversely affect remaining Portfolio shareholders, the Portfolio’s liquidity and yield, and the Portfolio’s ability to maintain a stable NAV. Such uncertainty or volatility may result from events that are not specifically related to a stablecoin issuer, such as changes in general market conditions, economic, technological or legal trends or changes to the laws or regulation of stablecoins, or events that are specifically related to a particular stablecoin issuer. Because the Portfolio intends to invest only in certain eligible reserve assets in which payment stablecoin issuers are permitted to maintain under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (“GENIUS Act”), the Portfolio’s yield may be lower than other money market funds that are permitted to invest in a wider universe of investments. Future legislative or regulatory developments and uncertainties associated with the GENIUS Act, including, but not limited to, rulemaking pursuant to the GENIUS Act, may impact the investments or investment strategies available in connection with managing the Portfolio.

LARGE SHAREHOLDER RISK is the risk that a large proportion of the interests of the Portfolio may be held by a small number of investors (or a single investor) and the Portfolio may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders, including funds or accounts over which the Portfolio’s investment adviser or an affiliate of the investment adviser has investment discretion, purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Portfolio. Such large shareholder redemptions, which may occur rapidly and unexpectedly, may cause the Portfolio to sell its securities at times it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact its liquidity and/or NAV. Such sales may also accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders if these sales result in gains, and may also increase transaction costs. In addition, large redemptions could lead to an increase in the Portfolio’s expense ratio due to expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base. Large purchases of the Portfolio’s shares or having a more concentrated shareholder base may also adversely affect the Portfolio’s performance to the extent that the Portfolio is delayed in investing new cash or otherwise maintains a larger cash position than it ordinarily would. Because shares of the Portfolio are intended to be held by stablecoin issuers as reserves backing their outstanding payment stablecoins, this risk is heightened to the extent there is an event impacting multiple stablecoin issuers at the same time, or impacting stablecoins in general, that causes such investors to redeem their shares at the same time.

 

 

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You could lose money by investing in the Portfolio. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, the Portfolio cannot guarantee it will do so.

An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, any other government agency, or The Northern Trust Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries or any other bank.

The Portfolio’s sponsor is not required to reimburse the Portfolio for losses, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Portfolio at any time, including during periods of market stress.

 

 PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

The Portfolio is new and therefore does not have a performance history for a full calendar year. Performance information for the Portfolio will be provided once it has annual returns for a full calendar year.

The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.

Updated performance information for the Portfolio, when available, may be obtained on the Portfolio’s website at https://ntam.northerntrust.com/united-states/institutional/strategies/cash/northern-institutional-funds#performance or by calling 800-637-1380.

 

 

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 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO          

  

 

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO—PREMIER SHARES

 

 MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT ADVISER. NTI, an indirect subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation, serves as the investment adviser of the Portfolio. The Northern Trust Company, an affiliate of NTI, serves as transfer agent, custodian and sub-administrator to the Portfolio.

Under the Service Plan for Premier Shares, Northern Institutional Funds (the “Trust”) has entered into a servicing agreement with The Northern Trust Company (“TNTC”) under which TNTC has agreed to provide certain shareholder account, administrative and other service functions to its customers who are shareholders of the Premier Shares. In exchange for these services, TNTC, as servicing agent, receives an annual fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Premier Shares of the Portfolio.

 

 PURCHASE AND SALE OF PORTFOLIO SHARES

The Portfolio is designed for purchase by stablecoin issuers and institutional investors.

Premier Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered only through Northern Trust custody sweep. There is no minimum initial or subsequent investment required for purchases of Premier Shares.

On any business day, you may sell (redeem) Premier Shares of the Portfolio through your custody sweep account by contacting your Northern Trust account representative.

 

 TAX INFORMATION

The Portfolio’s distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, unless you are investing through a tax-exempt or tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Distributions may be taxable upon withdrawal from tax-advantaged accounts.

 

 PAYMENTS TO BROKERS DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL

 INTERMEDIARIES

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

 

 

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 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO          

  

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

This Prospectus describes one money market portfolio (the “Portfolio”) which is currently offered by Northern Institutional Funds (the “Trust”).

Northern Trust Investments, Inc. (“NTI” or the “Investment Adviser”), an indirect subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation, serves as the Investment Adviser of the Portfolio and is responsible for their overall administration. NTI is located at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603.

NTI is an Illinois State Banking Corporation and an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. It primarily manages assets for institutional and individual separately managed accounts, investment companies and bank common and collective funds.

Northern Trust Corporation is regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as a financial holding company under

the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Unless otherwise indicated, NTI and The Northern Trust Company (“TNTC”) are referred to collectively in this Prospectus as “Northern Trust.”

As of [ ], Northern Trust Corporation, through its affiliates, had assets under investment management of approximately [ ] and assets under custody of approximately [ ].

Under the Management Agreements with the Trust, the Investment Adviser, subject to the general supervision of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, is responsible for making investment decisions for the Portfolio and for placing purchase and sale orders for portfolio securities, as well as for providing administration services to the Portfolio.

 

 

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MANAGEMENT FEES

 

As compensation for advisory services and administration services and the assumption of related expenses, NTI is entitled to a management fee, computed daily and payable monthly, at the annual rate reflected in the table below (expressed as a percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets).

NTI has contractually agreed to reimburse a portion of the operating expenses of the Portfolio (other than certain fees and expenses shown in the table under the caption “Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio” in the Portfolio’s Portfolio Summary) so that “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement” do not exceed the amount shown in the footnote to the table under the caption “Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio” in the Portfolio’s Portfolio Summary. The “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement” for the Portfolio may be higher than the contractual limitation for the Portfolio as a result of certain excepted expenses that are not reimbursed. The contractual expense reimbursement arrangement is expected to continue until at least [ ]. The contractual expense reimbursement arrangement will continue automatically thereafter

for periods of one year (each such one-year period, a “Renewal Year”). The arrangement may be terminated, as to any succeeding Renewal Year, by NTI or the Portfolio upon 60 days’ written notice prior to the end of the current Renewal Year. The Board of Trustees may terminate the arrangement at any time with respect to the Portfolio if it determines that it is in the best interest of the Portfolio and its shareholders.

Service providers to the Portfolio, including the Portfolio’s adviser and/or its affiliates may, from time to time, voluntarily waive all or a portion of any fees to which they are entitled and/or reimburse certain expenses, including to avoid a negative yield. Any such additional expense reimbursement or fee waiver would be voluntary and could be implemented, increased or decreased, or discontinued at any time without notice. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio will be able to avoid a negative yield or maintain a specified minimum yield.

A discussion regarding the Board of Trustees’ basis for its approval of the Portfolio’s Management Agreement will be available in the Portfolio’s filing on Form N-CSR for its initial fiscal period.

 

 

     Management Fee
(as a percentage of average daily net  
assets)

 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO

   [ ]%

 

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 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO          

  

 

OTHER PORTFOLIO SERVICES

 

TNTC serves as Transfer Agent and Custodian for the Portfolio. The Transfer Agent performs various shareholder servicing functions, and any shareholder inquiries should be directed to it. TNTC also performs certain administrative services for the Portfolio pursuant to a sub-administration agreement with NTI. NTI pays TNTC for its sub-administration services out of its management fees, which do not represent additional expenses to the Portfolio.

TNTC, as Transfer Agent, is entitled to transfer agent fees at an annual rate of 0.015% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio. TNTC, as Custodian, receives an amount based on a pre-determined schedule of charges approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

TNTC, NTI and other Northern Trust affiliates may provide other services to the Portfolio and receive compensation for such services if consistent with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules, exemptive orders and no-action letters issued by the SEC thereunder. Unless required, investors in the Portfolio may or may not receive specific notice of such additional services and fees.

Shares of the Trust are distributed by Northern Funds Distributors, LLC (“NFD”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (dba ACA Group), 190 Middle St., Suite 301, Portland, Maine, 04101. NFD is not affiliated with TNTC, NTI or any other Northern Trust affiliate.

 

 

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STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO

 

PURCHASING AND SELLING SHARES AND PREMIER SHARES

 

THE TRUST OFFERS ONE MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO TO INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS IN THIS PROSPECTUS.

 

The descriptions in the Portfolio Summaries may help you decide whether the Portfolio fits your investment needs. Keep in mind, however, that no guarantee can be made that the Portfolio will meet its investment objective and the Portfolio should be relied upon as a complete investment program.

 

 

  INVESTORS

The Portfolio is designed for purchase by stablecoin issuers and institutional investors (“Institutions”).

Institutions, acting on their own behalf or on behalf of customers and other beneficial owners (“Customers”), may invest in the Shares class of the Portfolio. Institutions, acting on their own behalf or on behalf of Customers and entering into servicing agreements with the Trust (“Servicing Agreements”), may invest in the Premier Shares class of the Portfolio.

Institutions include authorized third party financial intermediaries (including retirement plans and plan sponsors, banks, trust companies, brokers, investment advisers, cash portal providers, and other money managers), acting on their own behalf or on behalf of Customers.

Stablecoin issuers are responsible for determining whether an investment in the Portfolio meets applicable legal and regulatory requirements to which the stablecoin issuer may be subject.

 

   SHARE CLASSES

 

The Portfolio is authorized to offer two classes of shares: Shares and Premier Shares. The Premier Shares are currently offered only through a Northern Trust custody sweep account.

 

Shares do not provide for payments by the Portfolio to Institutions for administrative support or shareholder liaison services.

 

Premier Shares are designed for certain Institutions that agree with the Portfolio to provide (or arrange for the provision of) administrative support and shareholder liaison services to Customers.

Shares of each class bear their pro rata portion of all operating expenses paid by the Portfolio, except service fee amounts payable under the Service Plan that has been adopted for the Portfolio’s Premier Shares, or any other incremental expenses identified to be properly allocated to a specific share class.

Under the Service Plan for Premier Shares of the Portfolio, the Trust has entered into a servicing agreement with The Northern Trust Company (“TNTC”) under which TNTC has agreed to provide certain shareholder account, administrative and other service functions to its customers who are shareholders of the Premier Shares. In exchange for these services, TNTC, as servicing agent, receives an annual fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Premier Shares of the Portfolio.

Please note that the fee and expense information shown under “Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio” in the Portfolio Summaries does not reflect any charges that may be imposed by TNTC, its affiliates, financial intermediaries and other institutions on their Customers (as defined above). (For more information, please see “Account Policies and Other Information—Financial Intermediaries.”)

 

 

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 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO          

  

 

   PURCHASING SHARES AND PREMIER SHARES

Institutions who do not have accounts with Northern Trust may open an account directly with the Trust generally with a minimum initial investment of $5 million in one or more of the Shares classes of the investment portfolios of the Trust.

There is no minimum for subsequent investments. The Trust reserves the right to waive the minimum investment requirement in connection with the purchase of the Shares class of the Portfolio. There is no minimum initial investment for purchases of Portfolio shares through an account at Northern Trust (or an affiliate) or an authorized third party financial intermediary.

The Shares class of the Portfolio is not offered for purchase through Northern Trust custody sweep. Premier Shares of the Portfolio are currently offered only through Northern Trust custody sweep. There is no minimum investment required for purchase of Premier Shares of the Portfolio.

 

   OPENING AN ACCOUNT

THROUGH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNT. If you are opening an institutional account at Northern Trust, a Northern Trust representative can assist you with all phases of your investment. To purchase Shares or Premier Shares through an account, contact your Northern Trust representative for further information.

THROUGH AN AUTHORIZED INTERMEDIARY. The Trust may authorize certain Institutions acting as financial intermediaries (including banks, trust companies, brokers and investment advisers) to accept purchase orders from their Customers on behalf of the Portfolio. See “Account Policies and Other Information—Financial Intermediaries” for additional information regarding purchases of Shares and Premier Shares through authorized intermediaries. If you purchase shares through an authorized intermediary, that intermediary may impose different investment minimums than those set forth by the Portfolio as described in this Prospectus. The Portfolio is not responsible for any investment minimums imposed by authorized intermediaries or for notifying shareholders of any changes to them.

DIRECTLY FROM THE TRUST. An Institution may open a shareholder account and purchase Shares and Premier Shares directly from the Trust as described above under “Purchasing Shares and Premier Shares.”

For your convenience, there are a number of ways to invest directly in the Portfolio:

 

   BY MAIL

 

Read this Prospectus carefully.

 

Complete and sign the New Account Application.

 

Include acceptable evidence of authority (if applicable).

 

Enclose a check or Federal Reserve draft payable to Northern Institutional Funds.

 

Mail your check, acceptable evidence of authority (if applicable) and completed New Account Application to:

Northern Institutional Funds

P.O. Box 75986

Chicago, Illinois 60675-5986

 

Additional documentation may be required to fulfill the requirements of the “Customer Identification Program.”

All checks must be payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on a bank located in the United States. Cash and third party checks are not acceptable.

 

For overnight delivery, use the following address:

Northern Institutional Funds

c/o The Northern Trust Company 333 South Wabash Ave Chicago,

Illinois 60604

 

   BY TELEPHONE

TO OPEN A NEW ACCOUNT:

 

For more information or instructions regarding the purchase of Shares or Premier Shares, call the Northern Institutional Funds Center at 800-637-1380.

TO ADD TO AN EXISTING ACCOUNT, PLEASE PROVIDE:

 

The Institution’s name

 

Your account number

 

 

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BY WIRE OR AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (“ACH”) TRANSFER

TO OPEN A NEW ACCOUNT:

 

For more information or instructions regarding the purchase of Shares or Premier Shares, call the Northern Institutional Funds Center at 800-637-1380.

TO ADD TO AN EXISTING ACCOUNT:

 

Have your bank wire federal funds or effect an ACH transfer to:

The Northern Trust Company

Chicago, Illinois

ABA Routing No. 0710-00152

(Reference 10-Digit Portfolio account number, with no spaces (e.g., ##########))

(Reference Shareholder’s Name)

 

  SELLING SHARES AND PREMIER SHARES

THROUGH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNT. Institutions may sell (redeem) Shares through their institutional account by contacting their Northern Trust account representative.

THROUGH AN AUTHORIZED INTERMEDIARY. Institutions that purchase Shares and Premier Shares from an authorized intermediary may sell (redeem) their Shares and Premier Shares by contacting their financial intermediary. See “Account Policies and Other Information— Financial Intermediaries” for additional information regarding sales (redemptions) of Shares and Premier Shares through authorized intermediaries.

DIRECTLY THROUGH THE TRUST. Institutions that purchase directly from the Trust may redeem their Shares and Premier Shares through the Transfer Agent in one of the following ways:

 

   BY MAIL

SEND A WRITTEN REQUEST TO:

Northern Institutional Funds

P.O. Box 75986

Chicago, Illinois 60675-5986

For overnight delivery, use the following address:

Northern Institutional Funds

c/o The Northern Trust Company

333 South Wabash Ave

Chicago, Illinois 60604

THE LETTER OF INSTRUCTION MUST INCLUDE:

 

The signature of a duly authorized person (A signature guarantee from an institution participating in the Stock Transfer Agency Medallion Program (“STAMP”) also may be required.)

 

Your account number

 

The name of the Portfolio

 

The number of Shares or Premier Shares and the dollar amount to be redeemed

 

   BY TELEPHONE

 

Call the Northern Institutional Funds Center at 800-637-1380 for instructions.

 

During periods of unusual economic or market activity, telephone redemptions may be difficult to implement. In such event, shareholders should follow the procedures outlined above under “Selling Shares and Premier Shares —By Mail.”

 

   BY WIRE

If you authorize wire redemptions on your New Account Application, you can redeem shares and have the proceeds sent by federal wire transfer to a previously designated bank account.

 

Call the Northern Institutional Funds Center at 800-637-1380 for instructions.

 

The minimum amount that may be redeemed by this method is $10,000.

 

 

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 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO          

  

 

ACCOUNT POLICIES AND OTHER INFORMATION

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION MINIMUMS. There is generally a minimum initial investment of $5 million in the Shares class of the Portfolio of the Trust when purchasing shares directly with the Trust. This minimum does not apply, however, to Portfolio shares purchased through a Northern Trust cash sweep program, or any Portfolio shares purchased through a Northern Trust account or an authorized intermediary. There is no minimum for subsequent investments. A $10,000 minimum applies for redemptions by wire. The Trust reserves the right to waive purchase and redemption minimums and to determine the manner in which a minimum is satisfied.

CALCULATING SHARE PRICE. The Trust issues and redeems Shares and Premier Shares at NAV. The NAV for each class of shares of the Portfolio is calculated by dividing the value of the Portfolio’s net assets attributed to that class by the number of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. The Portfolio’s NAV is calculated on each Business Day as of 4:00 p.m. Central time. See “Business Day” below. The NAV used in determining the price of your shares is the one calculated after your purchase or redemption order is received in good order. See “Good Order.”

The Portfolio seeks to maintain a stable NAV of $1.00 per share by valuing the obligations held by it at amortized cost in accordance with SEC regulations. Amortized cost will normally approximate fair value.

TIMING OF PURCHASE REQUESTS. Purchase requests received in good order and accepted by the Transfer Agent or other authorized intermediary on any Business Day by 4:00 p.m. Central time with respect to the Portfolio will be executed the day they are received by either the Transfer Agent or other authorized intermediary, at the NAV next calculated after receipt of your purchase order in good order, provided that one of the following occurs:

 

The Transfer Agent receives the payment in federal or other immediately available funds on the same Business Day by the close of the Federal Reserve wire transfer system (normally, 5:00 p.m. Central time) with respect to the Portfolio;

 

The requests are placed by a financial or authorized intermediary that has entered into a Servicing Agreement or other agreement with the Trust or its agent and payment in federal or other immediately available funds is received by the Transfer Agent in

  accordance with the terms of the Trust’s or its agent’s agreement with the intermediary;

 

Payment in federal or other immediately available funds is received by the close of the same Business Day in an institutional account maintained with Northern Trust or an affiliate; or

 

The purchase requests are placed through TNTC’s electronic fund trading platform and payment in federal or other immediately available funds is received by the Transfer Agent by the close of the Federal Reserve wire transfer system (normally, 5:00 p.m. Central time).

Purchase requests received in good order by the Transfer Agent or other authorized intermediary on a non-Business Day or after the deadlines described above on a Business Day will be executed on the next Business Day, at that day’s closing share price for the applicable Portfolio(s), provided that payment is made as noted above.

IN-KIND PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS. The Trust reserves the right to accept payment for Shares and Premier Shares in the form of securities that are permissible investments for the Portfolio. The Trust also reserves the right to pay redemptions by a distribution “in-kind” of securities (instead of cash) from the Portfolio. See the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for further information about the terms of these purchases and redemptions.

MISCELLANEOUS PURCHASE INFORMATION.

 

Institutions are responsible for transmitting purchase orders and delivering required funds on a timely basis.

 

For shares purchased through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting purchase orders and delivering required funds on a timely basis. Your financial intermediary may have earlier trading deadlines than those described in this prospectus. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Institutions are responsible for all losses and expenses of the Portfolio, and purchase orders may be cancelled, in the event of any failure to make payment according to the procedures outlined in this Prospectus. In addition, a $20 charge will be imposed if a check does not clear.

 

 

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Shares and Premier Shares of the Portfolio are entitled to the dividends declared by the Portfolio beginning on the Business Day the purchase order is executed, provided payment in federal or other immediately available funds is received by the Transfer Agent by the time designated in “Timing of Purchase Requests.”

 

The Trust and its agents, each reserve the right, in the Trust’s sole discretion to reject or restrict any purchase order, in whole or in part. The Trust also reserves the right to change or discontinue any of its purchase procedures.

 

The Trust and its agents, each reserve the right to suspend the offering of shares of the Portfolio when, in the judgment of management, such suspension is in the best interests of the Portfolio.

 

In certain circumstances, the Trust may advance the time by which purchase orders must be received. See “Early Closings.”

 

If the Transfer Agent cannot locate an investor for a period of time specified by appropriate state law, the investor’s account may be deemed legally abandoned and then escheated (transferred) to such state’s unclaimed property administrator in accordance with statutory requirements. The state may sell escheated shares of the Portfolio and, if an investor subsequently seeks to reclaim the proceeds of liquidation from the state, the investor may only be able to recover the amount received when the shares of such Portfolio were sold. To avoid these outcomes and protect their property, shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through an account held directly with the Portfolio’s transfer agent are encouraged to routinely confirm that the mailing address on their account is current and valid and contact the transfer agent at least once a year by mail, by phone (800-637-1380), or by logging into their account. The Portfolio, its Board of Trustees, and the Transfer Agent will not be liable to investors or its representatives for good faith compliance with state unclaimed property laws. Investors are responsible for checking their state’s unclaimed or abandoned property website for specific information.

TIMING OF REDEMPTION REQUESTS. Redemption requests received in good order by the Transfer Agent or other authorized intermediary on any Business Day by 4:00 p.m. Central time with respect to the Portfolio will be executed on the same day at the NAV next calculated after receipt of your redemption order in good order.

Redemption requests received in good order by the Transfer Agent or other authorized intermediary on a non-Business Day or after the deadline described above on a Business Day will be executed the next Business Day at that day’s closing share price for the applicable Portfolio(s).

PAYMENT OF REDEMPTION PROCEEDS. If your account is held directly with the Portfolio, it is expected that under normal circumstances the Portfolio will typically pay out redemption proceeds to shareholders by the next Business Day following a receipt of a redemption request in good order.

If your account is held through an intermediary, the length of time to pay redemption proceeds typically depends, in part, on the terms of the agreement in place between the intermediary and the Portfolio. For redemption proceeds that are paid either directly to you from the Portfolio or to your intermediary for transmittal to you, it is expected that under normal circumstances payments will typically be made by wire, by ACH or by issuing check by the next Business Day following receipt of a redemption request in good order from the intermediary by the Portfolio. Intermediaries are responsible for the timely transmittal of redemption requests by their customers to the Portfolio’s transfer agent. Redemption requests that are processed through investment professionals that utilize the National Securities Clearing Corporation will generally settle one to three Business Days following receipt of a redemption request in good order.

However, if you have recently purchased Shares and Premier Shares with a check or through an electronic transaction, payment may be delayed as discussed below under “Miscellaneous Redemption Information.”

It is expected that payment of redemption proceeds will normally be made from uninvested cash or short-term investments, proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities, or borrowing from banks, including through the Trust’s committed, unsecured credit facility (see “Credit Facility and Borrowing”). It is possible that stressed market conditions or large shareholder redemptions may result in the need for utilization of the Portfolio’s ability to redeem in-kind in order to meet shareholder redemption requests. The Portfolio reserves the right to pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in readily marketable securities instead of cash (redemption in-kind). Redemption in-kind proceeds will typically be made by delivering the selected securities to the redeeming shareholder within seven days after the receipt of the redemption request in good order by the Portfolio.

Large unexpected redemptions to the Portfolio can disrupt portfolio management and increase trading costs by causing the Portfolio to liquidate a substantial portion of its assets in a short period of time. When experiencing a redemption by a large shareholder, the Portfolio may delay payment of the redemption request for up to seven days to provide NTI with

 

 

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time to determine if the Portfolio can redeem the request-in-kind or to consider other alternatives to lessen the harm to remaining shareholders. Under certain circumstances, however, the Portfolio may be unable to delay a redemption request, which could result in the automatic processing of a large redemption that is detrimental to the Portfolio and its remaining shareholders.

The Portfolio does not intend to avail themselves of the ability to impose liquidity fees. However, the Board of Trustees reserves the right, with notice to shareholders, to change this policy with respect to the Portfolio, thereby permitting that Portfolio to impose discretionary liquidity fees in the future.

MISCELLANEOUS REDEMPTION INFORMATION. All redemption proceeds will be sent by check unless the Transfer Agent is directed otherwise. Redemption proceeds also may be wired. Redemptions are subject to the following restrictions:

 

  The Trust reserves the right to defer crediting, sending or wiring redemption proceeds for up to 7 days (or such longer period permitted by the SEC) after receiving the redemption order if, in its judgment, an earlier payment could adversely affect the Portfolio. The processing of redemptions may be suspended, and the delivery of redemption proceeds may be delayed beyond seven days, depending on the circumstances, for any period: (i) during which the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is closed (other than on holidays or weekends), or during which trading on the Exchange is restricted; (ii) when, in accordance with SEC rules and regulations, an emergency exists that makes the disposal of securities owned by the Portfolio or the determination of the fair value of the Portfolio’s net assets not reasonably practicable; (iii) as permitted by order of the SEC for the protection of Portfolio shareholders; or (iv) the Portfolio as part of a liquidation of the Portfolio, has suspended redemption of shares in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. Redemption payments may also be delayed in the event of a non-routine closure of the Federal Reserve wire payment system or applicable Federal Reserve Banks.

 

  If you are redeeming recently purchased Shares and Premier Shares by check or electronic transaction, your redemption request may not be paid until your check or electronic transaction has cleared. This may delay your payment for up to 10 days.

 

  Institutions are responsible for transmitting redemption orders and crediting their Customers’ accounts with redemption proceeds on a timely basis.

 

  For shares redeemed through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting redemption orders and crediting your account with redemption proceeds on a timely basis. Your financial intermediary may have earlier trading deadlines than those described in this prospectus. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

  Redemption requests made to the Transfer Agent by mail must be signed by a person authorized by acceptable documentation on file with the Transfer Agent.

 

  Dividends on Shares and Premier Shares are earned through and including the day prior to the day on which they are redeemed.
  Subject to applicable law, the Trust and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to redeem shares held by any shareholder who provides incorrect or incomplete account information or when such involuntary redemptions are necessary to avoid adverse consequences to the Trust and its shareholders or the Transfer Agent.

 

  Subject to applicable law, the Trust, Northern Trust and their agents reserve the right to involuntarily redeem or suspend an account at the Portfolio’s then current NAV, in cases of disruptive conduct, suspected fraudulent or illegal activity, inability to verify the identity of an investor, or other circumstances determined by the Trust and Northern Trust to be in the best interest of the Trust and its shareholders.

 

  The Trust, Northern Trust and their agents reserve the right, without notice, to freeze any account and/or suspend account services when: (i) notice has been received of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, or a legal claim against an account; (ii) upon initial notification to Northern Trust of a shareholder’s or authorized agent’s death until Northern Trust receives required documentation in correct form; or (iii) if there is reason to believe a fraudulent transaction may occur or has occurred.

 

  The Trust may require any information from the shareholder reasonably necessary to ensure that a redemption request has been duly authorized.

 

  The Trust reserves the right to change or discontinue any of its redemption procedures.

 

  The Trust does not permit redemption proceeds to be sent by outgoing International ACH Transaction (“IAT”). An IAT is a payment transaction involving a financial institution’s office located outside U.S. territorial jurisdiction.

 

  In certain circumstances, the Trust may advance the time by which redemption orders must be received. See “Early Closings.”

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES. Currently, exchanging shares from/to this Portfolio and any other series of the Trust is not permitted.

EXCESSIVE TRADING IN PORTFOLIO SHARES. The Board of Trustees of the Trust has not adopted, on behalf of the Portfolio, policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Portfolio shares in light of the nature and high quality of the Portfolio’s investments. The Portfolio reserves the right to refuse a purchase order if management of the Portfolio determines that the purchase may not be in the best interests of the Portfolio.

TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS. All calls may be recorded or monitored. The Transfer Agent has adopted procedures in an effort to establish reasonable safeguards against fraudulent telephone transactions. If reasonable measures are taken to verify that telephone instructions are genuine, the Trust and its service providers will not be responsible for any loss resulting from fraudulent or unauthorized instructions received over the telephone. In these circumstances, shareholders will bear the risk of loss. During periods of unusual market activity, you may have trouble placing a request by telephone.

The proceeds of redemption orders received by telephone will be sent by check, wire or transfer according to proper instructions. All

 

 

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checks will be made payable to the shareholder of record and mailed only to the shareholder’s address of record.

The Trust reserves the right to refuse a telephone redemption, subject to applicable law.

ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF LARGE TRANSACTIONS. The Trust requests that an Institution give advance notice to the Transfer Agent by 11:00 a.m. Central time if it intends to place a purchase or redemption order of $5 million or more on a Business Day. For other large purchase or redemption orders below $5 million, the Trust requests that an Institution give advance notice to the Transfer Agent as early as possible in the day.

MAKING CHANGES TO YOUR ACCOUNT INFORMATION. You may make changes to wiring instructions only in writing. You may make changes to an address of record or certain other account information in writing or by telephone. Written instructions must be accompanied by acceptable evidence of authority (if applicable). A signature guarantee also may be required from an institution participating in STAMP. Additional requirements may be imposed. In accordance with SEC regulations, the Trust and Transfer Agent may charge a shareholder reasonable costs in locating a shareholder’s current address.

SIGNATURE GUARANTEES. If a signature guarantee is required, it must be from an institution participating in STAMP, or other acceptable evidence of authority (if applicable) must be provided. Additional requirements may be imposed by the Trust. In addition to the situations described in this Prospectus, the Trust may require signature guarantees in other circumstances based on the amount of a redemption request or other factors.

BUSINESS DAY. A “Business Day” is each day that the Exchange is open for business, except when the following federal holidays are observed: Columbus Day and Veterans Day. Portfolio shares will generally not be priced on days that the Exchange is closed, although Portfolio shares may be priced on such days if the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) recommends that the bond markets remain open for all or part of the day.

GOOD ORDER. A purchase or redemption request is considered to be “in good order” when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered, including acceptable evidence of authority (if applicable). Additionally, a purchase order initiating the opening of an account will not be considered to be “in good order” unless the investor has provided all information required by the Trust’s “Customer Identification Program” described below.

CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM. Federal law requires the Trust to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, business street address, taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Trust. Applications without this information, or without an indication that a taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or the Trust’s customer identification program, the Trust reserves the right to: (a) place limits on account transactions until an investor’s identity is verified; (b) refuse an investment in the Trust; or (c) involuntarily redeem an investor’s shares and close an account in the event that an investor’s identity is not verified.

 

 

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The Trust and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account resulting from an investor’s delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor’s shares when an investor’s identity is not verified.

EARLY CLOSINGS. The Portfolio reserves the right to advance the time for accepting purchase or redemption orders for same Business Day credit when the Exchange and/or the bond market close early, trading on the Exchange is restricted, an emergency arises or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, on any Business Day when SIFMA recommends that the bond markets close early, the Portfolio reserves the right to close at or prior to the SIFMA recommended closing time. If the Portfolio does so, it will cease granting same Business Day credit for purchase and redemption orders received at the Portfolio’s closing time and credit will be given on the next Business Day. In addition, the Board of Trustees of the Trust also may, for any Business Day, decide to change the time as of which the Portfolio’s NAV is calculated in response to new developments such as altered trading hours, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC.

EMERGENCY OR UNUSUAL EVENTS. In the event the Exchange does not open for business because of an emergency or unusual event, the Trust may, but is not required to, open one or more Portfolios for purchase and redemption transactions if the Federal Reserve wire payment system is open. To learn whether the Portfolio is open for business during an emergency situation or unusual event, please call 800-637-1380 or visit https://ntam.northerntrust.com/united-states/institutional/strategies/cash/northern-institutional-funds#performance.

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES. The Trust may authorize certain Institutions acting as financial intermediaries (including banks, trust companies, brokers and investment advisers) to accept purchase and redemption orders from their Customers on behalf of the Portfolio. These authorized intermediaries also may designate other intermediaries to accept such orders, if approved by the Trust. The Portfolio will be deemed to have received an order when the order is accepted by the authorized intermediary, and the order will be priced at the Portfolio’s per share NAV next determined, provided that the authorized intermediary forwards the order (and payment for any purchase order) to the Transfer Agent on behalf of the Trust within agreed-upon time periods. If the order (or payment for any purchase order) is not received by the Transfer Agent within such time periods, the authorized intermediary may be liable for fees and

losses and the transaction may be cancelled. Orders submitted through a financial intermediary that has not received authorization to accept orders on the Portfolio’s behalf are priced at the Portfolio’s NAV next calculated by the Portfolio after it receives the order from the financial intermediary and accepts it, which may not occur on the day submitted to the financial intermediary.

Certain financial intermediaries, including affiliates of Northern Trust, may perform (or arrange to have performed) various administrative support services for Customers who are the beneficial owners of Premier Shares through Servicing Agreements with the Trust (“Service Organizations”). In addition, Service Organizations perform (or arrange to have performed) personal and account maintenance services under their Servicing Agreements for Premier Shares. These Servicing Agreements are permitted under the Trust’s Service Plan (“Service Plan”).

For Premier Shares, administrative support services may include:

 

  acting, directly or through another, as a shareholder of record;

 

  establishing and maintaining individual accounts and records;

 

  processing purchase, redemption and exchange orders; and

 

  placing net purchase and redemption orders with the Trust’s Transfer Agent.

Personal and account maintenance services provided under the Service Plan for Premier Shares may include:

 

  providing information to investors regarding the Portfolios or relating to the status of their accounts; and

 

  acting as liaison between investors and the Trust.

TNTC will receive fees from the Treasury Portfolio and Treasury Instruments Portfolio for these services at an annual rate of up to 0.05% of the average daily NAV of the Premier Shares beneficially owned by their Customers.

All fees payable under the Service Plan are borne solely by the classes of shares to which the services are provided and not by the Portfolio’s other class of shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Portfolio’s assets on an on-going basis, they will increase the cost of an investment in the Portfolio. The Portfolio’s arrangements with Service Organizations under the agreements are governed by a Service Plan, which has been adopted by the Board of Trustees.

 

 

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In addition, Northern Trust may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries through which Customers own shares of the Shares or Premier Shares class of the Portfolio, pursuant to which Northern Trust pays these financial intermediaries for providing certain shareholder services. For the Shares class only, the payments made by Northern Trust to financial intermediaries will be paid by Northern Trust and will not represent an additional expense to the Portfolio or its shareholders.

Northern Trust also may provide compensation to certain dealers and Service Organizations, for marketing and distribution in connection with the Northern Institutional Funds. Northern Trust may also sponsor informational meetings, seminars and other similar programs designed to market the Northern Institutional Funds. The amount of such compensation and payments may be made on a one-time and/ or periodic basis, and may represent all or a portion of the annual fees earned by the Investment Adviser (after adjustments). The additional compensation and payments will be paid by Northern Trust or its affiliates and will not represent an additional expense to the Trust or its shareholders. Such payments may provide incentives for financial intermediaries to make shares of the Portfolio available to their Customers, and may allow the Portfolio greater access to such parties and their Customers than would be the case if no payments were paid.

Customers purchasing Shares or Premier Shares of the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should read their account agreements with the financial intermediary carefully. A financial intermediary’s requirements may differ from those listed in this Prospectus. A financial intermediary also may impose account charges, such as asset allocation fees, account maintenance fees, and other charges that will reduce the net return on an investment in the Portfolio. If a Customer has agreed with a particular financial intermediary to maintain a minimum balance and the balance falls below this minimum, the Customer may be required to redeem all or a portion of the Customer’s investment in the Portfolio.

Conflict of interest restrictions may apply to the receipt of compensation by a Service Organization or other financial intermediary in connection with the investment of fiduciary funds in Shares or Premier Shares of the Portfolio. Institutions, including banks regulated by the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve Board and state banking commissions, and investment advisers and other money managers subject to the jurisdiction of the SEC, the Department of Labor or state securities commissions, are urged to consult their legal counsel.

State securities laws regarding the registration of dealers may differ from federal law. As a result, Service Organizations and other financial intermediaries investing in the Portfolio on behalf of their Customers may be required to register as dealers.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS. The Portfolio, or its duly authorized service providers, may publicly disclose holdings of all Northern Institutional Funds in accordance with regulatory requirements, such as periodic portfolio disclosure in filings with the SEC.

The Trust publishes on its website at https://ntam.northerntrust.com/united-states/institutional/strategies/cash/northern-institutional-funds#performance no later than the fifth business day of each month and for a period of not less than six months, a complete schedule of the Portfolio’s holdings and certain other information regarding portfolio holdings of the Portfolio as of the last business day of the prior month or subsequent calendar day of the preceding month. The Portfolio may publish on the Trust’s website a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings and certain other information regarding portfolio holdings more frequently in accordance with the Trust’s policy. Certain portfolio information concerning the Portfolio will be provided in monthly holdings reports to the SEC on Form N-MFP. Form N-MFP will be made available to the public on the SEC’s EDGAR database immediately upon filing after the end of the month to which the information pertains, and a link to each of the most recent 12 months of filings on Form N-MFP will be provided on the Trust’s website. A further description of the Trust’s Policy on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings is available in the SAI.

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS. Shareholders of record will be provided each year with a semiannual and an annual shareholder report as of May 31 and November 30, respectively. The reports will be made available on the Portfolio’s website at https://ntam.northerntrust.com/united-states/institutional/strategies/cash/northern-institutional-funds#performance. Paper copies of these reports will be mailed to each shareholder of record that has not elected to receive the reports electronically. You may elect to receive future reports electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly with the Trust, by calling the Northern Institutional Funds Center at 800-637-1380 or by sending an e-mail request to [email protected]. Your election to receive reports electronically will apply to all Northern Institutional Funds you hold in your account at the financial intermediary or through an account with the Trust.

 

 

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If we have received appropriate written consent, we send a single copy of all materials, including, prospectuses, financial reports, proxy statements or information statements and other notices to all shareholders who share the same mailing address, even if more than one person in a household holds shares of the Portfolio.

If you do not want your mailings combined with those of other members of your household, you may opt-out at any time by contacting the Northern Institutional Funds Center by telephone at 800-637-1380 or by mail at Northern Institutional Funds, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, Illinois 60675-5986. You also may send an e-mail to: [email protected]. The Portfolio will begin sending individual copies to you within 30 days after receipt of your opt-out notice.

The Trust may reproduce this Prospectus in electronic format that may be available on the Internet. If you have received this Prospectus in electronic format you, or your representative, may contact the Transfer Agent for a free paper copy of this Prospectus by writing to the Northern Institutional Funds Center at P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, Illinois 60675-5986, calling 800-637-1380 or by sending an e-mail to: [email protected].

 

 

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DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

   DISTRIBUTIONS

Dividends from net income are declared daily and paid monthly by the Portfolio to its shareholders. Net income includes the interest accrued on the Portfolio’s assets less estimated expenses. The Portfolio’s net realized short-term capital gains, if any, are distributed at least annually. The Portfolio does not expect to realize net long-term capital gains.

Dividends are paid as soon as practicable following the end of each month, except in the case of a total redemption of Shares or Premier Shares in an account that is not subject to a standing order for the purchase of additional shares of the same class. In that event, dividends will be paid promptly along with the redemption proceeds.

All distributions are reinvested automatically (without any sales charge) in additional shares of the same class of the Portfolio, unless you elect to receive distributions in cash by notifying the Transfer Agent in writing. You may make arrangements to credit these distributions to your account with Northern Trust, its affiliates or financial intermediaries.

There are no fees or sales charges on reinvestments.

 

   TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of certain tax considerations that may be relevant to a shareholder in the Portfolio. The discussions of the federal income tax consequences in this Prospectus and the SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this Prospectus. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and any such changes or decisions may be retroactive. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to shareholders who are individual U.S. citizens or residents and is based on current tax law. You should consult your tax professional for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

DISTRIBUTIONS. The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes and to distribute to shareholders substantially all of its net investment income each year. Except as otherwise noted below, you will generally be subject to federal income tax at ordinary rates on the Portfolio’s distributions to you, regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in Shares or Premier Shares. U.S. individuals with “modified adjusted gross income” exceeding $200,000

($250,000 if married and filing jointly) and trusts and estates with income above certain thresholds are subject to the Medicare contribution tax on their “net investment income,” which includes non-exempt interest, dividends and capital gains at a rate of 3.8%. You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

The Portfolio generally will be invested in debt instruments and not in shares of stock on which dividend income will be received. As a result, the Portfolio does not expect to pay dividends that are eligible for the reduced tax rate on corporate dividends or that will qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations.

IRAS AND OTHER TAX-QUALIFIED PLANS. One major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless shares are acquired with borrowed funds.

REDEMPTIONS. Redemptions are treated as sales for tax purposes and generally are taxable events for shareholders that are subject to tax. In general, if Portfolio shares are sold, a shareholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares. As long as the Portfolio maintains a constant NAV of $1.00 per share, generally no gain or loss should be recognized upon the sale of shares of the Portfolio.

BACKUP WITHHOLDING. The Trust will be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury 24% of the dividends and gross sales proceeds paid to any shareholder (i) who had provided either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all, (ii) who is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to report the receipt of taxable interest or dividend income properly, or (iii) who has failed to certify to the Trust, when required to do so, that he or she is not subject to backup withholding or that he or she is an “exempt recipient.”

U.S. TAX TREATMENT OF FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS. Portfolio distributions attributable to Portfolio income such as interest will generally be subject to a 30% withholding tax when paid to foreign shareholders. The withholding tax may, however be reduced (and in some cases eliminated) under an applicable tax treaty between the United States and a shareholder’s country of residence or incorporation, provided that the shareholder furnishes the Portfolio with a properly completed Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, to establish entitlement for these treaty benefits. Dividends reported as short-term capital gain dividends or interest-related dividends are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. The exemption may not

 

 

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apply, however, if the recipient’s investment in the Portfolio is effectively connected to a trade or business of the recipient in the United States or if the recipient is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a taxable year and certain other conditions are met.

However, dividends reported as exempt-interest dividends are generally not subject to U.S. withholding tax. In addition, the Portfolio are required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to certain foreign entities that do not meet specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax professionals regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Portfolio.

STATE AND LOCAL TAXES. You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain attributable to your ownership of Portfolio shares.

State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Portfolio’s distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest earned by the Portfolio on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax professional regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

CONSULT YOUR TAX PROFESSIONAL. Your investment in the Portfolio could have additional tax consequences. You should consult your tax professional for information regarding all tax consequences applicable to your investments in the Portfolio. More tax information relating to the Portfolio is also provided in the SAI. This short summary is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

 

 

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SECURITIES, TECHNIQUES AND RISKS

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS, DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES AND COMMON INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES

The following provides additional information regarding the Portfolio’s investment objective, principal investment strategies and related risks discussed in the Portfolio Summaries— Principal Investment Strategies section, as well as information about additional investment strategies and techniques that the Portfolio may employ in pursuing its investment objective. Principal investment strategies and risks apply to the Portfolio, unless otherwise noted. The Portfolio also may make other types of investments to the extent permitted by applicable law. Additional information about the Portfolio, its investment strategies and risks can also be found in the Portfolio’s SAI. Future legislative, regulatory, or tax developments may affect the investments or investment strategies available to NTI in connection with managing the Portfolio, which may also adversely affect the Portfolio’s return potential and ability of the Portfolio to achieve its investment objective.

All investments carry some degree of risk that will affect the value of the Portfolio, its yield and investment performance and the price of its shares. An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC, any other government agency or Northern Trust, its affiliates, subsidiaries or any other bank.

The Portfolio seeks to maintain a stable NAV of $1.00 per share. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

The securities purchased by the Portfolio are subject to the maturity, quality, liquidity, diversification, and other requirements of Rule 2a-7. Consistent with Rule 2a-7, the Portfolio:

 

Limits its dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity to 60 days or less;

 

Buys securities with remaining maturities of 397 days or less or securities otherwise permitted to be purchased because of maturity shortening provisions under Rule 2a-7, however, due to its investment strategy, the Portfolio does not intend to invest in securities with a remaining maturity of more than 93 days; and

 

Invests only in U.S. dollar-denominated securities.

In addition, the Portfolio limits its investments to “Eligible Securities,” as defined by the SEC, at the time of acquisition. Securities in which such Portfolios may invest may not earn as high a level of income as long-term or lower quality securities, which generally have greater market risk and more fluctuation in market value.

An “Eligible Security” means a security (i) that has been determined by NTI, subject to guidelines approved by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees, to present minimal credit risks to the Portfolio; (ii) that is issued by other investment companies that are money market funds; or (iii) that is a U.S. government security.

In making minimal credit risk determinations, NTI includes an analysis of the capacity of each security’s issuer or guarantor to meet its financial obligations.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES. The investment objective of the Portfolio may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Shareholders will, however, be notified of any changes.

During extraordinary market conditions and interest rate environments, all or any portion of the assets of the Portfolio may be uninvested (i.e., a portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in cash). The Portfolio may not achieve its investment objectives during this time.

CREDIT (OR DEFAULT) RISK Credit (or default) risk is the risk that an issuer of fixed-income securities held by the Portfolio may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security, the greater the risk that the issuer of the security will default on its obligation. High quality securities are generally believed to have relatively low degrees of credit risk. There is always the risk that the Investment Adviser’s analysis of creditworthiness is incorrect or may change due to market conditions. Concerns over an issuer’s ability to make principal or interest payments in a timely manner may cause the value of a fixed income security to decline. The credit quality of a debt security or of the issuer of a debt security held by the Portfolio could deteriorate rapidly, which may impair the Portfolio’s liquidity or cause a rapid deterioration in the market value of the Portfolio’s securities. To the extent that the Portfolio focuses its transactions with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the risks associated with one or more counterparties. In addition, the Portfolio may incur expenses in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s interests or enforce its

 

 

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rights against an issuer, guarantor or counterparty or may be hindered or delayed in exercising these rights.

INCOME RISK is the risk that the Portfolio’s ability to distribute income to shareholders depends on the yield available from the Portfolio’s investments. Falling interest rates will cause the Portfolio’s income to decline. In addition, changes in the dividend policies of companies held by the Portfolio could make it difficult for the Portfolio to provide a predictable level of income. Income risk is generally higher for short-term debt securities.

INTEREST RATE RISK The Portfolio’s yield will vary with changes in interest rates. During periods of rising interest rates, the market value of the Portfolio’s securities will tend to be lower than prevailing market rates and in periods of falling interest rates, the market value of the Portfolio’s securities will tend to be higher. The Portfolio’s yield will vary as short-term securities in its portfolio mature and the proceeds are reinvested in securities with different interest rates. In a period of rising interest rates, the Portfolio’s yield may not increase proportionately or rise as quickly as the yields of certain other short-term investments. Investments held by the Portfolio with longer maturities will tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than investments with shorter maturities.

During periods when inflation rates are high or rising, or during periods of low interest rates, the Portfolio may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable and may have unpredictable effects on the markets and the Portfolio’s investments, may result in heightened market volatility, may impact the liquidity of fixed-income securities and of the Portfolio, and may detract from Portfolio performance. A low or negative interest rate environment may cause the Portfolio’s earnings to fall below the Portfolio’s expense ratio, resulting in a low or negative yield and may impair the Portfolio’s ability to maintain a stable NAV per share. Additionally, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, due to fluctuations in interest rates, the market value of such securities held by the Portfolio may vary.

LARGE SHAREHOLDER RISK To the extent a significant percentage of the shares of the Portfolio are owned or controlled by a small number of account shareholders (or a single account shareholder), including funds or accounts over which the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser has investment discretion, the Portfolio is subject to the risk that those shareholders may purchase or redeem Portfolio shares in significant amounts rapidly or unexpectedly, including as a result of an asset allocation decision made by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser and may adversely affect the Portfolio’s performance. Such redemptions may force the Investment Adviser to sell portfolio securities or invest cash when the Investment Adviser would not otherwise choose to do so. Redemptions by a large shareholder may

also affect the liquidity of the Portfolio, increase the Portfolio’s transaction costs, and accelerate the realization of taxable income and/or gains. Such sales may also accelerate the increase of taxable income to shareholders if these sales result in gains, and may also increase transaction costs. In addition, a large shareholder redemption could result in the Portfolio’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Portfolio’s expense ratio. Large shareholder purchases of the Portfolio’s shares or having a more concentrated shareholder base may adversely affect the Portfolio’s performance to the extent that the Portfolio are delayed in investing new cash or otherwise maintain a larger cash position than they ordinarily would. There can be no assurance that any large shareholder or large group of shareholders would not redeem their investment or that the size of the Portfolio would be maintained. Because shares of the Portfolio are intended to be held by stablecoin issuers as reserves backing their outstanding payment stablecoins, this risk is heightened to the extent there is an event impacting multiple stablecoin issuers at the same time, or impacting stablecoins in general, that causes such investors to redeem their shares at the same time.

MARKET EVENTS RISK. Market events risk relates to the risk that market changes or unexpected events can lead to increased volatility, depressed valuations, decreased liquidity and heightened uncertainty in the financial markets throughout the world and negatively impact Portfolio investments and Portfolio performance.

The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve have in the past responded to major economic disruptions with changes to fiscal and monetary policy, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions, new monetary programs, and through interest rate changes. Such policy changes may adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of dividend and interest paying securities. This and other government intervention may not work as intended, particularly if the efforts are perceived by investors as being unlikely to achieve the desired results. Governmental or central bank actions, including interest rate increases, measures to address budget deficits, or contrary actions by different governments, as well as downgrades of sovereign debt, fluctuations in oil and commodity prices, dramatic changes in currency exchange rates and geopolitical events (including war and terror attacks) could negatively affect financial markets generally, increase market volatility and reduce the value and liquidity of securities in which the Portfolio invests.

Policy and legislative changes in the United States and in other countries may also contribute to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the financial markets. Political turmoil within the U.S. and abroad may also impact the Portfolio. Certain changes in the U.S. economy, in particular, such as when the U.S. economy weakens or its financial markets decline, may have a material adverse effect on global financial

 

 

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markets as a whole, and on the securities to which the Portfolio has exposure. Although the U.S. government has historically honored its credit obligations, it remains possible that the U.S. could default on its obligations. While it is impossible to predict the consequences of such an unprecedented event, it is likely that a default by the U.S. would be highly disruptive to the U.S. and global securities markets and could significantly impair the value of the Portfolio’s investments. Similarly, political events within the United States at times have resulted, and may in the future result, in a shutdown of government services, which could negatively affect the U.S. economy, decrease the value of many Portfolio investments, and increase uncertainty in or impair the operation of the U.S. or other securities markets.

Increasingly strained relations between the U.S. and foreign countries, including as a result of economic sanctions and tariffs, may also adversely affect U.S. issuers, as well as non-U.S. issuers, and could adversely affect financial markets generally. Global economies and financial markets throughout the world are increasingly interconnected. Economic, financial or political events, trade disputes and changes in trade regulation, tariff arrangements, wars, terrorism, natural disasters, public health emergencies (including pandemics and epidemics) and other circumstances in one country or region could have profound impacts on global economies or markets. As a result, whether or not the Portfolio directly invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries directly affected, the value and liquidity of the Portfolio’s investments may be negatively affected.

You should also review this prospectus and the SAI to understand the Portfolio’s discretion to implement temporary defensive measures, as well as the circumstances in which the Portfolio may satisfy redemption requests in-kind.

PREPAYMENT (OR CALL) RISK is the risk that an issuer could exercise its right to pay principal on certain debt securities held by the Portfolio earlier than expected. Issuers may be more likely to prepay when interest rates fall, when credit spreads change, or when an issuer’s credit quality improves. If this happens, the Portfolio will not benefit from the rise in the market price of the securities that normally accompanies a decline in interest rates, and will be forced to reinvest prepayment proceeds in lower yielding securities, which may reduce the Portfolio’s returns. The Portfolio may also lose any premium it paid to purchase the securities.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities by the Portfolio subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price.

INVESTMENT STRATEGY. The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements with domestic and foreign financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers that are deemed to present minimal credit risk by the Investment Adviser. The Portfolio considers repurchase agreements with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to be U.S. Government securities for purposes of the Portfolio’s investment policies. Although the securities subject to a repurchase agreement may have maturities exceeding one year, settlement of the agreement generally will not occur more than one year after the Portfolio acquires the securities.

SPECIAL RISKS. In the event of a default, the Portfolio will suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from the sale of the underlying securities and other collateral are less than the repurchase price and the Portfolio’s costs associated with delay and enforcement of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, the Portfolio could suffer additional losses if a court determines that the Portfolio’s interest in the collateral is unenforceable by the Portfolio. If the Portfolio enters into a repurchase agreement with a foreign financial institution, it may be subject to the same risks associated with foreign investments. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals may adversely affect the credit worthiness of a foreign financial institution. Additionally, foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing and recordkeeping requirements.

The Portfolio intends to enter into transactions with counterparties that present minimal credit risks at the time of the transactions. There is always the risk that the Investment Adviser’s analysis of creditworthiness is incorrect or may change due to market conditions. To the extent that the Portfolio focuses its transactions with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the risks associated with one or more counterparties.

STABLE NAV RISK is the risk that the Portfolio will not be able to maintain a NAV per share of $1.00 at all times. If the Portfolio fails to maintain a stable NAV (or if there is a perceived threat of such a failure), the Portfolio could be subject to increased redemption activity, which could adversely affect its NAV. A significant enough market disruption or drop in market prices

 

 

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 STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO          

  

 

      

 

of securities held by the Portfolio, especially at a time when the Portfolio needs to sell securities to meet shareholder redemption requests, could cause the value of the Portfolio’s shares to decrease to a price less than $1.00 per share.

STABLECOIN RESERVE RISK. Shares of the Portfolio are expected to be held primarily by one or more stablecoin issuers as all or a portion of the reserve assets that back the payment stablecoins issued to their customers, and the Portfolio may experience adverse effects to the extent such shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Portfolio. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that are designed to maintain a stable value by pegging their value to another asset, such as a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar, and stablecoin holders generally are permitted to redeem their stablecoins for a fixed amount of value. Although the Portfolio does not invest in stablecoins, the assets of the Portfolio are expected to fluctuate depending on the creation (minting) of additional stablecoins or the redemption (burning) of outstanding stablecoins. Stablecoins may face periods of uncertainty and volatility that result in the potential for rapid or unexpected redemption requests by one or more stablecoin issuers, which could adversely affect remaining Portfolio shareholders, the Portfolio’s liquidity and yield, and the Portfolio’s ability to maintain a stable NAV. Such uncertainty or volatility may result from events that are not specifically related to a stablecoin issuer, such as changes in general market conditions, economic, technological or legal trends or changes to the laws or regulation of stablecoins, or events that are specifically related to a particular stablecoin issuer. Because the Portfolio intends to invest only in certain eligible reserve assets in which payment stablecoin issuers are permitted to maintain under the GENIUS Act, the

Portfolio’s yield may be lower than other money market funds that are permitted to invest in a wider universe of investments. Future legislative or regulatory developments and uncertainties associated with the GENIUS Act, including, but not limited to, rulemaking pursuant to the GENIUS Act, may impact the investments or investment strategies available in connection with managing the Portfolio.

U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES These instruments include Treasury bills, notes and bonds, which generally differ only in terms of their interest rates, maturities and time of issuance.

INVESTMENT STRATEGY. The Portfolio may invest in Treasury Obligations.

SPECIAL RISKS. U.S. Treasury Obligations that are held to maturity have historically involved minimal risk of loss of principal. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity, and the market prices for such securities will fluctuate. Changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Treasury Obligations held by the Portfolio to decline. Notwithstanding that U.S. Treasury Obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, circumstances could arise that could prevent the timely payment of interest or principal, which could result in losses to and redemptions from the Portfolio (e.g., Congressional debt ceiling impasses). Such non-payment could also result in substantial negative consequences for the U.S. economy and the global financial system.

 

 

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CASH POSITIONS As government money market funds, a portion of the Portfolio’s assets will likely be held in cash, primarily to meet redemptions.

SPECIAL RISKS. Maintaining cash positions may negatively affect the Portfolio’s performance and potentially limit investment opportunities as a result of the Portfolio’s uninvested assets. Maintaining cash positions may also subject the Portfolio to increased credit risk exposure to the custodian bank.

OTHER SECURITIES AND RISKS. The Portfolio can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Portfolio might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.

BORROWINGS. The Portfolio may borrow money from banks.

The Portfolio may borrow money from banks in amounts up to 33-1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed).

Borrowing involves leveraging.

CREDIT FACILITY AND BORROWING. The Portfolio, the other portfolios of the Trust, and affiliated funds of Northern Funds for

purposes of this discussion, (the “Borrowing Funds”) have jointly entered into a revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) whereby the Borrowing Funds may borrow for the temporary funding of shareholder redemptions or for other temporary or emergency purposes. Pursuant to the Credit Facility, the participating Borrowing Funds may borrow up to an aggregate commitment amount of $185 million (the “Commitment Limit”) at any time, subject to asset coverage and other legal, regulatory or contractual limitations as specified in the Credit Facility and under the 1940 Act. Borrowing results in interest expense and other fees and expenses for the Borrowing Funds that may impact the Portfolio’s expenses, including any net expense ratios. The costs of borrowing may reduce a Borrowing Fund’s yield. If a Borrowing Fund borrows pursuant to the Credit Facility, it is charged interest at a variable rate. Each Borrowing Fund also pays a commitment fee equal to its pro rata share of the unused portion of the Credit Facility. The availability of funds under the Credit Facility can be affected by other participating Borrowing Funds’ borrowings under the Credit Facility. As such, a Borrowing Fund may be unable to borrow (or borrow further) under the Credit Facility if the Commitment Limit has been reached.

 

 

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TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS. For capital preservation and liquidity, the Portfolio may have a greater concentration in short-term securities, including investing up to all of its assets in overnight securities, which may result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s yield. Although the Investment Adviser has the ability to take temporary positions, it may choose not to do so for a variety of reasons, even during volatile market conditions.

The Portfolio may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions, including by holding cash and shortening the Portfolio’s dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity, in anticipation of or in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. If the Portfolio’s portfolio managers do so, different factors could affect the Portfolio’s performance and the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

The following provides additional risk information regarding investing in the Portfolio.

CYBERSECURITY RISK. The Portfolio and its investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, distributor and other service providers and the financial intermediaries of each (collectively “Service Providers”) are exposed to the risk that their operations and data may be compromised as a result of internal and external cyber-failures, breaches or attacks (“Cyber Risk”). In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events.

Cyber-attacks include actions taken to: (i) steal or corrupt data maintained online or digitally, (ii) gain unauthorized access to or release confidential information, (iii) shut down the Portfolio or Service Provider website through denial-of-service attacks, or (iv) otherwise disrupt normal business operations.

Successful cyber-attacks or other cyber-failures or events affecting the Portfolio or its Service Providers may adversely impact the Portfolio or its shareholders. For instance, such attacks, failures or other events may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Portfolio’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential Portfolio information, impede trading, or cause reputational damage. Such attacks, failures or other events could also subject the Portfolio or its Service Providers to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. Insurance protection and contractual indemnification provisions may be insufficient to cover these losses. The Portfolio or its Service Providers may also incur significant costs to manage and control Cyber Risk. While the Portfolio and its Service Providers have established information technology and data security programs and have in place business continuity plans and other systems designed to prevent losses and mitigate Cyber Risk, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified or that cyber-attacks may be highly sophisticated. Furthermore, the Portfolio have limited ability to prevent or mitigate cybersecurity incidents affecting Service Providers, and such Service Providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Portfolio or its investment adviser, and the Portfolio does not directly control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by the Service Providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect the Portfolio or its shareholders. The Portfolio and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. Cyber Risks are also present for issuers of securities or other instruments in which the Portfolio invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Portfolio’s investment in such issuers to lose value.

OPERATIONAL RISK. The Investment Adviser to the Portfolio and other Portfolio service providers may be subject to operational risk and may experience disruptions and operating errors. In particular, these errors or failures in systems and technology, including operational risks associated with reliance on third party service providers, may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to calculate its NAVs in a timely manner, including over a potentially extended period. Moreover, disruptions (for example, pandemics and health crises) that cause prolonged periods of remote work or significant employee absences at the Portfolio’s service providers could

 

 

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impact the ability to conduct the Portfolio’s operations. While service providers are required to have appropriate operational risk management policies and procedures in place, their methods of operational risk management may differ from those of the Portfolio in the setting of priorities, the personnel and resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. The Investment Adviser, through its monitoring and oversight of service providers, seeks to ensure that service providers take appropriate precautions to avoid and mitigate risks that could lead to disruptions and operating errors.

However, it is not possible for the Investment Adviser or other Portfolio service providers to identify all of the operational risks that may affect the Portfolio or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects.

The Portfolio may invest in other securities and is subject to further restrictions and risks that are described in the SAI. Additional information about the Portfolio, its investments and related risks can also be found in “Investment Objectives and Strategies” in the SAI.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

The Portfolio is newly organized and therefore has not yet had any operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.

 

 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS AND FORM N-CSR AND STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information about the Portfolio’s investments will be available in the Portfolio’s annual and semiannual shareholder reports and Form N-CSR. In Form N-CSR, you will find the Portfolio’s annual and semi-annual financial statements.

Additional information about the Portfolio and its policies is also available in the Portfolio’s SAI. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally considered part of this Prospectus).

The Portfolio’s annual and semiannual shareholder reports (once available), the SAI, and other information such as Portfolio financial statements are available free upon request by calling the Northern Institutional Funds Center at 800-637-1380 or by sending an e-mail request to: [email protected]; or at the website provided below. The SAI and other information are available from a financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) through which the Portfolio’s shares may be purchased or sold.

TO OBTAIN OTHER INFORMATION AND FOR SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES:

 

 BY TELEPHONE

Call 800-637-1380

 

 BY MAIL

Northern Institutional Funds

P.O. Box 75986

Chicago, Illinois 60675-5986

 

 ON THE INTERNET

The Portfolio’s documents are available online and may be downloaded from:

 

The EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov (text-only).

 

Northern Institutional Funds website at https://ntam.northerntrust.com/united-states/all-investor/funds#literature.

Reports and other information about Northern Institutional Funds are available on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s internet site at www.sec.gov. You also may obtain copies of Northern Institutional Funds documents, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request to: [email protected].

 

 

 

 

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Subject to Completion

The information in this Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This SAI is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS

(THE “TRUST”)

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

[ ], 2026

STABLECOIN CASH RESERVES PORTFOLIO

SHARES ([ ]), PREMIER SHARES ([ ])

This Statement of Additional Information dated [ ], 2026 (the “SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated [ ], 2026, as amended or supplemented from time to time, for the Stablecoin Cash Reserves Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) of Northern Institutional Funds (the “Prospectus”). A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling 800-637-1380 (toll-free). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus.

Audited financial statements are not presented for the Portfolio because the Portfolio is newly formed and has not yet commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI. Once available, copies of the annual and semi-annual reports and the Portfolio’s financial statements may be obtained upon request and without charge by calling 800-637-1380 (toll-free).

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS SAI OR IN THE PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THE PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE TRUST OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THE PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE TRUST OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.

You could lose money by investing in the Portfolio. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so.

An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), any other government agency, or The Northern Trust Company (“TNTC”), its affiliates, subsidiaries or any other bank. The Portfolio’s sponsor is not required to reimburse the Portfolio for losses, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Portfolio at any time, including during periods of market stress.


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INDEX

 

     Page  

ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION

     3  

Classification and History

     3  

Investment Objectives and Strategies

     3  

Investment Restrictions

     13  

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

     16  

ADDITIONAL TRUST INFORMATION

     18  

Trustees and Officers

     18  

Leadership Structure

     24  

Risk Oversight

     25  

Trustee Experience

     26  

Standing Board Committees

     28  

Trustee Ownership of Portfolio Shares

     29  

Trustee and Officer Compensation

     29  

Code of Ethics

     30  

Investment Adviser, Transfer Agent and Custodian

     31  

Expenses

     34  

Brokerage Transactions

     36  

Conflicts of Interest

     36  

Proxy Voting

     38  

Distributor

     39  

Service Plan

     39  

Counsel and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     40  

In-Kind Purchases and Redemptions

     41  

NET ASSET VALUE

     42  

TAXES

     44  

Federal—General Information

     44  

State and Local Taxes

     45  

Potential Pass-Through of Tax Credits

     45  

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

     47  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     51  

OTHER INFORMATION

     52  

APPENDIX A

     A-1  

APPENDIX B

     B-1  

 

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ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION

CLASSIFICATION AND HISTORY

Northern Institutional Funds (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company. The Portfolio is classified as diversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

The Portfolio is a series of the Trust that was formed as a Delaware statutory trust on July 1, 1997 under an Agreement and Declaration of Trust as amended from time to time (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust is the result of a reorganization of a Massachusetts business trust formerly known as The Benchmark Funds on March 31, 1998. The Trust’s name was changed from The Benchmark Funds to Northern Institutional Funds on July 15, 1998. The Trust also offers other additional money market portfolios, which are not described in this SAI.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

The following supplements the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the Portfolio as set forth in the Prospectus. The investment objective of the Portfolio may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Shareholders will, however, be notified of any changes. Except as expressly noted below, the Portfolio’s investment strategies may be changed without shareholder approval. In addition to the instruments discussed below and in the Prospectus, the Portfolio may purchase other types of financial instruments, however designated, whose investment and credit quality characteristics are determined by Northern Trust Investments, Inc. (“NTI” or the “Investment Adviser,” and collectively with TNTC, “Northern Trust”) to be substantially similar to those of any other investment otherwise permitted by the Portfolio’s investment strategies. The Portfolio might not invest in all of the types of instruments or use all of the strategies or techniques discussed below at any one time.

The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, in: cash; Treasury bills, Treasury notes, and Treasury bonds (“Treasury Obligations”) with a remaining maturity of 93 days or less; and overnight repurchase agreements collateralized by Treasury Obligations.

Generally, the policies and restrictions discussed in this SAI and in the Portfolio’s prospectus(es) apply when the Portfolio makes an investment. In most cases, if a percentage restriction or limitation is met at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in the percentage due to a change in the value of portfolio investments in proportion to the size of the Portfolio will not be considered a violation of the restriction or limitation and the Portfolio will not be required to sell the investment, with the exception of the Fund’s limitations on borrowing as described herein or unless otherwise noted herein.

RULE 2A-7 REQUIREMENTS. The Portfolio operates as a “government money market fund” under Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act. As a “government money market fund” under Rule 2a-7, the Portfolio (1) uses the amortized cost method of valuation to seek to maintain a stable net asset value (“NAV”) of $1.00 share price, (2) is not required to impose a liquidity fee on fund redemptions that might apply to other types of money market funds, and (3) invests 99.5% or more of its total assets in cash, government securities, and/or repurchase agreements that are “collateralized fully” (i.e., backed by cash or government securities). As described above, however, the Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by investing in cash; Treasury Obligations with a remaining maturity of 93 days or less; and overnight repurchase agreements collateralized by Treasury Obligations

The securities purchased by the Portfolio are subject to the maturity, quality, liquidity, diversification, and other requirements of Rule 2a-7. The discussion of investments in this SAI is qualified by Rule 2a-7 limitations.

Rule 2a-7 requires that the Portfolio limit its investments to U.S. dollar-denominated instruments that at the time of acquisition (i) present minimal credit risks, as determined by the Investment Adviser, pursuant to guidelines approved by the Portfolio’s Board; (ii) are issued by other investment companies that are money market funds; or (iii) are U.S. government securities. Securities in which the Portfolio may invest may not earn as high a level of income as long-term or lower quality securities, which generally have greater market risk and more fluctuation in market value. The Rule also requires that the Portfolio maintain a dollar weighted portfolio maturity appropriate to its investment objective, provided, however, that the Portfolio (i) maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of not more than 60 days (as calculated pursuant to Rule 2a-7); (ii) maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity without regard to maturity shortening provisions regarding interest rate readjustments applicable to variable and floating rate securities (also known as dollar-weighted average portfolio life) of 120 days or less and (iii) may not purchase any instrument with remaining maturity of more than 397 calendar days (as calculated pursuant to Rule 2a-7). However, due to its investment strategy, the Portfolio does not intend to invest in securities with a remaining maturity of more than 93 days.

 

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The Portfolio is required to comply with SEC requirements with respect to the liquidity of the Portfolio’s investments. The Portfolio may not acquire any security other than a daily liquid asset unless, immediately following such purchase, at least 25% of its total assets would be invested in daily liquid assets. The Portfolio may not acquire any security other than a weekly liquid asset unless, immediately following such purchase, at least 50% of its total assets would be invested in weekly liquid assets. For these purposes, daily and weekly liquid assets are calculated as of the end of each business day. Daily liquid assets include: cash; direct obligations of the U.S. government; securities that will mature or are subject to a demand feature that is exercisable and payable within one business day; and amounts receivable and due unconditionally within one business day on pending sales of portfolio securities. Weekly liquid assets include: cash; direct obligations of the U.S. government; certain U.S. government agency discount notes without provision for the payment of interest with remaining maturities of 60 days or less; securities that will mature or are subject to a demand feature that is exercisable and payable within five business days; and amounts receivable and due unconditionally within five business days on pending sales of portfolio securities.

BORROWINGS. The Portfolio may engage in borrowing transactions as a means of raising cash to satisfy redemption requests, for other temporary or emergency purposes or, to the extent permitted by its investment policies, to raise additional cash to be invested in other securities or instruments in an effort to increase the Portfolio’s investment returns. Reverse repurchase agreements may be considered to be a type of borrowing.

When the Portfolio invests borrowing proceeds in other securities, the Portfolio will be at risk for any fluctuations in the market value of the securities in which the proceeds are invested. Like other leveraging risks, this makes the value of an investment in the Portfolio more volatile and increases the Portfolio’s overall investment exposure. In addition, if the Portfolio’s return on its investment of the borrowing proceeds does not equal or exceed the interest that the Portfolio is obligated to pay under the terms of a borrowing, engaging in these transactions will lower the Portfolio’s return.

The Portfolio may be required to liquidate portfolio securities at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so in order to make payments with respect to their borrowing obligations. This could adversely affect the Portfolio’s strategy and result in lower Portfolio returns. Interest on any borrowings will be the Portfolio expense and will reduce the value of the Portfolio’s shares. The Portfolio may borrow on a secured or on an unsecured basis. If the Portfolio enters into a secured borrowing arrangement, a portion of the Portfolio’s assets will be used as collateral. During the term of the borrowing, the Portfolio will remain at risk for any fluctuations in the market value of these assets in addition to any securities purchased with the proceeds of the loan. In addition, a

 

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Portfolio may be unable to sell the collateral at a time when it would be advantageous to do so, which could adversely affect the Portfolio’s strategy and result in lower returns. The Portfolio would also be subject to the risk that the lender may file for bankruptcy, become insolvent, or otherwise default on its obligations to return the collateral to the Portfolio. In the event of a default by the lender, there may be delays, costs and risks of loss involved in the Portfolio exercising its rights with respect to the collateral or those rights may be limited by other contractual agreements or obligations or by applicable law.

CHANGING INTEREST RATES. An increase in prevailing interest rates typically causes the value of existing debt securities to fall and often has a greater impact on longer-duration debt securities and higher quality debt securities. During periods when interest rates are low (or negative), the Portfolio’s yield (or total return) may also be low and fall below zero and the Portfolio may be unable to pay dividends to shareholders. Very low or negative interest rates may magnify interest rate risk. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on markets, may result in heightened market volatility and increased redemptions, and may detract from the Portfolio’s performance to the extent the Portfolio is exposed to such interest rates and/or volatility. A negative interest rate policy is an unconventional central bank monetary policy tool where nominal target interest rates are set with negative value intended to help create self-sustaining growth in the local economy. To the extent the Portfolio holds a negative-yielding debt instrument or has a bank deposit with a negative interest rate, the Portfolio would generate a negative return on that investment. Maintaining cash positions may also subject the Portfolio to increased credit risk exposure to the Portfolio’s custodian bank. In a low or negative interest rate environment, investors may seek to reallocate their investment to other income-producing assets. This could cause the price of higher-yielding instruments to rise, could further reduce the value of instruments with a negative yield, and may limit the Portfolio’s ability to locate fixed income instruments containing the desired risk/return profile.

A low or negative interest rate environment could impact the Portfolio’s ability to maintain a stable $1.00 share price. During a negative interest rate environment which causes the Portfolio to have a negative gross yield, the Portfolio may reduce the number of shares outstanding on a pro rata basis through share cancellation, such as reverse distribution mechanisms or other mechanisms to seek to maintain a stable $1.00 price per share, subject to Board approval and to the extent permissible by applicable law and the Portfolio’s organizational documents. A Portfolio that implements share cancellation would continue to maintain a stable $1.00 share price by use of the amortized cost method of valuation and/or penny rounding method but the value of an investor’s investment would decline if the Portfolio reduced the number of shares held by the investor. After a cancellation of shares, the basis of cancelled shares would be added to the basis of shareholders’ remaining Portfolio shares, and any shareholders disposing of shares at that time may recognize a capital loss unless the “wash sale” rules apply. Dividends, including dividends reinvested in additional shares of the Portfolio, will nonetheless be fully taxable, even if the number of shares in shareholders’ accounts has been reduced through share cancellation. Due to a lack of guidance regarding share cancellation, however, the tax consequences of such cancellation of shares to the Portfolio and its shareholders is unclear and may differ from that just described.

Alternatively, the Portfolio may discontinue using the amortized cost method of valuation to maintain a stable $1.00 price per share and establish a fluctuating NAV per share rounded to four decimal places by using available market quotations or equivalents. If the Portfolio were to float its NAV, it would no longer maintain a stable $1.00 share price and instead have a share price that fluctuates. An investor in the Portfolio that floats its NAV would lose money if the investor sells their shares when they are worth less than what the investor originally paid for them.

FORWARD COMMITMENTS, WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES AND DELAYED-DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS. The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment (sometimes called delayed-delivery) basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Portfolio to purchase or sell securities at a future date. The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions normally are negotiated directly with the other party. In addition, recently implemented rule amendments of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority included mandatory margin requirements that require the Portfolio to post collateral in connection with its To Be Announced (“TBA”) transactions. There is no similar requirement applicable to the Portfolio’s TBA counterparties. The required collateralization of TBA trades could increase the cost of TBA transactions to the Portfolio and impose added operational complexity.

The Portfolio will purchase securities on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Portfolio may dispose of or negotiate a commitment after entering into it. The Portfolio also may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Portfolio on the settlement date. The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions.

 

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INFLATION-INDEXED SECURITIES. To the extent consistent with its investment objective and strategies, the Portfolio may invest in U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed securities, which are fixed-income securities whose value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Two structures are common: the U.S. Treasury and some other issuers utilize a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the security; most other issuers pay out the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) accruals as part of a semi-annual coupon.

Inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Treasury have varying maturities and pay interest on a semi-annual basis equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. If the Portfolio purchases inflation indexed securities on the secondary market whose principal values have been adjusted upward due to inflation since issuance, the Portfolio may experience a loss if there is a subsequent period of deflation.

The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if the rate of inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity.

While these securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.

The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed bonds is tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-indexed bonds issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the U.S.

 

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The taxation of inflation-indexed U.S. Treasury securities is similar to the taxation of conventional bonds. Both interest payments and the difference between original principal and the inflation-adjusted principal will be treated as interest income subject to taxation. Interest payments are taxable when received or accrued. The inflation adjustment to the principal is subject to tax in the year the adjustment is made, not at maturity of the security when the cash from the repayment of principal is received. If an upward adjustment has been made (which typically should happen), investors in non-tax-advantaged accounts will pay taxes on this amount currently. Decreases in the indexed principal can be deducted only from current or previous interest payments reported as income. Inflation-indexed Treasury securities therefore have a potential cash flow mismatch to an investor, because investors must pay taxes on the inflation-adjusted principal before the repayment of principal is received. It is possible that, particularly for high income tax bracket investors, inflation-indexed Treasury securities would not generate enough income in a given year to cover the tax liability they could create. This is similar to the current tax treatment for zero-coupon bonds and other discount securities. If inflation-indexed Treasury securities are sold prior to maturity, capital losses or gains are realized in the same manner as traditional bonds. The Portfolio, however, distribute income on a monthly basis. Portfolio investors will receive dividends that represent both the interest payments and the principal adjustments of the inflation-indexed securities held in the Portfolio.

LIQUIDITY RISK. Liquidity risk is the risk that the Portfolio will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time periods described in a timely manner because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, legal restrictions impairing the Portfolio’s ability to sell particular securities at an advantageous market price or other reasons. Certain portfolio securities may be less liquid than others, which may make them difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Portfolio would like or difficult to value. The Portfolio may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forgo an investment opportunity. In addition, less liquid securities may be more difficult to value and markets may become less liquid when there are fewer interested buyers or sellers or when dealers are unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities. For the same reason, less liquid securities that the Portfolio may want to invest in may be difficult or impossible to purchase. Federal banking regulations may also cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of certain securities, which may further decrease the Portfolio’s ability to buy or sell such securities. All of these risks may increase during periods of market turmoil and could have a negative effect on portfolio management or performance. Liquidity risk may be the result of, among other things, the reduced number and capacity of traditional market participants to make a market in fixed income securities. The potential for liquidity risk may be magnified by a rising interest rate environment or other circumstances where investor redemptions from money market and other fixed income mutual funds may be higher than normal, potentially causing increased supply in the market due to selling activity. All of these risks may increase during periods of market volatility. The liquidity of certain assets, such as privately issued and non-investment grade mortgage- and asset-backed securities, may be difficult to ascertain and may change over time. Transactions in less liquid securities may entail transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in more liquid securities.

QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACTS. Regulations adopted by federal banking regulators under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”), which took effect in 2019, require that certain qualified financial contracts (“QFCs”) with counterparties that are part of U.S. or foreign global systemically important banking organizations be amended to include contractual restrictions on close-out and cross-default rights. QFCs include, but are not limited to, repurchase agreements, as well as related master agreements, security agreements, credit enhancements, and reimbursement obligations. If a covered counterparty of the Portfolio or certain of the covered counterparty’s affiliates were to become subject to certain insolvency proceedings, the Portfolio may be temporarily unable to exercise certain default rights, and the QFC may be transferred to another entity. These requirements may impact the Portfolio’s credit and counterparty risks.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Portfolio may agree to purchase portfolio securities from domestic and foreign financial institutions subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price (“repurchase agreements”). Such repurchase agreements are limited to overnight repurchase agreements collateralized by Treasury Obligations, although the securities subject to a repurchase agreement may bear maturities exceeding one year. Repurchase agreements may be considered to be loans under the 1940 Act. Securities subject to repurchase agreements normally are held either by the Trust’s custodian or subcustodian (if any), or in the Federal Reserve/Treasury Book-Entry System.

The Portfolio may permit the seller’s obligation to be novated to the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (“FICC”) pursuant to an agreement among the Portfolio, FICC and the seller as a sponsoring member of FICC. In such case, FICC would become the Portfolio’s counterparty. The Portfolio will make payment for such securities only upon physical delivery or evidence of book-entry transfer to the account of the sponsoring member, the custodian or a bank acting as agent for the Portfolio. The Portfolio would become subject to FICC’s rules, which may limit the Portfolio’s rights and remedies (including recourse to collateral) or delay or restrict the rights and remedies, and expose the Portfolio to the risk of FICC’s insolvency.

The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of the securities subject to the agreement in an amount exceeding the repurchase price (including accrued interest). Default by the seller or FICC would, however, expose the Portfolio to possible loss because of adverse market action or delay in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations. In addition, in the event of a bankruptcy, a

 

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Portfolio could suffer additional losses if a court determines that the Portfolio’s interest in the collateral is unenforceable. If the Portfolio enters into a repurchase agreement involving securities as collateral that the Portfolio could not purchase directly, and the counterparty defaults, the Portfolio may become the holder of securities that it could not purchase. Apart from the risks associated with bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller or FICC may fail to repurchase the security. If the market value of the securities subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest), generally, the seller of the securities or FICC will be required to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement equals or exceeds the repurchase price. Repurchase agreements may be subject to additional regulation as qualified financial contracts (see “Qualified Financial Contracts” for additional information).

In the event of default by a foreign counterparty in a repurchase agreement, the Portfolio may be unable to successfully assert a claim to the collateral under foreign laws. As a result, repurchase agreements with a foreign financial institution may involve higher credit risks than repurchase agreements with domestic financial institutions. Moreover, certain foreign countries may have less developed and less regulated banking systems and auditing, accounting and financial reporting systems than the U.S. In addition, repurchase agreements with foreign financial institutions located in emerging markets, or relating to emerging markets, may involve foreign financial institutions or counterparties with lower credit ratings than domestic financial institutions.

Pursuant to exemptive relief granted by the SEC, and to the extent consistent with its respective investment objective and strategies, the Portfolio, and certain other money market portfolios advised by NTI and TNTC, may enter into joint repurchase agreements with non-affiliated counterparties through a master repurchase agreement. NTI administers and manages these joint repurchase agreements in accordance with and as part of its duties under its management agreement with the Portfolio and does not collect any additional fees from the Portfolio for such services.

In December 2023, the SEC adopted rule amendments providing that any covered clearing agency (“CCA”) for U.S. Treasury securities require that every direct participant of the CCA (which generally would be a bank or broker-dealer that meets certain membership criteria) submit for clearance and settlement all eligible secondary market transactions in U.S. Treasury securities to which it is a counterparty. The clearing mandate includes in its scope all repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements of such direct participants collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities (collectively, “Treasury repo transactions”) of a type accepted for clearing by a registered CCA, including both bilateral Treasury repo transactions and triparty Treasury repo transactions where a bank agent provides custody, collateral management and settlement services. Historically, such transactions have not been required to be cleared and voluntary clearing of such transactions has generally been limited.

The Treasury repo transactions of the Portfolio with any direct participants of a CCA will be subject to the mandatory clearing requirement. Compliance with the clearing mandate for Treasury repo transactions will be required by June 30, 2027. The Portfolio will be required to clear all or substantially all of its Treasury repo transactions as of the compliance date. There are currently substantial regulatory and operational uncertainties associated with the implementation of these requirements which may affect the cost, terms and/or availability of cleared repo transactions.

REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Portfolio may borrow funds by selling portfolio securities to financial institutions such as banks and broker/dealers and agreeing to repurchase them at a mutually specified date and price (“reverse repurchase agreements”). Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act and are subject to the Portfolio’s limitation on borrowings. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risks that (i) the market value of the securities retained in lieu of sale by the Portfolio may decline below the price of the securities the Portfolio has sold but are obligated to repurchase, (ii) the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which the Portfolio is required to repurchase them and (iii) the securities will not be returned to the Portfolio. The Portfolio will pay interest on amounts obtained pursuant to a reverse repurchase agreement. In addition, if the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase

 

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agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, such buyer or its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce the Portfolio’s obligations to repurchase the securities and the Portfolio’s use of the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending such decision. Reverse repurchase agreements may be subject to additional regulation as qualified financial contracts (see “Qualified Financial Contracts” above for additional information).

STABLECOIN RESERVE RISK. Shares of the Portfolio are expected to be held primarily by one or more stablecoin issuers as all or a portion of the reserve assets that back the payment stablecoins issued to their customers, and the Portfolio may experience adverse effects to the extent such shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Portfolio. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that are designed to maintain a stable value by pegging their value to another asset, such as a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar, and stablecoin holders generally are permitted to redeem their stablecoins for a fixed amount of value. Stablecoins, and regulation thereof, including related to reserve requirements, is relatively new and still evolving.

Although the Portfolio does not invest in stablecoins or stablecoin issuers, the assets of the Portfolio are expected to fluctuate depending on the creation (minting) of additional stablecoins or the redemption (burning) of outstanding stablecoins. Stablecoins may face periods of uncertainty and volatility that result in the potential for rapid or unexpected redemption requests by one or more stablecoin issuers, which could adversely affect remaining Portfolio shareholders, the Portfolio’s liquidity and yield, and the Portfolio’s ability to maintain a stable NAV. Such uncertainty or volatility may result from events that are not specifically related to a stablecoin issuer, such as changes in general market conditions, economic, technological or legal trends or changes to the laws or regulation of stablecoins, or events that are specifically related to a particular stablecoin issuer. Because the Portfolio intends to invest only in certain eligible reserve assets in which payment stablecoin issuers are permitted to maintain under the GENIUS Act, the Portfolio’s yield may be lower than other money market funds that are permitted to invest in a wider universe of investments. Portfolio shares are not stablecoins (including “payment stablecoins” as defined in the GENIUS Act), and the Portfolio is not a stablecoin issuer (including a “permitted payment stablecoin issuer” as defined in the GENIUS Act).

Future legislative or regulatory developments and uncertainties associated with the GENIUS Act, including, but not limited to, state and federal rulemaking pursuant to the GENIUS Act, may impact the Portfolio’s operations or the investments or investment strategies available in connection with managing the Portfolio. There are also currently regulatory and other uncertainties associated with the implementation of certain GENIUS Act requirements which could affect the Portfolio’s investment strategy.

STRIPPED SECURITIES. To the extent consistent with its investment objective and strategies, the Portfolio may purchase U.S. Treasury stripped securities. The U.S. Treasury has facilitated transfers of ownership of zero coupon securities by accounting separately for the beneficial ownership of particular interest coupon and principal payments on U.S. Treasury securities through the Federal Reserve book-entry record-keeping system. The Federal Reserve program as established by the U.S. Treasury is known as “Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities” or “STRIPS.” The Portfolio may purchase securities registered in the STRIPS program. Under the STRIPS program, the Portfolio will be able to have its beneficial ownership of zero coupon securities recorded directly in the book-entry record-keeping system in lieu of having to hold certificates or other evidences of ownership of the underlying U.S. Treasury securities.

TREASURY OBLIGATIONS. The Portfolio invests in a variety of U.S. Treasury Obligations with a remaining maturity of 93 days or less. Guarantees of timely repayment of principal and interest do not apply to the market prices and yields of the securities or to the net asset value or performance of the Portfolio, which will vary in connection with different market conditions, including interest rate changes.

From time to time, uncertainty regarding the status of negotiations in the U.S. government to increase the statutory debt ceiling could: increase the risk that the U.S. government may default on payments on certain U.S. government securities; cause the credit rating of the U.S. government to be downgraded or increase volatility in both stock and bond markets; result in higher interest rates; reduce prices of U.S. Treasury securities; and/or increase the costs of certain kinds of debt. In May 2025, Moody’s Ratings (“Moody’s) downgraded the U.S.’s credit rating to Aa1 from Aaa, citing an inability of the nation to address large and growing deficits.

 

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VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE INSTRUMENTS. Variable and floating rate instruments have interest rates that periodically are adjusted either at set intervals or that float at a margin in relation to a generally recognized index rate. These instruments include floating rate public obligations of the U.S. Treasury and variable and floating rate bonds (sometimes referred to as “put bonds”) where the Portfolio obtains at the time of purchase the right to put the bond back to the issuer or a third party at par at a specified date.

The Portfolio will purchase variable and floating rate instruments only when the Investment Adviser deems the investment to involve minimal credit risk or such investment is a government security. The Portfolio’s Investment Adviser may determine that a variable or floating rate obligation meets the Portfolio’s quality standards by reason of being backed by a letter of credit or guarantee issued by a bank that meets those quality standards. Unrated variable and floating rate instruments will be determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of the purchase to rated instruments that may be purchased by the Portfolio. In determining weighted average portfolio maturity, an instrument may, subject to the SEC’s regulations, be deemed to have a maturity shorter than its nominal maturity based on the period remaining until the next interest rate adjustment or the time the Portfolio involved can recover payment of principal as specified in the instrument. In determining weighted average life under Rule 2a-7(d)(1)(iii) (“WAL”), a floating rate instrument shall be deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand.

Variable and floating rate instruments that may be purchased by the Portfolio include variable amount master demand notes, which permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary in addition to providing for periodic adjustments in the interest rate.

Variable and floating rate instruments held by the Portfolio will be subject to the Portfolio’s limitation on illiquid investments, absent a reliable trading market, when the Portfolio may not demand payment of the principal amount within seven days. Because there is no active secondary market for certain variable and floating rate instruments, they may be more difficult to sell if the issuer defaults on its payment obligations or during periods when the Portfolio is not entitled to exercise its demand rights. As a result, the Portfolio could suffer a loss with respect to these instruments.

YIELDS AND RATINGS. The yields on certain obligations, including the instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, are dependent on a variety of factors, including general market conditions, conditions in the particular market for the obligation, financial condition of the issuer, size of the offering, maturity of the obligation and ratings of the issue. The ratings of S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), DBRS Morningstar® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”), Moody’s and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) represent their respective opinions as to the quality of the obligations they undertake to rate. Ratings, however, are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, obligations with the same rating, maturity and interest rate may have different market prices. For a more complete discussion of ratings, see Appendix A to this SAI.

Subject to the limitations stated in the Prospectus, if a security held by the Portfolio undergoes a rating revision, the Portfolio may continue to hold the security if the Investment Adviser determines such retention is warranted and the security continues to present minimal credit risks or is a government security. Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 2a-7, upon the default of a portfolio security (other than an immaterial default unrelated to the financial condition of the issuer), a portfolio security ceasing to be an “eligible security” (as defined in Rule 2a-7), or an event of insolvency with respect to the issuer of a portfolio security or the provider of any demand feature or guarantee, the Portfolio will dispose of the security as soon as is practicable consistent with achieving an orderly disposition of the security, absent a finding by the board of trustees that disposal of such security would not be in the best interests of the Portfolio.

OTHER RISKS

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. The use and development of artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including, but not limited to, machine learning technology and generative AI, is rapidly increasing and may be used by issuers in which the Portfolio invests as well as by service providers that

 

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provide services to the Portfolio. The use of AI in general may adversely impact markets, the overall performance of the Portfolio’s investments, or the services provided to the Portfolio by its service providers. AI technologies are highly reliant on the collection and analysis of large amounts of data and complex algorithms, and it is possible that the information provided through the use of AI technologies could be insufficient, incomplete, inaccurate, misleading or biased, which could lead to adverse effects for the Portfolio and the issuers or service providers using such technology. Because of these challenges, the use of AI could result in reputational harm, competitive harm, legal liability, adverse effects on business operations and/or operational errors and investment losses, all of which could impact the Portfolio. In addition, the increasing development and broader use of AI technologies could impact the market as a whole, including through use by malicious actors for market manipulation, fraud, and cyberattack. The use of AI technologies may face regulatory scrutiny in the future, which could limit the development of this technology and impede the group of companies that develop and use AI. Actual usage of AI technologies by the Portfolio’s service providers and issuers in which the Portfolio invest will vary. AI technologies and their current and potential future applications, and the regulatory frameworks within which they operate, continue to rapidly evolve, and it is impossible to predict the full extent of future applications or regulations and the associated risks to the Portfolio.

CYBERSECURITY RISK. With the increased use of technologies such as mobile devices and web-based or “cloud” applications, and the dependence on the internet and computer systems to conduct business, the Portfolio is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. In general, cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events (arising from external or internal sources) that may cause the Portfolio to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, physical damage to a computer or network system or lose operational capacity. Cybersecurity attacks include, but are not limited to, infection by malicious software, such as malware or computer viruses or gaining unauthorized access to digital systems, networks or devices that are used to service the Portfolio’s operations (e.g., through “hacking,” “phishing” or malicious software coding) or other means for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cybersecurity attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on the Portfolio’s websites (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). In addition, authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally release confidential or proprietary information stored on the Portfolio’s systems. Geopolitical tensions may, from time to time, increase the scale and sophistication of deliberate cyberattacks.

Cybersecurity incidents affecting the Investment Adviser, other service providers (including, but not limited to, the sub-administrator, custodian, sub-custodians, transfer agent and financial intermediaries) or the Portfolio’s shareholders have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses to both the Portfolio and its shareholders, interference with the Portfolio’s ability to calculate their NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of Portfolio shareholders to transact business and the Portfolio to process transactions (including fulfillment of Portfolio share purchases and redemptions), violations of applicable privacy and other laws (including the release of private shareholder information) and attendant breach notification and credit monitoring costs, regulatory fines, penalties, litigation costs, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, forensic investigation and remediation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity incidents affecting issuers of securities in which the Portfolio invest, counterparties with which the Portfolio engage in transactions, governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions (including financial intermediaries and other service providers) and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to safeguard against and reduce the risk of any cybersecurity incidents in the future. In addition to administrative, technological and procedural safeguards, the Investment Adviser has established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent or reduce the impact of, such cybersecurity incidents. However, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified, as well as the rapid development of new threats. Furthermore, the Portfolio and its investment adviser have limited ability to prevent or mitigate cybersecurity incidents affecting third-party service providers, and such third-party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Portfolio or its investment adviser, and the Portfolio does not directly control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by

 

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their service providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect the Portfolio or its shareholders. The Portfolio and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

The rapid development and increasingly widespread use of AI (as discussed under “Artificial Intelligence”) could increase the cybersecurity incidents and attacks and exacerbate the risks.

INTERFUND BORROWING AND LENDING. The SEC has granted an exemption permitting the Portfolio to participate in an interfund borrowing and lending program. This interfund borrowing and lending program allows the Portfolio to borrow money from other portfolios in the Trust and other affiliated funds of Northern Funds (each a “Fund” and together the “Funds”) advised by NTI, and to lend money to other portfolios in the Trust, for temporary or emergency purposes. The interfund borrowing and lending program is currently not operational. The interfund borrowing and lending program is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, the requirements that (1) the Portfolio may not borrow or lend money through the program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than is available from a bank loan rate or investment yield rate, respectively; (2) loans will be secured on an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding bank loan that requires collateral; (3) loans will have a maturity no longer than that of any outstanding bank loan (and in any event not over seven days); (4) if an event of default occurs under any agreement evidencing an outstanding bank loan to the Portfolio, the event of default will automatically (without need for action or notice by the lending Portfolio or Fund) constitute an immediate event of default under the Interfund Lending Agreement entitling the lending Portfolio or Fund to call the interfund loan (and exercise all rights with respect to any collateral) and that such call will be made if the bank exercises its right to call its loan under its agreement with the Portfolio; (5) the Portfolio may not borrow money if the loan would cause its outstanding borrowings from all sources to exceed 10% of its net assets at the time of the loan, except that the Portfolio may borrow up to 33 1/3% of its total assets through the program or from other sources if each interfund loan is secured by the pledge of segregated collateral with a market value of at least 102% of the outstanding principal value of the loan; (6) the Portfolio may not loan money if the loan would cause its aggregate outstanding loans through the program to exceed 15% of its net assets at the time of the loan; (7) the Portfolio’s interfund loans to any one Portfolio shall not exceed 5% of the lending Portfolio’s net assets; and (8) the Portfolio’s borrowings through the program will not exceed the greater of 125% of the Portfolio’s total net cash redemptions or 102% of the Portfolio’s sales fails (when a sale of securities “fails,” due to circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control) for the preceding seven calendar days as measured at the time of the loan. In addition, the Portfolio may participate in the interfund borrowing and lending program only if and to the extent that such participation is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective and policies. The Board of Trustees of the Trust is responsible for overseeing the interfund borrowing and lending program. A delay in repayment to a lending Portfolio could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional lending costs.

LARGE TRADE NOTIFICATIONS. The transfer agent may from time to time receive notice that an authorized institution or other financial intermediary has received an order for a large trade in the Portfolio’s shares. The Investment Adviser may determine to enter into portfolio transactions in anticipation of that order, even though the order will not be processed until the following business day. This practice provides for a closer correlation between the time shareholders place trade orders and the time the Portfolio enters into portfolio transactions based on those orders, and permits the Portfolio to be more fully invested in investment securities, in the case of purchase orders, and to more orderly liquidate their investment positions, in the case of redemption orders. On the other hand, the authorized institution or other financial intermediary may not ultimately process the order.

In this case, the Portfolio may be required to borrow assets to settle the portfolio transactions entered into in anticipation of that order, and would therefore incur borrowing costs. The Portfolio may also suffer investment losses on those portfolio transactions. Conversely, the Portfolio would benefit from any earnings and investment gains resulting from such portfolio transactions.

OPERATIONAL RISK. The Investment Adviser and other Portfolio service providers (including, but not limited to, the sub-administrator, custodian, sub-custodians, transfer agent and financial intermediaries) may

 

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experience disruptions or operating errors arising from factors such as processing errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel, and errors caused by third-party service providers or trading counterparties. In particular, these errors or failures in systems and technology, including operational risks associated with reliance on third party service providers, may affect the Portfolio’s ability to calculate its NAV in a timely manner, including over a potentially extended period. Moreover, disruptions (for example, pandemics and health crises) that cause prolonged periods of remote work or significant employee absences at the Portfolio’s service providers could impact the ability to conduct the Portfolio’s operations. While service providers are required to have appropriate operational risk management policies and procedures, their methods of operational risk management may differ from those of the Portfolio in the setting of priorities, the personnel and resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. The Investment Adviser, through its monitoring and oversight of service providers, seeks to ensure that service providers take appropriate precautions to avoid and mitigate risks that could lead to disruptions and operating errors. However, it is not possible for the Investment Adviser or other Portfolio service providers to identify all of the operational risks that may affect the Portfolio or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Portfolio is subject to the fundamental investment restrictions enumerated below, which may be changed only by a vote of the holders of a majority of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares as described in “Description of Shares” below.

The Portfolio may not:

 

  (1)

Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemptions therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

  (2)

Purchase or sell real estate or real estate limited partnerships, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemptions therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time. This restriction shall not prevent the Portfolio from investing directly or indirectly in portfolio instruments secured by real estate or interests therein or acquiring securities of REITs or other issuers that deal in real estate.

 

  (3)

Invest in commodities or commodity contracts, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemptions therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

  (4)

Concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time, provided that there is no limitation with respect to, and the Portfolio reserves freedom of action, when otherwise consistent with its investment strategies, to concentrate its investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, obligations (other than commercial paper) issued or guaranteed by U.S. banks and U.S. branches of foreign banks and repurchase agreements and securities loans collateralized by such U.S. government obligations or such bank obligations.

 

  (5)

Borrow money or issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemptions therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

  (6)

Act as underwriter of securities, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemptions therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

  (7)

Make any investment inconsistent with the Portfolio’s classification as a diversified company under the 1940 Act.

Notwithstanding any of the Portfolio’s other fundamental investment restrictions (including, without limitation, those restrictions relating to issuer diversification and industry concentration), the Portfolio may: (a) purchase securities of other investment companies to the full extent permitted under Section 12 or any other provision of the 1940 Act (or any successor provision thereto) or under any regulation or order of the SEC; and (b) invest all or substantially all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof with substantially the same investment objective, strategies and fundamental restrictions as the Portfolio.

For the purposes of Investment Restriction Nos. 1 and 5 above, the Portfolio has received an exemptive order from the SEC permitting it to participate in lending and borrowing arrangements with affiliates.

 

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In applying Investment Restriction No. 7 above, a security is considered to be issued by the entity, or entities, whose assets and revenues back the security. A guarantee of a security is not deemed to be a security issued by the guarantor when the value of all securities issued and guaranteed by the guarantor, and owned by the Portfolio, does not exceed 10% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets.

The freedom of action reserved in Investment Restriction No. 4 with respect to U.S. branches of foreign banks is subject to the requirement that they are subject to the same regulation as domestic branches of U.S. banks. The freedom of action reserved with respect to foreign branches of U.S. banks is subject to the requirement that the U.S. parent of the foreign branch be unconditionally liable in the event that the foreign branch failed to pay on its instruments for any reason. Obligations of U.S. branches of foreign banks may include certificates of deposit, bank and deposit notes, bankers’ acceptances and fixed time deposits. These obligations may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch. Such obligations will meet the criteria for “Eligible Securities” as described in the Prospectus.

 

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The Portfolio may follow additional policies that are more restrictive than its fundamental investment limitations in order to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including the provisions of and regulations under the 1940 Act. In particular, the Portfolio is subject to the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, which regulates money market mutual funds, including the diversification requirements of Rule 2a-7 described below.

Investments in securities (excluding cash, cash items, repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully, U.S. government securities and securities of other investment companies that are money market funds) will be limited to: (1) not more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets at the time of purchase of any single issuer (and certain affiliates of that issuer), except that 25% of the value of the total assets of the Portfolio may be invested in the securities of any one issuer for a period of up to three business days; and (2) not more than 10% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets at the time of purchase in the securities subject to demand features or guarantees from an institution that issued the demand feature or guarantee. Subject to certain exceptions, immediately after the acquisition of any demand features or guarantees (i.e., generally, the right to sell the security at a price equal to its approximate amortized cost (for a demand feature) or principal amount (for a guarantee) plus accrued interest), no more than 10% of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in securities issued by or subject to demand features or guarantees issued by the same issuer. Certain affiliated issuers will be treated as a single issuer for purposes of these requirements.

The following descriptions may assist shareholders in understanding the requirements of the 1940 Act and interpretations thereunder in connection with the above policies and restrictions for various Portfolio. Certain investment restrictions set forth above provide the Portfolio with the ability to operate under new interpretations of the 1940 Act or pursuant to exemptive relief from the SEC without receiving prior shareholder approval of the change.

The following descriptions are limited by any non-fundamental investment restrictions described above and are subject to the Portfolio’s investment objective and general investment strategies as stated in the Portfolio’s Prospectus and this SAI.

Concentration and Industry Classification. The SEC has presently defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company’s net assets in an industry or group of industries, with certain exceptions. In determining industry classification, the Portfolio may use the industry classification provided by a third party service provider. For the purpose of determining the percentage of the Portfolio’s total assets invested in securities of issuers having their principal business activities in a particular industry, (i) an asset-backed security will be classified separately based on the nature of its underlying assets; (ii) state and municipal governments and their agencies and authorities are not deemed to be industries; (iii) as to utility companies, the gas, electric, water and telephone businesses are considered separate industries; (iv) personal credit finance companies and business credit finance companies are deemed to be separate industries; and (v) wholly-owned financial companies are considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of their parents.

Borrowing. The 1940 Act presently allows the Portfolio to borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33-1/3% of its total assets, including the amount borrowed (not including temporary borrowings not in excess of 5% of its total assets).

Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, except that the Portfolio may borrow money as described in the above policies and restrictions.

 

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Lending. Under the 1940 Act, the Portfolio is required to have a fundamental investment policy governing making loans to other persons. Current SEC staff interpretations under the 1940 Act prohibit the Portfolio from lending more than 33-1/3% of its total assets, except through the lending of portfolio securities, the purchase of debt obligations or the use of repurchase agreements.

Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves the Portfolio purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified Portfolio may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.

Real Estate. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict the Portfolio’s ability to invest in real estate, but does require that every Portfolio have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments.

Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with the Portfolio’s investment practices described in this SAI and the Prospectus are not deemed to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated for purposes of the foregoing restrictions.

Any Investment Restriction which involves a maximum percentage (other than the restriction set forth above with respect to borrowing money) will not be considered violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, the Portfolio. The 1940 Act requires the Portfolio to maintain continuous asset coverage of at least 300% with respect to borrowings, and to reduce the amount of its borrowings (within three days excluding Sundays and holidays) to restore such coverage if it should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or otherwise. In the event that the Portfolio is required to reduce its borrowings it may have to sell portfolio holdings, even if such sale of the Portfolio’s holdings would be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint. As of the date of this SAI, the Portfolio does not engage in securities lending.

Although the foregoing Investment Restrictions would permit the Portfolio to acquire options, enter into forward currency contracts and engage in short sales and interest rate and currency swaps, the Portfolio is not currently permitted to engage in these transactions under SEC regulations.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Board has adopted a policy on disclosure of portfolio holdings that provides that neither the Portfolio nor its Investment Adviser, Distributor or any agent, or any employee thereof (“Portfolio Representative”) will disclose the Portfolio’s portfolio holdings information to any person other than in accordance with the policy. For purposes of the policy, “portfolio holdings information” means the Portfolio’s actual portfolio holdings, as well as non-public information about its trading strategies or pending transactions including the portfolio holdings, trading strategies or pending transactions of any actively managed commingled fund portfolio that contains identical holdings as the Portfolio. Under the policy, neither the Portfolio nor any Portfolio Representative may solicit or accept any compensation or other consideration in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information. A Portfolio Representative may provide portfolio holdings information to third parties if such information has been included in the Portfolio’s public filings with the SEC or is disclosed on the Trust’s publicly accessible website. Information posted on the Trust’s website may be separately provided to any person commencing the day after it is first published on the Trust’s website.

Portfolio holdings information that is not filed with the SEC or posted on the publicly available website may be provided to third parties only if the third party recipients are required to keep all portfolio holdings information confidential and are prohibited from trading on the information they receive. Disclosure to such third

 

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parties must be approved in advance by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”). Disclosure to providers of auditing, custody, proxy voting and other similar services for the Portfolio, as well as rating and ranking organizations, will generally be permitted; however, information may be disclosed to other third parties (including, without limitation, individuals, institutional investors, and intermediaries that sell shares of the Portfolio) only upon approval by the CCO, who must first determine that the Portfolio has a legitimate business purpose for doing so. In general, each recipient of non-public portfolio holdings information must sign a confidentiality and non-trading agreement, although this requirement will not apply when the recipient is otherwise subject to a duty of confidentiality as determined by the CCO. In accordance with the policy, the recipients who receive non-public portfolio holdings information on an ongoing basis are as follows: the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, the Portfolio’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Portfolio’s custodian, the Portfolio’s legal counsel, the Portfolio’s financial printer (Donnelley Financial Solutions), the Portfolio’s pricing vendors, and the Portfolio’s proxy voting service and subsidiary (Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. and Securities Class Action Services, LLC); certain industry reporting providers (iMoneyNet); certain rating and ranking organizations, including Moody’s, Fitch and S&P; and the following vendors that provide portfolio analytical tools: Barclays Capital, BlackRock Solutions, Bloomberg, FactSet, and Thomson Reuters. These entities are obligated to keep such information confidential. Third-party providers of custodial or accounting services to the Portfolio may release non-public portfolio holdings information of the Portfolio only with the permission of Portfolio Representatives. From time to time, portfolio holdings information may be provided to broker-dealers solely in connection with the Portfolio seeking portfolio securities trading recommendations. Portfolio holdings information may also be provided to financial institutions solely for the purpose of funding borrowings under the Trust’s line of credit. In providing this information, reasonable precautions, including limitations on the scope of the portfolio holdings information disclosed, are taken in an effort to avoid any potential misuse of the disclosed information.

The Portfolio will publish on the Trust’s website, northerntrust.com/institutional, no later than the fifth business day of each month and for a period of not less than six months, a complete schedule of the Portfolio’s holdings and certain other information required by Rule 2a-7 regarding the Portfolio’s portfolio holdings as of the last business day or subsequent calendar day of the prior month. The Portfolio may publish on the website complete portfolio holdings information more frequently if it has a legitimate business purpose for doing so.

The Portfolio files its portfolio holdings with the SEC and the holdings are publicly made available twice each fiscal year on Form N-CSR (with respect to each annual period and semiannual period). Certain information with respect to the Portfolio will be provided in monthly holdings reports to the SEC on Form N-MFP. Form N-MFP will be made available to the public on the SEC’s EDGAR database immediately upon filing after the end of the month to which the information pertains, and a link to each of the most recent 12 months of filings on Form N-MFP will be provided on the Trust’s website. In addition, in the event that the Portfolio files information regarding certain material events with the SEC on Form N-CR, the Portfolio will disclose on their website certain information that the Portfolio is required to report on Form N-CR. Such material events include the provision of any financial support by an affiliated person of the Portfolio. This information will appear on the Portfolio’s website no later than the same business day on which the Portfolio files Form N-CR with the SEC and will be available on the Portfolio’s website for at least one year. Shareholders may obtain the Portfolio’s Forms N-CSR, N-MFP and N-CR filings on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

Under the policy, the Board is to receive information, on a quarterly basis, regarding any other disclosures of non-public portfolio holdings information that were permitted during the preceding quarter.

 

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ADDITIONAL TRUST INFORMATION

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

The Board is responsible for the management and business and affairs of the Trust. Set forth below is information about the Trustees and the Officers of Northern Institutional Funds as of the date of this SAI. Each Trustee has served in that capacity since he or she was originally elected or appointed to the Board. As of the date of this SAI, each Trustee oversees a total of [55] portfolios in the Northern Funds Complex—Northern Institutional Funds consists of 6 portfolios and Northern Funds offers [49] portfolios.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

 

NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH,

ADDRESS(1)

POSITIONS HELD WITH

TRUST AND TERM OF

OFFICE AND LENGTH OF

SERVICE AS TRUSTEE(2)

 

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

  

OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD

BY TRUSTEE(3)

Therese M. Bobek

Year of Birth: 1960

Trustee since 2019

 

Adjunct Lecturer in the Masters of Accountancy Program, University of Iowa Tippie College of Business from 2018 to 2022;

Assurance Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from 1997 to 2018.

  

Methode Electronics, Inc.

Ingrid LaMae A. de Jongh

Year of Birth: 1965

Trustee since 2019

 

Chief Schooling Officer & Provost since 2020 and Head of School Management and Technology from 2016 to 2020, Success Academy Charter Schools;

Member of the Board of Directors of Bank Leumi USA from 2016 to 2022;

Partner in Accenture (global management consulting and professional services firm) from 1987 to 2012;

Member of the Board of Directors, Member of Nominating and Governance and Compensating Committees of Carver Bancorp from 2014 to 2018.

  

None

Thomas A. Kloet

Year of Birth: 1958

Trustee since 2015 and

Chairperson since 2020

 

Chair of Boards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, Nasdaq PHLX LLC, Nasdaq MRX, LLC, Nasdaq ISE, LLC, Nasdaq GEMX, LLC and Nasdaq BX, Inc. since 2015;

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, TMX Group, Ltd. (financial services company and operator of stock, derivatives exchanges, their clearing operations and securities depository) from 2008 to 2014.

  

Nasdaq, Inc.

 

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INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES (CONTINUED)

 

NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH,

ADDRESS(1)

POSITIONS HELD WITH

TRUST AND TERM OF

OFFICE AND LENGTH OF

SERVICE AS TRUSTEE(2)

 

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

  

OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD

BY TRUSTEE(3)

David R. Martin

Year of Birth: 1956

Trustee since 2017

 

Professor of Instruction, University of Texas, McCombs School of Business since 2017;

Chief Financial Officer, Neo Tech (an electronics manufacturer) from 2019 to 2023;

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (an investment manager) from 2007 to 2016;

Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (an investment manager) from 2005 to 2007;

Senior Vice President, Finance of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (an investment banking and securities brokerage firm) from 1999 to 2005.

  

None

William Martin

Year of Birth: 1970

Trustee since 2024

 

Investment Committee Chair, Foundation for the Carolinas (a community foundation) since 2022;

Board Member, Social Venture Partners, Charlotte (a venture philanthropy partnership) since 2012;

Senior Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income, Nuveen/TIAA (an investment manager) from 2004 to 2020.

  

None

Cynthia R. Plouché

Year of Birth: 1957

Trustee since 2014

 

Assessor, Moraine Township, Illinois from 2014 to 2018;

Trustee of AXA Premier VIP Trust (registered investment company—34 portfolios) from 2001 to 2017;

Senior Portfolio Manager and member of Investment Policy Committee, Williams Capital Management, LLC from 2006 to 2012;

Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Blaylock-Abacus Asset Management, Inc. from 2003 to 2006;

Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Abacus Financial Group (a manager of fixed income portfolios for institutional clients) from 1991 to 2003.

  

MassMutual complex (55 portfolios in five investment companies)

 

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INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES (CONTINUED)

 

NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH,

ADDRESS(1)

POSITIONS HELD WITH

TRUST AND TERM OF

OFFICE AND LENGTH OF

SERVICE AS TRUSTEE(2)

  

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

  

OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD

BY TRUSTEE(3)

Mary Jacobs Skinner, Esq.

Year of Birth: 1957

Trustee since 2000

  

Executive Committee Member and Chair, Policy and Advocacy Council, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital since 2016;

Executive Committee Member and Director, Boca Grande Clinic, since 2019;

Member, Law Board, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, since 2019;

Director, Pathways Awareness Foundation since 2000;

Harvard Advanced Leadership Fellow—2016;

Retired in 2015 as partner in the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP;

Director, Chicago Area Foundation for Legal Services from 1995 to 2013.

  

None

 

 

(1) 

Each Trustee may be contacted by writing to the Trustee, c/o the Secretary of the Trust, The Northern Trust Company, 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603.

(2) 

Each Trustee will hold office for an indefinite term until the earliest of: (i) the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Trustee and until the election and qualification of his or her successor, if any, elected at such meeting; (ii) the date a Trustee resigns or retires, or a Trustee is removed by the Board or shareholders, in accordance with the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust; or (iii) in accordance with the current resolutions of the Board (which may be changed without shareholder vote) on the earlier of the completion of 15 years of service on the Board and the last day of the calendar year in which he or she attains the age of seventy-five years. For Trustees who joined the Board prior to July 1, 2016, the 15 year service limit is measured from July 1, 2016.

(3) 

This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (i.e., public companies) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

 

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INTERESTED TRUSTEE

 

NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH,

ADDRESS(1),

POSITIONS HELD WITH

TRUST AND TERM OF

OFFICE AND LENGTH OF

SERVICE AS TRUSTEE(2)

 

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

  

OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD

BY TRUSTEE(3)

Paula Kar(4)

Year of Birth: 1975

Trustee since 2024

 

Global Head of Product at Northern Trust Asset Management from 2023 to present;

Global Head of Product Strategy and Development at Northern Trust Asset Management from 2019 to 2023.

  

FlexShares Trust (registered investment company—28 portfolios)

Alpha Core Strategies Fund

 
(1) 

Each Trustee may be contacted by writing to the Trustee, c/o the Secretary of the Trust, The Northern Trust Company, 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603.

(2) 

Each Trustee will hold office for an indefinite term until the earliest of: (i) the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Trustee and until the election and qualification of his or her successor, if any, elected at such meeting; (ii) the date a Trustee resigns or retires, or a Trustee is removed by the Board or shareholders, in accordance with the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust; or (iii) in accordance with the current resolutions of the Board (which may be changed without shareholder vote) on the earlier of the completion of 15 years of service on the Board and the last day of the calendar year in which he or she attains the age of seventy-five years. For Trustees who joined the Board prior to July 1, 2016, the 15-year service limit is measured from July 1, 2016.

(3) 

This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Exchange Act (i.e., public companies) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

(4) 

An “interested person,” as defined by the 1940 Act. Ms. Kar is deemed to be an “interested” Trustee because she is an officer, director, employee, and a shareholder of Northern Trust Corporation and/or its affiliates.

 

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OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH,

ADDRESS,

POSITIONS HELD WITH

TRUST AND TERM OF OFFICE

AND LENGTH OF

SERVICE(1)

 

      

  

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

Kevin P. O’Rourke

Year of Birth: 1971

Northern Trust Investments, Inc.

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

President and Principal Executive Officer since 2024

     President of Northern Funds, Northern Institutional Funds and FlexShares Trust since 2024; Senior Vice President of Northern Trust Investments, Inc. since 2014; Vice President of Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds from 2015 to 2024.

Stephen V. Sivillo

Year of Birth: 1971

Northern Trust Investments, Inc.

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Chief Compliance Officer since 2023

     Senior Vice President of Northern Trust Investments, Inc. since 2023; Chief Compliance Officer and Controller of ABR Dynamic Funds, LLC from 2018 to 2023.

Darlene Chappell

Year of Birth: 1963

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Anti-Money Laundering

Compliance Officer since 2009

     Vice President and Compliance Consultant for The Northern Trust Company since 2006; Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for Northern Trust Investments, Inc., Northern Trust Securities, Inc. and Alpha Core Strategies Fund since 2009; Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for 50 South Capital Advisors, LLC since 2015, and FlexShares Trust since 2011; Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for Belvedere Advisors LLC from 2019 to 2023.

Randal E. Rein

Year of Birth: 1970

Northern Trust Investments, Inc.

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Principal Financial Officer,

Principal Accounting Officer, and

Treasurer since 2008

     Senior Vice President of Northern Trust Investments, Inc. since 2010; Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer of FlexShares Trust since 2011.

Michael L. Brainerd

Year of Birth: 1979

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Assistant Treasurer since 2024

     Senior Vice President and Division Manager of Fund Accounting of The Northern Trust Company since 2022; Vice President and Fund Accounting Department Head at Brown Brothers Harriman from 2020 to 2022.

Monette R. Nickels

Year of Birth: 1971

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Assistant Treasurer since 2022

     Senior Vice President, Head of Fund Tax Services of the Northern Trust Company since 2021; Accounting Manager of Complete Financial Ops, Inc. from 2017 to 2021.

 

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OFFICERS OF THE TRUST (CONTINUED)

 

NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH,

ADDRESS,

POSITIONS HELD WITH

TRUST AND TERM OF OFFICE

AND LENGTH OF

SERVICE(1)

 

      

  

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

Jamie E. Ulrich

Year of Birth: 1975

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Assistant Treasurer since 2023

     Vice President of Financial Reporting of The Northern Trust Company since 2013.

Christopher Fair

Year of Birth: 1982

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Assistant Treasurer since May 2026

     Vice President and Treasury Senior Associate of Northern Trust Asset Management since 2020.

Craig R. Carberry, Esq.

Year of Birth: 1960

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Chief Legal Officer since 2019

     Senior Trust Officer since 2021, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary since 2000 of Northern Trust Investments, Inc.; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Northern Trust Securities, Inc. since 2022 and 2020, respectively; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of 50 South Capital Advisors, LLC from 2015 to 2022; Deputy General Counsel of Northern Trust Corporation since 2020; Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President of The Northern Trust Company since 2020 and 2015, respectively; Secretary of Alpha Core Strategies Fund since 2004 and Chief Legal Officer since 2019; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Belvedere Advisors LLC from 2019 to 2023; Chief Legal Officer of FlexShares Trust and Northern Funds since 2019.

Jose J. Del Real, Esq.

Year of Birth: 1977

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Secretary since 2018

     Assistant Secretary and Assistant Trust Officer of Northern Trust Investments, Inc. since 2016 and June 2026, respectively; Assistant General Counsel and Senior Vice President of The Northern Trust Company since 2020; and Secretary of FlexShares Trust since 2018.

Jennifer A. Craig

Year of Birth: 1973

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Assistant Secretary since 2022

     Vice President of The Northern Trust Company since 2021; Secretary, Boston Trust Walden Funds from 2023 to May 2025; Assistant Vice President, Paralegal Manager of SS&C/ALPS Fund Services, Inc. from 2007 to 2021.

Joseph Chavosky

Year of Birth: 1980

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Vice President since May 2026

     Vice President and Senior Product Manager of Northern Trust Asset Management since 2025; Vice President and Head of North America Treasury & Budgeting Team of Northern Trust Asset Servicing from 2019 to 2025.
 
(1) 

Each Officer serves until his or her resignation, removal or retirement, or the election of his or her successor. Each Officer also holds the same office with Northern Funds.

As a result of the responsibilities assumed by the Trust’s service providers, the Trust itself requires no employees.

 

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Each officer holds the same office with Northern Funds and certain officers hold comparable positions with certain other investment companies of which Northern Trust Corporation, or an affiliate thereof, is the investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent and/or administrator.

LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE. The Board is currently composed of eight Trustees, seven of whom are not “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustee”), and one of whom is an “interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act (“Interested Trustee”). The Chairperson of the Board, Thomas A. Kloet, is an Independent Trustee. Paula Kar is considered an interested Trustee because she is an officer, director, employee,

 

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and a shareholder of Northern Trust Corporation and/or its affiliates. Each Trustee was nominated to serve on the Board because of his or her experience, skills and qualifications. See “Trustee Experience.” The Board believes that its leadership structure is consistent with industry practices and is appropriate in light of the size of the Trust and the nature and complexity of its business. In particular:

 

   

Board Composition. The Trustees believe that having a super-majority of Independent Trustees (at least 75%) is appropriate and in the best interest of shareholders. The Trustees also believe that having Ms. Kar serve as an interested Trustee brings management and financial insight that is important to certain of the Board’s decisions and is also in the best interest of shareholders.

 

   

Independent Trustee Meetings and Executive Sessions. The Trustees believe that meetings of the Independent Trustees and meetings in executive session, including with independent counsel, help prevent conflicts of interest from occurring. The Trustees also believe that these sessions allow the Independent Trustees to deliberate candidly and constructively, separately from management, in a manner that affords honest disagreement and critical questioning.

 

RISK OVERSIGHT. Risk oversight is a part of the Board’s general oversight of the Portfolio and is addressed as part of various Board and committee activities, including throughout the year at regular Board and committee meetings and through regular reports provided to the Board and/or its committees that address, among other items, certain investment, valuation, liquidity and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the Investment Adviser’s initiative. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of the Investment Adviser and other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), which carry out the Portfolio’s investment management and business affairs. Each of the Investment Adviser and other service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various events or circumstances that may give rise to risks, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they occur. Each of the Investment Adviser and other service providers have their own independent interests in risk management, and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models. The Investment Adviser has a dedicated risk management function that is headed by a Chief Risk Officer.

Currently, the Board receives and reviews risk reports on a quarterly basis from the Investment Adviser’s Chief Risk Officer covering various risk areas, such as investment and market risk, operational risk, business continuity, cybersecurity risk, and regulatory compliance risk. These reports are intended to provide the Trustees with a forward-looking view of risk and the manner in which the Investment Adviser is managing various risks.

The Audit Committee, in addition to its risk management responsibilities, plays an important role in the Board’s risk oversight. Working with the Portfolio’s independent registered accountants, the Audit Committee reviews the Portfolio’s annual audit scope and the results of the audit of the Portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

The Valuation Committee reviews quarterly reports on fair valuation determinations, including the methodology used in making fair value determinations. The Committee also reviews reports on money market fund shadow pricing, stress testing results, and shareholder ownership characteristics and trends.

The Board also monitors and reviews the Portfolio’s performance metrics, and regularly confers with the Investment Adviser on performance-related issues.

The Trust’s CCO reports to the Board at least quarterly regarding compliance matters. In addition to providing quarterly reports, the CCO provides an annual report to the Board in accordance with the Portfolio’s compliance policies and procedures. The CCO regularly discusses relevant compliance issues, including compliance risks, affecting the Portfolio during meetings with the Independent Trustees and counsel. The Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Portfolio and approves such procedures for the Portfolio’s

 

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service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

TRUSTEE EXPERIENCE. Each Trustee is required to possess certain qualities such as integrity, intelligence, the ability to critically discuss and analyze issues presented to the Board and an understanding of a trustee’s fiduciary obligations with respect to a registered investment company. In addition to these qualities, the following is a description of certain other Trustee attributes, skills, experiences and qualifications.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

Therese M. Bobek: Ms. Bobek retired in 2018 from a 35-year career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (“PwC”), having served a wide variety of public and privately held clients with external audits, internal auditing and risk advisory services. Ms. Bobek’s final role was to serve in PwC’s national office, where she led a nationwide network of partners and managers whose main responsibility was to support audit quality in the field. After retirement from PwC, Ms. Bobek taught Advanced Auditing in the Masters of Accountancy program at the University of Iowa’s Henry B. Tippie College of Business for five years. Since 2020, she has been a director and member of the audit and nominating and governance committees of the board of directors of Methode Electronics, Inc., a global developer of custom engineered and application-specific products and solutions. Ms. Bobek has been a Board Member of Metropolitan Family Services and a Board Member of the Illinois Society of CPAs. She has also served as a member and Chair of the University of Iowa Professional Accounting Council, a voluntary council of business leaders supporting accounting education. She has served as an Independent Trustee of Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds since 2019.

Ingrid LaMae A. de Jongh: Ms. de Jongh served as a partner in the global financial services strategy at Accenture, and was with the global management consulting and professional services firm from 1987 through 2012. While at Accenture, she helped global financial institutions improve their business performance by developing strategies and business models, and implementing business change programs and systems. Since 2020 she has been the Chief Schooling Officer & Provost, and from 2016 to 2020 she was the Head of School Management and Technology at Success Academy Charter Schools, the largest network and highest-performing free, public charter schools in New York City. Ms. de Jongh is a former member of the Board of Carver Bancorp, Inc. in New York City, where she served as a member of the Nominating and Governance Committees and the Compensation Committee. She previously served on the Board of Directors of Bank Leumi USA from 2016 to 2022. Ms. de Jongh had previously served from 2011 to 2013 as a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Advisory Council for Minority Business Enterprises. She has served as an Independent Trustee of Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds since 2019.

Thomas A. Kloet: Mr. Kloet is a long-time financial industry executive and former Chief Executive Officer of TMX Group, Ltd., a financial services company and operator of stock, derivatives exchanges, their clearing operations and securities depository. As a result of this position, Mr. Kloet is familiar with financial, investment and business matters. He also understands the functions of a board through his service during the past twelve years on the Board of Nasdaq, Inc. (plus the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC as well as certain other U.S. stock and option exchanges of Nasdaq, Inc. where he has served as Board Chair since 2016); and previous board experience with TMX Group, Ltd.; Box Options Exchange; FTSE-TMX Global Debt Capital Markets, Inc.; Bermuda Stock Exchange, Inc.; the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the World Federation of Exchanges. He is a certified public accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is an emeritus member of the Board of Elmhurst College. He has served as an Independent Trustee of Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds since 2015.

Mr. Kloet serves on the Board of Directors of Nasdaq, Inc. Northern Trust Corporation (“NTC”), parent company of NTI, and its affiliates (including affiliated fund complexes) pay listing fees, market data fees, GRC (governance risk and compliance) software fees and similar fees to Nasdaq, Inc. and its affiliates, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, Nasdaq OMX Nordic OY and Nasdaq CXC Ltd. (collectively, “Nasdaq”). The total of these

 

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payments were $6,509,143 and $10,756,134 in each of 2024 and 2025, respectively, which are immaterial to Nasdaq’s total revenues. In consideration of the immaterial amounts involved in the foregoing transactions, Mr. Kloet is not considered to have a material business or professional relationship with NTI or its affiliates.

David R. Martin: Mr. Martin was Chief Financial Officer for Neo Tech, an electronics manufacturer, from 2019 to 2023. Mr. Martin was Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from 2007 to 2016 of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, a global investment manager that provides its services largely to investment companies or their local equivalent (mutual funds in the U.S.). The funds are held primarily by clients of independent financial advisors but they are also held by institutional clients (who may invest in separate accounts), pensions and profit sharing plans, corporations, defined contribution plans, endowments, state and municipal entities, and sovereign wealth funds. Mr. Martin had oversight responsibilities for all finance and accounting, real estate and compliance functions while at Dimensional, including the implementation of a global transfer pricing methodology. He also served as a director on eight internal Dimensional boards. During his 35 year career in corporate finance, Mr. Martin also had senior management positions at Janus Capital Group, Inc. and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and senior level finance positions at First Interstate Bank of Texas, N.A. and Texas Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Mr. Martin is familiar with the functions of mutual fund boards and their oversight responsibilities and the operations of fund advisers and other service providers. He is also well versed in risk management and financial matters affecting mutual funds. He has served as an Independent Trustee of Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds since 2017.

William Martin: Mr. Martin has extensive experience in fixed income portfolio management and in the financial industry. From 2004 to 2020, he held various portfolio manager positions at Nuveen / TIAA, most recently serving as a Senior Managing Director and the Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income. Prior to his role as Nuveen’s Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income, Mr. Martin held various roles at Nuveen, which included being the Lead Portfolio Manager of fixed income mutual funds and leading sector portfolio management within structured finance. Prior to working at Nuveen, Mr. Martin held executive positions at Lewtan Technologies and Visible Markets, Inc. Mr. Martin is familiar with the oversight functions of mutual fund boards and the operations and investment risk management responsibilities of fund advisors. He currently serves as Chairperson for the Foundation for the Carolinas’ Investment Committee, where he oversees asset allocation guidelines and management of the OCIO relationship for the fifth largest community foundation in the United States. Mr. Martin is also a board member for Social Venture Partners Charlotte, a venture philanthropy partnership focused on building capacity with select non-profits and innovative social entrepreneurs in the Charlotte region. He has served as an Independent Trustee of Northern Funds and Northern Institutional Funds since 2024.

Cynthia R. Plouché: Ms. Plouché has an extensive background in the financial services industry. Until 2017, she served as lead Independent Trustee and chair of the Audit Committee of the board of trustees of AXA Premier VIP Trust, a registered investment company. She served as an Independent Trustee of Barings Fund Trust, a registered investment company and an Independent Trustee of Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund, a closed-end investment company, from 2017 to 2021. She also has served as portfolio manager and chief investment officer for other registered investment advisers. Ms. Plouché is therefore familiar with the functions of mutual fund boards and their oversight responsibilities and the operations of fund advisers and other service providers. She has served as an independent trustee of MassMutual open-end investment funds since 2022. In addition, Ms. Plouché served as Township Assessor for Moraine, Illinois, from 2014 to 2018. She has served as an Independent Trustee of Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds since 2014.

Mary Jacobs Skinner: Ms. Skinner was a partner until 2015 at Sidley Austin LLP, a large international law firm, in which she managed a regulatory-based practice. As a result of this position, Ms. Skinner is familiar with legal, regulatory and financial matters. She was a Harvard Advanced Leadership Fellow in 2016. She also is familiar with the functions of the Board and its oversight responsibilities with respect to the Investment Adviser and other Portfolio service providers as a result of her service as an Independent Trustee of Northern Institutional Funds since 2000 and Northern Funds since 1998.

 

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INTERESTED TRUSTEE

Paula Kar: Ms. Kar is Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer for Northern Trust Asset Management. Ms. Kar has oversight of product strategy, innovation, commercialization and governance for all investment products globally. She serves on the Asset Management Executive Group and on the Board of Directors for Northern Trust Investments. She represents Northern Trust as a Trustee on the Northern Funds Board (Mutual Funds), FlexShares Board (ETFs) and Alpha Board (Alternatives). Ms. Kar joined Northern Trust Asset Management in 2019 as global head of product strategy & development. Ms. Kar has served as head of product management at ProShares Advisors; head of product management for iShares fixed income & commodities ETFs at BlackRock; and as a senior consultant with McKinsey & Company serving global financial institutions. She started her career in banking with Citigroup. Ms. Kar is a founding member of Women in ETFs, a non-profit organization, and served on their global governance board. She holds an MBA in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She has served as an Interested Trustee of Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds since 2024.

STANDING BOARD COMMITTEES. The Board has established four standing committees in connection with its governance of the Trust: Audit, Governance, Valuation and Executive Committees.

The Audit Committee consists of three members: Ms. Bobek (Chairperson), and Messrs. David Martin (ex officio), and Kloet (ex officio). The Audit Committee oversees the audit process and provides assistance to the full Board with respect to fund accounting, tax compliance and financial statement matters. In performing its responsibilities, the Audit Committee selects and recommends annually to the entire Board an independent registered public accounting firm to audit the books and records of the Trust for the ensuing year, and reviews with the firm the scope and results of each audit. The Audit Committee also is designated as the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee convenes at least four times each year to meet with the independent registered public accounting firm to review the scope and results of the audit and to discuss other non-audit matters as requested by the Board’s Chairperson, the Committee Chairperson or the independent registered public accounting firm. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2025, the Audit Committee convened five times.

The Governance Committee consists of three members: Mses. Skinner (Chairperson), Plouché and Mr. Kloet. The functions performed by the Governance Committee include, among other things, selecting and nominating candidates to serve as Independent Trustees, reviewing and making recommendations regarding Trustee compensation, developing policies regarding Trustee education and, subject to Board oversight, supervising the Trust’s CCO and reviewing information and making recommendations to the Board in connection with the Board’s annual consideration of the Trust’s management, custody and transfer agency and service agreements. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2025, the Governance Committee convened four times.

As stated above, each Trustee holds office for an indefinite term until the occurrence of certain events. In filling Board vacancies, the Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. Nominee recommendations should be submitted to the Secretary of the Trust, The Northern Trust Company, 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603.

The Valuation Committee consists of four members: Messrs. David Martin (Chairperson), Kloet (ex officio), and William Martin and Ms. de Jongh. The Valuation Committee is authorized to act for the Board in connection with the valuation of portfolio securities of the Trust’s portfolios in accordance with the Trust’s valuation procedures. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2025, the Valuation Committee convened four times.

The Executive Committee consists of three members: Messrs. Kloet (Chairperson) and David Martin, and Ms. Skinner. The Executive Committee is comprised of the Chairperson of the Board as well as the Chairpersons

 

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of the Governance, Valuation and Audit Committees, with the remaining Trustees each serving as an alternate in the event of an emergency. The Executive Committee is granted the power to act on behalf of the full Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Trust, to be exercised when circumstances impair the ability of the Board or its committees to conduct business. In particular, the Executive Committee may take action with respect to: (1) the valuation of securities; and (2) the suspension of redemptions. The Executive Committee was formed on May 21, 2015 and will convene as necessary upon notice by the Chairperson of the Committee. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2025, the Executive Committee did not convene.

TRUSTEE OWNERSHIP OF PORTFOLIO SHARES. Shares of the Portfolio are offered to institutional investors acting on their own behalf or on behalf of their customers and other beneficial owners (“Customers”). For this reason, the Trustees may not make direct investments in the Portfolio. The following table shows the dollar range of shares owned by each Trustee in the Portfolio and other investment portfolios of the Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds.

 

Information as of December 31, 2025:

Name of Independent Trustee

  

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Portfolio

included in this SAI(1)

  

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in All Registered Investment

Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family

of Investment Companies(2)

Therese M. Bobek

   None    Over $100,000

Ingrid LaMae A. de Jongh

   None    Over $100,000

Thomas A. Kloet

   None    Over $100,000

David R. Martin

   None    Over $100,000

William Martin

   None    Over $100,000

Cynthia R. Plouché

   None    Over $100,000

Mary Jacobs Skinner

   None    Over $100,000(3)

 

Name of Interested Trustee

  

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Portfolio

included in this SAI(1)

  

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in All Registered Investment

Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family

of Investment Companies(2)

Paula Kar

   None    None
 
(1) 

The Portfolio had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2025.

(2) 

The Northern Funds Complex consists of Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds. As of December 31, 2025, Northern Institutional Funds consisted of 5 portfolios and Northern Funds offered 48 portfolios.

(3) 

Includes amounts in Ms. Skinner’s Deferred Compensation Plan account, which is treated as if invested in the U.S. Government Portfolio of Northern Institutional Funds.

TRUSTEE AND OFFICER COMPENSATION. The Trust pays each Trustee who is not an officer, director or employee of Northern Trust Corporation or its subsidiaries annual fees for his or her services as a Trustee of the Trust and as a member of the respective Board committees. In recognition of their services, the fees paid to the Board and Committee chairpersons are larger than the fees paid to other members of the Board and Committees. The Trustees also are reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in connection with attending such meetings. The Trust also may pay the incidental costs of a Trustee to attend training or other types of conferences relating to the investment company industry.

 

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The following tables set forth certain information with respect to the compensation of each Independent and interested Trustee of the Trust for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2025:

Independent Trustees

 

     Aggregate
Compensation
from Trust
   Total
Compensation
from Fund
Complex(1)

Therese M. Bobek

   $198,388    $295,000

Ingrid LaMae A. de Jongh

   174,850    260,000

Thomas A. Kloet

   221,925    330,000

David R. Martin

   198,388    295,000

William Martin

   174,850    260,000

Cynthia R. Plouché

   174,850    260,000

Mary Jacobs Skinner(2)

   198,388    295,000

Interested Trustees

 

     Aggregate
Compensation
from Trust
   Total
Compensation
from Fund
Complex(1)

Paula Kar(3)

   None    None
 

 

(1) 

As of November 30, 2025, the Northern Funds Complex consisted of Northern Institutional Funds (5 portfolios) and Northern Funds (48 portfolios).

(2) 

Ms. Skinner did not defer compensation for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2025. During that time Ms. Skinner earned $11,616 in accrued interest from previous years’ deferred compensation.

(3) 

As an “interested” Trustee who is an officer, director and employee of Northern Trust Corporation and/or its affiliates, Ms. Kar did not receive any compensation from the Trust for her services.

The Trust does not provide pension or retirement benefits to its Trustees.

Prior to August 22, 2013, each Trustee was entitled to participate in the Northern Institutional Funds Deferred Compensation Plan (the “D.C. Plan”). Effective August 22, 2013, the Trustees may no longer defer their compensation. Any amounts deferred and invested under the D.C. Plan shall remain invested pursuant to the terms of the D.C. Plan. Under the D.C. Plan, a Trustee may have elected to have his or her deferred fees treated as if they had been invested by the Trust in the shares of the Global Tactical Asset Allocation Fund of Northern Funds or the U.S. Government Portfolio of the Trust and/or at the discretion of the Trust, another money market fund selected by the Trust that complied with the provisions of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act or one or more short-term fixed-income instruments selected by the Trust that are “eligible securities” as defined by that rule. The amount paid to the Trustees under the D.C. Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments. Deferral of Trustees’ fees will not obligate the Trust to retain the service of any Trustee or obligate the Portfolio to any level of compensation to the Trustee. The Trust may invest in underlying securities without shareholder approval.

The Trust’s officers do not receive fees from the Trust for services in such capacities. Northern Trust Corporation and/or its affiliates, of which Mses. Chappell, Craig, Nickels and Ulrich and Messrs. Brainerd, Carberry, Chavosky, Del Real, Fair, O’Rourke, Rein and Sivillo are officers, receive fees from the Trust as Investment Adviser, Custodian and Transfer Agent.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Trust and its Investment Adviser have adopted codes of ethics (the “Codes of Ethics”) under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. Northern Funds Distributors, LLC (“NFD” or the “Distributor”), an unaffiliated principal

 

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underwriter of the Trust, is exempt from the requirements of Rule 17j-1(c)(1) and (c)(2) of the 1940 Act. The Codes of Ethics permit personnel, subject to the Codes of Ethics and their provisions, to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Trust.

INVESTMENT ADVISER, TRANSFER AGENT AND CUSTODIAN

NTI, an indirect subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation, serves as the Investment Adviser and provides investment advisory and administration services to the Portfolio. Northern Trust Corporation is regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as a financial holding company under the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. NTI is located at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. NTI is referred to as the “Investment Adviser.”

NTI is an Illinois State Banking Corporation and an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). It primarily manages assets for institutional and individual separately managed accounts, investment companies and bank common and collective funds.

TNTC is the principal subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation and serves as the sub-administrator, transfer agent and custodian for the Portfolio. TNTC is located at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. TNTC is a member of the Federal Reserve System. Since 1889, TNTC has administered and managed assets for individuals, institutions and corporations. Unless otherwise indicated, NTI and TNTC are referred to collectively in this SAI as “Northern Trust.”

As of [ ], Northern Trust Corporation, through its affiliates, had assets under investment management of approximately [ ] and assets under custody of approximately [ ].

Management Agreement

NTI provides the Portfolio with investment advisory and administration services under a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”). The Management Agreement has a single fee structure covering advisory and administration services. Under the Management Agreement with NTI for the Portfolio, subject to the general supervision of the Board, NTI makes decisions with respect to, and places orders for, all purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the Portfolio and also provides certain administration services to the Portfolio.

NTI is also responsible for monitoring and preserving the records required to be maintained under the regulations of the SEC (with certain exceptions unrelated to its activities for the Trust). In making investment recommendations for the Portfolio, if any, investment advisory personnel of NTI may not inquire or take into consideration whether issuers of securities proposed for purchase or sale for the Portfolio’s accounts are customers of TNTC’s commercial banking department. These requirements are designed to prevent investment advisory personnel for the Portfolio from knowing which companies have commercial business with TNTC and from purchasing securities where they know the proceeds will be used to repay loans to the bank.

The Management Agreement has been approved by the Board, including the Independent Trustees.

In connection with portfolio transactions for the Portfolio, which are generally done at a net price without a broker’s commission, the Management Agreement with the Trust provide that the Investment Adviser shall attempt to obtain the best net price and execution. Purchases by the Portfolio from underwriters of portfolio securities normally include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases from dealers include the spread between the dealer’s cost for a given security and the resale price of the security.

 

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On occasions when the Investment Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Portfolio as well as other fiduciary or agency accounts (“other accounts”) managed by the Investment Adviser, the Management Agreement provides that the Investment Adviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Portfolio with those to be sold or purchased for such other accounts in order to obtain the best net price and execution. In such an event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Investment Adviser in the manner it considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its obligations to the Portfolio and other accounts involved. In some instances, this procedure may adversely affect the size of the position obtainable for the Portfolio or the amount of the securities that are able to be sold for the Portfolio. To the extent that the execution and price available from more than one broker or dealer are believed to be comparable, the Management Agreement permits the Investment Adviser, at its discretion but subject to applicable law, to select the executing broker or dealer on the basis of the Investment Adviser’s opinion of the reliability and quality of the broker or dealer.

The Investment Adviser is also responsible for providing certain administration services to the Portfolio pursuant to the Management Agreement. Subject to the general supervision of the Board, the Investment Adviser provides supervision of all aspects of the Portfolio’s operations and performs the customary services of an administrator, including but not limited to the following corporate treasury, secretarial and “blue sky” services: (a) maintaining office facilities and furnishing corporate officers for the Portfolio; (b) furnishing data processing services, clerical services, and executive and administrative services and standard stationery and office supplies; (c) performing all functions ordinarily performed by the office of a corporate treasurer, and furnishing the services and facilities ordinarily incident thereto, such as expense accrual monitoring and payment of the Portfolio’s bills, preparing monthly reconciliation of the Portfolio’s expense records, updating projections of annual expenses, preparing materials for review by the Board, and compliance testing; (d) preparing and arranging for printing of financial statements; (e) preparing and filing the Portfolio’s federal and state tax returns (other than those required to be filed by the Portfolio’s custodian and transfer agent) and providing shareholder tax information to the Portfolio’s transfer agent; (f) assisting the Portfolio’s Investment Adviser, at the Investment Adviser’s request, in monitoring and developing compliance procedures for the Portfolio which include, among other matters, procedures to assist the Investment Adviser in monitoring compliance with the Portfolio’s investment objective, policies, restrictions, tax matters and applicable laws and regulations; (g) assisting in product development; (h) performing oversight/management responsibilities such as the supervision and coordination of certain of the Portfolio’s service providers; (i) performing corporate secretarial services such as assisting in maintaining corporate records and the good standing status of the Trust in its state of organization; (j) performing “blue sky” compliance functions; (k) monitoring the Portfolio’s arrangements with respect to services provided by service organizations to their customers who are the beneficial owners of shares, pursuant to agreements between the Portfolio and such service organizations; (l) performing certain legal services such as preparing and filing annual Post-Effective Amendments to the Portfolio’s registration statement and other SEC filings for the Portfolio; and (m) computing and determining on the days and at the times specified in the Portfolio’s then-current Prospectuses, the NAV of each share of the Portfolio and the net income of the Portfolio. Pursuant to a Sub-Administration Agreement, NTI has delegated certain of the above administration services to TNTC.

Unless sooner terminated, the Trust’s Management Agreement will continue in effect until [June 30, 2028]. Thereafter, the Management Agreement will continue in effect for successive 12-month periods, provided that the continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Management Agreement or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of any party thereto, cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval and (ii) by the Trustees or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of such Portfolio (as defined under “Description of Shares”).

The Management Agreement is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trust (by specified Trustee or shareholder action) or by the Investment Adviser, on 60 days’ written notice.

 

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The Management Agreement provides that the Investment Adviser may render similar services to others so long as its services under the Management Agreement is not impaired thereby. The Management Agreement also provides that the Trust will indemnify the Investment Adviser against certain liabilities (including, with respect to the advisory services provided by the Investment Adviser under the Management Agreement, liabilities under the federal securities laws relating to untrue statements or omissions of material fact and actions that are in accordance with the terms of the Management Agreement) or, in lieu thereof, contribute to resulting losses.

Northern Trust Corporation and its affiliates may act as an underwriter of various securities. Under the 1940 Act, the Portfolio is precluded, subject to certain exceptions, from purchasing in the primary market those securities with respect to which Northern Trust Corporation or an affiliate is serving as a principal underwriter. In the opinion of Northern Trust Corporation, this limitation will not significantly affect the ability of the Portfolio to pursue their respective investment objective.

In the Management Agreement, the Investment Adviser agrees that the name “Northern” may be used in connection with the Trust’s business on a royalty-free basis. TNTC has reserved to itself the right to grant the non-exclusive right to use the name “Northern” to any other person. The Management Agreement provides that at such time as the Management Agreement is no longer in effect, the Trust will cease using the name “Northern.”

As compensation for advisory services and administration services and the assumption of related expenses, NTI is entitled to a management fee, computed daily and payable monthly, at the annual rates set forth in the table below (expressed as a percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets):

 

     CONTRACTUAL
MANAGEMENT
FEE RATE

Stablecoin Cash Reserves Portfolio

   [  ]%

 

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EXPENSES

Except as set forth above and in this SAI, the Portfolio is responsible for the payment of its expenses. These expenses include, without limitation: the fees and expenses payable to the Investment Adviser, Transfer Agent and Custodian; brokerage fees and commissions; fees for the registration or qualification of Portfolio shares under federal or state securities laws; taxes; interest; costs of liability insurance, fidelity bonds, indemnification or contribution; any costs, expenses or losses arising out of any liability of, or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Trust for violation of any law; legal, tax and auditing fees and expenses; expenses of preparing and printing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy materials, reports and notices and distributing of the same to the Portfolio’s shareholders and regulatory authorities; compensation and expenses of its Independent Trustees; payments to service organizations; fees of industry organizations such as the Investment Company Institute and Mutual Fund Directors Forum; acquired fund fees and expenses; expenses of third party consultants engaged by the Board; expenses in connection with the negotiation and renewal of the revolving credit facility; and miscellaneous and extraordinary expenses incurred by the Trust.

NTI has contractually agreed to reimburse a portion of the operating expenses of the Portfolio (excluding: (i) acquired fund fees and expenses; (ii) service fees; (iii) the compensation paid to each Independent Trustee of the Trust; (iv) expenses of third-party consultants engaged by the Board; (v) membership dues paid to the Investment Company Institute and Mutual Fund Directors Forum; (vi) expenses in connection with the negotiation and renewal of the revolving credit facility; and (vii) extraordinary expenses and interest) so that “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement” do not exceed the amount shown in the footnote to the table under the caption “Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio” in the Portfolio’s Portfolio Summary during the current fiscal year. The “Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement” for the Portfolio may be higher than the contractual limitation for the Portfolio as a result of certain excepted expenses that are not reimbursed. The contractual expense reimbursement arrangement with respect to the Portfolio is expected to continue until at least [  ]. The expense reimbursement arrangement with respect to the Portfolio will continue automatically for periods of one year (each such one-year period, a “Renewal Year”). The arrangement with respect to the Portfolio may be terminated, as to any succeeding Renewal Year, by NTI or the Portfolio upon 60 days’ written notice prior to the end of the current Renewal Year. The Board may terminate the arrangement at any time with respect to the Portfolio if it determines that it is in the best interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders.

Service providers to the Portfolio, including the Portfolio’s adviser and/or its affiliates may, from time to time, voluntarily waive all or a portion of any fees to which they are entitled and/or reimburse certain expenses, including to avoid a negative yield. Any such additional expense reimbursement or fee waiver would be voluntary and could be implemented, increased or decreased, or discontinued at any time without notice. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio will be able to avoid a negative yield or maintain a specified minimum yield.

Transfer Agency and Service Agreement

Under its Transfer Agency and Service Agreement with the Trust, TNTC as Transfer Agent has undertaken to perform certain services for the Portfolio described in this SAI, including but not limited to the following: (i) answer shareholder inquiries and respond to requests for information regarding the Trust; (ii) process purchase and redemption transactions; (iii) establish and maintain shareholder accounts and subaccounts; (iv) furnish confirmations in accordance with applicable law, and provide periodic account statements to each shareholder; (v) furnish proxy statements and proxies, annual and semi-annual financial statements, and dividend, distribution and tax notices to shareholders; (vi) act as dividend disbursing agent; (vii) report abandoned property to state authorities; (viii) impose, collect, account for and administer redemption fees if applicable on redemptions and exchanges; (ix) process, handle and account for all “as of” transactions; (x) conduct daily reviews of management reports related to late trading and daily value reviews with respect to the Trust’s excessive trading policies; and (xi) maintain appropriate records relating to its services. The Trust may appoint one or more sub-transfer agents in the performance of its services.

 

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As compensation for the services rendered by TNTC under the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement and the assumption by TNTC of related expenses with respect to the Portfolio described in this SAI, TNTC is entitled to a fee from the Trust payable monthly, at an annual rate of 0.015% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio. In addition, TNTC may be reimbursed for certain expenses as provided under the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement. Northern Trust may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries through which customers own shares of the Shares Class of the Portfolio, pursuant to which Northern Trust pays these financial intermediaries for providing certain shareholder services described in the preceding paragraph. The payments made by Northern Trust to financial intermediaries will be paid by Northern Trust and will not represent an additional expense to the Portfolio or its shareholders. Conflict of interest restrictions under state and federal law (including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”)) may apply to the receipt by such financial intermediaries of such compensation in connection with the investment of fiduciary funds in Shares of the Portfolio. The Transfer Agency and Service Agreement shall continue indefinitely until terminated by the Trust by not less than 90 days’ written notice or by the Transfer Agent by not less than six months written notice.

The Portfolio is newly formed and has not paid any transfer agent fees as of the date of this SAI.

Custody Agreement

Under its Custody Agreement with the Trust, TNTC (the “Custodian”), on behalf of each of the Portfolio (i) holds the Portfolio’s cash and securities, (ii) maintains such cash and securities in separate accounts in the name of the Portfolio, (iii) makes receipts and disbursements of funds on behalf of the Portfolio, (iv) receives, delivers and releases securities on behalf of the Portfolio, (v) collects and receives all income, principal and other payments in respect of the Portfolio’s investments held by the Custodian, (vi) to the extent applicable to the Portfolio, is responsible for the Portfolio’s foreign custody arrangements pertaining to its activities under the Custody Agreement, and (vii) maintains all records of its activities and obligations under the Custody Agreement. The Custodian may appoint one or more sub-custodians and shall oversee the maintenance by any sub-custodian of any securities or other assets held by the Portfolio. The Custody Agreement provides that the Custodian will use reasonable care, prudence and diligence with respect to its obligations under the Custody Agreement and the safekeeping of the Portfolio’s property and shall be liable to and shall indemnify the Trust from and against any loss that occurs as a result of the failure of the Custodian or a sub-custodian to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence with respect to their respective obligations under the Custody Agreement and the safekeeping of such property. The Custodian is not responsible for any act, omission, or default of, or for the solvency of, any eligible securities depository, nor is the Custodian responsible for any act, omission, or default of, or for the solvency of, any broker or agent that it or a sub-custodian appoints and uses unless such appointment and use is made or done negligently or in bad faith.

The Custodian receives from the Trust, with respect to services rendered to the Portfolio: (i) an annual fixed fee; plus (ii) an annual percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets; plus (iii) an annual fixed dollar fee for each portfolio holding; plus (iv) fixed dollar fees for each trade in portfolio securities; plus (v) reimbursement for other out-of-pocket fees incurred by the Custodian.

 

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The Custodian’s fees under the Custody Agreement are subject to reduction based on the Portfolio’s daily-uninvested U.S. cash balances (if any). The Custody Agreement shall continue indefinitely until terminated by the Trust by not less than 60 days’ written notice, or by the Custodian by not less than 90 days’ written notice.

The Portfolio is newly formed and has not paid any fees for custody services as of the date of this SAI.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolio has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, therefore, no brokerage commissions were paid by the Portfolio. Purchases by the Portfolio from underwriters of portfolio securities, however, normally include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases from dealers include the spread between the dealer’s cost for a given security and the resale price of the security. No commissions were paid by the Portfolio to any direct or indirect “affiliated persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Portfolio.

The Trust is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act or of their parents that the Portfolio acquired during their most recent fiscal year.

“Regular brokers or dealers” under Rule 10b-1 include (a) the ten brokers or dealers that received the greatest amount of brokerage commissions by virtue of direct or indirect participations in the company’s portfolio transactions; (b) the ten brokers or dealers that engaged as principal in the largest dollar amount of portfolio transactions of the investment company; and (c) the ten brokers or dealers that sold the largest amount of securities of the investment company. The Portfolio has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, therefore, it has not acquired, sold or owned any securities of its regular broker/dealers or their parent companies.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

NTI’s portfolio managers are often responsible for managing one or more portfolios, as well as other client accounts, including mutual funds, ETFs, separate accounts and other pooled investment vehicles. A portfolio manager may manage various client accounts that may have materially higher or lower fee arrangements than the Portfolio. The side-by-side management of these accounts may raise potential conflicts of interest relating to cross trading, the allocation of investment opportunities and the aggregation and allocation of trades. In addition, while portfolio managers generally only manage accounts with similar investment strategies, it is possible that due to varying investment restrictions among accounts, certain investments are made for some accounts and not others or conflicting investment positions could be taken among accounts. Some portfolio managers may be dual officers of one or more NTI affiliates and undertake investment advisory duties for the affiliates. The portfolio managers have a responsibility to manage all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. NTI takes reasonable steps to seek to obtain the best qualitative execution of securities transactions and aggregate and then allocate securities to client accounts in a fair and timely manner. To this end, NTI has developed policies and procedures designed to mitigate and manage the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from side-by-side management.

NTI may have a financial incentive to favor accounts with performance-based fees because there may be an opportunity to earn greater fees on such accounts compared to accounts without performance-based fees. As a

 

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result, NTI may have an incentive to direct its best investment ideas to or allocate the sequencing of trades in favor of the account that pays a performance fee. NTI may also have an incentive to recommend investments that may be riskier or more speculative than those that it would recommend under a different fee arrangement.

NTI may invest client accounts in affiliated investment pools. If appropriate and consistent with the client’s investment objectives and applicable law, NTI may recommend to clients investment pools in which it or an affiliate provides services for a fee. NTI has an incentive to allocate investments to these types of affiliated investment pools in order to generate additional fees for NTI or its affiliates. In addition, NTI could direct its best investment ideas to these investment products or investment pools to the potential disadvantage of the Portfolio.

As NTI becomes aware of additional potential or actual conflicts of interest, they will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

NTI manages its client accounts consistent with applicable law and follows its own policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to treat clients fairly and to prevent any client or group of clients from being systematically favored or disadvantaged.

NTI provides advice and makes investment decisions for client accounts that it believes are consistent with each client’s stated investment objectives and guidelines. Advice given to clients or investment decisions made for clients may differ from, or may conflict with, advice given or investment decisions made for clients of an NTI affiliate. Conflicts may also arise because portfolio decisions regarding the Trust may benefit NTI or its affiliates or another account or portfolio managed by NTI or its affiliates. Actions taken with respect to NTI’s and its affiliates’ other portfolios or accounts managed by them may adversely impact the Portfolio, and actions taken by the Portfolio may benefit NTI or its affiliates or their other portfolios or accounts. NTI may also invest in the same securities that it or its affiliates recommend to clients. Investment decisions taken by NTI’s affiliates are generally unknown to NTI.

When NTI or an affiliate currently holds for its own benefit the same securities as a client, it could be viewed as having a potential conflict of interest.

Generally, NTI will not, as principal for its own account, buy securities from or sell securities to any client. It is possible that an affiliate, will, as principal, purchase securities from or sell securities to its clients.

From time to time securities to be sold on behalf of a client may be suitable for purchase by another client. In such instances, if NTI determines in good faith that the transaction is in the best interest of each client, it may arrange for the securities to be crossed between client accounts, as permitted under applicable law and regulation. Cross-trades present conflicts of interest, as there may be an incentive for NTI to favor one client to the disadvantage of another. NTI and the Trust have adopted policies on cross-trades that may be effected between the Portfolio and another client account. NTI conducts periodic reviews of trades for consistency with these policies. NTI has established certain policies and procedures designed to address conflicts of interest that may arise between its employees and clients as well as between clients and NTI or its affiliates. NTI’s employees must act in the best interests of its clients and generally do not have knowledge of proprietary trading positions or certain other operations of affiliates.

Receipt of research from brokers who execute client transactions involve conflicts of interest. To the extent that NTI uses commissions to obtain research services for NTI or TNTC, NTI or TNTC will receive a benefit as it will not have to pay for the research, products or services itself. NTI may, therefore, have an incentive to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on its interest in receiving research rather than in obtaining the lowest commission rate on the transaction. NTI or TNTC may also obtain research services from brokerage commissions incurred by client accounts that may not directly benefit such client accounts. Similarly, clients may benefit from research even if trades placed on their behalf did not contribute to the compensation of the broker-dealer providing such research. NTI and TNTC do not seek to allocate research services to client accounts proportionately to the commissions that the client accounts generate.

 

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Also, NTI and TNTC may receive products and services that are mixed use. In these cases, NTI or TNTC will use commissions to pay only for the eligible portion of the product or service that assists NTI or TNTC in the investment decision-making process. Any ineligible portion of the product will be paid directly by NTI or TNTC. NTI or TNTC makes a good faith effort to reasonably allocate such items and keeps records of such allocations although clients should be aware of the potential conflicts of interest.

NTI may provide investment advice to its affiliates and may provide investment advisory services to affiliates’ clients or act as an investment adviser to the registered or unregistered investment pools in which these clients may invest. TNTC and NTI share a common trading desk and may have shared arrangements with investment research vendors. Also, these affiliates may provide marketing services to NTI, including the referral of certain clients.

NTI may have common management and officers with some of its affiliates. NTI shares facilities with affiliates and relies on TNTC and other affiliates for various administrative support, including information technology, human resources, business continuity, legal, compliance, finance, enterprise risk management, internal audit and general administrative support.

NTI’s affiliations may create potential conflicts of interest. NTI seeks to mitigate the potential conflicts of interest to ensure accounts are managed at all times in a client’s best interests and in accordance with client investment objectives and guidelines through regular account reviews attended by investment advisory, compliance and senior management staff. NTI also seeks to mitigate potential conflicts of interest through a governance structure and by maintaining policies and procedures that include, but are not limited to, personal trading, custody and trading.

Various non-affiliated investment advisers that may manage NTI client accounts, or may be recommended to NTI clients, may use an NTI affiliate for banking, trust, custody, administration, brokerage and related services for which NTI’s affiliate may receive fees. NTI does not recommend or utilize non-affiliated investment advisers based upon their use of NTI affiliates.

Given the interrelationships among NTI and its affiliates, there may be other or different potential conflicts of interest that arise in the future that are not included in this section.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, NTI may make payments to authorized dealers and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) from time to time to promote the Portfolio. These payments may be made out of NTI’s assets, or amounts payable to NTI rather than as a separately identifiable charge to the Portfolio. These payments may compensate Intermediaries for, among other things: marketing the Portfolio; access to the Intermediaries’ registered representatives or salespersons, including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in training and education of personnel; marketing support; and/or other specified services intended to assist in the distribution and marketing of the Portfolio (such as by including the Portfolio on such Intermediaries’ platforms). The payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations, contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive arrangements to promote certain products, as well as sponsor various educational programs, sales contests and/or for subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing services that are in addition to the fees paid for these services for such products.

PROXY VOTING

The Trust has delegated the voting of portfolio securities to its Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser has adopted the proxy voting policies and procedures applicable to Northern Trust Corporation and its affiliates (the “Northern Proxy Voting Policy”) for the voting of proxies on behalf of the Portfolio.

A Proxy Committee comprised of senior investment and compliance officers of Northern Trust Corporation, including officers of the Investment Adviser, has adopted certain guidelines (the “Proxy Guidelines”) concerning

 

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various corporate governance issues. The Proxy Committee has the responsibility for the content, interpretation and application of the Proxy Guidelines and may apply these Proxy Guidelines with a measure of flexibility. The Investment Adviser has retained an independent third party proxy voting service (the “Service Firm”) to review proxy proposals and to make voting recommendations to the Proxy Committee in a manner consistent with the Proxy Guidelines. The Proxy Committee will apply the Proxy Guidelines to any such recommendation. See Appendix B for the Northern Proxy Voting Policy.

Information regarding how the Portfolio voted proxies, if any, relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 will be available, without charge, upon request, by contacting Northern Trust at 800-637-1380 or [email protected], or by visiting the Northern Institutional Funds’ website at www.ntam.northerntrust.com/united-states/institutional/strategies/cash/northern-institutional-funds#literature or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The proxy voting records are updated each year by August 31 to reflect the most recent 12-month period ended June 30.

DISTRIBUTOR

The Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, has entered into a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) under which NFD, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (dba ACA Group), with principal offices at 190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, Maine 04101, as agent, distributes the shares of the Portfolio on a continuous basis. NFD continually distributes shares of the Portfolio on an appropriate efforts basis. NFD has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Portfolio shares. NFD and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Trust.

The Investment Adviser pays the cost of printing and distributing prospectuses to persons who are not shareholders of the Trust (excluding preparation and typesetting expenses) and of certain other distribution efforts. No compensation is payable by the Trust to NFD for such distribution services. However, the Investment Adviser has entered into an agreement (the “Distribution Services Agreement”) with NFD under which it makes payments to NFD in consideration for certain distribution-related services. The payments made by the Investment Adviser to NFD under the Distribution Services Agreement do not represent an additional expense to the Trust or its shareholders. The Distribution Agreement provides that the Trust will indemnify NFD against certain liabilities relating to untrue statements or omissions of material fact except those resulting from the reliance on information furnished to the Trust by NFD, or those resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence of NFD, or NFD’s breach of confidentiality.

Under a License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Foreside Distributors, LLC (“Foreside Distributors”), Northern Trust Corporation agrees that the name “Northern Funds” may be used by Foreside Distributors and its subsidiary, NFD, in connection with providing services to the Trust on a royalty-free basis. Northern Trust Corporation has reserved to itself the right to grant the non-exclusive right to use the name “Northern Funds” to any other person. The License Agreement provides that at such time as the License Agreement is no longer in effect, Foreside Distributors and NFD will cease using the name “Northern Funds.”

SERVICE PLAN

The Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, has adopted a Service Plan (the “Plan”) with respect to the Premier Shares. Under the Plan, the Trust, on behalf of the Premier Shares of the Portfolio, is authorized to pay monthly or quarterly fees in respect of (i) administrative support services performed and expenses incurred in connection with such Portfolio’s Premier Shares and (ii) personal and account maintenance services performed and expenses incurred in connection with such Portfolio’s Premier Shares as set forth below. The fee paid for such services during any one year shall not exceed 0.05% of the average daily NAV of the Premier Shares of the Portfolio for such period. Northern Trust will determine the amount of the service agent fees to be paid to one or more brokers, dealers, other financial institutions or other industry professionals (collectively, “Servicing Agents”) and the basis on which such payments will be made. Payments to a Servicing Agent will be subject to compliance by the Servicing Agent with the terms of the related Plan agreement entered into by the Servicing Agent. The service agent fees payable pursuant to this Plan shall not pertain to services or expenses which are primarily intended to result in the sales of Premier Shares. The fee paid to TNTC for administrative support and personal and account maintenance services during any one year shall not exceed 0.05% of the average daily NAV of the Premier Shares of the Portfolio.

Payments of the service fees with respect to Premier Shares will be used to compensate or reimburse the Servicing Agents, including TNTC for Premier Shares of the Portfolio, for administrative support services and expenses, which may include without limitation: (i) acting or arranging for another party to act, as recordholder and nominee of Premier Shares of the Portfolio beneficially owned by Customers; (ii) establishing and maintaining individual accounts and records with respect to Premier Shares of the Portfolio owned by Customers; (iii) processing and issuing confirmations concerning Customer orders to purchase, redeem and exchange Premier Shares of the Portfolio; (iv) receiving and transmitting funds representing the purchase price or redemption proceeds of Premier Shares of the Portfolio; (v) processing dividend payments and reinvestments on behalf of Customers; (vi) forwarding shareholder communications from the Trust; (vii) providing such statistical and other information as may be reasonably requested by the Trust or necessary for the Trust to comply with applicable federal or state law; (viii) facilitating the inclusion of the Portfolio in

 

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investment, retirement, asset allocation, cash management or sweep accounts or similar programs or services offered to their Customers or to Customers of other Servicing Agents; (ix) facilitating electronic or computer trading and/or processing in the Portfolio to their Customers or to Customers of other Servicing Agents; and (x) performing any other similar administrative support services.

Payments of the service agent fees with respect to the Premier Shares will also be used to compensate or reimburse the Servicing Agents, including TNTC for Premier Shares of the Portfolio, for personal and account maintenance services and expenses, which may include, without limitation: (i) providing facilities to answer inquiries and respond to correspondence with Customers and other investors about the status of their accounts or about other aspects of the Trust or the applicable Portfolio; (ii) assisting Customers in completing application forms, selecting dividend and other account options and opening custody accounts with the Servicing Agents; (iii) providing services to Customers intended to facilitate, or improve their understanding of the benefits and risks of, the Portfolio to Customers, including asset allocation and other similar services; (iv) acting as liaison between Customers and the Trust, including obtaining information from the Trust and assisting the Trust in correcting errors and resolving problems; and (v) performing any similar personal and account maintenance services.

The Portfolio is newly formed and the Premier Shares of the Portfolio has not incurred any service fees as of the date of this SAI.

Conflict of interest restrictions (including ERISA) may apply to a Servicing Agent’s receipt of compensation paid by the Trust in connection with the investment of fiduciary funds in Premier Shares. Servicing Agents, including banks regulated by the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board or the FDIC, and investment advisers and other money managers subject to the jurisdiction of the SEC, the Department of Labor or state securities commissions, are urged to consult legal advisers before investing fiduciary assets in Premier Shares.

The Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of such Plan or the related agreements, most recently approved the Plan and the related agreements for the Portfolio at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plan and related agreements on [ ]. The Plan and related agreements will remain in effect until [ ], and will continue in effect thereafter only if such continuance is specifically approved annually by a vote of the Board in the manner described above.

The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for the services described therein without approval of the Board in the manner described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time by a majority of the Independent Trustees. A service agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Trustees as described above or by any party to the agreement on sixty (60) days’ written notice to any other party to the agreement. Each service agreement shall terminate automatically if assigned. While the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of those Trustees who are not interested persons shall be committed to the Independent members of the Board. The Board has determined that, in its judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Portfolio and holders of Premier Shares of the Portfolio. The Plan provides that the Board will review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amount expended under the Plan and the purposes of the expenditures.

COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, located at 2005 Market Street, Suite 2600, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as counsel to the Trust, as well as its Independent Trustees.

[ ], an independent registered public accounting firm, 111 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, has been appointed to serve as an independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust. In addition to audit services, an affiliate of [ ] reviews the Trust’s federal and state tax returns.

 

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IN-KIND PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

Payment for shares of the Portfolio may, in the discretion of Northern Trust, be made in the form of securities that are permissible investments for the Portfolio as described in the Prospectus. For further information about this form of payment, contact the Transfer Agent. In connection with an in-kind securities payment, the Portfolio will require, among other things, that the securities be valued on the day of purchase in accordance with the pricing methods used by the Portfolio and that the Portfolio receive satisfactory assurances that it will have good and marketable title to the securities received by it; that the securities be in proper form for transfer to the Portfolio; and that adequate information be provided concerning the basis and other tax matters relating to the securities.

Although the Portfolio generally will redeem shares in cash, the Portfolio reserves the right to pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of securities (instead of cash) from the Portfolio. The securities distributed in-kind would be readily marketable and would be valued for this purpose using the same method employed in calculating the Portfolio’s NAV per share. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholder should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities received in the redemption.

 

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NET ASSET VALUE

As stated in the Prospectus, the Portfolio operates as a “government money market fund” under Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act. Each of the Portfolio is permitted to and seeks to maintain a NAV of $1.00 per share and, in this connection, values its instruments on the basis of amortized cost pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. This method values a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assumes a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price the Portfolio would receive if the Portfolio sold the instrument. During such periods, the yield to investors in the Portfolio may differ somewhat from that obtained in a similar entity, which uses available indications as to market value to value its portfolio instruments. For example, if the use of amortized cost resulted in a lower (higher) aggregate Portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective investor in the Portfolio would be able to obtain a somewhat higher (lower) yield and ownership interest than would result from investment in such similar entity and existing investors would receive less (more) investment income and ownership interest. However, the Trust expects that the procedures and limitations referred to in the following paragraphs of this section will tend to minimize the differences referred to above.

Under Rule 2a-7, the Board, in supervising the Trust’s operations and delegating special responsibilities involving portfolio management to the Investment Adviser, has established procedures that are intended, taking into account current market conditions and the Portfolio’s investment objectives, to stabilize the NAV of the Portfolio, as computed for the purposes of purchases and redemptions, at $1.00 per share. The Trustees’ procedures include periodic monitoring of the difference (the “Market Value Difference”) between the amortized cost value per share and the NAV per share based upon available indications of market value. Available indications of market value used by the Trust consist of actual market quotations or appropriate substitutes, which reflect current market conditions and include (i) quotations or estimates of market value for individual portfolio instruments and/or (ii) values for individual portfolio instruments derived from market quotations relating to varying maturities of a class of money market instruments. In the event the Market Value Difference of the Portfolio exceeds certain limits or the Board believes that the Market Value Difference may result in material dilution or other unfair results to investors or existing shareholders, the Board will cause the Portfolio to take such action as it deems appropriate to eliminate or reduce to the extent reasonably practicable such dilution or unfair results. These actions may include selling portfolio instruments to shorten average portfolio maturity or to realize capital gains or losses, reducing or suspending shareholder income accruals, redeeming shares in-kind, or utilizing a NAV per share based upon available indications of market value which under such circumstances would vary from $1.00). In order to stabilize the NAV of the Portfolio, the Trustees may consider enacting certain measures such as reducing the number of outstanding shares. Such reduction may be effected by having each shareholder proportionately contribute to the Portfolio’s capital the necessary shares to restore such NAV per share. Each shareholder will be deemed to have agreed to such contribution in these circumstances by investing in the Portfolio. Actions taken to maintain a stable $1.00 per share could result in shareholders holding fewer shares of the Portfolio and/or experiencing a loss in the aggregate value of their investment in the Portfolio. There is no assurance such measures will result in a stable NAV per share of $1.00.

The Portfolio may also hold cash for the purpose of stabilizing its NAV per share. Holdings of cash may lower (or, in a negative interest rate environment, increase) the yield of such Portfolio’s shares. The Portfolio may continue to use the amortized cost method of valuation so long as the Board believes that the method fairly reflects the market-based NAV per share and the Portfolio complies with the other requirements of Rule 2a-7. See “Rule 2a-7 Requirements” above.

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The Trust reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were processed at a NAV other than the Portfolio’s official closing NAV. For instance, if a pricing error is discovered that impacts the Portfolio’s NAV, the corrected NAV would be the

 

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official closing NAV and the erroneous NAV would be a NAV other than the Portfolio’s official closing NAV. Those transactions that were processed using the erroneous NAV may then be reprocessed using the official closing NAV. In addition, the Portfolio may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

On days when the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) recommends that the bond markets close early, the Portfolio may cease or advance the deadline for accepting purchase and redemption orders for same business day credit up to one hour before the SIFMA recommended closing time (the “advanced closing time”). On days on which the Portfolio close early because of SIFMA’s recommendations, purchase and redemption orders received after the advanced closing time shall be effected on the next business day. The Trust reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.

A “business day” is each day that the Exchange is open for business, except when the following federal holidays are observed: Columbus Day and Veterans Day. Portfolio shares will generally not be priced on days that the Exchange is closed, although Portfolio shares may be priced on such days if SIFMA recommends that the bond markets remain open for all or part of the day.

The Investment Adviser is not required to calculate the NAV of the Portfolio on days during which no shares are tendered to the Portfolio for redemption and no orders to purchase or sell shares are received by the Portfolio, or on days on which there is an insufficient degree of trading in the Portfolio’s portfolio securities for changes in the value of such securities to affect materially the NAV per share.

In the event that (i) the Portfolio, at the end of a business day, has invested less than 10% of its total assets in weekly liquid assets or the Portfolio’s price per share as computed for the purpose of distribution, redemption and repurchase, rounded to the nearest 1%, has deviated from the stable price established by the Board or (ii) the Board, including a majority of Independent Trustees, determines that such a deviation is likely to occur, and the Board, including a majority of Independent Trustees, irrevocably has approved the liquidation of the Portfolio, the Portfolio’s Board has the authority to suspend redemptions of Portfolio shares.

The Portfolio currently does not intend to avail themselves of the ability to impose liquidity fees. However, the Board reserves the right, with notice to shareholders, to change this policy with respect to the Portfolio, thereby permitting the Portfolio to impose discretionary liquidity fees in the future, if determined to be in the best interests of the Fund.

 

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TAXES

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Portfolio and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolio or its shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Code and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and any such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

FEDERAL—GENERAL INFORMATION

The Portfolio has elected to qualify and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1 of the Code. As a regulated investment company, the Portfolio generally is exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains which it distributes to shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.

First, the Portfolio must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the Portfolio’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers as to which (a) the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and (b) the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

Third, the Portfolio must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss), before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

The Portfolio intends to comply with these requirements. If the Portfolio were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Portfolio could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Portfolio were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, taxable shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions (including distributions attributable to tax-exempt income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

The Code imposes a non-deductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to currently distribute an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income with certain modifications

 

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and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses) by the end of each calendar year. The Portfolio intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions of its ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income each calendar year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. If the Portfolio has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years.

The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a 3-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate, thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another fund. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change. Additionally, if the Portfolio engages in a tax-free reorganization with another fund, the effect of these and other rules not discussed herein may be to disallow or postpone the use by the Portfolio of its capital loss carryovers (including any current year losses and built-in losses when realized) to offset its own gains or those of the other fund, or vice versa, thereby reducing the tax benefits Portfolio shareholders would otherwise have enjoyed from use of such capital loss carryovers.

STATE AND LOCAL TAXES

Although the Portfolio expects to qualify as a “regulated investment company” and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Portfolio may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to shareholders of a fund from interest income earned by that fund from direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the fund. Investments in securities issued by Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities do not generally qualify for tax-free treatment.

POTENTIAL PASS-THROUGH OF TAX CREDITS

If the Portfolio holds (directly or indirectly) one or more “tax credit bonds” (defined below) on one or more specified dates during the Portfolio’s taxable year, the Portfolio may elect for U.S. Federal income tax purposes to pass through to shareholders tax credits otherwise allowable to the Portfolio for that year with respect to such bonds. A tax credit bond is defined in the Code as a “qualified tax credit bond” (which includes a qualified forestry conservation bond, a new clean renewable energy bond, a qualified energy conservation bond, and a qualified zone academy bond, each of which must meet certain requirements specified in the Code), a “build America bond” (which includes certain qualified bonds issued before January 1, 2011) or certain other specified

 

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bonds. If the Portfolio were to make an election, a shareholder of the Portfolio would be required to include in income and would be entitled to claim as a tax credit an amount equal to a proportionate share of such credits. However, such tax credits are generally not refundable. There is no assurance that the Portfolio will elect to pass through any such income and credits. Certain limitations may apply on the extent to which the credit may be claimed. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as modified by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, repeals the rules related to tax credit bonds and is effective for bonds issued after December 31, 2017, but does not affect the tax treatment of bonds issued prior to January 1, 2018.

The foregoing discussion is based on federal tax laws and regulations which are in effect on the date of this SAI. Such laws and regulations may be changed by legislative or administrative action. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolio or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situation, including the application of state and local taxes.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

The Trust Agreement permits the Board to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest of one or more separate series representing interests in one or more investment portfolios. The Trustees of the Trust may hereafter create series in addition to the Trust’s six existing series, which represent interests in the Trust’s six respective portfolios, one of which is described in this SAI. The Trust Agreement also permits the Board to classify or reclassify any unissued shares into classes within a series. Pursuant to such authority, the Trustees have authorized the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest in two separate classes of shares in each of the Portfolio: Shares and Premier Shares.

The Trustees may appoint separate Trustees with respect to one or more series or classes of the Trust’s shares (the “Series Trustees”). To the extent provided by the Trustees in the appointment of Series Trustees, Series Trustees: (i) may, but are not required to, serve as Trustees of the Trust or any other series or class of the Trust; (ii) may have, to the exclusion of any other Trustee of the Trust, all the powers and authorities of Trustees under the Trust Agreement with respect to such series or class; and/or (iii) may have no power or authority with respect to any other series or class. There are currently no Series Trustees for the Trust.

Under the terms of the Trust Agreement, each share of the Portfolio is without par value, which represents a proportionate interest in the particular Portfolio with each other share of its class in the same Portfolio and is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of the income belonging to the Portfolio as are declared by the Trustees. Upon any liquidation of the Portfolio, shareholders of each class of the Portfolio are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets belonging to that class available for distribution. Shares do not have any preemptive or conversion rights. The right of redemption is described under “Account Policies and Other Information” in the Prospectus. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the 1940 Act, the right of a shareholder to redeem shares and the date of payment by the Portfolio may be suspended for more than seven days (i) for any period during which the Exchange is closed, other than the customary weekends or holidays, or trading in the markets the Portfolio normally utilizes is closed or is restricted as determined by the SEC, (ii) during any emergency, as determined by the SEC, as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Portfolio to dispose of instruments owned by it or fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or (iii) for such other period as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of the shareholders of the Portfolio. The Trust also may suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions. In addition, shares of the Portfolio are redeemable at the unilateral option of the Trust. Shares when issued as described in the Prospectus are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, except as stated below. In the interests of economy and convenience, certificates representing shares of the Portfolio are not issued.

The proceeds received by the Portfolio for each issue or sale of its shares, and all net investment income, realized and unrealized gain and proceeds thereof, subject only to the rights of creditors, will be specifically allocated to and constitute the underlying assets of that Portfolio. The underlying assets of the Portfolio will be segregated on the books of account, and will be charged with the liabilities in respect to that Portfolio and with a share of the general liabilities of the Trust. Expenses with respect to the Portfolio and the other portfolios of the Trust normally are allocated in proportion to the NAV of the respective investment portfolios except where allocations of direct expenses can otherwise be fairly made.

NOTICE: Under Section 72.1021(a) of the Texas Property Code, initial investors in the Portfolio who are Texas residents may designate a representative to receive notices of abandoned property in connection with Portfolio shares. Texas shareholders who wish to appoint a representative should notify the Trust’s Transfer

 

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Agent by writing to the Northern Institutional Funds, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, Illinois 60675-5986 or by calling 800-637-1380 to obtain a form for providing written notice to the Trust.

The Portfolio and other portfolios of the Trust entitled to vote on a matter will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio, except as required by law or when the matter to be voted on affects only the interests of shareholders of a particular portfolio.

Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required by the provisions of the 1940 Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to be submitted to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each investment portfolio affected by such matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that an investment portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless the interests of each investment portfolio in the matter are substantially identical or the matter does not affect any interest of the investment portfolio. Under the Rule, the approval of an investment advisory agreement or any change in a fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to an investment portfolio only if approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of such investment portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the appointment of independent accountants, the approval of principal underwriting contracts and the election of Trustees are exempt from the separate voting requirements stated above. The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders and does not intend to hold such meetings. In the event that a meeting of shareholders is held, each share of the Trust will be entitled, as determined by the Trustees without the vote or consent of shareholders, either to one vote for each share (and proportionate fractional votes for fractional shares held) or to one vote for each dollar of NAV represented by such shares on all matters presented to shareholders, including the election of Trustees (this method of voting being referred to as “dollar-based voting”). However, to the extent required by the 1940 Act or otherwise determined by the Trustees, series and classes of the Trust will vote separately from each other. Shareholders of the Trust do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of Trustees and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate voting power of the Trust may elect all of the Trustees, irrespective of the vote of the other shareholders. Meetings of shareholders of the Trust, or any series or class thereof, may be called by the Trustees, certain officers or upon the written request of holders of 10% or more of the shares entitled to vote at such meeting. The power to call a vote with respect to shareholders of the Portfolio is vested exclusively with the Board. To the extent required by law, the Trust will assist in shareholder communications in connection with a meeting called by shareholders. The shareholders of the Trust will have voting rights only with respect to the limited number of matters specified in the Trust Agreement and such other matters as the Trustees may determine or may be required by law.

The Trust Agreement authorizes the Trustees, without shareholder approval (except as stated in the next paragraph), to cause the Trust, or any series thereof, to merge or consolidate with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or sell or exchange all or substantially all of the property belonging to the Trust, or any series thereof. In addition, the Trustees, without shareholder approval, may adopt a “master-feeder” structure by investing substantially all of the assets of a series of the Trust in the securities of another open-end investment company or pooled portfolio.

The Trust Agreement also authorizes the Trustees, in connection with the merger, consolidation, termination or other reorganization of the Trust or any series or class, to classify the shareholders of any class into one or more separate groups and to provide for the different treatment of shares held by the different groups, provided that such merger, consolidation, termination or other reorganization is approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of each group of shareholders that are so classified.

The Board may not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust, amend or otherwise supplement the Trust Agreement or amend and restate a trust investment to reduce the rights, duties, powers, authorities and responsibilities of the Trustees, except to the extent such action does not violate the 1940 Act. Subject to the foregoing, the Trust Agreement permits the Trustees to amend the Trust

 

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Agreement without a shareholder vote. However, shareholders of the Trust have the right to vote on any amendment: (i) that would adversely affect the voting rights of shareholders; (ii) that is required by law to be approved by shareholders; (iii) that would amend the voting provisions of the Trust Agreement; or (iv) that the Trustees determine to submit to shareholders.

The Trust Agreement permits the termination of the Trust or of any series or class of the Trust: (i) by a majority of the affected shareholders at a meeting of shareholders of the Trust, series or class; or (ii) by a majority of the Trustees without shareholder approval if the Trustees determine that such action is in the best interest of the Trust or its shareholders. The factors and events that the Trustees may take into account in making such determination include: (i) the inability of the Trust or any series or class to maintain its assets at an appropriate size; (ii) changes in laws or regulations governing the Trust, or any series or class thereof, or affecting assets of the type in which it invests; or (iii) economic developments or trends having a significant adverse impact on their business or operations.

Under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (the “Delaware Act”), shareholders are not personally liable for obligations of the Trust. The Delaware Act entitles shareholders of the Trust to the same limitation of liability as is available to shareholders of private for-profit corporations. However, no similar statutory or other authority limiting statutory trust shareholder liability exists in many other states. As a result, to the extent that the Trust or a shareholder is subject to the jurisdiction of courts in such other states, those courts may not apply Delaware law and may subject the shareholders to liability. To offset this risk, the Trust Agreement: (i) contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation and instrument entered into or executed by the Trust or its Trustees and (ii) provides for indemnification out of the property of the applicable series of the Trust of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder and not because of the shareholder’s acts or omissions or for some other reason. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss beyond his or her investment because of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which all of the following factors are present: (i) a court refuses to apply Delaware law; (ii) the liability arises under tort law or, if not, no contractual limitation of liability is in effect; and (iii) the applicable series of the Trust is unable to meet its obligations.

The Trust Agreement provides that the Trustees will not be liable to any person other than the Trust or a shareholder and that a Trustee will not be liable for any act as a Trustee. However, nothing in the Trust Agreement protects a Trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. The Trust Agreement provides for indemnification of Trustees, officers and agents of the Trust unless the recipient is liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.

The Trust Agreement provides that each shareholder, by virtue of becoming such, will be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of the Trust Agreement and to have become a party thereto.

In addition to the requirements of Delaware law, the Trust Agreement provides that a shareholder of the Trust may bring a derivative action on behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met: (i) shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under Delaware law who hold at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust, or 10% of the outstanding shares of the series or class to which such action relates, must join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action; and (ii) the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trust Agreement also provides that no person, other than the Trustees, who is not a shareholder of a particular series or class shall be entitled to bring any derivative action, suit or other proceeding on behalf of or with respect to such series or class. The Trustees will be entitled to retain counsel or other advisers in considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.

 

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The term “majority of the outstanding shares” of either the Trust or investment portfolio or a fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement or a change in a fundamental investment policy, the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the shares of the Trust or such Portfolio or fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or such Portfolio or fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or such Portfolio or fund.

The Trust’s by-laws state that, unless the Trust consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forums for any Shareholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Trust, (ii) any action asserting a claim or breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Trustee, officer or employee, if any, of the Trust to the Trust or the Trust’s Shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Trust, its Trustees, officers or employees, if any, arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act or the Trust’s Trust Instrument or by-laws; or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Trust, its Trustees, officers or employees, if any, governed by the internal affairs doctrine, shall be a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware. The Trust’s by-laws also state that any persons or entity that is a shareholder of the Trust shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing provisions of the Trust’s by-laws.

Prior to the date of this SAI, the Portfolio had no shares outstanding. To the extent that any shareholder is the beneficial owner of more than 25% of the outstanding shares of any Portfolio, such shareholder may be deemed a “control person” of that Portfolio for purposes of the 1940 Act.

As of the date of this SAI, the Portfolio had no shares outstanding and therefore the Trust’s Trustees and officers as a group owned beneficially less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each class of the Portfolio.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Portfolio is newly organized and therefore has not yet had any operations prior to the date of this SAI.

 

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OTHER INFORMATION

More information regarding various contracts or other documents referenced in the Prospectus or SAI can be found in the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which the Prospectus and this SAI form a part. The Registration Statement, including the exhibits filed therewith, is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

NIF SAI ([ ])

 

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APPENDIX A

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

Short-Term Credit Ratings

An S&P Global Ratings short-term issue credit rating is generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically, with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The following summarizes the rating categories used by S&P Global Ratings for short-term issues:

“A-1”—A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on these obligations is extremely strong.

“A-2”—A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory.

“A-3”—A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

“B”—A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

“C”—A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

“D”—A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Ratings—S&P Global Ratings’ issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. A foreign currency rating on an issuer can differ from the local currency rating on it when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency versus obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

“NR”—This indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

Moody’s Ratings (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

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Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

“P-1”—Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 reflect a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

“P-2”—Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 reflect a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

“P-3”—Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 reflect an acceptable ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

“NP”—Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

“NR”—Is assigned to an unrated issuer.

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention1. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

“F1”—Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality. This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

“F2”—Securities possess good short-term credit quality. This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

“F3”—Securities possess fair short-term credit quality. This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

“B”—Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality. This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

“C”—Securities possess high short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

“RD”—Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

“D”—Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

Plus (+) or minus (-)—The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. For the short-term rating category of “F1”, a “+” may be appended.

“NR”—Is assigned to an unrated issue of a rated issuer.

The DBRS® Morningstar® Ratings Limited (“DBRS Morningstar”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner. The short-term obligations rated in this category typically have a term of shorter than one year. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims. The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

 

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The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS Morningstar for commercial paper and short-term debt:

“R-1 (high)”—Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high. Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

“R-1 (middle)”—Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high. Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

“R-1 (low)”—Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial. Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

“R-2 (high)”—Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

“R-2 (middle)”—Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

“R-2 (low)”—Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events. A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

“R-3”—Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality. There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due. May be vulnerable to future events, and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

“R-4”—Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

“R-5”—Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

“D”—Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute, or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur. DBRS Morningstar may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

Long-Term Credit Ratings

An S&P Global Ratings’ long-term issue credit rating is generally assigned to those obligations considered long-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. The following summarizes the ratings used by S&P Global Ratings for long-term issues:

“AAA”—An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

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“AA”—An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

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

“BBB”—An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

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

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

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

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

“CC”—An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

“C”—An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

“D”—An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

Plus (+) or minus (-)—The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

“NR”—This indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Ratings—S&P Global Ratings’ issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. A foreign currency rating on an issuer can differ from the local currency rating on it when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency versus obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

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Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more. Such ratings reflect both on the likelihood of default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

“Aaa”—Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

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

“A”—Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

“Baa”—Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

“Ba”—Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

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

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

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

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

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.” The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a “(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms.

*By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

“NR”—Is assigned to unrated obligations.

Fitch’s long-term ratings consider the obligations’ relative vulnerability to default. Typically, long-term ratings have a timeframe of over 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and over 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets. The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch:

“AAA”—Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

“AA”—Securities considered to be of very high credit quality. “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

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“A”—Securities considered to be of high credit quality. “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

“BBB”—Securities considered to be of good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

“BB”—Securities considered to be speculative. “BB” ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

“B”—Securities considered to be highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

“CCC”—A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

“CC”—A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

“C”—A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings but are instead rated in the “CCC” to “C” rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to “AAA” ratings or to ratings below the “CCC” category.

“NR”—Is assigned to an unrated issue of a rated issuer.

The DBRS Morningstar long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default. That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims. All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”. The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category. The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS Morningstar for long-term debt:

“AAA”—Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

“AA”—Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high. Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

“A”—Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.” May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

“BBB”—Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

“BB”—Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain. Vulnerable to future events.

 

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“B”—Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

“CCC”—Long-term debt rated “CCC” is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations.

“CC”/“C”—Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is considered distressed. The “CC” rating level is generally applied to financial obligations that are seen as highly likely to default or that are subordinated to financial obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range. The “C” rating level characterizes financial obligations for which default has not technically taken place but is considered unavoidable.

“D”/“SD”—A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, or in cases of a “distressed exchange”, a downgrade to “D” may occur. DBRS Morningstar may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are affected, such as the case of a “distressed exchange.”

Municipal Note Ratings

An S&P Global Ratings U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P Global Ratings’ opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P Global Ratings’ analysis will review the following considerations:

 

   

Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

   

Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

“SP-1”—A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

“SP-2”—A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

“SP-3”—A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

“D”—This rating is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

Moody’s uses the global short-term Prime rating scale (listed above under Short-Term Credit Ratings) for commercial paper issued by U.S. municipalities and nonprofits. These commercial paper programs may be backed by external letters of credit or liquidity facilities, or by an issuer’s self-liquidity.

For other short-term municipal obligations, Moody’s uses one of two other short-term rating scales, the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) and Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scales provided below.

 

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Moody’s uses the MIG scale for U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less.

MIG Scale “MIG-1”—This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

“MIG-2”—This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

“MIG-3”—This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

“SG”—This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

“NR”—Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the VMIG scale. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

Moody’s typically assigns the VMIG short-term demand obligation rating if the frequency of the demand feature is less than every three years. If the frequency of the demand feature is less than three years but the purchase price is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the short-term demand obligation rating is “NR”.

“VMIG-1”—This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

“VMIG-2”—This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

“VMIG-3”—This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

“SG”—This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

“NR”—Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

About Credit Ratings

An S&P Global Ratings issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the

 

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obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P Global Ratings’ view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities.

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are forward-looking opinions on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign financial, bank, insurance, and public finance entities (including supranational and sub-national entities) and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

DBRS Morningstar provides independent credit ratings services for financial institutions, corporate and sovereign entities and structured finance products and instruments. Credit ratings are forward-looking opinions about credit risk that reflect the creditworthiness of an entity or security. The Rating Committee process facilitates rating decisions, which are a collective assessment of DBRS Morningstar’s opinion rather than the view of an individual analyst. Ratings are based on sufficient information that incorporates both global and local considerations and the use of approved methodologies. They are independent of any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. DBRS Morningstar credit ratings are formed and disseminated based on established methodologies, models and criteria (Methodologies) that apply to entities and securities that we rate, including corporate finance issuers, financial institutions, insurance companies, public finance and sovereign entities as well as Structured Finance transactions. DBRS Morningstar methodologies are periodically reviewed and updated by the team.

 

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APPENDIX B

 

 

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PROXY VOTING POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Effective Date: March 2, 2026

These policies and procedures apply to the voting of proxies by Northern Trust Corporation affiliates (“Northern Trust”) for accounts over which Northern Trust has been granted proxy voting discretion.

 

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NORTHERN TRUST

PROXY VOTING

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

These policies and procedures apply to the voting of proxies by Northern Trust Corporation affiliates (“Northern Trust”) for accounts over which Northern Trust has been granted proxy voting discretion.

The fundamental precept followed by Northern Trust in voting proxies is to ensure that the manner in which shares are voted is in the best interests of clients/beneficiaries and the value of the investment. As used in these policies and procedures, the term “clients/beneficiaries” means any person or entity having the legal or beneficial ownership interest, as the case may be, in a trust, custody or investment management account over which Northern Trust has discretionary proxy voting authority.

SECTION 1. PROXY COMMITTEE

Northern Trust’s Proxy Committee has responsibility for the adoption, content, interpretation and application of the Proxy Guidelines described in Section 2. Membership of the Proxy Committee consists of a group of senior Northern Trust investment and compliance officers. Meetings of the Proxy Committee may be called by the Chairperson or, in his or her absence, by any two committee members. Meetings may be conducted in person or telephonically. A majority of committee members present (in person or by proxy) will constitute a quorum for the transacting of business at any meeting. The approval of proxy votes or changes to these policies and procedures or the Proxy Guidelines may be made by majority vote of those present (in person or by proxy) at a meeting called for that purpose. Alternatively, the Committee may approve proxy votes or changes to these policies and procedures or the Proxy Guidelines described in Section 2 by a majority vote communicated telephonically (without a meeting) or electronically, provided that any action so approved is properly documented and reflected in minutes of the next meeting of the Committee.

SECTION 2. PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

Northern Trust has adopted guidelines and procedures (together and as from time to time amended, the “Proxy Guidelines”) governing proxy voting for accounts over which Northern Trust has been granted proxy voting discretion.

Absent the special circumstances described in these policies and procedures, generally Northern Trust will exercise its proxy voting discretion in accordance with the applicable proxy guidelines designated in the client agreement or as otherwise disclosed to clients.

On an annual basis, Northern Trust’s Proxy Committee shall review the Proxy Guidelines and notify clients/beneficiaries of any material revisions to the Proxy Guidelines.

SECTION 3. USE OF THIRD PARTY PROXY VOTING SERVICE PROVIDERS

Northern Trust may delegate to one or more independent third party proxy voting services (“Proxy Voting Service” or “Proxy Voting Services”), the responsibility to review proxy proposals and to make voting recommendations to the Proxy Committee, and to execute proxy voting instructions in a manner consistent with the Proxy Guidelines. For proxy proposals described under the Proxy Guidelines, Northern Trust has provided supplementary instructions to the Proxy Voting Service(s) to guide it in making vote recommendations. In addition, Northern Trust has instructed the Proxy Voting Service not to exercise any discretion and to seek guidance from Northern Trust whenever it encounters situations that are either not covered by the Proxy Guidelines or where application of the Proxy Guidelines is unclear. In the event that the Proxy Voting Service does not or will not provide recommendations with respect to any specific proxy proposals for securities over

 

 

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which Northern Trust or its affiliates have proxy voting discretion, the relevant proxy analyst at Northern Trust responsible for the relevant issuer or its business sector shall be responsible for reviewing the proxy proposal and making a voting recommendation to the Proxy Committee consistent with the Proxy Guidelines.

The Proxy Committee will review the Proxy Voting Service(s) on an annual basis. In connection with that review, it generally will assess each of the following factors along with other additional factors, if any, the Proxy Committee deems relevant: (1) the Proxy Voting Service’s capacity and competency in analyzing proxy issues and executing proxy related services; (2) the adequacy of the Proxy Voting Service’s staffing and personnel; (3) whether the Proxy Voting Service has robust policies and procedures that enable it to make proxy voting recommendations based on current and accurate information and implement the proxy voting services offered; and (4) the Proxy Voting Service’s ability to identify and address any real or potential conflicts of interests that exist or may have existed between the firm and its employees and the execution of proxy voting services provided to Northern Trust. The Proxy Committee will also regularly monitor the Proxy Voting Service(s) by requesting information from the Proxy Service(s) to determine whether any real or potential conflicts of interest exist as a result of changes to the firm’s business or internal policies. The Proxy Voting Service(s) will also be required to proactively communicate any (i) business changes or (ii) changes and updates to the firm’s policies and procedures that could impact the adequacy and quality of the proxy voting services or the firm’s ability to effectively manage conflicts.

SECTION 4. APPLICATION OF PROXY GUIDELINES

It is intended that the Proxy Guidelines will be applied with a measure of flexibility. Accordingly, except as otherwise specifically provided in these policies and procedures, the Proxy Committee may vote proxies contrary to the recommendations of the Proxy Voting Service, or, in the circumstances described in Section 3 above, a Northern Trust proxy analyst, if it determines such action to be in the best interests of Northern Trust clients/beneficiaries. In the exercise of such discretion the Proxy Committee may take into account a wide array of factors relating to the proxy voting matter under consideration, the nature of the proposal, and the company involved. As a result, a proxy voting proposal may be voted in one manner in the case of one company and in a different manner in the case of another company where, for example, the past history of the company, the character and integrity of its management, the role of outside directors, and the company’s record of producing performance for investors justifies a high degree of confidence in the company and the effect of the proposal on the value of the investment. Similarly, poor past performance, uncertainties about management and future directions, and other factors may lead to a conclusion that particular proposals present unacceptable investment risks and should not be supported. In addition, the proposals should be evaluated in full context. For example, a particular proxy voting proposal may be acceptable on a stand- alone basis, but objectionable when part of an existing or proposed proxy voting package, such as where the effect may be to entrench management. Special circumstances may also justify casting different votes for different clients/beneficiaries with respect to the same proxy vote after taking into account the clients/beneficiaries circumstances, including adhering to special voting instructions from the clients/beneficiaries.

SECTION 5. PROXY VOTING CHOICE

Northern Trust offers fund participants in select pooled investment vehicles the option to select from a menu of Proxy Guidelines options designated by Northern Trust (“Proxy Voting Choice”). The Proxy Guidelines eligible to be used in a Proxy Voting Choice menu are described in Exhibit A.

Portfolio management teams for Northern Trust Investments, Inc. and Northern Trust Global Investments, Inc., in consultation with the appropriate subject matter experts as needed (e.g., Stewardship, Institutional Client Group, Operations, Compliance, Legal, and outside counsel), generally have the responsibility for identifying the Proxy Guidelines most suitable to a fund’s investment objectives (the “Default Proxy Guidelines” of the fund).

 

 

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Participation in Proxy Voting Choice is elective. Participants in eligible funds may voluntarily select from the menu of Proxy Guidelines, and once selected, proxies for the eligible fund will be voted on a pro-rata share basis in accordance with the participant’s selection. The Default Proxy Guidelines shall apply to the pro-rata shares of all participants who do not choose to elect an option from the Proxy Voting Choice menu offered. Except under special circumstances, Proxy Guidelines will be applied at the account level for fund clients, and at the transfer agent or investment level for transfer agent clients. If a client holds two funds in two separate trust accounts, or direct at the transfer agent, then separate Proxy Guideline elections can be accommodated. In the event a client wants to operationally have multiple Proxy Guidelines applied for different accounts or fund investments, this can be manually applied upon written confirmation. Furthermore, in certain markets or situations where split voting is not permitted, the Default Proxy Guidelines will apply to all voting matters on behalf of all fund participants.

As a fiduciary to its pooled funds, Northern Trust must ensure that votes exercised for the pooled funds that it manages are cast in a pooled funds interest and in accordance with policies and procedures that are prudently designed to meet legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the pooled funds. As such, the Proxy Committee reviews all third-party voting policies prior to their availability for use for Proxy Voting Choice to ensure they are consistent with applicable fiduciary standards and suitable for most pooled fund investment objectives and policies. Some factors that the Proxy Committee may consider include, whether the third-party provider follows a fiduciary process in developing proxy voting procedures and guidelines, the manner in which the third-party’s procedures to into consideration material facts and circumstance specific to each voting decision. The Proxy Committee may also consider client feedback in relation to specific guideline orientations or strategy approaches which they would like to have offered.

SECTION 6. MATERIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Northern Trust has sought to address proxy related conflicts of interest in various ways, including the establishment, composition and authority of the Proxy Committee, and the delegation of primary responsibility for proxy review and vote recommendation functions to the Proxy Voting Service. For these reasons, the potential for conflicts of interest in the voting of proxies generally arises only where the Proxy Committee is considering the possibility of voting in a manner contrary to a vote recommendation received from the Proxy Voting Service or where the Proxy Voting Service has not provided a vote recommendation. In these situations, the Proxy Committee will need to determine whether a material conflict of interest exists. For example, a material conflict of interest could arise when a proxy relates to the following non-exclusive types of issues:

 

   

Securities issued by Northern Trust Corporation or its affiliates.

 

   

Matters in which Northern Trust has a direct financial interest (such as shareholder approval of a change in mutual fund advisory fees where Northern Trust is the fund advisor).

 

   

Instances where Northern Trust, its board members, executive officers, and/or others maintain relationships with the issuers of securities, proponents of shareholder proposals, participants in proxy contests, corporate directors or candidates for directorships.

 

   

Instances where an attempt has been made to directly or indirectly influence the voting recommendation that is made.

Where the Proxy Committee determines that it is subject to a material conflict of interest, it may resolve the conflict in any of the following ways, which may vary, consistent with its duty of loyalty and care, depending on the facts and circumstances of each situation and the requirements of applicable law:

 

   

Following the vote recommendation of an independent fiduciary appointed for that purpose;

 

   

Voting pursuant to client direction;

 

 

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Abstaining; or

 

   

Voting pursuant to a “mirror voting” arrangement (under which shares are voted in the same manner and proportion as some or all of the other shares not voted by the Proxy Committee).

For proxies issued by the Northern Trust Corporation that are held in accounts where Northern Trust has voting discretion, Northern Trust will generally abstain from voting on all votable ballot items.

SECTION 7. PROXY VOTING RECORDS; CLIENT DISCLOSURES

Northern Trust will maintain the following records relating to proxy votes cast under these policies and procedures:

 

  A.

A copy of these policies and procedures and accompanying exhibits

 

  B.

A copy of each proxy statement Northern Trust receives regarding client securities.

 

  C.

A record of each vote cast by Northern Trust on behalf of a client.

 

  D.

A copy of any document created by the Proxy Committee that was material to making a decision how to vote proxies on behalf of a client or that memorialized the basis for that decision.

 

  D.

A copy of each written client request for information on how Northern Trust voted proxies on behalf of the client, and a copy of any written response by Northern Trust to any (written or oral) client request for information on how Northern Trust voted proxies on behalf of the requesting client.

The foregoing records will be retained for such period of time as is required to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Northern Trust may rely on one or more third parties to make and retain the records referred to in items B. and C. above.

The Proxy Committee will cause copies of the foregoing records, as they relate to particular clients, to be provided to those clients upon request. It is generally the policy of Northern Trust not to disclose its proxy voting records to third parties, except as may be required by applicable laws and regulations.

SECTION 8. ERISA ACCOUNTS

For plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA Plans”), it is considered a fiduciary act to manage the voting rights that are connected to ERISA Plan assets that are shares of stock. ERISA Plans are to be administered consistent with the terms of the governing plan documents and applicable provisions of ERISA. In cases where sole proxy voting discretion rests with Northern Trust, the foregoing policies and procedures will be followed, subject to the fiduciary responsibility standards of ERISA, including the fiduciary duty of prudence, the exclusive benefit rule, and the duty to act in accordance with the plan documents. These standards generally require fiduciaries to act prudently and to discharge their duties solely in the interests of participants and beneficiaries.

ERISA fiduciaries may decide not to vote on a proxy or exercise a shareholder right. When deciding whether to vote on a proxy, fiduciaries must carry out their duties: (i) prudently, and (ii) solely in the interests of the participants and beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and beneficiaries and defraying the reasonable expenses of administering the ERISA Plan. Specifically, when deciding whether to vote on a proxy, a fiduciary must:

 

   

act solely in accordance with the economic interest of the plan and its participants and beneficiaries;

 

   

consider any costs involved;

 

 

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not subordinate the interests of the participants and beneficiaries in their retirement income or financial benefits under the plan to any other objective;

 

   

evaluate relevant facts that form the basis for any particular proxy vote or other exercise of shareholder rights; and

 

   

exercise prudence and diligence in the selection and monitoring of persons, if any, selected to exercise shareholder rights or otherwise advise on or assist with exercises of shareholder rights.

This Policy is designed to ensure proxy voting decisions are made in accordance with the fiduciary obligations listed above.

ERISA fiduciaries may engage with a Proxy Voting Service to provide recommendations regarding proxies. However, the fiduciary must first determine that such proxy advisor firm or service provider’s proxy voting guidelines are consistent with the fiduciary’s obligations described above. Northern Trust reviews the Northern Trust Proxy Guidelines and Proxy Voting Services on an annual basis, as described in Sections 2 and 3 of this Policy.

For avoidance of doubt, this Policy provides that the authority to vote a proxy shall be exercised pursuant to specific parameters prudently designed to serve the plan’s interests in providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the plan; and is periodically reviewed for compliance, as described in Section 2 of this Policy. However, this policy does not (i) preclude a fiduciary from submitting a proxy vote when the fiduciary has prudently determined that the matter being voted upon will have a significant effect on the value of the investment, or the investment performance of the plan’s assets, after accounting for the costs involved; or (ii) require a fiduciary to submit a proxy vote when the fiduciary has prudently determined that the matter being voted upon will not have a significant effect on the value of the investment, or the investment performance of the plan’s assets, after accounting for the costs involved.

Generally, an ERISA Plan’s trustee will have the exclusive responsibility to vote the proxies unless:

 

   

the trustee is subject to the direction of a named fiduciary who is not a trustee;

 

   

the named fiduciary delegates to an investment manager the authority to manage, acquire, or dispose of plan assets; or

 

   

the named fiduciary delegates to an investment manager the authority to manage, acquire, or dispose of certain assets, but retains the right to direct the trustee when voting proxies.

The documents governing ERISA individual account plans may set forth various procedures for voting “employer securities” held by the plan. Where authority over the investment of plan assets is granted to plan participants, many individual account plans provide that proxies for employer securities will be voted in accordance with directions received from plan participants as to shares allocated to their plan accounts. In some cases, the governing plan documents may further provide that unallocated shares and/or allocated shares for which no participant directions are received will be voted in accordance with a proportional voting method in which such shares are voted proportionately in the same manner as are allocated shares for which directions from participants have been received. It is the policy of Northern Trust to follow the provisions of a plan’s governing documents in the voting of employer securities unless it determines that to do so would breach its fiduciary duties under ERISA.

In general, for pooled investment vehicles that are treated as “plan assets” for purposes of ERISA, investing plan clients that are subject to ERISA will be required to accept this Policy as a condition of investment. For pooled investment vehicles that have implemented “Proxy Voting Choice,” the fiduciary of an investing plan may choose guidelines other the Default Proxy Guidelines described in Section 5, except for the Climate

 

 

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guidelines. If the plan fiduciary chooses guidelines other than the Default Proxy Guidelines, the plan fiduciary is responsible for determining, and has made a determination that, the selected proxy voting policy is consistent with ERISA and the plan’s own proxy voting policies/guidelines. Once guidelines are selected, proxies for the eligible fund will be voted on a pro-rata share basis in accordance with the guidelines that were selected. The Default Proxy Guidelines shall apply to the pro-rata shares for those who do not choose to elect an option from the Proxy Voting Choice menu.

SECTION 9. MUTUAL FUNDS

Proxies of registered management investment companies will be voted subject to any applicable investment restrictions of the fund and, to the extent applicable, in accordance with any resolutions or other instructions approved by authorized persons of the fund.

SECTION 10. OTHER SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Northern Trust may choose not to vote proxies in certain situations or for certain accounts either where it deems the cost of doing so to be prohibitive or where the exercise of voting rights could restrict the ability of an account’s portfolio manager to freely trade the security in question. For example, in accordance with local law or business practices, many foreign companies prevent the sales of shares that have been voted for a certain period beginning prior to the shareholder meeting and ending on the day following the meeting (“share blocking”). Due to these restrictions, Northern Trust must balance the benefits to its clients of voting proxies against the potentially serious portfolio management consequences of a reduced flexibility to sell the underlying shares at the most advantageous time. For companies in countries with share blocking periods, the disadvantage of being unable to sell the stock regardless of changing conditions generally outweighs the advantages of voting at the shareholder meeting for routine items. Accordingly, Northern Trust will not vote those proxies in the absence of an unusual, significant vote. Various accounts over which Northern Trust has proxy voting discretion participate in securities lending programs administered by Northern Trust or a third party. Because title to loaned securities passes to the borrower, Northern Trust will be unable to vote any security that is out on loan to a borrower on a proxy record date. If Northern Trust has investment discretion, however, it reserves the right of the portfolio manager to instruct the lending agent to terminate a loan in situations where Northern Trust believes the benefits of voting the security outweigh the costs of terminating the loan, consistent with the terms and conditions of Northern Trust’s procedures for recall of securities out on loan. In such instances, Northern Trust shall recall the shares on loan on a best efforts basis.

 

 

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EXHIBIT A. PROXY GUIDELINES

Northern Trust’s Proxy Committee has responsibility for the adoption, content, interpretation and application of the Proxy Guidelines described in Section 2.

As of the of the effective date of these policies and procedures1 each of the Proxy Guidelines listed below have been either internally developed or reviewed, and adopted by the Proxy Committee.

 

Guideline Name

  

Strategy Approach

  

Guideline Description

Link(s)2

Northern Trust

Proxy Guidelines

  

Guidelines developed by Northern Trust’s Proxy Voting Committee under a

fundamental precept of ensuring the manner in which shares are voted is in the

best interest of clients/beneficiaries and the value of the investment. The

guidelines take into consideration common and best market practice standards

in governance to promote total shareholder value and risk mitigation while

applying a thoughtful and considered approach to environmental and social

issues.

   US and Non-US Securities

Socially Responsible

Investor (SRI)

   The SRI guidelines were developed by a third party to be consistent with the dual objectives of socially responsible shareholders—economic returns and good corporate governance, as well as ethical behavior of corporations and the social and environmental impact of the actions or companies in which they invest.    US Securities Non-US Securities
Taft-Hartley    Developed specifically for Taft-Hartley pension funds & investment managers, as well as AFL-CIO aligned accounts, the Taft-Hartley guidelines were developed by a third party based on the AFL-CIO. The guidelines are fully compliant with the fiduciary voting responsibilities of the Taft Hartley Labor Act.    US Securities Non-US Securities
Board Aligned    The Board-Aligned guidelines were developed by a third party for investors who generally prefer to vote in a manner that upholds foundational corporate governance principles, while generally following the board’s recommendation around environmental and social matters.   

US Securities

Non-US Securities

Climate    The Climate guidelines were developed by a third party to be consistent with widely recognized climate frameworks including the TCFD, GRI, and SASB standards. They are intended to balance the need for good disclosure on climate-related risks along with evaluation of a company’s preparedness to face and mitigate climate risks in a low carbon economy as well as alignment with global climate norms expectations (e.g. SFDR). On matters of corporate governance and executive compensation the Climate guidelines approach is based on principles of best practice and a focus on creating and preserving long-term economic value.   

US Securities

Non-US Securities

 

 

1

This is the effective date from which the Proxy Committee has last developed or reviewed, and adopted or re-affirmed the Proxy Guideline. Each Proxy Guideline has its own effective or last amended date.

2

These links are current as of the Effective Date of these policies and procedures and may be superseded by more current versions.

 

 

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Effective Date March 2, 2026


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I. The Board of Directors

     B-1  

A. Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

     B-1  

B. Director Independence

     B-1  

C. Director Attendance

     B-1  

D. Lead Independent Director

     B-1  

E. Overboarding Issues

     B-2  

F. Inclusivity

     B-2  

G. Stock Ownership Requirements

     B-2  

H. Board Evaluation and Refreshment

     B-2  

I. Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection

     B-3  

II. Proxy Contests

     B-3  

A. Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections

     B-3  

B. Reimburse Proxy Solicitation Expenses

     B-3  

III. Auditors

     B-4  

A. Ratifying Auditors

     B-4  

IV. Proxy Contest Defenses

     B-4  

A. Board Structure: Staggered vs. Annual Elections

     B-4  

B. Shareholder Ability to Remove Directors

     B-4  

C. Cumulative Voting

     B-4  

D. Majority Voting

     B-4  

E. Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

     B-5  

F. Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

     B-5  

G. Shareholder Ability to Alter the Size of the Board

     B-5  

V. Tender Offer Defenses

     B-5  

A. Poison Pills

     B-5  

B. Fair Price Provisions

     B-5  

C. Greenmail

     B-6  

D. Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Amend the Charter or Bylaws

     B-6  

E. Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Approve Mergers

     B-6  

VI. Miscellaneous Governance Provisions

     B-6  

A. Confidential Voting

     B-6  

B. Bundled Proposals

     B-6  

C. Shareholder Advisory Committees

     B-6  

D. Board of Directors Failure to Respond to Certain Majority Approved Shareholder Proposals

     B-6  

E. Board of Directors Failure to Adequately Respond to Rejected Board Compensation Proposals

     B-7  

F. Compensation Committee Failure to Adequately Address Pay for Performance

     B-7  

G. Leadership and Governance Failures

     B-7  

H. Succession Policies

     B-7  

I. Proxy Access

     B-7  

J. Other Business

     B-7  

VII. Capital Structure

     B-7  

A. Common Stock Authorization

     B-7  

B. Stock Distributions: Splits and Dividends

     B-7  

C. Unequal Voting Rights

     B-8  

D. Reverse Stock Splits

     B-8  

E. Blank Check Preferred Authorization

     B-8  

F. Shareholder Proposals Regarding Blank Check Preferred Stock

     B-8  

G. Adjust Par Value of Common Stock

     B-8  

H. Preemptive Rights

     B-8  

I. Debt Restructurings

     B-8  

J. Share Repurchase Programs

     B-9  

VIII. Executive and Director Compensation

     B-9  

A. Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

     B-9  

B. OBRA-Related Compensation Proposals

     B-9  

C. Proposals Concerning Executive and Director Pay

     B-9  

D. Golden Parachutes

     B-10  

 

 

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E. Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and Other Broad-Based Employee Stock Plans

     B-10  

F. 401(k) Employee Benefit Plans

     B-10  

IX. State of Incorporation

     B-10  

A. Voting on State Takeover Statutes

     B-10  

B. Voting on Reincorporation Proposals

     B-10  

X. Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

     B-11  

A. Mergers and Acquisitions

     B-11  

B. Corporate Restructuring

     B-11  

C. Spin-offs

     B-11  

D. Asset Sales

     B-11  

E. Liquidations

     B-11  

F. Appraisal Rights

     B-11  

G. Changing Corporate Name

     B-11  

H. Adjourn Meeting

     B-11  

XI. Mutual Funds

     B-12  

A. Election of Trustees

     B-12  

B. Investment Advisory Agreement

     B-12  

C. Fundamental Investment Restrictions

     B-12  

D. Distribution Agreements

     B-12  

XII. Environmental and Social Issues

     B-12  

A. Environment

     B-12  

B. Equal Employment Opportunity

     B-13  

C. Consumer and Product Safety

     B-13  

D. Supply Chain Management

     B-13  

E. Animal Welfare

     B-13  

F. Political and Charitable Contributions

     B-13  

G. Other Miscellaneous

     B-13  

 

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I. The Board of Directors

A. Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Northern Trust generally votes for director nominees in uncontested elections absent countervailing factors such as a lack of director independence (see below), chronic, unjustified absenteeism, concerns regarding the inattentiveness of the nominee, including the number of public company boards on which the nominee sits, and if the nominee sits on an audit, compensation or risk committee, concerns regarding the actions taken by such committees.

B. Director Independence

For any situations not already covered by a rule or regulation, Northern Trust will generally vote for shareholder proposals requesting that the board of a company be comprised of a majority of independent directors and will generally vote against shareholder proposals requesting that the board of a company be comprised of a supermajority of independent directors. Northern Trust generally votes for shareholder proposals that request that the board audit, compensation and/or nominating committees include independent directors exclusively and withholds votes for the election of non-independent directors serving on an audit, compensation or nominating committee or board.

Northern Trust generally leaves the choice of chairman to the board’s discretion as Northern Trust’s support for proposals that principal committees consist exclusively of independent directors and that the board be comprised of a majority of independent directors provides sufficient checks and balances. However, Northern Trust will vote case by case on whether to support shareholder resolutions seeking the separation of chairman and CEO in circumstances where shareholder interests may be better served by having an independent chair. Such circumstances may include, during periods of organizational re-structuring, during periods of sustained under performance relative to peers, during a period of leadership transition, or where concerns arise as to the sufficiency of independence the board has from management.

Northern Trust generally supports the listing standards or local market practice on non-executive director independence. Northern Trust may apply a stricter standard for director independence at companies that exhibit poor governance practices. A non-executive director in these instances would not be considered independent if he or she:

 

   

Has been an employee of the company within the last five years;

 

   

Has, or has had within the last three years, a material business relationship with the company;

 

   

Is a company founder;

 

   

Represents a significant shareholder; or

 

   

Has close family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors, or senior employees.

C. Director Attendance

Northern Trust will vote case by case on individual directors who attend fewer than 75 percent of board and board-committee meetings for two consecutive years.

D. Lead Independent Director

Northern Trust generally votes for shareholder proposals in support of the appointment of a lead independent director.

 

 

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Northern Trust expects the role of the lead independent director to be set out within the board’s governance charter, with clearly defined powers that should include at minimum the ability to:

 

   

serve as a liaison between the company’s independent directors and the CEO;

 

   

lead the annual evaluation of the CEO’s performance and the annual evaluation of the independent board of directors;

 

   

be available for consultation and direct communication with major stockholders, if they so request;

 

   

approve meeting agendas for the board and the nature of information sent to the board;

 

   

call a special meeting of the board or a special executive session of the independent directors; and

 

   

add items to the agenda of any regular or special meeting of the board deemed necessary or advisable.

E. Overboarding Issues

Northern Trust generally votes against a director nominee if it is a CEO who sits on more than two public boards or a non-CEO who sits on more than four public boards.

F. Inclusivity

Companies benefit from having a wide range of perspectives and experiences on their boards and within senior management, including improved innovation and identification of business opportunities, effective leadership, productivity and connection with the workforce. Northern Trust believes that an effective board should be comprised of directors with a mix of skills and experience to ensure the Board has the necessary tools to perform its oversight function effectively; this includes a broad spectrum of experience and other attributes that are inclusive of the perspectives among a company’s shareholders, customers, and other critical stakeholders. To this end, we expect boards to provide sufficient disclosure on the range of skills, and experience that each director provides and how it aligns to effectively oversee the company’s business strategy. Northern Trust may vote against one or more incumbent directors of the nominating committee where we have concerns relating to the composition of the board, including where there is insufficient disclosure to adequately assess the mix of skills and experience.

In markets where there are regulatory expectations, listing standards, or minimum quotas with respect to board membership, Northern Trust will generally apply the same expectations.

G. Stock Ownership Requirements

Northern Trust generally votes against shareholder proposals requiring directors to own a minimum amount of company stock in order to qualify as a director, or to remain on the board.

H. Board Evaluation and Refreshment

The board needs to ensure that it is positioned to change and evolve with the needs of the company. Boards should, on at least an annual basis, formally evaluate the CEO, the board as a whole, and individual directors. Evaluation of the board as a whole should consider the balance of skills, experience, independence, and knowledge of the company on the board relative to the company’s long-term strategic plan. Evaluation of the board should also consider the board’s composition, how the board works together as a unit, and other factors relevant to its effectiveness. Individual evaluation should aim to show whether each director continues to contribute effectively and to demonstrate commitment to the role.

 

 

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We expect the board to disclose in its annual report or proxy statement how performance evaluation of the board, its committees and its individual directors has been conducted. Northern Trust may vote against the independent chair, lead independent director or presiding director in circumstances where the board appears to lack mechanisms to promote accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers.

Northern Trust does not consider mandatory retirement age caps or term limits to be appropriate in circumstances where shareholder interests may be better served by a longer-serving non-executive director remaining on the board. For example during periods of organizational re-structuring or CEO/Chairman transition where constructive challenge from a longer serving non-executive director may be beneficial in the context of overall board composition and experience.

Northern Trust will generally vote against shareholder proposals to impose age and term limits unless the company is found to have poor board refreshment and director succession practices. Northern Trust will scrutinize boards that have a preponderance of non-executive directors with excessive long-tenures to ensure that new perspectives are being added to the board and that the board remains sufficiently independent from management.

I. Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection

Proposals concerning director and officer indemnification and liability protection are evaluated on a case by case basis. Northern Trust generally votes for proposals providing indemnification protection to officers and directors, and for proposals limiting the liability of officers and directors for monetary damages, provided such proposals do not appear to conflict with applicable law and cover only future actions.

II. Proxy Contests

A. Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections

Votes in a contested election of directors are evaluated on a case by case basis, considering the following factors:

 

   

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

 

   

Management’s track record;

 

   

Background to the proxy contest;

 

   

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

 

   

Evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders as well as the likelihood that the proposed objectives and goals can be met;

 

   

Stock ownership positions; and

 

   

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance.

B. Reimburse Proxy Solicitation Expenses

Decisions to provide full reimbursement for dissidents waging a proxy contest are made on a case by case basis. Northern Trust will generally support such proposals in cases where (i) Northern Trust votes in favor the dissidents, and (ii) the proposal is voted on the same proxy as the dissident slate and, as such, is specifically related to the contested proxy at issue.

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals allowing shareholders to elect replacements and fill vacancies.

 

 

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III. Auditors

A. Ratifying Auditors

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals to ratify auditors, unless: an auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent; or there is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position.

Northern Trust generally vote against auditor ratification and incumbent members of the Audit Committee if non-audit fees are excessive in relation to audit-related fees without adequate explanation.

Northern Trust generally votes against shareholder proposals that seek to restrict management’s ability to utilize selected auditors, subject to the qualifications set forth above.

IV. Proxy Contest Defenses

A. Board Structure: Staggered vs. Annual Elections

Northern Trust generally votes against proposals to classify the board and for proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors annually.

B. Shareholder Ability to Remove Directors

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals that provide that directors may be removed only for cause.

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals allowing shareholders to elect replacements and fill vacancies.

C. Cumulative Voting

Northern Trust generally votes against proposals to eliminate cumulative voting, unless such proposals are intended to effectuate a majority voting policy.

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals to institute cumulative voting, unless the company has previously adopted a majority voting policy, or a majority voting shareholder proposal, consistent with Northern Trust’s majority voting guidelines, is on the ballot at the same time as the cumulative voting proposal, in which case Northern Trust generally votes against such cumulative voting proposals.

D. Majority Voting

In analyzing shareholder proposals calling for directors in uncontested elections to be elected by an affirmative majority of votes cast, Northern Trust focuses on whether or not the company has adopted a written majority voting (or majority withhold) policy that provides for a meaningful alternative to affirmative majority voting.

In cases where companies have not adopted a written majority voting (or majority withhold) policy, Northern Trust generally votes for shareholder majority voting proposals.

In cases where companies have adopted a written majority voting (or majority withhold) policy, Northern Trust generally votes against shareholder majority voting proposals, provided that the policy is set forth in the company’s annual proxy statement and either:

 

   

Requires nominees who receive majority withhold votes to tender their resignation to the board;

 

   

Sets forth a clear and reasonable timetable for decision-making regarding the nominee’s status; and

 

 

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Does not contain any specific infirmities that would render it an ineffective alternative to an affirmative majority voting standard or otherwise provides a meaningful alternative to affirmative majority voting.

In determining the adequacy of a company’s majority voting (or majority withhold) policy, Northern Trust may also consider, without limitation, any factors set forth in the policy that are to be taken into account by the board in considering a nominee’s resignation and the range of actions open to the board in responding to the resignation (e.g., acceptance of the resignation, maintaining the director but curing the underlying causes of the withheld votes, etc.).

E. Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to call special meetings, but may vote against such proposals and in favor of shareholder proposals to allow shareholders to call special meetings, taking into consideration the minimum ownership requirement called for in the resolution, existing shareholder rights mechanisms (e.g., proxy access, right to act by written consent, dual-class stock provisions and voting rights, quorum requirements on certain provisions, ability to amend bylaw and charter agreements, etc.), and the company’s overall record of responsiveness to shareholder concerns.

F. Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Northern Trust generally votes against shareholder proposals allowing shareholders to take action by written consent. Northern Trust will review on a case by case basis management proposals allowing shareholders to take action by written consent.

G. Shareholder Ability to Alter the Size of the Board

Northern Trust generally votes against proposals limiting management’s ability to alter the size of the board.

H. Failure to Sunset Problematic Governance Structures

Northern Trust believes that certain governance structures are better aligned with shareholders long-term interests. As such, we evaluate whether companies maintain features such as a classified board, supermajority vote requirements to amend governing documents, and other provisions which limit shareholder rights. Northern Trust expects the company to develop and implement a sunset provision where there is no discernable benefit to maintaining such structures. If no sunset provision is disclosed, Northern Trust may vote against the relevant committee member.

V. Tender Offer Defenses

A. Poison Pills

Northern Trust generally votes for shareholder proposals that ask a company to submit its poison pill for shareholder ratification.

Northern Trust will review on a case by case basis management proposals to ratify a poison pill.

B. Fair Price Provisions

Northern Trust will review votes on a case by case on fair price proposals, taking into consideration whether the shareholder vote requirement embedded in the provision is no more than a majority of disinterested shares.

Northern Trust generally votes for shareholder proposals to lower the shareholder vote requirement in existing fair price provisions.

 

 

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C. Greenmail

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals to adopt anti-greenmail charter or bylaw amendments or otherwise restrict a company’s ability to make greenmail payments.

Northern Trust votes anti-greenmail proposals on a case by case basis when they are bundled with other charter or bylaw amendments.

D. Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Amend the Charter or Bylaws

Northern Trust generally votes against management proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote to approve charter and bylaw amendments.

Northern Trust generally votes for shareholder proposals to lower supermajority shareholder vote requirements for charter and bylaw amendments.

E. Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Approve Mergers

Northern Trust generally votes against management proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote to approve mergers and other significant business combinations, while taking into account ownership structure, quorum requirements, and vote requirements.

Northern Trust generally votes for shareholder proposals to lower supermajority shareholder vote requirements for mergers and other significant business combinations, while taking into account ownership structure, quorum requirements, and vote requirements.

VI. Miscellaneous Governance Provisions

A. Confidential Voting

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals requiring confidential voting and independent vote tabulators.

B. Bundled Proposals

Northern Trust votes on a case by case basis bundled or “conditioned” proxy proposals. In the case of items that are conditioned upon each other, we examine the benefits and costs of the packaged items. In instances when the joint effect of the conditioned items is not in shareholders’ best interests, we vote against the proposals. If the combined effect is positive, we support such proposals.

C. Shareholder Advisory Committees

Northern Trust votes on a case by case basis, proposals to establish a shareholder advisory committee.

D. Board of Directors Failure to Respond to Certain Majority Approved Shareholder Proposals

Northern Trust votes on a case by case basis on whether to withhold votes from certain directors in the event the board of directors has failed to adequately respond to a majority approved shareholder proposal. Northern Trust will generally not withhold votes from directors in cases where Northern Trust previously voted against the majority approved shareholder proposal. In cases where Northern Trust previously voted in favor of the majority approved shareholder proposal, it will first determine whether it is appropriate under the circumstances to withhold votes from any directors, and if it determines that such action is appropriate it will then determine the director or directors from which votes should be withheld. Factors that will be taken into consideration include

 

 

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the documented response of the board, if any, concerning its action or inaction relating to the relevant shareholder proposal, whether particular board members served on a committee that was responsible for determining a response to the shareholder proposal, the importance of retaining particular directors or groups of directors to protect shareholder value, and such other factors as Northern Trust may deem appropriate.

E. Board of Directors Failure to Adequately Respond to Rejected Board Compensation Proposals

Northern Trust votes on a case by case basis on whether to withhold votes from certain directors in the event the board of directors has not adequately responded to situations in which board proposals for approval of executive compensation have failed to receive majority shareholder approval.

F. Compensation Committee Failure to Adequately Address Pay for Performance

Northern Trust votes on a case by case basis on whether to withhold votes from the certain directors of the compensation committee during a period in which executive compensation appears excessive relative to performance and peers.

G. Leadership and Governance Failures

Northern Trust votes on a case by case basis on whether to withhold from certain directors due to material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight or fiduciary responsibilities at the company.

H. Succession Policies

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals seeking disclosure on a CEO succession planning policy, considering the scope of the request and the company’s existing disclosure on its current CEO succession planning process.

I. Proxy Access

Northern Trust votes on a case by case basis on proxy access proposals. Northern Trust will consider a number of factors, including the company’s performance, the performance of the company’s board, the ownership thresholds and holding duration contained in the resolution and the proportion of directors that shareholders may nominate each year.

J. Other Business

Northern Trust opposes other business proposals where shareholders do not have the opportunity to review and understand the details of the proposal.

VII. Capital Structure

A. Common Stock Authorization

Northern Trust votes on a case by case basis, proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issue.

B. Stock Distributions: Splits and Dividends

Northern Trust generally allows for management discretion on matters related to stock distributions, such as stock splits and stock dividends.

 

 

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C. Unequal Voting Rights

Northern Trust believes that voting rights should align with the shareholders’ economic interests in the company. As such, Northern Trust will generally vote against multi class exchange offers and multi class recapitalizations. If a company has a pre-existing multi class voting structure with superior voting rights, Northern Trust expects the company to develop and implement a sunset provision. If no sunset provision is disclosed, Northern Trust may vote against the relevant committee member.

D. Reverse Stock Splits

Northern Trust generally votes for management proposals to implement a reverse stock split, provided that the reverse split does not result in an increase of authorized but unissued shares of more than 100% after giving effect to the shares needed for the reverse split.

E. Blank Check Preferred Authorization

Absent special circumstances (e.g., actions taken in the context of a hostile takeover attempt) indicating an abusive purpose, Northern Trust generally votes against proposals that would authorize the creation of new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend and distribution, and other rights, stock unless the voting, conversion, dividend and distribution, and other rights are specified and the voting rights are limited to one vote per share.

F. Shareholder Proposals Regarding Blank Check Preferred Stock

Northern Trust generally votes for shareholder proposals requiring blank check preferred stock placements to be submitted for shareholder ratification unless the shares are to be issued for the purpose of raising capital or making acquisitions.

G. Adjust Par Value of Common Stock

Northern Trust generally votes for management proposals to reduce the par value of common stock, while taking into account accompanying corporate governance concerns.

H. Preemptive Rights

Northern Trust reviews on a case by case basis, proposals to create or abolish preemptive rights. In evaluating proposals on preemptive rights, we look at the size of a company and the characteristics of its shareholder base. We generally oppose preemptive rights for publicly-held companies with a broad stockholder base.

I. Debt Restructurings

Northern Trust reviews on a case by case basis, proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as part of a debt restructuring plan. We consider the following issues:

 

   

Dilution — How much will ownership interest of existing shareholders be reduced, and how extreme will dilution to any future earnings be?

 

   

Change in Control — Will the transaction result in a change in control of the company?

 

   

Bankruptcy — Is the threat of bankruptcy, which would result in severe losses in shareholder value, the main factor driving the debt restructuring?

 

 

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Generally, we approve proposals that facilitate debt restructurings unless there are clear signs of self-dealing or other abuses.

J. Share Repurchase Programs

Northern Trust generally votes for management proposals to institute share repurchase plans if the proposal is aligned with long-term shareholder interests. We generally support repurchase programs that allow all shareholders to participate on equal terms, provide a clear board rationale, ensure transparency, and are in line with market normative practices.

VIII. Executive and Director Compensation

A. Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Northern Trust believes that equity-based awards should align the economic interests of management, directors and employees with those of shareholders and it determines voting decisions based on relevant material facts and circumstances, including the total estimate of the company’s equity plan relative to its peers. Northern Trust will generally oppose new plans, or amendments to an existing plan, where:

 

   

The company’s three year average burn rate significantly exceeds that of its peers.

 

   

The share issuance would be excessively dilutive;

 

   

The company has repriced underwater stock options during the past three years;

 

   

The plan or amendment allows for repricing of underwater options without shareholder approval;

 

   

The plan contains an evergreen feature that allows for automatic share replenishment without shareholder approval;

 

   

The plan allows broad discretion to accelerate vesting; and/or

 

   

The exercise price is less than 100% of fair market value at the time of grant

B. OBRA-Related Compensation Proposals

Northern Trust generally votes for the approval and amendment of plans for the purposes of complying with the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA.

C. Proposals Concerning Executive and Director Pay

Northern Trust will review, on a case by case basis, shareholder advisory votes concerning the compensation of named executive officers. At a global level, Northern Trust generally believes that strong remuneration programs should have the following:

 

   

Robust alignment between pay awarded to executives and long-term company performance

 

   

Clear link between performance metrics and the company’s stated strategy

 

   

Strong emphasis on at-risk pay awarded over the long term

 

   

Clear, comprehensible disclosure of all pay mechanisms and practices

 

   

High level of responsiveness to shareholder concerns

Special attention may be given to exceptional remuneration arrangements that deviate from a company’s normal practices. Northern Trust encourages boards to implement clear clawback and malus provisions to recover or withhold pay in cases of misconduct, material misstatement, risk management failures, or reputational harm.

 

 

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Northern Trust may utilize company disclosures, outside research, and a proprietary internal framework to arrive at a final decision. Consideration is given to global principles as well as other factors such as profitability, company size, overall pay of the top executive, prevailing market practices, and peer pay and performance trends.

Northern Trust generally supports an annual frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation unless the company provides a compelling rationale or unique circumstances.

Northern Trust generally votes on a case by case basis all other shareholder proposals that seek additional disclosure of executive and director pay information, or on proposals that seek to limit executive and director pay.

D. Golden Parachutes

Northern Trust votes on a case by case basis on shareholder advisory votes concerning the severance packages of named executive officers, taking into account the features of the package and the accompanying restructuring proposal. Northern Trust may vote against in situations where:

 

   

The resulting payout is deemed excessive or unreasonable

 

   

Payments are triggered solely by the occurrence of a change in control (i.e., a “single trigger”)

 

   

Excise tax gross ups are likely to be paid

Northern Trust generally votes for shareholder proposals to have golden parachutes submitted for shareholder approval if a company’s existing severance agreement contains any of the aforementioned problematic features.

E. Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and Other Broad-Based Employee Stock Plans

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals to approve an ESOP or other broad-based employee stock purchase or ownership plan, or to increase authorized shares for such existing plans, except in cases when the number of shares allocated to such plans is “excessive” (i.e., generally greater than ten percent (10%) of outstanding shares).

F. 401(k) Employee Benefit Plans

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals to implement a 401(k) savings plan for employees.

IX. State of Incorporation

A. Voting on State Takeover Statutes

Northern Trust votes on a case by case basis proposals to opt in or out of state takeover statutes (including control share acquisition statutes, control share cash-out statutes, freezeout provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison pill endorsements, severance pay and labor contract provisions, anti-greenmail provisions, and disgorgement provisions).

B. Voting on Reincorporation Proposals

Proposals to change a company’s state of incorporation are examined on a case by case basis.

 

 

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X. Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

A. Mergers and Acquisitions

Votes on mergers and acquisitions are considered on a case by case basis, taking into account at least the following:

 

   

Anticipated financial and operating benefits;

 

   

Offer price (cost vs. premium);

 

   

Prospects of the combined companies;

 

   

How the deal was negotiated; and

 

   

ESG governance and their impact.

Northern Trust generally votes on a case by case basis in cases where, in connection with a merger or acquisition seeking shareholder approval, a separate shareholder vote is required to approve any agreements or understandings regarding compensation disclosed pursuant to Item 402(t) of Regulation S-K (golden parachute arrangements).

B. Corporate Restructuring

Votes on corporate restructuring proposals, including minority squeezeouts, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, liquidations, and asset sales are considered on a case by case basis.

C. Spin-offs

Votes on spin-offs are considered on a case by case basis depending on the tax and regulatory advantages, planned use of sale proceeds, market focus, and managerial incentives.

D. Asset Sales

Votes on asset sales are made on a case by case basis after considering the impact on the balance sheet/working capital, value received for the asset, and potential elimination of diseconomies.

E. Liquidations

Votes on liquidations are made on a case by case basis after reviewing management’s efforts to pursue other alternatives, appraisal value of assets, and the compensation plan for executives managing the liquidation.

F. Appraisal Rights

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals to restore, or provide shareholders with, rights of appraisal.

G. Changing Corporate Name

Northern Trust generally votes for changing the corporate name.

H. Adjourn Meeting

Northern Trust generally supports adjournment proposals that accompany mergers proposals also being supported. Otherwise, Northern Trust will vote against such proposals.

 

 

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XI. Mutual Funds

A. Election of Trustees

Votes on trustee nominees are evaluated on a case by case basis.

B. Investment Advisory Agreement

Votes on investment advisory agreements are evaluated on a case by case basis.

C. Fundamental Investment Restrictions

Votes on amendments to a fund’s fundamental investment restrictions are evaluated on a case by case basis.

D. Distribution Agreements

Votes on distribution agreements are evaluated on a case by case basis.

XII. Environmental and Social Issues

A. Environment

Northern Trust upholds environmental stewardship and recognizes that we all are stakeholders in the future of our global environment. Environmental factors increasingly represent significant operational risks and costs to business. At Northern Trust, our primary objective as an asset manager is to create long-term value for our clients. As a major global investor, Northern Trust has interest in how shareholder value is affected by a company’s management and impact on the natural and social environment and recognizes that a well-developed environmental and social management system can enhance shareholder value in the long-term. We generally encourage reporting that is not unduly costly or burdensome and which does not place the company at a competitive disadvantage, but which provides meaningful information to enable shareholders to evaluate the impact of the company’s environmental policies and practices on its financial performance.

Northern Trust reviews, on a case by case basis, proposals requesting increased disclosure regarding the environmental impact of a company’s operations and products and initiatives to curtail these risks, considering whether sufficient information has been disclosed to shareholders or is otherwise publicly available.

Northern Trust reviews, on a case by case basis, proposals requesting the issuance of corporate sustainability reports, as well as disclosure, where relevant, concerning the emission of greenhouse gasses and the use of fracturing in connection with the extraction of natural gasses.

Northern Trust reviews, on a case by case basis, proposals seeking information on the financial, physical, or regulatory risks a company faces related to climate change – on its operations and investments, or on how the company identifies, measures, and manages such risks.

Northern Trust review, on a case by case basis, proposals requesting the adoption of GHG reduction goals from products and operations.

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals requesting the issuance of reports by a company detailing its energy efficiency plans.

 

 

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B. Equal Employment Opportunity

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals advocating for an inclusive working environment and the elimination of workplace discrimination.

Northern Trust generally votes for proposals requesting that a company take reasonable steps to ensure the pool of candidates from which board nominees are chosen or sought as part of routine board searches the company undertakes, contain a broad range of experience and background.

Northern Trust reviews, on a case by case basis, on proposals requesting the issuance of impact reports.

C. Consumer and Product Safety

Northern Trust reviews, on a case by case basis, proposals that request a report or assessment of the safety of a company’s operations and a company’s products and services and efforts to promote their safe use.

Northern Trust reviews, on a case by case basis, proposals requesting increased disclosure of a company’s policies and procedures for managing and mitigating risks related to artificial intelligence, cyber security, and data privacy.

D. Supply Chain Management

Northern Trust reviews, on a case by case basis, proposals requesting increased disclosure on a company’s supply chain policies and processes and its management of related risks.

E. Animal Welfare

Northern Trust reviews, on a case by case basis, proposals requesting increased disclosure or reporting regarding animal treatment issues that may impact a company’s operations and products, especially in relation to food production, unless sufficient information on that topic has already been disclosed to shareholders or is otherwise publicly available.

F. Political and Charitable Contributions

Northern Trust will reviews, on a case by case basis, proposals to publish a company’s political or lobbying contributions, taking into consideration recent, significant controversies, fines or litigation regarding the company’s political contributions or trade association spending.

Northern Trust generally votes against shareholder proposals to eliminate, direct, or otherwise restrict charitable contributions.

G. Other Miscellaneous

In other social and environmental issues, Northern Trust generally supports the position of a company’s board of directors when voting on shareholder initiated social and environmental proposals. Although Northern Trust acknowledges that the economic and social considerations underlying such proposals are often closely intertwined, we believe that in most cases the management group and elected directors are best positioned to make corporate decisions on these proposals.

 

 

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PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM28.EXHIBITS

 

(a)

   (1)    Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 1, 1997 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to Post-Effective Amendment No.  36 filed on January 16, 1998.
   (2)    Amendment No. 1 dated February  25, 1998 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 filed on February 1, 1999.
   (3)    Amendment No. 2 dated May  15, 1998 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 filed on February 1, 1999.
   (4)    Amendment No. 3 dated October  5, 1999 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 filed on October 14, 1999.
   (5)    Amendment No. 4 dated January  24, 2000 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 filed on January 28, 2000.
   (6)    Amendment No. 5 dated May  2, 2000 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 filed on January 17, 2001.
   (7)    Amendment No. 6 dated November  1, 2000 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 filed on January 17, 2001.
   (8)    Amendment No. 7 dated July  31, 2001 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(8) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 filed on July 31, 2001.
   (9)    Amendment No. 8 dated April  29, 2003 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(9) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 filed on March 29, 2004.
   (10)    Amendment No. 9 dated May  6, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(10) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 filed on March 30, 2006.
   (11)    Amendment No. 10 dated November  3, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(11) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 filed on March 30, 2007.
   (12)    Amendment No. 11 dated May  9, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(12) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 filed on August 20, 2008.
   (13)    Amendment No. 12 dated September  24, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(13) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 filed on March 30, 2009.
   (14)    Amendment No. 13 dated February  17, 2010 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(14) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 filed on June 15, 2010.
   (15)    Amendment No. 14 dated July  31, 2010 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(15) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 filed on March 2, 2011.
   (16)    Amendment No. 15 dated February  18, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(16) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 filed on March 2, 2011.
   (17)    Amendment No. 16 dated February  18, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(17) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 filed on March 21, 2012.
   (18)    Amendment No. 17 dated February  18, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(18) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 filed on March 21, 2012.
   (19)    Amendment No. 18 dated November  4, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(19) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 filed on March 21, 2012.
   (20)    Amendment No. 19 dated April  1, 2012 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(20) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 filed on March 21, 2012.


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   (21)    Amendment No. 20 dated November  16, 2012 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(21) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 filed on March 22, 2013.
   (22)    Amendment No. 21 dated February  15, 2013 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(22) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 filed on March 22, 2013.
   (23)    Amendment No. 22 dated May  22, 2014 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(23) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 filed on July 7, 2014.
   (24)    Amendment No. 23 dated October  1, 2016 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(24) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 filed on September 29, 2016.
   (25)    Amendment No. 24 dated October  7, 2016 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(25) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 filed on March 29, 2017.
   (26)    Amendment No. 25 dated November  17, 2016 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(26) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 filed on March 29, 2017.
   (27)    Amendment No. 26 dated May  18, 2017 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(27) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 filed on June 26, 2017.
   (28)    Amendment No. 27 dated August  24, 2017 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(28) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 filed on September 8, 2017.
   (29)    Amendment No. 28 dated November  28, 2017 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(29) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 91 filed March 28, 2018.
   (30)    Amendment No. 29 dated July  10, 2020 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(30) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 filed on March 26, 2021.
   (31)    Amendment No. 30 dated February  12, 2021 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(31) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 filed on March 26, 2021.
   (32)    Amendment No. 31 dated April  1, 2021 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(32) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 filed on March 26, 2021.
   (33)    Amendment No. 32 dated August  19, 2021 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(33) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 102 filed on October 6, 2021.
   (34)    Amendment No. 33 dated May  18, 2023 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(34) to Amendment No. 134 filed on July 31, 2023.
   (35)    Amendment No. 34 dated February  29, 2024 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(35) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 106 filed on March 27, 2024.
   (36)    Amendment No. 35 dated November  20, 2025 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(36) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 filed on December 2, 2026.
   (37)    Amendment No. 36 dated February  19, 2026 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(37) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 filed on March 6, 2026.
   (38)    Amendment No. 37 dated May 21, 2026 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust is filed herewith.

(b)

   (1)    Amended and Restated By-Laws adopted August  2, 2000 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 filed on January 17, 2001.
   (2)    Amendment No. 1 adopted July 29, 2003 to the Amended and Restated  By-Laws incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 filed on March 29, 2004.
   (3)    Amendment No. 2 adopted April 27, 2004 to the Amended and Restated  By-Laws incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 filed on January 28, 2005.
   (4)    Amendment No. 3 adopted July 27, 2004 to the Amended and Restated  By-Laws incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 filed on January 28, 2005.
   (5)    Amendment No. 4 adopted February 14, 2008 to the Amended and Restated  By-Laws incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 filed on March 14, 2008.
   (6)    Amendment No. 5 adopted November 5, 2010 to the Amended and Restated  By-Laws incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 filed on March 2, 2011.
   (7)    Amendment No. 6 adopted August 19, 2015 to the Amended and Restated  By-Laws incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 filed on March 29, 2016.


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   (8)    Amended and Restated By-Law Amendment No.  6, adopted August 19, 2015 and Amended and Restated on August 24, 2017 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(8) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 filed on September 8, 2017.
(c)       Articles IV, V, VI, VII and IX of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July  1, 1997 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to Post-Effective No. 36 filed on January 16, 1998.
(d)    (1)    Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Treasury Portfolio and Treasury Instruments Portfolio, and Northern Trust Investments, Inc. dated June 30, 2014 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 filed on September 5, 2014.
      (i) Amended and Restated Exhibit A dated June  11, 2024 to the Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Treasury Portfolio and Treasury Instruments Portfolio, and Northern Trust Investments, Inc. dated June  30, 2014, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (d)(1)(i) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 139 filed on June 11, 2024.
   (2)    Management Agreement dated June  30, 2014 between the Registrant and Northern Trust Investments, Inc. on behalf of the Liquid Assets Portfolio filed as Exhibit (d)(3) to Amendment No. 92.
   (3)    Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of U.S. Government Select Portfolio and U.S. Government Portfolio, and Northern Trust Investments, Inc. dated July 31, 2014 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 filed on September 5, 2014.
      (i) Amended and Restated Exhibit A dated April  1, 2021 to the Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of U.S. Government Select Portfolio and U.S. Government Portfolio, and Northern Trust Investments, Inc. dated July  31, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 filed on March 26, 2021.
   (4)    Fee Reduction Commitment between the Registrant and Northern Trust Investments, Inc. dated April  1, 2017, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(18) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 filed on March 29, 2017.
   (5)    Expense Reimbursement Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Trust Investments, Inc. dated February  19, 2026, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 filed on May 5, 2026.
(e)    (1)    Distribution Agreement dated May  31, 2017 between the Registrant and Northern Funds Distributors, LLC incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 filed on June 26, 2017.
      (i) Amended and Restated Schedule A dated April 1, 2021 to the Distribution Agreement dated May  31, 2017 between the Registrant and Northern Funds Distributors, LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 filed on March 26, 2021.
   (2)    Placement Agency Agreement dated May  31, 2017 between the Registrant and Northern Funds Distributors, LLC filed as Exhibit (e) to Amendment No. 113 filed on March 28, 2018.
   (3)    Novation Agreement effective September  30, 2021 between the Registrant and Northern Funds Distributors, LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 filed on March 25, 2022.
   (4)    Novation Agreement effective September  30, 2021 between the Northern Institutional Funds, on behalf of the Liquid Assets Portfolio and Northern Funds Distributors, LLC incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 filed on March  25, 2022.
(f)       Not applicable.
(g)    (1)    Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Northern Trust Company dated June  30, 2014 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 filed on September 5, 2014.
   (2)    Amended and Restated Schedule A dated August 22, 2019 to the Custody Agreement dated June  30, 2014 between the Registrant and The Northern Trust Company incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed March 27, 2020.
   (3)    Amended and Restated Schedule B dated April 1, 2021 to the Custody Agreement dated June  30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 filed on March 26, 2021.
   (4)    Amended and Restated Schedule I dated March 2, 2023 to the Custody Agreement dated June  30, 2014 between the Registrant and The Northern Trust Company incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 filed on March 27, 2023.
   (5)    Amendment dated August 1, 2019 to the Custody Agreement dated June  30, 2014 between the Registrant and The Northern Trust Company incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed on March 27, 2020.
(h)    (1)    Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Registrant and The Northern Trust Company dated June  30, 2014 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 filed on September 5, 2014.


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   (2)    Amended and Restated Schedule A dated April 1, 2021 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June  30, 2014 between the Registrant and The Northern Trust Company incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 filed March 26, 2021.
   (3)    Amended and Restated Schedule B dated April 1, 2021 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June  30, 2014 between the Registrant and The Northern Trust Company incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 filed on March 26, 2021.
   (4)    Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated November  15, 2018 between the Registrant and The Northern Trust Company incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(23) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed on March 27, 2019.
   (5)    Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated August  1, 2019 between the Registrant and The Northern Trust Company incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed on March 27, 2020.
   (6)    Service Plan for the Service Class, the Premier Class, and the Admin Class dated January  27, 1998, as amended on February 2, 2001, February 13, 2004, November 19, 2015, November 14, 2019, June 11, 2024, and February  19, 2026, and Related Forms of Servicing Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 filed on May 5, 2026.
(i)    (1)    Opinion of Faegre Drinker Biddle And Reath LLP dated March 26, 2021, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (i)  to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 filed on March 26, 2021.
   (2)    Opinion and Consent of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP, dated December  3, 2021, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (i) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 filed on December 3, 2021.
   (3)    Opinion and Consent of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP, dated June  11, 2024 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (i)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 filed on June 11, 2024.
   (4)    Legal Opinion and Consent of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP, dated February  6, 2026, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (i)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 filed on February 6, 2026.
   (5)    Legal Opinion and Consent of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP, dated May  5, 2026, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (i)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 filed on May 5, 2026.
(j)    (1)    Consent of Deloitte  & Touche LLP dated March, 27, 2026 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (j)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 filed on March 27, 2026.
   (2)    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP with respect to Treasury Instruments Portfolio dated February  5, 2026 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (j)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No.112 filed on February 6, 2026.
   (3)    Consent of Deloitte  & Touche LLP with respect to Treasury Portfolio, Treasury Instruments Portfolio, and U.S. Government Select Portfolio dated May 4, 2026 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (j)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No.  115 filed on May 5, 2026.
(k)       Not Applicable.
(l)    (1)    Subscription Agreement dated December 8, 1982 with Goldman, Sachs  & Co. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 13 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 filed on March 27, 1998.
   (2)    Amendment No. 1 dated May 16, 1983 to Subscription Agreement with Goldman, Sachs  & Co. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 13(a) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 filed on March 27, 1998.
   (3)    Amendment No. 2 dated May 19, 1983 to Subscription Agreement with Goldman, Sachs  & Co. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 13(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 filed on March 27, 1998.
   (4)    Amendment No. 3 dated October 25, 1985 to Subscription Agreement with Goldman, Sachs  & Co. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 13(c) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 filed on March 27, 1998.
   (5)    Purchase Agreement dated September  24, 2008 for shares of the Treasury Portfolio incorporated by reference to Exhibit (l)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 filed on March 30, 2009.
   (6)    Purchase Agreement dated August  24, 2017 for Treasury Instruments Portfolio incorporated by reference to Exhibit (l)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 filed on September 8, 2017.
(m)       Not Applicable.
(n)       Amended and Restated Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 for Operation of a Multi-Class System, adopted on February 19, 2026, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (n) Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 filed on March 6, 2026.
(o)       Reserved.
(p)    (1)    Amended Code of Ethics of the Trust adopted August 2, 2000, as revised February  13, 2025 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 filed on March 28, 2025.


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(2)

   Amended Code of Ethics of Northern Trust Investments, Inc. adopted February 1, 2005, as amended January  2, 2025 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 filed on March 28, 2025.

(q) (1)

   Powers of Attorney dated February 12, 2025 incorporated by reference to Exhibit (q)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No.  109 filed on March 28, 2025.

ITEM29. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE REGISTRANT

Northern Institutional Funds (the “Registrant”) is controlled by its Board of Trustees. As of the date of this Registration Statement, Northern Funds, a Delaware Statutory Trust, is under common control with the Registrant.

ITEM30. INDEMNIFICATION

Section 3 of Article IV of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 1, 1997, as amended, provides for indemnification of the Registrant’s Trustees and officers under certain circumstances. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated by reference herein.

Each Management Agreement includes Section 11 between the Registrant and Northern Trust Investments, Inc., the investment adviser for each series of the Registrant (the “Investment Adviser” or “NTI”) which provides for indemnification of NTI as it relates to advisory services it provides to the Registrant or, in lieu thereof, contribution by the Registrant, under certain circumstances.

Section 11 of each Management Agreement also provides for indemnification of NTI as it relates to administration services and duties, against all claims except those resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of NTI, or NTI’s breach of confidentiality. The Management Agreements are incorporated by reference herein.

Section 3 of the Placement Agency Agreement and Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Funds Distributors, LLC (“NFD”) provides that the Registrant will indemnify NFD against certain liabilities relating to untrue statements, or alleged untrue statements, or omissions of material fact except those resulting from the reliance on information furnished to the Registrant by NFD, or those resulting from NFD’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties and obligations, or by reason of NFD’s reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under the Placement Agency Agreement or Distribution Agreement, or NFD’s breach of confidentiality. Section 3 of the Placement Agency Agreement and Distribution Agreement also provides that NFD will indemnify the Trustees and officers of the Registrant against certain liabilities relating to untrue statements, or alleged untrue statements, or omissions of material fact resulting from the reliance on information furnished to the Registrant by NFD, and those liabilities resulting from NFD’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under the Placement Agency Agreement and Distribution Agreement, respectively, or NFD’s breach of its confidentiality obligations under the Placement Agency Agreement and Distribution Agreement, respectively. The Placement Agency Agreement and Distribution Agreement are incorporated by reference herein.

A mutual fund trustee and officer liability policy purchased by the Registrant insures the Registrant and its Trustees and officers, subject to the policy’s coverage limits and exclusions and varying deductibles, against loss resulting from claims by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.

ITEM31. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

Northern Trust Investments, Inc. (“NTI”), an indirect subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation, serves as investment adviser of each of the Portfolios. NTI is referred to as the “Investment Adviser.” NTI is an Illinois State Banking Corporation and an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. It primarily manages assets for institutional and individual separately managed accounts, investment companies and bank common and collective funds. Northern Trust Corporation is regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as a financial holding company under the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. NTI is located at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. Set forth below is a list of officers and directors of NTI, together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years. The table below was provided to the Registrant by the Investment Adviser for inclusion in this Registration Statement.

 

Name and Position with

Investment Adviser (NTI)

  

Name of Other Company

  

Position with Other Company

Hunstad, Michael Ryan

Director, Chairman, President, and Chief Investment Officer

   None    None

Hawkins, Sheri B.

Director and Executive Vice President

   The Northern Trust Company    Executive Vice President


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Name and Position with

Investment Adviser (NTI)

  

Name of Other Company

  

Position with Other Company

Kar, Paula

Director, Global Head of Product, and Executive Vice President

   None    None

Kumar, Archana

Director, Chief Operating Officer, and Executive Vice President

  

50 South Capital Advisors, LLC

NT Global Advisors, Inc.

The Northern Trust Company

  

Manager

Director

Executive Vice President

Thomas, Sunitha Cherian

Director, Head of Wealth & Intermediary Client Group, and Senior Vice President

   The Northern Trust Company    Head of Wealth & Intermediary Client Group

McInerney, Joseph W.

Chief Risk Officer and Executive Vice President

   50 South Capital Advisors, LLC    Manager

Crowley, Shannon

Head of Marketing and Senior Vice President

   None    None

Rudd, David

Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Cashier

   NT Global Advisors, Inc.    Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President

Bahuguna, Anwiti

Co-Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President

   The Northern Trust Company    Executive Vice President

Roth, Christian

Co-Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President

   None    None

Carberry, Craig R.

Chief Legal Officer, Senior Trust

Officer, and Secretary

  

The Northern Trust Company

Northern Trust Securities, Inc.

Northern Trust Corporation

  

Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President

Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

Deputy General Counsel

Caron, Judy A.

Assistant Trust Officer, and Assistant Secretary

   None    None

Teufel, Maya G.

Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President

   None    None

Delp, Lyenda

Director and Executive Vice President

   The Northern Trust Company    Executive Vice President

McCarter, Jeffrey

Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President

   The Northern Trust Company    Executive Vice President

Roche, Daniel Thomas

Business Unit Chief Information Security Officer and Senior Vice President

   None    None

Chappell, Darlene

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Vice President

  

50 South Capital Advisors, LLC

Northern Trust Securities, Inc.

  

AML Compliance Officer

AML Compliance Officer

Del Real, Jose J.

Assistant Trust Officer and Assistant Secretary

   The Northern Trust Company    Assistant General Counsel and Senior Vice President

Caron, Judy A.

Assistant Trust Officer and Assistant Secretary

   None    None


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Name and Position with

Investment Adviser (NTI)

  

Name of Other Company

  

Position with Other Company

Feeney, Angelica C.

Assistant Secretary

  

None

  

None

Vargas, Belinda

Assistant Secretary

  

None

  

None

Zielinski, Kimberly

Assistant Secretary

  

None

  

None

ITEM32. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS

 

  (a)

Northern Funds Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (other than the Registrant):

 

  1.

Northern Funds

 

  (b)

The following are the Officers and Manager of the Distributor, the Registrant’s underwriter, none of whom serve as an officer of the Registrant. The Distributor’s main business address is 190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, Maine 04101.

 

Name    Address    Position(s) with Distributor    Position(s) with Registrant

Teresa Cowan

   190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101    President/Manager   

None

Chris Lanza

   190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101    Vice President   

None

Kate Macchia

   190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101    Vice President   

None

Nanette K. Chern

   190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101    Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer   

None

Kelly B. Whetstone

   190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101    Secretary   

None

Susan L. LaFond

   190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101    Treasurer   

None

Weston Sommers

   190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101    Financial and Operations Principal and Chief Financial Officer   

None

 

  (c)

Not applicable.

ITEM33. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

The location of accounts and records was provided in the most recent report on Form N-CEN filed by the Registrant.

ITEM34. MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Not Applicable.

ITEM35. UNDERTAKINGS

Not Applicable.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois on the 25th day of June, 2026.

 

NORTHERN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS

By:

 

/s/ Kevin P. O’Rourke

 

Kevin P. O’Rourke

President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Name    Title    Date

/s/ Kevin P. O’Rourke

Kevin P. O’Rourke

   President (Principal Executive Officer)    June 25, 2026

/s/ Randal E. Rein

Randal E. Rein

  

Treasurer (Principal Financial and

Accounting Officer)

   June 25, 2026

/s/ Therese M. Bobek*

Therese M. Bobek

   Trustee    June 25, 2026

/s/ Ingrid LaMae A. de Jongh*

Ingrid LaMae A. de Jongh

   Trustee    June 25, 2026

/s/ Thomas A. Kloet*

Thomas A. Kloet

   Trustee    June 25, 2026

/s/ David R. Martin*

David R. Martin

   Trustee    June 25, 2026

/s/ William Martin*

William Martin

   Trustee    June 25, 2026

/s/ Cynthia R. Plouché*

Cynthia R. Plouché

   Trustee    June 25, 2026

/s/ Mary Jacobs Skinner*

Mary Jacobs Skinner

   Trustee    June 25, 2026

/s/ Paula Kar*

Paula Kar

   Trustee    June 25, 2026

/s/ Kevin P. O’Rourke

*By Kevin P. O’Rourke

Attorney-In-Fact (pursuant to Power of Attorney previously filed)

     


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ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

EX-99.(A)(38)



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