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Form N-1A Connors Funds

September 24, 2021 5:13 PM EDT

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 24, 2021

1933 Act Registration Number – ________

1940 Act Registration Number – 811-23742

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]

Pre-Effective Amendment No. ___

Post-Effective Amendment No. ___

and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]

Amendment No. ___

 

CONNORS FUNDS

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

1210 Broadcasting Road, Suite 200

Wyomissing, PA 19610

(Address of Principal Office)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: 610-376-7418

 

Peter Connors, President

c/o Connors Investor Services, Inc.

1210 Broadcasting Road, Suite 200, Wyomissing, PA 19610

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

With copy to: Jeffrey T. Skinner, Esq.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

1001 West Fourth Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

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

 

[ ] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
[ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
[ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
[x] as soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement

 

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

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

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states the Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a) may determine.

 

 

 

The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The Fund 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.

 

Subject to Completion, dated September 24, 2021.  

 

Connors Hedged Equity Fund

 

a series of the Connors Funds

 

Institutional Class: (___)

 

Managed by

Connors Investor Services, Inc.

 

PROSPECTUS

 

_______, 2021

 

 

 

For information or assistance in opening an account,

please call toll-free [phone number]

 

This Prospectus has information about the Fund that you should know before you invest. You should read it carefully and keep it with your investment records.

 

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved the Fund’s shares or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

[To be inserted]

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RISK/RETURN SUMMARY

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Connors Hedged Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve capital appreciation and secondarily income generation, with lower volatility than U.S. equity markets.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.

 

Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

 

  Institutional Class
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends None
Redemption Fee None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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

 

  Institutional Class
Management Fees [0.80]%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees [0.25]%
Other Expenses(1) [__]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses [__]
Less Management Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements(1) [__]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) [1.15]%

 

(1)Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

 

(2)Connors Investor Services, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed, until _______, 2023 to reduce Management Fees and reimburse Other Expenses to the extent necessary to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding brokerage costs, taxes, interest, borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, costs to organize the Fund, extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business) to [1.15]% of the Fund’s average daily net assets of its Institutional Class shares. Management Fee reductions and expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Fund for a period of three years after the date that such fees and expenses were incurred, provided that the repayments do not cause Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of such reductions and reimbursements) to exceed (i) the expense limitation then in effect, if any, and (ii) the expense limitation in effect at the time the expenses to be repaid were incurred. Prior to _______, 2023, this agreement may not be modified or terminated without the approval of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”). This agreement will terminate automatically if the Fund’s investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser.

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Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same and the contractual agreement to limit expenses remains in effect only until ____, 2023. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years
[___] [___]

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. As the Fund recently commenced operations, there is not yet any portfolio turnover to report.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. In an effort to reduce volatility and generate income, the Fund will also write call options on a portion of the equity securities in the Fund’s portfolio (i.e., it will write covered calls).

 

The Fund seeks to invest in a diversified portfolio of equity securities, primarily comprised of common stocks and other equity securities of U.S. large-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies (i.e., companies that have market capitalizations of greater than $2 billion at the time of initial purchase). The Fund typically invests in approximately 25-50 equity securities that are diversified among market sectors. In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser emphasizes companies that exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: fundamental quality, strong profitability, and proven management teams. As a result of its investment strategy, the Fund may engage in frequent trading of portfolio securities. The Adviser may determine to sell an equity security if the company is exhibiting deteriorating fundamentals or technical breakdowns, if there has been an alteration of the Adviser’s initial investment thesis, if the holding reaches targets set by the Adviser or the Adviser determines such targets are not likely to be reached in a timely manner, or if the Adviser identifies other, more attractive opportunities.

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The Fund generally seeks to have call options written on between 25%-75% of the Fund’s equity holdings, but this can vary significantly depending upon the Adviser’s investment outlook or as a result of other factors such as significant inflows into the Fund or rising equity markets resulting in options being exercised and portfolio securities being called away. Depending on market conditions, the Fund may from time to time purchase put options or utilize put spreads on broad-based securities indexes (such as the S&P 500) to seek to offset some of the risk of a potential decline in value of the Fund’s equity holdings.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

As with any mutual fund investment, there is a risk that you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The success of the Fund’s investment strategy depends largely upon the Adviser’s skill in selecting securities for purchase and sale by the Fund and there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Because of the types of securities in which the Fund invests and the investment techniques the Adviser uses, the Fund is designed for investors who are investing for the long term. The Fund is not intended to be complete investment program. The principal risks of an investment in the Fund are generally described below.

 

Active Management Risk. Due to the active management of the Fund by the Adviser, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The prices of equity securities in which the Fund invests may fluctuate in response to many factors, including, but not limited to, the activities of the individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, interest rates, and specific industry changes. Such price fluctuations subject the Fund to potential losses.

 

Large-Cap Company Risk. Large-capitalization companies are generally more mature and may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller companies to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

Mid-Cap Company Risk. Investing in mid-capitalization companies involves greater risk than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies. Mid-cap companies frequently have less management depth and experience, narrower market penetrations, less diverse product lines, less competitive strengths and fewer resources. Due to these and other factors, stocks of mid-cap companies may be more susceptible to market downturns and other events, less liquid, and their prices may be more volatile.

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Investment Style and Management Risk. The Adviser’s method of security selection may not be successful and the Fund may underperform relative to other mutual funds that employ similar investment strategies. The Fund’s asset allocation style may not be implemented successfully, negatively affecting the Fund’s performance. In addition, the Adviser may select investments that depreciate or fail to appreciate as anticipated.

 

Market Risk. Market risk is the risk that the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio may decline due to daily fluctuations in the securities markets that are generally beyond the Adviser’s control, including fluctuation in interest rates, the quality of the Fund’s investments, economic conditions and general bond market conditions. Certain market events could increase volatility and exacerbate market risk, such as changes in governments’ economic policies, political turmoil, environmental events, trade disputes, and epidemics, pandemics, or other public health issues. For example, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty, thus causing significant disruptions to global business activity and financial markets. Turbulence in financial markets, and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers domestically and/or worldwide, and can result in trading halts, any of which could have an adverse impact on the Fund. During periods of market volatility, security prices (including securities held by the Fund) could change drastically and with rapidity and therefore adversely affect the Fund.

 

Options Risk. Investments in options involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying securities. The value of the Fund’s option positions will fluctuate in response to changes in the value of the underlying security or index. The Fund’s ability to utilize options successfully will depend on the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict future price fluctuations, which cannot be assured. There are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation among these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. When the Fund writes covered call options, the premium received for writing the call option generates income to the Fund; however, the Fund’s participation in gains above the sum of the premium and the strike price of the call are forfeited in return for receiving the call option premium while the Fund retains the risk of a decline in value of the underlying security. The premiums received from the options may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from the volatility of the underlying stocks over time. In addition, the Fund’s ability to sell the underlying securities will be limited while the option is in effect unless the Fund extinguishes the option position through the purchase of an offsetting identical option prior to the expiration of the written option. The Fund’s options will also be subject to the risk that exchanges may suspend the trading of options in volatile markets, in which case the Fund may be unable to write options at times that may be desirable or advantageous to the Fund to do so.

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Portfolio Turnover Risk. Frequent and active trading may result in higher transaction costs to the Fund, including brokerage commissions, which may lower the Fund’s performance and may result in the realization of capital gains, including net short-term capital gains, which must generally be distributed to shareholders. Therefore, high portfolio turnover may reduce the Fund’s returns and increase taxable distributions to shareholders.

 

New Fund and Manager Risk. The Fund was formed in 2021 and has no operating history. In addition, although the principals of the Adviser have investment management experience, none have experience managing an open-end mutual fund prior to the Fund. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy or growing to an economically viable size.

 

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

 

The Fund recently commenced operations and therefore does not yet have performance history for a full calendar year to report. After the Fund has returns for a full calendar year, this Prospectus will provide performance information that gives some indication of the risks of an investment in the Fund by comparing the Fund’s performance with a broad measure of market performance. How the Fund has performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Performance information, current through the most recent month end, is available by calling [phone number] or by visiting the Fund’s website at [website address].

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Connors Investor Services, Inc. is the Fund’s investment adviser.

 

Portfolio Managers

Investment Experience with the Fund Primary Title with Adviser
Robert Cagliola Since inception of the Fund Vice President
Robert Hahn Since inception of the Fund Vice President

 

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

 

Minimum Initial Investment

 

For Institutional Class shares, the minimum investment amount is $25,000 for all regular accounts.

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Minimum Additional Investment

 

For Institutional Class shares, the minimum additional investment amount is $1,000 for all regular accounts.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase or redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. Transactions may be initiated by written request, by telephone or through your financial intermediary. Written requests to the Fund should be sent to the Connors Hedged Equity Fund, [address]. For more information about purchasing and redeeming shares, please see “How to Buy Shares” and “How to Redeem Shares” in this Prospectus or call [phone number] for assistance.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The Fund’s distributions are generally taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account (“IRA”). Such tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements.

 

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

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

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND’S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

Investment Objective

 

The Connors Hedged Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve capital appreciation and secondarily income generation, with lower volatility than U.S. equity markets. The Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has reserved the right to change the investment objective of the Fund without shareholder approval upon at least 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. In an effort to reduce volatility and generate income, the Fund will also write call options on a portion of the equity securities in the Fund’s portfolio (i.e., it will write covered calls).

 

The Fund seeks to invest in a diversified portfolio of equity securities, primarily comprised of common stocks and other equity securities of U.S. large-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies (i.e., companies that have market capitalizations of greater than $2 billion at the time of initial purchase). The Fund typically invests in approximately 25-50 equity securities that are diversified among market sectors. In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser emphasizes companies that exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: fundamental quality, strong profitability, and proven management teams. Factors considered by the Adviser in screening for these characteristics include, without limitation, the following: industry leadership, positive earnings and revenue growth, high return on equity, expanding profit margins, strong balance sheets, historic and projected cash flow growth and reasonable valuations. The Adviser may determine to sell an equity security if the company is exhibiting deteriorating fundamentals or technical breakdowns, if there has been an alteration of the Adviser’s initial investment thesis, if the holding reaches targets set by the Adviser or the Adviser determines such targets are not likely to be reached in a timely manner, or if the Adviser identifies other, more attractive opportunities. As a result of its investment strategy, the Fund may engage in frequent trading of portfolio securities.

 

The Fund generally seeks to have call options written on between 25%-75% of the Fund’s equity holdings, but this can vary significantly depending upon the Adviser’s investment outlook or as a result of other factors such as significant inflows into the Fund or rising equity markets resulting in options being exercised and portfolio securities being called away. Depending on market conditions, the Fund may from time to time purchase put options or utilize put spreads on broad-based securities indexes (such as the S&P 500) to seek to offset some of the risk of a potential decline in value of the Fund’s equity holdings.

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The Fund will typically hold a portion of its assets in cash or cash equivalent securities, including short-term debt securities, repurchase agreements and money market mutual fund shares (“Money Market Instruments”). The Fund may invest in Money Market Instruments to maintain liquidity or pending the selection of investments. From time to time, the Fund also may, but should not be expected to, take temporary defensive positions in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, and in doing so, may invest up to 100% of its assets in Money Market Instruments. To the extent the Fund holds other registered investment companies, including money market mutual funds, the Fund will incur acquired fund fees and expenses (as defined by the SEC). Anytime the Fund takes a temporary defensive position, it may not achieve its investment objective.

 

Additional Information About Principal Risks

 

Active Management Risk. Due to the active management of the Fund by the Adviser, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. The Adviser’s method of security selection may not be successful. In addition, the Adviser may select investments that fail to perform as anticipated. The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the success of the Adviser’s investment process and there is no guarantee that the Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, and potential income and/or capital appreciation of a particular investment for the Fund will be correct or produce the desired results.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The prices of equity securities in which the Fund invests may fluctuate in response to many factors, including, but not limited to, the activities of the individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, interest rates, and specific industry changes. Such price fluctuations subject the Fund to potential losses. In addition, regardless of any one company’s particular prospects, a declining stock market may produce a decline in prices for all equity securities, which could also result in losses for the Fund. Market declines may continue for an indefinite period of time, and investors should understand that during temporary or extended bear markets, the value of equity securities will likely decline.

 

Large-Cap Company Risk. Large-capitalization companies are generally more mature and may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller companies to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

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Mid-Cap Company Risk. Investing in the securities of mid-cap companies generally involves greater risk than investing in larger, more established companies. This greater risk is, in part, attributable to the fact that the securities of mid-cap companies usually have more limited marketability and, therefore, may be more volatile than securities of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. Because mid-cap companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies, it may be more difficult to buy or sell significant amounts of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices (i.e., shares of mid-cap companies may be less liquid relative to shares of large-cap companies). Another risk factor is that mid-cap companies often have limited product lines, markets, or financial resources and may lack management depth. Additionally, mid-cap companies are typically subject to greater changes in earnings and business prospects than are larger, more established companies. Mid-cap companies may not be well-known to the investing public, may not be followed by the financial press or industry analysts, and may not have institutional ownership. These factors affect the Adviser’s access to information about the companies and the stability of the markets for the companies’ securities. Mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments. If the companies do not succeed, the prices of the companies’ shares could dramatically decline in value.

 

Investment Style and Management Risk. The Adviser’s method of security selection may not be successful and the Fund may underperform relative to other mutual funds that employ similar investment strategies. The Fund’s style may go out of favor with investors, negatively affecting the Fund’s performance. In addition, the Adviser may select investments that fail to appreciate as anticipated. The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the success of the Adviser’s investment process and there is no guarantee that the Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of a particular investment for the Fund will be correct or produce the desired results.

 

Market Risk. Investments in securities and other investments in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Investments may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, or particular countries, segments, economic sectors, industries or companies within those markets. The value of a security may decline due to general economic, political and market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular issuer, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions or changes in interest or currency rates. During those periods, the Fund may experience high levels of shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when the Fund would otherwise not do so, potentially at unfavorable prices. Certain securities may be difficult to value during such periods. Fluctuations in the value of the Fund’s securities (which may be material on a daily, weekly, monthly or other basis) will cause the NAV of the Fund to fluctuate. Certain market events could increase volatility and exacerbate market risk, such as changes in governments’ economic policies, political turmoil, environmental events, trade disputes, and epidemics, pandemics or other public health issues. For example, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that emerged in 2020 resulted in closing borders, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, and company closings and product cutbacks, as well as general concern and uncertainty, thus causing significant disruptions to global business activity and financial markets, the broad effects of which are currently difficult to assess. Turbulence in financial markets, and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers domestically and around the world, and can result in trading halts, any of which could have an adverse impact on the Fund. During periods of market volatility, security prices (including securities held by the Fund) could fall drastically and rapidly and therefore adversely affect the Fund.

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Options Risk. There are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation among these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. The Fund’s ability to utilize options successfully will depend on the Adviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. The Fund’s ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an exchange-listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the options market. If the Fund were unable to close out an option that it had purchased on a security, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit or the option would expire and become worthless. If the Fund were unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expired.

 

As the writer of a covered call option on a security, the Fund foregoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the exercise price of the call. The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets until the next trading day.

 

The Fund may also purchase or write over-the-counter put or call options, which involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with exchange-listed put or call options. In some instances, over-the-counter put or call options may expose the Fund to the risk that a counterparty may be unable or unwilling to perform according to a contract, and that any deterioration in a counterparty’s creditworthiness could adversely affect the instrument. Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty function in an over-the-counter option. As a result, if the counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the security or other instrument underlying an over-the-counter option it has entered into with the Fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, the Fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. The Adviser must assess the creditworthiness of each such counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the counterparty’s credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the over-the-counter option will be satisfied. The Fund may be exposed to a risk that losses may exceed the amount originally invested.

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The Fund may purchase or write put or call options in combinations, including, without limitation, spreads, straddles and collars. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out. In “spread” transactions, the Fund buys and writes a put or buys and writes a call on the same underlying instrument with the options having different exercise prices, expiration dates, or both. In “straddles,” a Fund purchases a put option and a call option or writes a put option and a call option on the same instrument with the same expiration date and the same exercise price. When a Fund engages in spread and straddle transactions, it seeks to profit from differences in the option premiums paid and received and in the market prices of the related options positions when they are closed out or sold. Because these transactions require the Fund to buy and/or write more than one option simultaneously, the Fund’s ability to enter into such transactions and to liquidate its positions when necessary or deemed advisable may be more limited than if the Fund were to buy or sell a single option. Similarly, costs incurred by the Fund in connection with these transactions will in many cases be greater than if the Fund were to buy or sell a single option. A Fund also may use option “collars.” A “collar” position combines a put option purchased by the Fund (the right of the Fund to sell a specific security within a specified period) with a call option that is written by the Fund (the right of the counterparty to buy the same security) in a single instrument. The Fund’s right to sell the security is typically set at a price that is below the counterparty’s right to buy the security. Thus, the combined position “collars” the performance of the underlying security, providing protection from depreciation below the price specified in the put option, and allowing for participation in any appreciation up to the price specified by the call option. In each case, the premium received for writing an option offsets, in part, the premium paid to purchase the corresponding option, however, downside protection may be limited as compared to just owning a single option. Also, certain option combinations, such as straddles, may be subject to special tax rules.

 

Portfolio Turnover. High portfolio turnover rates will generally result in higher transaction costs to the Fund, including brokerage commissions, which may result in greater expenses to the Fund and reduce the Fund’s returns. High portfolio turnover may also result in realization of capital gains, including short-term capital gains, which may have additional tax consequences to the Fund’s shareholders. Portfolio turnover will not be a factor in making buy and sell decisions for the Fund.

 

New Fund and Manager Risk. The Fund is new and has no operating history. In addition, the Adviser has no experience managing an open-end mutual fund. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy or growing to an economically viable size.

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Money Market Funds. The Fund may invest in underlying money market funds that either seek to maintain a stable $1 NAV (“stable NAV money market funds”) or that have a share price that fluctuates (“variable NAV money market funds”). Although an underlying stable NAV money market fund seeks to maintain a stable $1 NAV, it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in such a money market fund. Because the share price of an underlying variable NAV money market fund will fluctuate, when the Fund sells the shares it owns they may be worth more or less than what the Fund originally paid for them. In addition, neither type of money market fund is designed to offer capital appreciation. Certain underlying money market funds may impose a fee upon the sale of shares or may temporarily suspend the ability to sell shares if such fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums.

 

In addition to the strategies and risks described above, the Fund may invest in other types of securities whose risks are described below or in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

 

CFTC Regulation Risk. To the extent the Fund makes investments regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”), the Fund intends to do so in accordance with Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”). The Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, intends to file a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with Rule 4.5 and therefore, the Adviser will not be subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. If the Adviser is unable to comply with the requirements of Rule 4.5, the Fund may be required to modify the Fund’s investment strategies or be subject to CFTC registration requirements, either of which may have an adverse effect on the Fund.

 

Additional Information. Whether the Fund is an appropriate investment for an investor will depend largely upon the investor’s financial resources and individual investment goals and objectives.

 

Portfolio Holdings and Disclosure Policy. A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund's SAI and on the Fund’s website at [website address].

 

FUND MANAGEMENT

 

The Investment Adviser

 

Connors Investor Services, Inc., located at 1210 Broadcasting Road, Suite 200, Wyomissing, PA 19610, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides the Fund with a continuous program of investing the Fund’s assets and determining the composition of the Fund’s portfolio. The Adviser is responsible for formulating the Fund’s investment program, making day-to-day investment decisions and engaging in portfolio transactions. The Adviser is a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware, began operations in 1969, and provides services to institutions, foundations, non-profit organization sand high net worth individuals. Although the principals of the Adviser have more than 45 years of investment management experience, neither the principals of the Adviser nor the Adviser had experience as an investment adviser to a mutual fund prior to the Fund's inception.

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For its services, the Fund pays the Adviser a monthly investment advisory fee (the “Management Fee”) computed at the annual rate of [0.80]% of its average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed under an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”), until ______, 2023 to reduce its Management Fees and reimburse Other Expenses to the extent necessary to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding brokerage costs; taxes; interest; costs to organize the Fund; borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses; extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs, and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business) to [1.15]% of the Fund’s average daily net assets of its Institutional Class shares. Management Fee reductions and expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Fund for a period of three years after the date that such fees and expenses were incurred, provided that the repayments do not cause Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of such reductions and reimbursements) to exceed (i) the expense limitation then in effect, if any, and (ii) the expense limitation in effect at the time the expenses to be repaid were incurred. Prior to ___, 2023 this agreement may not be modified or terminated without the approval of the Board. After ____, 2023, the Expense Limitation Agreement may continue from year-to-year provided such continuance is approved by the Board. The Expense Limitation Agreement may be terminated by the Adviser, or the Board, without approval by the other party, at the end of the then current term upon not less than 90 days’ notice to the other parties as set forth in the Expense Limitation Agreement. The Expense Limitation Agreement will terminate automatically if the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser is terminated.

 

A discussion of the factors considered by the Board in its approval of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser, including the Board’s conclusions with respect thereto, will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual report for the period ended May 31, 2022. You may obtain a copy of the Semi-Annual Report free of charge, upon request to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The following individuals have primary responsibility for day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

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Robert J. Cagliola. Mr. Cagliola is a Vice President of the Adviser. Among other things, Mr. Cagliola is co-portfolio manager for the Adviser’s Covered Call Strategy. Mr. Cagliola has been with the Adviser since 1999, and prior to that time he was employed by Miller Anderson & Sherrerd, an asset management firm in West Conshohocken, PA, and as a Portfolio Analyst with SEI Investment Co. in Wayne, PA. Mr. Cagliola received a BS/BA degree in Finance and Economics from Shippensburg University in 1989, an MBA from Temple University in 1995, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder.

 

Robert W. Hahn. Mr. Hahn is a Vice President of the Adviser. Among other things, Mr. Hahn is co-portfolio manager for the Adviser’s Covered Call strategy. Mr. Hahn has been with the Adviser since 2017, and prior to that time he worked in equity research at Raymond James, a brokerage firm in St. Petersburg, FL and as a Senior Equity Analyst with Eagle Asset Management in St. Petersburg, FL. Mr. Hahn received undergraduate and graduate degrees in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University, an MBA from Indiana University, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder.

 

The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers and their ownership of shares of the Fund.

 

The Administrator and Transfer Agent

 

[Administrator Name] (“[Administrator Name]”, the “Administrator”, or the “Transfer Agent”), located at [address], serves as the Fund’s administrator, transfer agent and fund accounting agent. Management and administrative services provided to the Fund by Administrator include (i) providing office space, equipment and officers and clerical personnel to the Fund, (ii) obtaining valuations, calculating net asset values and performing other accounting, tax and financial services, (iii) recordkeeping, (iv) regulatory reporting services, (v) processing shareholder account transactions and disbursing dividends and distributions, and (vi) administering custodial and other third party service provider contracts on behalf of the Fund.

 

The Distributor

 

[Distributor name] (the “Distributor”), located at [address], is the Fund’s principal underwriter and serves as the exclusive agent for the distribution of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor may sell the Fund’s shares to or through qualified securities dealers or other approved entities.

 

The SAI has more detailed information about the Adviser and other service providers to the Fund.

 16 

 

RELATED PERFORMANCE OF ADVISER

 

The following performance information data shows prior performance of a collective investment fund (the “Account” or the “Connors Covered Call Fund”) managed by Connors Investor Services, Inc. The Account has an investment objective, policies, strategies and restrictions that are substantially similar to the Fund. There are no material differences between the strategies the Adviser employs to manage the Account and those that will apply to the Fund and any immaterial difference in the strategies would not have had a material impact on performance, and would not alter the conclusion that Accounts and the Fund are substantially similar.

 

The Adviser began managing the Account on September 14, 2016. The performance table below provides a summary of the performance of the Account as of [Date], and compares the Account’s performance during those periods against an appropriate broad-based securities market index, the S&P 500 Index, as well as the CBOE BXMSM Index. Robert Cagliola and Robert Hahn, who are primarily responsible of the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, have been primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Account, with respect to Mr. Cagliola, throughout the entire period presented, and with respect to Mr. Hahn, since September, 2017.

 

The performance of the Account does not represent the historical performance of the Fund and should not be considered a substitute for the Fund’s performance or indicative of past or future performance of the Fund. Results may differ because of, among other things, differences in brokerage commissions, account expenses (including management fees), the size of positions taken in relation to account size and diversification of securities, timing of purchases and sales, and availability of cash for new investments. In addition, the Account is not subject to certain investment limitations or other restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code which, if applicable, may have adversely affected the performance results of the Account. The results for different periods may vary.

 

The performance data provided below for the Account was calculated by the Adviser. The performance is net of 0.70% in annual operating expenses (which includes management fees and all transaction costs). The total operating expenses for the Account were less than the Fund’s anticipated total annual operating expenses. The Account’s performance would be lower if it was calculated using the Fund’s anticipated total annual operating expenses. Results include the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains but do not reflect the impact of taxes.

 

  YTD 1 Year 3 Year1 Since Inception1
Connors Covered Call Fund        
S&P 500® Index2        
CBOE BXM Index3        

 

1Annualized

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2The S&P 500®Index is a market capitalization-weighted index of 500 widely held stocks often used as a proxy for the stock market. Unlike mutual funds, the index does not incur expenses. If expenses were deducted, the actual returns of this index would be lower.
3The CBOE S&P 500 BuyWrite Index (BXM℠) is a passive total return index based on (1) buying an S&P 500®Index stock index portfolio, and (2) "writing" (or selling) the near-term S&P 500® Index (SPX℠) "covered" call option, generally on the third Friday of each month. The SPX℠ call written will have about one month remaining to expiration, with an exercise price just above the prevailing index level (i.e., slightly out of the money). The SPX℠ call is held until expiration and cash settled, at which time a new one-month, near-the-money call is written. Unlike mutual funds, the index does not incur expenses. If expenses were deducted, the actual returns of this index would be lower.

 

DISTRIBUTION PLAN

 

The Fund has adopted a plan of distribution for its Institutional Class shares (the “12b-1 Plan”) in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The 12b-1 Plan allows the Fund to make payments to securities dealers and other financial organizations (including payments directly to the Adviser and the Distributor) for expenses related to the distribution and servicing of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares. The annual fees payable under the 12b-1 Plan may not exceed an amount equal to [0.25]% of the Institutional Class shares’ average daily net assets. Because 12b-1 Plan fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time they will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. Expenses related to the distribution and servicing of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares may include, but are not limited to, payments to securities dealers and other persons who are engaged in the sale of Institutional Class shares of the Fund and who may be advising shareholders regarding the sale or retention of such shares; expenses of maintaining personnel who render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Transfer Agent or the Fund; expenses of formulating and implementing marketing and promotional activities, including direct mail promotions and mass media advertising; expenses of preparing, printing or distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Fund; expenses of obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable; and any other expenses related to the distribution and servicing of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares. The Adviser may make additional payments to financial organizations from its own assets. The payment by the Adviser of any such additional compensation will not affect the expense ratio of the Fund.

 

HOW THE FUND VALUES ITS SHARES

 

The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day that the NYSE is open for business. Currently, the NYSE is closed on weekends and in recognition of the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. To calculate NAV, the Fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and the balance is divided by the number of shares outstanding. The Fund generally values its portfolio securities at their current market values determined based on available market quotations. However, if market quotations are not available or are considered unreliable due to market or other events, portfolio securities will be valued at their fair values, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, as determined in good faith under procedures adopted by the Board. When fair value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by the Fund to calculate its NAV are based on the consideration by the Fund of a number of subjective factors and therefore may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities. To the extent the assets of the Fund are invested in other registered investment companies that are not listed on an exchange, the Fund’s NAV is calculated based upon the NAVs reported by such registered investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

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Your order to purchase or redeem shares is priced at the NAV next calculated after your order is received in proper form by the Fund. An order is considered to be in “proper form” if it includes all necessary information and documentation related to the purchase or redemption request, and, if applicable, payment in full of the purchase amount.

 

HOW TO BUY SHARES

 

Shares are available for purchase from the Fund every day the NYSE is open for business, at the NAV next calculated after receipt of a purchase order in proper form. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request and/or suspend its offering of shares at any time. Investors who purchase shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may be charged a fee by such broker-dealer or intermediary. The Fund mails you confirmations of all purchases or redemptions of Fund shares if shares are purchased directly through the Fund. Certificates representing Fund shares are not issued.

 

The Fund currently offers one class of shares: Institutional Class shares. The Fund may offer additional classes of shares in the future.

 

Minimum Initial Investment

 

The minimum initial investment for all accounts in the Fund is $25,000 for the Institutional Class shares. This minimum initial investment requirement may be waived or reduced for any reason at the discretion of the Fund.

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Opening an Account

 

An account may be opened by mail or bank wire if it is submitted in proper form, as follows:

 

By Mail. To open a new account by mail:

 

·Complete and sign the account application.

 

·Enclose a check payable to the Fund.

 

·Mail the application and the check to the Transfer Agent at the following address: 

 

Connors Hedged Equity Fund
[Address]

 

Shares will be issued at the NAV next computed after receipt of your application, in proper form, and check. All purchases must be made in U.S. dollars and checks must be drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept cash, drafts, “starter” checks, travelers checks, credit card checks, post-dated checks, non-U.S. financial institution checks, cashier’s checks under $10,000, or money orders. In addition, the Fund does not accept checks made payable to third parties. When shares are purchased by check, the proceeds from the redemption of those shares will not be paid until the purchase check has been converted to federal funds, which could take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase. If an order to purchase shares is canceled because your check does not clear, you will be responsible for any resulting losses or other fees incurred by the Fund or the Transfer Agent in the transaction.

 

By sending your check to the Transfer Agent, please be aware that you are authorizing the Transfer Agent to make a one-time electronic debit from your account at the financial institution indicated on your check. Your bank account will be debited as early as the same day the Transfer Agent receives your payment in the amount of your check; no additional amount will be added to the total. The transaction will appear on your bank statement. Your original check will be destroyed once processed, and you will not receive your canceled check back. If the Transfer Agent cannot post the transaction electronically, you authorize the Transfer Agent to present an image copy of your check for payment.

 

By Wire. To open a new account by wire of federal funds, call the Transfer Agent at [phone number] to obtain the necessary information to instruct your financial institution to wire your investment. A representative will assist you in obtaining an account application, which must be completed, signed and faxed (or mailed) to the Transfer Agent before payment by wire will be accepted.

 

The Fund requires advance notification of all wire purchases in order to ensure that the wire is received in proper form and that your account is subsequently credited in a timely fashion. Failure to notify the Transfer Agent prior to the transmittal of the bank wire may result in a delay in purchasing shares of the Fund. An order, following proper advance notification to the Transfer Agent, is considered received when the Fund’s custodian, receives payment by wire. If your account application was faxed to the Transfer Agent, you must also mail the completed account application to the Transfer Agent on the same day the wire payment is made. See “Opening an Account – By Mail” above. Your financial institution may charge a fee for wiring funds. Shares will be issued at the NAV next computed after receipt of your wire in proper form.

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Through Your Broker or Financial Institution. Shares of the Fund may be purchased through certain brokerage firms and financial institutions that are authorized to accept orders on behalf of the Fund at the NAV next determined after your order is received by such organization in proper form. These organizations are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase orders on the Fund's behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee, receives the order in proper form. Certain financial intermediaries may charge fees for purchase and/or redemption transactions by customers, depending on the nature and terms of the financial intermediaries’ particular platform. Additionally, investors purchasing shares from a broker or other financial intermediary may be required to pay a commission in connection with such purchase. These organizations may charge you transaction fees on purchases of Fund shares and may impose other charges or restrictions or account options that differ from those applicable to shareholders who purchase shares directly through the Fund. These organizations may be the shareholders of record of your shares. Such investors should consult with their financial intermediary regarding any commissions and other fees and expenses of the shares being purchased. The Fund is not responsible for ensuring that the organizations carry out their obligations to their customers. Shareholders investing in this manner should look to the organization through which they invest for specific instructions on how to purchase and redeem shares.

 

Subsequent Investments

 

Once an account is open, additional purchases of Fund shares may be made at any time in any amount. Additional purchases must be submitted in proper form as described below. Additional purchases may be made:

 

·By sending a check, made payable to the Fund, [address]. Be sure to note your account number on the memo line of your check. The shareholder will be responsible for any fees incurred or losses suffered by the Fund as a result of any check returned for insufficient funds.

 

·By wire to the Fund account as described under “Opening an Account – By Wire.” Shareholders are required to call the Transfer Agent at [phone number] before wiring funds.

 

·Through your brokerage firm or other financial institution. 

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Automatic Investment Plan and Direct Deposit Plans

 

You may make automatic monthly investments in the Fund from your account held at a bank, savings and loan or other depository institution. The minimum investments under the automatic investment plan must be at least $100 under the plan and are made on the 15th and/or last business day of the month. The Transfer Agent currently pays the costs of this service, but reserves the right, upon 30 days written notice, to make reasonable charges. Your depository institution may impose its own charge for making transfers from your account.

 

Your employer may offer a direct deposit plan which will allow you to have all or a portion of your paycheck transferred automatically to purchase shares of the Fund. Social Security recipients may have all or a portion of their social security check transferred automatically to purchase shares of the Fund. Please call [phone number] for more information about the automatic investment plan and direct deposit plans.

 

Purchases in Kind

 

The Fund may accept securities in lieu of cash in payment for the purchase of shares of the Fund. The acceptance of such securities is at the sole discretion of the Adviser based upon the suitability of the securities as an investment for the Fund, the marketability of such securities, and other factors which the Adviser may deem appropriate. If accepted, the securities will be valued using the same criteria and methods utilized for valuing securities to compute the Fund’s NAV.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person that opens a new account, and to determine whether such person’s name appears on government lists of known or suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations. As a result, the Fund must obtain the following information for each person that opens a new account:

 

·Name;

 

·Date of birth (for individuals);

 

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

 

·Social security number, taxpayer identification number, or other identifying number. 

 

You may also be asked for a copy of your driver’s license, passport, or other identifying document in order to verify your identity. In addition, it may be necessary to verify your identity by cross-referencing your identification information with a consumer report or other electronic database. Additional information may be required to open accounts for corporations and other entities. Federal law prohibits the Fund and other financial institutions from opening a new account unless they receive the minimum identifying information listed above.

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After an account is opened, the Fund may restrict your ability to purchase additional shares until your identity is verified. The Fund also may close your account or take other appropriate action if they are unable to verify your identity within a reasonable time. If your account is closed for this reason, your shares will be redeemed at the NAV next calculated after the account is closed. In that case, your redemption proceeds may be worth more or less than your original investment. The Fund will not be responsible for any loss incurred due to the Fund’s inability to verify your identity.

 

Frequent Trading Policies

 

The Board has adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by Fund shareholders and discourages market timing. Market timing is an investment strategy using frequent purchases, redemptions and/or exchanges in an attempt to profit from short-term market movements. Market timing may disrupt portfolio management strategies and hurt Fund performance. Such practices may dilute the value of Fund shares, interfere with the efficient management of the Fund’s investments, and increase brokerage and administrative costs. The Fund may reject purchase orders or temporarily or permanently revoke privileges if there is reason to believe that a shareholder is engaging in market timing activities. Brokers maintaining omnibus accounts with the Fund have agreed to provide shareholder transaction information, to the extent known to the broker, to the Fund upon request. The Fund does not accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by Fund shareholders.

 

To prevent disruption in the management of the Fund, excessive trading or exchange activity is limited. An investor’s right to purchase additional shares may be revoked if the redemption or exchange activity is considered excessive. Generally, trading or exchange activity is considered excessive if an exchange or redemption in excess of a predetermined dollar amount occurs within 7 calendar days of purchase.

 

The Fund may accept redemptions and exchanges in excess of the above guidelines if they believe that granting such exceptions is in the best interest of the Fund and the redemption is not part of a market timing strategy.

 

It is a violation of policy for an officer or Trustee of the Fund to knowingly facilitate a purchase or redemption where the shareholder executing the transaction is engaged in any activity which violates the terms of the Fund’s Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, and/or is considered not to be in the best interests of the Fund or its other shareholders.

 

The Fund will apply its policies and procedures uniformly to all Fund shareholders. Although the Fund intends to deter market timing, there is no assurance that it will be able to identify and eliminate all market timers. For example, certain accounts called “omnibus accounts” include multiple shareholders. Omnibus accounts typically provide the Fund with a net purchase or redemption request on any given day where purchasers of the Fund’s shares and redeemers of the Fund’s shares are netted against one another and the identities of individual purchasers and redeemers whose orders are aggregated are not known by the Fund. The netting effect often makes it more difficult for the Fund to detect market timing, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to do so. Therefore, with respect to Omnibus accounts, the Fund relies on selling group members to enforce the Fund’s market timing policies and procedures. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of the Fund. While the Fund will encourage financial intermediaries to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers who invest indirectly in the Fund, the Fund is limited in its ability to monitor the trading activity or enforce the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy with respect to customers of financial intermediaries. For example, should it occur, the Fund may not be able to detect market timing that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries or made difficult to identify in the omnibus accounts used by those intermediaries for aggregated purchases, exchanges, and redemptions on behalf of all their customers. More specifically, unless the financial intermediaries have the ability to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers through such methods as implementing short-term trading limitations or restrictions and monitoring trading activity for what might be market timing, the Fund may not be able to determine whether trading by customers of financial intermediaries is contrary to the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy. However, the Fund will ensure that financial intermediaries maintaining omnibus accounts on behalf of the Fund enter into an agreement with the Fund to provide shareholder transaction information, to the extent known to the financial intermediary, to the Fund upon request.

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The Fund reserves the right to modify its policies and procedures at any time without prior notice as it deems in its sole discretion to be in the best interests of its shareholders, or to comply with state or Federal legal requirements.

 

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

 

Shares of the Fund may be redeemed on any day on which the Fund computes its NAV. Shares are redeemed at their NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your redemption request in proper form as described below. Redemption requests may be made by mail or by telephone.

 

By Mail. You may redeem shares by mailing a written request to Connors Hedged Equity Fund, [address]. Written requests must state the shareholder’s name, the account number and the shares or dollar amount to be redeemed and be signed exactly as the shares are registered with the Fund.

 

Signature Guarantees. If the shares to be redeemed have a value of greater than $50,000, or if the payment of the proceeds of a redemption of any amount is to be sent to a person other than the shareholder of record or to an address other than that on record with the Fund, you must have all signatures on written redemption requests guaranteed. If the name(s) or the address on your account has changed within the previous 15 days of your redemption request, the request must be made in writing with your signature guaranteed, regardless of the value of the shares being redeemed. The Transfer Agent will accept signatures guaranteed by a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency, savings association or other financial institution which participates in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) sponsored by the Securities Transfer Association. Signature guarantees from financial institutions that do not participate in STAMP will not be accepted. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards for accepting signature guarantees from the above institutions. The Fund and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to amend these standards at any time without notice.

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Redemption requests by corporate and fiduciary shareholders must be accompanied by appropriate documentation establishing the authority of the person seeking to act on behalf of the account. Forms of resolutions and other documentation to assist in compliance with the Transfer Agent’s procedures may be obtained by calling the Transfer Agent.

 

By Telephone. Unless you specifically decline the telephone redemption privilege on your account application, you may also redeem shares having a value of $50,000 or less by telephone by calling the Transfer Agent at [phone number].

 

Telephone redemptions may be requested only if the proceeds are to be sent to the shareholder of record and mailed to the address on record with the Fund. Account designations may be changed by sending the Transfer Agent a written request with all signatures guaranteed as described above. Upon request, redemption proceeds of $100 or more may be transferred electronically from an account you maintain with a financial institution by an Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) transaction, and proceeds of $1,000 or more may be transferred by wire, in either case to the account stated on the account application. Shareholders may be charged a fee of $15 by the Fund’s custodian for outgoing wires.

 

The Transfer Agent requires personal identification before accepting any redemption request by telephone, and telephone redemption instructions may be recorded. If reasonable procedures are followed by the Transfer Agent, neither the Transfer Agent nor the Fund will be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions. “Reasonable procedures” include, but are not limited to, the Transfer Agent confirming that the account is eligible for telephone transactions, requesting some form of personal identification (e.g., social security number, date of birth, etc.) from you prior to acting on telephonic instructions, and getting a verbal confirmation from you on a recorded line at the time of the transaction. In the event of drastic economic or market changes, a shareholder may experience difficulty in redeeming shares by telephone. If such a case should occur, redemption by mail should be considered.

 25 

 

Through Your Broker or Financial Institution. You may also redeem your shares through a brokerage firm or financial institution that has been authorized to accept orders on behalf of the Fund at the NAV next determined after your order is received by such organization in proper form. These organizations are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive redemption orders on the Fund's behalf. The Fund calculates its NAV as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). Your brokerage firm or financial institution may require a redemption request to be received, in proper form, at an earlier time during the day in order for your redemption to be effective as of the day the order is received, in proper form. These organizations may be authorized to designate other intermediaries to act in this capacity. Such an organization may charge you transaction fees on redemptions of Fund shares and may impose other charges or restrictions or account options that differ from those applicable to shareholders who redeem shares directly through the Transfer Agent.

 

Receiving Payment

 

The length of time the Fund typically expects to pay redemption proceeds is the same regardless of whether the payment is made by check, wire or Automated Clearing House (“ACH”). The Fund typically expects to pay redemption proceeds for shares redeemed within the following days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in proper form:

 

·For payment by check, the Fund typically expects to mail the check within one (1) to three (3) business days;

 

·For payment by wire or ACH, the Fund typically expects to process the payment within one (1) to three (3) business days. 

 

Payment of redemption proceeds may take longer than the time the Fund typically expects and may take up to 7 calendar days as permitted under the 1940 Act. Under unusual circumstances as permitted by the SEC, the Fund may suspend the right of redemption or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than 7 calendar days. When shares are purchased by check or through ACH, the proceeds from the redemption of those shares will not be paid until the purchase check or ACH transfer has been converted to federal funds, which could take up to 15 calendar days.

 

Minimum Account Balance

 

Due to the high cost of maintaining shareholder accounts, the Fund may involuntarily redeem shares in an account, and pay the proceeds to the shareholder, if the shareholder’s activity causes the account balance to fall below a share class’s minimum initial investment amount. Such automatic redemptions may cause a taxable event for the shareholder. An automatic redemption does not apply, however, if the balance falls below the minimum initial investment amount solely because of a decline in the Fund’s NAV. Before shares are redeemed to close an account, the shareholder is notified in writing and allowed 30 calendar days to purchase additional shares to meet the minimum account balance requirement.

 26 

 

Automatic Withdrawal Plan

 

If the shares in your account have a value of at least $5,000, you (or another person you have designated) may receive monthly or quarterly payments in a specified amount of not less than $100 each. There is currently no charge for this service, but the Transfer Agent reserves the right, upon 30 calendar days written notice, to make reasonable charges. Telephone the Transfer Agent toll-free at [phone number] for additional information.

 

Other Redemption Information

 

Generally, all redemptions will be paid in cash. The Fund typically expects to satisfy redemption requests by using holdings of cash or cash equivalents or selling portfolio assets. On a less regular basis and if the Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders not to sell portfolio assets, the Fund may satisfy redemption requests by using short-term borrowing from the Fund’s custodian. These methods normally will be used during both regular and stressed market conditions. In addition to paying redemption proceeds in cash, the Fund reserves the right to make payment for a redemption in securities rather than cash, which is known as a “redemption in kind.” A redemption in kind will consist of securities equal in market value to the Fund shares being redeemed, using the same valuation procedures that the Fund uses to compute its NAV. Redemption in kind proceeds will typically be made by delivering a pro-rata amount of the Fund’s holdings to the redeeming shareholder within 7 days after the Fund’s receipt of the redemption order in proper form. If the Fund redeems your shares in kind, you will bear the market risks associated with maintaining or selling the securities that are transferred as redemption proceeds. In addition, when you sell these securities, you will pay taxes and brokerage charges, if any, associated with selling the securities.

 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

The following is a summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Fund. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income taxes under Subchapter M of the Code (“RIC”). If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 27 

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. Income dividends and net capital gain distributions, if any, are normally declared and paid annually by the Fund in December. Your distributions of dividends and capital gains will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund unless you elect to receive them in cash. The Fund’s distributions of income and capital gains, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be subject to federal income tax. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates, although certain income dividends may be taxed to non-corporate shareholders at long-term capital gains rates. In the case of corporations that hold shares of the Fund, certain income from the Fund may qualify for a 50% dividends-received deduction.. Distributions that are reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). You will be notified by February 15th of each year about the federal tax status of distributions made by the Fund during the prior year. Depending on your residence for tax purposes, distributions also may be subject to state and local taxes.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

When you redeem Fund shares, you will generally realize a capital gain or loss if you hold the shares as capital assets. Except for investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts, and tax-exempt investors that do not borrow to purchase Fund shares, any gain realized on a redemption of Fund shares will be subject to federal income tax. A sale may result in a capital gain or loss to you. The gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less, or a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to the Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 28 

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit its shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by Fund shareholders (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review the cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

Federal law requires the Fund to withhold taxes on distributions paid to shareholders who fail to provide a social security number or taxpayer identification number or fail to certify that such number is correct. Foreign shareholders may be subject to special withholding requirements.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Because the Fund recently launched, there is no financial or performance information included in this Prospectus for the Fund. The fiscal year end of the Fund is November 30. Once the information becomes available, you may request a copy of this information by calling the Fund at [phone number].

 29 

 

 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Additional information about the Fund is included in the SAI, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

 

Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders. In the Fund’s Annual Report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal period.

 

To obtain a free copy of the SAI, the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports (when available) or other information about the Fund, or to make inquiries about the Fund, please call Toll-Free:

 

[phone number]

 

This Prospectus, the SAI and the most recent shareholder reports, if any, are also available without charge on the Fund’s website at [website] or upon written request to:

 

Connors Hedged Equity Fund
[Address]

 

Only one copy of a Prospectus or an annual or semiannual report will be sent to each household address. This process, known as “Householding,” is used for most required shareholder mailings. (It does not apply to confirmations of transactions and account statements, however). You may, of course, request an additional copy of a Prospectus or an Annual or Semi-Annual Report at any time by calling or writing the Fund or by visiting the Fund’s website at [website address] You may also request that Householding be eliminated from all your required mailings.

 

Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of information on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s internet site may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: [email protected].

 

Investment Company Act File No. [____]

 30 

 

 

The information in this statement of additional information is not complete and may be changed. The Fund may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This statement of additional information 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.

 

Subject to Completion, dated September 24, 2021. 

 

Statement of Additional Information

____, 2021

 

CONNORS HEDGED EQUITY FUND

Institutional Class: (______)

 

A series of

CONNORS FUNDS

1210 Broadcasting Road, Suite 200, Wyomissing, PA 19610

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus for the Connors Hedged Equity Fund (the “Fund”) dated [___], 2021, which may be supplemented from time to time (the “Prospectus”). This SAI is incorporated by reference in its entirety into the Prospectus. Because this SAI is not itself a prospectus, no investment in shares of the Fund should be made solely upon the information contained herein. Copies of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge, upon request, by writing the Fund at [address] or by calling toll-free [phone number] or by visiting the Fund’s website at [website address.]

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS [TO BE UPDATED]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENTS, STRATEGIES AND RISKS 1
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 13
CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE 15
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION 16
SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 16
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST 17
INVESTMENT ADVISER 22
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS 24
THE DISTRIBUTOR 25
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS 26
GENERAL INFORMATION 28
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION 33
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 36
APPENDIX A (PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES) 37

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

The Fund is a diversified series of Connors Funds (the “Trust”), an open-end, management investment company. The Trust is statutory trust that was organized under Delaware law on September 16, 2021. The Fund’s investments are managed by Connors Investor Services, Inc. (the “Adviser”). For further information on the Fund, please call [phone number] or visit the Fund’s website at [website address].

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENTS, STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

Information contained in this SAI expands upon information contained in the Prospectus. All investments in securities and other financial instruments involve a risk of financial loss. No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment programs will be successful. Investors should carefully review the descriptions of the Fund’s investments and associated risks described in the Prospectus and this SAI. No investment in shares of the Fund should be made without first reading the Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, percentage limitations apply at the time of purchase of the applicable securities.

 

General Investment Risks. Prices of securities in which the Fund invests may fluctuate in response to many factors, including, but not limited to, the activities of the individual companies whose securities the Fund owns, general market and economic conditions, interest rates, and specific industry changes. Such price fluctuations subject the Fund to potential losses. In addition, regardless of any one company’s particular prospects, a declining stock market may produce a decline in prices for all securities, which could also result in losses to the Fund. Market declines may continue for an indefinite period of time, and investors should understand that during temporary or extended bear markets, the value of all types of securities, including securities held by the Fund, can decline.

 

Borrowing Money. The Fund may, to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), borrow money to meet redemption requests or for extraordinary or emergency purposes. Borrowing involves the creation of a liability that requires the Fund to pay interest. In the event the Fund should ever borrow money under these conditions, such borrowing could increase the Fund’s costs and thus reduce the value of the Fund’s assets. In an extreme case, if the Fund’s current investment income was not sufficient to meet the interest expense of borrowing, it could be necessary for the Fund to liquidate certain of its investments at an inappropriate time.

 

Common Stock. The Fund may, directly or indirectly, purchase common stock. Prices of common stock may fluctuate in response to many factors, including, but not limited to, the activities of the individual companies whose stock the Fund owns, general market and economic conditions, interest rates, and specific industry changes. Such price fluctuations subject the Fund to potential losses. In addition, regardless of any one company’s particular prospects, a declining stock market may produce a decline in prices for all stocks, which could also result in losses for the Fund. Market declines may continue for an indefinite period of time, and investors should understand that during temporary or extended bear markets, the value of common stocks, including common stocks held by the Fund, will likely decline.

 

Commodities Instruments. There are several additional risks associated with transactions in commodity futures contracts, swaps on commodity futures contracts, commodity forward contracts, and other commodities instruments. In the commodity instruments markets, producers of the underlying commodity may decide to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity by selling commodity instruments today to lock in the price of the commodity at delivery tomorrow. In order to induce speculators to purchase the other side of the same commodity instrument, the commodity producer generally must sell the commodity instrument at a lower price than the expected future spot price. Conversely, if most hedgers in the commodity instruments market are purchasing commodity instruments to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only sell the other side of the commodity instrument at a higher future price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the commodity markets will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price, which can have significant implications for the Fund. If the nature of hedgers and speculators in commodity instruments markets has shifted when it is time for the Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a maturing contract in a new commodity instrument, the Fund might reinvest at a higher or lower future price or choose to pursue other investments. The commodities that underlie-commodity instruments may be subject to additional economic and non-economic variables, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political, and regulatory developments. These factors may have a larger impact on commodity prices and commodity-linked instruments than on traditional securities. Certain commodities are also subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors. Others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of the prices for certain raw materials and the instability of supplies of other materials. These additional variables may create additional investment risks which subject the Fund’s investments to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. Also, unlike the financial instruments markets, in the commodity instruments markets there are costs of physical storage associated with purchasing the underlying commodity. The price of the commodity instruments contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity, including the time value of money invested in the physical commodity. To the extent that the storage costs for an underlying commodity change while the Fund is invested in instruments on that commodity, the value of the commodity instrument may change proportionately.

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Convertible Securities. In addition to common and preferred stocks, the Fund may invest in securities convertible into common stock such as convertible bonds, convertible preferred stocks, and warrants. Convertible bonds are fixed-income securities that may be converted at a stated price within a specified period into a certain quantity of the common stock of the same or a different issuer. Convertible bonds are senior to common stocks in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also provides the investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the underlying common stock. Like other debt securities, the value of a convertible bond tends to vary inversely with the level of interest rates. However, to the extent that the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible bond will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value (the security’s worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). Although to a lesser extent than with fixed-income securities, the market value of convertible bonds tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible bonds tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying common stock. A unique feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.

 

Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cybersecurity. A breach in cybersecurity refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose or compromise confidential, proprietary, or private personal information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cybersecurity include, among other things, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential or private personal information or various other operational disruptions. Successful cybersecurity breaches of the Fund and/or the Fund’s Adviser, sub-adviser, distributor, custodian, the transfer agent or other third party services providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders. For instance, a successful cybersecurity breach may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value (“NAV”), cause the release of private personal shareholder information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses, and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund relies on third-party service providers for many of the day-to-day operations, and is therefore subject to the risk that the protections and protocols implemented by those service providers will be ineffective in protecting the Fund from cybersecurity breaches. Similar types of cybersecurity risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investments in such companies to lose value. There is no guarantee the Fund will be successful in protecting against cybersecurity breaches.

 2 

 

Debt Securities. The Fund may invest, directly or indirectly, in corporate debt securities and U.S. Government Obligations, as defined below. Corporate securities include, but are not limited to, debt obligations offered by public or private corporations either registered or unregistered. The market value of such securities may fluctuate in response to interest rates and the creditworthiness of the issuer. A debt instrument’s credit quality depends on the issuer’s ability to pay interest on the security and repay the debt; the lower the credit rating, the greater the risk that the security’s issuer will default. The credit risk of a security may also depend on the credit quality of any bank or financial institution that provides credit enhancement for the security. The Fund may purchase debt securities of any credit quality, maturity or yield. Accordingly, the Fund may purchase investment grade securities, meaning securities rated BBB or better by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), Baa or better by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or a comparable rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, if unrated, as determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. In addition, the Fund may purchase lower-rated debt securities including, without limitation, “junk” bonds whose ratings are below investment grade. Debt securities rated Baa by Moody’s or BBB by S&P or Fitch may be considered speculative and are subject to risks of non-payment of interest and principal. Debt securities rated lower than Baa by Moody’s or lower than BBB by S&P or Fitch are generally considered speculative and subject to significant risks of non-payment of interest and principal and greater market fluctuations than higher-rated fixed-income securities. Lower-rate debt securities are usually issued by companies without long track records of sales and earnings, or by companies with questionable credit strength. The retail secondary market for these “junk bonds” may be less liquid than that of higher-rated debt securities, and adverse conditions could make it difficult at times to sell certain securities or could result in lower prices than those used in calculating the Fund’s net asset value. These risks can reduce the value of the Fund’s shares and the income it earns. Descriptions of the quality ratings of Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch are included as Appendix A to the SAI. While the Adviser utilized the ratings of various credit rating services as one factor in establishing creditworthiness, it relies primarily upon its own analysis of factors establishing creditworthiness.

 

Equity Securities. In addition to U.S. common stock, the Fund’s equity investments may include preferred stock, securities convertible into common stock, and foreign stock. The Fund’s equity investments may include securities traded on domestic exchanges or on the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. The prices of equity securities in which the Fund invests may fluctuate in response to many factors, including, but not limited to, the activities of the individual companies whose securities the Fund owns, general market and economic conditions, interest rates, and specific industry changes. Such price fluctuations subject the Fund to potential losses. In addition, regardless of any one company’s particular prospects, a declining stock market may produce a decline in prices for all equity securities, which could also result in losses for the Fund. Market declines may continue for an indefinite period, and investors should understand that during temporary or extended bear markets, the value of equity securities, including securities held by the Fund, will likely decline.

 

Economic and Regulatory Risks. Domestic and foreign governments and agencies thereof often adopt an active approach to managing economic conditions within a nation, which may have material effects on the securities markets within the nation. A government may pursue supportive policies that include, but are not limited to, lowering corporate and personal tax rates and launching simulative government spending programs designed to improve the national economy or sectors thereof. Agencies of a government, including central banks, may pursue supporting policies that include, but are not limited to, setting lower interest rate targets and buying and selling securities in the public markets. Governments and agencies thereof may also attempt to slow economic growth if the pace of economic growth is perceived to be too great and pose a long-term risk to the economy or a sector thereof. In each instance, the actions taken may be less successful than anticipated or may have unintended adverse consequences. Such a failure or investor perception that such efforts are failing could negatively affect securities markets generally, as well as result in higher interest rates, increased market volatility and reduced value and liquidity of certain securities, including securities held by the Fund.

 

In addition, governments and agencies thereof may enact additional regulation or engage in deregulation that negatively impacts the general securities markets or a sector thereof. Given the potential broad scope and sweeping nature of some regulatory actions, the potential impact a regulatory action may have on securities held by the Fund may be difficult to determine and may not be fully known for an extended period of time. Accordingly, regulatory actions could adversely affect the Fund.

 3 

 

Changing Fixed Income Market Conditions. Following the financial crisis that began in 2007, the U.S. government and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), as well as certain foreign governments and central banks, took steps to support financial markets, including seeking to maintain interest rates at or near historically low levels and by purchasing large quantities of fixed income securities on the open market, such as securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, (“Quantitative Easing”). Similar steps took place again in 2020 in an effort to support the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear how long these policies will last. In addition, this and other government interventions may not work as intended, particularly if the efforts are perceived by investors as being unlikely to achieve the desired results. When the Federal Reserve determines to “taper” or reduce Quantitative Easing and/or raise the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates across the U.S. financial system will rise. Such policy changes may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility and may reduce liquidity for certain fixed income investments, including fixed income investments held by the Fund, which could cause the value of the Fund’s investments and share price to decline. If the Fund invests in derivatives tied to fixed income markets they may be more substantially exposed to these risks than a fund that does not invest in such derivatives.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and Similar Instruments. The Fund may invest in shares of ETFs and other similar instruments. An ETF is typically an investment company registered under the 1940 Act that holds a portfolio of common stocks designed to track the performance of a particular index or market sector. Alternatively, ETFs may be actively managed pursuant to a particular investment strategy, similar to other non-index based investment companies. ETFs are traded on a securities exchange based on their market value. In addition, ETFs sell and redeem their shares at NAV in large blocks (typically 50,000 of its shares) called “creation units.” Shares representing fractional interests in these creation units are listed for trading on national securities exchanges and can be purchased and sold in the secondary market like ordinary stocks in lots of any size at any time during the trading day.

 

Instruments the Fund may purchase that are similar to ETFs represent beneficial ownership interests in specific “baskets” of securities of companies within a particular industry sector or group. These securities may also be listed on national securities exchanges and purchased and sold in the secondary market, but unlike ETFs, are not registered as investment companies under the 1940 Act. Such securities may also be exchange traded, but because they are not registered as investment companies, they are not subject to the percentage investment limitations imposed by the 1940 Act.

 

An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional registered investment company (i.e., one that is not exchange traded), including the risk that the general level of securities prices, or that the prices of securities within a particular sector, may increase or decrease, thereby affecting the value of the shares of an ETF. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional registered investment companies: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount to the ETF’s NAV; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange deems such action appropriate; and (iv) ETF shares may be delisted from the exchange on which they trade, and (v) activation of “circuit breakers” by the exchange (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) may halt trading of the ETF’s shares temporarily. ETFs are also subject to the risks of the underlying securities or sectors that the ETF is designed to track.

 

Because ETFs and pools that issue similar instruments bear various fees and expenses, the Fund will pay a proportionate share of these expenses, as well as transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions. As with traditional investment companies, ETFs charge asset-based fees, although these fees tend to be relatively low as compared to other type of investment companies. ETFs do not charge initial sales loads or redemption fees and investors pay only customary brokerage fees to buy and sell ETF shares.

 

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has granted orders for exemptive relief to certain ETFs that permit investments in those ETFs by other investment companies (such as the Fund) in excess of some of the limits discussed below under the section entitled “Investment Companies”. The Fund may invest in ETFs that have received such exemptive orders from the SEC, pursuant to the conditions specified in such orders. In accordance with Section 12(d)(1)(F)(i) of the 1940 Act, the Fund may also invest in ETFs that have not received such exemptive orders and in other investment companies in excess of the limits discussed below under the section entitled “Investment Companies”, as long as the Fund (and all of its affiliated persons, including the Adviser) does not acquire more than 3% of the total outstanding stock of such ETF or other investment company (the “3% Limitation”), unless otherwise permitted to do so pursuant to permission granted by the SEC. In purchasing ETFs, the Fund will be subject to the 3% Limitation unless (i) the ETF or the Fund has received a SEC order for exemptive relief from the 3% Limitation that is applicable to the Fund; and (ii) the ETF and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. The SEC has issued such exemptive orders to numerous ETFs and their investment advisers, which permit investment companies, including the Fund, to invest in such ETFs (“Exempted ETFs”) beyond the 3% Limitation, subject to certain terms and conditions, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Exempted ETF. The Fund may enter into such agreements with one or more Exempted ETFs so that the Fund will be permitted to invest in such Exempted ETFs in excess of the 3% Limitation. If the Fund seeks to redeem shares of an ETF or other investment company purchased in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F), the investment company is not obligated to redeem an amount exceeding 1% of the investment company’s outstanding shares during a period of less than 30 days. As discussed below under the section entitled “Investment Companies”, the Fund may also exceed some of the limits on investments in other investment companies, including ETFs, to the extent that it relies on new Rule 12d1-4.

 4 

 

While the creation and redemption of creation units helps an ETF maintain a market value close to NAV, the market value of an ETF’s shares may differ from its NAV. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETF shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the ETF’s underlying basket of securities. Accordingly, there may be times when an ETF trades at a premium (creating the risk that the Fund pays more than NAV for an ETF when making a purchase) or discount (creating the risk that the Fund’s NAV is reduced for undervalued ETFs it holds, and that the Fund receives less than NAV when selling an ETF).

 

Leveraged and Inverse ETF Risk. The Fund may invest in leveraged and inverse ETFs. Leveraged and inverse ETFs involve additional risks and considerations not present in traditional ETFs. Typically, shares of an index-based ETF are expected to increase in value as the value of the underlying benchmark increases. However, in the case of inverse ETFs (also called “short ETFs” or “bear ETFs”), shares are expected to increase in value as the value of the underlying benchmark decreases, similar to holding short positions in the underlying benchmark. Leveraged ETFs seek to deliver multiples (e.g., 2X or 3X) of the performance of the underlying benchmark, typically by using derivatives in an effort to amplify returns (or decline, in the case of inverse ETFs) of the underlying benchmark. While leveraged ETFs may offer the potential for greater return, the potential for loss and the speed at which losses can be realized also are greater.

 

Leveraged and inverse ETFs “reset” over short periods of time, meaning they are designed to deliver their stated returns only for the length of their reset periods (typically daily), and are not designed to deliver their returns intraday or over periods longer than the stated reset period. Because of the structure of these products, their rebalancing methodologies and the math of compounding, extending holdings beyond the reset period can lead to results very different from a simple doubling, tripling, or inverse of the benchmark's average return over the same period of time. This difference in results can be magnified in volatile markets. Further, leveraged and inverse ETFs may have lower trading volumes or may be less tax-efficient than traditional ETFs and may be subject to additional regulation. To the extent that leveraged or inverse ETFs invest in derivatives, investments in such ETFs will be subject to the risks of investments in derivatives. For these reasons, leveraged and inverse ETFs are typically considered to be riskier investments than traditional ETFs.

 

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in securities issued by foreign governments or foreign corporations directly or indirectly through ETFs or derivative transactions (e.g., foreign currency futures). The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers that trade directly on U.S. and foreign stock exchanges or in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). ADRs are receipts that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs are generally issued by a U.S. bank or trust company to U.S. buyers as a substitute for direct ownership of a foreign security and are traded on U.S. exchanges. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. ADRs may be purchased through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary. A depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the deposited security. The depositary of an unsponsored ADR is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights with respect to the deposited security. Investments in ADRs are subject to risks similar to those associated with direct investments in foreign securities.

 5 

 

Investing in the securities of foreign issuers involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. The performance of foreign markets does not necessarily track U.S. markets. Foreign investments may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and exchange control regulations. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a U.S. company, and foreign companies may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. Foreign securities may trade with less frequency and volume than domestic securities and therefore may exhibit less liquidity and greater price volatility than securities of U.S. companies. There may be less governmental supervision of securities markets, brokers, and issuers of securities than in the U.S. Changes in foreign exchange rates will affect the value of those securities, which are denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Therefore, to the extent the Fund invests in a foreign security, which are denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, there is a risk that the value of such security will decrease due to changes in the relative value of the U.S. dollar and the securities underlying foreign currency. Additional costs associated with an investment in foreign securities may include higher custodial fees than those applicable to domestic custodial arrangements, generally higher commission rates on foreign portfolio transactions, and transaction costs of foreign currency conversions. Investments in foreign securities may also be subject to other risks different from those affecting U.S. investments, including local political or economic developments, expropriation or nationalization of assets, restrictions on foreign investment and repatriation of capital, imposition of withholding taxes on dividend or interest payments, currency blockage (which would prevent cash from being brought back to the U.S.), limits on proxy voting and difficulty in enforcing legal rights outside the U.S. Currency exchange rates and regulations may cause fluctuation in the value of foreign securities. In addition, foreign securities, and dividends and interest payable on those securities, may be subject to foreign taxes, including taxes withheld from payments on those securities.

 

Foreign Exchange Risk and Currency Transactions. The value of foreign assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency rates and exchange control regulations. Currency exchange rates can also be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. Foreign currency exchange transactions may be conducted on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through entering into derivative currency transactions. Currency futures contracts are exchange-traded and change in value to reflect movements of a currency or a basket of currencies. Settlement must be made in a designated currency. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are individually negotiated and privately traded so they are dependent upon the creditworthiness of the counterparty. Such contracts may be used to (i) gain exposure to a particular currency or currencies as a part of the Fund’s investment strategy, (ii) when a security denominated in a foreign currency is purchased or sold, or (iii) when the receipt in a foreign currency of dividend or interest payments on such a security is anticipated. With respect to subparagraphs (ii) and (iii), a forward contract can then “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest payment, as the case may be. Additionally, when the Adviser believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of dollars, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the securities held that are denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge against long-term currency changes. Cross-hedging may be used by using forward contracts in one currency (or basket of currencies) to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities denominated in a different currency. Use of a different foreign currency magnifies exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Forward contracts may also be used to shift exposure to foreign currency exchange rate changes from one currency to another. Short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the dollar value of only a portion of portfolio assets.

 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) includes foreign exchange forwards in the definition of “swap” as well as OTC derivatives and therefore contemplates that certain of these contracts may be exchange-traded, cleared by a clearinghouse and otherwise regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”). The CFTC has been granted authority to regulate forward foreign currency contracts and many of the final regulations already adopted by the CFTC will apply to such contracts, however a limited category of forward foreign currency contracts were excluded from certain of the Dodd-Frank Act regulations by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department. Therefore, trading by the Fund in forward foreign currency contracts excluded by the Treasury Department is not subject to the CFTC regulations to which trading in other forward foreign currency contracts is subject.

 6 

 

Currency transactions are subject to the risk of a number of complex political and economic factors applicable to the countries issuing the underlying currencies. Furthermore, unlike trading in most other types of instruments, there is no systematic reporting of last sale information with respect to the foreign currencies underlying the derivative currency transactions. As a result, available information may not be complete. In an OTC trading environment, there are no daily price fluctuation limits. There may be no liquid secondary market to close out options purchased or written, or forward contracts entered into, until their exercise, expiration or maturity. There is also the risk of default by, or the bankruptcy of, the financial institution serving as a counterparty.

 

Currency swaps involve the exchange of rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies and are individually negotiated. The entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. The Fund’s performance may be adversely affected as the Adviser may be incorrect in its forecasts of market value and currency exchange rates.

 

Forwards, Futures, Swaps, and Options. As described below, the Fund may purchase and sell in the U.S. or abroad futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps and put and call options on securities, futures, securities indices, swaps, and currencies. In the future, the Fund may employ instruments and strategies that are not presently contemplated but which may be subsequently developed to the extent such investment methods are consistent with such Fund’s investment objectives and are legally permissible. There can be no assurance that an instrument, if employed, will be successful. The Fund may buy and sell these investments for a number of purposes, including hedging, investment, or speculative purposes. For example, it may do so to try to manage its exposure to the possibility that the prices of its portfolio securities may decline or to establish a position in the securities market as a substitute for purchasing individual securities. Some of these strategies, such as selling futures, buying puts, and writing covered calls, may be used to hedge the Fund’s portfolio against price fluctuations. Other hedging strategies, such as buying futures and call options, tend to increase the Fund’s exposure to the securities market.

 

Transactions in derivative instruments (e.g., futures, options, forwards, and swaps) involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to: unanticipated adverse changes in securities or commodities prices, interest rates, indices, the other financial instruments prices, or currency exchange rates; the inability to close out a position; default by the counterparty; imperfect correlation between a position and the desired hedge (if the derivative instrument is being used for hedging purposes); tax constraints on closing out positions; and portfolio management constraints on securities subject to such transactions. The loss on derivative instruments (other than purchased options) may substantially exceed the amount invested in these instruments. In addition, the entire premium paid for purchased options may be lost before they can be profitably exercised. Transaction costs are incurred in opening and closing positions. The Fund’s use of swaps, futures contracts, options, forward contracts, and certain other derivative instruments will have the economic effect of financial leverage. Financial leverage magnifies exposure to the swings in prices of an asset underlying a derivative instrument and results in increased volatility, which means the Fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund does not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. Leveraging tends to magnify, sometimes significantly, the effect of any increase or decrease in the fund's exposure to an asset and may cause the Fund’s NAV to be volatile. For example, if the Adviser seeks to gain enhanced exposure to a specific asset through a derivative instrument providing leveraged exposure to the asset and that derivative instrument increases in value, the gain to the Fund will be enhanced; however, if that investment decreases in value, the loss to the Fund will be magnified. A decline in the Fund’s assets due to losses magnified by the derivative instruments providing leveraged exposure may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations, to meet redemption requests, or to meet asset segregation requirements when it may not be advantageous to do so. There is no assurance that the Fund’s use of derivative instruments to obtain enhanced exposure will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.

 7 

 

The Fund’s success in using derivative instruments to hedge portfolio assets depends on the degree of price correlation between the derivative instruments and the hedged asset. Imperfect correlation may be caused by several factors, including temporary price disparities among the trading markets for the derivative instrument, the assets underlying the derivative instrument, and the Fund’s assets. OTC derivative instruments involve an increased risk that the issuer or counterparty will fail to perform its contractual obligations. Some derivative instruments are not readily marketable or may become illiquid under adverse market conditions. In addition, during periods of market volatility, a commodity exchange may suspend or limit trading in an exchange-traded derivative instrument, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to price. Commodity exchanges may also establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or futures option can vary from the previous day’s settlement price. Once the daily limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. This may prevent the closing out of positions to limit losses. Further, under certain circumstances, commodity exchanges or regulators may impose limits that are lower than current open equity in a given futures contract; such limit changes have the potential to cause liquidation of positions and may adversely affect the Fund. Certain purchased OTC options, and assets used as cover for written OTC options, may be considered illiquid. The ability to terminate OTC derivative instruments may depend on the cooperation of the counterparties to such contracts. For thinly traded derivative instruments, the only source of price quotations may be the selling dealer or counterparty. Regulations adopted by prudential regulators will require certain bank-regulated counterparties and certain of their affiliates to include in certain financial contracts, including many derivatives contracts, terms that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties, such as the Fund, to terminate such contracts, foreclose upon collateral, exercise other default rights or restrict transfers of credit support in the event that the counterparty and/or its affiliates are subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings. It is possible that these new requirements, as well as potential additional government regulation and other developments in the market, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing derivatives agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements. The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that involves skills different from conducting ordinary portfolio securities transactions. There can be no assurance that the Adviser’s use of derivative instruments will be advantageous to the Fund.

 

Regulatory Matters Regarding Forwards, Futures, Swaps, and Options. The Adviser intends to file with the National Futures Association a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of commodity pool operator (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act, and the rules of the CFTC promulgated thereunder, with respect to the Fund's operation. In October 2020, the CFTC approved a final rule amending regulations of speculative position limits to conform with certain Dodd-Frank amendments to the Commodity Exchange Act. The CFTC adopted new and amended federal spot-month position limits for derivatives contracts associated with 25 physical commodities and amended single-month and all-months-combined federal limits for most of the agricultural contracts currently subject to federal position limits. Under the final rule, federal non-spot month position limits were not extended to the sixteen new physical commodities. These federal position limits apply to "economically equivalent swaps," which are swaps with materially identical contractual specifications, terms, and conditions as a referenced contract. The new rules also modify the bona fide hedge exemption by expanding from six to eleven the number of self-effectuating enumerated bona fide hedges and by liberalizing the terms of some existing enumerated hedges. The final rules include an expedited review and approval regime for market participants to exceed federal position limits for non-enumerated bona fide hedging transactions or positions. In addition, the final rules adopt a “spread transaction” exemption, which is self-effectuating for federal position limit purposes. Transactions in futures and options by the Fund are subject to limitations established by futures and option exchanges governing the maximum number of futures and options that may be written or held by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the futures or options were written or purchased on the same or different exchanges or are held in one or more accounts or through one or more different exchanges or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of futures or options which the Fund may write or hold may be affected by futures or options written or held by other entities, including other investment companies advised by the Adviser. An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of those limits and may impose certain other sanctions.

 

Forward Contracts. A forward contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific security, currency, or other instruments for an agreed price at a future date that is individually negotiated and privately traded by traders and their customers. In contrast to contracts traded on an exchange (such as futures contracts), forward contracts are not guaranteed by any exchange or clearinghouse and are subject to the creditworthiness of the counterparty of the trade. Forward contracts are highly leveraged and highly volatile, and a relatively small price movement in a forward contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. To the extent the Fund engages in forward contracts to generate a return, the Fund will be subject to these risks. Forward contracts are not always standardized and are frequently the subject of individual negotiation between the parties involved. By contrast, futures contracts are generally standardized, and futures exchanges have central clearinghouses which keep track of all positions. Because there is no clearinghouse system applicable to forward contracts, there is no direct means of offsetting a forward contract by purchase of an offsetting position on the same exchange as one can with respect to a futures contract. Absent contractual termination rights, the Fund may not be able to terminate a forward contract at a price and time that it desires. In such event, the Fund will remain subject to counterparty risk with respect to the forward contract, even if the Fund enters into an offsetting forward contract with the same, or a different, counterparty. If a counterparty defaults, the Fund may lose money on the transaction. Depending on the asset underlying the forward contract, forward transactions can be influenced by, among other things, changing supply and demand relationships, government commercial and trade programs and policies, national and international political and economic events, weather and climate conditions, insects, and plant disease, purchases and sales by foreign countries and changing interest rates.

 8 

 

Futures Contracts. U.S. futures contracts are traded on organized exchanges regulated by the CFTC. Transactions on such exchanges are cleared through a clearing corporation, which guarantees the performance of the parties to each contract. The Fund may also invest in volatility index futures contracts and non-U.S. futures contracts. There are several risks in connection with the use of futures by the Fund. In the event futures are used by the Fund for hedging purposes, one risk arises because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of futures and movements in the price of the instruments, which are the subject of the hedge. The price of futures may move more than or less than the price of the instruments being hedged. If the price of futures moves less than the price of the instruments which are the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not be fully effective, but, if the price of the instruments being hedged has moved in an unfavorable direction, the Fund would be in a better position than if it had not hedged at all. If the price of the instruments being hedged has moved in a favorable direction, this advantage will be partially offset by the loss on the futures. If the price of the futures moves more than the price of the hedged instruments, the Fund will experience either a loss or gain on the futures, which will not be completely offset by movements in the price of the instruments, which are the subject of the hedge. To compensate for the imperfect correlation of movements in the price of instruments being hedged and movements in the price of futures contracts, the Fund may buy or sell futures contracts in a greater dollar amount than the dollar amount of instruments being hedged if the volatility over a particular time period of the prices of such instruments has been greater than the volatility over such time period of the futures, or if otherwise deemed to be appropriate by the Adviser. Conversely, the Fund may buy or sell fewer futures contracts if the volatility over a particular time period of the prices of the instruments being hedged is less than the volatility over such time period of the futures contract being used, or if otherwise deemed to be appropriate by the Adviser. It is also possible that when the Fund sells futures to hedge its portfolio against a decline in the market, the market may advance, and the value of the futures instruments held in the Fund may decline. Where futures are purchased to hedge against a possible increase in the price of securities before the Fund is able to invest its cash (or cash equivalents) in an orderly fashion, it is possible that the market may decline instead; if the Fund then concludes not to invest its cash at that time because of concern as to possible further market decline or for other reasons, the Fund will realize a loss on the futures contract that is not offset by a reduction in the price of the securities that were to be purchased. Successful use of futures to hedge portfolio securities protects against adverse market movements but also reduces potential gain. For example, if the Fund has hedged against the possibility of a decline in the market adversely affecting securities held by it and securities prices increase instead, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit to the increased value of its securities which it has hedged because it will have offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, in such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin requirements(as described below). Such sales of securities may be, but will not necessarily be, at increased prices which reflect the rising market.

 

The Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The Fund may also use futures to attempt to gain exposure to a particular market, index, security, commodity or instrument or for speculative purposes to increase return. One or more markets, indices or instruments to which the Fund has exposure through futures may go down in value, possibly sharply and unpredictably. This means the Fund may lose money. The price of futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the cash market due to certain market distortions. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the cash and futures markets. Second, with respect to financial futures contracts, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortions. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may also cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortion in the futures market, and because of the imperfect correlation between the movements in the cash market and movements in the price of futures, a correct forecast of general market trends or interest rate movements by the Adviser may still not result in a successful hedging transaction over a short time frame (in the event futures are used for hedging purposes).Positions in futures may be closed out only on an exchange or board of trade which provides a secondary market for such futures. Although the Fund intends to purchase or sell futures only on exchanges or boards of trade where there appear to be active secondary markets, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on any exchange or board of trade will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time. When there is no liquid market, it may not be possible to close a futures investment position, and in the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin (as described below). In such circumstances, an increase in the price of the securities, if any, may partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract. However, as described above, there is no guarantee that the price of the securities will in fact, correlate with the price movements in the futures contract and thus provide an offset on a futures contract. Further, it should be noted that the liquidity of a secondary market in a futures contract may be adversely affected by “daily price fluctuation limits” established by commodities exchanges which limit the amount of fluctuation in a futures contract price during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in the contract, no trades may be entered into at a price beyond the limit, thus preventing the liquidation of open futures positions. The trading of futures contracts is also subject to the risk of trading halts, suspensions, exchange or clearing house equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house, or other disruptions of normal activity, which could at times make it difficult or impossible to liquidate existing positions or to recover equity.

 9 

 

Stock Index Futures. The Fund may invest in stock index futures. A stock index assigns relative values to the common stocks included in the index and fluctuates with the changes in the market value of those stocks. Stock index futures are contracts based on the future value of the basket of securities that comprise the underlying stock index. The contracts obligate the seller to deliver and the purchaser to take cash to settle the futures transaction or to enter into an obligation contract. No physical delivery of the securities underlying the index is made on settling the futures obligation. No monetary amount is paid or received by the Fund on the purchase or sale of a stock index future. At any time prior to the expiration of the future, the Fund may elect to close out its position by taking an opposite position, at which time a final determination of variation margin is made, and additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund. Any gain or loss is then realized by the Fund on the future for tax purposes. Although stock index futures by their terms call for settlement by the delivery of cash, in most cases, the settlement obligation is fulfilled without such delivery by entering into an offsetting transaction. All futures transactions are effected through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded.

 

Futures Contracts on Securities. The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts on securities. A futures contract sale creates an obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price. A futures contract purchase creates an obligation by the Fund, as purchaser, to take delivery of the specific type of financial instrument at a specific future time at a specific price. The specific securities delivered or taken, respectively, at settlement date, would not be determined until or near that date. The determination would be in accordance with the rules of the exchange on which the futures contract sale or purchase was made. Although futures contracts on securities by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance of securities, in most cases, the contracts are closed out before the settlement date without making or taking delivery of securities. The Fund may close out a futures contract sale by entering into a futures contract purchase for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument and the same delivery date. If the price of the sale exceeds the price of the offsetting purchase, the Fund is immediately paid the difference and thus realizes a gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sale price, the Fund pays the difference and realizes a loss. Similarly, the Fund may close out of a futures contract purchase by entering into a futures contract sale. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain, and if the purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price, the Fund realizes a loss. Accounting for futures contracts will be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 10 

 

Volatility Index Futures. The Fund may take long and short positions in volatility index futures. A volatility index generally attempts to reflect the projected future volatility of a specific market index by calculating the average price of listed options on the specific market index. For example, the Fund may invest in futures on the CBOE Volatility Index, which is designed to estimate the expected volatility of the S&P 500 Index over a 30-day period pursuant to a calculation based on the midpoint of bid and ask quotes for options on the S&P 500 Index. The prices of options on market indices have tended to increase during periods of heightened volatility in the underlying market and decrease during periods of greater stability in the underlying market, which would result in increases or decreases, respectively, in the level of the volatility index. Investments in volatility index futures are subject to the risk that the Fund is incorrect in its forecast of volatility for the underlying index and may have the potential for unlimited loss. To the extent the Fund purchases and sells volatility index futures, the Fund will be exposed to increased levels of volatility.

 

Lending of Portfolio Securities. In order to generate additional income, the Fund may lend portfolio securities in an amount up to 33⅓% of its total assets to broker-dealers, major banks, or other recognized domestic institutional borrowers of securities that the Adviser has determined are creditworthy under guidelines established by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). In determining whether the Fund will lend securities, the Adviser will consider all relevant facts and circumstances. The Fund may not lend securities to any company affiliated with the Adviser. Each loan of securities will be collateralized by cash, securities, or letters of credit. The Fund might experience a loss if the borrower defaults on the loan.

 

The borrower, at all times during the loan, must maintain with the Fund cash or cash equivalent collateral, or provide to the Fund an irrevocable letter of credit equal in value to at least 100% of the value of the securities loaned. While the loan is outstanding, the borrower will pay the Fund any dividends or interest paid on the loaned securities, and the Fund may invest the cash collateral to earn additional income. Alternatively, the Fund may receive an agreed-upon amount of interest income from the borrower who has delivered equivalent collateral or a letter of credit. It is anticipated that the Fund may share with the borrower some of the income received on the collateral for the loan or the Fund will be paid a premium for the loan. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower, at any time. The Fund may pay reasonable administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan, and may pay a negotiated portion of the income earned on the cash to the borrower or placing broker. As with other extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. If the Fund invests the cash collateral from the borrower, there is the risk that such investment may result in a financial loss. In such an event, the Fund would be required to repay the borrower out the Fund’s assets.

 

Where voting rights with respect to the loaned securities pass with the lending of the securities, the Adviser intends to call the loaned securities to vote proxies, or to use other practicable and legally enforceable means to obtain voting rights, when the Adviser has knowledge that, in its opinion, a material event affecting the loaned securities will occur or the Adviser otherwise believes it necessary to vote. The Fund has not engaged in any securities lending activities as of the date of this SAI.

 

U.S. Government Obligations. The Fund may invest, directly or indirectly, in U.S. Government Obligations. “U.S. Government Obligations” include securities, which are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“U.S. Treasury”), by various agencies of the U.S. government, and by various instrumentalities, which have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury obligations include Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes, and Treasury Bonds. Treasury Bills have initial maturities of one year or less; Treasury Notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and Treasury Bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years.

 

Agencies and instrumentalities established by the U.S. government include the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Land Bank, the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Small Business Administration, the Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank, the Federal Financing Bank, the Federal Farm Credit Banks, the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, the Resolution Funding Corporation, the Financing Corporation of America and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Some of these securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government while others are supported only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality, which may include the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. In the case of U.S. Government Obligations not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, and may not be able to assert a claim against the U.S. government itself in the event the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment. U.S. Government Obligations are subject to price fluctuations based upon changes in the level of interest rates, which will generally result in all those securities changing in price in the same way, i.e., all those securities experiencing appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. Any guarantee of the U.S. government will not extend to the yield or value of the Fund’s shares.

 11 

 

Illiquid Investments. The Fund may not purchase or otherwise acquire any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the value of illiquid investments held by the Fund would exceed 15% of its net assets. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Illiquid investments pose risks of potential delays in resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio investments and the Fund may be unable to dispose of illiquid investments promptly or at reasonable prices. Under the supervision of the Board, the Adviser determines the liquidity of the Fund’s investments and, through reports from the Adviser, the Trustees monitor investments in illiquid investments. If through a change in values, net assets, or other circumstances, the Fund was in a position where more than 15% of its net assets were invested in illiquid investments, it would seek to take appropriate steps to bring the Fund’s illiquid investments to or below 15% of its net assets per the requirements of Rule 22e-4 of the 1940 Act. The sale of some illiquid and other types of investments may be subject to legal restrictions.

 

If the Fund invests in investments for which there is no ready market, it may not be able to readily sell such investments. Such investments are unlike investments that are traded in the open market, and which can be expected to be sold immediately if the market is adequate. The sale price of illiquid investments once realized may be lower or higher than the Adviser’s most recent estimate of their fair market value. Generally, less public information is available about the issuers of such illiquid investments than about companies whose investments are publicly traded.

 

Investment Companies. The Fund may, from time to time, invest in securities of other investment companies, including, without limitation, money market funds, and ETFs. Generally, under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, a fund may not acquire shares of another investment company if, immediately after such acquisition, (i) a fund would hold more than 3% of another investment company’s outstanding shares, (ii) a fund’s investment in securities of the other investment company would be more than 5% of the value of the total assets of the fund, or (iii) more than 10% of a fund’s total assets would be invested in investment companies. Under certain circumstances, a fund may invest in registered and unregistered money market funds in excess of these limitations. The Fund generally expects to rely on Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act when purchasing shares of a money market fund. Under Rule 12d1-1, the Fund may generally invest without limitation in money market funds as long as the Fund pays no sales charge (“sales charge”), as defined in rule 2830(b)(8) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), or service fee, as defined in rule 2830(b)(9) of the Conduct Rules of FINRA, charged in connection with the purchase, sale, or redemption of securities issued by the money market fund (“service fee”); or the investment adviser waives its management fee in an amount necessary to offset any sales charge or service fee. The Fund generally expects to rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act when purchasing shares of other investment companies that are not money market funds. Under Section 12(d)(1)(F), the Fund may generally acquire shares of another investment company unless, immediately after such acquisition, the Fund and its affiliated persons would exceed the 3% Limitation. To the extent the 3% Limitation applies to an investment the Fund wishes to make, the Fund may be prevented from allocating its investments in the manner that the Adviser considers optimal. Also, under the 1940 Act, to the extent that the Fund relies upon Section 12(d)(1)(F) in purchasing securities issued by another investment company, the Fund must either seek instructions from its shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies with respect to its investment in such securities and vote such proxies only in accordance with the instructions, or vote the shares held by it in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of the securities. In the event that there is a vote of investment company shares held by the Fund in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F), the Fund intends to vote such shares in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such securities. Investments in other investment companies subjects the Fund to additional operating and management fees and expenses. For example, Fund investors will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses.

 12 

 

On October 7, 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 12d1-4”) which allows funds to invest in other investment companies in excess of some of the limitations discussed above, subject to certain limitations and conditions. An acquiring fund relying on Rule 12d-4 must enter into a fund of funds investment agreement with the acquired fund. Rule 12d1-4 outlines the requirements for fund of funds agreements and specifies certain reporting responsibilities of the acquiring fund’s adviser. Rule 12d1-4 became effective January 19, 2021 and rescinds certain types of relief for funds of funds that invest in other investment companies in excess of the limitations under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, as discussed above and below, one year after the effective date. The Fund expects to rely on Rule 12d1-4 to the extent the Adviser deems such reliance necessary or appropriate.

 

LIBOR Risk. LIBOR is used extensively in the U.S. and globally as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various commercial and financial contracts, including corporate and municipal bonds, bank loans, asset-backed and mortgage-related securities, interest rate swaps and other derivatives. For example, debt securities in which the Fund invests may pay interest at floating rates based on LIBOR or may be subject to interest caps or floors based on LIBOR. Derivative investments made by the Fund may also reference LIBOR. In addition, issuers of instruments in which the Fund invests may obtain financing at floating rates based on LIBOR, and the Fund may use leverage or borrowings based on LIBOR. In July 2017, the head of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority announced the intention to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. There is currently no definitive information regarding the future utilization of LIBOR or of any particular replacement reference rate. Abandonment of or modifications to LIBOR could have adverse impacts on newly issued financial instruments and existing financial instruments that reference LIBOR. Various financial industry groups have begun planning for the transition away from the use of LIBOR, but there are obstacles to converting certain securities and transactions to a new benchmark. Transition planning is at an early stage, and neither the effect of the transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. The transition process might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. It could also lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based investments. While some LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology and/or increased costs for certain LIBOR-related instruments or financing transactions, not all may have such provisions and there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies, resulting in prolonged adverse market conditions for the Fund. Since the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could occur prior to the end of 2021. There also remains uncertainty and risk regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to include enhanced provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. All of the aforementioned may adversely affect the Fund’s performance or NAV.

 

Market Risk. Market risk is the risk that the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio may decline due to daily fluctuations in the securities markets that are generally beyond the Adviser’s control, including fluctuation in interest rates, the quality of the Fund’s investments, economic conditions and general market conditions. Certain market events could increase volatility and exacerbate market risk, and could result in trading halts, such as changes in governments’ economic policies, political turmoil, environmental events, trade disputes, terrorism, military action and epidemics, pandemics, or other public health issues. Any of the foregoing market events can adversely affect the economies of one or more countries or the entire global economy, certain industries or individual issuers, and capital and security markets in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen or quickly addressed.

 

As shown with the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”), market events (including public health crises and concerns) can have a profound economic and business effect that results in cancellations and disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, disruption and displacement of one or more sectors or industries, closing of borders and imposition of travel restrictions and quarantines, general public concern and uncertainty and, in extreme cases, exchange trading halts due to rapidly falling prices. Further, the impact of COVID-19 has caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, including the U.S. financial markets. Further, COVID-19 has led to production cutbacks for many companies, coupled with changes in consumer spending fueled by government stimulus, and has created a supply/demand imbalance and resulted in higher prices and inflation, the result of which can effect a company’s financial condition and ability to manufacture and sell its produces. The duration and lasting impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is unclear and may not be fully known for some time.

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Market events such as these and other types of market events may cause significant declines in the values and liquidity of many securities and other instruments, and significant disruptions to global business activity and financial markets. Turbulence in financial markets, and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers both domestically and around the world, and can result in trading halts, any of which could have an adverse impact on the Fund. During periods of market volatility, security prices (including securities held by the Fund) could change drastically and with rapidity and therefore adversely affect the Fund.

 

Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”). The Fund may, directly or indirectly, invest a portion of its total assets in the equity or debt securities of MLPs, which are limited partnerships in which the ownership units are publicly traded. MLP units are registered with the SEC and are freely traded on a securities exchange or in the OTC market. MLPs often own several properties or businesses (or own interests) that are related to real estate development and oil and gas industries, but they also may finance motion pictures, research and development and other projects. Generally, a MLP is operated under the supervision of one or more managing general partners. Limited partners are not involved in the day-to-day management of the partnership. The risks of investing in a MLP are generally those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be more limited voting rights and fewer corporate protections afforded investors in a MLP than investors in a corporation. Additional risks involved with investing in a MLP are risks associated with the specific industry or industries in which the partnership invests, such as the risks of investing in real estate, or oil and gas industries. The benefit derived from the Fund’s investment in a MLP is largely dependent on the MLP’s being treated as partnerships for deferral income tax purposes, so any change to this status would adversely affect its value. The Fund’s investment in a MLP may result in the layering of expenses such that shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the MLP’s operating expenses in addition to paying Fund expenses.

 

Money Market Instruments. The Fund may invest in money market instruments. Money market instruments may include, without limitation, U.S. Government Obligations, or corporate debt obligations (including those subject to repurchase agreements) as described herein, provided that they mature in thirteen months or less from the date of acquisition and are otherwise eligible for purchase by the Fund. Money market instruments also may include Banker’s Acceptances, Certificates of Deposit of domestic branches of U.S. banks, Commercial Paper, Variable Amount Demand Master Notes (“Master Notes”) and shares of money market investment companies.

 

Banker’s Acceptances are time drafts drawn on and “accepted” by a bank, which are the customary means of effecting payment for merchandise sold in import-export transactions and are a source of financing used extensively in international trade. When a bank “accepts” such a time draft, it assumes liability for its payment. When the Fund acquires a Banker’s Acceptance, the bank which “accepted” the time draft is liable for payment of interest and principal when due. The Banker’s Acceptance, therefore, carries the full faith and credit of such bank.

 

A Certificate of Deposit (“CD”) is an unsecured interest-bearing debt obligation of a bank. CDs acquired by the Fund would generally be in amounts of $100,000 or more.

 

Commercial Paper is an unsecured, short-term debt obligation of a bank, corporation, or other borrower. Commercial Paper maturity generally ranges from two to 270 days and is usually sold on a discounted basis rather than as an interest-bearing instrument. The Fund will invest in Commercial Paper only if it is rated in the highest rating category by any NRSRO or, if not rated, if the issuer has an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated in the three highest categories by any NRSRO or, if not so rated, is of equivalent quality in the Adviser’s assessment. Commercial Paper may include Master Notes of the same quality.

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Master Notes are unsecured obligations which are redeemable upon demand of the holder and which permit the investment of fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest. Master Notes are acquired by the Fund only through the Master Note program of the Fund’s custodian, acting as administrator thereof. The Adviser will monitor, on a continuous basis, the earnings power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer of a Master Note held by the Fund. The Fund may invest in shares of money market investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

Operational Risk. An investment in the Fund involves operational risk arising from factors such as processing errors, human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel and errors caused by third-party service providers. Any of these failures or errors could result in a loss or compromise of information, regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage or other events, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund. While the Fund seeks to minimize such events through controls and oversight, there is no guarantee that the Fund will not suffer losses due to operational risk.

 

Options. The Fund may purchase and write, or sell, put and call options on securities. The Fund may buy and sell options for a number of purposes, including hedging, investment or speculative purposes. For example, it may do so to try to manage its exposure to the possibility that the prices of its portfolio securities may decline, or to establish a position in the securities market as a substitute for purchasing individual securities. Buying puts and writing covered calls may be used to hedge the Fund’s portfolio against price fluctuations. Buying call options tends to increase the Fund’s exposure to the securities market. The purchase and writing of options involves certain risks. During the option period, the covered call writer has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying securities above the exercise price, but, as long as its obligation as a writer continues, has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying securities at the exercise price. If a put or call option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying security, in the case of a put, remains equal to or greater than the exercise price or, in the case of a call, remains less than or equal to the exercise price, the Fund will lose its entire investment in the option. Also, where a put or call option on a particular security is purchased to hedge against price movements in a related security, the price of the put or call option may move more or less than the price of the related security. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position. Furthermore, if trading restrictions or suspensions are imposed on the options market, the Fund may be unable to close out a position.

 

Writing Call Options. The Fund may write call options. When the Fund writes a call on an investment, it receives a premium and agrees to sell the callable investment to a purchaser of a corresponding call during the call period (usually not more than nine months) at a fixed exercise price (which may differ from the market price of the underlying investment) regardless of market price changes during the call period. The call may be exercised at any time during the call period. The Fund writing call options attempts to realize, through the receipt of premiums, a greater return than would be realized on the underlying investment. By writing covered call options, the Fund gives up the opportunity, while the option is in effect, to profit from any price increase in the underlying security above the option exercise price. Covered call options also serve as a partial hedge to the extent of the premium received against the price of the underlying security declining. To terminate its obligation on a call it has written, the Fund may purchase a corresponding call in a “closing purchase transaction.” A profit or loss will be realized, depending upon whether the net of the amount of option transaction costs and the premium received on the call the Fund has written is more or less than the price of the call such Fund subsequently purchased. A profit may also be realized if the call lapses unexercised because the Fund retains the underlying investment and the premium received. If the Fund could not effect a closing purchase transaction due to the lack of a market, it would have to hold the callable investment until the call lapsed or was exercised. The Fund’s ability to sell the underlying security will be limited while the option is in effect unless the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. The Fund may also write an uncovered call (i.e., the Fund does not hold the underlying security) or calls on futures without owning a futures contract on deliverable securities, provided that at the time the call is written, the Fund covers the call with an equivalent dollar value of deliverable securities, cash or liquid assets. The Fund writing uncovered call options attempts to realize income without committing capital to the ownership of the underlying securities or instruments. Uncovered calls are riskier than covered calls because there is no underlying security held by the Fund that can act as a partial hedge. The Fund will cover with additional liquid assets if the value of the segregated assets drops below 100% of the current market value of the underlying instrument. Uncovered calls have speculative characteristics and the potential for loss is unlimited. The seller of an uncovered call option assumes the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the market price of the underlying security or instrument above the exercise price of the option. When an uncovered call option on a security is exercised, the Fund must purchase the underlying security to meet its call obligation. There is also a risk, especially with less liquid preferred and debt securities, that the securities may not be available for purchase. The securities necessary to satisfy the exercise of an uncovered call option may be unavailable for purchase, except at much higher prices, thereby reducing or eliminating the value of the premium. If the purchase price exceeds the exercise price, the Fund will lose the difference. Purchasing securities to cover the exercise price of an uncovered call option can cause the price of the securities to increase, thereby exacerbating the loss.

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Writing Put Options. A put option on a security or futures contract gives the purchaser the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying investment at the exercise price during the option period. The put may be exercised at any time during the option period. The premium the Fund receives from writing a put option represents a profit, as long as the price of the underlying investment remains above the exercise price. However, the Fund (as the writer of the put) has also assumed the obligation during the option period to buy the underlying investment from the buyer of the put at the exercise price, even though the value of the investment may fall below the exercise price. If the put expires unexercised, the Fund (as the writer of the put) realizes a gain in the amount of the premium less transaction costs. If the put is exercised, the Fund must fulfill its obligation to purchase the underlying investment at the exercise price, which will usually exceed the market value of the investment at that time. In that case, the Fund may incur a loss, equal to the sum of the sale price of the underlying investment and the premium received minus the sum of the exercise price and any transaction costs incurred. When writing put options on securities or futures contracts, to secure its obligation to pay for the underlying security or futures contract, the Fund will either (i) segregate on its records cash or liquid assets equal to the exercise price of the option less margins or deposits; (ii) sell the underlying security short at a price at least equal to the strike price or(iii) purchase a put option with a strike price at least equal to the strike price of the put option sold. The Fund therefore, may have to forego certain opportunities to invest the assets used to cover the obligation. As long as the obligation of the Fund as the put writer continues, it may be assigned an exercise notice by the exchange or broker-dealer through whom such option was sold, requiring the Fund to exchange currency at the specified rate of exchange (in the context of puts on currencies) or to take delivery of the underlying security against payment of the exercise price. The Fund may have no control over when it may be required to purchase the underlying security, since it may be assigned an exercise notice at any time prior to the termination of its obligation as the writer of the put. This obligation terminates upon expiration of the put, or such earlier time at which the Fund effects a closing purchase transaction by purchasing a put of the same series as that previously sold. Once the Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, it is thereafter not allowed to effect a closing purchase transaction.

 

The Fund may effect a closing purchase transaction to realize a profit on an outstanding put option it has written or to prevent an underlying security or instrument from being put. Furthermore, effecting such a closing purchase transaction will permit the Fund to write another put option to the extent that the exercise price thereof is secured by the deposited assets, or to utilize the proceeds from the sale of such assets for other investments by that Fund. The Fund will realize a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from writing the option.

 

Purchasing Puts and Calls. The Fund may purchase calls to protect against the possibility that the Fund’s portfolio will not participate in an anticipated rise in the securities market. When the Fund purchases a call (other than in a closing purchase transaction), it pays a premium and, except as to calls on stock indices, has the right to buy the underlying investment from a seller of a corresponding call on the same investment during the call period at a fixed exercise price. In purchasing a call, the Fund benefits only if the call is sold at a profit or if, during the call period, the market price of the underlying investment is above the sum of the exercise price, transaction costs, and the premium paid, and the call is exercised. If the call is not exercised or sold (whether or not at a profit), it will become worthless at its expiration date and the Fund will lose its premium payment and the right to purchase the underlying investment. When the Fund purchases a call on a stock index, it pays a premium, but settlement is in cash rather than by delivery of the underlying investment to the Fund. When the Fund purchases a put, it pays a premium and, except as to puts on stock indices, has the right to sell the underlying investment to a seller of a corresponding put on the same investment during the put period at a fixed exercise price. Buying a put on an investment the Fund owns (a “protective put”) enables that Fund to attempt to protect itself during the put period against a decline in the value of the underlying investment below the exercise price by selling the underlying investment at the exercise price to a seller of a corresponding put. If the market price of the underlying investment is equal to or above the exercise price and, as a result, the put is not exercised or resold, the put will become worthless at its expiration and the Fund will lose the premium payment and the right to sell the underlying investment. However, the put may be sold prior to expiration (whether or not at a profit). Puts and calls on securities indices or securities index futures are similar to puts and calls on securities or futures contracts except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question (and thus on price movements in the stock market generally) rather than on price movements of individual securities or futures contracts. When the Fund buys a call on a securities index or securities index future, it pays a premium. If the Fund exercises the call during the call period, a seller of a corresponding call on the same investment will pay the Fund an amount of cash to settle the call if the closing level of the securities index or securities index future upon which the call is based is greater than the exercise price of the call. That cash payment is equal to the difference between the closing price of the call and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (the “multiplier”) which determines the total dollar value for each point of difference. When the Fund buys a put on a securities index or securities index future, it pays a premium and has the right during the put period to require a seller of a corresponding put, upon the Fund’s exercise of its put, to deliver cash to the Fund to settle the put if the closing level of the securities index or securities index future upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the put. That cash payment is determined by the multiplier, in the same manner as described above as to calls. When the Fund purchases a put on a securities index, or on a securities index future not owned by it, the put protects the Fund to the extent that the index moves in a similar pattern to the securities the Fund holds. The Fund can either resell the put or, in the case of a put on a stock index future, buy the underlying investment and sell it at the exercise price. The resale price of the put will vary inversely with the price of the underlying investment. If the market price of the underlying investment is above the exercise price, and as a result the put is not exercised, the put will become worthless on the expiration date. In the event of a decline in price of the underlying investment, the Fund could exercise or sell the put at a profit to attempt to offset some or all of its loss on its portfolio securities.

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Options on Futures Contracts Investments in options on futures contracts involve some of the same considerations that are involved in connection with investments in future contracts (for example, the existence of a liquid secondary market). In addition, the purchase or sale of an option also entails the risk that changes in the value of the underlying futures contract will not correspond to changes in the value of the option purchased. Depending on the pricing of the option compared to either the futures contract upon which it is based, or upon the price of the securities being hedged, an option may or may not be less risky than ownership of the futures contract or such securities. In general, the market prices of options can be expected to be more volatile than the market prices on underlying futures contract. Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, however, the purchase of call or put options on futures contracts may frequently involve less potential risk to the Fund because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options (plus transaction costs).

 

Special Risk Factors of Options. Transactions in derivative instruments such as options involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to: unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, interest rates, indices, the other financial instruments’ prices or currency exchange rates; the inability to close out a position; default by the counterparty; imperfect correlation between a position and the desired hedge (if the derivative instrument is being used for hedging purposes); tax constraints on closing out positions; and portfolio management constraints on securities subject to such transactions. The loss on derivative instruments (other than purchased options) may substantially exceed the amount invested in these instruments. In addition, the entire premium paid for purchased options may be lost before they can be profitably exercised. Transaction costs are incurred in opening and closing positions.

 

The Fund’s use of certain derivative instruments will have the economic effect of financial leverage. Financial leverage magnifies exposure to the swings in prices of an asset underlying a derivative instrument and results in increased volatility, which means the Fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund does not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. Leveraging tends to magnify, sometimes significantly, the effect of any increase or decrease in the Fund’s exposure to an asset and may cause the Fund’s NAV to be volatile. For example, if the Adviser seeks to gain enhanced exposure to a specific asset through a derivative instrument providing leveraged exposure to the asset and that derivative instrument increases in value, the gain to the Fund will be magnified; however, if that investment decreases in value, the loss to the Fund will be magnified. A decline in the Fund’s assets due to losses magnified by the derivative instruments providing leveraged exposure may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations, to meet redemption requests or to meet asset segregation requirements when it may not be advantageous to do so. There is no assurance that the Fund’s use of derivative instruments providing enhanced exposure will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.

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The Fund’s success in using derivative instruments to hedge portfolio assets depends on the degree of price correlation between the derivative instruments and the hedged asset. Imperfect correlation may be caused by several factors, including temporary price disparities among the trading markets for the derivative instrument, the assets underlying the derivative instrument and the Fund’s assets.

 

OTC derivative instruments involve an increased risk that the issuer or counterparty will fail to perform its contractual obligations. Some derivative instruments are not readily marketable or may become illiquid under adverse market conditions. Certain purchased OTC options, and assets used as cover for written OTC options, may be considered illiquid. The ability to terminate OTC derivative instruments may depend on the cooperation of the counterparties to such contracts. For thinly traded derivative instruments, the only source of price quotations may be the selling dealer or counterparty. The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that involves skills different from conducting ordinary portfolio securities transactions. There can be no assurance that the Adviser’s use of derivative instruments will be advantageous to the Fund.

 

Federal Tax Treatment of Options, Futures Contracts and Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts. The Fund may enter into certain option, futures, and forward foreign exchange contracts, including options and futures on currencies, which are Section 1256 contracts and may result in the Fund entering into straddles. Open Section 1256 contracts at fiscal year-end will be considered to have been closed at the end of the Fund’s fiscal year and any gains or losses will be recognized for tax purposes at that time. Such gains or losses from the normal closing or settlement of such transactions will be characterized as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss regardless of the holding period of the instrument. The Fund will be required to distribute net gains on such transactions to shareholders even though it may not have closed the transaction and received cash to pay such distributions.

 

Options, futures and forward foreign exchange contracts, including options and futures on currencies, that offset a security or currency position may be considered straddles for tax purposes, in which case a loss on any position in a straddle will be subject to deferral to the extent of unrealized gain in an offsetting position. The holding period of the securities or currencies comprising the straddle may be deemed not to begin until the straddle is terminated. The holding period of the security offsetting an “in-the-money qualified covered call” option will not include the period of time the option is outstanding. Losses on written covered calls and purchased puts on securities, excluding certain “qualified covered call” options, may be long-term capital loss, if the security covering the option was held for more than twelve months prior to the writing of the option.

 

In order for the Fund to continue to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a regulated investment company, at least 90% of its gross income for a taxable year must be derived from qualifying income; i.e., dividends, interest, income derived from loans of securities, and gains from the sale of securities or currencies.

 

Preferred Stock. The Fund may invest, directly or indirectly, in preferred stock. Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuer’s earnings and assets before common stock owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the preferred stock. Preferred stocks may include the obligation to pay a stated dividend. The price of preferred stocks could depend more on the size of the dividend than on the company’s performance. If a company fails to pay the dividend, its preferred stock is likely to drop in price. Changes in interest rates can also affect the price of preferred stock. Like common stocks, the value of preferred stock may fluctuate in response to many factors, including the activities of the issuer, general market and economic conditions, interest rates, and industry-specific changes. Also, regardless of any one company’s particular prospects, a declining stock market may produce a decline in prices for all equity securities, which could also result in losses.

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Portfolio Turnover. The portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is calculated by dividing the lesser of the Fund’s purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the year by the monthly average value of the securities. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year, and may also be affected by cash requirements for redemption of shares. High portfolio turnover rates will generally result in higher transaction costs to the Fund, including brokerage commission, and may result in additional tax consequences to the Fund’s shareholders.

 

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may invest, directly or indirectly, in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement transaction occurs when an investor (e.g., the Fund) purchases a security (normally a U.S. Government security) from a counterparty with the understanding that the investor will later resell the security to the same counterparty (normally a member bank of the Federal Reserve or a registered government securities dealer) . The Fund’s initial purchase is essentially a loan that is collateralized by the security (and/or securities substituted for them under the repurchase agreements) to the vendor on an agreed upon date in the future. The repurchase price exceeds the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed upon market interest rate effective for the period of time during which the repurchase agreement is in effect. Delivery pursuant to the resale normally will occur within one to seven days of the purchase. Repurchase agreements are considered “loans” under the 1940 Act, collateralized by the underlying security. The Trust has implemented procedures to monitor on a continuous basis the value of the collateral serving as security for repurchase obligations. The Adviser will consider the creditworthiness of the counterparty. If the counterparty fails to pay the agreed upon resale price on the delivery date, the Fund will retain or attempt to dispose of the collateral. The Fund’s risk is that such default may include any decline in value of the collateral to an amount, which is less than 100% of the repurchase price, any costs of disposing of such collateral, and any loss resulting from any delay in foreclosing on the collateral. The Fund will not enter into any repurchase agreement that would cause more than 15% of its net assets to be invested in repurchase agreements that extend beyond seven days.

 

Restricted Securities. Within its limitation on investment in illiquid investments, the Fund may purchase restricted securities that generally can be sold in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration under the federal securities laws, or in a registered public offering. Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expense and a considerable period may elapse between the time it decides to seek registration and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If during such a period adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to seek registration of the security.

 

Restricted securities are generally considered to be illiquid unless it is determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a specific restricted security, that such restricted security is liquid because it is so-called “4(a)(2) commercial paper” or is otherwise eligible for resale pursuant the Securities Act of 1933, as amended . The purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market exists.

 

Investing in restricted securities, including securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio to the extent that qualified buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities.

 

Short Selling of Securities. The Fund may engage in short selling of securities. In a short sale of securities, the Fund sells stock that it does not own, making delivery with securities “borrowed” from a broker. The Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. This price may or may not be less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay the lender any dividends and/or interest, which accrues during the period that the short sale remains open. In order to borrow the security, the Fund may also have to pay a fee, which would increase the cost of selling a security short. The proceeds of the short sale may be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out, or the proceeds may be released to the Fund and invested in additional securities.

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The Fund will incur a loss because of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. Excluding any dividend and/or interest payments, the Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those two dates. The amount of any gain will be decreased and the amount of any loss will be increased by any dividends and/or interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with the short sale.

 

In a short sale, the seller does not own the securities sold and is said to have a short position in those securities until the position is closed out. The Fund must deposit in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodial bank an amount of cash and/or liquid assets sufficient to cover the Fund’s short positions. While the short position is open, the Fund monitors daily the segregated account’s balance to ensure that it meets the relevant collateral requirements.

 

The Fund may also engage in short sales if at the time of the short sale the Fund owns or has the right to obtain without additional cost an equal amount of the security being sold short. This investment technique is known as a short sale “against the box”. The Fund does not intend to engage in short sales against the box for investment purposes. The Fund may, however, make a short sale against the box as a hedge, when the investment manager believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by the Fund (or a security convertible or exchangeable for such security), or when the Fund wants to sell the security at an attractive current price. In such case, any future losses in the Fund’s long position should be offset by a gain in the short position and, conversely, any gain in the long position should be reduced by a loss in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are reduced will depend upon the amount of the security sold short relative to the amount the Fund owns. There will be certain additional transaction costs associated with short sales against the box, but the Fund will endeavor to offset these costs with the income from the investment of the cash proceeds of short sales.

 

The SEC recently finalized new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which provides for the regulation of registered investment companies’ use of derivatives and certain related instruments. Compliance with Rule 18f-4 to invest in derivatives and certain related instruments will not be required until approximately the middle of 2022. The new rule, among other things, limits derivatives exposure through one of two value-at-risk tests and eliminates the asset segregation framework for covering derivatives and certain financial instruments arising from the SEC’s Release 10666 and ensuing staff guidance. The rule also requires funds to adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (including the appointment of a derivatives risk manager and the implementation of certain testing requirements) and subjects funds to certain reporting requirements in respect of derivatives. Limited derivatives users (as determined by Rule 18f-4) are not, however, subject to the full requirements under the rule. As the Fund transitions into reliance on Rule 18f-4, the Fund’s approach to asset segregation and coverage requirements described in this SAI may be impacted.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions. The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its principal investment strategies. If the Adviser believes a temporary defensive position is warranted in view of market conditions, the Fund may hold cash or invest up to 100% of its assets in high-quality short-term government or corporate obligations, money market instruments or shares of money market mutual funds. Taking a temporary defensive position may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective.

 

Value and Growth Companies. The Fund may invest, directly or indirectly, in both value and growth stocks. Value stocks generally represent companies that have fallen out of favor in the marketplace and are considered bargain-priced compared with book value, replacement value, or liquidation value. Typically, value stocks are priced much lower than stocks of similar companies in the same industry. This lower price can be reflective of investor reaction to recent company problems, such as disappointing earnings, negative publicity, or legal problems, all of which may raise questions about the companies' long-term prospects. Value stocks may also include stocks of new companies that have yet to be recognized by investors. The idea behind value investing is that stock prices of good companies will bounce back over time when the true value is recognized by other investors. But this recognition of value may take time to emerge and, in some cases, may never materialize. Growth stocks, on the other hand, generally represent companies that have demonstrated better-than-average gains in earnings in recent years and are expected to continue delivering high levels of profit growth. While earnings of some growth companies may be depressed during periods of slower economic growth, growth companies may potentially continue to achieve high earnings growth regardless of economic conditions. The risk in buying a growth stock include that its higher price could fall sharply on any negative news about the company, particularly if earnings disappoint the marketplace.

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Warrants and Rights. The Fund may purchase, directly or indirectly, warrants and rights, or it may acquire ownership of such investments by virtue of its ownership of common stocks. Warrants are essentially options to purchase equity securities at specific prices and are valid for a specific period. Rights are similar to warrants but generally have a short duration and are distributed directly by the issuer to its shareholders. The holders of warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends with respect to the equity interests underlying warrants or rights, and will have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer, until the warrant or right is exercised. Investments in warrants and rights involve certain risks, including the possible lack of a liquid market for resale, potential price fluctuations as a result of speculation or other factors, and failure of the price of the underlying security to reach or have reasonable prospects of reaching a level at which the warrant or right can be prudently exercised (in which event the warrant or right may expire without being exercised, resulting in a loss of the Fund’s entire investment therein).

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

The Fund has adopted the following investment limitations, which cannot be changed without approval by holders of a majority of its outstanding voting shares. A “majority” for this purpose means the lesser of (i) 67% of the Fund’s outstanding shares represented in person or by proxy at a meeting at which more than 50% of its outstanding shares are represented; or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares. Unless otherwise indicated, percentage limitations apply at the time of purchase of the applicable securities.

 

FUNDAMENTAL RESTRICTIONS. As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:

 

(1)

Issue senior securities, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time; 

   
(2)

Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time; 

   

(3)

Act as underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time and except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws; 

   
(4)

Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time, and provided that the Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount up to 33% of total Fund assets; 

 21 

 

(5)

Purchase or sell real estate except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time; 

   
(6)

Invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities of issuers in any particular industry or group of industries; and 

   
(7) The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

With respect to the fundamental investment restrictions above, if a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or net assets will not result in a violation of such restriction (i.e., percentage limitations are determined at the time of purchase); provided, however, that the treatment of the fundamental restrictions related to borrowing money and issuing senior securities are exceptions to this general rule.

 

With respect to the above fundamental investment restriction on borrowing money, the entry into options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices shall not constitute borrowing.

 

With respect to the above fundamental investment restriction on making loans, investment in U.S. Government obligations, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and repurchase agreements shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan. Under current law as interpreted by the SEC and its staff, the Fund may not lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties (this restriction does not apply to purchases of debt securities or repurchase agreements). Subject to this limitation, the Fund may make loans, for example: (a) by loaning portfolio securities; (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements; (c) by making loans secured by real estate; (d) by making loans to affiliated funds as permitted by the SEC; or (e) by purchasing non-publicly offered debt securities. For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.

 

With respect to the above fundamental investment restriction regarding investments in real estate, the 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments. The Fund’s limitation with respect to investing in real estate is not applicable to investments in securities or mortgages or loans that are secured by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from purchasing or selling mortgage-related securities or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts) or preclude the Fund from holding or selling real estate acquired as a result of the Fund’s ownership of securities or other instruments.

 

With respect to the above fundamental investment restriction on concentration in a particular industry, securities of the U.S. Government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions and investments in other registered investment companies are not considered to be issued by members of any industry. If the Fund invests in a revenue bond tied to a particular industry, the Fund will consider such investment to be issued by a member of the industry to which the revenue bond is tied.

 

With respect to the above fundamental investment restriction on investing in commodities, the Fund may purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices.

 22 

 

The 1940 Act presently allows the Fund to borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33⅓% of its total assets and the Fund will, to the extent necessary, reduce its existing borrowings (within 3 days, excluding Sundays and holidays) to comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act.

 

CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE

 

The price at which you purchase or redeem Fund shares is based on the Fund’s NAV. The Fund’s NAV is calculated at the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each day the NYSE and the principal bond markets (as recommended by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) are open for regular trading (e.g., the NYSE is closed on weekends, most federal holidays and Good Friday). The Fund’s NAV is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund’s total assets (including interest and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus liabilities (including accrued expenses) by the total number of shares outstanding. Requests to purchase and sell shares are processed at the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form. If the NYSE is closed due to inclement weather, technology problems or any other reason on a day it would normally be open for business, or the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders until, and calculate the Fund’s NAV as of, the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day, so long as Fund management believes there remains an adequate market to meet purchase and redemption orders for that day.

 

In the event the Fund holds portfolio securities that trade in foreign markets or that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund’s shares.

 

The Board has approved procedures pursuant to which the Fund will value its investments and has delegated to the Adviser general responsibility for determining, in accordance with such procedures, the value of such investments. Generally, portfolio investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value, which is ordinarily determined based on official closing prices or the last reported sale prices of an instrument. Where no such closing price or sale price is reported, market value is determined based on quotes obtained from market makers or prices supplied by one or more third-party pricing source (“Pricing Services”), which may include evaluated prices. If market or evaluated prices are not readily available (including when they are not reliable), or if an event occurs after the close of the trading market but before the calculation of the applicable NAV that materially affects the values, assets may be valued at a fair value, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board.

  

In instances in which the market value of an asset is deemed by the Adviser not to reflect fair value, the asset may be valued at a fair value, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. Fair valuation may occur in instances when market or evaluated prices are not available or are deemed not to be reliable or accurate in the opinion of the Adviser, or if an event occurs after the close of the trading market but before the calculation of the NAV that materially affects the values. Fair valuation could also occur in instances of (a) thinly traded securities, or (b) lack of liquidity or depth in the market for the security. For example, the Fund may be obligated to fair value a foreign security because many foreign markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the major U.S. markets. In such situations, the Adviser may consider, when calculating fair value, (a) the nature and duration of the restrictions upon disposition of the securities or other assets, (b) the extent to which there is market for similar securities or other assets of the same class, or (c) availability of fundamental analytical data relating to the investment including the use of proprietary pricing models. When pricing securities using these methods, the Fund (with the assistance of its Pricing Services and other service providers) seeks to assign the value that represents the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon a current sale of the securities. The Board oversees the Adviser’s implementation of the fair valuation policies and procedures established by the Board.

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In calculating the Fund’s NAV, the Adviser, subject to the oversight of the Board, uses various valuation techniques. To the extent practicable, the Adviser generally endeavors to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs are to be used when available. The availability of valuation techniques and observable inputs can vary from investment to investment and are affected by a wide variety of factors. When valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment, and may involve alternative methods to obtain fair values where market prices are not readily available. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may be materially higher or lower than the values that would have been used if a ready market for the investments existed. As a result, the Adviser may exercise a higher degree of judgement in determining fair value for certain financial instruments.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, given the subjectivity inherent in fair valuation and the fact that events could occur after NAV calculation, the actual market prices for a security may differ from the fair value of that security as determined by the Fund at the time of NAV calculation. Thus, discrepancies between fair values and actual market prices may occur on a regular and recurring basis. These discrepancies do not necessarily indicate that the Fund’s fair value methodology is inappropriate. The Fund will adjust the fair values assigned to securities in the Fund’s portfolio, to the extent necessary, as soon as market prices become available. The Fund (and its service providers) continually monitor and evaluate the appropriateness of their fair value methodologies through systematic comparisons of fair values to the actual next available market prices of securities contained in the Fund’s portfolio. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, the Fund’s NAV is calculated based, in part, upon the NAVs of such investment companies; the prospectuses for those investment companies in which the Fund will invest describe the circumstances under which those investment companies will use fair value pricing, which, in turn, affects their NAVs.

 

Because the Fund relies on various sources to calculate its NAVs, the Fund is subject to certain operational risks associated with reliance on the Pricing Services and other service providers and data sources. The Fund’s NAV calculation may be impacted by operational risks arising from factors such as failures in systems and technology. Such failures may result in delays in the calculation of the Fund’s NAV and/or the inability to calculate NAV over extended time periods. The Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such failures.

 

ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

Shares of the Fund are offered for sale on a continuous basis. Shares are sold and redeemed at their NAV, as next determined after receipt of the purchase or redemption order in proper form.

 

The Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment for shares during a period when: (a) trading on the NYSE is restricted by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC; (b) the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekend and holiday closings; (c) the SEC has by order permitted these suspensions; or (d) an emergency exists as a result of which: (i) disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable, or (ii) it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to determine the value of its assets.

 

The Fund reserves the right to make payment for a redemption in securities rather than cash, which is known as a “redemption in kind”. A redemption in kind will consist of liquid securities equal in market value to the Fund shares being redeemed, using the same valuation procedures that the Fund uses to compute its NAV. Redemption in kind proceeds will typically be made by delivering a pro-rata amount of the Fund’s holdings that are readily marketable securities to the redeeming shareholder within 7 days after the Fund’s receipt of the redemption order in proper form. If the Fund redeems your shares in kind, you will bear the market risks associated with maintaining or selling the securities paid as redemption proceeds. In addition, when you sell these securities, you bear the risk that the securities have become less liquid and are difficult to sell. You also will be responsible for any taxes and brokerage charges associated with selling the securities.

 24 

 

SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

 

Regular Account. The regular account allows for voluntary investments to be made at any time. Available to individuals, custodians, corporations, trusts, estates, corporate retirement plans and others, investors are free to make additions to and withdrawals from their account as often as they wish. When an investor makes an initial investment in the Fund, a shareholder account is opened in accordance with the investor’s registration instructions. Each time there is a transaction in a shareholder account, such as an additional investment or a redemption, the shareholder will receive a confirmation statement showing the current transaction.

 

Automatic Investment Plan. The automatic investment plan enables investors to make regular periodic investments in shares through automatic charges to their checking account. With shareholder authorization and bank approval, the Fund’s transfer agent will automatically charge the checking account for the amount specified ($100 minimum) which will be automatically invested in shares at the NAV on or about the fifteenth or the last business day of the month, or both. The shareholder may change the amount of the investment or discontinue the plan at any time by writing to the Fund.

 

Transfer of Registration. To transfer shares to another owner, send a written request to Connors Hedged Equity Fund, [address]. Your request should include the following: (i) the Fund name and existing account registration; (ii) signature(s) of the registered owner(s) exactly as the signature(s) appear(s) on the account registration; (iii) if it is for a new account, a completed account application, or if it is an existing account, the account number; (iv) Medallion signature guarantees (See the heading “How to Redeem Shares – Signature Guarantees” in the Prospectus); and (v) any additional documents that are required for transfer by corporations, administrators, executors, trustees, guardians, etc. If you have any questions about transferring shares, call or write the Fund.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

 

Overall responsibility for management and supervision of the Fund and the Trust rests with the Board. The members of the Board (the “Trustees”) are elected by the Trust’s shareholders or the existing members of the Board as permitted under the 1940 Act and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”). Each Trustee serves for a term of indefinite duration until death, resignation, retirement, or removal from office. The Trustees, in turn, elect the officers of the Trust to actively supervise the Trust’s day-to-day operations. The officers are elected annually. Certain officers of the Trust also may serve as Trustees.

 

The Trust will be managed by the Board in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware governing statutory trusts. There are currently four Trustees, three of whom are not “interested persons”, as defined by the 1940 Act, of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”). The Independent Trustees receive compensation for their services as Trustees and attendance at meetings of the Board. Officers of the Trust receive no compensation from the Trust for performing the duties of their offices. This section of the SAI provides information about the persons who serve as Trustees and executive officers to the Trust, as well as the entities that provide services to the Trust.

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. Following are the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust, their year of birth and address, their present position with the Trust, and their principal occupation during the past five years. Those Trustees who are “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act and the Independent Trustees are identified in the table. The address of each Trustee and executive officer of the Trust, unless otherwise indicated, is 1210 Broadcasting Road, Suite 200, Wyomissing, PA 19610.

 25 

 

Name and Year of Birth

Position(s)

held with

Trust

Term of Office; Length

of Time

Served

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

Number of

Portfolios in

Fund

Complex*

Overseen by

Trustee

Other

Directorships

Held by

Trustee During

the Past 5 Years

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

[Name]

([year of birth])

Independent Trustee

Indefinite Term; Since

Inception

[Description of principal occupation during last 5 years]   1 [Insert other directorships]

[Name]

([year of birth])

Independent

Trustee

Indefinite Term; Since

Inception

[Description of principal occupation during last 5 years]   1 [Insert other directorships]

[Name]

([year of birth])

Independent

Trustee

Indefinite Term; Since

Inception

[Description of principal occupation during last 5 years]   1 [Insert other directorships]
INTERESTED TRUSTEE**

Peter J. Connors

([year of birth])

Trustee, President (Principal Executive Officer) Indefinite Term; Since Inception President, Connors Investor Services, Inc. ([1999] – present). 1 [Insert other directorships]
OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

[Name]

([year of birth])

Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) Indefinite Term; Since Inception [Description of principal occupation during last 5 years]   n/a n/a

[Name]

([year of birth])

Secretary Indefinite Term; Since Inception [Description of principal occupation during last 5 years]   n/a n/a

[Name]

([year of birth])

Chief Compliance Officer Indefinite Term; Since Inception [Description of principal occupation during last 5 years]   n/a n/a

 

** Peter J. Connors is an Interested Trustee because he is the President of the Adviser.

 26 

 

The Role of the Board of Trustees

 

The Board oversees the management and operations of the Trust. Like all mutual funds, the day-to-day management and operation of the Trust is the responsibility of the various service providers to the Trust, such as the Adviser, the Distributor, the Custodian and [Administrator] (the transfer agent and administrator), each of whom are discussed in greater detail in this Statement of Additional Information. The Board has appointed various senior employees of the Adviser as officers of the Trust, with responsibility to monitor and report to the Board regarding certain of the Trust’s operations. In conducting this oversight, the Board receives regular reports from these officers and the service providers. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) who administers the Trust’s compliance program and regularly reports to the Board as to compliance matters. These reports are provided as part of the Board’s regular quarterly Board Meetings, which are typically held quarterly and involve the Board’s review of recent operations.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to perform its oversight function effectively. The Trust’s Board includes three Independent Trustees and one Interested Trustee, Mr. Connors, who is Chair of the Board. The Board has not appointed an Independent Trustee to serve as lead Independent Trustee or Chair of the Board. The Board has determined that this is an appropriate structure for the Trust because, among other things, the Board’s small size and the fact that there is only one Fund in the Trust permit Trust management to communicate with each independent Trustee as and when needed, and permit each Independent Trustee to be involved in each committee of the Board (each a “Committee”) as well as each Board function. The Board may consider appointing an independent Chairman or a lead Independent Trustee in the future, particularly if the Board’s size or the Trust’s complexity materially increases.

 

The Board has established a committee structure that includes an Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and a Proxy Voting Committee (discussed in more detail below). Each Committee is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees.

 

The Board reviews annually the structure and operation of the Board and its Committees. The Board has determined that the composition of the Board and the function and composition of its various Committees provide the appropriate means and communication channels to address any potential conflicts of interest that may arise.

 

Board Oversight of Risk Management

 

Through the Board’s direct oversight role and the officers and service providers of the Fund, the Board performs a risk oversight function for the Fund. To effectively perform its risk oversight function, the Board, among other things, performs the following activities: receives and reviews reports related to the performance and operations of the Fund; reviews and approves, as applicable, the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust; approves the Fund’s principal investment policies; meets with representatives of various service providers, including the Adviser and the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund, to review and discuss the activities of the Fund and to provide direction with respect thereto; and appoints a CCO of the Fund who oversees the implementation and testing of the Trust’s compliance program and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Fund and its service providers. The Board generally holds four regular meetings each year to consider and address matters involving the Trust and Fund. As part of its oversight function, the Board also may hold special meetings or communicate directly with Trust management or the CCO to address matters arising between regular meetings.

 

Not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified nor can controls be developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. It may not be practical or cost effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, the processes and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness, and some risks are simply beyond the reasonable control of the Fund, the Adviser or other service providers. Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Fund’s goals. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Fund’s ability to manage risk is subject to substantial limitations.

 27 

 

Information about Each Trustee’s Qualification, Experience, Attributes or Skills

 

The Board believes that each of the Trustees has the qualifications, experience, attributes and skills (“Trustee Attributes”) appropriate to their continued service as Trustees of the Trust in light of the Board’s function and the Trust’s business and structure. The Board annually conducts a “self-assessment” wherein the effectiveness of the Board is reviewed.

 

In addition to the information provided in the prior chart, below is certain additional information concerning each particular Trustee and his/her Trustee Attributes.

 

Peter J. Connors is the President of the Adviser. He has been with the Adviser since 1992. Among other things, Mr. Connors leads the Adviser’s strategic planning, product development, product innovation and client services initiatives. Mr. Connors also leads the Adviser’s Portfolio Management Investment Committee and is active in engineering the Adviser’s options products and solutions. Mr. Connors received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan.

 

[Description of other trustees experience to be inserted]

 

The Board has determined that each of the Trustees’ careers and background, combined with their interpersonal skills and general understanding of financial and other matters, enable the Trustees to effectively participate in and contribute to the Board’s functions and oversight of the Trust. References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.

 

Committees

 

The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Independent Trustees are the current members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, reviews the results of the annual audits of the Fund’s financial statements, and interacts with the Fund’s independent auditors on behalf of the Board. The Audit Committee also serves in the role of the Trust’s qualified legal compliance committee and, as such, receives, investigates and makes recommendations as to appropriate remedial action in connection with, any report of evidence of a material violation of securities laws or breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Trust, its officers, trustees or agents. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter and meets periodically as necessary. The Audit Committee has not met as of the date of this SAI.

 

Nominating Committee. The Independent Trustees are the current members of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee nominates, selects, and appoints Independent Trustees to fill vacancies on the Board and to stand for election at appropriate meetings of the shareholders of the Trust. The Nominating Committee meets only as necessary. The Nominating Committee generally will not consider nominees recommended by shareholders of the Trust. The Nominating Committee has not met as of the date of this SAI.

 28 

 

Proxy Voting Committee. The Independent Trustees are the current members of the Proxy Voting Committee. The Proxy Voting Committee will determine how the Fund should cast its vote, if called upon by the Board or the Adviser, when a matter with respect to which the Fund is entitled to vote presents a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Adviser, principal underwriter or an affiliated person of the Fund, the Adviser, or principal underwriter, on the other hand. The Proxy Voting Committee will review the Trust’s Proxy Voting and Disclosure Policy and recommend any changes to the Board as it deems necessary or advisable. The Proxy Voting Committee will also decide if the Fund should participate in a class action settlement, if called upon by the Adviser, in cases where a class action settlement with respect to which the Fund is eligible to participate presents a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Adviser, on the other hand. The Proxy Voting Committee meets only as necessary. The Proxy Voting Committee has not met as of the date of this SAI.

 

Compensation of Trustees

 

The Trust pays each Trustee of the Trust who is not an interested person [an annual retainer of $[___] for each fiscal year plus $[___] for attendance at an in-person board meeting or $[___] for attendance by telephone]. The Trust also reimburses the Trustees for travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board. Officers of the Trust and Trustees who are interested persons of the Trust do not receive any direct compensation from the Trust. No other compensation or retirement benefits are received by any Trustee or officer from the Fund.

 

The table below reflects the amount of compensation that the Trust estimates will be received by each Trustee during the Fund’s first fiscal year ending November 30, 2022:

 

Name of Trustee Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund
Pension or Retirement Benefits Estimated Accrued as Part of Trust Expense Annual
Benefits
Upon
Retirement
Total Compensation From Registrant and Fund Complex Paid To Trustees
Peter J. Connors (Interested Trustee) $0 $0 $0 $0
[Name] [___] $0 $0 [___]
[Name] [___] $0 $0 [___]
[Name] [___] $0 $0 [___]

 

The Trustees serve on the Board for terms of indefinite duration. A Trustee’s position in that capacity will terminate if such Trustee is removed, resigns or is subject to various disabling events such as death or incapacity.

 

Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares and Other Interests

 

The Fund is newly organized, none of the Trustees own any interest in the Fund as of the date of the SAI.

 29 

 

Neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, own securities beneficially or of record in the Adviser, the Fund’s principal underwriter, or any of their affiliates. Accordingly, during the two most recently completed calendar years, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, have had a direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in the Adviser, the Trust’s principal underwriter or any of its affiliates.

 

Control Persons and Principal Holders of Voting Securities. As of 30 days prior to the date of this SAI, the Fund had no shares outstanding.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

Connors Investor Services, Inc., located at 1210 Broadcasting Road, Suite 200, Wyomissing, PA 19610, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement dated [______], 2021, (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser is owned primarily by the Connors, James M. Irrevocable Trust, for which Peter J. Connors and Jan Connors Dagenhart serve as the Co-Trustees.

 

In addition to the duties set forth in the Prospectus, the Adviser, in furtherance of such duties and responsibilities, is authorized in its discretion to engage in the following activities: (i) develop a continuing program for the management of the assets of the Fund; (ii) buy, sell, exchange, convert, lend, or otherwise trade in portfolio securities and other assets; (iii) place orders, negotiate commissions for the execution of transactions in securities and establish relationships with or through broker-dealers, underwriters, or issuers; (iv) prepare and supervise the preparation of shareholder reports and other shareholder communications; and (v) obtain and evaluate business and financial information in connection with the exercise of its duties.

 

The Advisory Agreement is effective for an initial two-year period and will be renewed for periods of one year only so long as such renewal and continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, provided the continuance is also approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty on 60 days’ notice by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement provides that it will terminate automatically in the event of its “assignment”, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act.

 

Under the Advisory Agreement, for its services, the Fund pays the Adviser a monthly investment advisory fee (the “Management Fee”) computed at the annual rate of [0.80]% of its average daily net assets. Under an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”), the Adviser has agreed to reduce its Management Fees and to pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of brokerage costs; taxes; interest; borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short; acquired fund fees and expenses; costs to organize the Fund; extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs; and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business) to [1.15]% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares. Any such Management Fee reductions by the Adviser or payments by the Adviser of expenses which are the Fund’s obligation, are subject to repayment by the Fund for a period of three years after the date on which such fees and expenses were incurred, provided that the repayment does not cause the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of such reductions and reimbursements) to exceed (i) the expense limitation then in effect, if any, and (ii) the expense limitation in effect at the time the expenses to be repaid were incurred.

 

The following table provides the compensation paid to the Adviser by the Fund and Management Fee reductions and expense reimbursements made by the Adviser during the fiscal years/periods indicated:

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Portfolio Managers

 

The Fund is managed by Robert Cagliola and Robert Hahn (the “Portfolio Managers”), who are responsible for the day-to-day implementation of investment strategies for the Fund.

 

Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers

 

In addition to the Fund, the Portfolio Managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts. The table below shows the number of, and total assets in such other accounts as of [__], 2021.

 

Portfolio Manager Type of Accounts Total Number of Other Accounts Managed

Total Assets of Other Accounts Managed

(million)

Number of Accounts Managed with Advisory Fee Based on Performance

Total Assets of Accounts Managed with Advisory Fee Based on Performance

(million)

Robert Cagliola Registered Investment Companies [___] [___] [___] [___]
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles [___] [___] [___] [___]
Other Accounts [___] [___] [___] [___]
Robert Hahn Registered Investment Companies [___] [___] [___] [___]
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles [___] [___] [___] [___]
  Other Accounts [___] [___] [___] [___]

 

Potential Conflicts of Interest

 

The Portfolio Managers serve as portfolio manager for the Fund and provide investment advice to other accounts (“Other Accounts”). The Portfolio Managers' management of Other Accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the Other Accounts, on the other. A potential conflict of interest may arise when a particular investment may be suitable for both, the Fund and the Other Accounts, whereby the Portfolio Managers could favor one account over another. However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that such investments will be allocated between the Fund and the Other Accounts pro rata based on the assets under management or in some other manner determined to be fair and equitable.

 

Compensation

 

The Portfolio Managers are not compensated directly by the Fund. Mr. Cagliola and Mr. Hahn each receive compensation from the Adviser that includes an annual fixed salary and a discretionary bonus. The discretionary bonus is based on, among other things, the Adviser’s profitability. The formula for determining these amounts may vary, and the Portfolio Managers’ compensation is not directly tied to the investment performance or asset value of any one product or strategy.

 

Ownership of Fund Shares

 

As of the date of this SAI, the Portfolio Managers do not own any shares of the Fund since the Fund has not commenced operations prior to such date.

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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

 

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser determines, subject to the general supervision of the Board and in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which brokers are eligible to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions.

 

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities that are debt securities usually are principal transactions in which portfolio securities are normally purchased directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Purchases from underwriters of portfolio securities generally include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers may include the spread between the bid and asked prices. Transactions on stock exchanges involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. Transactions in the OTC market are generally principal transactions with dealers. With respect to the OTC market, the Fund, where possible, will deal directly with the dealers who make a market in the securities involved except under those circumstances where better price and execution are available elsewhere.

 

Allocation of transactions, including their frequency, to various brokers and dealers is determined by the Adviser in its best judgment consistent with its obligation to seek best execution and in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to shareholders. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders in an effective manner at the most favorable price. Other factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to, reputation, financial strength and stability, creditworthiness, efficiency of execution and error resolution, the actual executed price and the commission, research (including economic forecasts, fundamental and technical advice on securities, valuation advice on market analysis); custodial and other services provided for the enhancement of the Adviser’s portfolio management capabilities; the size and type of the transaction; the difficulty of execution and the ability to handle difficult trades; and the operational facilities of the brokers and/or dealers involved (including back office efficiency). Subject to these considerations, brokers who provide investment research to the Adviser may receive orders for transactions on behalf of the Fund. Information so received is in addition to and not in lieu of services required to be performed by the Adviser and does not reduce the fees payable to the Adviser by the Fund. Such information may be useful to the Adviser in serving both the Fund and other clients and, conversely, supplemental information obtained by the placement of brokerage orders of other clients may be useful to the Adviser in carrying out its obligations to the Fund. In selecting a broker-dealer to execute transactions (or a series of transactions) and determining the reasonableness of the broker-dealer’s compensation, the Adviser need not solicit competitive bids and does not have an obligation to seek the lowest available commission cost for the reasons discussed above.

 

Consistent with the foregoing, under Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Adviser is authorized to pay a brokerage commission in excess of that which another broker might have charged for effecting the same transaction, in recognition of the value of brokerage and/or research services provided by the broker. The research received by the Adviser may include, without limitation: information on the United States and other world economies; information on specific industries, groups of securities, individual companies, political and other relevant news developments affecting markets and specific securities; technical and quantitative information about markets; analysis of proxy proposals affecting specific companies; accounting and performance systems that allow the Adviser to determine and track investment results; and trading systems that allow the Adviser to interface electronically with brokerage firms, custodians and other providers. Research is received in the form of written reports, telephone contacts, personal meetings, research seminars, software programs and access to computer databases. In some instances, research products or services received by the Adviser may also be used by the Adviser for functions that are not research related (i.e., not related to the making of investment decisions). Where a research product or service has a mixed use, the Adviser will make a reasonable allocation according to its use and will pay for the non-research function in cash using its own funds.

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Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act and procedures adopted by the Board, the Fund may execute portfolio transactions through any broker or dealer and pay brokerage commissions to a broker (i) which is an affiliated person of the Trust, or (ii) which is an affiliated person of such person, or (iii) an affiliated person of which is an affiliated person of the Trust, the Adviser or the Trust’s principal underwriter.

 

As of the date of this SAI, there were no brokerage commissions paid because the Fund had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this SAI.

 

Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers. From time to time, the Fund may acquire and hold securities issued by its “regular brokers and dealers” or the parents of those brokers and dealers. For this purpose, regular brokers and dealers are the 10 brokers or dealers that: (1) received the greatest amount of brokerage commissions during the Fund’s last fiscal year; (2) engaged in the largest amount of principal transactions for portfolio transactions of the Fund during the Fund’s last fiscal year; or (3) sold the largest amount of the Fund’s shares during the Fund’s last fiscal year. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund did not hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers or their parent companies because the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

[Distributor Name], located at [address], is the exclusive agent for distribution of shares of the Fund pursuant to a Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”). The Distributor is obligated to sell shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis only against purchase orders for the shares. Shares of the Fund are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The Distributor is compensated for its services to the Trust under a written agreement for such services. The Distributor is an affiliate of [Administrator].

 

By its terms, the Distribution Agreement is effective for an initial term of [two] years and will continue in effect year-to-year thereafter so long as such renewal and continuance is approved at least annually by (1) the Board or (2) a vote of the majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares; provided that in either event continuance is also approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement may be terminated at any time, on sixty days written notice, without payment of any penalty, by the Trust or by the Distributor. The Distribution Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is paid $[____] per annum for its services by the Fund and/or the Adviser.

 

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent

 

[Administrator name] (“[Administrator]”), located at [address], serves as the administrator (the “Administrator”), a fund accountant (the “Fund Accountant”) and transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) to the Fund pursuant to a Master Services Agreement (the “Master Services Agreement”).

 

As Administrator, [Administrator] assists in supervising all operations of the Fund (other than those performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement). [Administrator] has agreed to perform or arrange for the performance of the following services (under the Master Services Agreement, [Administrator] may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities thereunder):

 

  prepare and assemble reports required to be sent to the Fund’s shareholders and arrange for the printing and dissemination of such reports;

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  assemble reports required to be filed with the SEC and file such completed reports with the SEC;

 

  file the Fund’s federal income and excise tax returns and the Fund’s state and local tax returns;
     
  assist and advise the Fund regarding compliance with the 1940 Act and with its investment policies and limitations; and

 

  make such reports and recommendations to the Board upon its reasonable requests.

 

As Fund Accountant, [Administrator] maintains the accounting books and records for the Fund, including journals containing an itemized daily record of all purchases and sales of portfolio securities, all receipts and disbursements of cash and all other debits and credits, general and auxiliary ledgers reflecting all asset, liability, reserve, capital, income and expense accounts, including interest accrued and interest received, and other required separate ledger accounts. [Administrator] also maintains a monthly trial balance of all ledger accounts; performs certain accounting services for the Fund, including calculation of the NAV per share, calculation of the dividend and capital gain distributions, reconciles cash movements with the custodian, verifies and reconciles with the custodian all daily trade activities; provides certain reports; obtains dealer quotations or prices from pricing services used in determining NAV; and prepares an interim balance sheet, statement of income and expense, and statement of changes in net assets for the Fund.

 

As Transfer Agent, [Administrator] performs the following services in connection with the Fund’s shareholders: maintains records for the Fund’s shareholders of record; processes shareholder purchase and redemption orders; processes transfers and exchanges of shares of the Fund on the shareholder files and records; processes dividend payments and reinvestments; and assists in the mailing of shareholder reports and proxy solicitation materials.

 

[Administrator] receives fees from the Fund for its services as Administrator, Fund Accountant, and Transfer Agent, and is reimbursed for certain expenses assumed pursuant to the Master Services Agreement.

 

The Master Services Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and [Administrator], unless otherwise terminated as provided in the Master Services Agreement, is renewed automatically for successive one-year periods.

 

The Master Services Agreement provides that [Administrator] shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Master Services Agreement relates, except a loss from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or from the reckless disregard by [Administrator] of its obligations and duties thereunder.

 

The Fund has not paid any amounts to the Administrator as of the date of this SAI.

 

Custodian

 

[Custodian Name], (the “Custodian”), located at [address], serves as custodian to the Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement. The Custodian’s responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments.

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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

[_____], located at [__________], serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund and audits the annual financial statements of the Fund and assists in preparing the Fund’s federal, state, and excise tax returns for the fiscal year ending February 2022.

 

Legal Counsel

 

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, located at 1001 West Fourth Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101, serves as legal counsel to the Trust and the Trust’s Independent Trustees.

 

Compliance Consulting Agreement

 

Under the terms of a Compliance Consulting Agreement with the Trust, [Compliance Provider] provides an individual with the requisite background and familiarity with the federal securities laws to serve as the Trust’s CCO and to administer the Trust’s compliance policies and procedures. For these services, the Fund pays [Compliance Provider] a [flat annual fee]. In addition, the Fund reimburses [Compliance Provider] for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to these compliance services.

 

DISTRIBUTION PLAN

 

The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Plan”) for its Institutional Class of shares. See the section entitled “Distribution Plan” in the Prospectus for additional information on the specifics of the Plan. As required by Rule 12b-1, the Plan was approved by the Board and separately by a majority of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan. The Plan provides that the Trust’s Distributor or Treasurer shall provide to the Board, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to the Plan and the purposes of such expenditures. The Board will take into account the expenditures for purposes of reviewing operation of the Plan and in connection with their annual consideration of the renewal of the Plan.

 

Under the Plan, the Fund on behalf of the Institutional Class shares, may annually expend up to [0.25]% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Institutional Class shares to pay for any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of those shares and the servicing of shareholder accounts, provided that the Board has approved the category of expenses for which payment is being made. In connection therewith, the Institutional Class shares of the Fund may pay up to [0.25]% of its average daily net assets to the Distributor, as compensation for services or other activities that are primarily intended to result in the sale of shares. Under the Plan, the Distributor will only be reimbursed for such expenses actually incurred. The Distributor may enter into selling agreements with one or more selling agents under which such agents may receive compensation for distribution-related services from the Distributor, including, but not limited to, commissions or other payments to such agents based on the average daily net assets of the Institutional Class shares attributable to them. The Fund does not participate in any joint distribution activities with other investment companies.

 

The Plan provides potential benefits to the Fund including, without limitation, improved shareholder services and savings in certain operating expenses. The Plan is also expected to benefit shareholders by providing funds for selling arrangements to assist the Fund to reach and maintain sufficient size to efficiently implement its principal investment strategies and to achieve economies of scale in the Fund’s service provider relationships.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Other Payments by the Fund. The Fund may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary. Any payments made pursuant to such agreements may be in addition to, rather than in lieu of, distribution fees the Fund may pay to financial intermediaries pursuant to the Plan.

 

Other Payments by the Adviser. The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, their service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.

 

Description of Shares

 

The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust that was organized on September 16, 2021. The Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board to divide shares into series, each series relating to a separate portfolio of investments, and to further divide shares of a series into separate classes. The shares of the Fund are currently divided into one class, Institutional Class shares, which are described in the Prospectus. Additional classes of shares may be created at any time. In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Trust or an individual series or class, shareholders of a particular series or class would be entitled to receive the assets available for distribution belonging to such series or class. Shareholders of a series or class are entitled to participate equally in the net distributable assets of the particular series or class involved on liquidation, based on the number of shares of the series or class that are held by each shareholder. If any assets, income, earnings, proceeds, funds or payments are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular series or class, the Trustees shall allocate them among any one or more series or classes as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Subject to the Declaration of Trust, determinations by the Board as to the allocation of liabilities, and the allocable portion of any general assets, with respect to the Fund and each class of the Fund are conclusive.

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Shares of the Fund, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable. Shares have no subscription, preemptive or conversion rights. Shares do not have cumulative voting rights. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and a fractional vote for each fractional share held. Shareholders of all series and classes of the Trust, including the Fund, will vote together and not separately, except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular series or class. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides, in substance, that any matter required to be submitted to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each series or class affected by the matter. A series or class is affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each series or class in the matter are substantially identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the series or class. Under Rule 18f-2, the approval of an investment advisory agreement, a distribution plan or any change in a fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a series or class only if approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of such series or class. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the appointment of independent accountants and the election of Trustees may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting together, without regard to a particular series or class.

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees will not be liable in any event in connection with the affairs of the Trust, except as such liability may arise from his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their duties to the Trust and its holders of beneficial interest. It also provides that all third parties shall look solely to the Trust’s property for satisfaction of claims arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. With the exceptions stated, the Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee or officer is entitled to be indemnified against all liability in connection with the affairs of the Trust.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Trust, the Adviser, and the Distributor have each adopted a code of ethics (each a “COE” and collectively, the “COEs”) that is designed to prevent their respective personnel of the Trust, the Adviser, and the Distributor subject to the COEs from engaging in deceptive, manipulative, or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by the Fund (which securities may also be held by persons subject to the COEs). These COEs permit personnel subject to the COEs to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, but prohibit such personnel from engaging in personal investment activities that compete with or attempt to take advantage of the Fund’s planned portfolio transactions. Each of these parties monitors compliance with its respective COE.

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

The Trust and the Adviser have adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures that describe how the Fund intends to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities. The Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of the Trust and the Adviser are attached to this SAI as Appendix B and Appendix C, respectively. No later than August 31 of each year, information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior twelve-month period ended June 30th is available without charge upon request by calling [phone number], or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policy

 

The Board has adopted policies that govern the disclosure of portfolio holdings. These policies are intended to ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Fund and to address possible conflicts of interest. Under the Trust’s policies, the Trust and the Adviser generally will not disclose the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a third party unless such information is made available to the public. The policies provide that the Trust and the Adviser may disclose non-public portfolio holdings information as required by law and under other limited circumstances that are set forth in more detail below.

 

You may obtain a copy of quarterly portfolio holdings reports filed with the SEC by calling the Fund at [phone number]. The Fund’s quarterly portfolio holdings reports can be found on Form N-CSR or Form N-PORT, as applicable. The Fund’s Form N-CSR and Form N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may, from time to time make additional portfolio holdings information available to the public on their website at [website]. Complete lists of the Fund’s holdings are generally posted to the website within five to thirty days of the end of the calendar quarter or month and such information will remain available until new information for the next calendar quarter or month is posted. The Fund may also send a portion or all of this information to shareholders of the Fund and to mutual fund analysts and rating and trading entities; provided that the Fund will not send this information to shareholders of the Fund or analysts or rating and/or trading entities until such information is at least 30 days old or until one day after the information has been posted to the Fund’s website.

 

The Fund may disclose portfolio holdings at any time to analysts, ratings agencies, outside fund evaluators and data aggregators such as, but not limited to, Morningstar, Lipper, Bloomberg and Standard and Poor’s. The disclosure of portfolio holdings in this context is generally conditioned on the recipient agreeing to treat such portfolio holdings as confidential (provided that analysts and rating agencies may publish portfolio positions upon the consent of authorized personnel (as defined below), under circumstances where such personnel determine that such information is publicly available through the Fund’s website or by other means, or will become publicly available through such publication), and to not allow the portfolio holdings to be used by it or its employees in connection with the purchase or sale of shares of the Fund.

 

In addition, portfolio holdings are provided or otherwise available on a real-time basis to third-party service providers of the Fund (and their personnel) who require the information to provide services to the Fund, including the Adviser, the Fund’s custodian, [custodian name].; pricing service providers; broker-dealers who facilitate the Fund’s trading; the Fund’s accountant and administrator, [Administrator]; the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, [Auditor].; and Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, counsel to the Fund.

 

The Fund currently does not provide non-public portfolio holdings information to any other third parties. In the future, the Fund may elect to disclose such information to other third parties if the appropriate officers of the Trust determine that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so and the recipient is subject to a duty of confidentiality. The Adviser, through its officers, is responsible for determining which other third parties have a legitimate business purpose for receiving the Fund’s portfolio holdings information.

 

The Trust’s officers (for example, President, Treasurer, Chief Compliance Officer, or Secretary) (collectively, “authorized personnel”) may authorize disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings if such authorized personnel determines that disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders. The Board will be informed of any such disclosures at its next regularly scheduled meeting or as soon as is reasonably practicable thereafter.

 

No compensation is received by the Fund or the Adviser in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings.

 

The Adviser provides advisory services to accounts other than the Fund, including other pooled investment vehicles, separate accounts and other accounts, some of which are not subject to the portfolio holding disclosure policies and procedures described above. Some of those other accounts may have investment policies and holdings substantially similar to the Fund and have access to information regarding the holdings of their accounts, including in some cases in real time. Other accounts may be subject to obligations to make their portfolio holdings available daily. In addition, the Adviser may make available information regarding portfolio metrics, model portfolios, or other potential holdings of accounts to prospective clients, clients, and their advisers or consultants in response to requests for proposal or otherwise as part of its marketing efforts of accounts or investment vehicles that may have investment strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund.

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Other Expenses

 

In addition to the Management Fee and the Plan fees for the Institutional Class of shares (if any), the Fund pays all expenses associated with the Fund not expressly assumed by the Adviser, including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of its independent registered public accounting firm and of its legal counsel; the fees of the Administrator, Distributor, and Transfer Agent; the costs of printing and mailing to shareholders Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, proxy statements, prospectuses, SAIs and supplements thereto; bank transaction charges and custody fees; any costs associated with shareholder meetings, including proxy solicitors’ fees and expenses; registration and filing fees; federal, state or local income or other taxes; interest; membership fees of the Investment Company Institute and similar organizations; fidelity bond and liability insurance premiums; and any extraordinary expenses, such as indemnification payments or damages awarded in litigation or settlements made.

 

ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund 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 Fund or its shareholders. The discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning and are based on tax laws and regulations that are in effect on the date hereof; such laws and regulations may be changed by legislative, judicial, or administrative action. Investors are advised to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The Fund intends to qualify and remain qualified as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In order to so qualify, the Fund must elect to be a regulated investment company or have made such an election for a previous year and must satisfy certain requirements relating to the amount of distributions and source of its income for a taxable year. At least 90% of the gross income of the Fund must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks, securities, or foreign currencies, and other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an investment in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” as defined in section 851(h) of the Code (the “source-of-income test”). Any income derived by the Fund from a partnership (other than a “qualified publicly traded partnership”) or trust is treated as derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities, or currencies only to the extent that such income is attributable to items of income that would have been qualifying income if realized by the Fund in the same manner as by the partnership or trust. 

 

The Fund may not qualify as a regulated investment company for any taxable year unless it satisfies certain requirements with respect to the diversification of its investments at the close of each quarter of the taxable year (the “asset diversification tests”). In general, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash, cash items, government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities which, with respect to any one issuer, do not represent more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund nor more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer. In addition, not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities (other than government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer; the securities of two or more issuers (other than securities of another regulated investment company) if the issuers are controlled by the Fund and they are, pursuant to Treasury Regulations, engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses; or the securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships”.

 39 

 

The Fund intends to satisfy all of the requirements of the source-of-income test and the asset diversification tests on an ongoing basis for continued qualification as a regulated investment company.

 

If the Fund fails to meet either the asset diversification test with respect to a taxable quarter or the source-of-income test with respect to a taxable year, the Code provides several remedies, provided certain procedural requirements are met, which will allow the Fund to retain its status as a “regulated investment company.” There is a remedy for failure to satisfy the asset diversification tests, if the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, subject to certain divestiture and procedural requirements and the payment of a tax. In addition, there is a remedy for a de minimis failure of the asset diversification tests, which would require corrective action but no tax. In addition, the Code allows for the remedy of a failure of the source-of-income test, if the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, subject to certain procedural requirements and the payment of a tax.

 

Under current tax law, qualifying corporate dividends are taxable at long-term capital gains tax rates. The long-term capital gains rate for individual taxpayers is currently at a maximum rate of 20%, with lower rates potentially applicable to taxpayers depending on their income levels. For 2021, individual taxpayers with taxable incomes above $451,850 ($501,600 for married taxpayers filing jointly and $473,750 for heads of households) are subject to a 20% rate of tax on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends. For individual taxpayers with taxable incomes not in excess of $40,400 ($80,800 for married taxpayers filing jointly and $54,100 for heads of household), the long-term capital gains rate and rate on qualified dividends is 0%. All other taxpayers are subject to a maximum 15% rate of tax on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends. The above income thresholds are subject to an annual adjustment for inflation.

 

If the Fund designates a dividend as a capital gains distribution, it generally will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long the shareholders have held their Fund shares or whether the dividend was received in cash or reinvested in additional shares. All taxable dividends paid by the Fund other than those designated as qualified dividend income or capital gains distributions will be taxable as ordinary income to shareholders, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares. To the extent the Fund engages in increased portfolio turnover, short-term capital gains may be realized, and any distribution resulting from such gains will be considered ordinary income for federal tax purposes. 

 

Regulated investment companies that receive qualified real estate investment trust (“REIT”) dividend income may designate such amounts as Section 199A dividends. Qualified REIT dividend income is the excess of qualified REIT dividends received by the regulated investment company over the amount of the regulated investment company’s deductions that are properly allocable to such income. If the Fund designates a dividend as a Section 199A distribution, it may be treated by shareholders as a qualified REIT dividend that is taxed as ordinary income and for non-corporate taxpayers eligible for the 20% deduction for “qualified business income” under Code section 199A. Generally, only non-corporate shareholders who have held their shares for more than 45 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date which is 45 days prior to the ex-dividend date for such dividend are eligible for such treatment.

 

Under newly issued final Treasury Regulations, regulated investment companies that receive business interest income may pass through its business interest income under Code section 163(j) as a “section 163(j) interest dividend.” A regulated investment company’s total section 163(j) interest dividend amount for a tax year is limited to the excess of the regulated investment company’s business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and its other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. The final Treasury Regulations provide that a registered investment company shareholder that receives a section 163(j) interest dividend may treat the dividend as interest income for purposes of section 163(j), subject to holding period requirements and other limitations.

 40 

 

Shareholders who hold Fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as a retirement plan, generally will not have to pay tax on Fund distributions until they receive distributions from their account.

 

The Fund will designate (1) any distribution that constitutes a qualified dividend as qualified dividend income; (2) any tax-exempt distribution as an exempt-interest dividend; (3) any distribution of long-term capital gains as a capital gain dividend; (4) any dividend eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction; (5) any distribution that is comprised of qualified REIT dividend income as a Section 199A dividend; and (6) any distribution that constitutes excess Code section 163(j) interest income as a Section 163(j) interest dividend as such in a written notice provided to shareholders after the close of the Fund’s taxable year. Shareholders should note that, upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares, if the shareholder has not held such shares for at least six months, any loss on the sale or exchange of those shares will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain dividends received with respect to the shares.

 

Foreign currency gains or losses on non-U.S. dollar denominated bonds and other similar debt instruments and on any non-U.S. dollar denominated futures contracts, options and forward contracts that are not Section 1256 contracts generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss.

 

Investments by the Fund in certain options, futures contracts and options on futures contracts are "section 1256 contracts." Any gains or losses on section 1256 contracts are generally considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”). Section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year are treated for federal income tax purposes as being sold on such date for their fair market value. When the section 1256 contract is subsequently disposed of, the actual gain or loss will be adjusted by the amount of any year-end gain or loss previously recognized. The use of section 1256 contracts may force the Fund to distribute to shareholders gains that have not yet been realized in order to avoid federal income tax liability.

 

The Fund’s positions in index options that do not qualify as “section 1256 contracts” under the Code generally will be treated as equity options governed by Code section 1234. Pursuant to Code section 1234, if a written option expires unexercised, the premium received is a short-term capital gain to the Fund. If the Fund enters into a closing transaction with respect to a written option, the difference between the premium received and the amount paid to close out its position is a short-term capital gain or loss. If an option written by the Fund that is not a “section 1256 contract” is cash settled, any resulting gain or loss will be short-term. For an option purchased by the Fund that is not a “section 1256 contract” any gain or loss resulting from the sale of the option will be a capital gain or loss, and will be short-term or long-term, depending upon the holding period for the option. If the option expires, the resulting loss is a capital loss and is short-term or long term, depending upon the holding period for the option. If a put option written by the Fund is exercised and physically settled, the premium received is treated as a reduction in the amount paid to acquire the underlying securities, increasing the gain or decreasing the loss to be realized by the Fund upon the sale of the securities. If a call option written by the Fund is exercised and physically settled, the premium received is included in the sale proceeds, increasing the gain or decreasing the loss realized by the Fund at the time of option exercise.

 

To the extent that a distribution from the Fund is taxable, it is generally included in a shareholder’s gross income for the taxable year in which the shareholder receives the distribution. However, if the Fund declares a dividend in October, November, or December but pays it in January, it will be taxable to shareholders as if the dividend was received in the year it was declared. Each year, shareholders will receive a statement detailing the tax status of any Fund distributions for that year.

 

The Fund’s net realized capital gains from securities transactions will be distributed only after reducing such gains by the amount of any available capital loss carryforwards. Capital losses may be carried forward to offset any capital gains. 

 41 

 

A 4% non-deductible excise tax is imposed on regulated investment companies that fail to currently distribute an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions of its ordinary taxable income and any capital gain net income prior to the end of each calendar year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify for the special federal income tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies all of its taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders). Such distributions will be taxable to the shareholders as dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions may be eligible for (i) the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders or (ii) treatment as “qualified dividend income” in the case of non-corporate shareholders.

 

In general, a shareholder who sells or redeems shares will realize a capital gain or loss, which will be long-term or short-term depending upon the shareholder’s holding period for Fund shares. An exchange of shares is treated as a sale and any gain may be subject to tax.

 

The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage (currently 24%) of taxable dividends or of gross proceeds realized upon sale paid to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct taxpayer identification number in the manner required, who are subject to withholding by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) for failure to include properly on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so, or that they are “exempt recipients.”

 

Depending upon the extent of the Fund’s 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 Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities. In addition, in those states and localities that have income tax laws, the treatment of the Fund and its shareholders under such laws may differ from their treatment under federal income tax laws.

 

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

 

Mutual funds are required to report to the IRS and furnish to fund shareholders the cost basis information for fund shares purchased and/or sold on or after January 1, 2012. In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. In the absence of an election by a shareholder to elect from available IRS accepted cost basis methods, the Fund will use a default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected or applied may not be changed after the settlement date of a sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers concerning the most desirable IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the new cost basis reporting law applies to them.

 

The Fund will send shareholders information each year on the tax status of dividends and distributions. A dividend or capital gains distribution paid shortly after shares have been purchased, although in effect a return of investment, is subject to federal income taxation. Dividends from net investment income, along with capital gains, will be taxable to shareholders, whether received in cash or reinvested in Fund shares and no matter how long the shareholder has held Fund shares, even if they reduce the NAV of shares below the shareholder’s cost, and thus, in effect, result in a return of a part of the shareholder’s investment. 

 

Withholding taxes may be imposed on certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” (as specifically defined in the Code) and certain other non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries). A 30% withholding tax is imposed on “withholdable payments” to a foreign financial institution or to a foreign non-financial entity, unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations or (ii) the foreign non-financial entity either certifies it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner.

 42 

 

For these purposes, a “withholdable payment” includes any U.S. source payments of interest, dividends, rents, compensation and other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gains, profits and income. If the payee is a foreign financial institution, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain U.S. persons or U.S.-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to account holders whose actions prevent it from complying with these reporting and other requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors regarding this legislation and the potential implications of this legislation on their particular circumstances.

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Fund is newly organized and therefore no financial information is included in this SAI. You may obtain a copy of the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, once available, at no charge by calling the Fund at [phone number] or by visiting the Fund’s website at [website address].

 43 

 

APPENDIX A

 

[Insert Proxy Voting Policies]

 44 

 

CONNORS FUNDS

 

PART C

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28. Exhibits.

 

(a) (1) Certificate of Trust, filed herewith.
     
  (2) Agreement and Declaration of Trust, filed herewith.
     
(b) (1) By-Laws, filed herewith.
     
(c)   Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders – See relevant portions of Certificate of Trust, Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.
     
(d) (1) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Connors Hedged Equity Fund, and Connors Investor Services, Inc., filed herewith.
     
(e) (1) Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and ______________, to be filed by amendment.
     
(f)   Bonus, profit sharing contracts – None.
     
(g) (1) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and _______________, to be filed by amendment.
     
(h) (1) Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and ___________, to be filed by amendment.
     
  (2) Expense Limitation Agreement between Connors Investor Services, Inc. and the Registrant, on behalf of the Connors Hedged Equity Fund, filed herewith.
     
(i) (1) Opinion and Consent of Counsel, to be filed by amendment.
     
(j) (1) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, to be filed by amendment.
     
(k)   Financial statements omitted from prospectus – None.
     
(l) (1) Initial Capital Agreements, to be filed by amendment.
     
(m) (1) Form of Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1, to be filed by amendment.
     
(n) (1) Form of Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan, to be filed by amendment.
     
(o)   Reserved.
     
(p) (1) Code of Ethics of Connors Funds, to be filed by amendment.
     
  (2) Code of Ethics of Connors Investor Services, Inc., to be filed by amendment.
     
  (3) Code of Ethics of ____________, to be filed by amendment.
     
(q) (1) Powers of Attorney, to be filed by amendment.

 

C-45 

 

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant

 

None.

 

Item 30. Indemnification

 

Reference is made to Article VII, Sections 2 and 3 of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust with respect to the Registrant. The general effect of this provision is to indemnify the Trustees, officers, employees and other agents of the Trust who are parties pursuant to any proceeding by reason of their actions performed in their scope of service on behalf of the Trust.

 

Pursuant to Rule 484 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Registrant furnishes the following undertaking: “Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.”

 

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

 

Incorporated by reference to the Statement of Additional Information pursuant to Rule 411 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Item 32. Principal Underwriter.

 

(a)       _________________, the Registrant’s principal underwriter, acts as principal underwriter for the following investment companies:

 

[to be inserted.]

 

(b)       To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of ___________________ are as follows:

 

[to be inserted.]

 

(c)       Not applicable.

 

C-46 

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

 

The books, accounts and other documents required by Section 31(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained at the offices of:

 

Connors Investor Services, Inc., 1210 Broadcasting Road, Suite 200, Wyomissing, PA 19610 (records relating to its function as investment adviser of the Connors Funds).

 

_____________________, [address] (records relating to its function as administrator, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent).

 

___________________, [address] (records relating to its function as custodian).

 

____________________, [address] (records relating to its function as distributor).

 

Item 34. Management Services

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 35. Undertakings

 

None.

 

C-47 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Wyomissing and State of Pennsylvania on September 24, 2021.

 

  Connors Funds  
     
  By: /s/ Peter Connors  
    Peter Connors  
    President  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date(s) indicated.

 

Signature   Title Date
       
/s/ Peter Connors   President and Sole Initial Trustee September 24, 2021
Peter Connors      

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
   
(a)(1) Certificate of Trust.
   
(a)(2) Agreement and Declaration of Trust.
   
(b)(1) By-Laws.
   
(d)(1)

Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Connors Hedged Equity Fund, and Connors Investor Services, Inc.

   
(h)(2) Expense Limitation Agreement between Connors Investor Services, Inc. and the Registrant on behalf of the Connors Hedged Equity Fund.

 

C-48 

STATE OF DELAWARE

CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

 

Connors Funds

 

This Certificate of Trust is filed in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. Code §3801 et seq.) (the “Act”) in order to form a statutory trust and sets forth the following:

 

FIRST: The name of the statutory trust formed by the filing of this Certificate of Trust is Connors Funds (the “Trust”).

 

SECOND: The name and address of the Registered Agent in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19808.

 

THIRD: This Certificate shall be effective immediately upon filing.

 

FOURTH: The Trust intends to become a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, within 180 days following the first issuance of beneficial interests.

 

FIFTH: Pursuant to Section 3804 of the Act, notice is hereby given that the Trust shall consist of one or more series and that the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular series of the Trust shall be enforceable against the assets of such series only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally or any other series.

 

SIXTH: The trustees of the Trust, as set forth in its governing instrument, reserve the right to amend, alter, change, or repeal any provisions contained in this Certificate of Trust, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole initial trustee of the Trust, has duly executed this Certificate of Trust as of this 15th day of September, 2021.

 

  /s/ Peter Connors  
  Peter Connors, Sole Trustee  

 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

of

 

CONNORS FUNDS

 

a Delaware Statutory Trust

 

WHEREAS, this AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made and entered into as of the date set forth below by the Trustee named hereunder for the purpose of forming a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby direct that a certificate of trust be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Certificate of Trust”) and do hereby declare that the Trustees will hold IN TRUST all cash, securities and other assets that the Trust now possesses or may hereafter acquire from time to time in any manner and manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the pro rata benefit of the holders of Shares in this Trust.

 

ARTICLE I.
Name and Definitions

 

Section 1. Name. This trust shall be known as Connors Funds and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.

 

Section 2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:

 

(a)       “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time. References herein to specific sections of the 1940 Act shall be deemed to include such Rules and Regulations as are applicable to such sections as determined by the Trustees or their designees;

 

(b)       “Board of Trustees” refers to the board of the Trust comprised of those Trustees duly elected or appointed to serve on the board of the Trust in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

(c)       “Bylaws” means the Bylaws of the Trust as amended from time to time.

 

(d)       “Commission” has the meaning given in Section 2(a)(7) of the 1940 Act.

 

(e)       “Declaration of Trust” means this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time.

 

(f)       “Interested Person” has the meaning given in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

 

(g)       “Investment Adviser” or “Adviser” means a party furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Article IV, Section 6(a) hereof.

 

(h)       “Majority of Shares” means the vote of a majority of the outstanding securities of an investment company, as defined and described in Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act.

 

 

(i)       “Person” means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, foundations, plans, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign.

 

(j)       “Principal Underwriter” has the meaning given in Section (2)(a)(29) of the 1940 Act.

 

(k)       “Series” refers to each Series of Shares established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III.

 

(l)       “Shares” means the shares of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares.

 

(m)       “Shareholder” means a record owner of outstanding Shares.

 

(n)       “Trust” refers to the Delaware statutory trust established by this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time.

 

(o)        “Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust.

 

(p)       “Trustees” refers to the persons who have signed this Declaration of Trust, so long as they continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such person or persons in their capacity as trustees hereunder. At any time when there is only one Trustee, references to “Trustees” hereunder shall refer to the sole Trustee.

 

ARTICLE II.
Purpose of Trust

 

The purpose of the Trust is to engage in, operate and carry on the business of a management investment company registered under the 1940 Act through one or more Series, and to do any and all acts or things as are necessary, convenient, appropriate, incidental or customary in connection therewith, both within and without the State of Delaware, and without limiting the foregoing or the other provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware upon a Delaware statutory trust formed pursuant to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.

 

ARTICLE III.
Shares

 

Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of Shares, each without a par value. The Trustees may authorize the division of Shares into separate Series and the division of Series into separate classes of Shares. The different Series (and classes) shall be established and designated, and the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the different Series (or classes), shall be fixed and determined by the Trustees. If only one Series shall be established, the Shares shall have the rights and preferences provided for herein and in Article III, Section 6 hereof to the extent relevant and not otherwise provided for herein.

 

-2-

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share shall have voting rights as provided in Article V hereof, and holders of the Shares of any Series shall be entitled to receive dividends, when, if and as declared with respect thereto in the manner provided in Article VI, Section 1 hereof. No Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the same Series with respect to dividends or distributions of the Trust or otherwise. All dividends and distributions shall be ratable among all Shareholders of a Series from the assets held with respect to such Series according to the number of Shares of such Series held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination of the Trust, as the case may be. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive any payment of a dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to him or her as provided herein or in the Bylaws, until he or she has given his or her address to the Trust or to the Trust’s transfer or similar agent. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or any Series. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of a Series (or class) into a greater or lesser number of Shares of such Series (or class) without thereby materially changing the proportionate beneficial interest of such Shares in the assets held with respect to that Series (or class) or materially affecting the rights of Shares of any other Series (or class).

 

Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Series (and class). No certificates evidencing the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Board of Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the transfer of Shares of each Series (or class) and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to the identity of the Shareholders of each Series (or class) and as to the number of Shares of each Series (or class) held from time to time by each Shareholder.

 

Section 3. Investments in the Trust. Investments may be accepted by the Trust from such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Trustees from time to time may authorize. Each investment shall be credited to the Shareholder’s account in the form of full and fractional Shares of the Trust, in such Series (or class) as the purchaser shall select, at the net asset value per Share next determined for such Series (or class) after receipt and acceptance of the investment; provided, however, that the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, impose a sales charge (load) or other fees or reimbursements upon investments in the Trust or any Series (or class).

 

Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this instrument and the Bylaws of the Trust. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof. The death of a Shareholder during the existence of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust, nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but shall entitle such representative only to the rights of said deceased Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle a Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust Property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders as partners or joint venturers. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time agree to pay.

 

Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust to the contrary, and without limiting the power of the Board of Trustees to amend the Declaration of Trust as provided elsewhere herein, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to amend this Declaration of Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Board of Trustees may determine in their sole discretion, without the need for Shareholder action, so as to add to, delete, replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the Shares contained in this Declaration of Trust.

 

-3-

 

Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Initial Series. The Trust shall initially establish and designate the Series of Shares listed on Exhibit A as the initial Series of the Trust (the “Initial Series”), which Series shall have the following relative rights and preferences:

 

(a)       Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a Series, including dividends and distributions paid by, and reinvested in, such Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably be held with respect to that Series for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors of that Series, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as “assets held with respect to” that Series. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments that are not readily identifiable as assets held with respect to any particular Series (collectively “General Assets”), the Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among any one or more of the Series in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General Asset so allocated to a particular Series shall be held with respect to that Series. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes in absence of manifest error.

 

(b)       Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Series. The assets of the Trust held with respect to each Series shall be charged with the liabilities of the Trust with respect to such Series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to such Series, and any general liabilities of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as being held in respect of a Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more Series in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, and reserves so charged to a Series are herein referred to as “liabilities held with respect to” that Series. Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the holders of all Series for all purposes in absence of manifest error. All Persons who have extended credit which has been allocated to a particular Series, or who have a claim or contract which has been allocated to a Series, shall look exclusively to the assets held with respect to such Series for payment of such credit, claim, or contract. In the absence of an express agreement so limiting the claims of such creditors, claimants and contracting parties, each creditor, claimant and contracting party shall be deemed nevertheless to have agreed to such limitation unless an express provision to the contrary has been incorporated in the written contract or other document establishing the contractual relationship.

 

(c)       Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases. No dividend or distribution including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any Series (or class) with respect to, or any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any Series (or class) shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such Series, nor shall any Shareholder of any Series otherwise have any right or claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Trustees shall have full discretion to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders in absence of manifest error.

 

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(d)       Voting. Each whole Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote as to any matter on which the holder in entitled to vote, and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote.

 

(e)       Equality. All the Shares of each Series shall represent an equal proportionate undivided interest in the assets held with respect to such Series (subject to the liabilities of such Series and such rights and preferences as may have been established and designated with respect to classes of Shares within such Series), and each Share of a Series (or class) shall be equal to each other Share of such Series (or class).

 

(f)       Fractions. Any fractional Share of a Series (or class) shall have proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole share of such Series (or class), including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions and redemption of Shares.

 

(g)       Exchange Privilege. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the holders of Shares of any Series (or class) shall have the right to exchange such Shares for Shares of one or more other Series (or class) in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.

 

(h)       Combination of Series. The Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the assets and liabilities held with respect to any two or more Series (or classes) into assets and liabilities held with respect to a single Series (or class).

 

(i)       Elimination of Series. At any time, the Trustees may determine to abolish one or more Series (or class(es)) of the Trust.

 

Section 7. Establishment and Designation of Additional Series. The establishment and designation of any Series (or class) of Shares in addition to the Initial Series shall be effective upon the adoption by a majority of the Trustees of a resolution that sets forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of such Series (or class). Each such resolution shall be incorporated herein by reference upon adoption.

 

Shares of each Series (or class) established pursuant to this Section 7, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series, shall have the same relative rights and preferences as the Initial Series set forth in Section 6.

 

ARTICLE IV.
The Board of Trustees

 

Section 1. Number, Election and Tenure. The number of Trustees constituting the Board of Trustees shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed, or by resolution approved at a duly constituted meeting, by a majority of the Board of Trustees; provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than one (1) nor more than fifteen (15). Subject to the requirements of Section 16(a) and other requirements of the 1940 Act (including, without limitation, the requirements under certain rules adopted under the 1940 Act that disinterested Trustees be nominated and selected by the then-current disinterested Trustees), the Board of Trustees, by action of a majority of the then Trustees at a duly constituted meeting, may fill vacancies in the Board of Trustees and remove Trustees with or without cause. Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns, is declared bankrupt or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, or is removed. Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages or other payment on account of such removal. Any Trustee may be removed at any meeting of Shareholders by a vote of two-thirds of the total combined net asset value of all Shares of the Trust issued and outstanding. A meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of electing or removing one or more Trustees may be called: (i) by the Trustees upon their own vote, or (ii) upon the demand of Shareholders owning more than 10% of the Shares of the Trust in the aggregate.

 

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Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of one or more Trustees, or all of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided in Article IV, Section 1, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration of Trust. In the event of the death, resignation, retirement, removal or declaration by a court of competent jurisdiction of bankruptcy or incompetency of all the then Trustees within a short period of time and without the opportunity for at least one Trustee being able to appoint additional Trustees to replace those no longer serving, the Trust’s Investment Adviser is empowered to appoint new Trustees subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act.

 

Section 3. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Board of Trustees, and such Board shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including the power to engage in transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. Trustees, in all instances, shall act as principals and are and shall be free from the control of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts, documents and instruments that they may consider desirable, necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may: adopt, amend and repeal Bylaws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the regulation and management of the affairs of the Trust; elect and remove, with or without cause, such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; appoint from their own number and establish and terminate one or more committees consisting of two or more Trustees who may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Trustees determine; employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank; employ an administrator for the Trust and authorize such administrator to employ sub-administrators; employ an Investment Adviser to the Trust and authorize such Investment Adviser to employ sub-advisers; retain a transfer agent or a shareholder servicing agent, or both; provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise; redeem, repurchase and transfer Shares pursuant to applicable law; set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters; declare and pay dividends and distributions to Shareholders of each Series from the assets of such Series; establish from time to time, in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 6 hereof, any Series of Shares, each such Series to operate as a separate and distinct investment medium and with separately defined investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purpose; and in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian, transfer or shareholder servicing agent, Investment Adviser or Principal Underwriter. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees and unless otherwise specified herein or required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law, any action by the Board of Trustees shall be deemed effective if approved or taken by a majority of the Trustees then in office or a majority of any duly constituted committee of Trustees. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees, or any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if a majority of members of the Board of Trustees or committee (as the case may be) consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees, or committee, except as otherwise provided in the 1940 Act.

 

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Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and authority to cause the Trust:

 

(a)       To invest and reinvest cash and cash items, to hold cash uninvested, and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise deal in or dispose of contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of all types of securities, futures contracts and options thereon, and forward currency contracts of every nature and kind, including, without limitation, shares or interests in open-end or closed-end investment companies or other pooled investment vehicles, common and preferred stocks, warrants and rights to purchase securities, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, preferred stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, bankers’ acceptances, derivative instruments, and other securities or properties of any kind, issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including, without limitation, states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, any foreign government or any political subdivision of the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any international instrumentality or organization, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in “when issued” contracts for any such securities, futures contracts and options thereon, and forward currency contracts, to change the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise any and all rights, powers, and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons, to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments;

 

(b)       To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or write options (including, without limitation, options on futures contracts) with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust or any Series;

 

(c)       To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such Person or Persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such Person or Persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;

 

(d)       To exercise powers and right of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

 

(e)       To hold any security or property in any form, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in the Trust’s name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise or to authorize the custodian or a subcustodian or a nominee or nominees to deposit the same in a securities depository, subject in each case to the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act;

 

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(f)       To consent to, or participate in, any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;

 

(g)       To join with security holders in acting through a committee, depository, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depository or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depository or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;

 

(h)       To litigate, compromise, arbitrate, settle or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or a Series, or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;

 

(i)       To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;

 

(j)       To borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust or Series exclusively for Trust purposes and in connection therewith issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any or all of such indebtedness;

 

(k)       To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any Person, to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or to otherwise assume liability for payment thereof, and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any of or all of such obligations;

 

(l)       To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary, desirable or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares, holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against liability; and

 

(m)       To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust.

 

The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination of the Trust or one or more of its Series. The Trust shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investment by fiduciaries. The Trust shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder. The Trust may pursue its investment program and any other powers as set forth in this Section 3 of Article IV either directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiary vehicles at the discretion of the Trustees or by operating in a master feeder structure.

 

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Except as prohibited by applicable law, the Trustees may, on behalf of the Trust, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustee or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any Investment Adviser, administrator, Principal Underwriter, distributor or transfer agent for the Trust or with any Interested Person of such Person. The Trust may employ any such Person, or entity in which such Person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, Investment Adviser, administrator, Principal Underwriter, distributor, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, shareholder servicing agent, custodian or in any other capacity upon customary terms.

 

Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 6(b), the Trustees are authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or a Series, or partly out of the principal and partly out of income, and to charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or more of the Series (or classes) that may be established or designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust or Series (or classes), or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, administrators, accounting agents, auditors, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, sShareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.

 

Section 5. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trust, except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine. Upon the resignation, incompetency, bankruptcy, removal, or death of a Trustee he or she shall automatically cease to have any such title in any of the Trust Property, and the title of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered. The Trustees may determine that the Trust or the Trustees, acting for and on behalf of the Trust, shall be deemed to hold beneficial ownership of any income earned on the securities owned by the Trust, whether domestic or foreign.

 

Section 6. Service Contracts.

 

(a)       The Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and/or administrative services for the Trust or for any Series with any Person; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine, including, without limitation, authority for the Investment Adviser to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust’s investments, and such other responsibilities as may specifically be delegated to such Person, or terms that provide for the indemnification of any Person.

 

(b)       The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with any Persons, appointing such Persons exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or Principal Underwriter for the Shares of one or more of the Series or other securities to be issued by the Trust. Every such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.

 

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(c)       The Trustees are also empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Persons, appointing such Person(s) to serve as custodian(s), transfer agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of its Series. Every such contract shall comply with such terms as may be required by the Trustees.

 

(d)       The Trustees are further empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Persons to provide such other services to the Trust or one or more of the Series, as the Trustees determine to be in the best interests of the Trust and the applicable Series.

 

(e)       The fact that:

 

(i)       any of the Shareholders, Trustees, or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser, affiliate or agent of or for any Person with which an advisory, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may be made, or that

 

(ii)       any Person with which an advisory, management or administration contract or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may be made also has an advisory, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other service contract, or has other business or interests with any other Person,

 

shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same, or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders, provided approval of each such contract is made pursuant to the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.

 

Section 7. Any Trustee, officer or agent of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of Shares to the same extent as if he were not a Trustee, officer or agent. The Trustees may issue and sell and cause to be issued and sold Shares to, and redeem such Shares from, any such Person or any firm or company in which such Person is interested, subject only to the general limitations contained herein or in the Bylaws relating to the sale and redemption of such Shares.

 

ARTICLE V.
Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings

 

Section 1. Voting Powers. Subject to the provisions of Article III, Sections 5 and 6(d), the Shareholders shall have the right to vote only: (i) for the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1; (ii) on such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, including Section 16(a) thereof; and (iii) on such other matters as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. Each whole Share held by a Shareholder on the record date shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote as to any matter on which the holder in entitled to vote, and each fractional Share held by a Shareholder on the record date shall entitle the holder thereof to a proportionate fractional vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of Shareholders. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Votes may be made in person or by proxy. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger.

 

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Section 2. Voting Power and Meetings. Meetings of the Shareholders may be called by the Trustees for the purposes described in Section 1 of this Article V. A meeting of Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the Trustees. Written notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be given or caused to be given by the Trustees by delivering personally or mailing such notice not more than ninety (90) nor less than ten (10) days before such meeting, postage prepaid, stating the time and place of the meeting, to each Shareholder at the Shareholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Trust. Whenever notice of a meeting is required to be given to a Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust, a written waiver thereof, executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his or her attorney thereunto authorized and filed with the records of the meeting, or actual attendance at the meeting of Shareholders in person or by proxy, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice.

 

Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote. Except as otherwise provided by the 1940 Act or in the Trust’s Certificate of Trust, at any meeting of Shareholders, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of Shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote representing more than forty percent of all Shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at the meeting. Any meeting of Shareholders may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question of adjourning a meeting to another date and time, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting without further notice. Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 6(d) and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, when a quorum is present at any meeting, the majority vote or, to the extent required or permitted by the 1940 Act, affirmative vote of a Majority of Shares, shall decide any questions except that only a plurality vote shall be necessary to elect Trustees.

 

Section 4. Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if written consent to the action is filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders by the holders of the number of votes that would be required to approve the matter as provided in Article V, Section 3. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.

 

Section 5. Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, the Trustees may fix a time, which shall be not more than ninety (90) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of Shareholders, as the record date for determining the Shareholders having the right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof, and in such case only Shareholders of record on such record date shall have such right, notwithstanding any transfer of Shares on the books of the Trust after the record date. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may fix a date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or distribution, as the record date for determining the Shareholders having the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series.

 

ARTICLE VI.
Net Asset Value, Distributions, and Redemptions

 

Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and Distributions. Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Trustees may prescribe and shall set forth in the Bylaws or in a duly adopted resolution of the Trustees such bases and time for determining the per Share net asset value of the Shares of any Series and the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of any Series, as they may deem necessary or desirable.

 

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Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases. The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon receipt by the Trust or a Person designated by the Trust of a request in proper form that the Trust redeem such Shares or in accordance with such procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof, in accordance with the Bylaws and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. Payment for said Shares shall be mailed or otherwise sent by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven days after the date on which the request for redemption is received in proper form. The obligation set forth in this Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the event that any time the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or if permitted by the Rules of the Commission during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted or during any emergency that makes it impracticable for the Trust to dispose of the investments of the applicable Series or to determine fairly the value of the net assets held with respect to such Series or during any other period permitted by order of the Commission for the protection of investors, such obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees.

 

The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid in cash or wholly or partly in kind in accordance with applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. Subject to the foregoing, the selection and quantity of securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price shall be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other Person in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.

 

Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall have the right, at its option, upon not less than 30 days’ notice to the affected Shareholder at any time, to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof as described in Section 1 of this Article VI at any time and for any reason, including, without limitation: (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns Shares of any Series having an aggregate net asset value of less than a minimum value determined from time to time by the Trustees; (ii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of a Series equal to or in excess of a maximum percentage of the outstanding Shares of such Series determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares equal to or in excess of a maximum percentage, determined from time to time by the Trustees, of the outstanding Shares of the Trust; (iv) the failure of a Shareholder to meet or maintain the qualifications for ownership of a particular Series (or class) of Shares; (v) the determination by the Trustees or pursuant to policies adopted by the Trustees that ownership of Shares by a particular Shareholder is not in the best interests of the remaining Shareholders of the Trust or applicable Series (or class); (vi) at any time, if the Trustees determine in their sole discretion that failure to so redeem may have materially adverse consequences to all or any of the holders of the Shares, or any Series thereof, of the Trust; or (vii) the merger, reorganization or liquidation of a Series or the Trust.

 

The holders of Shares shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the requirements of any taxing or other governmental authority.

 

Section 4. Transfer of Shares. The Trust shall transfer Shares held of record by any Person to any other Person upon receipt by the Trust or a Person designated by the Trust of a written request therefore in such form and pursuant to such procedures as may be approved by the Trustees.

 

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ARTICLE VII.
Compensation and Limitation of Liability

 

Section 1. Compensation of Trustees. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to compensation from the Trust, and they may fix the amount of such compensation from time to time. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee to provide advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services to the Trust and to be specially compensated for such services by the Trust.

 

Section 2. Limitation of Liability. No person who is or has been a Trustee, officer, or employee of the Trust shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, other than the Trust or its Shareholders, in connection with the affairs of the Trust; and all Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property or property of a Series for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust or such Series. Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in or with respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any negligence or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, employee, manager, Investment Adviser or Principal Underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee. No person who is or has been a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any Shareholder for any action or failure to act except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties involved in the conduct of the individual’s office, and for nothing else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.

 

Section 3. Indemnification.

 

(a)       The Trust, out of its assets, shall indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust (including, without limitation, any investment adviser to the Trust and any individual who serves at its request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the like of another organization in which it has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (“Covered Person”) from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to such Covered Person’s performance of his or her duties for the Trust to the maximum extent permitted by law, subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in Subsection (c).

 

(b)       Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in Subsection (c) below:

 

(i)       every person who is, or has been, a Covered Person shall be indemnified by the Trust or the appropriate Series to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by the Covered Person in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which the Covered Person becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Covered Person and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof; and

 

(ii)       as used herein, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit,” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened, and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include, without limitation, attorneys, fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

 

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(c)       No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:

 

(i)       who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought: (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office, or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust; or

 

(ii)       in the event the matter is not adjudicated by a court or other appropriate body, unless there has been a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the Covered Person’s office: by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), or by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry).

 

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(d)       The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of a Covered Person.

 

(e)       Any indemnification under this Article shall be made by this Trust only if authorized in the specific case on a determination that indemnification of the Covered Person is proper in the circumstances because the Covered Person is so eligible under this Section 3 by: (i) a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Trustees who are not parties to the proceeding and are not Interested Persons of the Trust; (ii) a written opinion by legal counsel to the Trust; or (iii) a majority vote of the Shareholders; however, Shares held by Covered Persons who are parties to the proceeding may not be voted on the subject matter under this Sub-Section.

 

(f)       To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses incurred in defending any proceeding may be advanced by the Trust before the disposition of the proceeding upon: (i) receipt by the Trust of: (A) a written affirmation on behalf of the Covered Person of the Covered Person’s good faith belief that the Covered Person is eligible for indemnification under this Section 3 and (B) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person, such undertaking being an unlimited general obligation to repay the amount of the advance if it is ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not so eligible; provided, however, that either a majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person will not be disqualified from indemnification under this Section.

 

(g)       Nothing contained in this Section 3 shall affect any right to indemnification to which persons other than Trustees and officers of this Trust or any subsidiary hereof may be entitled by contract or otherwise.

 

(h)       Any repeal or modification of this Article VII by the Shareholders, or adoption or modification of any other provision of the Declaration of Trust or Bylaws inconsistent with this Article, shall be prospective only, to the extent that such repeal, or modification would, if applied retrospectively, adversely affect any limitation on the liability of any Covered Person or indemnification available to any Covered Person with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such repeal, modification or adoption.

 

Section 4. Binding Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested in or dealing with the Trust. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice nor for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.

 

Section 5. Insurance. The Trustees shall be entitled and empowered to the fullest extent permitted by law to purchase with Trust assets insurance for liability and for all expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be paid by a Trustee or officer in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he or she becomes involved by virtue of his or her capacity or former capacity with the Trust, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article.

 

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ARTICLE VIII.
Miscellaneous

 

Section 1. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No Person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.

 

Section 2. Derivative Actions.

 

(a)       Shareholders of the Trust or any Series may not bring a derivative action to enforce the right of the Trust or an affected Series or class, as applicable, unless each of the following conditions is met:

 

(i)       Each complaining Shareholder was a Shareholder of the Trust or the affected Series or class, as applicable, at the time of the action or failure to act complained of, or acquired the Shares afterwards by operation of law from a Person who was a Shareholder at that time;

 

(ii)       Each complaining Shareholder was a Shareholder of the Trust or the affected Series or class, as applicable, as of the time the demand required by subparagraph (iii) below was made;

 

(iii)       Prior to the commencement of such derivative action, the complaining Shareholders have made a written demand to the Board of Trustees requesting that they cause the Trust or affected Series or class, as applicable, to file the action itself. In order to warrant consideration, any such written demand must include at least the following:

 

(A)       a detailed description of the action or failure to act complained of and the facts upon which each such allegation is made;

 

(B)       a statement to the effect that the complaining Shareholders believe that they will fairly and adequately represent the interests of similarly situated Shareholders in enforcing the right of the Trust or the affected Series or class, as applicable, and an explanation of why the complaining Shareholders believe that to be the case;

 

(C)       a certification that the requirements of sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) have been met, as well as information reasonably designed to allow the Trustees to verify that certification; and

 

(D)        a certification that each complaining Shareholder will be a Shareholder of the Trust or the affected Series or class, as applicable as of the commencement of the derivative action;

 

(iv)       Shareholders owning Shares representing no less than a Majority of Shares of the Trust or the affected Series or class, as applicable, must join in bringing the derivative action; and

 

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(v)       A copy of the derivative complaint must be served on the Trust, assuming the requirements of sub-paragraphs (i)-(iv) above have already been met and the derivative action has not been barred in accordance with paragraph (b)(ii) below.

 

(b)       Demands for derivative action submitted in accordance with the requirements above will be considered by those Trustees who are not deemed to be Interested Persons of the Trust. Within 30 calendar days of the receipt of such demand by the Board of Trustees, those Trustees who are not deemed to be Interested Persons of the Trust will consider the merits of the claim and determine whether maintaining a suit would be in the best interests of the Trust or the affected Series or class, as applicable. Trustees that are not deemed to be Interested Persons of the Trust are deemed independent for all purposes, including for the purpose of approving or dismissing a derivative action.

 

(i)       If the demand for derivative action has not been considered within 30 calendar days of the receipt of such demand by the Board of Trustees, a decision communicated to the complaining Shareholders within the time permitted by sub-paragraph (ii) below, and sub-paragraphs (i)-(iv) of paragraph (a) above have been met, the complaining Shareholders shall not be barred by this Declaration of Trust from commencing a derivative action.

 

(ii)       If the demand for derivative action has been considered by the Board of Trustees, and a majority of those Trustees who are not deemed to be Interested Persons of the Trust, after considering the merits of the claim, has determined that maintaining a suit would not be in the best interests of the Trust or the affected Series or class, as applicable, the complaining Shareholders shall be barred from commencing the derivative action. If upon such consideration the appropriate members of the Board determine that such a suit should be maintained, then the appropriate officers of the Trust shall commence initiation of that suit and such suit shall proceed directly rather than derivatively. The Board of Trustees, or the appropriate officers of the Trust, shall inform the complaining Shareholders of any decision reached under this sub-paragraph (ii) in writing within five business days of such decision having been reached.

 

(c)       A Shareholder of a particular Series or class of the Trust shall not be entitled to participate in a derivative action on behalf of any other Series or class of the Trust.

 

Section 3. Termination of Trust or Series. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust or any Series may be terminated at any time by the Trustees; provided, however, that in such a case the Trustees shall provide written notice to Shareholders of the Trust or Series, if any, a number of days prior to termination that is at least the minimum that may be required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.

 

Upon termination of the Trust (or any Series, as the case may be), after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities held, severally, with respect to each Series (or the applicable Series, as the case may be), whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the remaining assets held, severally, with respect to each Series (or the applicable Series, as the case may be), to distributable form in cash or shares or other securities, and any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds held with respect to each Series (or the applicable Series, as the case may be), to the Shareholders of that Series, as a Series, ratably according to the number of Shares of that Series held by the several Shareholders on the date of termination.

 

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Section 4. Merger and Consolidation. The Trustees may cause: (i) the Trust or one or more of its Series to the extent consistent with applicable law to be merged into, or consolidated with, another trust, series or Person; (ii) the Shares of the Trust or any Series to be converted into beneficial interests in another business trust (or series thereof); (iii) the Shares to be exchanged for assets or property under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law; or (iv) a sale of assets of the Trust or one or more of its Series. Such merger or consolidation, Share conversion, Share exchange or sale of assets shall, if required under the 1940 Act or applicable Delaware law, be authorized by vote as provided in Article V, Section 3 herein; provided that in all respects not governed by statute or applicable law, the Trustees shall have power to prescribe the procedure necessary or appropriate to accomplish a sale of assets, Share exchange, merger or consolidation including the power to create one or more separate business trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of Shares of the Trust or any Series into beneficial interests in such separate business trust or trusts (or series thereof).

 

Section 5. Amendments. This Declaration of Trust may be restated and/or amended at any time with the approval of a majority of the Trustees then holding office. Any such restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be effective immediately upon approval. The Certificate of Trust of the Trust may be restated and/or amended by a similar procedure, and any such restatement and/or amendment shall be effective immediately upon filing with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or upon such future date as may be stated therein. Notwithstanding anything else herein, no amendment of the Declaration of Trust shall limit the rights to insurance provided by Article VII, Section 5 hereof with respect to any acts or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment nor shall any such amendment limit the rights to indemnification referenced in Article VII, Section 3 hereof with respect to any actions or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment.

 

Section 6. Filing of Copies, References, Headings. The original or a copy of this instrument and of each restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may, upon reasonable prior request, be inspected by any Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such restatements and/or amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such restatements and/or amendments. In this instrument and in any such restatements and/or amendments, references to this instrument, and all expressions like “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such restatements and/or amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.

 

Section 7. Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.

 

(a)       This Declaration of Trust is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, as amended from time to time (the “Act”). The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to such Act, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a business trust. Any case or controversy arising under or regarding this Declaration of Trust or actions taken by or on behalf of the Trustees, whether raised by a Trustee, Shareholder or other party, shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of an appropriate state or Federal Court located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which shall be a proper forum in which to adjudicate such case or controversy.

 

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(b)       Notwithstanding the first sentence of Section 7(a) of this Article VIII, there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees, or this Declaration of Trust either the provisions of Section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts that relate to or regulate: (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges; (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents, or employees of a trust; (iii) the necessity for obtaining a court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding, or disposition of real or personal property; (iv) fees or other sums applicable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust; (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal; (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount, or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage, or other manner of holding of trust assets; or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers or liabilities or authorities and powers of trustees that are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Declaration of Trust.

 

Section 8. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.

 

(a)       The provisions of the Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of the Declaration of Trust; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of the Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.

 

(b)       If any provision of the Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.

 

Section 9. Statutory Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create a statutory trust pursuant to the Act, and thereby to create only the relationship of trustee and beneficial owners within the meaning of such Act between the Trustees and each Shareholder. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, joint venture, or any form of legal relationship other than a business trust pursuant to such Act. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.

 

Section 10. Writings. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations:

 

(a)       All requirements in this Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws that any action be taken by means of any writing, including, without limitation, any written instrument, any written consent or any written agreement, shall be deemed to be satisfied by means of any electronic record in such form that is acceptable to the Trustees; and

 

(b)       All requirements in this Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws that any writing be signed shall be deemed to be satisfied by any electronic signature in such form that is acceptable to the Trustees.

 

Section 11. Trustees May Resolve Ambiguities. The Trustees may construe any of the provisions of this Declaration of Trust insofar as the same may appear to be ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions hereof, and any such construction hereof by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive as to the meaning to be given to such provisions.

 

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[Signature Page Follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustee named below does hereby make and enter into this Declaration of Trust as of the 16th day of September, 2021.

 

  By: /s/ Peter Connors  
    Peter Connors, Initial Trustee  

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Initial Series of Shares

 

1.Connors Hedged Equity Fund

 

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BYLAWS

 

OF

 

CONNORS FUNDS

 

 

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

CONNORS FUNDS

 

ARTICLE I.

 

introduction

 

Section 1. Declaration of Trust. These Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) are intended to be consistent with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as in effect from time to time (the “Declaration of Trust”), of Connors Funds, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”).

 

Section 2. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Declaration of Trust.

 

ARTICLE II.

 
Fiscal Year and Offices

 

Section 1. Fiscal Year. The Board of Trustees shall establish the fiscal year of the Trust or any Series by resolution.

 

Section 2. Delaware Office. The Board of Trustees shall establish a registered office in the State of Delaware and shall appoint as the Trust’s registered agent for service of process in the State of Delaware an individual resident of the State of Delaware or a Delaware corporation or a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the State of Delaware; in each case the business office of such registered agent for service of process shall be identical with the registered Delaware office of the Trust.

 

Section 3. Other Offices. The Board of Trustees may at any time establish branch or subordinate offices at any place or places where the Trust intends to do business.

 

ARTICLE III.

 
Meetings of Shareholders

 

Section 1. Place of Meeting. Meetings of the Shareholders shall be held in such place as shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Trustees and stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

Section 2. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of Shareholders will not be held unless required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

 

Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Shareholders may be called at any time by the Chairperson, the President, or a majority of the Board of Trustees, and shall be called by the Secretary upon written request of the holders of Shares entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting; provided, that: (a) such request shall state the purposes of such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on; and (b) the Shareholders requesting such meeting shall have paid to the Trust the reasonable estimated cost of preparing and mailing the notice thereof, which the Secretary shall determine and specify to such Shareholders. No special meeting need be called upon the request of Shareholders entitled to cast less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at such meeting to consider any matter which is substantially the same as a matter voted on at any meeting of the Shareholders held during the preceding twelve months. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, a special meeting of Shareholders shall be called upon the request of the holders of at least ten percent of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting for the purpose of consideration of removal of a Trustee from office as provided in section 16(c) of the 1940 Act. If the meeting is a meeting of Shareholders of any Series or class, but not a meeting of all Shareholders of the Trust, then only a special meeting of Shareholders of such Series or class need be called and, in such case, only Shareholders of such Series or class shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting.

 

 

Section 4. Notice. Not less than ten days, nor more than ninety days, before the date of every annual or special Shareholders meeting, the Secretary shall cause notice to be given to the Shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Notice shall be given either by hand delivery, first-class mail, telegraphic or other written or electronic communication, charges prepaid, addressed to the Shareholder at the Shareholder’s address (as it appears on the records of the Trust or its transfer agent at the time of the mailing). The Notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a Special Meeting of Shareholders, the general nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting. Notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by telegram or other means of written or electronic communication. Notice of adjournment of a Shareholders meeting to another time or place need not be given, if such time and place are announced at the meeting.

 

If any notice addressed to a Shareholder at the address of that Shareholder appearing on the books of the Trust is returned to the Trust by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver the notice to the Shareholder at that address, all future notices or reports shall be deemed to have been duly given without further mailing if such future notices or reports shall be kept available to the Shareholder, upon written demand of the Shareholder, at the principal executive office of the Trust for a period of one year from the date of the giving of the notice. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to Shareholders, any notice to Shareholders given by the Trust shall be effective if given by a single written notice to Shareholders who share an address, except with respect to any Shareholder who has previously delivered written notice to the Trust to opt-out of such manner of notice.

 

Section 5. Record Date for Meetings. Subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, the Board of Trustees may fix in advance a date not more than ninety, nor less than ten days, prior to the date of any annual or special meeting of the Shareholders as a record date for the determination of the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at any meeting and any adjournment thereof; and in such case such Shareholders and only such Shareholders as shall be Shareholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Trust after any such record date fixed as aforesaid. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Board of Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series or classes.

 

 

Section 6. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by the 1940 Act or in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, at any meeting of Shareholders, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of Shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote representing more than forty percent of the Shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at the meeting.

 

If, however, a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the Shareholders, the holders of a majority of the votes present or in person or by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. Notwithstanding the above, broker non-votes will be excluded from the denominator of the calculation of the number of votes required to approve any proposal to adjourn a meeting.

 

Section 7. Voting. Each whole Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote as to any matter on which the holder is entitled to vote, and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Votes may be made in person or by proxy.

 

At all meetings of the Shareholders, a quorum being present, all matters shall be decided by majority of the votes entitled to be cast held by Shareholders present in person or by proxy, unless the question is one for which by express provision of the laws of the State of Delaware, the 1940 Act, as from time to time amended, or the Declaration of Trust, a different vote is permitted or required, in which case such express provision shall control the decision of such question. At all meetings of Shareholders, unless the voting is conducted by inspectors, all questions relating to the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by the Chairperson of the meeting.

 

Section 8. Proxies. Subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, Shareholders entitled to vote for Trustees or on any other matter shall have the right to do so either in person or by proxy, provided that either: (i) a written instrument authorizing such a proxy to act is executed by the Shareholder or his or her duly authorized attorney-in-fact and dated not more than eleven (11) months before the meeting, unless the instrument specifically provides for a longer period, or (ii) the Board of Trustees adopts an electronic, telephonic, computerized or other alternative to the execution of a written instrument authorizing the proxy to act, and such authorization is received not more than eleven (11) months before the meeting. A proxy shall be deemed executed by a Shareholder if the Shareholder’s name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic transmission or otherwise) by the Shareholder or the Shareholder’s attorney-in-fact. A valid proxy which does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless: (i) revoked by the Person executing it before the vote pursuant to that proxy is taken, by: (a) a writing delivered to the Trust stating that the proxy is revoked, (b) a subsequent proxy executed by such Person, (c) attendance at the meeting and voting in person by the Person executing that proxy, or (d) revocation by such Person using any electronic, telephonic, computerized or other alternative means authorized by the Board of Trustees for authorizing the proxy to act; or (ii) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received by the Trust before the vote pursuant to that proxy is counted. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more Persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of the two or more Persons. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. Unless otherwise specifically limited by their terms, proxies shall entitle the Shareholder to vote at any adjournment or postponement of a Shareholders meeting. At every meeting of Shareholders, unless the voting is conducted by inspectors, all questions concerning the qualifications of voters, the validity of proxies, and the acceptance or rejection of votes, shall be decided by the Chairperson of the meeting. Subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, all matters concerning the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Shareholders were shareholders of a Delaware corporation.

 

 

Section 9. Inspectors. At any election of Trustees, the Board of Trustees prior thereto, or, if they have not so acted, the Chairperson of the meeting, may appoint one or more inspectors of election who shall first subscribe an oath of affirmation to execute faithfully the duties of inspectors at such election with strict impartiality and according to the best of their ability, and shall after the election make a certificate of the result of the vote taken.

 

Section 10. Stock Ledger and List of Shareholders. It shall be the duty of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust to cause an original or duplicate share ledger to be maintained at the office of the Trust’s transfer agent. Such share ledger may be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time for visual inspection.

 

Section 11. Action Without Meeting. Any action to be taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a written consent to such action is signed by the number of Shareholders as would be required to take such action at a meeting of the same, and the written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.

 

ARTICLE IV.

 
Trustees

 

Section 1. General Powers. The business of the Trust shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Trustees, which may exercise all powers of the Trust, except such as are by statute, or the Declaration of Trust, or by these Bylaws conferred upon or reserved to the Shareholders.

 

Section 2. Number and Term of Office. The number of Trustees that shall constitute the whole Board of Trustees shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Trustees, but shall not be fewer than the minimum number permitted by applicable laws, nor more than fifteen. Trustees need not be Shareholders. Vacancies in the authorized number of Trustees may be filled as provided in the Declaration of Trust.

 

Section 3. Retirement of Trustees. The Board of Trustees may adopt a written policy regarding the retirement of its members, which policy may require Trustees to retire or tender their resignation for the consideration of the remaining Trustees or a committee thereof upon reaching a certain age. Absent such a written policy, the tenure of each Trustee shall be determined in accordance with Article IV, Section 2 hereof.

 

 

Section 4. Elections. Provided a quorum is present, the Trustees shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes present in person or by proxy at a Shareholder meeting, except that any vacancy on the Board of Trustees may be filled by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees, even if less than a quorum, subject to the requirements of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act.

 

Section 5. Place of Meeting. Meetings of the Board of Trustees, regular or special, may be held at any place as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine.

 

Section 6. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Trustees, one-third of the entire Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business provided that in no case may a quorum be less than two persons. The action of a majority of the Trustees present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Trustees unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by the 1940 Act, these Bylaws or the Declaration of Trust. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of Trustees, the Trustees present thereat may by a majority vote adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 7. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees may be held without additional notice at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Trustees provided that notice of any change in the time or place of such meetings shall be sent promptly to each Trustee not present at the meeting at which such change was made in the manner provided for notice of special meetings.

 

Section 8. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called by the Chairperson or President or by the written request of two Trustees. Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be communicated to each Trustee orally in person or by telephone or transmitted to him or her by first-class or overnight mail, electronic mail, telegram, telecopy or other electronic means addressed to each Trustee at that Trustee’s address as it is shown on the records of the Trust, at least one calendar day before the meeting. Notice may be provided on the day of the special meeting by telephone, electronic mail, telegram, telecopy, or other electronic means, if, under the circumstances, the party calling the meeting deems more immediate action to be necessary or appropriate. Oral notice shall be deemed to be given when given directly to the person required to be notified and all other notices shall be deemed to be given when sent.

 

Section 9. Meeting by Telephone Other Electronic Means. Members of the Board of Trustees or a committee of the Board of Trustees may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.

 

Section 10. Informal Actions. Except as required by the 1940 Act, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if a written consent to such action is signed by the number of Trustees of the Board of Trustees, or of such committee, as the case may be, as would be required to take such action at a meeting of the same, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Trustees or committee. If any action is so taken by the Trustees by the written consent of less than all of the Trustees prompt notice of the taking of such action shall be furnished to each Trustee who did not execute such written consent, provided that the effectiveness of such action shall not be impaired by any delay or failure to furnish such notice.

 

 

Section 11. Committees. The Board of Trustees may by resolution passed by a majority of the entire Board of Trustees appoint from among its members one or more committees composed of two or more Trustees, and may delegate to such committees, in the intervals between meetings of the Board of Trustees, any or all of the powers of the Board of Trustees in the management of the business and affairs of the Trust.

 

Section 12. Action of Committees. In the absence of an appropriate resolution of the Board of Trustees, each committee may adopt such rules and regulations governing its proceedings, quorum and manner of acting as it shall deem proper and desirable, provided that the quorum shall not be less than two Trustees. The committees shall keep records of their proceedings and shall report their actions to the Board of Trustees, and any action by the committee shall be subject to revision and alteration by the Board of Trustees, provided that no rights of third persons shall be affected by any such revision or alteration. In the absence of any member of such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a member of the Board of Trustees to act in the place of such absent member.

 

Section 13. Compensation. Any Trustee, whether or not he or she is a salaried officer or employee of the Trust, may be compensated for his services as Trustee or as a member of a committee of Trustees, or as chairperson of a committee by fixed periodic payments or by fees for attendance at meetings or by both, and in addition may be reimbursed for transportation and other expenses, all in such manner and amounts as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine.

 

Section 14. Delegation of Power to Other Trustees. Any Trustee may, by power of attorney, delegate his or her power for a period not exceeding one (1) month at any one time to any other Trustee. Except where applicable law may require a Trustee to be present in person, a Trustee represented by another Trustee, pursuant to such power of attorney, shall be deemed to be present for purpose of establishing a quorum and satisfying the required majority vote.

 

ARTICLE V.

 
Notices

 

Section 1. Form. Notices to Shareholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the Shareholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the Trust. Notices to Trustees shall be oral or by telephone or in writing delivered personally or mailed to the Trustees at their addresses appearing on the books of the Trust. Notice by mail shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be mailed. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, notice to Trustees need not state the purpose of a regular or special meeting.

 

Section 2. Waiver. Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of Shareholders, Trustees or a committee is required to be given under the provisions of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice and filed with the records of the meeting, whether before or after the holding thereof, or actual attendance at the meeting of Shareholders in person or by proxy, or at the meeting of Trustees or a committee in person, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such persons.

 

 

ARTICLE VI.

 

Officers

 

Section 1. Executive Officers. The officers of the Trust shall be chosen by the Board of Trustees and shall include a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Trustees may, from time to time, elect or appoint other officers, including a Chairperson, a Controller, one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. The same person may hold two or more offices, except that no person shall be both President and Vice President.

 

Section 2. Election. The Board of Trustees shall choose a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

 

Section 3. Other Officers. The Board of Trustees from time to time may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem advisable, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees from time to time may delegate to one or more officers or agents the power to appoint any such subordinate officers or agents and to prescribe their respective rights, terms of office, authorities and duties.

 

Section 4. Compensation. The salaries or other compensation of all officers and agents of the Trust shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees, except that the Board of Trustees may delegate to any person or group of persons the power to fix the salary or other compensation of any subordinate officers or agents appointed pursuant to Section 3 of this Article VI.

 

Section 5. Tenure. The officers of the Trust shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees. Any officer or agent may be removed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees whenever, in its judgment, the best interests of the Trust will be served thereby. In addition, any officer or agent appointed pursuant to Section 3 of this Article VI may be removed, either with or without cause, by any officer upon whom such power of removal shall have been conferred by the Board of Trustees. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Trust by death, resignation, removal or otherwise shall be filled by the Board of Trustees, unless pursuant to Section 3 of this Article VI the power of appointment has been conferred by the Board of Trustees on any other officer. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Trust. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Trust under any contract to which the officer is a party.

 

Section 6. President and Chief Executive Officer. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, unless the Board of Trustees designates the Chairperson as Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Trustees are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer shall also be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Trust and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Trustees may from time to time prescribe.

 

Section 7. Vice President. The Vice Presidents, if appointed, in order of their seniority, shall, in the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Executive Officer and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Trustees or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.

 

 

Section 8. Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer will be responsible for administering the Trust’s compliance policies and procedures, shall have sufficient authority and independence within the organization to compel others to adhere to the compliance policies and procedures, shall report directly to the Board of Trustees, shall annually furnish a written report on the operation of the compliance policies and procedures to the Board of Trustees and shall perform such other duties as prescribed by the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 9. Secretary. The Secretary will keep or cause to be kept a book of minutes of all meetings of the Board of Trustees and all meetings of the Shareholders. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of meetings of the Shareholders and of the Board of Trustees, shall have charge of the records of the Trust, including the stock books, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees or Chief Executive Officer, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be. The Board of Trustees may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Trust and to attest the affixing by his signature.

 

Section 10. Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretaries in order of their seniority, shall, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Trustees shall prescribe.

 

Section 11. Treasurer. The Treasurer, unless another officer has been so designated, shall be the Chief Financial Officer of the Trust. The Treasurer shall have general charge of the finances and books of account of the Trust. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Trustees, the Treasurer shall have general supervision of the funds and property of the Trust and of the performance by the custodian of its duties with respect thereto. The Treasurer shall render to the Board of Trustees, whenever directed by the Board of Trustees, an account of the financial condition of the Trust and of all the Treasurer’s transactions as Treasurer. The Treasurer shall cause to be prepared annually a full and correct statement of the affairs of the Trust, including a balance sheet and a statement of operations for the preceding fiscal year. The Treasurer shall perform all the acts incidental to the office of Treasurer, subject to the control of the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 12. Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer shall in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Trustees may from time to time prescribe.

 

ARTICLE VII.

 
Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

Section 1. Certificates. A certificate or certificates representing and certifying the class and the full, but not fractional, number of Shares of beneficial interest owned by each Shareholder in the Trust shall not be issued except as the Board of Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. Any such certificate issued shall be signed by facsimile signature or otherwise by the President or a Vice President and counter-signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer.

 

 

Section 2. Signature. In case any officer who has signed any certificate ceases to be an officer of the Trust before the certificate is issued, the certificate may nevertheless be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if the officer had not ceased to be such officer as of the date of its issue.

 

Section 3. Recording and Transfer Without Certificates. The Trust shall have the full power to participate in any program approved by the Board of Trustees providing for the recording and transfer of ownership of the Trust’s Shares by electronic or other means without the issuance of certificates.

 

Section 4. Lost Certificates. The Board of Trustees may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Trust alleged to have been stolen, lost or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to have been stolen, lost or destroyed, or upon other satisfactory evidence of such theft, loss or destruction, and may in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such stolen, lost or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to give the Trust a bond with sufficient surety, to the Trust to indemnify it against any loss or claim that may be made by reason of the issuance of a new certificate.

 

Section 5. Transfer of Shares. Transfers of Shares of the Trust shall be made on the books of the Trust by the holder of record thereof (in person or by his attorney thereunto duly authorized by a power of attorney duly executed in writing and filed with the Secretary of the Trust): (i) if a certificate or certificates have been issued, upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, representing such Shares; or (ii) as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Trustees. Every certificate exchanged, surrendered for redemption or otherwise returned to the Trust shall be marked “Canceled” with the date of cancellation.

 

Section 6. Registered Shareholders. The Trust shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of Shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of Shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or Shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by applicable law or the Declaration of Trust.

 

Section 7. Stock Ledger. The Trust shall maintain an original stock ledger containing the names and addresses of all Shareholders and the number and class of Shares held by each Shareholder. Such stock ledger may be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within reasonable time for visual inspection.

 

ARTICLE VIII.

 

General Provisions

 

Section 1. Custodianship. Except as otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Trustees, the Trust shall place and at all times maintain in the custody of a custodian (including any sub-custodian for the custodian) all funds, securities and similar investments owned by the Trust. Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, the custodian may enter into arrangements with securities depositories, provided such arrangements comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

 

Section 2. Execution of Instruments. All deeds, documents, transfers, contracts, agreements and other instruments requiring execution by the Trust shall be signed by the President, a Vice President or another officer of the Trust.

 

Section 3. Net Asset Value. The net asset value per share shall be determined separately as to each class of the Trust’s Shares, by dividing the sum of the total market value of the class’s investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total outstanding Shares of such class, subject to the 1940 Act and any other applicable Federal securities law or rule or regulation currently in effect.

 

Section 4. Severability. The provisions of these Bylaws are severable. If the Board of Trustees determines, with the advice of counsel, that any provision hereof conflicts with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company or other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of these Bylaws; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of these Bylaws or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. If any provision hereof shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision only in such jurisdiction and shall not affect any other provision of these Bylaws.

 

Section 5. Headings. Headings are placed in these Bylaws for convenience of reference only and in case of any conflict, the text of these Bylaws rather than the headings shall control.

 

ARTICLE IX.

 

Amendments

 

The Board of Trustees shall have the power to make, alter and repeal the Bylaws of the Trust.

 

Adopted as of September 24, 2021.

 

10 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

This investment advisory agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of ____________, 2021, by and between Connors Funds, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Connors Hedged Equity Fund, a series of shares of the Trust (the “Fund”), and Connors Investor Services, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation(the “Adviser”).

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);

 

WHEREAS, the Trust has designated the Fund as a series of interests in the Trust; and

 

WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and engages in the business of asset management; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser to render certain investment management services to the Fund, and the Adviser is willing to render such services;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.       Obligations of the Investment Adviser.

 

(a)       Services. The Adviser agrees to perform the following services (the “Services”) for the Trust:

 

(i)        manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund;

 

(ii)       determine, in its discretion, the investments to be purchased, retained, lent or sold (and implement those decisions) with respect to the Fund;

 

(iii)     provide the Trust and the Fund with records concerning the Adviser’s activities under this Agreement that the Trust and the Fund are required to maintain; and

 

(iv)     render regular reports to the Trust’s board of trustees (the “Board”) and officers concerning the Adviser’s discharge of the foregoing responsibilities.

 

The Adviser will discharge the Services and its other obligations hereunder subject to the control of the Board and officers of the Trust and in compliance with: (i) the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and Bylaws; (ii) such policies as the Board may from time to time establish; (iii) the Fund’s objectives, policies and limitations as set forth in its prospectus and statement of additional information, as the same may be amended from time to time (together with (ii), collectively, the “Investment Policies”); and (iv) all applicable laws and regulations.

 

 

(b)       Sub-Advisers. All Services to be furnished by the Adviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any directors, officers or employees of the Adviser or through such other parties as the Adviser may determine from time to time, including, without limitation, to the extent approved by the Board, and consistent with the 1940 Act and with all applicable laws and regulations (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Rules”), any investment sub-adviser. In such case, the Adviser will oversee the sub-adviser in carrying out the Services and such retention of one or more sub-advisers will in no way reduce the responsibilities or obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement and the Adviser will, subject to Section 8 of this Agreement, be responsible to the Trust for all acts or omissions of any sub-adviser in connection with the performance of the Adviser’s duties hereunder.

 

(c)       Change in Management or Control. The Adviser will provide at least sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the Trust of any change in the ownership or management of the Adviser, or any event or action that may constitute a change in “control,” as that term is defined in Section 2 of the 1940 Act. The Adviser will provide prompt notice of any change in the portfolio manager(s) responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

(d)       Proxy Voting. The Adviser will vote, or make arrangements to have voted, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Fund may be invested from time to time. Such proxies will be voted in a manner that the Adviser deems, in good faith, to be in the best interest of the Fund and in accordance with its proxy voting policy. The Adviser agrees to provide a copy of its proxy voting policy to the Trust prior to the execution of this Agreement, and any amendments thereto promptly.

 

(e)       Trustees and Officers. The Adviser will authorize and permit the Adviser’s directors, officers and employees who may be elected or appointed as members of the Board or officers of the Trust to serve in such capacities, without remuneration from or other cost to the Trust, except as provided in Section 2(b) of this Agreement.

 

(f)       Books and Records. The Adviser will ensure that all financial, accounting and other records required to be maintained and preserved by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust are maintained and preserved by it in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. All books and records prepared and maintained by the Adviser for the Trust and the Fund under this Agreement are the property of the Trust and the Fund and, upon request therefor, the Adviser will surrender to the Trust and the Fund such of the books and records so requested; provided, however that the Adviser may maintain a copy of the same for the Adviser’s records. Both the Adviser and the Trust will maintain, or arrange for others to maintain, the books and records of the Trust in such a manner that treats the Fund as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes.

 

(g)       Reports and Filings. The Adviser will assist in the preparation of (but not pay for) all periodic reports by the Fund to its shareholders and all reports and filings required to maintain the registration and qualification of the Fund and Fund shares, or to meet other regulatory or tax requirements applicable to the Fund, under federal and state securities and tax laws.

 

 

2.       Expenses and Personnel.

 

(a)       The Adviser agrees, at its own expense or at the expense of one or more of its affiliates, to render the Services and to provide the office space, furnishings, equipment and personnel as may be reasonably required in the judgment of the Board and officers of the Trust to perform the Services on the terms and for the compensation provided herein; provided, however, that the Trust may pay a portion of the compensation of the Trust’s chief compliance officer, notwithstanding that such person may also be an employee of the Adviser. The Adviser will authorize and permit any of its officers, directors and employees, who may be elected as trustees or officers of the Trust, to serve in the capacities in which they are elected.

 

(b)       Except to the extent expressly assumed by the Adviser herein and except to the extent required by law to be paid by the Adviser, the Trust and the Fund, as applicable, will pay all costs and expenses in connection with its operation.

 

(c)       In the event that the Adviser pays or assumes any expenses of the Trust not required to be paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser will not be obligated hereby to pay or assume the same or any similar expense in the future; provided, however, that nothing herein contained will be deemed to relieve the Adviser of any obligation to the Fund under any separate agreement or arrangement between the parties.

 

3.       Code of Ethics. The Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and will provide the Trust with a copy of the code and evidence of its adoption. Within 45 days of the last calendar quarter of each year while this Agreement is in effect, the Adviser will provide to the Board a written report that describes any issues arising under the code of ethics since the last report to the Board, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the code and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and which certifies that the Adviser has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent “access persons” (as that term is defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act) from violating the code.

 

4.       Fund Transactions. The Adviser is authorized to select the brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the Fund; provided, however, that the Adviser will not direct orders to an affiliated person of the Adviser without general prior authorization to use such affiliated broker or dealer from the Board. With respect to brokerage selection, the Adviser will seek to obtain the best overall execution for Fund transactions, which is a combination of price, quality of execution and other factors. Subject to any policies adopted by the Trust on behalf of the Fund from to time to time, the Adviser may, in its discretion, purchase and sell Fund portfolio securities from and to brokers and dealers who provide the Adviser with brokerage, research, analysis, advice and similar services, and the Adviser may pay to these brokers and dealers, in return for such services, a higher commission or spread than may be charged by other brokers and dealers, provided that such transactions comply with Trust and Fund policies and the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of that particular transaction or of the overall responsibility of the Adviser to the Fund and its other clients and that the total commission paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund and its other clients over the long-term. The Adviser will promptly communicate to the Board and the officers of the Trust such information relating to portfolio transactions as they may reasonably request. The Trust hereby authorizes any entity or person associated with the Adviser or any sub-adviser retained by the Adviser pursuant to Section 1(b) of this Agreement, which is a member of a national securities exchange, to effect any transaction on the exchange for the account of the Trust which is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the Trust hereby consents to the retention of compensation for such transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv). On occasions when the Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Fund as well as of other clients, the Adviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may aggregate the securities to be so purchased or sold in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and the most efficient execution. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Adviser in the manner it considers to be consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.

 

 

5.       Compensation of the Adviser. The Fund will pay to the Adviser an investment advisory fee (the “Fee”) equal to an annualized rate of [0.80]% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Fee will be calculated as of the last business day of each month based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund determined in the manner described in the Fund’s Prospectus and/or Statement of Additional Information, and will be paid to the Adviser by the Fund within five (5) days after such calculation. If this Agreement is effective for only a portion of a month with respect to the Fund, then the Fee will be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.

 

6.       Status of Investment Adviser. The services of the Adviser to the Trust and the Fund are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser will be free to render similar services to others so long as its services to the Trust and the Fund are not impaired thereby. The Adviser will be deemed to be an independent contractor and will, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Fund. Nothing in this Agreement limits or restricts the right of any director, officer or employee of the Adviser, who may also be a trustee, officer or employee of the Trust, to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar nature or a dissimilar nature.

 

7.       Permissible Interests. Trustees, agents, and stockholders of the Trust are or may be interested in the Adviser (or any successor thereof) as directors, partners, officers, or stockholders, or otherwise; and directors, partners, officers, agents, and stockholders of the Adviser are or may be interested in the Trust as trustees, stockholders or otherwise; and the Adviser (or any successor) is or may be interested in the Trust as a stockholder or otherwise.

 

8.       Limits of Liability; Indemnification.

 

(a)       Neither the Adviser nor any director, manager, officer or employee of the Adviser performing services for the Trust at the direction or request of the Adviser in connection with the Adviser’s discharge of its obligations hereunder will be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with any matter to which this Agreement relates, and the Adviser will not be responsible for any action of the Board in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendation of the Adviser or any sub-adviser retained by the Adviser pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing herein contained will be construed: (i) to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which the Adviser would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties, or by reason of the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; or (ii) to protect any director, manager, officer or employee of the Adviser who is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability of the Trust or its shareholders to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office with the Trust. The Trust agrees to indemnify the Adviser to the full extent permitted by the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and applicable law.

 

 

9.       Term. This Agreement will remain in effect with respect to the Fund for an initial term of two years from the date that the Fund commences its operations, and from year to year thereafter provided such continuance is approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of the trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, which vote must be cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval (except as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act); provided, however, that:

 

(a)       the Trust may, at any time and without the payment of any penalty, terminate this Agreement with respect to the Fund upon 60 days’ written notice of a decision to terminate this Agreement by: (i) the Board; or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund;

 

(b)       the Adviser may, at any time and without the payment of penalty, terminate this Agreement with respect to the Fund upon 60 days’ notice to the Trust and the Fund;

 

(c)       this Agreement will immediately terminate in the event of its assignment (within the meaning of the 1940 Act and the Rules thereunder); and

 

(d)       the terms of paragraph 8 of this Agreement will survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

10.       Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no amendment of this Agreement will be effective with respect to the Fund until approved by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities.

 

11.       Applicable Law. This Agreement will be construed in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

 

12.       Representations and Warranties.

 

(a)       Representations and Warranties of the Adviser. The Adviser hereby represents and warrants to the Trust and the Fund as follows: (i) the Adviser is a corporation duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania and is fully authorized to enter into this Agreement and carry out its duties and obligations hereunder; (ii) the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Advisers Act, and will maintain such registration in effect at all times during the term of this Agreement; and (iii) the Adviser will maintain errors and omissions insurance with respect to its advisory business in a reasonable amount.

 

(b)       Representations and Warranties of the Trust. The Trust hereby represents and warrants to the Adviser as follows: (i) the Trust has been duly organized as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware and is authorized to enter into this Agreement and carry out its terms; (ii) the Trust is registered as an investment company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1940 Act; (iii) shares of the Trust are registered for offer and sale to the public under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and (iv) such registrations will be kept in effect during the term of this Agreement.

 

13.       Structure of Agreement. The Trust is entering into this Agreement solely on behalf of the Fund, and: (a) no breach of any term of this Agreement will create a right or obligation with respect to any series of the Trust other than the Fund; (b) under no circumstances will the Adviser have the right to set off claims relating to the Fund by applying property of any other series of the Trust; and (c) the business and contractual relationships created by this Agreement, consideration for entering into this Agreement, and the consequences of such relationship and consideration relate solely to the Trust and the Fund.

 

14.       Conflicts with Fund’s Governing Documents and Applicable Laws. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Fund to take any action contrary to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, the Trust’s Bylaws or any applicable statute or regulation, or to relieve or deprive the Board of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Fund. The Adviser acknowledges that the Trustees retain ultimate plenary authority over the Fund and may take any and all actions necessary and reasonable to protect the interests of shareholders.

 

15.       Use of Names. The Trust acknowledges that all rights to the name “Connors” belong to the Adviser, and that the Trust is being granted a limited license to use such word in its name, the name of its series and the name of its classes of shares.

 

16.       Declaration of Trust. The Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of shareholder liability as set forth in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and agrees that the obligations assumed by the Trust or the Fund, as the case may be, pursuant to this Agreement are limited in all cases to the Trust or the Fund, as the case may be, and its assets, and the Adviser will not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders or any shareholder of the Trust. In addition, the Adviser will not seek satisfaction of any such obligations from the Board or any individual member thereof. The Adviser understands that the rights and obligations of the Fund under the Declaration of Trust are separate and distinct from those of any and all other series of the Trust. The Adviser further understands and agrees that no other series of the Trust will be liable for any claims against the Fund and that the Adviser must look solely to the assets of the Fund for the enforcement or satisfaction of any claims against the Trust with respect to the Fund.

 

 

17.       Nonpublic Personal Information. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Adviser agrees on behalf of itself and its managers, members, officers and employees: (a) to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Fund: (i) all records and other information relative to the Fund’s prior, present or potential shareholders (and clients of said shareholders), and (ii) any Nonpublic Personal Information, as defined under Section 248.3(t) of Regulation S-P (“Regulation S-P”), promulgated under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the “G-L-B Act”); and (b) except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Fund or the Trust, not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, or as otherwise permitted by Regulation S-P or the G-L-B Act, and if in compliance therewith, the privacy policies adopted by the Trust and communicated in writing to the Adviser. Such written approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Fund or the Trust and may not be withheld where the Adviser may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt or other proceedings for failure to comply after being requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities.

 

18.       Anti-Money Laundering Compliance. The Adviser acknowledges that, in compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, the USA PATRIOT Act, and any implementing regulations thereunder (together, the “AML Laws”), the Trust has adopted an Anti-Money Laundering Policy. The Adviser agrees to comply with the Trust’s Anti-Money Laundering Policy and the AML Laws, as the same may apply to the Adviser, now and in the future. The Adviser further agrees to provide to the Fund and/or the Fund’s administrator such reports, certifications and contractual assurances as may be reasonably requested by the Fund or the Trust. The Fund or the Trust may disclose information regarding the Adviser to governmental and/or regulatory or self-regulatory authorities to the extent required by applicable law or regulation and may file reports with such authorities as may be required by applicable law or regulation.

 

19.      Certifications; Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Adviser acknowledges that, in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and the implementing regulations promulgated thereunder, the Trust is required to make certain certifications and has adopted disclosure controls and procedures. To the extent reasonably requested by the Trust or the Fund, the Adviser agrees to use its best efforts to assist the Trust in complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and implementing the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures. The Adviser agrees to inform the Trust of any material development related to the Fund that the Adviser reasonably believes is relevant to the Trust’s certification obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

20.       Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be or otherwise made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby and, to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed to be severable.

 

 

21.       Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and the year first written above.

 

CONNORS FUNDS, on behalf of Connors Hedged Equity Fund   CONNORS INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.  
       
       
By:   By:  
Title:   Title:  

  

EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT

 

Connors Funds

 

This Expense Limitation Agreement is made and entered into effective as of _______, 2021, by and between the Connors Funds, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of the Connors Hedged Equity Fund (the “Fund”), a series of shares of the Trust, and Connors Investor Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Adviser”).

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized under the Certificate of Trust (“Trust Instrument”), dated September ___, 2021 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company of the series type; and

 

WHEREAS, the Fund is a series of the Trust; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust and the Adviser have entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated __________, 2021 (“Advisory Agreement”), pursuant to which the Adviser provides investment advisory services to the Fund; and

 

WHEREAS, the Fund and the Adviser have determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to limit the expenses of the Fund, and, therefore, have entered into this Agreement, in order to maintain the Fund’s expense ratios within the Operating Expense Limit, as defined below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Expense Limitation.

 

(a) Applicable Expense Limit. To the extent that total operating expenses of the Institutional Class shares of the Fund (excluding brokerage costs, taxes, interest, borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, costs to organize the Fund, extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business) in any fiscal year (“Fund Operating Expenses”), exceed the Operating Expense Limit, as defined in Section 1(b) below, such excess amount (the “Excess Amount”) shall be the liability of the Adviser.

 

(b) Operating Expense Limit. The Fund’s maximum Operating Expense Limit in any year shall be [1.15]% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Shares of Fund.

 

(c) Method of Computation. To determine the Adviser’s liability with respect to the Excess Amount, each month the Fund Operating Expenses for the Fund shall be annualized as of the last day of the month. If the annualized Fund Operating Expenses for any month exceeds the Operating Expense Limit of the Fund, the Adviser shall first waive or reduce its investment advisory fee for such month by an amount sufficient to reduce the annualized Fund Operating Expenses to an amount no higher than the Operating Expense Limit. If the amount of the waived or reduced investment advisory fee for any such month is insufficient to pay the Excess Amount, the Adviser may also remit to the Fund an amount that, together with the waived or reduced investment advisory fee, is sufficient to pay such Excess Amount.

 

 

(d) Year-End Adjustment. If necessary, on or before the last day of the first month of each fiscal year, an adjustment payment shall be made by the appropriate party in order that the amount of the investment advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund with respect to the previous fiscal year shall equal the Excess Amount.

 

(e) Recapture. If the Adviser so requests, an amount equal to any Fund Operating Expenses waived or reimbursed by the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid to the Adviser by the Fund within three years after the date on which such reimbursement or waiver occurs, provided that the repayments do not cause total annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of such reductions and reimbursements) to exceed (i) the expense limitation then in effect, if any, and (ii) the expense limitation in effect at the time the expenses to be repaid were incurred.

 

2. Term and Termination of Agreement.

 

This Agreement with respect to the Fund shall continue in effect until ________, 2023 and from year to year thereafter provided each such continuance is specifically approved by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who (i) are not “interested persons” of the Trust or any other party to this Agreement, as defined in the 1940 Act, and (ii) have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Agreement (“Non-Interested Trustees”). Nevertheless, this Agreement may be terminated by either party hereto, without payment of any penalty, upon written notice ninety (90) days prior to the end of the then-current term of the Agreement to the other party at its principal place of business; provided that, in the case of termination by the Trust, such action shall be authorized by resolution of a majority of the Non-Interested Trustees of the Trust or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust. Any termination pursuant to this paragraph 2 shall become effective, unless otherwise specifically agreed upon, on the last day of the then-current term of the Agreement.

 

3. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no other way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

(b) Interpretation. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Trust or the Fund to take any action contrary to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or Bylaws, or any applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Trust’s Board of Trustees of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Trust or the Funds.

 

(c) Definitions. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement, including but not limited to the investment advisory fee, the computations of net asset values, and the allocation of expenses, having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from the terms and provisions of the Advisory Agreement or the 1940 Act, shall have the same meaning as and be resolved by reference to such Advisory Agreement or the 1940 Act.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.

 

CONNORS FUNDS   CONNORS INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.  
           
           
By:     By:  
           
Name:   Name:  
         
Title:

  Title:  

 

 



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