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Form 485BPOS Northern Lights Fund

September 14, 2018 3:23 PM EDT

Securities Act File No. 333-122917

ICA No. 811- 21720

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 14, 2018

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

  Pre-Effective Amendment No.  _______   [    ]
       
  Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,124   [ X ]

 

and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

 

 

Amendment No.  1,126

 

  [ X ]

(Check Appropriate Box or Boxes)

Northern Lights Fund Trust

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE 68154-1150

Attention:  Kevin Wolf

 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

 

(402) 895-1600

 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

The Corporation Trust Company

Corporate Trust Center

251 Little Falls Drive

Wilmington, DE 19808

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

With a copy to:

   

JoAnn M. Strasser, Esq.

Thompson Hine LLP

41 South High Street, Suite 1700

Columbus, Ohio 43215

614-469-3265 (phone)

513-241-4771 (fax)

Richard Malinowski

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

80 Arkay Drive, Suite 110

Hauppauge, New York 11788

(631) 470-2734

 

 Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering, As Soon As Practical, After Effectiveness of Registration Statement::

 

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

( )        immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b).

( X)        on September 14, 2018 pursuant to paragraph (b).

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

(  )        on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1).

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

(  )        on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

 

If appropriate, check the following box:

( ) this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Title of Securities Being Registered: Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

 

 

 

 

Princeton Premium Fund

 

PROSPECTUS

September 14, 2018

 

Class A Shares: PPFAX
Class I Shares: PPFIX

 

 

 

 

 

Adviser:

Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC

1580 Lincoln Street, Suite 680
Denver, CO 80203

 

Sub-Adviser:

Horse Cove Partners LLC

1899 Powers Ferry Rd. SE

Suite 120

Atlanta, GA 30339

 

 

 

www.PrincetonPremiumFund.com 1-888-868-9501

 

 

This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.

 

These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FUND SUMMARY   1 
Investment Objective   1 
Fees and Expenses of the Fund   1 
Principal Investment Strategies   2 
Principal Investment Risks   3 
Performance   4 
Investment Adviser   5 
Sub-Adviser   5 
Portfolio Managers   5 
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares   5 
Tax Information   5 
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries   5 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS   6 
Investment Objective   6 
Principal Investment Strategies   6 
Principal Investment Risks   7 
Temporary Investments   9 
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure   10 
Cybersecurity   10 
MANAGEMENT   10 
Investment Adviser and Portfolio Managers   10 
Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers   11 
HOW SHARES ARE PRICED   12 
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES   12 
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES   16 
FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES   17 
TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS   18 
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES   19 
Distributor   19 
Distribution (12b-1) and Shareholder Servicing Fees   19 
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries   19 
Householding   19 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   20 
Privacy Notice   21 

 

FUND SUMMARY

 

Investment Objective: The Fund seeks capital appreciation and income.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund: This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and/or your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in How to Purchase Shares on page 12 this Prospectus and in Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares on page 45 of the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Class A Class I

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

(as a % of offering price)

5.75% None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) None None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions None None
Redemption Fee None None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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

   
Management Fees 1.75% 1.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.25% None
Other Expenses 1.81% 1.81%
Interest Expense(1) 0.45% 0.45%
Remaining Other Expenses 1.36% 1.36%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (2) 0.01% 0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 3.82% 3.57%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (3) (1.15)% (1.16)%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver
and/or Expenses Reimbursement
2.67% 2.41%
(1)Interest Expense reflects interest charged to the Fund in connection with its option transactions and certain margin/collateral requirements of the options counterparty. This expense does not reflect the interest received by the Fund for the Fund’s collateral pledged for such transactions.
(2)Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the estimated average indirect costs of investing in other investment companies (the “Underlying Funds”). The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.
(3)Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC has contractually agreed to waive management fees and to make payments to limit Fund expenses, until at least January 29, 2020 so that the total annual operating expenses (exclusive of any (i) front-end or contingent deferred loads, (ii) brokerage fees and commissions, (iii) acquired fund fees and expenses, (iv) fees and expenses associated with investments including investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (for example options fees and expenses); (v) borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); (vi) taxes; and (vii) extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the Adviser))) do not exceed 2.20% and 1.95% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A and Class I shares, respectively. These fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the end of fiscal year during which the fees were waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the lesser of the foregoing expense limits or the then-current expense limits. This agreement may be terminated only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, on 60 days written notice to Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC.

 

Example: This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:

 

Class 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Class A $830 $1,575 $2,338 $4,327
Class  I $244 $987 $1,752 $3,760

 

Portfolio Turnover: The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal period, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 0% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies:

 

The Fund intends to utilize two principal investment strategies: 1) a premium collection strategy involving sale or purchase of call options and put options on the S&P 500 Index and 2) investing in fixed income securities. The Fund’s adviser will determine the allocation between these strategies and to any sub-adviser to which it may delegate management of the Fund’s portfolio. The adviser intends to allocate between 30% to 85% of the Fund’s net assets to the premium collection strategy at any given time.

 

The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on the S&P 500 Index, utilizing a premium collection strategy. Horse Cove Partners LLC is currently the sole sub-adviser to the Fund and it manages the Fund’s premium collection strategy. The sub-adviser utilizes proprietary quantitative models that allow it to determine what it believes is the probability of certain call or put options expiring worthless; the sale of a put or call option are done at a price that the sub-adviser believes have a 99.5% or greater probability of the puts sold expiring worthless and a 90% or greater probability of the calls sold expiring worthless. These models utilize a formula to calculate probabilities by utilizing verifiable market data such as volatility as measured by the CBOE Volatility Index (“VIX”), time to expiration for the option contracts, current S&P 500 Index level and the one year Treasury interest rate to determine the probability an option will expire worthless. Within this strategy, because the trades are call spreads or put spreads where an offsetting position is taken for each option contract, the potential risk is well defined. It is desirable that the underlying index remains in a relatively narrow trading range from the time the Fund opens the position until the options expire. The sub-adviser will seek to further mitigate risk and maximize Fund profits by continuing its proprietary quantitative analysis and monitoring the trade during the term of the contracts; and may close a trade early if it determines 1) the probability of the put or call option expiring worthless has dropped to 66.67% or lower, 2) it determines it can close the trade for minimum cost (five cents per option or less), or 3) it can close the trade early and achieve it target profit objective for such trade.

 

The Fund is required to pledge collateral for the option trades and it will hold cash, treasury bills, or money market instruments as collateral for all such options trades. The Fund’s custodian will segregate such collateral for the benefit of the counterparty. Therefore the Fund must typically maintain a large percentage of cash and cash equivalents within the Fund. The amount collected by the Fund when opening a trade represents the maximum profit (or premium) for the position and it represents a market neutral trade, meaning there is no inherent bullish or bearish bias.

 

The Fund may also allocate a portion of its assets to a fixed income strategy. The Fund may invest directly or indirectly in fixed income securities of any maturity. Such fixed income investments will be rated investment grade by Standard & Poor’s (BBB- or better) or Moody’s (Baa3 or better) at the time the investment is made. The Fund may invest directly in U.S. Treasury bonds. The Fund may also invest in exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), money market funds or open end mutual funds, including affiliated mutual funds (collectively, “Underlying Funds”) whose principal investment strategy is to invest primarily in investment grade fixed income securities of U.S. issuers of any size, including smaller issuers. To the extent the Fund invests in any affiliated Underlying Funds, it will waive its advisory fee with respect to the portion of the Fund that is invested in any such affiliated fund.

 

The adviser considers a variety of factors in determining whether to sell a fixed income investment: changes in market condition, changes in credit quality, changes in prospects for alternative investment possibilities or return opportunities for other fixed income instruments, current return expectation of such security, any changes in interest rates, liquidity of the security, and cash needs of the Fund. If a fixed income investment is downgraded after purchase the adviser may, but is not obligated to, dispose of such investment.

 

The adviser’s investment process combines risk management, due diligence, experienced portfolio construction, and portfolio monitoring. The adviser may also manage the fixed income investment strategy and has overall supervisory responsibilities for the general management and investment of the Fund’s securities portfolio. The Fund’s adviser sets the Fund’s investment objective and retains final authority with respect to the Fund’s portfolio if it believes an investment is not consistent with the Fund’s investment guidelines and restrictions. The adviser decides how much of the Fund’s investment portfolio will be allocated to any strategy or sub-adviser at any given time. The adviser is also responsible for ongoing performance evaluation, monitoring, and due diligence with respect to any sub-adviser. The Fund is “non-diversified” for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund.

 

The Fund has a line of credit to utilize as necessary for liquidity needs due to shareholder redemptions. The Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in U.S. Treasury bonds, high-quality short-term debt securities and money market instruments, to maintain liquidity for shareholder redemptions or pending selection of other investments.

 

Principal Investment Risks: As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. Many factors affect the Fund’s net asset value and performance.

 

The following risks may apply to the Fund’s investments:

  • Credit Risk: There is a risk that issuers and counterparties will not make payments on securities and other investments held by the Fund, resulting in losses to the Fund. In addition, the credit quality of securities held by the Fund may be lowered if an issuer’s financial condition changes.
  • Derivatives Risk: The Fund will use an options strategy. Options involve risks possibly greater than the risks associated with investing directly in securities including leverage risk, tracking risk (the derivatives may not track the underlying securities) and certain options involve counterparty default risk.
  • Fixed Income Risk: The Fund may invest directly in fixed income securities, or indirectly through ETFs, money market funds, or mutual funds which invest primarily in fixed income securities. The value of the Fund’s investments in fixed income securities, whether via direct investment or through Underlying Funds, will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default), extension risk (an issuer may exercise its right to repay principal on a fixed rate obligation held by the Fund later than expected), and prepayment risk (the debtor may pay its obligation early, reducing the amount of interest payments). These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund, possibly causing the Fund’s share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.
  • Hedging Risk: Because the Fund hedges certain investments, the Fund may not benefit from upswings in the market to the same extent it would if it utilized a different investment strategy. The Fund does not expect to participate fully in positive markets because its premium collection options strategy is not designed to track the market.
  • Leverage Risk: Using options to increase the Fund’s combined long and short exposure creates leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s potential for gain or loss and, therefore, amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price.
  • Limited History of Operations: The Fund has a limited history of operations for investors to evaluate.
  • Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that you might not be able to buy or sell investments quickly for a price that is close to the true underlying value of the asset. When a bond is said to be liquid, there’s generally an active market of investors buying and selling that type of bond. Treasury bonds and larger issues by well known corporations are generally very liquid. But not all bonds are liquid; some trade very infrequently, which can present a problem if you try to sell before maturity—the fewer people that are interested in buying the bond you want to sell, the more likely it is you’ll have to sell for a lower price, possibly incurring a loss on your investment. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations. Liquidity risk can be greater for bonds that have lower credit ratings (or were recently downgraded), or bonds that were part of a small issue or sold by an infrequent issuer.
  • Management Risk: The adviser’s and any sub-adviser’s judgments about the long-term returns the Fund may generate through its principal investment strategies may prove to be incorrect and may not produce the desired results. Additionally, the adviser’s judgments about the allocation of Fund’s assets between the principal investment strategies and potential performance of each may also prove incorrect and may not produce the desired results. The Fund is not designed to participate in or be correlated to overall movements of the markets; therefore the Fund may not benefit from positive equity markets, or experience the same type of positive returns as some other funds in a positive equity market environment. The Fund may also experiences losses in a negative equity market, and such losses may be amplified if the options strategy is not successful. The Fund’s principal investment strategies may not achieve their intended results and each strategy could negatively impact the Fund. The Fund’s sub-adviser has not previously managed a mutual fund and the models it utilizes for the Fund have only been employed since 2010.
  • Market Volatility Risk: Overall equity, fixed income, and derivatives market risks may affect the value of the Fund. While the Fund is not designed to be correlated with the markets in general, dramatic or abrupt volatility within the market would negatively impact the Fund’s premium collection options strategy. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities and derivatives markets. When the value of the Fund goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.
  • Non-Correlation Risk: Although the Fund will invest in options on the S&P 500 Index, the Fund is not designed to track the returns of such index. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the S&P 500 Index because it is no investing the equity securities that comprise such index. Also, the Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities.
  • Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers. The Fund’s performance may be more sensitive to any single economic, business, political or regulatory occurrence than the value of shares of a diversified investment company.
  • Options Risk: Options are subject to changes in the underlying securities or index of securities on which such instruments are based. There is no guarantee that the sub-adviser’s options strategy will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. The Fund’s option strategy’s profit potential is limited to the net premium received when entering the trades. The potential for loss is an amount equal to the 1) difference between either the strike price of the long call and the strike price of the short call, or the strike price of the long put and the strike price of the short put, plus 2) any commissions paid. Maximum loss under the option strategy occurs from either the put or the call trade, when the underlying price is greater than or equal to the strike price of the long call or the underlying price is less than or equal to the strike price of the long put. A portion of any option premiums may be treated as short-term capital gains and when distributed to shareholders are usually taxable as ordinary income, which may have a higher tax rate than long-term capital gains for shareholders holding Fund shares in a taxable account.
  • Underlying Funds Risk: The Fund may invest in ETFs, money market funds, or mutual funds that invest primarily in fixed income securities (the “Underlying Funds”). Underlying Funds are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund. As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in an Underlying Fund and may be higher than other mutual funds that only invest directly in stocks and bonds. ETFs in which the Fund invests will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of the indices they track because the total return generated by the securities will be reduced by transaction costs incurred in adjusting the actual balance of the securities. The market value of the ETF shares may differ from their net asset value. Underlying Funds in which the Fund may invest may be subject to different risks, investment strategies and policies than those of the Fund.

 

Performance: The bar chart and performance table below show the variability of the Fund’s returns, which is some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows performance of the Class I shares of the Fund for each full calendar year since the Fund's inception. Returns for Class A shares, which are not presented in the bar chart, would vary from the returns for Class I shares. The performance table compares the performance of the shares of the Fund over time to the performance of a broad-based securities market index. You should be aware that the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) may not be an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information will be available at no cost by visiting www.PrincetonPremiumFund.com or by calling 1-888-868-9501.

 

Class I Annual Total Return for Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best Quarter: 2nd Quarter 2017 3.42%
Worst Quarter: 4th Quarter 2017 1.55%

 

Performance Table

Average Annual Total Returns

(For periods ended December 31, 2017)

 

One

Year

Life of Fund

(inception 11-16-16)

Class I shares    
Return before taxes 10.12% 8.57%
Return after taxes on distributions 9.27% 7.83%
Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares 6.13% 6.40%
Class A shares    
Return before taxes with sales charge* 3.48% 2.74%
Return before taxes without sales charge 9.82% 8.31%
S&P 500 Total Return Index 21.83% 22.50%
*Returns for Class A shares include the maximum sales charge of 5.75%.

 

The S&P 500 Index is a widely accepted, unmanaged index of U.S. stock market performance which does not take into account charges, fees and other expenses. Investors may not invest in the index directly.

 

After-tax returns were calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Fund through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). After-tax returns for Class A shares are not shown and would differ from those of Class I shares. Returns for Class A shares include the maximum sales charge of 5.75%.

 

Investment Adviser: Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC

 

Sub-Adviser: Horse Cove Partners LLC

 

Investment Adviser Portfolio Managers: Greg Anderson, Manager and President of the adviser, and John L. Sabre, Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the adviser, have each served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in November 2016.

 

Sub-Adviser Portfolio Managers: Samuel T. DeKinder, Founder and Managing Director of Horse Cove Partners LLC, and Kevin Ellis, Managing Director of Horse Cove Partners LLC have each served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in November 2016.

 

Each portfolio manager is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares: You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. The minimum initial investment in Class A and Class I shares is $2,500 and $100,000, respectively. There is a minimum amount of $100 for subsequent investment in any share class. These minimums may be waived at the discretion of the Fund.

 

Tax Information: Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred plan such as an IRA or 401(k) plan. However, these dividend and capital gain distributions may be taxable upon their eventual withdrawal from tax-deferred plans.

 

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

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

Investment Objective:

 

The Fund seeks capital appreciation and income. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon 60 days written notice to shareholders.

 

Principal Investment Strategies:

 

The adviser’s investment process combines risk management, due diligence, experienced portfolio construction, and portfolio monitoring. The adviser has been managing mutual funds since 2011 and currently manages other open end mutual funds within the Trust, a closed-end fund and a private fund. The adviser has overall supervisory responsibilities for the general management and investment of the Fund’s securities portfolio. The Fund’s adviser sets the Fund’s investment objective and retains final authority with respect to the Fund’s portfolio if it believes an investment is not consistent with the Fund’s investment guidelines and restrictions. The adviser is responsible for determining how much of the Fund’s investment portfolio to allocate to the initial sub-adviser or any additional sub-advisers.

 

The adviser manages the fixed income strategy directly and in doing so invests the Fund’s assets in U.S. Treasury bonds of any maturity, or in Underlying Funds whose investment strategy is to invest primarily in investment grade (rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s) fixed income securities of any maturity, of U.S. issuers of any size, including smaller issuers. Credit quality of the issuer will be considered at the time of investment, and for Underlying Funds the adviser will invest in Underlying Funds whose principal investment strategy is to invest primarily in investment grade fixed income securities. The Fund may also invest in such fixed income mutual funds that are affiliated with the Fund or its adviser. The adviser considers a variety of factors in determining whether to sell a fixed income investment, including changes in market condition, changes in credit quality, changes in prospects for alternative investment possibilities or return opportunities for other fixed income instruments, current return expectation of such security, any changes in interest rates, liquidity of the security, and cash needs of the Fund. If a fixed income investment is downgraded after purchase, the adviser may, but is not obligated to, dispose of such investment.

 

To the extent the Fund invests in any affiliated Underlying Funds, the adviser shall waive its advisory fee with respect to the portion of the Fund that is invested in any affiliated Underlying Funds. The adviser is also responsible for ongoing performance evaluation, monitoring, and due diligence with respect to any sub-adviser.

 

The Fund intends to collect premium from the sale and purchase of call and put options on the S&P 500 Index. The capital gains generated by the Fund’s option strategy are expected to be 60% long term capital gains and 40% short term capital gains as we believe the options are Section 1256 contracts under the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund also seeks to generate cash flow or income using a fixed income strategy. The Fund’s adviser will determine the allocation among principal investment strategies and shall select any sub-advisers (subject to Board approval) to which it may delegate management of the Fund’s portfolio. Any such sub-adviser will have expertise in the portion of the specific strategy it executes.

 

Fund risk is monitored and mitigated in several ways. The premium collection strategy trades have defined risk: risk is controlled by the number of option contracts purchased and the time frame during which they are open, and the sub-adviser’s defined risk trade protocol (purchasing offsetting call or put contracts for the same contracts but at a different price). The adviser further manages overall risk of the Fund by monitoring the performance within each strategy and controlling the amount of Fund’s assets that are allocated to either strategy at any given time.

 

The adviser believes this Fund is suitable to include in the risk portion of an investor’s investment portfolio that includes equities and non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). However, if you are seeking only investment grade fixed income investments, then the Fund is not appropriate for your investment goals.

 

Manager-of-Managers Order

 

The adviser, on behalf of itself and on behalf of the Fund and other funds it advises or may advise in the future that are each a series of Northern Lights Fund Trust, was granted an exemptive order (the “Order”, Investment Company Act Release No. 32079, April 19, 2016) from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that permits the adviser, with Board of Trustees’ approval, to enter into, replace, or amend sub-advisory agreements with sub-advisers without obtaining shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified within 90 days of the engagement of any different or additional sub-adviser or sub-advisers to manage the Fund’s portfolio. The Order also allows the Fund, in accordance with certain conditions, to disclose only aggregate sub-adviser compensation without disclosing the sub-adviser fee rate.

 

Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC’s Investment Process

 

The adviser’s investment process combines risk management, due diligence, experienced portfolio construction, and portfolio monitoring. Portfolio design begins with the establishment of objectives for precise, quantifiable measures of risk, such as standard deviation of monthly returns. The adviser’s research team combines quantitative and qualitative research in its evaluation of the strategies to be executed by any sub-adviser. The adviser then monitors strategies, as-executed, for investment performance and achievement of risk objectives. The adviser seeks to mitigate risks where possible, and managing appropriate risks for the Fund’s investment objective and desired returns. The adviser has overall supervisory responsibilities for the general management and investment of the Fund’s securities portfolio. A summary of the adviser’s process is as follows:

·Setting the Fund’s overall investment objective
·Allocation of Fund investments among any sub-advisers
·Monitoring the performance of the investment portfolio, including compliance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Fund
·Implementing procedures to ensure that the Fund complies with its investment objective, polices and restrictions
·Initial and on-going due diligence with respect to each sub-adviser
·Conducting initial and on-going independent evaluation of the Fund’s asset allocation

 

The adviser will manage the fixed income strategy directly and monitors each sub-adviser to assure that investments that are made are consistent with the Fund’s strategy. The adviser will also monitor buying and selling of securities to manage portfolio-level risk.

 

Sub-Adviser’s Investment Process

 

Horse Cove Partners LLC. Horse Cove Partners LLC, a sub-adviser to the Fund (“Horse Cove”) utilizes a premium collection strategy, in which the Fund may sell and purchase similar call options (spreads) and put option spreads on the S&P 500 Index. For example, each call spread utilizes the same type of contract, same maturity date, same number of contracts, but the call options are purchased/sold at different strike prices. When the expiration date arrives, if all options are out-of-the-money, they expire worthless and the Fund will retain the cash (premium) collected when opening the position, net of any cash (premium) paid to purchase the call and put positions. The adviser intends to allocate between 30% to 85% of the Fund’s net assets to this premium collections strategy at any given time, such allocation to be determined by the adviser.

 

Horse Cove utilizes proprietary quantitative models to determine the appropriate option trades, and that the sub-adviser believes allow them to determine the probability of certain calls or puts expiring worthless. Horse Cove seeks to sell put options at a price that they believe has a 99.5% or greater probability that the put will expire worthless at the end of the contract period (one week). They likewise seek to sell call options at a price that they believe have a 90% or greater probability of expiring worthless at the end of the one week contract period. Horse Cove’s quantitative models utilize a normalized distribution formula to calculate probabilities by utilizing verifiable market data such as: volatility as measured by VIX, time to expiration for the option contracts, mean, standard deviation, current S&P 500 Index level, and the one year Treasury interest rate to determine the probability an option will expire worthless. The sub-adviser continues its proprietary quantitative analysis during the term of the contract and if the probability of a contract expiring worthless drops to 66.67% or lower, then Horse Cove will attempt to close the contract by buying it back, thereby attempting to minimize the amount of loss on any one trade. Horse Cove may also buy back a contract if the cost to do so is de minimus, or it can close the trade early and achieve its target profit objective for such trade.

 

Principal Investment Risks:

 

The following risks may apply to the Fund’s investments.

  • Credit Risk: There is a risk that issuers and counterparties will not make payments on securities and other investments held by the Fund, resulting in losses to the Fund. In addition, the credit quality of securities held by the Fund may be lowered if an issuer’s financial condition changes. Lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and in shares of the Fund. Lower credit quality also may affect liquidity and make it difficult for the Fund to sell the security. Default, or the market’s perception that an issuer is likely to default, could reduce the value and liquidity of securities held by the Fund, thereby reducing the value of your investment in Fund shares. In addition, default may cause the Fund to incur expenses in seeking recovery of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. Credit risk may also exist whenever the Fund enters into certain derivative contracts, because the counterparty may not be able or may choose not to perform under the contract. Relying on a counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If a counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, to the extent the Fund deals with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the credit risks associated with those counterparties. The Fund is neither restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty nor from concentrating any or all of its transactions with one counterparty. The Fund expects the options it trades to be exchange traded, but the ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or number of counterparties or the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement would increase the potential for losses by the Fund.
  • Derivatives Risk: The Fund will use options as part of its principal investment strategies. The Fund’s use of such derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. These risks include (i) the risk that the counterparty to a derivative transaction may not fulfill its contractual obligations; (ii) risk of mispricing or improper valuation; and (iii) the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset. Derivative prices are highly volatile and may fluctuate substantially during a short period of time. Such prices are influenced by numerous factors that affect the markets, including, but not limited to: changing supply and demand relationships; government programs and policies; national and international political and economic events; changes in interest rates; inflation and deflation; and changes in supply and demand relationships. Derivative contracts ordinarily have leverage inherent in their terms. The low margin deposits normally required in trading derivatives, permit a high degree of leverage. Accordingly, a relatively small price movement could result in an immediate and substantial loss to the Fund. The use of leverage in the fixed income strategy may also cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio fixed income positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations or to meet collateral segregation requirements. The use of leveraged derivatives can magnify the Fund’s potential for gain or loss and, therefore, amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price. Because option premiums paid or received are small in relation to the market value of the investments underlying the options, buying and selling put and call options can be more speculative than investing directly in securities.
  • Fixed Income Risk: The Fund may invest directly in fixed income securities, or indirectly through Underlying Funds whose principal investment strategy is to invest primarily in fixed income securities. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities owned by the Fund. In general, the market price of debt securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default) and prepayment risk (the debtor may pay its obligation early, reducing the amount of interest payments; or the debtor may pay its obligation later than expected, reducing the returns earned by an investment). These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund possibly causing the Fund’s share price and returns to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.
  • Hedging Risk: The Fund’s options strategy utilizes hedging. Because the Fund hedges certain investments, the Fund may not benefit from upswings in the market to the same extent it would if it utilized a different investment strategy. The Fund does not expect to participate fully in positive markets because its premium collection options strategy is not designed to track the market. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use certain hedging techniques described in this prospectus and may choose not to do so.
  • Leverage Risk: Using derivatives to increase the Fund’s combined long and short position exposure creates leverage, which can amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price and make the Fund’s returns more volatile. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations. The use of leverage may also cause the Fund to have higher expenses than those of mutual funds that do not use such techniques. The Fund will utilize leverage to the extent leverage is implicit in the options strategy. The amount of leverage utilized will be within the limits established for RIC’s.
  • Limited History of Operations: The Fund has a limited history of operations for investors to evaluate. Investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategies, may be unable to implement certain of its investment strategies any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated and terminated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such a liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation. Mutual funds and their advisers are subject to restrictions and limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code that do not apply to the sub-adviser's management of individual and institutional accounts. As a result, the sub-adviser may not achieve its intended result in managing the Fund.
  • Liquidity Risk: The Fund may be subject to liquidity risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that you might not be able to buy or sell investments quickly for a price that is close to the true underlying value of the asset. When a bond is said to be liquid, there’s generally an active market of investors buying and selling that type of bond. Treasury bonds and larger issues by well known corporations are generally very liquid. But not all bonds are liquid; some trade very infrequently, which can present a problem if you try to sell before maturity—the fewer people there are interested in buying the bond you want to sell, the more likely it is you’ll have to sell for a lower price, possibly incurring a loss on your investment. Liquidity risk can be greater for fixed income securities that were recently downgraded, or fixed income securities that were part of a small issue or sold by an infrequent issuer.
  • Management Risk: The net asset value of the Fund changes daily based on the performance of the securities and derivatives in which it invests. The adviser’s and any sub-adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and premium to be generated by or potential appreciation of particular investment strategy or securities in which the Fund invests (long or short) may prove to be incorrect and may not produce the desired results. Additionally, the adviser’s judgments about the potential performance of any sub-adviser (and allocation of Fund assets) may also prove incorrect and may not produce the desired results. The Fund is not designed to participate in or be correlated to overall movements of the markets; therefore the Fund may not benefit from positive equity markets, or experience the same type of positive returns as some other funds in a positive equity market environment. The Fund may also experiences losses in a negative equity market, and such losses may be amplified if the options strategy is not successful. The Fund’s sub-adviser has not previously managed a mutual fund and the models it utilizes for the Fund have only been employed since 2010.
  • Market Volatility Risk: The net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate based on changes in the value of the equity and fixed income securities and options in which the Fund invests. While the Fund is not designed to be correlated to the markets in general, dramatic or abrupt volatility within the market would negatively impact the Fund’s premium collection options strategy. The Fund also invests in securities and derivatives which may be more volatile and carry more risk than some other forms of investment. The price of securities and derivatives may rise or fall because of economic or political changes. Security and derivative prices in general may decline over short or even extended periods of time. Market prices of securities and derivatives in broad market segments may be adversely affected by price trends in commodities, interest rates, exchange rates or other factors wholly unrelated to the value or condition of an issuer.
  • Non-Correlation Risk: Although the Fund will invest in options on the S&P 500 Index, the Fund is not designed to track the returns of such index. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the S&P 500 Index because it is no investing the equity securities that comprise such index. Also, the Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities.
  • Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers. The Fund may also invest in Underlying Funds that are non-diversified. Because a relatively high percentage of the assets of the Fund may be invested in the securities of a limited number of issuers, the value of shares of the Fund may be more sensitive to any single economic, business, political or regulatory occurrence than the value of shares of a diversified investment company. This fluctuation, if significant, may affect the performance of the Fund.
  • Options Risk: There are risks associated with the sale and purchase of call and put options. Typically the seller (writer) of a covered put option assumes the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the strike price of the underlying security less the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security above the exercise price of the option and the buyer of a put or call option, risks losing the entire premium invested in the option if it does not exercise the option. However, the Fund’s options strategy utilizes option spreads. The Fund’s option strategy’s profit potential is limited to the net premium received when entering the trades. The potential for loss is an amount equal to 1) the difference between either the strike price of the long call and the strike price of short call or the strike price of the long put and the strike price of the short put, plus 2) any commissions paid. Maximum loss under the option strategy occurs from either the put or the call trade, when the underlying price is greater than or equal to the strike price of the long call or the underlying price is less than or equal to the strike price of the long put. There is no guarantee that the Fund’s option strategy will generate the types of premium / positive returns which are expected. The Fund’s option strategy seeks to retain premiums collected on option contracts, but benefits from the options themselves expiring worthless. In doing so, there is a risk the options may result in a significant loss if the market price moves in a way that was not anticipated, or the sub-adviser closes out an options spread by paying more premium than it collected on the spread.

Also, a portion of the option premiums may be treated as short-term capital gains. It is anticipated that a portion of short-term gains, when distributed to shareholders, are usually taxable as ordinary income, which may have a higher tax rate than long-term capital gains for shareholders holding Fund shares in a taxable account.

  • Underlying Funds Risk: The Fund invests in Underlying Funds. As a result, your cost of investing in the Fund may be higher than the cost of investing directly in Underlying Funds and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds. You will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the Underlying Funds in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. In addition, certain prohibitions on the acquisition of mutual fund shares by the Fund may prevent the Fund from allocating investments in the manner the adviser considers optimal. ETFs in which the Fund invests will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of the indices they track because the total return generated by the securities will be reduced by transaction costs incurred in adjusting the actual balance of the securities. The market value of the ETF shares may differ from their net asset value.  Underlying Funds in which the Fund may invest may be subject to different risks, investment strategies and policies than those of the Fund.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions: To respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may invest 100% of its total assets, without limitation, in U.S. Treasury bonds, high-quality short-term debt securities and money market instruments, which may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. These short-term debt securities and money market instruments include: shares of money market mutual funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, U.S. Government securities and repurchase agreements. While the Fund is in a defensive position, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Furthermore, to the extent that the Fund invests in money market mutual funds for cash positions, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund pays its pro-rata portion of such money market funds’ advisory fees and operational fees.

 

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure: A description of the Fund’s policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. The Fund may, from time to time, make available month-end portfolio holdings information on the website www.PrincetonPremiumFund.com. If month-end portfolio holdings are posted to the website, they are expected to be at least 60 days old and remain available until new information for the next month is posted. Shareholders may request portfolio holdings schedules at no charge by calling 1-888-868-9501.

 

Cybersecurity: The computer systems, networks and devices used by the Fund and its service providers to carry out routine business operations employ a variety of protections designed to prevent damage or interruption from computer viruses, network failures, computer and telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons and security breaches. Despite the various protections utilized by the Fund and its service providers, systems, networks, or devices potentially can be breached. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result of a cybersecurity breach.

 

Cybersecurity breaches can include unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices; infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. Cybersecurity breaches may cause disruptions and impact the Fund’s business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses; interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV; impediments to trading; the inability of the Fund, the adviser, the sub-adviser and other service providers to transact business; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs; as well as the inadvertent release of confidential information.

 

Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity breaches affecting issuers of securities in which the Fund invests; counterparties with which the Fund engages in transactions; governmental and other regulatory authorities; exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies, and other financial institutions (including financial intermediaries and service providers for the Fund’s shareholders); and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred by these entities in order to prevent any cybersecurity breaches in the future.

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Investment Adviser and Portfolio Managers

 

Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC (“Princeton”), 1580 Lincoln Street, Suite 680 Denver, CO 80203, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the adviser is responsible for management of the Fund’s investment portfolio directly and through a sub-adviser or sub-advisers. The adviser is responsible for selecting appropriate investment strategies, managing any sub-advisers, and assuring that investments are made according to the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions. Additionally, the adviser is responsible for conducting initial and ongoing independent evaluation of each sub-adviser and determining the allocation of Fund assets among the Fund’s principal investment strategies. The adviser was established in 2011 for the purpose of advising individuals and institutions. As of June 30, 2018, the adviser had approximately $1.72 billion in assets under management. Greg D. Anderson and John L. Sabre of Princeton are responsible for the adviser’s oversight role with respect to the Fund.

 

Greg D. Anderson

Manager and President

 

Prior to founding Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC in 2011 and certain affiliates, including Mount Yale Capital Group, LLC in 2003 and Mount Yale Asset Management in 1999, Mr. Anderson was a Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Investment Manager Search, Evaluation, and Due Diligence at Portfolio Management Consultants, Inc. Mr. Anderson was previously employed with Deloitte & Touche where he specialized in the areas of estate planning, health care and non-profit organizations, and tax and personal finance planning for high net worth individuals. Mr. Anderson holds a B.A. degree from Hamline University in Minnesota and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota School of Law. Mr. Anderson is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

 

John L. Sabre

Manager and Chief Executive Officer

 

Prior to founding Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC in 2011 and certain affiliates, including Mount Yale Capital Group, LLC in 2003, Mr. Sabre was a Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns & Co. and Head of the Mezzanine Capital Group. Mr. Sabre previously served as President of First Dominion Capital, which managed $3.0 billion of assets and is now owned by Credit Suisse First Boston. Prior to his position at First Dominion Capital, Mr. Sabre was a Managing Director and founding partner of Indosuez Capital, the merchant banking division of Credit Agricole Indosuez. Mr. Sabre holds a B.S. degree from the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota and an M.B.A. degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Pursuant to an advisory agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the adviser, the adviser is entitled to receive, on a monthly basis, an annual advisory fee from each class of shares equal to 1.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the relevant share. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, the Adviser received an annual advisory fee equal to 0.34% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The adviser pays any Fund sub-advisers out of the fee it receives from the Fund. The Fund’s adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund, until at least January 29, 2020, to ensure that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement (excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses associated with investments including investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (for example options fees and expenses), borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the adviser)) do not exceed 2.20%% and 1.95% for Class A and Class I shares, respectively; subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years (within the three years after the end of the fiscal year during which fees were waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the lesser of the foregoing expense limits or the then-current expense limits. Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease the Fund’s expenses and boost its performance. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the advisory and sub-advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders for the period ended April 30, 2017.

 

Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers

 

Princeton has engaged the following sub-adviser to provide investment sub-advisory services to the Fund. Princeton compensates the sub-adviser for its services from the management fees it receives from the Fund.

 

Horse Cove Partners LLC (“Horse Cove”), 1899 Powers Ferry Rd. SE, Suite 120, Atlanta, GA 30339, is a Georgia limited liability company founded in 2012 that also offers discretionary portfolio management services to individuals, high net worth individuals, and state or municipal government entities and has approximately $127.91 million in assets under management as of June 30, 2018. Horse Cove will provide its premium collection strategy for the Fund.

 

Horse Cove Portfolio Managers

 

Samuel T. DeKinder

Managing Director

 

Mr. DeKinder has over 40 years of investment experience. He is the Founder and a Managing Director of Horse Cove Partners (since 2012). Following his retirement from Invesco Ltd in 2006. Mr. DeKinder was a partner and Vice President of Marketing for the hedge fund advisory firm FISCO Appreciation Management LLC. Mr. DeKinder served as a member on the Board of Directors of Invesco, MIM PLC (the predecessor to Invesco Ltd.), in addition to a variety of executive capacities during his nearly 20 years with Invesco. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Kennedy Capital Management. Previously, Mr. DeKinder was a Co-Founding Principal of DeMarche Associates, one of the nation’s most prominent investment consulting firms. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with degrees in Economics and Statistics.

 

Kevin Ellis

Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer

 

Mr. Ellis brings more than 30 years of financial, administrative and operations experience to Horse Cove, where he has served as the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer since December 2012. Additionally, he is COO and a principal of FISCO Appreciation Management LLC. Previously, Mr. Ellis served as a Founding Principal, Managing Director and COO at Labyrinth Group, LLC, an investment management firm utilizing structured securities from 2000 to 2007. From 1998 to 2000 he was Manager of Corporate Development at Arthur Anderson, LLP, where he focused on finance, mergers and acquisitions. From 1990 to 1998 he served in multiple roles at SUPERVALU, including as Vice President of Business Planning, Inc. Mr. Ellis is a graduate of Minnesota State University-Mankato BA Finance and earned a Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law and was admitted to the bar in Minnesota in 1983.

 

 

HOW SHARES ARE PRICED

 

The net asset value (“NAV”) and offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charges) of each class of shares is determined as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day the NYSE is open for business. NAV is computed by determining, on a per class basis, the aggregate market value of all assets of the Fund, less its liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding (assets-liabilities)/number of shares = NAV). The NYSE is closed on weekends and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The NAV takes into account, on a per class basis, the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management, administration, and distribution fees (if any), which are accrued daily. The determination of NAV for a share class for a particular day is applicable to all applications for the purchase of shares, as well as all requests for the redemption of shares, received by the Fund (or an authorized broker or agent, or its authorized designee) before the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.

 

Generally, the Fund’s securities are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges (whether domestic or foreign) for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on such exchange. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). Securities that are not traded or dealt in any securities exchange (whether domestic or foreign) and for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available generally shall be valued at the last sale price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask price on such over-the- counter market. Debt securities not traded on an exchange may be valued at prices supplied by a pricing agent(s) based on broker or dealer supplied valuations or matrix pricing, a method of valuing securities by reference to the value of other securities with similar characteristics, such as rating, interest rate and maturity. If market quotations are not readily available, such securities will be valued at fair value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security. The fair value prices can differ from market prices when they become available. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value team composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser and/or sub-adviser. The team may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board retains responsibility for fair value pricing, and it reviews and ratifies the execution of this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.

 

The Fund may use independent pricing services to assist in calculating the value of the Fund’s securities. In addition, market prices for foreign securities are not determined at the same time of day as the NAV for the Fund. In computing the NAV, the Fund values foreign securities held by the Fund at the latest closing price on the exchange in which they are traded immediately prior to closing of the NYSE. Prices of foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. If events materially affecting the value of a security in the Fund’s portfolio, particularly foreign securities, occur after the close of trading on a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares, the security will be valued at fair value. For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before the Fund calculates its NAV, the Fund may need to price the security using the Fund’s fair value pricing guidelines. Without a fair value price, short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short term traders. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments. As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the prices used by other mutual funds to determine net asset value, or from the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security.

 

With respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s net asset value is calculated based upon the net asset values of those open-end management investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

 

 

HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES

 

Share Classes

 

This Prospectus describes two classes of shares offered by the Fund. The main differences between the shares classes are the minimum investment, ongoing fees and sales charges. Class A pay an annual fee of 0.25% for distribution expenses pursuant to a plan under Rule 12b-1. Class I shares do not pay such fees. For information on ongoing distribution fees, see Distribution (12b-1) and Shareholder Servicing Fees on page 19 of this Prospectus. In choosing which class of shares to purchase, you should consider which will be most beneficial to you, given the amount of your purchase. All classes of shares in the Fund represent interest in the same portfolio of investments in the Fund. All share classes may not be available for purchase in all states.

 

Class A Shares

 

Class A shares are offered at their public offering price, which is NAV plus the applicable sales charge and is subject to 12b-1 distribution fees of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares. Over time, these fees paid under the 12b-1 Plan will increase the cost of a Class A shareholder’s investment and may cost more than the applicable sales charges. The minimum initial investment in Class A shares of the Fund is $2,500 for retirement plan accounts and $2,500 for all other accounts. The minimum subsequent investment in Class A shares of the Fund is $100 for retirement plan accounts and $100 for all other accounts. However, the Fund and adviser reserve to right to waive investment minimums for certain types of investors, including current and retired directors and officers of the Fund, the adviser, any sub-advisers or any of its subsidiaries, their families (e.g., spouse, children, mother or father) and any purchases referred through the adviser; employees of the adviser, any sub-advisers and their families, or any full-time employee or registered representative of the distributor or of broker-dealers having dealer agreements with the distributor (a “Selling Broker”) and their immediate families (or any trust, pension, profit sharing or other benefit plan for the benefit of such persons); or clients of financial intermediaries that have entered into arrangements with the distributor providing for the shares to be used in particular investment products made available to such clients. Currently, there are no such arrangements with any financial intermediaries. The sales charge varies, depending on how much you invest. There are no sales charges on reinvested distributions. The following sales charges, which may be waived at the adviser’s discretion, apply to your purchases of Class A shares of the Fund:

 

Amount Invested Sales Charge as a % of Offering Price(1) Sales Charge as a % of Amount Invested Dealer Reallowance(2)
Under $25,000 5.75% 6.10% 5.00%
$25,000 to $49,999 5.00% 5.26% 4.25%
$50,000 to $99,999 4.75% 4.99% 4.00%
$100,000 to $249,999 3.75% 3.83% 3.25%
$250,000 to $499,999 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
$500,000 to $999,999 2.00% 2.04% 1.75%
$1,000,000 and above 1.00% 1.01% 1.00%.
(1)Offering price includes the front-end sales load. The sales charge you pay may differ slightly form the amount set forth above because of rounding that occurs in the calculation used to determine your sales charge.
(2)Dealer reallowance is the amount of the sales charge paid to authorized broker-dealers for the sale of Fund shares.

 

How to Reduce Your Sales Charge

 

Depending on the amount you invest in Class A shares of the Fund, you may be eligible to purchase Class A shares at a reduced sales charge. To qualify for these reductions, you must notify the Fund’s distributor, Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), in writing and supply your account number at the time of purchase. You may combine your purchase with those of your “immediate family” (your spouse and your children under the age of 21) for purposes of determining eligibility. If applicable, you will need to provide the account numbers of your spouse and your minor children as well as the ages of your minor children.

 

Rights of Accumulation: To qualify for the lower sales charge rates that apply to larger purchases of Class A shares, you may combine your new purchases of Class A shares with Class A shares of the Fund that you already own. The applicable initial sales charge for the new purchase is based on the total of your current purchase and the current value of all other Class A shares that you own. The reduced sales charge will apply only to current purchases and must be requested in writing when you buy your shares.

 

Shares of the Fund held as follows cannot be combined with your current purchase for purposes of reduced sales charges:

  • Shares held indirectly through financial intermediaries other than your current purchase broker-dealer (for example, a different broker-dealer, a bank, a separate insurance company account or an investment adviser);
  • Shares held through an administrator or trustee/custodian of an Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (for example, a 401(k) plan) other than employer-sponsored IRAs;
  • Shares held directly in the Fund account on which the broker-dealer (financial adviser) of record is different than your current purchase broker-dealer.

 

Letters of Intent: Under a Letter of Intent (“LOI”), you commit to purchase a specified dollar amount of Class A shares of the Fund, with a minimum of $25,000, during a 13-month period. At your written request, Class A shares purchases made during the previous 90 days may be included. The amount you agree to purchase determines the initial sales charge you pay. If the full-face amount of the LOI is not invested by the end of the 13-month period, your account will be adjusted to the higher initial sales charge level for the amount actually invested. You are not legally bound by the terms of your LOI to purchase the amount of your shares stated in the LOI. The LOI does, however, authorize the Fund to hold in escrow 5% of the total amount you intend to purchase. If you do not complete the total intended purchase at the end of the 13 month period, the Fund’s transfer agent will redeem the necessary portion of the escrowed shares to make up the difference between the reduced rate sales charge (based on the amount you intended to purchase) and the sales charge that would normally apply (based on the actual amount you purchased).

 

Repurchase of Class A Shares: If you have redeemed Class A shares of the Fund within the past 120 days, you may repurchase an equivalent amount of Class A shares of the Fund at NAV, without the normal front-end sales charge. In effect, this allows you to reacquire shares that you may have had to redeem, without repaying the front-end sales charge. You may exercise this privilege only once and must notify the Fund that you intend to do so in writing. The Fund must receive your purchase order within 120 days of your redemption. Note that if you reacquire shares through separate installments (e.g., through monthly or quarterly repurchases), the sales charge waiver will only apply to those portions of your repurchase order received within 120 days of your redemption.

 

Sales Charge Waivers

 

The sales charge on purchases of Class A shares is waived for certain types of investors, including:

  • Current and retired directors and officers of the Fund, the adviser, a sub-adviser or any of their subsidiaries, their families (e.g., spouse, children, mother or father) and any purchases referred through the adviser.
  • Employees of the adviser, a sub-adviser and their families, or any full-time employee or registered representative of the distributor or of broker-dealers having dealer agreements with the distributor (a “Selling Broker”) and their immediate families (or any trust, pension, profit sharing or other benefit plan for the benefit of such persons).
  • Any full-time employee of a bank, savings and loan, credit union or other financial institution that utilizes a Selling Broker to clear purchases of the Fund’s shares and their immediate families.
  • Participants in certain “wrap-fee” or asset allocation programs or other fee-based arrangements sponsored by broker-dealers and other financial institutions that have entered into agreements with the distributor.
  • Clients of financial intermediaries that have entered into arrangements with the distributor providing for the shares to be used in particular investment products made available to such clients and for which such registered investment advisers may charge a separate fee.
  • Institutional investors (which may include bank trust departments and registered investment advisers).
  • Any accounts established on behalf of registered investment advisers or their clients by broker-dealers that charge a transaction fee and that have entered into agreements with the distributor (there are currently no such arrangements).
  • Separate accounts used to fund certain unregistered variable annuity contracts or Section 403(b) or 401(a) or (k) accounts.
  • Employer-sponsored retirement or benefit plans with total plan assets in excess of $5 million where the plan’s investments in the Fund are part of an omnibus account. A minimum initial investment of $1 million in the Fund is required. The distributor in its sole discretion may waive these minimum dollar requirements.

 

The Fund does not waive sales charges for the reinvestment of proceeds from the sale of shares of a different fund where those shares were subject to a front-end sales charge (sometimes called an “NAV transfer”).

 

Whether a sales charge waiver is available for your retirement plan or charitable account depends upon the policies and procedures of your intermediary. Please consult your financial adviser for further information.

 

Class I Shares: Class I shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge and are not subject to 12b-1 distribution fees, but have a higher minimum initial investment than Class A shares. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. Class I shares require a minimum initial investment of $100,000 and minimum subsequent investment of $100. However, the adviser may waive investment minimums on behalf of the Fund.

 

Purchasing Shares: You may purchase shares of the Fund by sending a completed application form to the following address:

 

Via Regular Mail

PRINCETON PREMIUM FUND

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

P.O. Box 541150

Omaha, Nebraska 68154

Via Overnight Mail

PRINCETON PREMIUM FUND

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

 

The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions, including the Fund, to adopt certain policies and programs to prevent money-laundering activities, including procedures to verify the identity of customers opening new accounts. As requested on the Application, you should supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address. Mailing addresses containing a P.O. Box will not be accepted. This information will assist the Fund in verifying your identity. Until such verification is made, the Fund may temporarily limit additional share purchases. In addition, the Fund may limit additional share purchases or close an account if it is unable to verify a shareholder’s identity. As required by law, the Fund may employ various procedures, such as comparing the information to fraud databases or requesting additional information or documentation from you, to ensure that the information supplied by you is correct.

 

Purchase through Brokers: You may invest in the Fund through brokers or agents who have entered into selling agreements with the Fund’s distributor. The brokers and agents are authorized to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or its designee receives the order. The broker or agent may set their own initial and subsequent investment minimums. You may be charged a fee if you use a broker or agent to buy or redeem shares of the Fund. Finally, various brokers or agents use procedures and impose restrictions that may be in addition to, or different from, those applicable to investors purchasing shares directly from the Fund. You should carefully read the program materials provided to you by your broker or agent.

 

Purchase by Wire: If you wish to wire money to make an investment in the Fund, please call the Fund at 1-888-868-9501 for wiring instructions and to notify the Fund that a wire transfer is coming. Any commercial bank can transfer same-day funds via wire. The Fund will normally accept wired funds for investment on the day received if they are received by the Fund’s designated bank before the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Your bank may charge you a fee for wiring same-day funds.

 

Automatic Investment Plan: You may participate in the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money from your bank account and invests it in the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers or automatic bank drafts. You may elect to make subsequent investments by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established Fund account. Please contact the Fund at 1-888-868-9501 for more information about the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan.

 

The Fund, however, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any application to purchase shares. Applications will not be accepted unless they are accompanied by a wire transfer or a check drawn on a U.S. bank, thrift institutions, or credit union in U.S. funds for the full amount of the shares to be purchased. After you open an account, you may purchase additional shares by sending a check together with written instructions stating the name(s) on the account and the account number, to the above address. Make all checks payable to “Princeton Premium Fund.” The Fund will not accept payment in cash, including cashier’s checks or money orders. Also, to prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, U.S. Treasury checks, credit card checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares.

 

Note: Gemini Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent, will charge a $25 fee against a shareholder’s account, in addition to any loss sustained by the Fund, for any check returned to the transfer agent for insufficient funds.

 

When Order is Processed: All shares will be purchased at the NAV per share (plus applicable sales charges, if any) next determined after the Fund receives your application or request in good order. All requests received in good order by the Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on a day the NYSE is open (each a “business day”) will be processed on that same day. Requests received after 4:00 p.m. will be processed on the next business day.

 

Good Order: When making a purchase request, make sure your request is in good order. “Good order” means your purchase request includes:

·         the name of the Fund and share class

·         the dollar amount of shares to be purchased

·         a completed purchase application or investment stub

·         check payable to the “Princeton Premium Fund”

 

Retirement Plans: You may purchase shares of the Fund for your individual retirement plans. Please call the Fund at 1-888-868-9501 for the most current listing and appropriate disclosure documentation on how to open a retirement account.

 

 

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

 

Redeeming Shares: The Fund typically expects that it will take up to 7 days following the receipt of your redemption request to pay out redemption proceeds by check or electronic transfer. The Fund typically expects to pay redemptions from cash, cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, any line of credit, and then from the sale of portfolio securities. These redemption payment methods will be used in regular and stressed market conditions.

 

You may redeem all or any portion of the shares credited to your account by submitting a written request for redemption to:

 

Via Regular Mail

PRINCETON PREMIUM FUND

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

P.O. Box 541150

Omaha, Nebraska 68154

Via Overnight Mail

PRINCETON PREMIUM FUND

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

 

Redemptions by Telephone: The telephone redemption privilege is automatically available to all new accounts except retirement accounts. If you do not want the telephone redemption privilege, you must indicate this in the appropriate area on your account application or you must write to the Fund and instruct it to remove this privilege from your account.

 

The proceeds will be sent by mail to the address designated on your account or wired directly to your existing account in a bank or brokerage firm in the United States as designated on your application. To redeem by telephone, call 1-888-868-9501. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire within three business days after receipt of your telephone instructions. IRA accounts are not redeemable by telephone.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend the telephone redemption privileges with respect to your account if the name(s) or the address on the account has been changed within the previous 30 days. Neither the Fund, the transfer agent, nor their respective affiliates will be liable for complying with telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost or expenses in acting on such telephone instructions and you will be required to bear the risk of any such loss. The Fund or the transfer agent, or both, will employ reasonable procedures to determine that telephone instructions are genuine. If the Fund and/or the transfer agent do not employ these procedures, they may be liable to you for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures may include, among others, requiring forms of personal identification prior to acting upon telephone instructions, providing written confirmation of the transactions and/or tape recording telephone instructions.

 

Redemptions through Broker: If shares of the Fund are held by a broker-dealer, financial institution or other servicing agent, you must contact that servicing agent to redeem shares of the Fund. The servicing agent may charge a fee for this service.

 

Redemptions by Wire: You may request that your redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. The Fund’s transfer agent imposes a $15 fee for each wire redemption and deducts the fee directly from your account. Your bank may also impose a fee for the incoming wire.

 

Automatic Withdrawal Plan: If your individual accounts, IRA or other qualified plan account have a current account value of at least $10,000, you may participate in the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money to your bank account from the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers. You may elect to make subsequent withdrawals by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established bank account. Please contact the Fund at 1-888-868-9501 for more information about the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan.

 

Additional Information: The Fund typically expects that it will take up to 3 business days following the receipt of your redemption request to pay out redemption proceeds by check or electronic transfer. The Fund typically expects to pay redemptions from cash, cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, any lines of credit, and then from the sale of portfolio securities. These redemption payment methods will be used in regular and stressed market conditions.

 

Redemptions in Kind: The Fund reserves the right to honor requests for redemption or repurchase orders by making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities (“redemption in kind”) if the amount is greater than the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s assets. To the extent feasible, the Fund expects that a redemption in kind would be a pro rate allocation of the Fund’s portfolio. The securities will be chosen by the Fund and valued under the Fund’s net asset value procedures. A shareholder will be exposed to market risk until these securities are converted to cash and may incur transaction expenses such as brokerage fees or taxes in converting these securities to cash.

 

When Redemptions are Sent: Once the Fund receives your redemption request in “good order” as described below, it will issue a check based on the next determined NAV following your redemption request. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire within three business days after receipt of a request in “good order.” However, under the 1940 Act, a shareholder’s right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be suspended at times (a) when the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday; (b) when trading on that exchange is restricted for any reason; (c) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or (d) when the Securities and Exchange Commission by order permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption. In case of suspension of the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the NAV next determined after the termination of the suspension. If you purchase shares using a check and soon after request a redemption, your redemption proceeds will not be sent until the check used for your purchase has cleared your bank (usually within 10 days of the purchase date).

 

Good Order: Your redemption request will be processed if it is in “good order.” To be in good order, the following conditions must be satisfied:

·         The request should be in writing, unless redeeming by telephone, indicating the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed;

·         The request must identify your account number;

·         The request should be signed by you and any other person listed on the account, exactly as the shares are registered; and

·         If you request that the redemption proceeds be sent to a person, bank or an address other than that of record or paid to someone other than the record owner(s), or if the address was changed within the last 30 days, or if the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000, the signature(s) on the request must be medallion signature guaranteed by an eligible signature guarantor.

 

When You Need Medallion Signature Guarantees: If you wish to change the bank or brokerage account that you have designated on your account, you may do so at any time by writing to the Fund with your signature guaranteed. A medallion signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine and protects you from unauthorized account transfers. You will need your signature guaranteed if:

·you request a redemption to be made payable to a person not on record with the Fund;
·you request that a redemption be mailed to an address other than that on record with the Fund;
·the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000;
·any redemption is transmitted by federal wire transfer to a bank other than the bank of record; or
·your address was changed within 30 days of your redemption request.

 

Signatures may be guaranteed by any eligible guarantor institution (including banks, brokers and dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations). Further documentation will be required to change the designated account if shares are held by a corporation, fiduciary or other organization. A notary public cannot guarantee signatures.

 

Retirement Plans: If you own an IRA or other retirement plan, you must indicate on your redemption request whether the Fund should withhold federal income tax. Unless you elect in your redemption request that you do not want to have federal tax withheld, the redemption will be subject to withholding.

 

Low Balances: If at any time your account balance in the Fund falls below the share class minimum, the Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least the minimum within 60 days of the notice; your account could be closed. After the notice period, the Fund may redeem all of your shares and close your account by sending you a check to the address of record. Your account will not be closed if the account balance drops below the share class minimum due to a decline in NAV.

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

 

The Fund discourages and does not accommodate market timing. Frequent trading into and out of the Fund can harm all Fund shareholders by disrupting the Fund’s investment strategies, increasing Fund expenses, decreasing tax efficiency and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. The Fund is designed for long-term investors and is not intended for market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Accordingly, the Fund’s Board has approved policies that seek to curb these disruptive activities while recognizing that shareholders may have a legitimate need to adjust their Fund investments as their financial needs or circumstances change. The Fund currently uses several methods to reduce the risk of market timing, including committing staff to review, on a continuing basis, recent trading activity in order to identify trading activity that may be contrary to the Fund’s “Market Timing Trading Policy”, including rejecting or limiting specific purchase requests; rejecting purchase requests from certain investors; and charging a redemption fee.

 

Though these methods involve judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. Due to the subjective nature of these methods, it is possible that the Fund may not be able to identify or limit all market timing activities. Generally exchange activity is considered excessive if shares of the Fund are exchanged or redeemed within seven calendar days of purchase or exchange activity exceeds 1% of the net asset value of the Fund.

 

Based on the frequency of redemptions in your account, the adviser or transfer agent may in its sole discretion determine that your trading activity is detrimental to the Fund as described in the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy and elect to reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future purchases or exchanges into the Fund.

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject or restrict purchase requests for any reason, particularly when the shareholder’s trading activity suggests that the shareholder may be engaged in market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Neither the Fund nor the adviser will be liable for any losses resulting from rejected purchase orders. The Fund may also bar an investor who has violated these policies (and the investor’s financial adviser) from opening new accounts with the Fund.

 

Although the Fund attempts to limit disruptive trading activities, some investors use a variety of strategies to hide their identities and their trading practices. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify or limit these activities. The risk also exists that because such methods are inherently subjective, the discretionary application of the Fund’s response to potential market timing actions may not be uniformly applied. 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. 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. If the Fund or its transfer agent or shareholder servicing agent suspects there is market timing activity in the account, the Fund will seek full cooperation from the service provider maintaining the account to identify the underlying participant. At the request of the adviser, the service providers may take immediate action to stop any further short-term trading by such participants.

 

TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Any sale or exchange of the Fund’s shares may generate tax liability (unless you are a tax-exempt investor or your investment is in a qualified retirement account). When you redeem your shares you may realize a taxable gain or loss. This is measured by the difference between the proceeds of the sale and the tax basis for the shares you sold. (To aid in computing your tax basis, you generally should retain your account statements for the period that you hold shares in the Fund.)

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains at least annually. Certain distributions may be deemed a return of capital. All distributions will be reinvested in shares of the Fund unless you elect to receive cash. Dividends from net investment income (including any excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) are taxable to investors as ordinary income, while distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are generally taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of your holding period for the shares. Any dividends or capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund will normally be taxable to you when made, regardless of whether you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions or receive them in cash. Certain dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December will be taxed to shareholders as if received in December if they are paid during the following January. Each year the Fund will inform you of the amount and type of your distributions. IRAs and other qualified retirement plans are exempt from federal income taxation until retirement proceeds are paid out to the participant.

 

Distribution Policy and Goals

 

Except during periods of substantial asset growth, the level of distributions (including any return of capital) is not fixed but is expected to be in a range equivalent to 1% to 3% of the Fund’s current net asset value per share, expressed as an annual rate. Additionally, the Fund’s distribution policy is not designed to generate or guarantee distributions that equal a fixed percentage of the Fund’s current net asset value per share.

 

The Fund generally distributes to shareholders substantially all of its net income (which includes, for example, interest and dividends) as well as substantially all of its net capital gains (that is, long-term capital gains from the sale of portfolio securities and short-term capital gains from both the sale of portfolio securities). In addition, pursuant to its distribution policy, the Fund may make distributions that are treated as a return of capital. Return of capital is the portion of a distribution that is the return of your original investment dollars in the Fund. A return of capital is not taxable to a shareholder unless it exceeds a shareholder’s tax basis in the shares.

 

Returns of capital reduce a shareholder’s tax cost (or “tax basis”). Once a shareholder’s tax basis is reduced to zero, any further return of capital would be taxable. Shareholders receiving periodic payments from the Fund may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits. However, all or a portion of a distribution may consist of a return of capital (i.e. from your original investment). Shareholders should not assume that the source of a distribution from the Fund is net profit. Shareholders should note that return of capital will reduce the tax basis of their shares and potentially increase the taxable gain, if any, upon disposition of their shares. As required under the 1940 Act, the Fund will provide a notice to shareholders at the time of distribution when such distribution does not consist solely of net income. Additionally, each distribution payment will be accompanied by a written statement which discloses the source or sources of each distribution. The IRS requires you to report these amounts, excluding returns of capital, on your income tax return for the year declared. The Fund will provide disclosures, with each distribution, that estimate the percentages of the current and year-to-date distributions that represent (1) net investment income, (2) qualified dividends, (3) capital gains and (4) return of capital. At the end of the year, the Fund may be required under applicable law to re-characterize distributions made previously during that year among (1) ordinary income, (2) capital gains and (3) return of capital for tax purposes. An additional distribution may be made in December, and other additional distributions may be made with respect to a particular fiscal year in order to comply with applicable law. Distributions declared in December, if paid to shareholders by the end of January, are treated for federal income tax purposes as if received in December.

 

Your redemptions, including exchanges, may result in a capital gain or loss for federal tax purposes. A capital gain or loss on your investment is the difference between the cost of your shares, including any sales charges, and the amount you receive when you sell them.

 

On the account application, you will be asked to certify that your social security number or taxpayer identification number is correct and that you are not subject to backup withholding for failing to report income to the IRS. If you are subject to backup withholding or you did not certify your taxpayer identification number, the IRS requires the Fund to withhold a percentage of any dividend, redemption or exchange proceeds. The Fund reserves the right to reject any application that does not include a certified social security or taxpayer identification number. If you do not have a social security number, you should indicate on the purchase form that your application to obtain a number is pending. The Fund is required to withhold taxes if a number is not delivered to the Fund within seven days.

 

This summary is not intended to be and should not be construed to be legal or tax advice. You should consult your own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences of owning the Fund’s shares.

 

DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

 

Distributor: Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, (the “Distributor”) located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, is the distributor for the shares of the Fund. Distributors is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis.

 

Distribution (12b-1) and Shareholder Servicing Fees: The Trust, with respect to the Fund, has adopted the Trust’s Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans (“12b-1 Plans” or “Plans”) for Class A shares, pursuant to which the Fund may pay the Fund’s distributor an annual fee for distribution and shareholder servicing expenses of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares.

 

The Distributor and other entities are paid under the Plans for services provided and the expenses borne by the distributor and others in the distribution of Fund shares, including the payment of commissions for sales of the shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of dealers and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund’s shares to other than current shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising materials. In addition, the distributor or other entities may utilize fees paid pursuant to the Plan to compensate dealers or other entities for their opportunity costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a carrying charge on any un-reimbursed expenses.

 

You should be aware that if you hold your shares for a substantial period of time, you may indirectly pay more than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charge allowed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority due to the recurring nature of distribution (12b-1) fees.

 

Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries: The Distributor, the adviser, any sub-adviser and each of their affiliates, or other Fund affiliates may each, at its own expense and out of its own assets including its legitimate profits from Fund-related activities, provide additional cash payments, travel or other expense reimbursements to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund or assist in the marketing of the Fund, including placement agents and marketing specialists. Financial intermediaries include brokers, financial planners, banks, insurance companies, retirement or 401(k) plan administrators and others. These payments may be in addition to the Rule 12b-1 fees and any sales charges that are disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus. These payments are generally made to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder or administrative services, or marketing support. Marketing support may include access to sales meetings, conference sponsorships, costs or expenses of attending adviser-sponsored due diligence conferences, sales representatives and financial intermediary management representatives, inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or other sales programs. These payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The Distributor may, from time to time, provide promotional incentives to certain investment firms. Such incentives may, at the distributor’s discretion, be limited to investment firms who allow their individual selling representatives to participate in such additional compensation.

 

Householding: To reduce expenses, the Fund mails only one copy of a Prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the Fund at
1-888-868-9501 on days the Fund is open for business or contact your financial institution. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the period of the Fund’s operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all consolidated dividends and distributions). Except for the information for the six months ended March 31, 2018 which is unaudited, this information for the Fund has been derived from the financial statements audited by RSM US LLP, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Fund’s September 30, 2017 annual report, which is available upon request.

 

Per Share Data and Ratios for a Share of Beneficial Interest Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Six Months Ended        
    March 31, 2018     Period Ended  
Class A   (Unaudited)     September 30, 2017 (1)  
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 10.77     $ 10.00  
Activity from investment operations:                
Net investment loss (2)     (0.08 )     (0.17 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and options written     (0.58 )     0.94  
Total from investment operations     (0.66 )     0.77  
Less distributions from:                
Net realized gains     (0.29 )      
Total distributions     (0.29 )      
Net asset value, end of period   $ 9.82     $ 10.77  
Total return (3)(6)     (6.35 )%     7.70 %
Net assets, at end of period (000s)   $ 16,628     $ 10,415  
Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets (4)(5)     3.11 (9)     3.81 (7)(8)
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets (5)     2.86 (9)     2.66 (8)
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets (5)     (1.63 )% (9)     (1.83 )% (8)
Portfolio Turnover Rate (6)     0 %     0 %

 

 

  (1) The Princeton Premium Fund Class A shares commenced operations on November 16, 2016.
  (2) Per share amounts calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the period.

 

  (3) Total returns shown assume changes in share price and reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions. Had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fees, total returns would have been lower.

 

  (4) Represents the ratio of expenses to average net assets absent fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by the Advisor.

 

  (5) Annualized for periods less than one full year.

 

  (6) Not annualized.

 

  (7) As the Fund commenced operations on November 16, 2016 and share classes were funded at various levels over the period, the ratio presented was adjusted from actual to more closely represent the expected expense level for the class provided in the Fund’s prospectus.

 

  (8) Includes 0.45% for the period ended September 30, 2017 attributed to margin expense on short sales, which are not subject to waiver by the Adviser.

 

  (9) Includes 0.66% for the six months ended March 31, 2018 attributed to margin expense on short sales, which are not subject to waiver by the Adviser.

 

 

Per Share Data and Ratios for a Share of Beneficial Interest Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Six Months Ended        
    March 31, 2018     Period Ended  
Class I   (Unaudited)     September 30, 2017(1)  
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 10.79     $ 10.00  
Activity from investment operations:                
Net investment loss (2)     (0.07 )     (0.14 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and options written     (0.57 )     0.93  
Total from investment operations     (0.64 )     0.79  
Less distributions from:                
Net realized gains     (0.29 )      
Total distributions     (0.29 )      
Net asset value, end of period   $ 9.86     $ 10.79  
Total return (3)(6)     (6.25 )%     7.90 %
Net assets, at end of period (000s)   $ 49,334     $ 36,264  
Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets (4)(5)     2.86 (8)     3.56 (7)
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets (5)     2.61 (8)     2.40 (7)
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets (5)     (1.38 )% (8)     (1.50 )% (7)
Portfolio Turnover Rate (6)     0 %     0 %

 

 

  (1) The Princeton Premium Fund Class I shares commenced operations on November 16, 2016.

 

  (2) Per share amounts calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the period.

 

  (3) Total returns shown assume changes in share price and reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions. Had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fees, total returns would have been lower.

 

  (4) Represents the ratio of expenses to average net assets absent fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by the Advisor.

 

  (5) Annualized for periods less than one full year.

 

  (6) Not annualized.

 

  (7) Includes 0.45% for the period ended September 30, 2017 attributed to margin expense on short sales, which are not subject to waiver by the Adviser.

 

  (8) Includes 0.66% for the six months ended March 31, 2018 attributed to margin expense on short sales, which are not subject to waiver by the Adviser.

 

PRIVACY notice

Rev. February 2014

FACTS

WHAT DOES NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL

INFORMATION?

   
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information.  Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing.  Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information.  Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
   
What? The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us.  This information can include: § Social Security number § Purchase History §
Assets § Account Balances § Retirement Assets § Account Transactions § Transaction History § Wire Transfer Instructions § Checking Account Information  
When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.
   
How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business.  In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons Northern Lights Fund Trust chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.
       

Reasons we can share

your personal information

Does Northern Lights Fund Trust share?

Can you limit

this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes –

such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

Yes No

For our marketing purposes –

to offer our products and services to you

No We don’t share
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your transactions and experiences

No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your creditworthiness

No We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We don’t share
   
Questions? Call (402) 493-4603
         

 

Who we are
Who is providing this notice?

Northern Lights Fund Trust

 

What we do
How does Northern Lights Fund Trust protect my personal information?

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

 

Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.

How does Northern Lights Fund Trust collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

§ Open an account

§ Provide account information

§ Give us your contact information

§ Make deposits or withdrawals from your account

§ Make a wire transfer

§ Tell us where to send the money

§ Tells us who receives the money

§ Show your government-issued ID

§ Show your driver’s license

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

§ Sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

§ Affiliates from using your information to market to you

§ Sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

Definitions
Affiliates

Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

§ Northern Lights Fund Trust doesn’t share with our affiliates.

Nonaffiliates

Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

§ Northern Lights Fund Trust does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

§ Northern Lights Fund Trust doesn’t jointly market.

PRINCETON PREMIUM FUND

Adviser

Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC

1580 Lincoln Street, Suite 680

Denver, CO 80203

Distributor

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE 68130

Sub-Adviser

Horse Cove Partners LLC

1899 Powers Ferry Rd. SE, Suite 120

Atlanta, GA 30339

Independent
Registered Public
Accounting Firm

RSM US LLP

555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1000

Denver, CO 80202

Legal

Counsel

Thompson Hine LLP

41 S. High Street, Suite 1700

Columbus, OH 43215

Custodian

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

400 California Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

Transfer

Agent

Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE 68130

   

 

Additional information about the Fund is included in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information dated September 14, 2018. The SAI is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (i.e., legally made a part of this Prospectus). The SAI provides more details about the Fund’s policies and management. Additional information about the Fund’s investments will also be available in the Fund’s 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 year or fiscal period.

 

To obtain a free copy of the SAI, and when available, the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders, or other information about the Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries, please call 1-888-868-9501 or visit www.PrincetonPremiumFund.com. You may also write to:

 

PRINCETON PREMIUM FUND

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

P.O. Box 541150

Omaha, Nebraska 68154

 

You may review and obtain copies of the Fund’s information at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Please call 1-202-551-8090 for information relating to the operation of the Public Reference Room. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: [email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.

 

 

Investment Company Act File # 811-21720

 

 

 

Princeton Premium Fund

A Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust

Class A shares: PPFAX

Class C shares: PPFCX

Class I shares: PPFIX

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

September 14, 2018

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Princeton Premium Fund (the “Fund”) dated September 14, 2018. The Fund’s Prospectus is hereby incorporated by reference, which means it is legally part of this SAI. You can obtain copies of the Fund’s prospectus, annual or semiannual report without charge by contacting the Fund’s Transfer Agent, Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 or by calling 1-888-868-9501. You may also obtain a prospectus by visiting the website at www.PrincetonPremiumFund.comwww.deerparkfund.com.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE FUND 1
TYPES OF INVESTMENTS 2
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 20
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS 22
MANAGEMENT 24
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS 31
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER 32
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES 35
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS 37
ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE 40
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER 40
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS 41
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES 43
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM 43
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES 44
TAX STATUS 49
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 54
LEGAL COUNSEL 54
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 54
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS B-1

 

 

THE FUND

 

The Princeton Premium Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified series of Northern Lights Fund Trust, a Delaware statutory trust organized on January 19, 2005 (the “Trust”). The Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of one or more issues. The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees” or “Board of Trustees”).

 

The Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares of the Fund have equal rights and privileges. Each share of the Fund is entitled to one vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote. In addition, each share of the Fund is entitled to participate equally with other shares on a class-specific basis (i) in dividends and distributions declared by the Fund and (ii) on liquidation to its proportionate share of the assets remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities. Shares of the Fund are fully paid, non-assessable and fully transferable when issued and have no pre-emptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionately the same rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.

 

The Fund currently offers three classes of shares: Class A, Class C and Class I shares. As of the date of this SAI only Class A and Class I shares are available for purchase. Each share class represents an interest in the same assets of the Fund, has the same rights and is identical in all material respects except that (i) each class of shares may be subject to different (or no) sales loads, (ii) each class of shares may bear different distribution fees; (iii) certain other class specific expenses will be borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable, including transfer agent fees attributable to a specific class of shares, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials to current shareholders of a specific class, registration fees incurred by a specific class of shares, the expenses of administrative personnel and services required to support the shareholders of a specific class, litigation or other legal expenses relating to a class of shares, Trustees’ fees or expenses incurred as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares and accounting fees and expenses relating to a specific class of shares and (iv) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its own distribution arrangements. The Board of Trustees may classify and reclassify the shares of the Fund into additional classes of shares at a future date.

 

Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC (“Princeton” or the “Adviser”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. The Fund’s investment objective, restrictions and policies are more fully described here and in the Prospectus. The Board may start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time. The Board of Trustees may classify and reclassify the shares of the Fund into additional classes at a future date.

 

Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, each Trustee will continue in office until the termination of the Trust or his/her earlier death, incapacity, resignation or removal. Shareholders can remove a Trustee to the extent provided by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Vacancies may be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, except insofar as the 1940 Act may require the election by shareholders. As a result, normally no annual or regular meetings of shareholders will be held unless matters arise requiring a vote of shareholders under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or the 1940 Act.

 

TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

 

The investment objective of the Fund and a description of its principal investment strategies are set forth under “Principal Investment Strategies” and “Principal Investment Risks” and “Additional Information About Principal Investment Strategies and Related Risks” in the Prospectus. The following disclosures include non-principal investment strategies for the Fund, and where indicated supplements information set forth in the Prospectus regarding the Fund’s principal investment strategies. The Fund’s investment objective is not “fundamental” and may be changed without the approval of a majority of its outstanding voting securities.

 

The following information describes securities in which the Fund may invest.

 

Equity Securities

 

Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.

 

The Fund may also invest in long/short equity strategies which seek returns by investing in equities that are undervalued and short selling equities that are considered overvalued. This strategy also may attempt to neutralize exposure to general market risk by investing in equities that are undervalued and taking a short position in an equity market index.

 

Common Stock

 

Common stock represents an equity (ownership) interest in a company, and usually possesses voting rights and earns dividends. Dividends on common stock are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer. Common stock generally represents the riskiest investment in a company. In addition, common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential because increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price.

 

Preferred Stock

 

The Fund may also invest in preferred stock of any credit rating. Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be liquidated, although preferred stock is usually junior to the debt securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates.

 

The fundamental risk of investing in common and preferred stock is the risk that the value of the stock might decrease. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of an individual company or in response to general market and/or economic conditions. Historically, common stocks have provided greater long-term returns and have entailed greater short-term risks than preferred stocks, fixed-income securities and money market investments. The market value of all securities, including common and preferred stocks, is based upon the market’s perception of value and not necessarily the book value of an issuer or other objective measures of a company’s worth.

 

Convertible Securities

 

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

 

Warrants

 

The Fund may invest in warrants. Warrants are options to purchase common stock at a specific price (usually at a premium above the market value of the optioned common stock at issuance) valid for a specific period of time. Warrants may have a life ranging from less than one year to twenty years, or they may be perpetual. However, most warrants have expiration dates after which they are worthless. In addition, a warrant is worthless if the market price of the common stock does not exceed the warrant’s exercise price during the life of the warrant. Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the warrant may tend to be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the optioned common stock.

 

Fixed Income Securities

 

The Fund may invest in fixed income securities. Fixed income investments described in the Fund’s prospectus may be utilized as part of its principal investment strategies. Additional fixed income strategies described in this SAI are not principal investment strategies of the Fund. Yields on fixed income securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money market and other fixed income securities markets, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. An investment in the Fund will be subjected to risk even if all fixed income securities in the Fund’s portfolio are paid in full at maturity. All fixed income securities, including U.S. Government securities, can change in value when there is a change in interest rates or the issuer’s actual or perceived creditworthiness or ability to meet its obligations.

 

There is normally an inverse relationship between the market value of securities sensitive to prevailing interest rates and actual changes in interest rates. In other words, an increase in interest rates produces a decrease in market value. The longer the remaining maturity (and duration) of a security, the greater will be the effect of interest rate changes on the market value of that security. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the markets’ perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the debt securities of that issuer. Obligations of issuers of fixed income securities (including municipal securities) are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. In addition, the obligations of municipal issuers may become subject to laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures, or referenda extending the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the debt securities of that issuer. The possibility exists, therefore, that, the ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its debt securities may become impaired.

 

The corporate debt securities in which the Fund may invest include corporate bonds and notes and short-term investments such as commercial paper and variable rate demand notes. Commercial paper (short-term promissory notes) is issued by companies to finance their or their affiliate’s current obligations and is frequently unsecured. Variable and floating rate demand notes are unsecured obligations redeemable upon not more than 30 days’ notice. These obligations include master demand notes that permit investment of fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement with the issuer of the instrument. The issuer of these obligations often has the right, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the obligations upon a specified number of days’ notice. These obligations generally are not traded, nor generally is there an established secondary market for these obligations. To the extent a demand note does not have a 7-day or shorter demand feature and there is no readily available market for the obligation, it is treated as an illiquid security.

 

Foreign Securities

 

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

 

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

 

Depositary Receipts

 

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

 

Debt Securities

 

The Fund may invest in other debt securities, including below investment grade debt securities as part of its non-principal investment strategy. The following describes some of the risks associated with certain fixed income debt securities:

 

Interest Rate Risk. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. In general, the price of a debt security can fall when interest rates rise and can rise when interest rates fall. Securities with longer maturities and mortgage securities can be more sensitive to interest rate changes although they usually offer higher yields to compensate investors for the greater risks. The longer the maturity of the security, the greater the impact a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. In addition, short-term and long-term interest rates do not necessarily move in the same amount or the same direction. Short-term securities tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates.

 

Credit Risk. Fixed income securities have speculative characteristics and changes in economic conditions or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of those issuers to make principal or interest payments, as compared to issuers of more highly rated securities.

 

Extension Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise in interest rates. These events may lengthen the duration (i.e. interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities.

 

Prepayment Risk. Certain types of debt securities have yield and maturity characteristics corresponding to underlying assets. Unlike traditional debt securities, which may pay a fixed rate of interest until maturity when the entire principal amount comes due, payments on certain debt securities may include both interest and a partial payment of principal. Besides the scheduled repayment of principal, payments of principal may result from the voluntary prepayment, refinancing, or foreclosure of the underlying assets.

 

Securities subject to prepayment are less effective than other types of securities as a means of “locking in” attractive long-term interest rates. One reason is the need to reinvest prepayments of principal; another is the possibility of significant unscheduled prepayments resulting from declines in interest rates. These prepayments would have to be reinvested at lower rates. As a result, these securities may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other securities of comparable maturities, although they may have a similar risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. Prepayments may also significantly shorten the effective maturities of these securities, especially during periods of declining interest rates. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, a reduction in prepayments may increase the effective maturities of these securities, subjecting them to a greater risk of decline in market value in response to rising interest rates than traditional debt securities, and, therefore, potentially increasing the volatility of the Fund.

 

At times, certain fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest will have higher than market interest rates and therefore will be purchased at a premium above their par value. Prepayments may cause losses in securities purchased at a premium, as unscheduled prepayments, which are made at par, will cause the Fund to experience a loss equal to any unamortized premium.

 

Certificates of Deposit and Bankers’ Acceptances

 

The Fund may invest in certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, which are considered to be short-term money market instruments.

 

Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers’ acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.

 

Commercial Paper

 

The Fund may purchase commercial paper. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations.

 

Time Deposits and Variable Rate Notes

 

The Fund may invest in fixed time deposits, whether or not subject to withdrawal penalties.

 

The commercial paper obligations, which the Fund may buy are unsecured and may include variable rate notes. The nature and terms of a variable rate note (i.e., a “Master Note”) permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement between the Fund as Lender, and the issuer, as borrower. It permits daily changes in the amounts borrowed. The Fund has the right at any time to increase, up to the full amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding under the note. The issuer may prepay at any time and without penalty any part of or the full amount of the note. The note may or may not be backed by one or more bank letters of credit. Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and the issuer, it is not generally contemplated that they will be traded; moreover, there is currently no secondary market for them. Except as specifically provided in the Prospectus, there is no limitation on the type of issuer from whom these notes may be purchased; however, in connection with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, the Fund will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand simultaneously. Variable rate notes are subject to the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities unless such notes can be put back to the issuer on demand within seven days.

 

Insured Bank Obligations

 

The Fund may invest in insured bank obligations. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings and loan associations (collectively referred to as “banks”) up to $250,000. The Fund may purchase bank obligations that are fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently, to remain fully insured as to principal, these investments must be limited to $250,000 per bank; if the principal amount and accrued interest together exceed $250,000, the excess principal and accrued interest will not be insured. Insured bank obligations may have limited marketability.

 

United States Government Obligations

 

These consist of various types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations of the United States government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis.

 

 

The Fund may also invest in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) as a non-principal investment strategy. TIPS are special types of treasury bonds that were created in order to offer bond investors protection from inflation. The values of the TIPS are automatically adjusted to the inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). If the CPI goes up by half a percent, the value of the bond (the TIPS) would also go up by half a percent. If the CPI falls, the value of the bond does not fall because the government guarantees that the original investment will stay the same. TIPS decline in value when real interest rates rise. However, in certain interest rate environments, such as when real interest rates are rising faster than nominal interest rates, TIPS may experience greater losses than other fixed income securities with similar duration.

 

High Yield Securities

 

The Fund may invest in high yield securities as a non-principal investment strategy. High yield, high risk bonds are securities that are generally rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies (BB+ or lower by S&P and Ba1 or lower by Moody’s). Other terms used to describe such securities include “lower rated bonds,” “non-investment grade bonds,” “below investment grade bonds,” and “junk bonds.” These securities are considered to be high-risk investments. The risks include the following:

 

Greater Risk of Loss. These securities are regarded as predominately speculative. There is a greater risk that issuers of lower rated securities will default than issuers of higher rated securities. Issuers of lower rated securities generally are less creditworthy and may be highly indebted, financially distressed, or bankrupt. These issuers are more vulnerable to real or perceived economic changes, political changes or adverse industry developments. In addition, high yield securities are frequently subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness. If an issuer fails to pay principal or interest, the Fund would experience a decrease in income and a decline in the market value of its investments.

 

Sensitivity to Interest Rate and Economic Changes. The income and market value of lower-rated securities may fluctuate more than higher rated securities. Although non-investment grade securities tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than investment grade securities, non-investment grade securities are more sensitive to short-term corporate, economic and market developments. During periods of economic uncertainty and change, the market price of the investments in lower-rated securities may be volatile. The default rate for high yield bonds tends to be cyclical, with defaults rising in periods of economic downturn. For example, in 2000, 2001 and 2002, the default rate for high yield securities was significantly higher than in the prior or subsequent years.

Valuation Difficulties. It is often more difficult to value lower rated securities than higher rated securities. If an issuer’s financial condition deteriorates, accurate financial and business information may be limited or unavailable. In addition, the lower rated investments may be thinly traded and there may be no established secondary market. Because of the lack of market pricing and current information for investments in lower rated securities, valuation of such investments is much more dependent on judgment than is the case with higher rated securities.

Liquidity. There may be no established secondary or public market for investments in lower rated securities. Such securities are frequently traded in markets that may be relatively less liquid than the market for higher rated securities. In addition, relatively few institutional purchasers may hold a major portion of an issue of lower-rated securities at times. As a result, the Fund may be required to sell investments at substantial losses or retain them indefinitely when an issuer’s financial condition is deteriorating.

Credit Quality. Credit quality of non-investment grade securities can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently-issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security.

New Legislation. Future legislation may have a possible negative impact on the market for high yield, high risk bonds. As an example, in the late 1980’s, legislation required federally-insured savings and loan associations to divest their investments in high yield, high risk bonds. New legislation, if enacted, could have a material negative effect on the Fund’s investments in lower rated securities.

High yield, high risk investments may include the following:

Straight fixed-income debt securities. These include bonds and other debt obligations that bear a fixed or variable rate of interest payable at regular intervals and have a fixed or resettable maturity date. The particular terms of such securities vary and may include features such as call provisions and sinking funds.

Zero-coupon debt securities. These bear no interest obligation but are issued at a discount from their value at maturity. When held to maturity, their entire return equals the difference between their issue price and their maturity value.

Zero-fixed-coupon debt securities. These are zero-coupon debt securities that convert on a specified date to interest-bearing debt securities.

Pay-in-kind bonds. These are bonds which allow the issuer, at its option, to make current interest payments on the bonds either in cash or in additional bonds. These are bonds sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), usually to a relatively small number of institutional investors.

Convertible Securities. These are bonds or preferred stock that may be converted to common stock.

Preferred Stock. These are stocks that generally pay a dividend at a specified rate and have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and in liquidation.

Loan Participations and Assignments. These are participations in, or assignments of all or a portion of loans to corporations or to governments, including governments of less developed countries (“LDCs”).

Securities Issued in Connection with Reorganizations and Corporate Restructurings. In connection with reorganizing or restructuring of an issuer, an issuer may issue common stock or other securities to holders of its debt securities. The Fund may hold such common stock and other securities even if it does not invest in such securities.

Investment Companies

The Fund may invest in investment companies such as open-end funds (mutual funds), closed-end funds, and exchange traded funds (also referred to as “Underlying Funds”). The 1940 Act provides that the mutual funds may not: (1) purchase more than 3% of an investment company’s outstanding shares; (2) invest more than 5% of its assets in any single such investment company (the “5% Limit”), and (3) invest more than 10% of its assets in investment companies overall (the “10% Limit”), unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order.

 

In addition, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that the provisions of paragraph 12(d)(1) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Fund if (i) immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding stock of such registered investment company is owned by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund; and (ii) the Fund has not, and is not proposing to offer or sell any security issued by it through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price which includes a sales load of more than 1 ½% percent. An investment company that issues shares to the Fund pursuant to paragraph 12(d)(1)(F) shall not be required to redeem its shares in an amount exceeding 1% of such investment company’s total outstanding shares in any period of less than thirty days. The Fund (or the Adviser acting on behalf of the Fund) must comply with the following voting restrictions: when the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions, or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security.

Further, the Fund may rely on Rule 12d1-3, which allows unaffiliated mutual funds to exceed the 5% Limitation and the 10% Limitation, provided the aggregate sales loads any investor pays (i.e., the combined distribution expenses of both the acquiring fund and the acquired funds) does not exceed the limits on sales loads established by the NASD for funds of funds.

 

The Fund and any “affiliated persons,” as defined by the 1940 Act, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any Underlying Fund. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of the Underlying Funds, the Fund’s ability to invest fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an Underlying Fund whose shares are purchased by the Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the Underlying Fund’s outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an Underlying Fund’s outstanding securities therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

Under certain circumstances an Underlying Fund may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the rules of the SEC. In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed by an Underlying Fund until the Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.

 

Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the Underlying Funds are made independently of the Fund and the Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one Underlying Fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment adviser of another such fund. The result would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose. Because other investment companies employ an investment adviser, such investments by the Fund may cause shareholders to bear duplicate fees.

Securities Options

 

As part of its principal investment strategy, the Fund will purchase and write (i.e., sell) put and call options on the Standards & Poor’s 500® (“S&P 500”) Index. The Fund may also purchase and write (i.e., sell) other types of options as part of its non-principal strategy. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cover for Options Positions. Selling options exposes the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting (“covered”) position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with the Custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, the Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions in which the Fund writes or sells options.

Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

Dealer Options

 

The Fund may engage in transactions involving dealer options (as a non-principal investment strategy) as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While the Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund were to purchase a dealer option it would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.

 

Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes a dealer option, the Fund may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, because the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets that it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.

 

The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. The Fund may treat the cover used for written dealer options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat dealer options as subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options, an Fund will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.

 

Spread Transactions

 

The Fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. These covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread option gives the Fund the right to put securities that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to the Fund, in addition to the risks of dealer options described above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any transaction costs. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. This protection is provided only during the life of the spread options.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. In a repurchase agreement, an investor (such as the Fund) purchases a security (known as the “underlying security”) from a securities dealer or bank. Any such dealer or bank must be deemed creditworthy by the sub-adviser. At that time, the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon price on a designated future date. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at an agreed upon rate due to the Fund on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund generally will be unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying securities. Repurchase agreements must be “fully collateralized,” in that the market value of the underlying securities (including accrued interest) must at all times be equal to or greater than the repurchase price. Therefore, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by the underlying securities.

 

Repurchase agreements are generally for a short period of time, often less than a week, and will generally be used by the Fund to invest excess cash or as part of a temporary defensive strategy. Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated as illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. These losses could result from: (a) possible decline in the value of the underlying security while the Fund is seeking to enforce its rights under the repurchase agreement; (b) possible reduced levels of income or lack of access to income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements as a non-principal investment strategy. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund sells portfolio securities to another party and agrees to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price and date. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party will fail to return the securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result in losses to the Fund. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the collateral held by the Fund is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences to the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which a Fund is obligated to repurchase them. Reverse repurchase agreements may increase fluctuations in the Fund’s NAV and will be viewed as a form of borrowing by a Fund.

 

When-Issued, Forward Commitments and Delayed Settlements

 

The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”) will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account. Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be required subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.

 

The Fund does not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives. Because the Fund will segregate liquid assets to satisfy its purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability of the Fund’s sub-adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.

 

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

 

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

 

Illiquid and Restricted Securities

 

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act), and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.

 

Restricted and other illiquid securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. A Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests from shareholders. The Underlying Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a "safe harbor" from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such securities may continue to expand as a result of this regulation and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by NASDAQ.

 

Under guidelines adopted by the Board, the adviser of the fund may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private placement exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered. A determination of whether such a security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the adviser will consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or equity, date of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the adviser will also determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two National Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) or, if only one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.

 

Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Fund’s adviser to determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of a Fund's assets invested in illiquid securities if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.

 

Lending Portfolio Securities

 

For the purpose of achieving income and as a non-principal investment strategy, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities or cash or cash equivalents (cash, U.S. Government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned, (2) the Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of securities loaned, (3) the Fund will receive any interest or dividends received on the loaned securities, and (4) the aggregate value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the Fund.

 

 

Short Sales

 

The Fund may sell securities short as a non-principal investment strategy. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.

 

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

 

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

 

To the extent the Fund sells securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales “against the box”) will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker (not including the proceeds of the short sale). The Fund does not intend to enter into short sales (other than short sales “against the box”) if immediately after such sales the aggregate of the value of all collateral plus the amount in such segregated account exceeds 50% of the value of the Fund’s net assets. This percentage may be varied by action of the Board of Trustees. A short sale is “against the box” to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.

 

Swap Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into individual bond, interest rate, or index swap agreements as a non-principal investment strategy in an attempt to obtain a particular desired return at a lower cost to the Fund than if it had invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return. These may include total return swaps or credit default swaps. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of returns) earned or realized on particular predetermined bonds, investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. The “notional amount” of the swap agreement is only a fictitious basis on which to calculate the obligations the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. The Fund’s obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”).

 

The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to a swap agreement entered into on a net basis will be accrued daily and an amount of cash or liquid asset having an aggregate NAV at least equal to the accrued excess will be maintained in an account with the Fund’s custodian that satisfies the 1940 Act. The Fund also will establish and maintain such accounts with respect to its total obligations under any swaps that are not entered into on a net basis. Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities.

 

Whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements enhance the Fund’s total return or properly hedge the risk of loss of its fixed income portfolio will depend on the adviser’s or sub-adviser’s ability correctly to predict whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Because they are two-party contracts and may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The Fund will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that would be eligible for consideration as repurchase agreement counterparties under the Fund’s repurchase agreement guidelines. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Certain swap agreements are exempt from most provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) and, therefore, are not regulated as futures or commodity option transactions under the CEA, pursuant to regulations of the CFTC. To qualify for this exemption, a swap agreement must be entered into by “eligible participants,” which include the following, provided the participants’ total assets exceed established levels: a bank or trust company, savings association or credit union, insurance company, investment company subject to regulation under the 1940 Act, commodity pool, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, organization, trust or other entity, employee benefit plan, governmental entity, broker-dealer, futures commission merchant, natural person, or regulated foreign person. To be eligible, natural persons and most other entities must have total assets exceeding $10 million; commodity pools and employees benefit plans must have assets exceeding $5 million. In addition, an eligible swap transaction must meet three conditions. First, the swap agreement may not be part of a fungible class of agreements that are standardized as to their material economic terms. Second, the creditworthiness of parties with actual or potential obligations under the swap agreement must be a material consideration in entering into or determining the terms of the swap agreement, including pricing, cost or credit enhancement terms. Third, swap agreements may not be entered into and traded on or through a multilateral transaction execution facility.

 

Certain Investment Techniques and Derivatives Risk

 

When the Fund uses investment techniques such as margin, leverage and short sales, and forms of financial derivatives, such as options, futures, repurchase agreements, or swap agreements, an investment in the Fund may be more volatile than investments in other mutual funds. Although the intention is to use such investment techniques and derivatives to minimize risk to the Fund, as well as for speculative purposes, there is the possibility that improper implementation of such techniques and derivative strategies or unusual market conditions could result in significant losses to the Fund. Derivatives are used to limit risk in the Fund or to enhance investment return and have a return tied to a formula based upon an interest rate, index, price of a security, or other measurement. Derivatives involve special risks, including: (1) the risk that interest rates, securities prices and currency markets will not move in the direction that a portfolio manager anticipates; (2) imperfect correlation between the price of derivative instruments and movements in the prices of the securities, interest rates or currencies being hedged; (3) the fact that skills needed to use these strategies are different than those needed to select portfolio securities; (4) the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument and possible exchange imposed price fluctuation limits, either of which may make it difficult or impossible to close out a position when desired; (5) the risk that adverse price movements in an instrument can result in a loss substantially greater than the Fund’s initial investment in that instrument (in some cases, the potential loss in unlimited); (6) particularly in the case of privately-negotiated instruments, the risk that the counterparty will not perform its obligations, or that penalties could be incurred for positions held less than the required minimum holding period, which could leave the Fund worse off than if it had not entered into the position; and (7) the inability to close out certain hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences. In addition, the use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return) is considered a speculative practice and may present an even greater risk of loss than when used for hedging purposes.

 

With respect to interpretations of the SEC or its staff described in the Fund’s fundamental restriction number 2 below (Senior Securities), the SEC and its staff have identified various securities trading practices and derivative instruments used by mutual funds that give rise to potential senior security issues under Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act, which prohibits mutual funds from issuing senior securities. Under the 1940 Act, a mutual fund may borrow from a bank, provided that immediately after any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300 percent for all borrowings; or from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund's total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. However, rather than rigidly deeming all such practices outside of bank borrowing as impermissible forms of issuing a "senior security" under Section 18(f), the SEC and its staff through interpretive releases, including Investment Company Act Release No. 10666 (April 18, 1979), and no-action letters has developed an evolving series of methods by which a fund may address senior security issues. In particular, the common theme in this line of guidance has been to use methods of "covering" fund obligations that might otherwise create a senior security-type obligation by holding sufficient liquid assets that permit a fund to meet potential trading and derivative-related obligations. Thus, a potential Section 18(f) senior security limitation is not applicable to activities that might be deemed to involve a form of the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund's engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by Section 18 of the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

The Fund has adopted the following investment restrictions that may not be changed without approval by a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund which, as used in this SAI, means the vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

1. Borrowing Money. The Fund will not borrow money, except: (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions.

 

2. Senior Securities. The Fund will not issue senior securities. This limitation is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund’s engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the 1940 Act, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.

 

3. Underwriting. The Fund will not act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons. This limitation is not applicable to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities (including restricted securities), the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.

 

4. Real Estate. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts).

 

5. Commodities. The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from purchasing or selling options or futures contracts to the full extent permissible under the 1940 Act, selling foreign currency contracts in accordance with any rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, from investing in securities or other instruments backed by commodities or from investing in companies which are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities.

 

6. Loans. The Fund will not make loans to others, except (a) where each loan is represented by a note executed by the borrower, (b) through the purchase of debt securities or other debt instruments, including but not limited to loan participations and sub-participations, assignments, and structured securities, in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, (c) engaging in repurchase agreements, and (d) by loaning its portfolio 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.

 

7. Concentration. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of companies engaged in any one industry. This limitation is not applicable to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities or repurchase agreements with respect thereto.

 

THE FOLLOWING ARE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS OF THE FUND. THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS ARE DESIGNATED AS NON-FUNDAMENTAL AND MAY BE CHANGED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TRUST WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF SHAREHOLDERS.

 

1. Pledging. The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowing money described in fundamental limitation (1) above. Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.

 

2. Borrowing. The Fund will not purchase any security while borrowings representing more than one third of its total assets are outstanding.

 

3. Margin Purchases. The Fund will not purchase securities or evidences of interest thereon on “margin.” This limitation is not applicable to short-term credit obtained by a Fund for the clearance of purchases and sales or redemption of securities, or to arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investment techniques.

 

4. Illiquid Investments. The Fund will not hold 15% or more of its net assets in securities for which there are legal or contractual restrictions on resale and other illiquid securities.

 

If a restriction on the Fund’s investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of Fund assets invested in certain securities or other instruments, or change in average duration of the Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value of the Fund’s total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage requirement applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by applicable law.

 

With respect to interpretations of the SEC or its staff described in fundamental restriction number 2 above, the SEC and its staff have identified various securities trading practices and derivative instruments used by mutual funds that give rise to potential senior security issues under Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act, which prohibits mutual funds from issuing senior securities. Under the 1940 Act, a mutual fund may borrow from a bank, provided that immediately after any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300 percent for all borrowings; or from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund's total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. However, rather than rigidly deeming all such practices outside of bank borrowing as impermissible forms of issuing a “senior security” under Section 18(f), the SEC and its staff through interpretive releases, including Investment Company Act Release No. 10666 (April 18, 1979), and no-action letters has developed an evolving series of methods by which a fund may address senior security issues. In particular, the common theme in this line of guidance has been to use methods of “covering” fund obligations that might otherwise create a senior security-type obligation by holding sufficient liquid assets that permit a fund to meet potential trading and derivative-related obligations. Thus, a potential Section 18(f) senior security limitation is not applicable to activities that might be deemed to involve a form of the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund's engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by Section 18 of the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that govern the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders.

 

It is the Trust’s policy to: (1) ensure that any disclosure of portfolio holdings information is in the best interest of Trust shareholders; (2) protect the confidentiality of portfolio holdings information; (3) have procedures in place to guard against personal trading based on the information; and (4) ensure that the disclosure of portfolio holdings information does not create conflicts between the interests of the Trust’s shareholders and those of the Trust’s affiliates.

 

The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings by mailing the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the fiscal year and semi-annual period. In addition, the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings reports on Forms N-CSR and Form N-Q two months after the end of each quarter/semi-annual period.

 

The Fund may choose to make portfolio holdings information available to rating agencies such as Lipper, Morningstar or Bloomberg earlier or more frequently, on a confidential basis.

 

Under limited circumstances, as described below, the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed to, or known by, certain third parties in advance of their filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q. In each case, a determination has been made that such advance disclosure is supported by a legitimate business purpose and that the recipient, and personnel of each approved recipient, are subject to a duty to keep the information confidential and not trade on such information.

 

The Adviser and Sub-advisers. Personnel of the Adviser and any sub-adviser, including personnel responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio, may have full daily access to Fund portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for the Adviser and any sub-adviser to provide their management, administrative, and investment services to the Fund. As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability, demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio managers in the trading of such securities, the Adviser and any sub-adviser’s personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.

 

Gemini Fund Services, LLC. Gemini Fund Services, LLC is the transfer agent, fund accountant, administrator and custody administrator for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings because that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.

 

MUFG Union Bank, N.A. MUFG Union Bank, N.A. is custodian for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings because that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.

 

RSM US LLP. RSM US LLP is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with auditing of the Fund’s annual financial statements and provides other audit, tax and related services to the Fund.

 

Thompson Hine LLP. Thompson Hine LLP is counsel to the Fund; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with review of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.

 

Counsel to the Independent Trustees. Counsel to the Independent Trustees and its personnel have access to the Fund's portfolio holdings in connection with the Board’s review of the Fund's annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.

 

Additions to List of Approved Recipients. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer is the person responsible, and whose prior approval is required, for any disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities at any time or to any persons other than those described above. In such cases, the recipient must have a legitimate business need for the information and the recipient and its personnel must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential and to not trade on any material non-public information. In no event shall the Fund, the Adviser, any sub-adviser, or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

 

Compliance With Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will report periodically to the Board with respect to compliance with the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure procedures, and from time to time will provide the Board any updates to the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.

 

There is no assurance that the Trust’s policies on disclosure of portfolio holdings will protect the Fund from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information.

 

MANAGEMENT

 

The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trust's By-laws (the "Governing Documents"), which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available upon request. The Board consists of six (6) individuals, of whom are not "interested persons" (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser ("Independent Trustees"). Pursuant to the Governing Documents of the Trust, the Trustees shall elect officers including a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Principal Executive Officer and a Principal Accounting Officer. The Board retains the power to conduct, operate and carry on the business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses, which, in the opinion of the Board, are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the Trust's purposes. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.

Board Leadership Structure

 

The Trust is led by Anthony Hertl, an Independent Trustee, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since July 2013. The Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Hertl and, five (5) additional Independent Trustees. Additionally, under certain 1940 Act governance guidelines that apply to the Trust, the Independent Trustees will meet in executive session, at least quarterly. Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, (c) execution and administration of Trust policies including (i) setting the agendas for board meetings and (ii) providing information to board members in advance of each board meeting and between board meetings. Generally, the Trust believes it best to have a non-executive Chairman of the Board, who together with the President (principal executive officer), are seen by our shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership. The Trust believes that its Chairman, the independent chair of the Audit Committee, and, as an entity, the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust, its Funds and each shareholder.

 

Board Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Trustees has a standing independent Audit Committee with a separate chair, Mark H. Taylor. The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary. The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting risk within its area of responsibilities. Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information.

 

Trustee Qualifications

 

Generally, the Trust believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills.

 

Anthony J. Hertl has over 20 years of business experience in financial services industry and related fields including serving as chair of the finance committee for the Borough of Interlaken, New Jersey and Vice President-Finance and Administration of Marymount College, holds a Certified Public Accountant designation, serves or has served as a member of other mutual fund boards outside of the Fund Complex and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his years of service to this Board and other fund boards.

 

Gary W. Lanzen has over 20 years of business experience in the financial services industry, holds a Master’s degree in Education Administration, is a Certified Financial Planner ("CFP"), serves as a member of two other mutual fund boards outside of the Fund Complex and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his years of service to this Board and other mutual fund boards.

 

Mark H. Taylor, has over two decades of academic and professional experience in the accounting and auditing areas, has Doctor of Philosophy, Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting, is a Certified Public Accountant and is Professor of Accountancy at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He serves as a member of two other mutual fund boards outside of the Fund Complex, has served a fellowship in the Office of the Chief Accountant at the headquarters of the United States Securities Exchange Commission, served a three-year term on the AICPA Auditing Standards Board (2008-2011), and like the other Board members, possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his years of service to this Board and other mutual fund boards.

 

John V. Palancia has over 30 years of business experience in financial services industry including serving as the Director of Futures Operations for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. Mr. Palancia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He also possesses a strong understanding of risk management, balance sheet analysis and the regulatory framework under which regulated financial entities must operate based on service to Merrill Lynch. Additionally, he is well versed in the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate and serves as a member of three other fund boards.

 

Mark D. Gersten has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, having served in executive roles at AllianceBernstein LP and holding key industry positions at Prudential-Bache Securities and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He also serves as a member of two other mutual fund boards outside of the Fund Complex. Mr. Gersten is a certified public accountant and holds an MBA in accounting. Like other trustees, his experience has given him a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies operate.

 

Mark S. Garbin has more than 30 years of experience in corporate balance sheet and income statement risk management for large asset managers, serving as Managing Principal of Coherent Capital Management LLC since 2007. Mr. Garbin has extensive derivatives experience and has provided consulting services to alternative asset managers. He is both a Chartered Financial Analyst and Professional Risk Manager charterholder and holds advanced degrees in international business. The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee's qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them each highly qualified.

 

The following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and each person’s principal occupation over the last five years. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130.

 

Independent Trustees

Name, Address and Year of Birth Position/Term of Office* Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years

Mark Garbin

Born in 1951

Trustee

Since 2013

Managing Principal, Coherent Capital Management LLC (since 2007).

5

 

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust (for series not affiliated with the Funds since 2013); Two Roads Shared Trust

(since 2012); Forethought Variable Insurance Trust (since 2013); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2013); OHA Mortgage Strategies Fund (offshore), Ltd. (2014 - 2017); and Altegris KKR Commitments Master Fund (since 2014); and OFI Carlyle Private Credit Fund (since March 2018)

Mark D. Gersten
Born in 1950

Trustee

Since 2013

Independent Consultant (since 2012); Senior Vice President – Global Fund Administration Mutual Funds & Alternative Funds, AllianceBernstein LP (1985 – 2011). 5 Northern Lights Fund Trust (for series not affiliated with the Funds since 2013); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2013); Two Roads Shared Trust (since 2012); Altegris KKR Commitments Master Fund (since 2014); previously, Ramius Archview Credit and Distressed Fund (2015-2017); and Schroder Global Series Trust (2012 to 2017)

Anthony J. Hertl

Born in 1950

Trustee

Since 2005; Chairman of the Board since 2013

Consultant to small and emerging businesses (since 2000).

 

5 Northern Lights Fund Trust (for series not affiliated with the Funds since 2005); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2006); Alternative Strategies Fund (since 2010); Satuit Capital Management Trust (since 2007); previously, AdvisorOne Funds (2004-2013); and The World Funds Trust (2010-2013)

Gary W. Lanzen

Born in 1954

Trustee

Since 2005

Retired since 2012.  Formerly, Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer, Orizon Investment Counsel, Inc. (2000-2012). 5 Northern Lights Fund Trust  (for series not affiliated with the Funds since 2005) Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2006); AdvisorOne Funds (since 2003); Alternative Strategies Fund (since 2010); and previously, CLA Strategic Allocation Fund (2014-2015)

John V. Palancia

Born in 1954

Trustee

Since 2011

Retired (since 2011). Formerly, Director of Futures Operations, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. (1975-2011). 5 Northern Lights Fund Trust (for series not affiliated with the Funds since 2011); Northern Lights Fund Trust III (since February 2012); Alternative Strategies Fund (since 2012) and Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2011)

Mark H. Taylor

Born in 1964

Trustee

Since 2007; Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2013

Chair, Department of Accountancy and Andrew D. Braden Professor of Accounting and Auditing, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University (since 2009); Vice President-Finance, American Accounting Association (2017-2020); President, Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association (2012-15). AICPA Auditing Standards Board Member (2009-2012).  Former Academic Fellow, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (2005-2006).   5 Northern Lights Fund Trust (for series not affiliated with the Funds since 2007); Alternative Strategies Fund (since 2010); Northern Lights Fund Trust III (since 2012); and Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2007).



Interested Trustees and Officers

Name, Address and Year of Birth Position/Term of Office* Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years
Kevin E. Wolf
80 Arkay Drive
Hauppauge, NY  11788
Born in 1969

President

Since June 2017

 

President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Director of Fund Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006 - 2012); and Vice-President, Blu Giant, (2004 - 2013). N/A N/A

Richard Malinowski

80 Arkay Drive

Hauppauge, NY

11788

Born in 1983

Vice President

Since March 2018

Senior Vice President (since 2017); Vice President and Counsel (2016-2017) and Assistant Vice President (2012 – 2016), Gemini Fund Services, LLC

 

N/A N/A

James Colantino

80 Arkay Drive

Hauppauge, NY

11788

Born in 1969

Treasurer

Since June 2017

Assistant Treasurer of the Trust (2006-June 2017); Senior Vice President - Fund Administration (2012-Present).

 

N/A N/A
Stephanie Shearer
80 Arkay Drive
Hauppauge, NY  11788
Born in 1979
Secretary
Since February 2017

Assistant Secretary of the Trust (2012-February 2017); Senior Paralegal, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2013); Paralegal, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2010-2013).

 

N/A N/A

Lynn Bowley

Born in 1958

Chief Compliance Officer

Since 2017

Senior Compliance Officer of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (since 2007).

 

N/A N/A

*The term of office for each Trustee and officer listed above will continue indefinitely until the individual resigns or is removed.

**As of July 31, 2018, the Trust was comprised of 80 active portfolios managed by unaffiliated investment advisers. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Funds in the Trust advised the Fund’s adviser. The Fund do not hold itself out as related to any other series within the Trust that is not advised by The Fund’s adviser.

 

 

Board Committees

 

Audit Committee

 

The Board has an Audit Committee that consists of all the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee's responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the Trust's independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit; (iii) discussing with the independent auditors certain matters relating to the Trust's financial statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent auditors, or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing with the independent auditors any relationships or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust's independent auditors and recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor's independence; and (v) considering the comments of the independent auditors and management's responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust's accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls. The Audit committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter. The Audit Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing nominee candidates for consideration as Independent Trustees as is from time to time considered necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee generally will not consider shareholder nominees. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and setting Independent Trustee compensation from time to time when considered necessary or appropriate. During the Fund’s fiscal year, the Audit Committee held thirteen meetings.

 

Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2017, each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or an investment adviser to any series of the Trust will receive a quarterly fee of $35,875, allocated among each of the various portfolios comprising the Trust, for his attendance at the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Trustees, to be paid in advance of each calendar quarter, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred. Previously, each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or an investment adviser to any series of the Trust received a quarterly fee of $32,162.50. In addition to the quarterly fees and reimbursements, the Chairman of the Board receives a quarterly fee of $8,200 and the Audit Committee Chairman receives a quarterly fee of $6,150.

 

Additionally, in the event a meeting of the Board of Trustees other than its regularly scheduled meetings (a “Special Meeting”) is required, each Independent Trustee will receive a fee of $2,500 per Special Meeting, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred, to be paid by the relevant series of the Trust or its investment adviser depending on the circumstances necessitating the Special Meeting.

 

The “interested persons” who serve as Trustees of the Trust receive no compensation for their services as Trustees. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust.

 

The table below details the amount of compensation the Trustees received from the Trust for the calendar year ended July 31, 2018. The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plan.

 

Name and Position

 

 

Princeton Premium Fund

 

 

Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund

 

 

 

Princeton Long/Short Treasury Fund

Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Funds Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement Total Compensation From Fund Complex* Paid to Trustees
Anthony J. Hertl $2,167 $2,167 $2,167 None None $10,835
Gary Lanzen $1,825 $1,825 $1,825 None None $9,124
Mark H. Taylor $1,939 $1,939 $1,939 None None $9,695
John V. Palancia $1,825 $1,825 $1,825 None None $9,124
    $1,825 $1,825      
Mark D. Gersten $1,825 $1,825 $1,825 None None $9,124
Mark Garbin $1,825 $2,167 $2,167 None None $9,124

 

 

Name and Position

 

 

Athena Value Fund

 

 

Eagle MLP Strategy Fund

Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Funds Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement Total Compensation From Fund Complex* Paid to Trustees
Anthony J. Hertl $2,167 $2,167 None None $10,835
Gary Lanzen $1,825 $1,825 None None $9,124
Mark H. Taylor $1,939 $1,939 None None $9,695
John V. Palancia $1,825 $1,825 None None $9,124
Mark D. Gersten $1,825 $1,825 None None $9,124
Mark Garbin $1,825 $1,825 None None $9,124

* The term “Fund Complex” includes series of the Northern Lights Fund Trust (“NLFT”), Northern Lights Variable Trust (“NLVT”) that are advised by the adviser.

 

Trustee Ownership

 

The following table indicates the dollar range of equity securities that each Trustee beneficially owned in the Trust as of December 31, 2017.

 

 

Name of Trustee

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment Companies
Anthony J. Hertl None $1-$10,000
Gary Lanzen None None
John V. Palancia None None
Mark Taylor None None
Mark D. Gersten None $10,001-$50,000
Mark Garbin None None

 

Management Ownership

 

As of August 31, 2018, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned less than 1.00% of the Fund outstanding shares and the Fund Complex’s outstanding shares.

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

 

A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledged the existence of control. A shareholder who owns of record or beneficially more than 25% of the outstanding shares of a Fund or who is otherwise deemed to “control” a Fund may be able to determine or significantly influence the outcome of matters submitted to a vote of the Fund’s shareholders.

 

As of August 31, 2018, the following shareholders of record owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

Name & Address   Shares   Percentage of Fund
Class A Shares                
Charles Schwab & Co     841,722       53.28%  
Special Custody A/C FBO Customers                
211 Main Street                
San Francisco, CA 94105                
                 
Pershing LLC     466,814       29.55%  
PO Box 2052                
Jersey City, NJ 07303                
                 
E*Trade Savings Bank     116,207       7.36%  
PO Box 6503                
Englewood, CO 80155                
                 
Class I Shares                
Pershing LLC     2,510,883       45.42%  
PO Box 2052                
Jersey City, NJ 07303                
                 
LPL Financial     544,018       9.84%  
4707 Executive Drive                
San Diego, CA 92121                
                 
Charles Schwab & Co     452,479       8.19%  
Special Custody A/C FBO Customers                
211 Main Street                
San Francisco, CA 94105                

 

 

Investment Advisers and Sub-Advisers

 

Investment Adviser

 

Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC. 1580 Lincoln Street, Suite 680 Denver, CO 80203, serves as investment adviser to the Fund.  Princeton is deemed to be controlled by Greg D. Anderson and John L. Sabre, each of whom is a Manager.  Mr. Sabre’s wife owns an entity which owns 70% of the voting interests in Princeton, and Mr. Anderson owns approximately 30% of voting interests in Princeton.  Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for management of the Fund’s investment portfolio directly or through sub-advisers. The Adviser is responsible for selecting any sub-advisers and assuring that investments are made according to the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions. The Adviser was established in 2011 for the purpose of advising individuals and institutions. As of June 30, 2018, the adviser had approximately $1.72 billion in assets under management.

 

Pursuant to an advisory agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, the Adviser is entitled to receive, on a monthly basis, an annual advisory fee from each class of shares equal to 1.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the relevant share class. The Adviser pays any sub-advisers out of the fee it receives from the Fund. The Fund’s Adviser contractually agreed to waive management fees and to make payments to limit Fund expenses, until at least January 29, 2020 so that the total annual operating expenses (excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses associated with instruments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example options and swap fees and expenses), borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the adviser)), do not exceed 2.20%, 2.95% and 1.95% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C and I shares, respectively. These fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the fiscal year end in which the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the lesser of the foregoing expense limits or the then-current expense limits. Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease the Fund’s expenses and boost its performance.

 

Expenses not expressly assumed by the adviser under the advisory agreement are paid by the Fund. Under the terms of the advisory agreement, the Fund is responsible for the payment of the following expenses among others: (a) the fees payable to the Adviser, (b) the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Adviser, any sub-adviser, or the Distributor (as defined under the section entitled (the “Distributor”) (c) the fees and certain expenses of the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”), transfer and dividend disbursing agent, fund accountant, fund administrator and fund independent registered public accounting firm (auditor), including the cost of maintaining certain required records of the Fund and of pricing the Fund’s shares, (d) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent accountants for the Fund, (e) brokerage commissions or other trading costs such as fees associated with swaps or other derivatives and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its securities transactions, (f) all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Fund to governmental agencies, (g) the fees of any trade association of which the Fund may be a member, (h) the cost of share certificates representing shares of the Fund, (i) the cost of fidelity and liability insurance, (j) the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the Fund and of shares with the SEC, qualifying its shares under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the Fund’s registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes, (k) all expenses of shareholders and Trustees’ meetings (including travel expenses of trustees and officers of the Trust who are directors, officers or employees of the adviser or any sub-adviser) and of preparing, printing and mailing reports, proxy statements and prospectuses to shareholders in the amount necessary for distribution to the shareholders and (l) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.

 

The advisory agreement and any sub-advisory agreement will continue in effect for two (2) years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year provided such continuance is approved at least annually by (a) a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and by (b) the majority vote of either all of the Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The advisory agreement and any sub-advisory agreement may be terminated without penalty on no more than 60 days written notice by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, by the Adviser or by the applicable sub-adviser, or by holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares. The advisory agreement and any sub-advisory agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the advisory and the sub-advisory agreement are available in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders dated April 30, 2017.

 

For the fiscal period ended September 30, 2017 the adviser earned advisory fees of $233,532, $188,882 of which were waived pursuant the expense limitation agreement.

 

Sub-Adviser

 

Princeton has engaged the following sub-adviser to provide investment sub-advisory services to a portion of the assets of the Fund, as allocated to the sub-adviser. Princeton compensates the sub-adviser for its services.

 

Horse Cove Partners LLC (“Horse Cove”), 1899 Powers Ferry Rd. SE, Suite 120, Atlanta, GA 30339 is a Georgia limited liability corporation that offers discretionary portfolio management services to pooled investment vehicles, such as the Fund. Horse Cove was founded in 2012 by Samuel T. DeKinder and Kevin Ellis with the commitment to help grow client assets. Horse Cove is responsible for management of a portion of the Fund’s investment portfolio and making investments according to the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions. As of June 30, 2018, Horse Cove had approximately $127.97 million in assets under management.

Codes of Ethics

 

The Trust, the Adviser, Horse Cove, and the Distributor each have adopted respective codes of ethics (each a “Code”) under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that govern the personal securities transactions of their board members, officers and employees who may have access to current trading information of the Trust. Under these codes of ethics, the Trustees are permitted to invest in securities that may also be purchased by the Fund.

 

In addition, the Trust has adopted a separate Code that applies only to the Trust’s executive officers to ensure that these officers promote professional conduct in the practice of corporate governance and management. The purpose behind these guidelines is to promote (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a the Trust files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Fund; (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rule and regulations; (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of that code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and (v) accountability for adherence to the Code.

 

Proxy Voting Policies

 

The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”) on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser or its designee, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser or its designee vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser or its designee to present to the Board, at least annually, its proxy policies, and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser or its designee on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser or its designee as involving a conflict of interest. It is anticipated that the Adviser will vote any proxies related to the portfolio that are received on the Fund's behalf.

 

Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the adviser, or its designee’s interests and the Fund’s interests, the voting entity will resolve the conflict by voting in accordance with the policy guidelines or at the client’s directive using the recommendation of an independent third party. If the third party’s recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, the voting entity will abstain from voting the securities held by the Fund. The adviser has delegated proxy voting to the sub-adviser.

 

More information. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund during the most recent 12-month period ending June 30th will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-888-868-9501; and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures are also available by calling 1-888-868-9501 and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.

 

DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

 

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the “Distributor”) serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Fund pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement with the Trust (the “Underwriting Agreement”). The Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and each state’s securities laws and is a member of FINRA. The offering of the Fund’s shares is continuous. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Distributor, as agent in connection with the distribution of Fund shares, will use reasonable efforts to facilitate the sale of the Fund’s shares.

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides that, unless sooner terminated, it will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of the Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

 

The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund on 60 days’ written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund. The Underwriting Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.

 

The Distributor may enter into selling agreements with broker-dealers that solicit orders for the sale of shares of the Fund and may allow concessions to dealers that sell shares of the Fund. The Distributor receives the portion of the sales charge on all direct initial investments in the Fund and on all investments in accounts with no designed dealer of record.

 

The following table sets forth the total compensation received by the Distributor from the Fund during the fiscal period ended September 30, 2017:

Fund Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions Compensation on Redemptions and Repurchases Brokerage Commissions Other Compensation
Princeton Premium Fund - Class A $20,401 $0 $0 $0
The Distributor also receives 12b-1 fees from the Funds as described under the following section entitled “Rule 12b-1 Plan”.

 

Rule 12b-1 Plans

 

The Trust, with respect to the Fund, has adopted the Trust’s Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for the Fund’s Class A and Class C shares (each a “Plan” and collectively the “Plans”) pursuant to which the Fund is authorized to pay the Distributor, as compensation for Distributor’s account maintenance services under the Plans, a distribution and shareholder servicing fee at the rate of up to 0.25% for Class A shares and 1.00% for Class C shares of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the relevant class. Such fees are to be paid by the funds monthly, or at such other intervals as the Board shall determine. There is no Plan for the Class I shares. Such fees shall be based upon the Fund's average daily net assets during the preceding month, and shall be calculated and accrued daily. The Fund may pay fees to the Distributor at a lesser rate, as agreed upon by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Distributor. The Plans authorize payments to the Distributor as compensation for providing account maintenance services to the Class A and Class C Fund shareholders, including arranging for certain securities dealers or brokers, administrators and others ("Recipients") to provide these services and paying compensation for these services. The Distributor or other entities also receive the proceeds and contingent deferred sales charges imposed on certain redemptions of shares, which are separate and apart from payments made pursuant to the Plans.

 

The services to be provided under the Plan by Recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following: assistance in the offering and sale of the Class A and Class C shares and in other aspects of the marketing of the shares to clients or prospective clients of the respective Recipients; answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and in processing purchase and redemption transactions; making the Fund's investment plan and shareholder services available; and providing such other information and services to investors in shares of the Fund as the Distributor or the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, may reasonably request. The distribution services shall also include any advertising and marketing services provided by or arranged by the Distributor with respect to the Fund.

 

The Distributor is required to provide a written report, at least quarterly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, specifying in reasonable detail the amounts expended pursuant to each of the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. Further, the Distributor will inform the Board of any Rule 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Distributor to Recipients.

The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the Distributor's compensation to be paid by the Fund, unless such amendment is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the affected class of a Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on a Plan. During the term of each Plan, the selection and nomination of non-interested Trustees of the Trust will be committed to the discretion of current non-interested Trustees. The Distributor will preserve copies of the Plans, any related agreements, and all reports, for a period of not less than six years from the date of such document and for at least the first two years in an easily accessible place.

 

Any agreement related to the Plans will be in writing and provide that: (a) it may be terminated by the Trust or the applicable Fund at any time upon sixty days' written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the respective Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the Fund; (b) it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act); and (c) it will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the date of its execution or adoption only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such agreement.

 

During the fiscal period ended September 30, 2017 the Fund paid $10,474 in distribution related fees pursuant to the Plans. For the fiscal period indicated below, distribution fees were allocated as follows:

Actual 12b-1 Expenditures Paid by
Princeton Premium Fund Shares
During the Fiscal Period Ended September 30, 2017
    Princeton Premium Fund - Class A
Advertising/Marketing   None
Printing/Postage   None
Payment to distributor   $1,813
Payment to dealers   $2,257
Compensation to sales personnel   None
Other   $6,404
Total   $10,474

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

The following table lists the number and types of accounts managed by the adviser and the sub-adviser’s portfolio managers in addition to those of the Fund and assets under management in those accounts as of September 30, 2017.

 

Adviser Portfolio Managers

 

Greg D. Anderson


Other Accounts By Type

Total Number of Accounts by Account Type Total Assets By Account Type Number of Accounts by Type  Subject to a Performance Fee Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
Registered Investment Companies 5 $1,325,000,000 N/A N/A
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 3 $56,000,000 1 $56,000,000
Other Accounts 895 $1,229,000,000 N/A N/A

 

John L. Sabre


Other Accounts By Type

Total Number of Accounts by Account Type Total Assets By Account Type Number of Accounts by Type  Subject to a Performance Fee Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
Registered Investment Companies 5 $1,325,000,000 N/A N/A
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 3 $56,000,000 1 $56,000,000
Other Accounts 895 $1,229,000,000 N/A N/A

 

 

John L. Sabre


Other Accounts By Type

Total Number of Accounts by Account Type Total Assets By Account Type Number of Accounts by Type  Subject to a Performance Fee Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
Registered Investment Companies 5 $1,325,000,000 N/A N/A
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 3 $56,000,000 1 $56,000,000
Other Accounts 895 $1,229,000,000 N/A N/A

 

Sub-Adviser Portfolio Managers

 

Samuel T. DeKinder


Other Accounts By Type

Total Number of Accounts by Account Type Total Assets By Account Type Number of Accounts by Type  Subject to a Performance Fee Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
Registered Investment Companies 0 $0 0 $0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 5 $8,007,196 5 $8,007,826
Other Accounts 164 $68,271,827 153 $61,352,695

 

Kevin Ellis


Other Accounts By Type

Total Number of Accounts by Account Type Total Assets By Account Type Number of Accounts by Type  Subject to a Performance Fee Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
Registered Investment Companies 0 $0 0 $0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 5 $8,007,196 5 $8,007,826
Other Accounts 164 $68,271,827 153 $61,352,695

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

In general, when a portfolio manager has responsibility for managing more than one account, potential conflicts of interest may arise. Those conflicts could include preferential treatment of one account over others in terms of allocation of resources or of investment opportunities. For instance, the sub-adviser may receive fees from certain accounts that are higher than the fee it receives from the Fund, or it may receive a performance-based fee on certain accounts. The procedures to address conflicts of interest, if any, are described below for each portfolio manager.

 

Princeton has responsibility for managing multiple client accounts and, as such, potential conflicts of interest may arise. Those conflicts could include preferential treatment of one account over others in terms of allocation of resources or of investment opportunities. For instance, Princeton may receive fees from certain client accounts that are higher than the fee it receives from the Fund, or it may receive a performance-based fee on certain accounts.

 

Princeton and its associates attempt to avoid conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of the management of multiple client accounts. From time to time, Princeton may recommend or cause a client to invest in a security in which another client of Princeton has an ownership position. Princeton has adopted certain procedures intended to treat all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. To the extent that Princeton seeks to purchase or sell the same security for multiple client accounts, Princeton may aggregate, or bunch, these orders where it deems this to be appropriate and consistent with applicable regulatory requirements. When a bunched order is filled in its entirety, each participating client account will participate at the average share prices for the bunched order. When a bunched order is only partially filled, the securities purchased will be allocated on a pro-rata basis to each account participating in the bunched order based upon the initial amount requested for the account, subject to certain exceptions. Each participating account will receive the average share price for the bunched order on the same business day.

Horse Cove and its associates attempt to avoid conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of the management of multiple client accounts. From time to time, Horse Cove may recommend or cause a client to invest in a security in which another client of Princeton has an ownership position. Horse Cove has adopted certain procedures intended to treat all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. To the extent that Horse Cove seeks to purchase or sell the same security for multiple client accounts, Horse Cove may aggregate, or bunch, these orders where it deems this to be appropriate and consistent with applicable regulatory requirements. When a bunched order is filled in its entirety, each participating client account will participate at the average share prices for the bunched order. When a bunched order is only partially filled, the securities purchased will be allocated on a pro-rata basis to each account participating in the bunched order based upon the initial amount requested for the account, subject to certain exceptions. Each participating account will receive the average share price for the bunched order on the same business day.

 

Compensation

 

For their services as portfolio managers to the Fund, Greg D. Anderson and John L. Sabre receive a fixed salary and also share in the profits of Princeton, if any. 

 

For their services as portfolio managers to the Fund, Samuel DeKinder and Kevin Ellis, each of Horse Cove, receive a base salary and a discretionary bonus determined based upon the profitability of the business.

 

Ownership of Securities

 

The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Fund as of September 30, 2017.

 

Name of Portfolio Manger Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
Greg D. Anderson $1-$10,000
John L. Sabre None
Samuel T. DeKinder None
Kevin Ellis None

 

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE

 

Specific decisions to purchase or sell securities for the Fund are made by the portfolio managers, who are employees of the Adviser and the sub-adviser. Each is authorized by the Trustees to allocate the orders placed by them on behalf of the Fund to brokers or dealers who may, but need not, provide research or statistical material or other services to the Fund or the Adviser or sub-adviser for the Fund’s use. Such allocation is to be in such amounts and proportions as the respective Adviser or sub-adviser may determine.

 

In selecting a broker or dealer to execute each particular transaction, the adviser and sub-adviser will take some or all of the following the following into consideration:

 

·               the best net price available;

·               the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker or dealer;

·               the size of and difficulty in executing the order; and

·               the value of the expected contribution of the broker or dealer to the investment performance of the Fund on a continuing basis.

 

Brokers or dealers executing a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Fund may receive a commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for executing the transaction if the Adviser or sub-adviser determine in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of brokerage, research and other services provided to the Fund. In allocating portfolio brokerage, the Adviser or sub-adviser may select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage, research and other services to other accounts over which the Adviser or sub-adviser exercises investment discretion. Some of the services received as the result of Fund transactions may primarily benefit accounts other than the Fund’s, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit the Fund. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, the Fund paid $235,708 in brokerage commissions.

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. The calculation excludes from both the numerator and the denominator securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of the Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 0%.

 

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Fund Administration, Fund Accounting and Transfer Agent Services

 

Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”), which has its principal office at 80 Arkay Drive, Suite 110, Hauppauge, New York 11788, serves as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent for the Fund pursuant to a Fund Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Fund and subject to the supervision of the Board. GFS is primarily in the business of providing administrative, fund accounting and transfer agent services to retail and institutional mutual funds. GFS is an affiliate of the Distributor. GFS may also provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees of GFS or its affiliates.

 

The Agreement with the Trust became effective on June 22, 2011 and will remain in effect for two years from the applicable effective date for the Fund, and will continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board. The Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 90 days’ written notice and may be assigned by either party, provided that the Trust may not assign this agreement without the prior written consent of GFS. The Agreement provides that GFS shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to the Agreement.

 

Under the Agreement, GFS performs administrative services, including: (1) monitoring the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Trust by others service providers; (2) monitoring Fund holdings and operations for post-trade compliance with the Fund’s registration statement and applicable laws and rules; (3) preparing and coordinating the printing of semi-annual and annual financial statements; (4) preparing selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses; (5) preparing and disseminating materials for and attending and participating in meetings of the Board; (6) determining income and capital gains available for distribution and calculating distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements; (7) reviewing the Trust's federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust's independent public accountants; (8) preparing and maintaining the Trust's operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to each Fund to calculate its daily net asset value; (9) assisting in and monitoring the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination to shareholders of amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders and the SEC, notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2, proxy materials and reports to the SEC on Forms N-SAR, N-CSR, N-Q and N-PX; (10) coordinating the Trust's audits and examinations by assisting each Fund’s independent public accountants; (11) determining, in consultation with others, the jurisdictions in which shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale and facilitating such registration or qualification; (12) monitoring sales of shares and ensure that the shares are properly and duly registered with the SEC; (13) monitoring the calculation of performance data for the Fund; (14) preparing, or cause to be prepared, expense and financial reports; (15) preparing authorizations for the payment of Trust expenses and pay, from Trust assets, all bills of the Trust; (16) providing information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies; (17) upon request, assisting each Fund in the evaluation and selection of other service providers, such as independent public accountants, printers, EDGAR providers and proxy solicitors (such parties may be affiliates of GFS) and (18) performing other services, recordkeeping and assistance relating to the affairs of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.

 

For the administrative services rendered to the family of funds for which Princeton is an adviser, the Princeton family of funds pays GFS an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays GFS for anyout-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 the Fund paid $10,456 in Administration fees.

 

GFS also provides the Fund with accounting services, including: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and records as required by the 1940 Act; (iii) production of the Fund’s listing of portfolio securities and general ledger reports; (iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Fund; (vi) maintaining certain books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciling account information and balances among the Fund’s custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluating daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Fund.

 

 For the fund accounting services rendered under the Agreement to the family of funds for which Princeton is an adviser, the family of funds pays GFS an asset based fee which scaled downward based upon net assets, The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, the Fund paid $30,493 in fund accounting fees.

 

GFS also acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to the Agreement. Under the Agreement, GFS is responsible for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. 

 

For such services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS the greater of an annual minimum fee or an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, the Fund paid $13,070 in transfer agency fees.  

 

Custodian

 

MUFG Union Bank, N.A., (the “Custodian”), 400 California Street, San Francisco, California 94104 serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custody agreement (the “Custody Agreement”) by and between the Custodian and the Trust on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian’s responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, the Custodian also maintains original entry documents and books of record and general ledgers; posts cash receipts and disbursements; and records purchases and sales based upon communications from the adviser. The Fund may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board to hold foreign assets.

 

Compliance Officer

 

Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”), 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130, an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust as well as related compliance services pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust. NLCS’s compliance services consist primarily of reviewing and assessing the policies and procedures of the Trust and its service providers pertaining to compliance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. For the compliance services rendered to the Fund, the Fund pays NLCS an annual fixed fee and an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon the Fund’s net assets. The Fund also pays NLCS for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, the Fund paid $12,265 in compliance service fees.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

Each share of beneficial interest of the Trust has one vote in the election of Trustees. Cumulative voting is not authorized for the Trust. This means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any Trustees.

 

Shareholders of the Trust and any other future series of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by series except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interest of the shareholders of a particular series. Matters such as ratification of the independent public accountants and election of Trustees are not subject to separate voting requirements and may be acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series.

 

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. Each share has equal dividend, distribution and liquidation rights. There are no conversion or preemptive rights applicable to any shares of the Fund. All shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable.

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM

 

The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by Section 352 the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA Patriot Act”). To ensure compliance with this law, the Trust’s Program is written and has been approved by the Board of Trustees. The Program provides for the development of policies, procedures and internal controls reasonably designed to prevent money laundering, the designation of an anti-money laundering compliance officer who is responsible for implementing and monitoring the Program, ongoing anti-money laundering training program for appropriate persons and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program. The Trust’s secretary serves as its Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.

 

Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Fund’s Distributor, and Transfer Agent have established reasonable anti-money laundering procedures, have reported suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and have completed thorough reviews of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA Patriot Act.

 

As a result of the Program, the Trust may be required to “freeze” the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.

 

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

 

Calculation of Share Price

 

As indicated in the Prospectus under the heading “How Shares are Priced,” the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund.

 

Generally, the Fund’s domestic securities (including underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges) are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on such exchange. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If market quotations are not readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s fair value committee in accordance with procedures approved by the Board and as further described below. Securities that are not traded or dealt in any securities exchange (whether domestic or foreign) and for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available generally shall be valued at the last sale price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask price on such over-the- counter market.

 

Certain securities or investments for which daily market quotes are not readily available may be valued, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board, with reference to other securities or indices. Debt securities not traded on an exchange may be valued at prices supplied by a pricing agent(s) based on broker or dealer supplied valuations or matrix pricing, a method of valuing securities by reference to the value of other securities with similar characteristics, such as rating, interest rate and maturity. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost.

 

Exchange traded options are valued at the last quoted sales price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on the exchange on which such options are traded. Futures and options on futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the exchange. Other securities for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or persons acting at their direction. Swap agreements and other derivatives are generally valued daily based upon quotations from market makers or by a pricing service in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board.

 

Under certain circumstances, the Fund may use an independent pricing service to calculate the fair market value of foreign equity securities on a daily basis by applying valuation factors to the last sale price or the mean price as noted above. The fair market values supplied by the independent pricing service will generally reflect market trading that occurs after the close of the applicable foreign markets of comparable securities or the value of other instruments that have a strong correlation to the fair-valued securities. The independent pricing service will also take into account the current relevant currency exchange rate. A security that is fair valued may be valued at a price higher or lower than actual market quotations or the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures. Because foreign securities may trade on days when Fund shares are not priced, the value of securities held by the Fund can change on days when Fund shares cannot be redeemed or purchased. In the event that a foreign security’s market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable (for reasons other than because the foreign exchange on which it trades closed before the Fund’s calculation of NAV), the security will be valued at its fair market value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s fair value committee in accordance with procedures approved by the Board as discussed below. Without fair valuation, it is possible that short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that it will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short-term traders. In addition, because the Fund may invest in underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges, and these exchanges may trade on weekends or other days when the underlying ETFs do not price their shares, the value of these portfolio securities may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares.

 

Investments initially valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to U.S. dollars using exchange rates obtained from pricing services. As a result, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The value of securities traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the New York Stock Exchange is closed and an investor is not able to purchase, redeem or exchange shares.

 

Fund shares are valued at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) (the “NYSE Close”) on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. For purposes of calculating the NAV, the Fund normally use pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the NYSE Close and does not normally take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the NYSE Close. Domestic fixed income and foreign securities are normally priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Information that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of the security or the NAV determined earlier that day.

 

When market quotations are insufficient or not readily available the Fund may value securities at fair value or estimate their value as determined in good faith by the Board or its designees, pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. Fair valuation may also be used by the Board if extraordinary events occur after the close of the relevant market but prior to the NYSE Close.

 

A Fund may hold private placements, interests in commodity pools, other non-traded securities or temporarily illiquid securities, for which market quotations are not readily available or are determined to be unreliable. These securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value team composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser and/or sub-adviser. The team may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.

Fair Value Committee and Valuation Process. This committee is composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser and/or sub-adviser. The applicable investments are valued collectively via inputs from each of these groups. For example, fair value determinations are required for the following securities: (i) securities for which market quotations are insufficient or not readily available on a particular business day (including securities for which there is a short and temporary lapse in the provision of a price by the regular pricing source), (ii) securities for which, in the judgment of the adviser or sub-adviser, the prices or values available do not represent the fair value of the instrument. Factors which may cause the adviser or sub-adviser to make such a judgment include, but are not limited to, the following: only a bid price or an asked price is available; the spread between bid and asked prices is substantial; the frequency of sales; the thinness of the market; the size of reported trades; and actions of the securities markets, such as the suspension or limitation of trading; (iii) securities determined to be illiquid; (iv) securities with respect to which an event that will affect the value thereof has occurred (a “significant event”) since the closing prices were established on the principal exchange on which they are traded, but prior to a Fund’s calculation of its net asset value. Specifically, interests in commodity pools or managed futures pools are valued on a daily basis by reference to the closing market prices of each futures contract or other asset held by a pool, as adjusted for pool expenses. Restricted or illiquid securities are valued via inputs from the adviser or sub-adviser valuation based upon the current bid for the security from two or more independent dealers or other parties reasonably familiar with the facts and circumstances of the security (who should take into consideration all relevant factors as may be appropriate under the circumstances). If the adviser or sub-adviser is unable to obtain a current bid from such independent dealers or other independent parties, the fair value team shall determine the fair value of such security using the following factors: (i) the type of security; (ii) the cost at date of purchase; (iii) the size and nature of the Fund's holdings; (iv) the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase and subsequent thereto; (v) information as to any transactions or offers with respect to the security; (vi) the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the security and the existence of any registration rights; (vii) how the yield of the security compares to similar securities of companies of similar or equal creditworthiness; (viii) the level of recent trades of similar or comparable securities; (ix) the liquidity characteristics of the security; (x) current market conditions; and (xi) the market value of any securities into which the security is convertible or exchangeable.

Standards For Fair Value Determinations. As a general principle, the fair value of a security is the amount that a Fund might reasonably expect to realize upon its current sale. The Trust has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820"). In accordance with ASC 820, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including such a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund's investments relating to ASC 820. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including a Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The fair value team takes into account the relevant factors and surrounding circumstances, which may include: (i) the nature and pricing history (if any) of the security; (ii) whether any dealer quotations for the security are available; (iii) possible valuation methodologies that could be used to determine the fair value of the security; (iv) the recommendation of a portfolio manager of the Fund with respect to the valuation of the security; (v) whether the same or similar securities are held by other funds managed by the adviser (or sub-adviser) or other funds and the method used to price the security in those funds; (vi) the extent to which the fair value to be determined for the security will result from the use of data or formulae produced by independent third parties and (vii) the liquidity or illiquidity of the market for the security.

Board of Trustees Determination. The Board of Trustees meets at least quarterly to consider the valuations provided by fair the value committee and to ratify the valuations made for the applicable securities. The Board of Trustees considers the reports provided by the fair value committee, including follow up studies of subsequent market-provided prices when available, in reviewing and determining in good faith the fair value of the applicable portfolio securities.

 

The Trust expects that the holidays upon which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) will be closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

 

Purchase of Shares

 

Orders for shares received by the Fund in good order prior to the close of business on the NYSE on each day during such periods that the NYSE is open for trading are priced at NAV per share or offering price (NAV plus a sales charge, if applicable) computed as of the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE. Orders received in good order after the close of the NYSE, or on a day it is not open for trading, are priced at the close of such NYSE on the next day on which it is open for trading at the next determined NAV or offering price per share.

 

Redemption of Shares

 

The Fund will redeem all or any portion of a shareholder’s shares in the Fund when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the “How to Redeem Shares” section of the Prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, a shareholder’s right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be suspended at times:

 

a)            when the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings;

b)            when trading on that exchange is restricted for any reason;

c)            when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or

d)            when the Securities and Exchange Commission by order permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption.

 

In case of suspension of the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the NAV next determined after the termination of the suspension.

 

The Fund may purchase shares of Underlying Funds which charge a redemption fee to shareholders (such as the Fund) that redeem shares of the Underlying Fund within a certain period of time (such as one year). The fee is payable to the Underlying Fund. Accordingly, if the Fund were to invest in an Underlying Fund and incur a redemption fee as a result of redeeming shares in such Underlying Fund, the Fund would bear such redemption fee. The Fund will not, however, invest in shares of an Underlying Fund that is sold with a contingent deferred sales load.

 

Supporting documents in addition to those listed under “How to Redeem Shares” in the Prospectus will be required from executors, administrators, Trustees, or if redemption is requested by someone other than the shareholder of record. Such documents include, but are not restricted to, stock powers, Trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor, certificates of corporate authority and waiver of tax required in some states when settling estates.

 

TAX STATUS

 

The following discussion is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. All shareholders should consult a qualified tax adviser regarding their investment in the Fund.

 

The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which requires compliance with certain requirements concerning the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and the amount and timing of its distributions to shareholders. Such qualification does not involve supervision of management or investment practices or policies by any government agency or bureau. By so qualifying, the Fund should not be subject to federal income or excise tax on its investment company taxable income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable timing requirements. Investment company taxable income and net capital gain of the Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of the Code.

 

Investment company taxable income generally includes dividends and other income, less certain allowable expenses, and it also includes any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses. Net capital gain (that is, any excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could be carried forward to offset any capital gains for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital, irrespective of the character of the original loss. Capital loss carry forwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these carry forwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Distributions of investment company taxable income and net capital gain will be made at least annually, no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions will be in shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.

 

The Fund’s net realized capital gains from securities transactions will be distributed only after reducing any such gains by the amount of any available capital loss carry forwards.

 

To be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and (b) diversify its holding so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for purposes of this calculation, generally limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of the Fund’s assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) any one issuer, two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.

 

If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year, it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. As such, the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its income at the rates generally applicable to corporations, and distributions to shareholders, would be treated as taxable dividends to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.

 

The Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital gain under a prescribed formula contained in Section 4982 of the Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income (i.e., the excess of its capital gains over capital losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year plus 100% of any income that was neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the preceding calendar year. Under ordinary circumstances, the Fund expects to time its distributions so as to avoid liability for this tax.

 

The following discussion of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders that are IRAs or other qualified retirement plans generally are exempt from income taxation under the Code, but should consult their own tax advisers about the tax consequences of investing in the Fund, including potential taxation of unrelated business taxable income.

 

Distributions of investment company taxable income generally are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or “qualified dividend income” (as described below). In most cases the Fund will hold shares in Underlying Funds for less than 12 months, such that its sales of such shares from time to time will not qualify as long-term capital gains for those investors who hold shares of the Fund in taxable accounts.

 

Dividends paid by the Fund to an individual shareholder, to the extent such dividends are attributable to “qualified dividend income” received by the Fund from U.S. corporations (and certain foreign corporations), may qualify for taxation at the long-term capital gains rate available to individuals on qualified dividend income. Furthermore, dividends paid by the Fund to a corporate shareholder, to the extent such dividends are attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations, may qualify for a dividends received deduction.

 

Distributions of net capital gain (“capital gain dividends”) generally are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain; regardless of the length of time the shares of the Fund have been held by such shareholders.

 

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends, qualified dividend income distributions and capital gain dividends, as well as gains from redemption of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts, to the extent that the shareholder’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts. U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Fund.

 

Redemption of Fund shares by a shareholder will result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares. Such gain or loss is treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets. However, any loss realized upon the redemption of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as capital gain dividends during such six-month period. All or a portion of any loss realized upon the redemption of shares may be disallowed to the extent shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within 30 days before or after such redemption.

 

Distributions of investment company taxable income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above, whether received in additional cash or shares. Shareholders electing to reinvest distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the net asset value of a share on the reinvestment date.

 

All distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each taxable shareholder on his or her federal income tax return. Dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December as of a record date in such a month, if any, will be deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of the following year. Redemptions of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder and are also subject to these reporting requirements.

 

Under the Code, the Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Code, distributions of investment company taxable income and net capital gain and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law, or if the Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect TIN or a previous failure to report taxable interest or dividends. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.

 

Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements

 

Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution (“FFI”) or a non-financial foreign entity (“NFFE”) within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on: (a) income dividends paid by the Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2016. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it enters into a valid agreement with the IRS to, among other requirements, report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. A Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of a Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.

 

Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements

 

To the extent such investments are permissible for the Fund, the Fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, straddles and foreign currencies will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.

 

To the extent such investments are permissible, certain of the Fund’s hedging activities (including its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If the Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess book income will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.

 

Original Issue Discount and Pay-In-Kind Securities

 

Current federal tax law requires the holder of a U.S. Treasury or other fixed income zero coupon security to accrue as income each year a portion of the discount at which the security was originally issued, even though the holder receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year. In addition, other debt instruments, such as pay-in-kind securities may give rise to income under the original issue discount rules, which income is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.

 

Some of the debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as debt securities that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount (“OID”) is treated as interest income and is included in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. A portion of the OID includable in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate debt securities (including certain pay-in-kind securities) may be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Some of the debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.

 

Some debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by an Fund may be treated as having acquisition discount, or OID in the case of certain types of debt securities. Generally, the Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount, or OID, in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.

 

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

 

Shareholders of the Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of the Fund’s shares.

 

The foregoing discussion relates only to U.S. federal income tax law as applicable to U.S. persons (that is, U.S. citizens and residents, and domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates). Shareholders who are not U.S. persons should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.

 

A brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution accompany each distribution. In January of each year the Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.

 

Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.

 

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

RSM US LLP, located at 555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80202, has been selected as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. RSM US LLP will perform an annual audit of the Fund’s financial statements and provides other audit, tax, and related services for the Fund.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Thompson Hine LLP, 41 South High Street, Suite 1700, Columbus, Ohio 43215 serves as the Trust’s legal counsel.

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The financial statements and report of the independent registered public accounting firm required to be included in this SAI are hereby incorporated by reference to the Annual Report for the Fund for the fiscal period ended September 30, 2017. You can obtain a copy of the Annual Report without charge by calling the Funds at 1-888-868-9501.

 

APPENDIX A

DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS

 

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group. A Standard & Poor’s corporate bond rating is a current assessment of the credit worthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This assessment of credit worthiness may take into consideration obligors, such as guarantors, insurers or lessees. The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor.

 

The ratings are based on current information furnished to Standard & Poor’s by the issuer or obtained by Standard & Poor’s from other sources it considers reliable. Standard & Poor’s does not perform any audit in connection with the ratings and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, unavailability of such information, or for other circumstances.

 

The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

 

1. Likelihood of default-capacity and willingness of the obligor as to the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation.

 

2. Nature of and provisions of the obligation.

 

3. Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization or their arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

AAA - This is the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s to a debt obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay interest and repay any principal.

 

AA - Debt rated AA also qualifies as high quality debt obligations. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is very strong and in the majority of instances they differ from AAA issues only in small degree.

 

A - Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.

 

BBB - Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories.

 

BB, B, CCC, CC, C - Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded, on a balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation.

 

BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.

BB - Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB rating.

 

B - Debt rated B has greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.

 

CCC - Debt rated CCC has a currently indefinable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating.

 

CC - The rating CC is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC rating.

 

C - The rating C is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt, which is assigned an actual or implied CCC- debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued.

 

C1 - The rating C1 is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.

 

D - Debt rated D is in payment default. It is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on a due date even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace periods; it will also be used upon a filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized. Plus (+) or Minus (-) - To provide more detailed indications of credit quality, the ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

NR - indicates that no public rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy. Debt obligations of issuers outside the United States and its territories are rated on the same basis as domestic corporate issues. The ratings measure the credit worthiness of the obligor but do not take into account currency exchange and related uncertainties.

 

Bond Investment Quality Standards: Under present commercial bank regulations issued by the Comptroller of the Currency, bonds rated in the top four categories (AAA, AA, A, BBB, commonly known as “Investment Grade” ratings) are generally regarded as eligible for bank investment. In addition, the Legal Investment Laws of various states may impose certain rating or other standards for obligations eligible for investment by savings banks, trust companies, insurance companies and fiduciaries generally.

 

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. A brief description of the applicable Moody’s rating symbols and their meanings follows:

 

Aaa - Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt edge”. Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.

 

Aa - Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuations of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.

 

A - Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

 

Baa - Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Some bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

 

NOTE: Bonds within the above categories which possess the strongest investment attributes are designated by the symbol “1” following the rating.

 

Ba - Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.

 

B - Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.

 

Caa - Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.

 

Ca - Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

 

C - Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and issue so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

 

Duff & Phelps, Inc.: AAA-- highest credit quality, with negligible risk factors; AA -- high credit quality, with strong protection factors and modest risk, which may vary very slightly from time to time because of economic conditions; A-- average credit quality with adequate protection factors, but with greater and more variable risk factors in periods of economic stress. The indicators “+” and “-” to the AA and A categories indicate the relative position of a credit within those rating categories.

 

Fitch Investors Service LLP.: AAA -- highest credit quality, with an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal; AA -- very high credit quality, with very strong ability to pay interest and repay principal; A -- high credit quality, considered strong as regards principal and interest protection, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances. The indicators “+” and “-” to the AA, A and BBB categories indicate the relative position of credit within those rating categories.

 

DESCRIPTION OF NOTE RATINGS

 

A Standard & Poor’s note rating reflects the liquidity concerns and market access risks unique to notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. The following criteria will be used in making that assessment.

 

Amortization schedule (the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities the more likely it will be treated as a note).

 

Source of Payment (the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.) Note rating symbols are as

follows:

 

SP-1 Very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics will be given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s Short-Term Loan Ratings - Moody’s ratings for state and municipal short-term obligations will be designated Moody’s Investment Grade (MIG). This distinction is in recognition of the differences between short-term credit risk and long-term risk. Factors affecting the liquidity of the borrower are uppermost in importance in short-term borrowing, while various factors of major importance in bond risk are of lesser importance over the short run.

 

Rating symbols and their meanings follow:

 

MIG 1 - This designation denotes best quality. There is present strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 - This designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 - This designation denotes favorable quality. All security elements are accounted for but this is lacking the undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow protection may be narrow and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well established.

 

MIG 4 - This designation denotes adequate quality. Protection commonly regarded as required of an investment security is present and although not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is specific risk.

 

COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

 

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.: Commercial paper rated “Prime” carries the smallest degree of investment risk. The modifiers 1, 2, and 3 are used to denote relative strength within this highest classification.

 

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group: “A” is the highest commercial paper rating category utilized by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group which uses the numbers 1+, 1, 2 and 3 to denote relative strength within its “A” classification.

 

Duff & Phelps Inc.: Duff 1 is the highest commercial paper rating category utilized by Duff & Phelps which uses + or - to denote relative strength within this classification. Duff 2 represents good certainty of timely payment, with minimal risk factors. Duff 3 represents satisfactory protection factors, with risk factors larger and subject to more variation.

 

Fitch Investors Service LLP.: F-1+ -- denotes exceptionally strong credit quality given to issues regarded as having strongest degree of assurance for timely payment; F-1 -- very strong, with only slightly less degree of assurance for timely payment than F-1+; F-2 -- good credit quality, carrying a satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment.

 

 

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust

PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 28.

EXHIBITS.

 

(a)(1) Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 19, 2005, as amended December 14, 2009 previously filed on March 24, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 133, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(a)(2) Certificate of Trust as filed with the State of Delaware on January 19, 2005. Previously filed on February 18, 2005 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(b) By-Laws, effective as of January 19, 2005, as amended December 14, 2009, previously filed on March 24, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 133, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(c) Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders. See Article III, “Shares” and Article V “Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings” of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust. See also, Article II, “Meetings of Shareholders” of the Registrant’s By-Laws.
(d)(1) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Adaptive Allocation Fund (previously known as Critical Math Fund), and Critical Math Advisors LLC, previously filed on January 30, 2006 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 8, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(2) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to The Biondo Growth Fund, and Biondo Investment Advisors, LLC, previously filed on April 24, 2006 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 11, and hereby incorporated by reference. Amended Investment Advisory Agreement to include The Biondo Focus Fund previously filed on January 14, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 121, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(3) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Changing Parameters Fund, and Changing Parameters, LLC, previously filed on January 12, 2007 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 16, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(4) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Pacific Financial Core Equity Fund, the Pacific Financial Explorer Fund, the Pacific Financial International Fund, the Pacific Financial Strategic Conservative Fund and the Pacific Financial Tactical Fund, and The Pacific Financial Group, LLC, previously filed on May 10, 2007 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 21, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(5) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Sierra Core Retirement Fund and Wright Fund Management, LLC, previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(6) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to EAS Crow Point Alternatives Fund and Crow Point Partners, LLC, previously filed on October 27, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 883, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(7) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to KCM Macro Trends Fund and Kerns Capital Management, Inc., previously filed on October 11, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 542, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(8) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Wade Tactical L/S Fund and Wade Financial Group, previously filed on November 28, 2012 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 436, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(9) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Toews Hedged Core Frontier Fund and Toews Corporation previously filed on May 14, 2009 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 87, and hereby incorporated by reference. Amended Investment Advisory Agreement to include Toews Hedged Core W Fund, Toews Hedged High Yield Bond Fund, Toews Hedged Core L Fund and Toews Hedged Core S Fund previously filed on June 4, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 156, and hereby incorporated by reference. Amended Investment Advisory to include Toews Hedged Growth Allocation, Toews Unconstrained Income Fund and Toews Hedged Commodities Fund previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(10) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Leader Short Term Bond Fund and Leader Capital Corp., previously filed on October 20, 2008 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, and hereby incorporated by reference. Amended Investment Advisory Agreement to include Leader Total Return Fund previously filed on June 30, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 162, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(11) Investment Advisory Agreement between Montebello Partners, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to the GMG Defensive Beta Fund previously filed on July 27, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 728, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(12) Investment Advisory Agreement between BTS Asset Management, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to the BTS Bond Asset Allocation Fund previously filed on July 21, 2009 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 94, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(13) Investment Advisory Agreement between Astor Investment Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to the Astor Long/Short ETF Fund, the Astor S.T.A.R. ETF Fund and the Astor Active Income ETF Fund, previously filed on March 9, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 694, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(14) Investment Advisory Agreement between Equinox Fund Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on January 22, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 122, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(15) Investment Advisory Agreement between Investment Partners Asset Management, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to Investment Partners Opportunities Fund previously filed on October 30, 2009 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 111, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(16) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Princeton Futures Strategy Fund, filed previously filed on July 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 847, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(17) Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and 6800 Capital, LLC, with respect to the Princeton Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on May 28, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 720, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(18) Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Congress Asset Management Company, LLP, with respect to the Princeton Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on October 9, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 540, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(19) Investment Advisory Agreement between Chadwick & D’Amato, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Chadwick & D’Amato Fund previously filed on June 10, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 157, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(20) Investment Advisory Agreement between 13D Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to 13D Activist Fund previously filed on December 29, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 345, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(21) Investment Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and the Registrant, with respect to Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Altegris Macro Strategy Fund, Altegris Futures Evolution Fund, Altegris Equity Long Short Fund, Altegris Fixed Income Long Short Fund, Altegris Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund and Altegris GSA Trend Strategy Fund previously filed on April 19, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 960, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(22) Investment Advisory Agreement between W.E. Donoghue & Co., Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to Power Income Fund previously filed on August 27, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 170, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(23) Investment Advisory Agreement between Portfolio Strategies, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to PSI Market Neutral Fund, PSI Total Return Fund, PSI Strategic Growth Fund and PSI Tactical Growth Fund previously filed on August 27, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 170, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(24) Investment Advisory Agreement between CWC Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to CWC Small Cap Aggressive Value Fund previously filed on November 30, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 186, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(25) Investment Advisory Agreement between Traub Capital Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to The FX Strategy Fund previously filed on January 20, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 201, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(26) Investment Advisory Agreement between TransWestern Capital Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund previously filed on December 2, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 187, and hereby incorporated by reference. Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between TransWestern Capital Advisors, LLC, and the Registrant, with respect to TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund previously filed on April 25, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 601, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(27) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between TransWestern Capital Advisors, LLC and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., with respect to TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund previously filed on December 2, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 187, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(28) Investment Advisory Agreement between Logan Circle Partners, L.P., and the Registrant, with respect to Fortress Long/Short Credit Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(29) Investment Advisory Agreement between Beech Hill Advisors, Inc., and the Registrant, with respect to Beech Hill Total Return Fund previously filed on January 5, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 196, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(30) Investment Advisory Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc., and the Registrant, with respect to Navigator Equity Hedged Fund previously filed on November 30, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 186, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(31) Investment Advisory Agreement between Knollwood Investment Advisors, LLC, and the Registrant, with respect to Grant Park Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on March 1, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 226, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(32) Transfer and Assumption Agreement between Knollwood Investment Advisors, LLC, and Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C., with respect to the Investment Advisory Agreement specific as to the Grant Park Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on May 31, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 491, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(33) Investment Advisory Agreement between Risk Paradigm Group, LLC, and the Registrant, with respect to Diversified Risk Parity Fund previously filed on April 21, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 240, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(34) Investment Advisory Agreement between Genesis Capital LLC, and the Registrant, with respect to Granite Harbor Alternative Fund and Granite Harbor Tactical Fund previously filed on April 21, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 240, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(35) Investment Advisory Agreement between Zeo Capital Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Zeo Short Duration Income Fund previously filed on May 27, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 261, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(36) Investment Advisory Agreement between Giralda Advisors, LLC, and the Registrant, with respect to The Giralda Fund previously filed on May 4, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 245, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(37) Investment Advisory Agreement between Van Hulzen Asset Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Iron Horse Fund previously filed on March 3, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 595, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(38) Investment Advisory Agreement between Makefield Capital Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Makefield Managed Futures Strategy Fund, previously filed on December 23, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 571, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(39) Investment Advisory Agreement between Ascendant Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Ascendant Balanced Fund, Ascendant Natural Resources Fund, Ascendant Deep Values Convertible Fund and Patriot Fund previously filed on December 23, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 580, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(40) Investment Advisory Agreement between Winch Advisory Services, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Ginkgo Multi-Strategy Fund previously filed on July 19, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 282, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(41) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Doubleline Capital LP, with respect to Altegris Futures Evolution Strategy Fund previously filed on October 19, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 318, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(42) Investment Advisory Agreement between Risk Paradigm Group, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to RPG Emerging Market Sector Rotation Fund previously filed on November 28, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(43) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Risk Paradigm Group, LLC and F-Squared Institutional Advisors, LLC, with respect to RPG Emerging Market Sector Rotation Fund previously filed on October 9, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 540, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(44) Investment Advisory Agreement between CMG Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to the CMG Tactical Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on March 12, 2012 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 363, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(45) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between CMG Capital Management Group, Inc. and Scotia Partners, LLC, with respect to the CMG Tactical Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on March 12, 2012 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 363, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(46) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Harvest Capital Strategies, LLC, with respect to the Altegris Equity Long Short Fund previously filed on October 15, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 543, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(47) Investment Advisory Agreement between Wright Fund Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to the Sierra Strategic Income Fund previously filed on December 21, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 343, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(48) Investment Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC, Eagle Global Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to the Eagle MLP Strategy Fund previously filed on October 15, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 543, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(49) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Visium Asset Management LP, with respect to the Altegris Equity Long Short Fund previously filed on October 15, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 543, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(50) Investment Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to the Sandalwood Opportunity Fund previously filed on October 15, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 543, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(51) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Sandalwood Securities, Inc., with respect to the Sandalwood Opportunity Fund previously filed on October 15, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 543, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(52) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Deer Park Road Management, LP, with respect to the Sandalwood Opportunity Fund previously filed on January 13, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 658, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(53) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Acuity Capital Management, LLC, with respect to the Sandalwood Opportunity Fund previously filed on November 20, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 561, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(54) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and MidOcean Credit Fund Management, L.P., with respect to the Sandalwood Opportunity Fund previously filed on April 7, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 598, and hereby incorporated by reference.  
(d)(55) Interim Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Whippoorwill Capital Management LP, with respect to the Sandalwood Opportunity Fund previously filed on July 28, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 729, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(56) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and RockView Management, LLC, with respect to the Altegris Fixed Income Long Short Fund previously filed on December 17, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 570, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(57) Investment Advisory Agreement between The Pacific Financial Group, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to the Pacific Financial Alternative Strategies Fund, Pacific Financial Flexible Growth & Income Fund, Pacific Financial Balanced Fund, Pacific Financial Foundational Asset Allocation Fund, Pacific Financial Faith & Values Based Moderate Fund, Pacific Financial Faith & Values Based Conservative Fund and Pacific Financial Faith & Values Based Diversified Growth Fund previously filed on December 17, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 570, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(58) Investment Advisory Agreement between BTS Asset Management, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to the BTS Hedged Income Fund previously filed on February 12, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 459, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(59) Investment Advisory Agreement between CMG Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to the CMG Global Equity Fund and CMG Managed High Yield Fund previously filed on May 30, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 488, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(60) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between CMG Capital Management Group, Inc. and Alpha Simplex Group, LLC, with respect to the CMG Global Equity Fund previously filed on October 29, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 648, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(61) Investment Advisory Agreement between BTS Asset Management, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to the BTS Tactical Fixed Income Fund previously filed on December 17, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 570, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(62) Assignment and Consent between the Registrant, Emerald Asset Advisors, LLC and Crow Point Partners, LLC previously filed on March 7, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 469, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(63) Advisory Fee Waiver between Traub Capital Management, LLC. and the Registrant, with respect to The FX Strategy Fund previously filed on April 30, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 480, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(64) Investment Advisory Agreement between Giralda Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to The Giralda Fund previously filed on May 30, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 488, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(65) Investment Advisory Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund previously filed on December 23, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 571, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(66) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. and Main Point Advisors, Inc., with respect to the Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund previously filed on December 23, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 571, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(67) Interim Investment Advisory Agreement between Probabilities Fund Management, LLC and Registrant with respect to the Probabilities Fund previously filed on December 31, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 789, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(68) Investment Advisory Agreement between W.E. Donoghue & Co., Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to the Power Dividend Index Fund previously filed on October 11, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 542, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(69) Advisory Fee Waiver Agreement between Van Hulzen Asset Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Iron Horse Fund previously filed on July 25, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 507, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(70) Investment Advisory Agreement between Portfolio Strategies, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to the PSI Calendar Effects Fund previously filed on December 23, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 571, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(71) Investment Advisory Agreement between Dearborn Capital Management L.L.C. and the Registrant, with respect to the Grant Park Multi-Alternative Strategy Fund previously filed on December 17, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 570, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(72) Investment Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and the Registrant, with respect to the Altegris/AACA Real Estate Long Short previously filed on December 23, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 571, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(73) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and American Assets Investment Management, LLC, with respect to Altegris/AACA Real Estate Long Short Fund previously filed on March 3, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 595, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(74) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc., with respect to Altegris Macro Strategy Fund and Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on October 28, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 551, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(75) Investment Advisory Agreement between Genesis Capital, LLC, with respect to Anchor Alternative Income Fund previously filed on January 24, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 578, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(76) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Genesis Capital, LLC and Anchor Capital Management, Group, Inc., with respect to Anchor Alternative Income Fund previously filed on January 24, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 578, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(77) Investment Advisory Agreement between Giralda Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to the Giralda Risk-Managed Growth Fund previously filed on February 24, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 593, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(78) Investment Advisory Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to the Navigator Sentry Managed Volatility Fund previously filed on February 3, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 591, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(79) Investment Advisory Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to the Navigator Tactical Fixed Income Fund previously filed on July 11, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 614, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(80) Investment Advisory Agreement between Astor Investment Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to the Astor Macro Alternative Fund previously filed on April 15, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 697, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(81) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Dearborn Capital Management and EMC Capital Management, with respect to Grant Park Multi-Alternative Strategies Fund previously filed on July 28, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 617, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(82) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Chilton Investment Company, with respect to the Altegris Equity Long Short Fund previously filed on August 22, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 625, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(83) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Leader Capital Corp., with respect to Leader Global Bond Fund previously filed on July 27, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 728, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(84) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Genesis Capital LLC, with respect to Anchor Tactical Municipal Fund previously filed on April 15, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 697, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(85) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Genesis Capital LLC and Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc., with respect to the Anchor Tactical Municipal Fund previously filed on May 28, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 720, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(86) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC with respect to the Athena Value Fund previously filed on May 28, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 720, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(87) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and AthenaInvest Advisors LLC, with respect to the Athena Value Fund previously filed on October 12, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 881, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(88) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between CMG Capital Management Group, Inc., and Registrant with respect to the CMG Tactical Bond Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(89) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between CMG Capital Management Group, Inc., and Registrant with respect to the CMG Global Equity Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(90) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between BTS Asset Management, Inc. and Registrant with respect to the BTS Hedged Income Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(91) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Ascendant Advisors, LLC, and Registrant with respect to the Ascendant Deep Value Convertibles Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(92) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Genesis Capital LLC, and Registrant with respect to the Granite Harbor Alternative Fund and Granite Harbor Tactical Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(93) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between W.E. Donoghue & Co. Inc., and Registrant with respect to the Power Income Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(94) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. and Registrant with respect to the Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(95) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between BTS Asset Management, Inc. and Registrant with respect to the BTS Tactical Fixed Income Fund previously filed on March 9, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 694, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(96) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and MAST Capital Management, LLC, with respect to the Altegris Fixed Income Long Short Fund previously filed on April 15, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 697, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(97) Investment Advisory Agreement between Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc. and Registrant with respect to the Ladenburg Aggressive Growth Fund, Ladenburg Growth Fund, Ladenburg Growth & Income Fund, Ladenburg Income & Growth Fund and Ladenburg Income Fund previously filed on September 1, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No, 749, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(98) Investment Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Registrant with respect to the Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund previously filed on September 8, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 750, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(99) Investment Advisory Agreement between Dearborn Capital Management, LLC and Registrant with respect to Grant Park Absolute Return Fund and Grant Park Fixed Income Fund previously filed on April 30, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(100) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Dearborn Capital Management, LLC and Revolution Capital Management, LLC previously filed on August 7, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 734, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(101) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Deer Park Road Management Company, LP, with respect to Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund previously filed on October 16, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 762, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(102) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Dearborn Capital Management, LLC and Middleton Dickinson Capital Management, LLC, with respect to Grant Park Fixed Income Fund previously filed on October 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 762, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(103) Advisory Fee Waiver Agreement between Dearborn Capital Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Grant Park Fixed Income Fund previously filed on January 25, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 923, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(104) Investment Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Registrant with respect to AFES Fund Limited, previously filed on October 27, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 768, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(105) Investment Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Registrant with respect to AGMS Fund Limited, previously filed on October 27, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 768, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(106) Investment Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Registrant with respect to AMFS Fund Limited, previously filed on October 27, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 768, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d) (107) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Dearborn Capital Management, Inc. and Registrant with respect to the Grant Park Managed Futures Strategy previously filed on December 31, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 789, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d) (108) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between The Pacific Financial Group, LLC and Registrant with respect to the Pacific Financial Strategic Conservative Fund previously filed on December 31, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 789, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d) (109) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Genesis Capital, LLC and Registrant with respect to the Armor Alternative Fund previously filed on December 31, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 789, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d) (110) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Giralda Advisors, LLC and Registrant with respect to the Giralda Risk Managed Fund previously filed on December 31, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 789, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d) (111) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. and Registrant with respect to the Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund previously filed on January 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 791, and hereby incorporated by reference.   
(d) (112) Investment Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Registrant with respect to Princeton Premium Fund previously filed on November 2, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 887, and hereby incorporated by reference.   
(d)(113) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Horse Cove Partners, LLC, with respect to Princeton Premium Fund previously filed on November 2, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 887, and hereby incorporated by reference.   
(d)(114) Investment Advisory Agreement between W.E Donoghue & Co. Inc., and Power Momentum Index Fund previously filed on May 26, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 833, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(115) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Convector Capital Management, LP with respect to the Altegris Equity Long Short Fund previously filed on April 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 821, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(116) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC with respect to the Altegris Equity Long Short Fund previously filed on June 6, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 836, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d) (117) Interim Sub-Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Shelton Capital Management, with respect to the Sandalwood Opportunity Fund previously filed on July 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 847, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(118) Investment Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C., and Altegris GSA Trend Strategy Fund previously filed on January 25, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 923, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(119) Investment Advisory Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC, and Princeton Long/Short Treasury Fund previously filed on March 10, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 953, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(120) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Centurion Investment Management, LLC with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on May 5, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 965, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(121) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and GSA Capital Partners LLP with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on May 5, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 965, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(122) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and QMS Capital Management, LP with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on May 5, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 965, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(123) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Three Rock Capital Management, Limited with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on May 5, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 965, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(124) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Millburn Corporation with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on May 5, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 965, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(125) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and GSA Capital Partners LLP with respect to the Altegris GSA Trend Strategy Fund previously filed on May 5, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 965, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(126) Investment Advisory Agreement between AlphaCore Capital, and the Registrant with respect to the AlphaCore Absolute Fund previously filed on December 30, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 913, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(127) Investment Advisory Agreement between Leader Capital Corporation, and Leader Floating Rate Fund previously filed on January 3, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 917, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(128) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Ascendant Advisors, LLC and AssetOne, LLC with respect to the Ascendant Tactical Yield Fund previously filed on January 25, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 925, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(129) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and Crabel Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on May 5, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 965, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(130) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and PhaseCapital LP with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on May 5, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 965, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(131) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between CMG Capital Management Group, Inc. and Mauldin Solutions, LLC with respect to the CMG Mauldin Solutions Core Fund previously filed on May 5, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 965, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(132) Investment Advisory Agreement between AlphaCore Capital, LLC and AlphaCore Statistical Arbitrage Fund previously filed on August 9, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 984, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(133) Investment Advisory Agreement between W.E. Donoghue & Co., LLC, Power Floating Rate Index Fund and Power Dividend Mid-Cap Index Fund previously filed on October 30, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,019, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(134) Investment Advisory Agreement between The Pacific Financial Group, LLC and RiskPro® Alternative 0-15 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 20-30 Fund, RiskPro® Tactical 0-30 Fund, RiskPro® Alternative 0-15 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 0-10 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 15-25 Fund, RiskPro® PFG Balanced 20-30 Fund, RiskPro® PFG Aggressive 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG Equity 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG Global 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG 30+ Fund, RiskPro® 30+ Fund and RiskPro® Aggressive 30+ Fund previously filed on September 15, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,008, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(135) Investment Advisory Agreement between Toews Corporation and Agility Shares Dynamic Tactical Income ETF and Agility Shares Managed Risk Equity ETF previously filed on August 10, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,109, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(136) Investment Advisory Agreement between W.E Donoghue & Co., LLC and Power Global Tactical Allocation/JAFlorines Fund previously filed on June 29, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,099, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(137) Investment Advisory Agreement between BTS Asset Management, Inc. and BTS Managed Income Fund previously filed on March 5, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,072, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(138) Investment Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, LLC and Altegris/AACA Opportunistic Real Estate Fund and Altegris/AACA Real Estate Income Fund previously filed on July 27, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,106, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(141) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, LLC and American Assets Capital Advisers, LLC with respect to the Altegris/AACA Opportunistic Real Estate Fund previously filed on July 27, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,106, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(d)(142) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Altegris Advisors, LLC and American Assets Capital Advisers, LLC with respect to the Altegris/AACA Real Estate Fund previously filed on July 27, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,106, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(e)(1) Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors LLC previously filed on July 27, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 728, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(e)(2) Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Foreside Distribution Services, LP with respect to The Leader Short-Term Bond Fund, previously filed on October 20, 2008 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, and hereby incorporated by reference. Amendment to Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Foreside Distribution Services, LP with respect to Leader Global Bond Fund, Leader Total Return Fund and Princeton Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on June 3, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 721, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(e)(3) Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and ALPS Distribution, Inc. with respect to 13D Activist Fund, previously filed on April 7, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 598, and hereby incorporated by reference.  
(f) Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts -  NONE
(g)(1) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon, previously filed on October 3, 2007 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 29, and hereby incorporated by reference.   
(g)(2) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and the First National Bank of Omaha is hereby incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 2, 2007 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(g)(3) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Union Bank, N.A., previously filed on October 20, 2008 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(g)(4) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Fifth Third Bank, previously filed on October 20, 2008 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(g)(5) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. previously filed on August 29, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 302, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(g)(6) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association previously filed on August 29, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 302, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(1) Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, dated June 22, 2011, previously filed on June 6, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 721, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(2) Amended Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Adaptive Allocation Fund and Critical Math Advisors LLC previously filed on July 11, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 614, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(3) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to The Biondo Growth Fund, and Biondo Investment Advisors, LLC, previously filed on April 29, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 605, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(4) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Pacific Financial Faith & Values Based Moderate Fund was previously filed on August 26, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 628, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(5) Revised Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Sierra Core Retirement Fund and Wright Fund Management, LLC previously filed on March 9, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 694, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(6) Custody Administration Agreement between Registrant and the Administrator, with respect to certain Funds of the Trust that use First National Bank of Omaha as Custodian, is hereby incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 2, 2007 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(7) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to KCM Macro Trends Fund and Kerns Capital Management, Inc., previously filed on April 18, 2008 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 41, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(8) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Wade Tactical Long/Short Fund and Wade Financial Group previously filed on August 21, 2008 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 58, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(9) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Toews Hedged Core Frontier Fund, Toews Hedged Core W Fund, Toews Hedged High Yield Bond Fund, Toews Hedged Core L Fund, Toews Hedged Core S Fund, Toews Hedged Growth Allocation Fund, Toews Hedged Commodities Fund and Toews Unconstrained Income Fund and Toews Corporation previously filed on August 28, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 631, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(10) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Leader Short-Term Bond Fund and Leader Capital Corp., previously filed on October 20, 2008 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(11) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the CMG Absolute Return Strategies Fund and CMG Capital Management Group, Inc. previously filed on March 9, 2009 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 80, and hereby incorporated by reference.  Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the CMG SR Tactical Bond Fund and CMG Capital Management Group, Inc. as last updated on June 17, 2013 previously filed on June 17, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 496, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(12) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the GMG Defensive Beta Fund and Montebello Partners, LLC previously filed on July 27, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 728, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(13) Revised Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Astor Dynamic Allocation Fund and Astor Sector Allocation Fund, and Astor Investment Management, LLC previously filed on March 10, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 953, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(14) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund and Equinox Fund Management, LLC previously filed on September 1, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No, 749, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(15) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Investment Partners Opportunities Fund and Investment Partners Asset Management, Inc. previously filed on April 29, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 606, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(16) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Princeton Futures Strategy Fund and Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC previously filed on June 6, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 836, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(17) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Leader Total Return Fund and Leader Capital Corp. previously filed on June 30, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 162, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(18) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Altegris Advisors, L.L.C., with respect to Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. previously filed on March 9, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 811, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(19) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Power Income Fund and Power Dividend Index Fund W.E. Donoghue & Co., Inc. previously filed on July 27, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 728, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(20) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to PSI Market Neutral Fund, PSI Total Return Fund, PSI Strategic Growth Fund, PSI Tactical Growth Fund, and PSI Calendar Effects Fund previously filed on October 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 762, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(21) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to CWC Small Cap Aggressive Value Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(22) Amended Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund previously filed on May 29, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 608, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(23) Expense Limitation Agreement between Logan Circle Partners, L.P. and the Registrant, with respect to Fortress Long/Short Credit Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(24) Amended Expense Limitation Agreement between Beech Hill Advisors, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to Beech Hill Total Return Fund previously filed on May 29, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 608, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(25) Expense Limitation Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to Navigator Equity Hedged Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(26) Amended Expense Limitation Agreement between Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C. and the Registrant, with respect to Grant Park Managed Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on July 11, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 614, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(27) Amended Expense Limitation Agreement between Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C. previously filed on May 26, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 833, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(28) Expense Limitation Agreement between Genesis Capital LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Granite Harbor Alternative Fund  and Granite Harbor Tactical Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(29) Expense Limitation Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and the Registrant, with respect to Altegris Macro Strategy Fund and Altegris Equity Long Short Fund previously filed on March 9, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 811, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(30) Expense Limitation Agreement between Zeo Capital Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Zeo Short Duration Income Fund was previously filed on August 26, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 628, and hereby incorporated by reference.
 (h)(31) Expense Limitation Agreement between Giralda Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to The Giralda Fund previously filed on April 15, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 697, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(32) Expense Limitation Agreement between Van Hulzen Asset Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Iron Horse Fund previously filed on January 13, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 658, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(33) Expense Limitation Agreement between Makefield Capital Management, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Makefield Managed Futures Strategy Fund, previously filed on December 23, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 571, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(34) Expense Limitation Agreement between Ascendant Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to Ascendant Balanced Fund, Ascendant Natural Resources Fund, Ascendant Deep Value Convertibles Fund and Patriot Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(35) Expense Limitation Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. and the Registrant, with respect to Altegris Futures Evolution Strategy Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(36) Expense Limitation Agreement between Risk Paradigm Group, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to RPG Emerging Market Sector Rotation Fund previously filed on November 28, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 341, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(37) Expense Limitation Agreement between CMG Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant, with respect to the CMG Tactical Equity Strategy Fund, CMG Global Equity Fund and CMG Managed High Yield Fund previously filed on April 30, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 607, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(38) Expense Limitation Agreement between Wright Fund Management and the Registrant, with respect to the Sierra Strategic Income Fund previously filed on March 10, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 954, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(39) Form of Revised Expense Limitation Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC, Eagle Global Advisors, LLC and the Registrant, with respect to the Eagle MLP Strategy previously filed on July 24, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,104, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(40) Expense Limitation Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC, and the Registrant with respect to the Sandalwood Opportunity Fund previously filed on January 28, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Amendment No. 586, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(41) Expense Limitation Agreement between Altegris Advisors, L.L.C., and the Registrant with respect to the Altegris Fixed Income Long Short Fund and Altegris Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund previously filed on April 30, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 607, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(42) Expense Limitation Agreement between BTS Asset Management, Inc. and the Registrant with respect to the BTS Tactical Fixed Income Fund previously filed on April 22, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Amendment No. 815, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(43) Expense Limitation Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant with respect to the Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund previously filed on January 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 797, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(44) Interim Expense Limitation Agreement between Probabilities Fund Management, LLC and the Registrant with respect to the Probabilities Fund previously filed on January 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 797, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(45) Expense Limitation Agreement between Altegris Advisors, LLC and the Registrant with respect to the Altegris/AACA Real Estate Long Short Fund previously filed on December 23, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 571, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(46) Expense Limitation Agreement between Genesis Capital, LLC and the Registrant with respect to the Anchor Alternative Income Fund previously filed on April 15, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 697, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(47) Expense Limitation Agreement between Giralda Advisors, LLC and the Registrant with respect to the Giralda Risk-Managed Growth Fund previously filed on April 15, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 697, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(48) Expense Limitation Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant with respect to the Navigator Sentry Managed Volatility Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(49) Expense Limitation Agreement between Astor Investment Management, LLC and the Registrant with respect to the Astor Macro Alternative Fund previously filed on October 3, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 876, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(50) Expense Limitation Agreement between Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant with respect to the Navigator Tactical Fixed Income Fund previously filed on January 23, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 659, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(51) Expense Limitation Agreement between Leader Capital Corp. and the Registrant with respect to the Leader Global Bond Fund previously filed on October 29, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 648, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(52) Expense Limitation Agreement between Genesis Capital LLC and the Registrant with respect to the Anchor Tactical Municipal Fund previously filed on May 28, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 720, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(53) Expense Limitation Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and the Registrant with respect to the Athena Value Fund previously filed on May 28, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 720, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(54) Expense Limitation Agreement between Dearborn Capital Management, LLC and the Registrant with respect to the Grant Park Absolute Return and Grant Park Fixed Income previously filed on January 25, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 923, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(55) Expense Limitation Agreement between Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc. and Registrant with respect to the Ladenburg Aggressive Growth Fund, Ladenburg Growth Fund, Ladenburg Growth & Income Fund, Ladenburg Income & Growth Fund and Ladenburg Income Fund previously filed on December 14, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 906, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(56) Expense Limitation Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Registrant with respect to the Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund previously filed on March 10, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 954, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(57) Consulting Agreement between Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC and Registrant previously filed on August 7, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 734, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(58) Expense Limitation Agreement between Probabilities Fund Management and Registrant with respect to the Probabilities Fund is previously filed on December 31, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 789, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(59) Expense Limitation Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Registrant with respect to the Princeton Premium Fund previously filed on June 6, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 836, and hereby incorporated by reference.   
(h)(60) Expense Limitation Agreement between Altegris Advisors, LLC and Registrant with respect to the Altegris Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund is previously filed on April 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 821, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(61) Amended Expense Limitation Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC and Registrant with respect to the Princeton Futures Strategy Fund previously filed on July 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 847, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(62) Amendment to the Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC previously filed on September 27, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 873, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(63) Expense Limitation Agreement between Altegris Advisors, LLC and Registrant with respect to the Altegris GSA Trend Strategy Fund previously filed on April 19, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 960, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(64) Expense Limitation Agreement between Toews Corporation and Registrant with respect to the Toews Tactical Defensive Alpha Fund previously filed on October 12, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 881, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(65) Expense Limitation Agreement between AlphaCore Absolute, LLC, and Registrant with respect to AlphaCore Absolute Return Fund, previously filed on October 27, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 885, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(69) Expense Limitation Agreement between Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC, and Registrant with respect to Princeton Long/Short Treasury Fund, previously filed on March 10, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 953, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(70) Expense Limitation Agreement between Leader Capital Corporation, and Registrant with respect to Leader Floating Rate Fund, previously filed on January 3, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 917, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(71) Expense Limitation Agreement between AlphaCore Capital, LLC, and Registrant with respect to AlphaCore Statistical Arbitrage Fund, previously filed on August 9, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 984, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(72) Expense Limitation Agreement between W.E. Donoghue & CO., LLC, and Registrant with respect to Power Floating Rate Index Fund and Power Dividend Mid-Cap Index Fund, previously filed on October 30, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,019, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(73) Expense Limitation Agreement between Toews Corporation and Agility Shares Dynamic Tactical Income ETF and Agility Shares Managed Risk Equity ETF previously filed on August 10, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,109, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(74) Expense Limitation Agreement between W.E Donoghue & Co., LLC and Power Global Tactical Allocation/JAFlorines Fund previously filed on June 29, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,099, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(75) Expense Limitation Agreement between BTS Asset Management, Inc. and BTS Managed Income Fund previously filed on March 5, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,072, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)(76) Expense Limitation Agreement between Altegris Advisors, LLC and Altegris/AACA Opportunistic Real Estate Fund to be filed by subsequent amendment.
 (i)(1) Legal Opinion previously filed on August 10, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,109, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(i)(2) Consent of Counsel is filed herewith.
(j)(1) Consent of Independent Auditor is filed herewith.
(j)(2) Powers of Attorney of Anthony J. Hertl, Gary W. Lanzen, Mark Taylor, John V. Palancia, Mark D. Gersten, Mark Garbin and Kevin Wolf previously filed on June 30, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 981, and hereby incorporated by reference. Powers of Attorney of Andrew Rogers previously filed on September 1, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,001, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(j)(3) Powers of Attorney of Anthony J. Hertl, Gary W. Lanzen, Mark Taylor, John V. Palancia, Andrew Rogers, Mark Garbin and Mark D. Gersten with respect to AMA Fund Ltd. previously filed on April 17, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 599, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(k) Omitted Financial Statements - Not Applicable.
(l) Initial Capital Agreements - Not Applicable.
(m)(1) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class A Shares previously filed on October 10, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 638, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(2) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class A1 Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(3) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class C Shares previously filed on October 10, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 638, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(4) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class I Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(5) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class I1 Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(6) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class N Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(7) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class O Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(8) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class R Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(9) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class R-1 Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(10) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class R-2 Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(11) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class W Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(12) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class Y Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(13) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Institutional Class Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(14) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Investor Class Shares, previously filed on October 27, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 884, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(15) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Manager Class Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(16) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Non-designated Class Shares previously filed on May 28, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 720, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(17) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Retail Class Shares previously filed on October 4, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 539, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(18) Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and ALPS Distributors, Inc. with respect to The 13D Activist Fund previously filed on March 3, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 595, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(19) Master Distribution Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class T Shares previously filed on May 5, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 965, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(m)(20) Master ETF Distribution Shareholders Servicing Plan, to be filed by subsequent amendment.
(n) Rule 18f-3 Plan to add AlphaCore Statistical Arbitrage Fund, previously filed on August 9, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 984, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(1) Code of Ethics of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC,  previously filed on August 10, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,109, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(2) Code of Ethics of Critical Math Advisors LLC, previously filed on January 30, 2006 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 8, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(3) Code of Ethics of Biondo Investment Advisors, LLC, previously filed on October 27, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 882, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(5) Code of Ethics of Changing Parameters, LLC previously filed on January 12, 2007 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 16, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(6) Code of Ethics of The Pacific Financial Group, LLC previously filed on May 10, 2007 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 21, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(7) Code of Ethics of Wright Fund Management, LLC, previously filed on December 17, 2007 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 35, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(8) Code of Ethics of Crow Point Partners, LLC, previously filed on January 23, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 576, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(9) Code of Ethics of Kerns Capital Management, Inc., previously filed on April 18, 2008 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 41, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(10) Code of Ethics of Equinox Fund Management, LLC previously filed on August 28, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 631, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(11) Code of Ethics of Wade Financial Group, previously filed on August 21, 2008 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 58, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(12) Code of Ethics of Toews Corporation previously filed on August 28, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 631, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(13) Code of Ethics of Leader Capital Corp., previously filed on October 20, 2008 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(14) Code of Ethics of CMG Capital Management Group, Inc. previously filed on April 30, 2009 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 84, and hereby incorporated by reference.

(p)(15)

 

 

Code of Ethics of Traub Capital Management, LLC previously filed on April 30, 2009 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 84, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(16) Code of Ethics of Bandon Capital Management, LLC previously filed on August 28, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 631, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(17) Code of Ethics of Scotia Partners, Ltd. previously filed on April 30, 2009 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 84, and hereby incorporated by reference.

(p)(18)

 

Code of Ethics of Summit Portfolios Advisors, LLC previously filed on June 24, 2009 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 91, and hereby incorporated by reference.

(p)(19)

 

Code of Ethics of Montebello Partners, LLC previously filed on September 14, 2009 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 104, and hereby incorporated by reference.

(p)(20)

 

 

Code of Ethics of BTS Asset Management, LLC previously filed on October 27, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 883, and hereby incorporated by reference.

(p)(21)

 

Code of Ethics of National Asset Management, Inc., previously filed on January 23, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 576, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(22) Code of Ethics of Investment Partners Asset Management, Inc. previously filed on October 2, 2009 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 107, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(23) Code of Ethics of Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC previously filed on April 7, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 598, and hereby incorporated by reference.  
(p)(24) Code of Ethics of 6800 Capital, LLC previously filed on June 30, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 162, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(25) Code of Ethics of Congress Asset Management Company, LLP previously filed on June 30, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 162, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(26) Code of Ethics of Chadwick & D’Amato, LLC previously filed on June 30, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 162, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(27) Code of Ethics of 13D Management, LLC previously filed on July 8, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 164, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(28) Code of Ethics of Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. previously filed on August 31, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 171, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(29) Code of Ethics of W.E. Donoghue & Co., Inc. previously filed on August 31, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 171, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(30) Code of Ethics of Portfolio Strategies, Inc. previously filed on August 31, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 171, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(31) Code of Ethics of CWC Advisors, LLC previously filed on March 14, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 230, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(32) Code of Ethics of TransWestern Capital Advisors, LLC, previously filed on April 7, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 598, and hereby incorporated by reference.  
(p)(33) Code of Ethics of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.  previously filed on July 2, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,100, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(34) Code of Ethics of Beech Hill Advisors, Inc. previously filed on November 30, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 186, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(35) Code of Ethics of Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. previously filed on December 2, 2010 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 187, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(36) Code of Ethics of Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C., previously filed on January 23, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 576, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(37) Code of Ethics of Risk Paradigm Group, LLC previously filed on March 14, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 230, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(38) Code of Ethics of Genesis Capital, LLC previously filed on March 29, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 232, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(39) Code of Ethics of CWM, LLC previously filed on May 6, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 246, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(40) Code of Ethics of Zeo Capital Advisors, LLC previously filed on December 29, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 345, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(41) Code of Ethics of Giralda Advisors, LLC previously filed on March 29, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 232, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(42) Code of Ethics of Van Hulzen Asset Management, LLC previously filed on May 6, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 246, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(43) Code of Ethics of Ascendant Advisors, LLC previously filed on August 28, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 631, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(44) Code of Ethics of Winch Advisory Services, LLC previously filed on December 29, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 345, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(45) Code of Ethics of Absolute Private Wealth Management, LLC previously filed on July 1, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 279, and hereby incorporated by reference.  
(p)(46) Code of Ethics of Horizon Cash Management LLC previously filed on July 1, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 279, and hereby incorporated by reference.  
(p)(47) Code of Ethics of DoubleLine Capital LP was previously filed on October 19, 2011 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 318, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(48) Code of Ethics of Eagle Global Advisors, LLC previously filed on June 12, 2012 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 386, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(49) Code of Ethics of Sandalwood Securities, Inc. previously filed on January 23, 2014 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 576, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(50) Code of Ethics of RockView Management, LLC previously filed on December 18, 2012 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 445, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(51) Code of Ethics of Alpha Simplex Group, LLC previously filed on October 11, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 542, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(52) Code of Ethics of Probabilities Fund Management, LLC previously filed on October 11, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 542, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(53) Code of Ethics of American Assets Investment Management, LLC previously filed on December 23, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 571, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(54) Code of Ethics of Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. previously filed on January 24, 2013 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 578, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(55) Code of Ethics of AthenaInvest Advisors LLC previously filed on April 15, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 697, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(56) Code of Ethics of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc. previously filed on June 26, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 725, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(57) Code of Ethics of Deer Park Road Management, previously filed on  July 2, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,100, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(58) Code of Ethics of Whippoorwill Capital Management LP previously filed on July 28, 2015 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 729, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(59) Code of Ethics of Main Point Advisers, Inc. previously filed on January 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 797, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(60) Code of Ethics of Asset One, LLC previously filed on February 19, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 807, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(61) Code of Ethics of Coe Capital Management, LLC previously filed on February 19, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 807, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(62) Code of Ethics of Harvest Capital Strategies, LLC previously filed on February 19, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 807, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(63) Code of Ethics of Critical Math Advisors, LLC previously filed on February 19, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 808, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(64) Code of Ethics of Mariner Holdings, LLC previously filed on February 19, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 808, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(65) Code of Ethics of Horse Cove Partners, LLC previously filed on June 6, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 836, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(66) Code of Ethics of MAST Capital Management, LLC previously filed on April 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 821, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(67) Code of Ethics of Chilton Investment Company, LLC previously filed on April 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 821, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(68) Code of Ethics of Convector Capital Management, LP previously filed on April 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 821, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(69) Code of Ethics of Visium Asset Management, LP previously filed on April 28, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 821, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(70) Code of Ethics of Middleton Dickinson Capital Management, LLC previously filed on June 6, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 836, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(71) Code of Ethics of Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC previously filed on June 6, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 836, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(72) Code of Ethics of Astor Investment Management, LLC previously filed on September 27, 2016 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 873, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(73) Code of Ethics of AlphaCore, LLC is previously filed on August 21, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,112, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(74) Code of Ethics of Clinton Retail Investment Management LLC previously filed on August 9, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 984, and hereby incorporated by reference.
(p)(75) Code of Ethics of GSA Capital Partners LLP previously filed on August 17, 2018 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,111, and hereby incorporated by reference.

 

ITEM 29.

PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE REGISTRANT.

 

None.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 30.

INDEMNIFICATION.

 

Article VIII, Section 2(a) of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that to the fullest extent that limitations on the liability of Trustees and officers are permitted by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act of 2002, the officers and Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any act or omission of:  any agent or employee of the Trust; any investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Trust; or with respect to each Trustee and officer, the act or omission of any other Trustee or officer, respectively.  The Trust, out of the Trust Property, is required to indemnify and hold harmless each and every officer and Trustee from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever arising out of or related to such officer’s or Trustee’s performance of his or her duties as an officer or Trustee of the Trust.  This limitation on liability applies to events occurring at the time a person serves as a Trustee or officer of the Trust whether or not such person is a Trustee or officer at the time of any proceeding in which liability is asserted.  Nothing contained in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust indemnifies, holds harmless or protects any officer or Trustee from or against any liability to the Trust or any shareholder 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.

 

Article VIII, Section 2(b) provides that every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or document whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust, the officers 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 such Person’s capacity as Trustee and/or as officer, and such Trustee or officer, as applicable, shall not be personally liable therefore, except as described in the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 2 of Article VIII.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions of Delaware law and the Agreement and Declaration of the Registrant or the By-Laws of the Registrant, 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 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 Trust 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Registrant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Northern Lights Distributors (NLD), its several officers and directors, and any person who controls NLD within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which NLD, its officers and directors, or any such controlling persons, may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon: (i) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact required to be stated in either any Registration Statement or any Prospectus, (ii) any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in any of them not misleading, (iii) the Registrant’s  failure to maintain an effective Registration statement and Prospectus with respect to Shares of the Funds that are the subject of the claim or demand, or (iv)  the Registrant’s failure to provide NLD with advertising or sales materials to be filed with the FINRA on a timely basis.

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Registrant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Foreside Distribution Services, L.P. (Foreside), its several officers and directors, and any person who controls Foreside within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which Foreside, its officers and directors, or any such controlling persons, may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon: (i) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact required to be stated in either any Registration Statement or any Prospectus, (ii) any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in any of them not misleading, (iii) the Registrant’s  failure to maintain an effective Registration statement and Prospectus with respect to Shares of the Funds that are the subject of the claim or demand, or (iv)  the Registrant’s failure to provide Foreside with advertising or sales materials to be filed with the FINRA on a timely basis.

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Registrant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold ALPS Distributors, Inc. (ALPS), its several officers and directors, and any person who controls ALPS within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which ALPS, its officers and directors, or any such controlling persons, may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon: (i) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact required to be stated in either any Registration Statement or any Prospectus, (ii) any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in any of them not misleading, (iii) the Registrant’s  failure to maintain an effective Registration statement and Prospectus with respect to Shares of the Funds that are the subject of the claim or demand, or (iv)  the Registrant’s failure to provide ALPS with advertising or sales materials to be filed with the FINRA on a timely basis.

 

The Fund Accounting, Transfer Agency and Administration Service Agreements with Gemini Fund Services (GFS) provides that the Registrant agrees to indemnify and hold GFS harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to the Registrant’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of the Agreement, or which arise out of the Registrant’s lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Registrant’s performance under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

The Consulting Agreement with Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (NLCS) provides that the Registrant agree to indemnify and hold NLCS harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to the Trust’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of the Agreement, or which arise out of the Trust’s lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Trust’s performance under or in connection with the Agreement.  NLCS shall not be liable for, and shall be entitled to rely upon, and may act upon information, records and reports generated by the Trust, advice of the Trust, or of counsel for the Trust and upon statements of the Trust’s independent accountants, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such records and reports.

 

ITEM 31.

BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER.

  

Certain information pertaining to the business and other connections of each Advisor of each series of the Trust is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the section of the respective Prospectus captioned “Investment Advisor” and to the section of the respective Statement of Additional Information captioned “Investment Advisory and Other Services.”  The information required by this Item 26 with respect to each director, officer or partner of each Advisor is incorporated by reference to the Advisor’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Each Advisor’s Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov, and may be requested by File No. as follows:

Biondo Investment Advisors, LLC, the Adviser to The Biondo Growth Fund and The Biondo Focus Fund- File No. 801 - 62775

Changing Parameters, LLC, the Adviser to Changing Parameters Fund -- File No. 801-63495

The Pacific Financial Group, LLC, the Adviser to RiskPro® Alternative 0-15 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 20-30 Fund, RiskPro® Tactical 0-30 Fund, RiskPro® Alternative 0-15 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 0-10 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 15-25 Fund, RiskPro® PFG Balanced 20-30 Fund, RiskPro® PFG Aggressive 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG Equity 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG Global 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG 30+ Fund, RiskPro® 30+ Fund and RiskPro® Aggressive 30+ Fund - File No. 801 - 18151

Wright Fund Management, LLC, the Adviser of Sierra Tactical All Asset Fund and Sierra Tactical Core Fund (formerly Sierra Strategic Income Fund) – File No. 801- 68554

Kerns Capital Management, Inc., the Adviser of the KCM Macro Trends Fund – File No. 801 – 57482

Equinox Fund Management, LLC, the Adviser of the Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund – File No. 801- 67852

 

Toews Corporation, the Adviser of the Toews Tactical Oceana Fund, Toews Tactical Income Fund, Toews Tactical Monument Fund, Toews Tactical Opportunity Fund, Toews Hedged Commodities Fund, Toews Tactical Growth Allocation Fund, Toews Unconstrained Income Fund, Toews Tactical Defensive Alpha Fund, Agility Shares Dynamic Tactical Income ETF and Agility Shares Managed Risk Equity ETF – File No. 801- 47765

 

Leader Capital Corp., the Adviser of the Leader Short Duration Fund (formerly Leader Short Term Bond Fund), Leader Total Return Fund and Leader Floating Rate Fund – File No. 801- 56684 

 

CMG Capital Management Group, Inc., the Adviser of the CMG Mauldin Solutions Core Fund, CMG Tactical Bond Fund and CMG Tactical All Asset Strategy Fund– File No. 801-43455 

 

BTS Asset Management, Inc., the Adviser of the BTS Tactical Fixed Income Fund and BTS Managed Income Fund– File No.801-14895. 

 

Astor Investment Management, LLC, Adviser of the Astor Dynamic Allocation Fund, Astor Sector Rotation Fund and Astor Macro Alternative Fund– File No. 801-60150. 

 

Chadwick & D’Amato, LLC, the Adviser of Chadwick & D’Amato Fund – File No. 801-62604. 

 

13D Management, LLC, the Adviser of 13D Activist Fund – File No. 801-71577.

 

Altegris Advisors, L.L.C., the Adviser of Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Altegris Futures Evolution Strategy Fund, Altegris/AACA Real Estate Long Short Fund, Altegris GSA Trend Strategy Fund and Altegris/AACA Opportunistic Real Estate Fund – File No. 801- 71496.

 

W.E. Donoghue & Co., Inc., the Adviser of Power Income Fund, Power Dividend Index Fund, Power Momentum Fund, Power Floating Rate Index Fund, Power Dividend Mid-Cap Index Fund and Power Global Tactical Allocation/JAFlorines Fund – File No. 801-27959.

 

Portfolio Strategies, Inc., the Adviser of PSI All Asset Fund, PSI Total Return Fund, PSI Strategic Growth Fund, PSI Tactical Growth Fund and PSI Opportunistic Fund– File No. 801-18475. 

 

Transwestern Capital Advisors, LLC, the Adviser of the TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund – File No. 801-67113.

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., the Sub-Adviser of the TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund – File No. 801-170.

 

Beech Hill Advisors, Inc., the Adviser of the Beech Hill Total Return Fund – File No. 801-31503.

 

Clark Capital Management Group Inc., the Adviser of the Navigator Equity Hedged Fund, Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund, Navigator Sentry Managed Volatility Fund and Navigator Tactical Fixed Income Fund– File No. 801-28445.

 

Dearborn Capital Management, LLC, the Adviser of the Grant Park Multi-Alternative Strategies Fund, Grant Park Absolute Return Fund and Grant Park Fixed Income Fund – File No. 801-72068.

 

Zeo Capital Advisors, LLC, the Adviser of the Zeo Short DurationIncome Fund – File No. 801-72287.

 

Ascendant Advisors, LLC, the Adviser of Patriot Balanced Fund, Ascendant Deep Value Convertibles Fund, Ascendant Tactical Yield and the Patriot Fund – File No. 801-72278.

 

DoubleLine Capital LP, the Sub-Adviser of Altegris Futures Evolution Strategy Fund – File 801-70942. 

 

Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC, the Co-Advisor of Eagle MLP Strategy Fund and Adviser to Princeton Futures Strategy Fund, Athena Value Fund, Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund, Princeton Premium Fund and Princeton Long/Short Treasury Fund – File No. 801-72525.

 

Eagle Global Advisors, LLC, the Co-Advisor of Eagle MLP Strategy Fund – File No. 801-53294.

 

Deer Park Road Management, LP, Sub-Adviser of Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund – File No. 801-74577

 

Mauldin Solutions, LLC, Sub-Adviser of CMG Mauldin Solutions Core Fund – File No. 801-109018.

 

Probabilities Fund Management, LLC, the Adviser of the Probabilities Fund – File No.801-77947.

 

American Assets Investment Management, LLC (DBA AACA), the Sub-Adviser of Altegris/AACA Real Estate Long Short Fund and Altegris/AACA Opportunistic Real Estate Fund – File No. 801-65209

 

J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. the Sub-Adviser of Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund – File No. 801-21011.

 

AthenaInvest Advisors LLC, the Sub-Adviser of Athena Value Fund – File No. 801-69258.

 

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., the Adviser of Ladenburg Aggressive Growth Fund, Ladenburg Growth Fund, Ladenburg Growth & Income Fund, Ladenburg Income & Growth Fund and Ladenburg Income Fund – File No. 801-54909.

 

Revolution Capital Management, LLC, the Sub-Adviser of Grant Park Absolute Return Fund – [to be filed by subsequent amendment]

 

Middleton Dickinson Capital Management, LLC, the Sub-Adviser of Grant Park Fixed Income Fund – File No. 801-66187.

 

Horse Cove Partners LLC, the Sub-Adviser of Princeton Premium Fund – File No. 801-107577.

 

Centurion Investment Management, LLC, the Sub-Adviser of Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund – File No. [to be filed by subsequent amendment].

 

GSA Capital Partners LLP, the Sub-Adviser of Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Altegris GSA Trend Strategy Fund – File No. 801-65491.

 

Millburn Corporation, the Sub-Adviser of Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund – File No. 801-60938.

 

QMS Capital Management, LP, the Sub-Adviser of Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund – File No. 801-79593.

 

Three Rock Capital Management, Limited, the Sub-Adviser of Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund – File No. [to be filed by subsequent amendment].

 

AlphaCore Capital, the Adviser of AlphaCore Absolute Fund and AlphaCore Statistical Arbitrage Fund – File No. 801-108468.

 

Clinton Retail Investment Management LLC, the Sub-Adviser of AlphaCore Statistical Arbitrage Fund – File No. 801-107195

 

ITEM 32.

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

(a) Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (“NLD”), the principal underwriter to the Trust also acts as principal underwriter for the following:

AdvisorOne Funds, Arrow DWA Tactical ETF, Arrow QVM Equity Factor ETF, Arrow Reserve Capital Management ETF, Arrow Dogs of the World ETF, Arrow DWA Country Rotation ETF, Arrow ETF Trust, Centerstone Investors Trust, Copeland Trust, Equinox Funds Trust, Forethought Variable Insurance Trust, Miller Investment Trust, Multi-Strategy Growth & Income Fund, Mutual Fund and Variable Insurance Trust, Mutual Fund Series Trust, Neiman Funds, Nile Capital Investment Trust, North Country Funds, Northern Lights Fund Trust, Northern Lights Fund Trust II, Northern Lights Fund Trust III, Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, Northern Lights Variable Trust, OCM Mutual Fund, PREDEX, The Saratoga Advantage Trust, Tributary Funds, Inc., Two Roads Shared Trust and Vertical Capital Income Fund.

 

Foreside Distribution Services, L.P. (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:

 

1.ABS Long/Short Strategies Fund
2.Absolute Shares Trust
3.Active Weighting Funds ETF Trust
4.AdvisorShares Trust
5.AmericaFirst Quantitative Funds
6.American Century ETF Trust
7.ARK ETF Trust
8.Avenue Mutual Funds Trust
9.BP Capital TwinLine Energy Fund, Series of Professionally Managed Portfolios
10.BP Capital TwinLine MLP Fund, Series of Professionally Managed Portfolios
11.Braddock Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
12.Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
13.Brinker Capital Destinations Trust
14.Calvert Ultra-Short Duration Income NextShares, Series of Calvert Management Series
15.Center Coast MLP & Infrastructure Fund
16.Center Coast MLP Focus Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
17.Context Capital Funds
18.CornerCap Group of Funds
19.Davis Fundamental ETF Trust
20.Direxion Shares ETF Trust
21.Eaton Vance NextShares Trust
22.Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II
23.EIP Investment Trust
24.Elkhorn ETF Trust
25.EntrepreneurShares Series Trust
26.Evanston Alternative Opportunities Fund
27.Exchange Listed Funds Trust (f/k/a Exchange Traded Concepts Trust II)
28.FEG Absolute Access Fund I LLC
29.Fiera Capital Series Trust
30.FlexShares Trust
31.Forum Funds
32.Forum Funds II
33.FQF Trust
34.Friess Small Cap Growth Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series
35.GraniteShares ETF Trust
36.Guinness Atkinson Funds
37.Horizons ETF Trust I (f/k/a Recon Capital Series Trust)
38.Infinity Core Alternative Fund
39.Innovator IBD® 50 ETF, Series of Innovator ETFs Trust
40.Innovator IBD® ETF Leaders ETF, Series of Innovator ETFs Trust
41.Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
42.Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
43.John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
44.Manor Investment Funds
45.Miller/Howard Funds Trust
46.Miller/Howard High Income Equity Fund
47.Moerus Worldwide Value Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV
48.MProved Systematic Long-Short Fund, Series Portfolios Trust
49.MProved Systematic Merger Arbitrage Fund, Series Portfolios Trust
50.MProved Systematic Multi-Strategy Fund, Series Portfolios Trust
51.NYSE® Pickens Oil Response™ ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
52.OSI ETF Trust
53.Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund
54.Partners Group Private Income Opportunities, LLC
55.PENN Capital Funds Trust
56.Performance Trust Mutual Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
57.Pine Grove Alternative Institutional Fund
58.Plan Investment Fund, Inc.
59.PMC Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
60.Point Bridge GOP Stock Tracker ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
61.Quaker Investment Trust
62.Ranger Funds Investment Trust
63.Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds
64.RMB Investors Trust (f/k/a Burnham Investors Trust)
65.Robinson Opportunistic Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
66.Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
67.Salient MF Trust
68.SharesPost 100 Fund
69.Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
70.Steben Alternative Investment Funds
71.Steben Select Multi-Strategy Fund
72.Strategy Shares
73.The 504 Fund (f/k/a The Pennant 504 Fund)
74.The Chartwell Funds
75.The Community Development Fund
76.The Relative Value Fund
77.Third Avenue Trust
78.Third Avenue Variable Series Trust
79.TIFF Investment Program
80.Transamerica ETF Trust
81.U.S. Global Investors Funds
82.VictoryShares Developed Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
83.VictoryShares Dividend Accelerator ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
84.VictoryShares Emerging Market High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
85.VictoryShares Emerging Market Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
86.VictoryShares International High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
87.VictoryShares International Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
88.VictoryShares US 500 Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
89.VictoryShares US 500 Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
90.VictoryShares US Discovery Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
91.VictoryShares US EQ Income Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
92.VictoryShares US Large Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
93.VictoryShares US Multi-Factor Minimum Volatility ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
94.VictoryShares US Small Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
95.VictoryShares US Small Cap Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
96.Vivaldi Opportunities Fund
97.West Loop Realty Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust (f/k/a Chilton Realty Income & Growth Fund)
98.Wintergreen Fund, Inc.
99.WisdomTree Trust
100.WST Investment Trust

 

ALPS Distributors, Inc. acts as the distributor for the 13D Activist Fund, a series of the Trust and the following investment companies: ALPS Series Trust, Arbitrage Funds, AQR Funds, Babson Capital Funds Trust, BBH Trust, BLDRS Index Funds Trust, BPV Family of Funds, Broadview Funds Trust, Brown Management Funds, Caldwell & Orkin Funds, Inc., Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, Centaur Mutual Funds Trust, Century Capital Management Trust, Columbia ETF Trust, CornerCap Group of Funds, Cortina Funds, Inc., CRM Mutual Fund Trust, Cullen Funds, DBX ETF TRUST, db-X Exchange-Traded Funds Inc., Centre Funds, EGA Emerging Global Shares Trust, EGA Frontier Diversified Core Fund, Financial Investors Trust, Firsthand Funds, Heartland Group, Inc., Henssler Funds, Inc., Holland Balanced Fund, IndexIQ Trust, Index IQ ETF Trust, James Advantage Funds, Laudus Trust, Laudus Institutional Trust, Mairs & Power Funds Trust, Oak Associates Funds, Pax World Series Trust I, Pax World Funds Trust II, PowerShares QQQ 100 Trust Series 1, RiverNorth Funds, Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust, SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust, Stadion Investment Trust, Stone Harbor Investment Funds, Transparent Value Trust, Wakefield Alternative Series Trust, Wasatch Funds, WesMark Funds, Westcore Trust, Whitebox Mutual Funds, Williams Capital Liquid Assets Fund, Wilmington Funds and WisdomTree Trust.

(b) NLD is registered with Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. The principal business address of NLD is 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. NLD is an affiliate of Gemini Fund Services, LLC and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC. The following are the officers of NLD:

 

       
       
Name

Positions and Offices

with Underwriter

Positions and Offices

with the Fund

 
       
Daniel Applegarth Treasurer/ FINOP None  
       
Mike Nielsen Chief Compliance Officer and AML Compliance Officer None  
William J. Strait President and General Counsel None  

 

Foreside Distribution Services, LP is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101. The following are the Officers of the Distributor:  

 

Name Address Position with Underwriter Position with Registrant
Richard J. Berthy Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101 President, Treasurer and Manager None

Mark A. Fairbanks

 

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101

 

Vice President

 

 

None

 

 

Jennifer K. DiValerio

 

899 Cassatt Road, 400 Berwyn Park, Suite 110, Berwyn, PA 19312 Vice President None
Nanette K. Chern Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101 Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer None
Jennifer E. Hoopes Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101 Secretary None

 

  

ALPS Distributors, Inc. is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. The principal address of ALPS is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203. The directors and executive officers of ALPS Distributors, Inc., are as follows:

 

Name* Position with Underwriter Positions with Fund
Edmund J. Burke Director None
Jeremy O. May President, Director None
Thomas A. Carter Executive Vice President, Director None
Bradley J. Swenson Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer None
Robert J. Szydlowski Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer None
Eric Parsons Vice President, Controller and Assistant Treasurer None
Steven Price Vice President, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer None
James Stegall Vice President, Institutional Sales Manager None
Gary Ross Vice President, Director of Sales None
Erin D. Nelson Vice President, Assistant General Counsel None
JoEllen Legg Vice President, Assistant General Counsel None
David T. Buhler Vice President, Senior Associate Counsel None
Rhonda A. Mills Vice President, Associate Counsel None
Jennifer T. Welsh Vice President, Associate Counsel None
Paul F. Leone Vice President, Associate Counsel None
Randall D. Young Secretary None
Gregg Wm. Givens Vice President, Treasurer and Asst. Secretary None

 

* The principal business address for each of the above directors and executive officers is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.

 

(c)

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 33.

LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.

 

The following entities prepare, maintain and preserve the records required by Section 31 (a) of the 1940 Act for the Registrant.  These services are provided to the Registrant for such periods prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1940 Act and such records are the property of the entity required to maintain and preserve such records and will be surrendered promptly on request.

 

Bank of New York Mellon (“BONY”), located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, provides custodian services to The Biondo Growth Fund, Changing Parameters Fund, The Biondo Focus Fund, Navigator Equity Hedged Fund, Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund, Navigator Sentry Managed Volatility Fund, Navigator Tactical Fixed Income Fund, RiskPro® Alternative 0-15 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 20-30 Fund, RiskPro® Tactical 0-30 Fund, RiskPro® Alternative 0-15 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 0-10 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 15-25 Fund, RiskPro® PFG Balanced 20-30 Fund, RiskPro® PFG Aggressive 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG Equity 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG Global 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG 30+ Fund, RiskPro® 30+ Fund and RiskPro® Aggressive 30+ Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement between BONY and the Trust.  

 

First National Bank of Omaha (“FNBO”), located at 1620 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68197, provides custodian services to the Adaptive Allocation Fund, Sierra Tactical All Asset Fund and Sierra Tactical Core Fund, pursuant to a Custody Agreement between FNBO and the Trust.  

 

MUFG Union Bank, National Association, 400 California Street, San Francisco, California 94104 (“Union”), provides custodian services to the Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund, Princeton Premium Fund, Power Income Fund, Power Momentum Fund, PSI Market Neutral Fund, PSI Total Return Fund, PSI Strategic Growth Fund, PSI Tactical Growth, PSI Calendar Effects Fund, Chadwick & D’Amato Fund, TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund, 13D Activist Fund, Beech Hill Total Return Fund, Ascendant Balanced Fund, Ascendant Natural Resources Fund, Ascendant Deep Value Convertibles Fund, Patriot Fund, Eagle MLP Strategy Fund, BTS Tactical Fixed Income Fund, Power Dividend Index Fund, Probabilities Fund, Astor Macro Alternative Fund, Astor Dynamic Allocation Fund, Astor Sector Rotation Fund, Athena Value Fund and Ladenburg Aggressive Growth Fund, Ladenburg Growth Fund, Ladenburg Growth & Income Fund, Ladenburg Income & Growth Fund, Ladenburg Income Fund, Princeton Long/Short Treasury Fund, AlphaCore Absolute Fund, AlphaCore Statistical Arbitrage Fund Power Floating Rate Index Fund, Power Dividend Mid-Cap Index Fund, BTS Managed Income Fund and Power Global Tactical Allocation/JAFlorines Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement between Union and the Trust.

 

Fifth Third Bank (“Fifth Third”), 38 Fountain Square Plaza Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, provides custodian services to KCM Macro Trends Fund, Toews Tactical Oceana Fund, Toews Tactical Income Fund, Toews Tactical Monument Fund, Toews Tactical Opportunity Fund, Toews Hedged Commodities Fund, Toews Tactical Growth Allocation Fund, Toews Unconstrained Income Fund, Toews Tactical Defensive Alpha Fund, Leader Short Duration Fund, Leader Total Return Fund, Leader Floating Rate Fund, Agility Shares Dynamic Tactical Income ETF and Agility Shares Managed Risk Equity ETF pursuant to a Custody Agreement between Fifth Third and the Trust.

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank (“JPMorgan”), 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017, provides custodian services to Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Altegris Futures Evolution Strategy Fund, Altegris Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, Altegris/AACA Real Estate Long Short Fund, Altegris GSA Trend Strategy Fund and Altegris/AACA Opportunistic Real Estate Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement between JPMorgan and the Trust.

 

U.S. Bank, National Association (“US Bank”), 1555 N. Rivercenter Drive, Milwaukee, WI MK-WI-S302, provides custodian services to Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement between US Bank and the Trust.

 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”), 50 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, provides custodian and transfer agency services to Agility Shares Dynamic Tactical Income ETF and Agility Shares Managed Risk Equity ETF pursuant to a Custody Agreement between BBH and the Trust.

Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”), located at 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, provides transfer agent and dividend disbursing services pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreements between GFS and the Trust.  In such capacities, GFS provides pricing for each Fund’s portfolio securities, keeps records regarding securities and other assets in custody and in transfer, bank statements, canceled checks, financial books and records, and keeps records of each shareholder’s account and all disbursement made to shareholders.  GFS also maintains all records required pursuant to Administrative Service Agreements with the Trust.  

 

NLD, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, serves as principal underwriter for all series of Northern Lights Fund Trust, except Leader Short-Term Bond Fund, Leader Total Return Fund and 13D Activist Fund, TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund, Leader Global Bond Fund and Princeton Futures Strategy Fund. NLD maintains all records required to be maintained pursuant to each Fund’s Distribution Plan and Agreement adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.  

Foreside Distribution Services, LP, located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101, serves as principal underwriter for Leader Short-Term Bond Fund, Leader Total Return Fund, Leader Global Bond Fund and Princeton Futures Strategy Fund and maintains all records required to be maintained pursuant to the Fund’s Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan and Agreements adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.  

 

ALPS Distribution Services, Inc., located at 1209 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203, serves as principal underwriter for 13D Activist Fund and maintains all records required to be maintained pursuant to the Fund’s Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan and Agreements adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.  

 

Critical Math Advisors LLC, located at 29 Emmons Drive, Suite A-20, Princeton, NJ  08540, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to Adaptive Allocation Fund.

 

Biondo Investment Advisors, LLC, located at 544 Routes 6 & 209, PO Box 909, Milford, Pennsylvania 18337, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to The Biondo Growth Fund and The Biondo Focus Fund.

 

Changing Parameters, LLC, located at 250 Oak Grove Avenue, Suite A, Menlo Park, California 94025, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Changing Parameters Fund.

  

The Pacific Financial Group, LLC, located at 10900 NE 8th Street, Suite 1523, Bellevue, WA 98004, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to RiskPro® Alternative 0-15 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 20-30 Fund, RiskPro® Tactical 0-30 Fund, RiskPro® Alternative 0-15 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 0-10 Fund, RiskPro® Dynamic 15-25 Fund, RiskPro® PFG Balanced 20-30 Fund, RiskPro® PFG Aggressive 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG Equity 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG Global 30+ Fund, RiskPro® PFG 30+ Fund, RiskPro® 30+ Fund and RiskPro® Aggressive 30+ Fund.

 

Wright Fund Management, LLC, located at 3420 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA  90405, pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to Sierra Tactical All Asset Fund and Sierra Tactical Core Fund.

 

Kerns Capital Management, Inc., located at Galleria Financial Center, 5075 Westheimer Road, Suite 1177, Houston, Texas 77056, pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the KCM Macro Trends Fund.

 

Equinox Fund Management, LLC, 1660 Lincoln Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80264, pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Equinox MutualHedge Managed Futures Fund.

 

Toews Corporation, Cornerstone Commerce Center, 1201 New Road, Suite 111, Linwood, NJ  08221, pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Toews Tactical Oceana Fund, Toews Tactical Income Fund, Toews Tactical Monument Fund, Toews Tactical Opportunity Fund, Toews Hedged Commodities Fund, Toews Tactical Growth Allocation Fund, Toews Unconstrained Income Fund, Toews Tactical Defensive Alpha Fund, Agility Shares Dynamic Tactical Income ETF and Agility Shares Managed Risk Equity ETF.

 

Leader Capital Corp., 121 SW Morrison St., Suite 425, Portland, OR 97204, pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Leader Short-Term Bond Fund, Leader Total Return Fund and Leader Floating Rate Fund.

 

CMG Capital Management Group, LLC, 1000 Continental Drive, Suite 570, King of Prussia, PA 19406, pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the CMG Tactical Bond Fund, CMG Mauldin Solutions Core Fund and CMG Tactical All Asset Strategy Fund.

 

Traub Capital Management, LLC 97 Chapel Street 3rd Floor, Needham, MA 02492, pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to The FX Strategy Fund.

 

BTS Asset Management, Inc. located at 420 Bedford Street, Suite 340, Lexington, MA  02420, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the BTS Tactical Fixed Income Fund and BTS Managed Income Fund.

 

Astor Investment Management LLC., located at 111 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 3950, Chicago, IL 60606, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Astor Dynamic Allocation Fund, Astor Sector Allocation Fund and Astor Macro Alternative Fund.

 

Princeton Fund Advisors, LLC, 1125 17th Street, Suite 1400, Denver, CO 80202, pursuant to certain Investment Advisory Agreements with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Eagle MLP Strategy Fund, Athena Value Fund, Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund, Princeton Premium Fund and Princeton Long/Short Treasury Fund.

 

Chadwick & D’Amato, LLC, 224 Main Street, PO Box 1978, New London, NH 03257, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Chadwick & D’Amato Fund.

 

13D Management, LLC, 200 East 61 Street, Suite 17C, New York, NY 10065, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the 13D Activist Fund.

 

Altegris Advisors, L.L.C., 1200 Prospect Street, Suite 400, La Jolla, CA 92037, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Altegris Futures Evolution Strategy Fund, Altegris Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, Altegris/AACA Real Estate Long Short Fund and Altegris GSA Trend Strategy Fund.

 

W. E. Donoghue & Inc., 629 Washington Street, Norwood, MA 02062 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Power Income Fund, Power Dividend Index Fund, Power Momentum Fund, Power Floating Rate Index Fund, Power Dividend Mid-Cap Index Fund and Power Global Tactical Allocation/JAFlorines Fund.

 

Portfolio Strategies, Inc., 1724 W Union Avenue, Suite 200, Tacoma, WA 98405 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the PSI All Asset Fund, PSI Total Return Fund, PSI Strategic Growth Fund, PSI Tactical Growth Fund and PSI Opportunistic Fund.

TransWestern Capital Advisors, LLC, 1743 Wazee Street, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust and as the distributor for such fund, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement and Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Agreement adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund.

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111, pursuant to a Sub- Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund.

 

Beech Hill Advisors, Inc., 880 third Ave., 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Beech Hill Total Return Fund.

 

Clark Capital Management Group, Inc., 1650 Market Street, 53rd Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Navigator Equity Hedged Fund, Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund, Navigator Sentry Managed Volatility Fund and Navigator Tactical Fixed Income Fund.

 

Main Point Advisers, Inc. One Liberty Place, 1650 Market Street, 53rd Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund.

 

Dearborn Capital Management, LLC, 626 W. Jackson Street, Chicago, IL 60661 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Grant Park Multi-Alternative Strategies Fund, Grant Park Absolute Return Fund and Grant Park Fixed Income Fund

 

Zeo Capital Advisors, LLC, 555 California Street, Suite 5180 San Francisco, CA 94104, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Zeo Short Duration Income Fund.

 

Ascendant Advisors, LLC, Four Oaks Place, 1330 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 1550, Houston, TX, 77056, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to Patriot Balanced Fund, Ascendant Deep Value Convertibles Fund, Ascendant Tactical Yield Fund and the Patriot Fund.

 

J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc., 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10036, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund.

 

DoubleLine Capital LP, 333 South Grand Avenue, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90071, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Altegris Futures Evolution Strategy Fund.

 

Eagle Global Advisors, LLC, 5847 San Felipe, Suite 930, Houston TX 77057, pursuant to a Co-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Eagle MLP Strategy Fund.

 

Deer Park Road Management, LP, 1865 Ski Time Square, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 pursuant to certain Sub-Advisory Agreements, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund.

 

Mauldin Solutions, LLC 1000 Continental Drive, Suite 570, King of Prussia, PA 19406, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the CMG Mauldin Solutions Core Fund.

 

Probabilities Fund Management, LLC, 1665 Union Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92101, pursuant to the Interim Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Probabilities Fund.

 

American Assets Investment Management, LLC (dba AACA), 11455 El Camino Real, Suite 140, San Diego, CA 92130, pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Altegris/AACA Real Estate Long Short Fund.

 

AthenaInvest Advisors LLC 5340 S. Quebec Street, Suite 365-N, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Athena Value Fund.

 

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc. 507 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10022, pursuant to an Advisory Agreement, will maintain all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Ladenburg Aggressive Growth Fund, Ladenburg Growth Fund, Ladenburg Growth & Income Fund, Ladenburg Income & Growth Fund and Ladenburg Income Fund.

 

Revolution Capital Management, LLC 1400 16th Street, Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Grant Park Absolute Return Fund.

 

Middleton Dickinson Capital Management, LLC 200 South Third Street, Geneva, IL 60134, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Grant Park Fixed Income Fund.

 

Horse Cove Partners LLC, 1899 Powers Ferry Road SE, Suite 120, Atlanta, GA 30339, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Princeton Premium Fund.

 

AlphaCore Capital, 875 Prospect Street, LaJolla, California 92037, pursuant to an Advisory Agreement, will maintain all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the AlphaCore Absolute Fund and AlphaCore Statistical Arbitrage Fund.

 

Centurion Investment Management, LLC, 141 Union Blvd, Suite 350, Lakewood, CO 80228, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund.

 

GSA Capital Partners LLP, Stratton House, 5 Stratton Street, London W1J8LA, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Altegris GSA Trend Strategy Fund.

 

Millburn Corporation, 411 West Putnam Avenue, Suite 305, Greenwich, CT 06830, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund.

 

QMS Capital Management, LP, 240 Leigh Farm Road, Suite 230, Durham, NC 27707, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund.

 

Three Rock Capital Management, Limited, 149 Francis Street, Dublin 8, Ireland, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund.

 

Clinton Retail Investment Management LLC 510 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10022, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the AlphaCore Statistical Arbitrage Fund.

 

 

 

 

ITEM 34.

MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

Not applicable.  

 

ITEM 35.

UNDERTAKINGS.

 

One or more of the Registrant’s series may invest up to 25% of its respective total assets in a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively the “Subsidiaries”).  Each Subsidiary will operate under the supervision of the Registrant.  The Registrant hereby undertakes that the Subsidiaries will submit to inspection by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Signatures

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has met all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,124 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized in the City of Hauppauge, State of New York on the 14th of September 2018.

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST

                                   (Registrant)

 

By:/s/ Kevin Wolf

Kevin Wolf*,

President and Principal Executive Officer

 

 

Pursuant to the Securities Act, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust

John V. Palancia* Trustee September 14, 2018
Gary Lanzen* Trustee September 14, 2018
Anthony Hertl* Trustee & Chairman September 14, 2018
Mark Taylor* Trustee September 14, 2018
Mark D. Gersten* Trustee September 14, 2018
Mark Garbin* Trustee September 14, 2018
Jim Colantino* Treasurer, Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Financial Officer September 14, 2018

Kevin Wolf

 

President and Principal Executive Officer September 14, 2018

 

By:                                     Date:

/s/ Kevin Wolf                     September 14, 2018

Kevin Wolf, President

*Attorney-in-Fact – Pursuant to Powers of Attorney previously filed on April 1, 2011, January 9, 2012, September 27, 2013, September 1, 2016, June 30, 2017 and September 1, 2017 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Post-Effective Amendment No. 234, No. 346, No. 535, No. 862, No. 981 and No. 1,001 respectively, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Exhibit No.
Legal Consent of Counsel (i)(2)
Consent of Independent Auditor (j)(1)

 

 

  

 

 

 

September 14, 2018

 

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust

80 Arkay Drive

Hauppauge, NY 11788

 

Re:       Northern Lights Fund Trust - File Nos. 333-122917 and 811-21720

 

Dear Sir/Madam:

A legal opinion (the “Legal Opinion”) that we prepared was filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,109 under the Securities Act of 1933 to the Northern Lights Fund Trust Registration Statement. We hereby give you our consent to incorporate by reference the Legal Opinion into Post-Effective Amendment No. 1,124 (the “Amendment”) and consent to all references to us in the Amendment.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ THOMPSON HINE LLP

THOMPSON HINE LLP

 

 

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement (No. 333-122917) on Form N-1A of Princeton Premium Fund, a series of the Northern Lights Fund Trust, of our report dated November 29, 2017, relating to our audit of the financial statements and financial highlights, which appear in the September 30, 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders, which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.


We also consent to the references to our firm under the captions “Financial Highlights”, “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”, “Policies and Procedures for Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings” and “Financial Statements” in such Registration Statement.

 

/s/ RSM US LLP

 

Denver, Colorado

September 14, 2018



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