[LOGO001.JPG]

 

Class

A

Shares

NDNAX

Class

C

Shares

NDNCX

Class

I

Shares

NDNIX

PROSPECTUS

August 20, 2013

  Advised by:

 

CLARK CAPITAL

MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.

 


  Sub-Advised by:

                 [PRO002.JPG]

   

www.navigatorfund.com                                                 1-877-766-2264


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

4

Performance

6

Investment Adviser

6

Portfolio Manager

6

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

6

Sub-Adviser

6

Sub-Adviser Portfolio Manager

6

Tax Information

6

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

6

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

7

Investment Objective

7

Principal Investment Strategies

7

Principal Investment Risks

9

Temporary Investments

14

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

15

MANAGEMENT

15

Investment Adviser

15

Adviser Portfolio Manager

16

Sub-Adviser

16

Sub-Adviser Portfolio Manager

16

HOW SHARES ARE PRICED

17

HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES

18

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

25

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

28

TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

29

DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

30

Distributor

30

Distribution Fees

30

Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries

31

Householding

31

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

31

Privacy Notice

32







FUND SUMMARY


Investment

Investment Objective:   The Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to maximize total return, which is comprised of income and capital appreciation, while hedging interest rate exposure.


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 your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in How to Purchase Shares on page 18 of the Fund's Prospectus.


 

 

 

 

Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Class
A

Class
C

Class
I

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

(as a % of offering price)

3.75%

None

None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

None

None

None

Maximum Sales Charge (Load)

Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions

None

None

None

Redemption Fee

None

None

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a

percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Management Fees

1.25%

1.25%

1.25%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

0.25%

1.00%

None

Other Expenses (1)

0.45%

0.45%

0.45%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (1) (2)

0.03%

0.03%

0.03%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (1)

1.98%

2.73%

1.73%

Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement   (1) (3)

(0.05)%

(0.05)%

(0.05)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement (1)

1.93%

2.68%

1.68%

(1) Estimated for the current fiscal year.

(2) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect cost of investing in other investment companies, the costs of which will not be included in the financial statements.  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) The Fund's adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and to reimburse expenses, at least until January 30, 2015, to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or reimbursement (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, contractual indemnification of Fund services providers (other than the Adviser)) will not exceed 1.90%, 2.65%, and 1.65% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C 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 fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits.  This agreement may be terminated only by the Fund's Board of Trustees, on 60 days written notice to the adviser.  



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

A

$564

$968

C

$271

$843

I

$171

$540


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.


Principal Investment Strategies:   Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets (defined as net assets plus any borrowing for investment purposes) in bond instruments.  The Fund will invest primarily in municipal bond instruments.  The Fund intends to be “duration neutral”, meaning it seeks to provide exposure to the municipal bond market while protecting against loss of principal when interest rates rise.  The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in any one issuer than a diversified fund. The Fund defines bond instruments to include bonds such as municipal bonds, and U.S. Treasury bonds and notes; derivatives based on bonds, such as futures or options on U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes; and other investment companies, including exchange traded funds or closed-end funds (“Underlying Funds”), that invest primarily in municipal bonds.  The Fund may invest in municipal bond instruments that are not tax advantaged and which may provide taxable income.  The 80% bond investment policy can be changed without shareholder approval, however, shareholders would be given at least 60 days’ notice prior to any such change.


Duration is the measure of a bond’s sensitivity to interest rate risk changes.  Generally the longer the duration, the more sensitive a bond is to interest rate changes.  By maintaining both long and short positions, the Fund expects to be able to isolate and neutralize price shifts resulting from changing interest rates, so that the Fund is duration neutral.


The Fund seeks to hedge the portion of the value of the municipal bond instruments subject to interest rate risk through investments in:


·

U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes,

·

Futures and Options on U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes

·

Futures and Options on LIBOR Swaps

·

Other mutual funds, exchange traded funds (ETF’s) or closed-end funds (collectively, “Underlying Funds”), including inverse or leveraged ETFs.


Bond Selection


The sub-adviser uses a trading strategy based on its proprietary model to take advantage of value in the municipal bond market, by seeking investments it believes are undervalued. Using this model the sub-adviser expects the Fund to invest in securities of a particular municipal bond market or category when trends are favorable or, conversely, sell securities in that municipal bond market or category when trends are unfavorable.  The Fund will invest primarily in investment grade bonds, rated at least Baa3 or higher by Moody’s, BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor’s, or BBB- or higher by Fitch Ratings at the time of purchase.  However, there is no limitation or maximum maturity on the Fund’s investments and the sub-adviser expects to invest in bonds issued throughout the U.S., with various maturities.


Riskless Rate Offset


The sub-adviser believes every bond has embedded in its value a riskless interest rate and it uses a proprietary method of evaluating the amount of riskless interest rate for the base currency (U.S. dollar) embedded in the municipal bond holdings of the Fund, then expects to offset any interest rate risk through the sale of one of a series of instruments that exemplifies this riskless rate, like U.S. Treasury Bond futures contracts that trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”).  By hedging against the risk of rising interest rates through its duration neutral approach, the Fund seeks to avoid principal loss when interest rates rise.


The adviser and sub-adviser may engage in frequent buying and selling of securities to achieve the Fund's investment objective.   


The Fund may borrow money from banks to help manage Fund inflows and outflows, such as to avoid having to sell portfolio investments in order to meet net redemptions.  The Fund also may borrow money from banks to make additional portfolio investments when the sub-adviser believes market conditions are appropriate.  The Fund may borrow an amount equal to as much as one-third of the value of its total assets (which includes the amount borrowed).


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.


Correlation Risk.  Municipal bonds on one hand, and treasury bonds and LIBOR swaps or options or futures on treasury bonds on the other hand, may experience a lack of correlation.  Such a lack of correlation might occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments, such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these instruments are traded. The Fund can be adversely affected by times where municipal interest rates rise and the Fund interest rate hedges decline in value.


Credit Risk .   An issuer of a security, or the counterparty to a contract, may default or otherwise be unable to honor a financial obligation.


Derivatives Risk.  Even a small investment in derivatives (which include options, futures and swap contracts may give rise to leverage risk, and can have a significant impact on the Fund's performance.  Derivatives are also subject to credit risk and liquidity risk.


Fixed Income Risk.  When the Fund invests in fixed income securities, derivatives on fixed income securities, or Underlying Funds that invest in fixed income securities, the value of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates.  Defaults by fixed income issuers in which the Fund invests will also harm performance.


Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk.  A nominal interest rate can be described as the sum of a real interest rate and an expected inflation rate. Inflation-indexed securities, including Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, decline in value when real interest rates rise.


Interest Rates and Bond Maturities Risk.  Interest rate changes may adversely affect the market value of an investment.  Fixed-income securities typically decline in value when interest rates rise.  The Fund may experience adverse exposure from both increasing or declining rates.  Bonds with longer maturities will be more affected by interest rate changes than intermediate-term bonds.


Issuer-Specific Risk.  The value of a specific security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.  


Leverage/Volatility Risk.  The Fund may employ leverage and may invest in leveraged instruments.  Borrowing magnifies the potential for losses and exposes the Fund interest expenses on borrowing.  The more the Fund invests in leverage instruments, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments.  Leverage will cause the value of the Fund’s shares to be more volatile than if the Fund did not use leverage.


Limited History of Operations.  The Fund is a new mutual fund and has a limited history of operations for investors to evaluate.  


Liquidity Risk.  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.


Management Risk. The adviser's or sub-adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of particular security or derivative in which the Fund invests or sells short may prove to be incorrect and may not produce the desired results.


Municipal Market Risk. Special factors may negatively affect the value of municipal securities including political or legislative changes, uncertainties related to the tax status of the securities, or the rights of investors in the securities.  Municipal bond issuers may utilize derivatives, subjecting the bonds themselves to the derivatives risks described herein.


Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund has a greater potential to realize losses upon the occurrence of adverse events affecting a particular issuer.  


Not Tax Exempt Fund. The Fund is not intended to be a tax exempt fund and may not be tax advantaged.  While the sub-adviser expects the majority of the municipal bond instruments in which the Fund invests will be tax advantaged at the time of purchase, under current tax laws, not all municipal bond instruments are designed to be tax advantaged and the municipal bonds in which the Fund invests may generate taxable income, or be subject to the alternative minimum tax.  To the extent the Fund’s returns are positive, a portion of the Fund’s investments may generate taxable gains and/or income.


Turnover Risk.  A higher portfolio turnover may result in higher transactional and brokerage costs.


Underlying Funds. Other mutual funds, ETFs and closed-end funds (“Underlying Funds”) in which the Fund invests are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund.  As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in the Underlying Funds and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds.  Each of the Underlying Funds is subject to its own specific risks, but the sub-adviser expects the principal investments risks of such Underlying Funds will be similar to the risks of investing in the Fund.


U.S. Government Securities Risk.  The Fund may invest in obligations issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government may choose not to provide financial support to U.S. Government sponsored agencies or instrumentalities if it is not legally obligated to do so, in which case, if the issuer defaulted, the Fund might not be able to recover its investment.


Performance:   Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time.  In the future, Fund performance information will be presented in this section of the Prospectus. Also, shareholder reports containing financial and performance information will be mailed to shareholders semi-annually. Updated performance information will be available at no cost by visiting www.navigatorfund.com or by calling 1-877-766-2264.


Investment Adviser:  Clark Capital Management Group, Inc.


Portfolio Manager:  K. Sean Clark, CFA, Chief Investment Officer of the adviser, has served the Fund as its Portfolio Manager since it commenced operations in 2013.


Sub-Adviser:  Main Point Advisors Inc.


Sub-Adviser Portfolio Manager: Jonathan A. Fiebach, Chief Investment Officer of the Sub-Adviser, has served the Fund as its Portfolio Manager since it commenced operations in 2013.

  

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares:   The minimum initial investment in Class A, Class C and Class I shares is $5,000, $5,000 and $25,000, respectively.  The minimum subsequent investment in Class A and Class C is $500.  Class I shares have no minimum subsequent investment requirement.  The Fund reserves the right to waive any minimum.  You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open.  Redemption requests may be made in writing, by telephone, or through a financial intermediary and will be paid by ACH, check or wire transfer.


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.


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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

Investment Objective:  


The Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to maximize total return, which is comprised of income and capital appreciation, while hedging interest rate exposure. The Fund's investment objective and 80% investment policy are not fundamental policies and either may be changed without shareholder approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees, upon 60 days written notice to shareholders.  


Principal Investment Strategies:


Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets (defined as net assets plus any borrowing for investment purposes) in bond instruments.  The Fund invests primarily in municipal bond instruments. The Fund intends to be “duration neutral”, meaning it seeks to provide exposure to the municipal bond market while protecting against loss of principal when interest rates rise.  The Fund defines bond instruments to include municipal bonds and U.S. Treasury bonds and notes and municipal bonds; derivatives based on bonds, such as futures or options on U.S. Treasury bonds and notes; and Underlying Funds that invest primarily in municipal bonds.  The Fund will invest primarily in municipal bond instruments which are investment grade (rated at least Baa3 or higher by Moody’s, BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor’s, or BBB- or higher by Fitch Ratings and considered tax advantaged at the time of purchase.  However, the Fund may invest in municipal bond instruments that provide taxable income, and the tax status of municipal bonds are subject to change.  The Fund may invest in municipal bonds of any maturity.  The 80% investment policy can be changed without shareholder approval, however, shareholders would be given at least 60 days’ notice prior to any such change.


Duration is the measure of a bond’s sensitivity to interest rate risk changes.  Generally the longer the duration, the more sensitive a bond is to interest rate changes.  The Fund expects to maintain municipal bond investments with a positive duration.  The Fund also expects to maintain short exposures to hedge instruments, such as Treasury bond futures, options and, from time to time, other investments such as inverse or leveraged ETFs that have a net inverse (negative) duration.  By maintaining both long and short positions, the Fund expects to be able to isolate and neutralize price shifts resulting from changing interest rates, so that the Fund is duration neutral.


The Fund seeks to hedge the portion of the value of its municipal bond instruments subject to interest rate risk through investments in:


·

U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes,

·

Futures and Options on U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes

·

Futures and Options on LIBOR Swaps

·

Other mutual funds, exchange traded funds (ETF’s) or closed-end funds (collectively, “Underlying Funds”), including inverse or leveraged ETFs.


Bond Selection


The sub-adviser uses a trading strategy based on its proprietary technical trend-following model to take advantage of trends and momentum in the municipal bond market. Using this model the sub-adviser expects the Fund to invest in securities of a particular municipal bond market or category when trends are favorable or, conversely, sell securities in that bond market or category when trends are unfavorable.  The sub-adviser expects to invest in bonds issued throughout the U.S. with various maturities.


The selection of each municipal bond investment is subject to a 4-step investment process that includes: quantitative reviews of the instrument’s structure, credit of the issuer, and further analysis of other investment metrics.  The portfolio managers then calculate an option-adjusted duration and option-adjusted risk value to determine the effect of an hedge, prior to making the investment.


Many municipal bonds currently trade in the marketplace at prices above their redemption value, exposing investors to deterioration of principal.  By hedging against rising interest rates, the Fund seeks to avoid loss of principal from rising interest rates.


Riskless Rate Offset


The adviser believes every bond has embedded in its value a riskless interest rate and it uses a proprietary method of evaluating the amount of riskless interest rate for the base currency (U.S. Dollar) embedded in the municipal bond holdings of the Fund, then expects to offset its determination of interest rate risk through the sale of one of a series of instruments that exemplifies this riskless rate, like U.S. Treasury Bond futures contracts that trade on the CME.  By hedging against the risk of rising interest rates through its duration neutral approach, the Fund seeks to avoid principal loss when interest rates rise.


Municipal bonds generally pay a tax advantaged interest rate. This will create some natural tax efficiency, though the Fund will focus on its proprietary investment model for investment decisions, not on tax ramifications of particular municipal bonds.  By selecting investments using these processes, the adviser and sub-adviser expect that the Fund will typically hold between 10 and 100 positions with more positions to be added as the Fund’s assets grow.  The adviser and sub-adviser may engage in frequent buying and selling of securities to achieve the Fund's investment objective.


The Fund may borrow money from banks to help manage Fund inflows and outflows, such as to avoid having to sell portfolio investments in order to meet net redemptions.  The Fund also may borrow money from banks to make additional portfolio investments when the sub-adviser believes market conditions are appropriate.  The Fund may borrow an amount equal to as much as one-third of the value of its total assets (which includes the amount borrowed).


Principal Investment Risks:


Correlation Risk.  Municipal bonds on one hand, and treasury bonds or options or futures on treasury bonds and LIBOR swaps on the other hand, may experience a lack of correlation.  Such a lack of correlation might occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments, such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these instruments are traded. The Fund can be adversely affected by times where municipal interest rates rise and the Fund's interest rate hedges decline in value.


Credit Risk. The risk that the issuer of a security, or the counterparty to a contract, will default or otherwise be unable to honor a financial obligation. The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives contract, repurchase agreement or a loan of portfolio securities, is unable or unwilling to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. Securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, which are often reflected in credit ratings.


Derivatives Risk.  Derivative securities are subject to changes in the underlying securities or indices on which such transactions are based.  There is no guarantee that the use of derivatives for investment or hedging purposes will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available.  Even a small investment in derivatives (which include options, futures and swap contracts) may give rise to leverage risk, and can have a significant impact on the Fund’s exposure to securities markets values and interest rates.  Derivatives are also subject to credit risk (the counterparty may default) and liquidity risk (the Fund may not be able to sell the security or otherwise exit the contract in a timely manner).


Fixed Income Risk.  When the Fund invests in fixed income securities, derivatives on fixed income securities, or Underlying Funds that invest 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 the 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 impacting fixed income securities include credit risk, maturity risk, market risk, extension or prepayment risk, illiquid security risks, investment-grade and high yield securities risk.  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.


 •

Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk. A nominal interest rate can be described as the sum of a real interest rate and an expected inflation rate. Inflation-indexed securities, including Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, decline in value when real interest rates rise. In certain interest rate environments, such as when real interest rates are rising faster than nominal interest rates, inflation-indexed securities may experience greater losses than other fixed income securities with similar durations.


Interest Rates and Bond Maturities Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the risk that changing interest rates may adversely affect the market value of an investment. With fixed-income securities, an increase in interest rates typically causes the value of those securities to fall, while a decline in interest rates may produce an increase in the market value of those securities. Because of this risk, an investment in a portfolio that invests in fixed-income securities is subject to risk even if all the fixed-income securities in the portfolio are paid in full at maturity. Bonds with longer maturities will be more affected by interest rate changes than intermediate-term bonds. For example, if interest rates go down, the price of long-term bonds will increase more rapidly than the price of intermediate-term bonds.


Issuer-Specific Risk.  The value of a specific security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.  The value of securities of smaller sized issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.  The value of certain types of securities can be more volatile due to increased sensitivity to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments.


Leverage/Volatility Risk.  The Fund may employ leverage and may invest in leveraged instruments.  Borrowing magnifies the potential for losses and exposes the Fund interest expenses on borrowing.  The more the Fund invests in leverage instruments, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments.  Leverage will cause the value of the Fund’s shares to be more volatile than if the Fund did not use leverage.  This is because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities or other investments.  The Fund may engage in transactions or purchase instruments that give rise to forms of leverage, including inverse ETFs or derivatives.  Derivative contracts ordinarily have leverage inherent in their terms.  The use of leverage may also cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements.  Certain types of leveraging transactions could theoretically be subject to unlimited losses in cases where the Fund, for any reason, is unable to close out the transaction.Furthermore, derivative contracts are highly volatile and are subject to occasional rapid and substantial fluctuations.  Consequently, you could lose all or substantially all of your investment in the Fund should the funds’ trading positions suddenly turn unprofitable.


Limited History of Operations.  The Fund has a limited history of operations for investors to evaluate.  As a result, investors cannot judge the adviser by its track record of managing the Fund and the adviser may not achieve its intended result in managing the Fund.


Liquidity Risk.  The Fund is subject to liquidity risk.  Liquidity risk exits 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.  Funds with principal investment strategies that involve derivatives or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk rend to have the exposure to liquidity risk.


Management Risk.  Your investment in the Fund varies with the effectiveness of the adviser’s and sub-adviser's research, analysis and asset allocation among portfolio securities.  The adviser's or sub-adviser's judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of particular security or derivative in which the Fund invests or sells short may prove to be incorrect and may not produce the desired results.


Municipal Market Risk. Special factors may negatively affect the value of municipal securities and, as a result, the Fund’s net asset value. These factors include political or legislative changes, uncertainties related to the tax status of the securities or the rights of investors in the securities. The Fund may invest in municipal obligations that are related in such a way that an economic, business or political development or change affecting one of these obligations would also affect the other obligations.  The Fund is not intended to be a tax exempt bond fund.  Certain municipal bonds produce taxable income, and/or the favorable tax status of a municipal bond may change after issuance.  Municipal bond issuers may utilize derivatives, subjecting the bonds themselves to the derivatives risks described herein.


Non-Diversification Risk.  The Fund is a non-diversified investment company, which means that more of the Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of a single issuer than could be invested in the securities of a single issuer by a diversified investment company.  This may make the value of the Fund’s shares more susceptible to certain risks than shares of a diversified investment company.  As a non-diversified fund, the Fund has a greater potential to realize losses upon the occurrence of adverse events affecting a particular issuer.  

Not Tax Exempt Fund.  The Fund is not intended to be a tax exempt fund and may not be tax advantaged.  While the sub-adviser expects most of the municipal bond instruments in which the Fund invests will be tax advantaged under current tax laws, not all municipal bond instruments are designed to be tax advantaged and the municipal bonds in which the Fund invests may generate taxable income.   To the extent the Fund’s returns are positive, a portion of the Fund’s investments may generate taxable gains and/or income.


Turnover Risk.  A higher portfolio turnover may result in higher transactional and brokerage costs associated with the turnover which may reduce the Fund’s return, unless the securities traded can be bought and sold without corresponding commission costs.  Active trading of securities may also increase the Fund’s realized capital gains or losses, which may affect the taxes you pay as a Fund shareholder.  The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is expected to be approximately 500% annually.


Underlying Funds Risk:  Other mutual funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds(“Underlying Funds”) in which the Fund invests are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund.  As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly the Underlying Funds and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds.  Each of the Underlying Funds is subject to its own specific risks, and may present additional risks to those described herein, depending on the nature of the fund.


°

Mutual Fund Risk.  Mutual funds are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund.  As a result, your cost of investing will be higher than the cost of investing directly in a mutual fund and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds.  Mutual funds are also subject management risk because the adviser to the underlying mutual fund may be unsuccessful in meeting the fund's investment objective and may temporarily pursue strategies which are inconsistent with the Fund's investment objective.


°

Closed-End Fund Risk.  Closed-end funds are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund.  As a result, your cost of investing will be higher than the cost of investing directly in a closed-end fund and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds.  Closed-end funds are also subject to management risk because the adviser to the underlying closed-end fund may be unsuccessful in meeting the fund's investment objective.  These funds may also trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value and may trade at a larger discount or smaller premium subsequent to purchase by the Fund.  Since closed-end funds trade on exchanges, the Fund will also incur brokerage expenses and commissions when it buys or sells closed-end fund shares.


°

ETF Risk.  ETFs are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by a Fund.  As a result, your cost of investing in a Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in ETFs and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds.  ETFs are listed on national stock exchanges and are traded like stocks listed on an exchange.  ETF shares may trade at a discount to or a premium above net asset value if there is a limited market in such shares.  ETFs are also subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund.  Because the value of ETF shares depends on the demand in the market, the Adviser may not be able to liquidate the Fund's holdings at the most optimal time, adversely affecting performance.  Additional risks of investing in ETFs are described below:


°

   ETF Strategy Risk:  Each ETF is subject to specific risks, depending on the nature of the ETF. These risks could include liquidity risk, sector risk, foreign and emerging market risk, as well as risks associated with real estate investments and commodities.


°

   ETF Inverse Risk .  Under certain circumstances, the Adviser may invest in ETFs, known as “inverse funds,” which are designed to produce results opposite to market trends.  Inverse funds seek daily investment results, before fees and expenses, which correspond to the inverse (opposite) of the daily performance of a specific benchmark.  Inverse ETFs are funds designed to rise in price when stock prices are falling. Inverse ETF index funds seek to provide investment results that will match a certain percentage of the inverse of the performance of a specific benchmark on a daily basis.  For example, if a fund’s current benchmark is 100% of the inverse of the Russell 2000 Index and the fund meets its objective, the value of the fund will tend to increase on a daily basis when the value of the underlying index decreases (if the Russell 2000 Index goes down 5% then the fund’s value should go up 5%).  Conversely, when the value of the underlying index increases, the value of the fund’s shares tend to decrease on a daily basis (if the Russell 2000 Index goes up 5% then the fund’s value should go down 5%). Additionally, inverse ETFs may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying stock index upon which they are based.  For example, if an inverse ETFs current benchmark is 200% of the inverse of the Russell 2000 Index and the ETF meets its objective, the value of the ETF will tend to increase on a daily basis when the value of the underlying index decreases (e.g., if the Russell 2000 Index goes down 5% then the inverse ETFs value should go up 10%).


°

   ETF Leverage Risk .  ETFs may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying stock index upon which they are based.  For example, if an ETFs current benchmark is 200% of the S&P 500 Index and the ETF meets its objective, the value of the ETF will tend to increase or decrease twice the value of the change in the underlying index. (e.g., if the S&P 500 Index goes up 10% then the leveraged ETF’s value should go up 20%; conversely, if the S&P 500 Index goes down 10% then the leveraged ETF’s value should go down 20%).  However, leveraged ETFs seek a certain multiple on a daily basis only, so over time a leveraged ETF may not perform consistent with its target index.


°

   Net Asset Value and Market Price Risk:  The market value of ETF shares may differ from their net asset value. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETF shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the underlying basket of securities. Accordingly, there may be times when an ETF share trades at a premium or discount to its net asset value.


°

   Tracking Risk:  ETFs in which a 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.  In addition, the ETFs in which a Fund invests will incur expenses not incurred by their applicable indices.  Certain securities comprising the indices tracked by the ETFs may, from time to time, temporarily be unavailable, which may further impede the ETFs' ability to track their applicable indices.


U.S. Government Securities Risk.  The Fund may invest in obligations issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government.  These obligations vary in the level of support they receive from the U.S. Government.  They may be: (i) supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, such as those of the Government National Mortgage Association; (ii) supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage Association; or (iii) supported only by the credit of the issuer, such as those of the Federal Farm Credit Bureau.  The U.S. Government may choose not to provide financial support to U.S. Government sponsored agencies or instrumentalities if it is not legally obligated to do so, in which case, if the issuer defaulted, the Fund might not be able to recover its investment.


Temporary Investments:  To respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may invest 100% of its total assets, without limitation, in high-quality short-term debt securities and money market instruments.  These short-term debt securities and money market instruments 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 opportunity to achieve its investment objective will be limited.  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.  The Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.


Portfolio Holdings Disclosure:   A description of the Fund's policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.  The Fund may, from time to time, make available month-end portfolio holdings information on the website www.navigatorfund.com.  If month-end portfolio holdings are posted to the website, they are expected to be approximately 30 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 1-877-766-2264.


MANAGEMENT


Investment Adviser:  Clark Capital Management Group, Inc., located at 1650 Market Street, 53rd floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19103, serves as investment adviser to the Fund.  Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the overall management of the Fund's business affairs.  The Adviser is responsible for monitoring the sub-adviser’s selection of the Fund's investments according to its investment objective, polices, and restrictions.  The Adviser was established in 1986 and serves individual investors, corporations, foundations, retirements plans, pooled investment vehicles and also advises the Navigator Equity Hedged Fund, a separate series of the Trust.  As of June 30, 2013, the Adviser had approximately $2 billion in assets under management.


Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser, on a monthly basis, an annual advisory fee equivalent to 1.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets.  The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and to reimburse expenses, at least until August 30, 2014, to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or reimbursement (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, contractual indemnification of Fund services providers (other than the Adviser)) will not exceed 1.90%, 2.65%, and 1.65%  of average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C, and Class I shares, respectively.  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 fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing 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 agreement will be available in the Fund's first annual or semi-annual shareholder report.


Adviser Portfolio Manager:  


K. Sean Clark, CFA


Chief Investment Officer


Mr. Clark oversees all of the Firm's investment activities and heads the firm’s portfolio team.  Mr. Clark joined the firm in 1993 and is responsible for asset allocation and investment selection for Navigator Investment Solutions as well as directing ongoing market research.  Mr. Clark is a member of the Clark Capital Investment Management Committee and the Board of Directors. He graduated from the University of Delaware, earning a B.S. and an M.A. in Economics.  He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the CFA Institute (formerly AIMR) and the Financial Analysts of Philadelphia, Inc.


The Fund's Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers’ compensation structure, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers, and the Portfolio Managers’ ownership of shares of the Fund.


Sub-Adviser: Main Point Advisors Inc., located at 1650 Market Street, 53rd Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19103, serves as sub-adviser to the Fund.  Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the sub-adviser is responsible for the selection of the Fund's investments according to its investment objective, polices, and restrictions.  The sub-adviser was established in 2013 to manage the Fund and is affiliated with the adviser and shares office space with the adviser.  The CEO of Clark is also Co-CEO of the sub-adviser.  As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund is the sub-adviser’s only client.


Pursuant to Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Adviser pays the sub-adviser, on a monthly basis, an annual advisory fee equivalent to 0.625% of the Fund's average daily net assets. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees' approval of the Sub-Advisory agreement will be available in the Fund's first annual or semi-annual shareholder report.


Sub-Adviser Portfolio Manager


Jonathan A. Fiebach


Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer


Mr. Fiebach is co-CEO and CIO of Main Point Advisors Inc.  Mr. Fiebach has served in this capacity since 2013.  Mr. Fiebach has been a principal with Grant Williams, L.P. since October, 2011. Previously Mr. Fiebach was President and owner of Fiebach Investments, LLC from 2010 to 2012 and Managing Director of Duration Capital Management Advisors Inc. from 2002-2012.  In each capacity he was responsible for investment and hedging decisions.    Mr. Fiebach has over 26 years of investment management industry experience.


The Fund's Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation structure, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers' ownership of shares of the Fund.


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 at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange ("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, 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 last bid on the primary 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 during the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board.    In these cases, the Fund's NAV will reflect certain portfolio securities' fair value rather than their market price.  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 or when a price becomes available. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value team composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser 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.

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

With respect to any portion of the Fund's assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, each 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 three classes of shares offered by the Fund. The main differences between each class are sales charges, ongoing fees and minimum investments.  Class A shareholders pay a maximum sales charge of 3.75%, Class C and Class I shareholders do not pay a sales charge.  Class A shares and Class C shares pay an annual fee of up to 0.25% and 1.00%, respectively, for distribution expenses pursuant to a plan under Rule 12b-1, and Class I does not pay such fees.  The minimum initial investment for Class A shares or Class C shares is $5,000; Class I shares require a $25,000 initial investment.  For information on ongoing distribution fees, see Distribution Fees on page 30 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.  Each class of shares in the Fund represents an interest in the same portfolio of investments in the Fund. Not all share classes may be available for purchase in all states.


Class A Shares


Class A shares are offered at the public offering price, which is net asset value per share plus the applicable sales charge.  The sales charge varies, depending on how much you invest.  There are no sales charges on reinvested distributions.  You can also qualify for a sales charge reduction or waiver through a right of accumulation or a letter of intent if you are a U.S. resident. See the discussions of "Right of Accumulation" and "Letter of Intent" below. The Fund reserves the right to waive any load.  The following sales charges apply to your purchases of Class A shares of the Fund:


 

 

 

 

Amount Invested

Sales Charge
as a % of Offering Price (1)

Sales Charge
as a % of Amount Invested

Dealer

Reallowance

Less than $100,000

3.75%

3.83%

3.25%

$100,000 but less than $250,000

3.50%

3.63%

3.00%

$250,000 but less than $500,000

2.50%

2.56%

2.00%

$500,000 but less than $750,000

2.00%

2.04 %

1.75%

$750,000 but less than $1 million

1.50%

1.52%

1.00%

$1,000,000 and above

0.00%

0.00%

See below%

(1) Offering price includes the front-end sales load. The sales charge you pay may differ slightly from the amount set forth above because of rounding that occurs in the calculation used to determine your sales charge.


The adviser shall reimburse the Fund in connection with commissions retained by authorized broker-dealers on purchases of Class A shares over $1 million calculated as follows: 0.50% on purchases between $1 million and $3 million, 0.35% on amounts over $3 million but less than $5 million, 0.25% on amounts over $5 million. The commission rate is determined based on the purchase amount combined with the current market value of existing investments in Class A shares.


As shown, investors that purchase $1,000,000 or more Class A shares will not pay any initial sales charge on the purchase. However, purchases of $1,000,000 or more of Class A shares may be subject to a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge ("CDSC") on shares redeemed within the first 12 months after their purchase in the amount of the commissions paid on those shares redeemed.  Shares held longest will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held shortest as being redeemed last. Shares held for 12 months or more are not subject to the CDSC.


How to Reduce Your Sales Charge

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 $50,000, 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 sponsored by the adviser and 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 or 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.


· 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").

Class C Shares

Class C shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge.  This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund.  Class C shares pay up to 1.00% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets as reimbursement or compensation for service and distribution-related activities with respect to the Fund and/or shareholder services.  Over time, fees paid under this distribution and service plan will increase the cost of a Class C shareholder's investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges.  


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 other classes of shares. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund.  


Minimum and Additional Investment Amounts:   The minimum initial investment in Class A, Class C and Class I shares is $5,000, $5,000 and $25,000, respectively.  The minimum subsequent investment in Class A and Class C is $500.  Class I shares have no minimum subsequent investment requirement.  The Fund reserves the right to waive any minimum.  There is no minimum investment requirement when you are buying shares by reinvesting dividends and distributions from the Fund.  The Fund reserves the right to waive any investment minimum.  The Fund may not be available for purchase in all states.


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


 

 

 

via Regular Mail

 

Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

P.O. Box 541150

Omaha, Nebraska 68154


or Overnight Mail

Navigator Duration Neutral Bond 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.


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 $500 on specified days of each month into your established Fund account.  Please contact the Fund at 1-877-766-2264 for more information about the Fund's Automatic Investment Plan.


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.  The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or its designee receives the order.  The broker or agent may set their own initial and subsequent investment minimums.  You may be charged a fee if you use a broker or agent to buy or redeem shares of the Fund.  Finally, various servicing agents use procedures and impose restrictions that may be in addition to, or different from those applicable to investors purchasing shares directly from the Fund.  You should carefully read the program materials provided to you by your servicing agent.


Purchase by Wire:   If you wish to wire money to make an investment in the Fund, please call the Fund at 1-877-766-2264 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.


The Fund, however, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any application to purchase shares.  Applications will not be accepted unless they are accompanied by a check drawn on a U.S. bank, thrift institutions, or credit union in U.S. funds for the full amount of the shares to be purchased.  After you open an account, you may purchase additional shares by sending a check together with written instructions stating the name(s) on the account and the account number, to the above address.  Make all checks payable to the Fund.  The Fund will not accept payment in cash, 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.


Transactions through www.navigatorfund.com:   You may purchase and redeem the Fund's Class A and Class C shares through the website www.navigatorfund.com .   Internet transactions are not available for the Fund’s Class I shares.   To establish Internet transaction privileges you must enroll through the website.  You automatically have the ability to establish Internet transaction privileges unless you decline the privileges on your New Account Application or IRA Application.  You will be required to enter into a user's agreement through the website in order to enroll in these privileges. In order to conduct Internet transactions, you must have telephone transaction privileges.  To purchase shares through the website you must also have ACH instructions on your account.


Redemption proceeds may be sent to you by check to the address of record, or if your account has existing bank information, by wire or ACH.  Only bank accounts held at domestic financial institutions that are ACH members can be used for transactions through the Fund's website.  The Fund imposes a limit of $50,000 on purchase and redemption transactions through the website.  Transactions through the website are subject to the same minimums as other transaction methods.


You should be aware that the Internet is an unsecured, unstable, unregulated and unpredictable environment.  Your ability to use the website for transactions is dependent upon the Internet and equipment, software, systems, data and services provided by various vendors and third parties.  While the Fund and its service providers have established certain security procedures, the Fund, its distributor and its transfer agent cannot assure you that trading information will be completely secure.


There may also be delays, malfunctions, or other inconveniences generally associated with this medium.  There also may be times when the website is unavailable for Fund transactions or other purposes.  Should this happen, you should consider purchasing or redeeming shares by another method.  Neither the Fund or its transfer agent, distributor or adviser will be liable for any such delays or malfunctions or unauthorized interception or access to communications or account information.


When Order is Processed:   All shares will be purchased at the NAV per share next determined after the Fund receives your application or request in good order.  All requests received in good order by the Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) will be processed on that same day.  Requests received after 4:00 p.m. 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

the dollar amount of shares to be purchased

a completed purchase application or investment stub

check payable to the Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund


Retirement Plans:   You may purchase shares of the Fund for your individual retirement plans.  Please call the Fund at 1-877-766-2264 for the most current listing and appropriate disclosure documentation on how to open a retirement account.


HOW TO REDEEM SHARES


Redeeming Shares:   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

 

Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

P.O. Box 541150

Omaha, Nebraska 68154


or Overnight Mail

Navigator Duration Neutral Bond 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 1-877-766-2264. 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 $500 on specified days of each month into your established bank account.  Please contact the Fund at 1-877-766-2264 for more information about the Fund's Automatic Withdrawal Plan.


Transactions through www.navigatorfund.com: You may redeem the Fund's Class A and Class C shares through the website www.navigatorfund.com as more fully described above .


Redemptions in Kind:   The Fund reserves the right to honor requests for redemption or repurchase orders made by a shareholder during any 90-day period by making payment in whole or in part in portfolio securities ("redemption in kind") if the amount of such a request is large enough to affect operations (if the request is greater than the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's net assets at the beginning of the 90-day period).  The securities will be chosen by the Fund and valued using the same procedures as used in calculating the Fund's NAV. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.


When Redemptions are Sent:   Once the Fund receives your redemption request in "good order" as described below, it will issue a check based on the next determined NAV following your redemption request.  The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire within three business days after receipt of a request in "good order."  If you purchase shares using a check and soon after request a redemption, your redemption proceeds 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. Please call the Fund at 1-877-766-2264 for the most current listing and appropriate disclosure documentation on how to open a retirement account.


Low Balances:   If at any time your Class A, Class C or Class I account balance falls below $5,000, $5,000 and $25,000, respectively, the Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least $5,000 and $25,000, respectively within 30 days of the notice, your account could be closed.  After the notice period, the Fund may redeem all of your shares and close your account by sending you a check to the address of record.  Your account will not be closed if the account balance drops below required minimums due to a decline in NAV. The Fund will not charge any redemption fee on involuntary redemptions.


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. These methods include:

· 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;"

· Rejecting or limiting specific purchase requests; and

· Rejecting purchase requests from certain investors.


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.

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 adviser 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. 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 quarterly and net capital gains annually in December.  Both 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.


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, 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, is the distributor for the shares of the Fund.  Northern Lights Distributors, LLC 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 Fees:   The Trust has adopted a Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan for each of Class A and Class C ("12b-1 Plans" or "Plans"), pursuant to which the Fund may pay the Fund's distributor an annual fee for distribution and shareholder servicing expenses of 0.25% and 1.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class A and Class C shares, respectively.


The Fund's 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 Plans 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 Fund's distributor, its affiliates, and the Fund's adviser and its affiliates may, at their own expense and out of their own assets including their legitimate profits from Fund-related activities, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund.  Financial intermediaries include brokers, financial planners, banks, insurance companies, retirement or 401(k) plan administrators and others.  These payments 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, 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, we mail only one copy of the prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the Fund at 1-877-766-2264 on days the Fund is open for business or contact your financial institution. We will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Because the Fund has only recently commenced investment operations, no financial highlights are available for the Fund at this time. In the future, financial highlights will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.  






PRIVACY NOTICE

Rev. August 2011


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 1-402-493-4603

 

 

 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 does not 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 does not jointly market.




[MISC002.GIF]             Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund   [MISC004.GIF]


 

 

 

 

Adviser

Clark Capital Management Group, Inc.

One Liberty Place, 53rd Floor

1650 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA  19103

Distributor

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE  68130

Sub-Adviser

Main Point Advisors Inc.

One Liberty Place, 53rd Floor

1650 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA  19103

Legal
Counsel

Thompson Hine LLP

41 South Street, Suite 1700

Columbus, OH  43215

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

BBD, LLP

1835 Market Street, 26 th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Transfer
Agent

Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE  68130

Custodian

Union Bank

350 California Street, 6th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

 

 


Additional information about the Fund is included in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information dated August 20, 2013 (the "SAI").  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 Trust'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.


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 about the Fund, please call 1-877-766-2264 or visit www. www.navigatorfund.com. You may also write to:

Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130


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: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.

 

Investment Company Act File # 811-21720







NAVIGATOR DURATION NEUTRAL BOND FUND

A Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust


 

 

 

Class

A

NDNAX

Class

C

NDNCX

Class

I

NDNIX

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

August 20, 2013

 

This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund (the "Fund") dated August 20, 2013.  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 reports without charge by contacting the Fund’s transfer agent, Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 or by calling 1-877-766-2264.  You may also obtain a Prospectus by visiting www.navigatorfund.com.  





TABLE OF CONTENTS

  


 

 

THE FUND

1

TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

2

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

34

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

37

MANAGEMENT

39

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

46

INVESTMENT ADVISER

46

SUB-ADVISER

49

DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

50

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

52

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE

53

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

54

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

55

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

57

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM

57

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

58

TAX STATUS

62

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

67

LEGAL COUNSEL

67

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

67

APPENDIX A - ADVISER’S PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

68

APPENDIX B - STANDARD & POOR’S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

70




THE FUND

 


Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund is a 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.  The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”).  


The Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest.  All shares 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 (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 is a non-diversified series of the Trust offering three classes of shares:  Class A, Class C and Class I.  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 investment minimums, (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 any 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 may classify and reclassify the shares of the Fund into additional classes of shares at a future date.


  Clark Capital Management Group, Inc., (the “Adviser”) is the Fund’s investment adviser.  Main Point Advisors Inc. is a Sub-adviser to the Fund.  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 “Fund Summary” in the Prospectus.  The Fund’s investment objective is not “fundamental” and may be changed without the approval of a majority of its outstanding voting securities, however, shareholders will be given at least 60 days’ notice of such a change.


The following information describes securities in which the Fund may invest and their related risks.   Certain securities in which the Fund invests trade in the over-the-counter market, are subject to extended trading hours, or there may not be defined trading hours.  To the extent a security is marked to market or valued on a daily basis prior to the close of the market in which an underlying security trades, or the stock market in general, significant price or rate movements in those markets may not be reflected immediately in such securities held by the Fund.


EQUITY SECURITIES


Equity securities include common stock 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.


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.


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.


DERIVATIVES


Futures Contracts


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


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


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


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


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


Options on Futures Contracts


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


Regulation as a Commodity Pool Operator


The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has filed with the National Futures Association, a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to the Fund's operations.  Accordingly, the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator.


Options On Securities


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

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

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

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 a Fund expires unexercised, that 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 a 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 a 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 a Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the advisor 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. Transactions using options (other than options that a Fund has purchased) expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting ("covered") position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. The Fund will comply with 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 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, a 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.


Swap Agreements


The Fund may enter into interest rate, index and currency exchange rate swap agreements 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. 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 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 fictive 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 Fund's obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the maintenance of a segregated account consisting of cash, U.S. government securities, or other liquid securities, to avoid leveraging of the Fund's portfolio.


Whether the Fund's use of swap agreements enhance the Fund's total return will depend on the 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's adviser will cause the Fund to enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that would be eligible for consideration as repurchase agreement counterparties under the Fund's repurchase agreement guidelines. The swap market is a relatively new market and is largely unregulated. 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 Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“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 Risks.


When the adviser of a Fund uses investment techniques such as margin, leverage and short sales, and forms of financial derivatives, such as options and futures, 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.


FIXED INCOME/DEBT/BOND SECURITIES


Yields on fixed income securities, which the Fund defines to include preferred stock, 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.


The Fund may invest in debt securities, including non-investment grade debt securities.  The following describes some of the risks associated with 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 (such as mortgage-backed securities) 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, such as mortgage-backed 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 mortgage-backed 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 mortgage loans.


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, some of the mortgage-backed 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.


Risk of Corporate Obligations.  Investment in corporate debt obligations involves credit and interest rate risk.  The value of fixed-income investments will fluctuate with changes in interest rates and bond market conditions, tending to rise as interest rates decline and to decline as interest rates rise.  Corporate debt obligations generally offer less current yield than securities of lower quality, but lower-quality securities generally have less liquidity, greater credit and market risk, and as a result, more price volatility.  Longer term bonds are, however, generally more volatile than bonds with shorter maturities.


Ratings as Investment Criteria  


High-quality, medium-quality and non-investment grade debt obligations are characterized as such based on their ratings by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations ("NRSROs"), such as Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s.  In general, the ratings of NRSROs represent the opinions of these agencies as to the quality of securities that they rate.  Such ratings, however, are relative and subjective, and are not absolute standards of quality and do not evaluate the market value risk of the securities.  These ratings are used by the Fund as initial criteria for the selection of portfolio securities, but the Fund also relies upon the independent advice of the Adviser to evaluate potential investments.  This is particularly important for lower-quality securities.  Among the factors that will be considered is the long-term ability of the issuer to pay principal and interest and general economic trends, as well as an issuer’s capital structure, existing debt and earnings history.  Appendix B to this SAI contains further information about the rating categories of NRSROs and their significance.

In the event that a security receives different ratings from different NRSROs, unless specific disclosure in the Fund’s prospectus provides otherwise, the Sub-Adviser will treat the security as being rated in the highest rating category received from an NRSRO.


Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an issuer of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by the Fund.  In addition, it is possible that an NRSRO might not change its rating of a particular issuer to reflect subsequent events.  None of these events generally will require sale of such securities, but the Sub-Adviser will consider such events in its determination of whether the Fund should continue to hold the securities.  In addition, to the extent that the ratings change as a result of changes in an NRSRO or its rating systems, or due to a corporate reorganization, the Fund will attempt to use comparable ratings as standards for its investments in accordance with its investment objective and policies.


Investment-Grade Debt Securities  


The Fund may purchase “investment-grade” bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by Standard & Poor’s or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) or a comparable rating by another NRSRO; or, if unrated, judged to be of equivalent quality as determined by the Sub-Adviser.  Moody’s considers bonds it rates Baa to have speculative elements as well as investment-grade characteristics.  To the extent that a Fund invests in higher-grade securities, the Fund will not be able to avail itself of opportunities for higher income which may be available at lower grades.


Medium-Quality Debt Securities  


The Fund may invest in medium-quality obligations, which are obligations rated in the fourth highest rating category by any NRSRO (e.g., rated Baa by Moody’s or BBB by Standard & Poor’s or Fitch).  Medium-quality securities, although considered investment-grade, may have some speculative characteristics and may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than higher-rated securities.  In addition, the issuers of medium-quality securities may be more vulnerable to adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances than issuers of higher-rated securities.


Lower Quality (High-Risk) Debt Securities  


The Fund may invest in lower quality debt securities.  Non-investment grade debt or lower quality/rated securities, commonly known as junk bonds (hereinafter referred to as “lower-quality securities”) include (i) bonds rated as low as C by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, or Fitch, (ii) commercial paper rated as low as C by Standard & Poor’s, Not Prime by Moody’s or Fitch 4 by Fitch; and (iii) unrated debt securities of comparable quality.  Lower-quality securities, while generally offering higher yields than investment grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy.  There is more risk associated with these investments because of reduced creditworthiness and increased risk of default.  Under NRSRO guidelines, lower-quality securities and comparable unrated securities will likely have some quality and protective characteristics that are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.  Lower-quality securities are considered to have extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing, to have a current identifiable vulnerability to default or to be in default, to be unlikely to have the capacity to make required interest payments and repay principal when due in the event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, or to be in default or not current in the payment of interest or principal.  They are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.  The special risk considerations in connection with investments in these securities are discussed in “High Yield Securities” below.


Information Concerning Duration  


Duration is a measure of the average life of a fixed-income security that was developed as a more precise alternative to the concepts of “term to maturity” or “average dollar weighted maturity” as measures of “volatility” or “risk” associated with changes in interest rates.  Duration incorporates a security’s yield, coupon interest payments, final maturity and call features into one measure.


Most debt obligations provide interest (“coupon”) payments in addition to final (“par”) payment at maturity.  Some obligations also have call provisions.  Depending on the relative magnitude of these payments and the nature of the call provisions, the market values of debt obligations may respond differently to changes in interest rates.


Traditionally, a debt security’s “term-to-maturity” has been used as a measure of the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates (which is the “interest rate risk” or “volatility” of the security).  However, “term-to-maturity” measures only the time until a debt security provides its final payment, taking no account of the pattern of the security’s payments prior to maturity.  Average dollar weighted maturity is calculated by averaging the terms of maturity of each debt security held with each maturity “weighted” according to the percentage of assets that it represents.  Duration is a measure of the expected life of a debt security on a present value basis and reflects both principal and interest payments.  Duration takes the length of the time intervals between the present time and the time that the interest and principal payments are scheduled or, in the case of a callable security, expected to be received, and weights them by the present values of the cash to be received at each future point in time.  For any debt security with interest payments occurring prior to the payment of principal, duration is ordinarily less than maturity.  In general, all other factors being the same, the lower the stated or coupon rate of interest of a debt security, the longer the duration of the security; conversely, the higher the stated or coupon rate of interest of a debt security, the shorter the duration of the security.



There are some situations where the standard duration calculation does not properly reflect the interest rate exposure of a security.  For example, floating and variable rate securities often have final maturities of ten or more years; however, their interest rate exposure corresponds to the frequency of the coupon reset.  Another example where the interest rate exposure is not properly captured by duration is the case of mortgage pass-through securities.  The stated final maturity of such securities is generally 30 years, but current prepayment rates are more critical in determining the securities’ interest rate exposure.  In these and other similar situations, the Fund will use more sophisticated analytical techniques to project the economic life of a security and estimate its interest rate exposure.  Since the computation of duration is based on predictions of future events rather than known factors, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at all times achieve its targeted portfolio duration.


The change in market value of U.S. government fixed-income securities is largely a function of changes in the prevailing level of interest rates.  When interest rates are falling, a portfolio with a shorter duration generally will not generate as high a level of total return as a portfolio with a longer duration.  When interest rates are stable, shorter duration portfolios generally will not generate as high a level of total return as longer duration portfolios (assuming that long-term interest rates are higher than short-term rates, which is commonly the case). When interest rates are rising, a portfolio with a shorter duration will generally outperform longer duration portfolios.  With respect to the composition of a fixed-income portfolio, the longer the duration of the portfolio, generally, the greater the anticipated potential for total return, with, however, greater attendant interest rate risk and price volatility than for a portfolio with a shorter duration.


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.


Loans


The Fund may invest in floating or adjustable rate loans (“Loans”) made to U.S. and foreign borrowers that are corporations, partnerships, or other business entities (“Borrowers”).  These Borrowers operate in a variety of industries and geographic regions.  The Fund acquires Loans from lenders such as banks, insurance companies, finance companies, other investment companies, and private investment funds.  The Loans are loans that are typically made to business borrowers to finance leveraged buy-outs, recapitalizations, mergers, stock repurchases, or internal growth.  The Loans generally are negotiated between a Borrower and several financial institution lenders (“Lenders”) represented by one or more Lenders acting as agent of all the Lenders (“Agent”).  The Agent is responsible for negotiating the loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) that establishes the terms and conditions of the Loan and the rights of the Borrower and the Lenders.  The Fund may act as one of the group of original Lenders originating a Loan, may purchase assignments of portions of Loans from third parties and may invest in participations in Loans.


The Loans have the most senior position in a Borrower’s capital structure or share the senior position with other senior debt securities of the Borrower.  This capital structure position generally gives holders of the Loans a priority claim on some or all of the Borrower’s assets in the event of default and therefore the Lenders will be paid before certain other creditors of the Borrower.  The Loans also have contractual terms designed to protect Lenders.  These covenants may include mandatory prepayment out of excess cash flows, restrictions on dividend payments, the maintenance of minimum financial ratios, limits on indebtedness and other financial tests.  Breach of these covenants generally is an event of default and, if not waived by the Lenders, may give Lenders the right to accelerate principal and interest payments.  The Fund generally acquires Loans of Borrowers that, among other things, in the Adviser’s judgment, can make timely payments on their Loans and that satisfy other credit standards established by the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser performs its own independent credit analysis of the Borrower and the collateral securing each loan in addition to utilizing information prepared and supplied by the Agent or other Lenders.  The Loans are generally credit rated less than investment grade and may be subject to restrictions on resale.  Below investment grade fixed income securities are securities rated BB/Ba or lower by Standard & Poor’s, Fitch, or Moody’s or similarly rated by another NRSRO.


Loans involve the risk that the Fund will not receive payment of principal, interest, and other amounts due in connection with these investments and will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower.  Loans that are fully secured offer the Fund more protection than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal, although there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the corporate borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated. Some loans or claims may be in default at the time of purchase.  As the Fund may be required to rely upon another lending institution to collect and pass onto the Fund amounts payable with respect to the Loan and to enforce the Fund’s rights under the Loan, an insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the lending institution may delay or prevent the Fund from receiving such amounts. The highly leveraged nature of many such Loans may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions.


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.  It may secured by letters of credit, a surety bond or other forms of collateral.  Commercial paper is usually repaid at maturity by the issuer from the proceeds of the issuance of new commercial paper.  As a result, investment in commercial paper is subject to the risk the issuer cannot issue enough new commercial paper to satisfy its outstanding commercial paper, also known as rollover risk.  Commercial paper may become illiquid or may suffer from reduced liquidity in certain circumstances.  Like all fixed income securities, commercial paper prices are susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates.  If interest rates rise, commercial paper prices will decline.  The short-term nature of a commercial paper investment makes it less susceptible to interest rate risk than many other fixed income securities because interest rate risk typically increases as maturity lengths increase.  Commercial paper tends to yield smaller returns than longer-term corporate debt because securities with shorter maturities typically have lower effective yields than those with longer maturities.  As with all fixed income securities, there is a chance that the issuer will default on its commercial paper obligation.


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’s advisor 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.


High Yield Securities


The Fund may invest in high yield securities.  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” and present a significant risk for loss of principal and interest.  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 (“1933 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.


Municipal Government Obligations


In general, municipal obligations are debt obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities.  Municipal obligations generally include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various public purposes.  Certain types of municipal obligations are issued in whole or in part to obtain funding for privately operated facilities or projects.  Municipal obligations include general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, industrial development bonds, notes and municipal lease obligations.  Municipal obligations also include additional obligations, the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax that may become available in the future as long as the Board of the Fund determines that an investment in any such type of obligation is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives.  Municipal obligations may be fully or partially backed by local government, the credit of a private issuer, current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets or domestic or foreign entities providing credit support such as letters of credit, guarantees or insurance.


Bonds and Notes.  General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of interest and principal.  Revenue bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a project or facility or from the proceeds of a specified revenue source.  Industrial development bonds are generally revenue bonds secured by payments from and the credit of private users.  Municipal notes are issued to meet the short-term funding requirements of state, regional and local governments.  Municipal notes include tax anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes, construction loan notes, short-term discount notes, tax-exempt commercial paper, demand notes and similar instruments.


Municipal Lease Obligations.  Municipal lease obligations may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase or a conditional sales contract.  They are issued by state and local governments and authorities to acquire land, equipment and facilities, such as vehicles, telecommunications and computer equipment and other capital assets.  The Fund may invest in Underlying Funds that purchase these lease obligations directly, or it may purchase participation interests in such lease obligations (See “Participation Interests” section). States have different requirements for issuing municipal debt and issuing municipal leases.  Municipal leases are generally subject to greater risks than general obligation or revenue bonds because they usually contain a “non-appropriation” clause, which provides that the issuer is not obligated to make payments on the obligation in future years unless funds have been appropriated for this purpose each year.  Such non-appropriation clauses are required to avoid the municipal lease obligations from being treated as debt for state debt restriction purposes.  Accordingly, such obligations are subject to “non-appropriation” risk.  Municipal leases may be secured by the underlying capital asset and it may be difficult to dispose of any such asset in the event of non-appropriation or other default.


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).  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.


United States Government Agency Obligations


These consist of debt securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), Farmer's Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., GNMA mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency's or instrumentality's right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., FNMA Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency's or instrumentality's own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association).  On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Authority (the “FHFA”) announced that FNMA and FHLMC had been placed into conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of returning the entity to normal business operations.  The U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA at the same time established a secured lending facility and a Secured Stock Purchase Agreement with both FNMA and FHLMC to ensure that each entity had the ability to fulfill its financial obligations.  The FHFA announced that it does not anticipate any disruption in pattern of payments or ongoing business operations of FNMA and FHLMC.


Government-related guarantors (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.


FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PC’s”), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.


Mortgage Pass-Through Securities


Interests in pools of mortgage pass-through securities differ from other forms of debt securities (which normally provide periodic payments of interest in fixed amounts and the payment of principal in a lump sum at maturity or on specified call dates). Instead, mortgage pass-through securities provide monthly payments consisting of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on the underlying residential mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Unscheduled payments of principal may be made if the underlying mortgage loans are repaid or refinanced or the underlying properties are foreclosed, thereby shortening the securities’ weighted average life. Some mortgage pass-through securities (such as securities guaranteed by GNMA) are described as “modified pass-through securities.” These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, on the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether the mortgagor actually makes the payment.


The principal governmental guarantor of mortgage pass-through securities is GNMA. GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by lending institutions approved by GNMA (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers) and backed by pools of mortgage loans. These mortgage loans are either insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. A “pool” or group of such mortgage loans is assembled and after being approved by GNMA, is offered to investors through securities dealers.


Government-related guarantors of mortgage pass-through securities (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury) include FNMA and FHLMC.  FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved sellers/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Mortgage pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.


FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a U.S. government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PCs”), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.


Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage pass-through securities. The Fund does not purchase interests in pools created by such non-governmental issuers.

Resets. The interest rates paid on the Adjustable Rate Mortgage Securities (“ARMs”) in which the Fund may invest generally are readjusted or reset at intervals of one year or less to an increment over some predetermined interest rate index. There are two main categories of indices: those based on U.S. Treasury securities and those derived from a calculated measure, such as a cost of funds index or a moving average of mortgage rates. Commonly utilized indices include the one-year and five-year constant maturity Treasury Note rates, the three-month Treasury Bill rate, the 180-day Treasury Bill rate, rates on longer-term Treasury securities, the National Median Cost of Funds, the one-month or three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the prime rate of a specific bank, or commercial paper rates. Some indices, such as the one-year constant maturity Treasury Note rate, closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels. Others tend to lag changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile.


Caps and Floors. The underlying mortgages which collateralize the ARMs in which the Fund invests will frequently have caps and floors which limit the maximum amount by which the loan rate to the residential borrower may change up or down: (1) per reset or adjustment interval, and (2) over the life of the loan. Some residential mortgage loans restrict periodic adjustments by limiting changes in the borrower’s monthly principal and interest payments rather than limiting interest rate changes. These payment caps may result in negative amortization. The value of mortgage securities in which the Fund invests may be affected if market interest rates rise or fall faster and farther than the allowable caps or floors on the underlying residential mortgage loans. Additionally, even though the interest rates on the underlying residential mortgages are adjustable, amortization and prepayments may occur, thereby causing the effective maturities of the mortgage securities in which the Fund invests to be shorter than the maturities stated in the underlying mortgages.


Preferred Stock  


The Fund defines preferred stock as form of fixed income security because it has similar features to other forms of fixed income securities.  Preferred stocks are securities that have characteristics of both common stocks and corporate bonds. Preferred stocks may receive dividends but payment is not guaranteed as with a bond. These securities may be undervalued because of a lack of analyst coverage resulting in a high dividend yield or yield to maturity.  The risks of preferred stocks include a lack of voting rights and the Fund’s adviser may incorrectly analyze the security, resulting in a loss to the Fund.  Furthermore, preferred stock dividends are not guaranteed and management can elect to forego the preferred dividend, resulting in a loss to the Fund.  Preferred stock may also be convertible in the common stock of the issuer.  Convertible securities 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 are senior to common stocks in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. 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.  In general, preferred stocks generally pay a dividend at a specified rate and have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and in liquidation.  The Fund may invest in preferred stock with any or no 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 market value may change based on changes in interest rates.


Asset-Backed Securities


The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities.  Such securities may include pools of loans, receivables or other assets. Payment of principal and interest may be largely dependent upon the cash flows generated by the assets backing the securities.  Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities.  Primarily, these securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets.  Credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors the right to set off certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thereby reducing the balance due.  There is the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not, in some cases, be available to support payments on these securities. Asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties.  To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, the securities may contain elements of credit support which fall into two categories: (i) liquidity protection, and (ii) protection against losses resulting from ultimate default by an obligor on the underlying assets.  Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, to ensure that the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion.  Protection against losses results from payment of the insurance obligations on at least a portion of the assets in the pool.  This protection may be provided through guarantees, policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of such approaches.  The Fund will not pay any additional or separate fees for credit support.  The degree of credit support provided for each issue is generally based on historical information respecting the level of credit risk associated with the underlying assets. Delinquency or loss in excess of that anticipated or failure of the credit support could adversely affect the return on an investment in such a security.  The availability of asset-backed securities may be affected by legislative or regulatory developments.  It is possible that such developments may require the Fund to dispose of any then existing holdings of such securities.  Additionally, the risk of default by borrowers is greater during periods of rising interest rates and/or unemployment rates. In addition, instability in the markets for asset-backed securities may affect the liquidity of such securities, which means the Fund may be unable to sell such securities at an advantageous time and price. As a result, the value of such securities may decrease and the Fund may incur greater losses on the sale of such securities than under more stable market conditions. Furthermore, instability and illiquidity in the market for lower-rated asset-backed securities may affect the overall market for such securities thereby impacting the liquidity and value of higher-rated securities.


Illiquid and Restricted Securities


The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")) and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.


Restricted and other illiquid securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. The Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests from shareholders. The 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 the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.


Under guidelines adopted by the Trust's 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 adviser to determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section 4(a) (2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund's assets invested in illiquid securities if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.


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 Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (“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 advisors of the Underlying Funds are made independently of the Fund and its Adviser. Therefore, the investment advisor of one Underlying Fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment advisor 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.

Closed-End Investment Companies. The Fund may invest its assets in "closed-end" investment companies (or “closed-end funds”), subject to the investment restrictions set forth above. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price. Such securities are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (commonly known as "NASDAQ") and, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the Fund), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.


The Fund generally will purchase shares of closed-end funds only in the secondary market. The Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market. The Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end fund in an initial public offering when, in the opinion of the Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end fund's proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions and the level of demand for such securities, they represent an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The initial offering price typically will include a dealer spread, which may be higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such securities in the secondary market.


The shares of many closed-end funds, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share that is less than the net asset value per share, the difference representing the "market discount" of such shares. This market discount may be due in part to the investment objective of long-term appreciation, which is sought by many closed-end funds, as well as to the fact that the shares of closed-end funds are not redeemable by the holder upon demand to the issuer at the next determined net asset value but rather are subject to the principles of supply and demand in the secondary market. A relative lack of secondary market purchasers of closed-end fund shares also may contribute to such shares trading at a discount to their net asset value.


The Fund may invest in shares of closed-end funds that are trading at a discount to net asset value or at a premium to net asset value. There can be no assurance that the market discount on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by the Fund will ever decrease. In fact, it is possible that this market discount may increase and the Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further decline in the market price of the securities of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the net asset value of the Fund's shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance that any shares of a closed-end fund purchased by the Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a premium or that the premium will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund.


Closed-end funds may issue senior securities (including preferred stock and debt obligations) for the purpose of leveraging the closed-end fund's common shares in an attempt to enhance the current return to such closed-end fund's common shareholders. The Fund's investment in the common shares of closed-end funds that are financially leveraged may create an opportunity for greater total return on its investment, but at the same time may be expected to exhibit more volatility in market price and net asset value than an investment in shares of investment companies without a leveraged capital structure.


Exchange Traded Funds. ETFs are typically passive funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging, have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, some ETFs are unit investment trusts (UITs), which are unmanaged portfolios overseen by trustees and some ETFs may be grantor trusts.  An ETF typically holds a portfolio of securities or contracts designed to track a particular market segment or index.  Some examples of ETFs are Rydex Shares TM , ProShares®, SPDRs®, streetTRACKS, DIAMONDS SM , NASDAQ 100 Index Tracking Stock SM (“QQQs SM ”), and iShares®.  The Fund expects to use EFT’s as part of its overall investment strategy and as part of its hedging strategy.  To offset the risk of declining security prices, the Fund may invest in inverse ETFs.  Inverse EFTs are funds designed to rise in price when stock prices are falling.  Additionally, inverse EFT’s may employ leverage which magnifies the changes in the underlying stock index upon which they are based.  Inverse ETF index funds seek to provide investment results that will match a certain percentage of the inverse of the performance of a specific benchmark on a daily basis.  For example, if an inverse ETF’s current benchmark is 200% of the inverse of the Russell 2000 Index and the ETF meets its objective, the value of the ETF will tend to increase on a daily basis when the value of the underlying index decreases (e.g., if the Russell 2000 Index goes down 5% then the inverse ETF’s value should go up 10%).  ETFs generally have two markets.  The primary market is where institutions swap “creation units” in block-multiples of 50,000 shares for in-kind securities and cash in the form of dividends.  The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange.  This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded after hours once the net asset value (NAV) is calculated.  ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.


There is a risk that an ETFs in which the Fund invests may terminate due to extraordinary events that may cause any of the service providers to the ETFs, such as the trustee or sponsor, to close or otherwise fail to perform their obligations to the ETF. Also, because the ETFs in which the Fund intends to principally invest may be granted licenses by agreement to use the indices as a basis for determining their compositions and/or otherwise to use certain trade names, the ETFs may terminate if such license agreements are terminated.  In addition, an ETF may terminate if its entire net asset value falls below a certain amount.  Although the Fund believes that, in the event of the termination of an underlying ETF, it will be able to invest instead in shares of an alternate ETF tracking the same market index or another market index with the same general market, there is no guarantee that shares of an alternate ETF would be available for investment at that time.  To the extent the Fund invests in a sector product, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with that sector.


The Fund could also purchase an ETF to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the U.S. or foreign market while awaiting an opportunity to purchase securities directly.  The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities and ETFs have management fees that increase their costs versus the costs of owning the underlying securities directly.


ETFs are listed on national stock exchanges and are traded like stocks listed on an exchange. ETF shares may trade at a discount or a premium in market price if there is a limited market in such shares. Investments in ETFs are subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund. ETFs also are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund. As a result, your cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in ETFs and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest exclusively in stocks and bonds. You will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in addition to the Fund's direct fees and expenses. Finally, because the value of ETF shares depends on the demand in the market, the Adviser may not be able to liquidate the Fund's holdings at the most optimal time, adversely affecting the Fund's performance.


ETFs may also include high beta index funds (“HBIFs”), which track an index by investing in leveraged instruments such as equity index swaps, futures contracts and options on securities, futures contracts, and stock indices.  HBIFs are more volatile than the benchmark index they track and typically don’t invest directly in the securities included in the benchmark, or in the same proportion that those securities are represented in that benchmark.  On a day-to-day basis, HBIFs will target a volatility that is a specific percentage of the volatility of the underlying index.  HBIFs seek to provide investment results that will match a certain percentage greater than 100% of the performance of a specific benchmark on a daily basis.  For example, if a HBIF’s current benchmark is 200% of the S&P 500 Index and it meets its objective, the value of the HBIF will tend to increase on a daily basis 200% of any increase in the underlying index (if the S&P 500 Index goes up 5% then the HBIF’s value should go up 10%). When the value of the underlying index declines, the value of the HBIF’s shares should also decrease on a daily basis by 200% of the value of any decrease in the underlying index (if the S&P 500 Index goes down 5% then the value of the HBIF should go down 10%).


Lending Portfolio Securities


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


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 Advisor. 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.


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 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.


Short Sales


The Fund may sell securities short. 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.


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.  


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 Investment Company Act of 1940, 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, 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 other persons, except:  (a) by loaning portfolio securities; (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements; or (c) by purchasing nonpublicly offered debt securities.  For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.


7.   Concentration .  The Fund may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or tax-exempt obligations issued or guaranteed by a U.S. territory or possession or a state or local government, or a political subdivision of any of the foregoing) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any investment company that concentrates.  


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 borrowings described in limitation (1) above.  Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.


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.


5.   Bond Instruments .  The Portfolio has adopted a policy to invest at least 80% of its assets (defined as net assets plus the amount of any borrowing for investment purposes) in bond instruments, as defined in the then current Prospectus.  Shareholders of the Portfolio will be provided with at least 60 days prior notice of any change in the Portfolio’s policy.  The notice will be provided in a separate written document containing the following, or similar, statement, in boldface type:  “Important Notice Regarding Change in Investment Policy.”  The statement will also appear on the envelope in which the notice is delivered, unless the notice is delivered separately from other communications to the shareholder.


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.


For purposes of the Fund’s concentration limitation discussed above, the Trust identifies the issuer of a security depending on its terms and conditions. In identifying the issuer, the Trust will consider the entity or entities responsible for payment of interest and repayment of principal and the source of such payments; the way in which assets and revenues of an issuing political subdivision are separated from those of other political entities; and whether a governmental body is guaranteeing the security. For purposes of the Fund’s concentration limitation discussed above, the Trust may analyze the characteristics of a particular issuer and security and assign an industry or sector classification consistent with those characteristics in the event that the third-party classification provider used by the Trust does not assign a classification.


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.


The Fund will disclose its portfolio holdings by mailing its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the fiscal year and semi-annual period.  The Fund may also disclose its portfolio holdings by mailing a quarterly report to its shareholders.  In addition, the Fund will disclose 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, from time to time, make available the portfolio’s top ten holdings information on its website at www.navigatorfund.com.  The Fund’s top ten holdings are generally posted to the website within ten days of the end of each month and remain available until new information for the next month is posted.


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


Under limited circumstances, as described below, the Fund's portfolio holdings may be disclosed to, or known by, certain third parties in advance of their filing with the 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 is subject to a duty to keep the information confidential.

  

· The Adviser and Sub-Adviser .  Personnel of the Fund's adviser and 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 sub-adviser to provide its management, administrative, and investment services to the Fund.  As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability, demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio managers in the trading of such securities, adviser and sub-adviser personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.


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


·   Union Bank, National Association is the custodian for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Fund.


·   BBD, 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 providing assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.


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


Additions to List of Approved Recipients. The Fund'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 must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential. There are no ongoing arrangements in place with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings. In no event shall the Fund, the Adviser or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund's portfolio holdings.


Compliance with Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures.  The Fund'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 five (5) individuals, four (4) of whom are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust, or any investment adviser to any series of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”). Pursuant to the Governing Documents 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, three (3) additional Independent Trustees, and one (1) Interested Trustee.  Michael Miola, the Interested Trustee, is considered an interested person by virtue of his indirect controlling interest in Northern Lights Distributors, LLC.  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 it’s 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.  Mr. Miola has over 20 years of business experience in the investment management and brokerage business, 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.   Gary W. Lanzen has over 20 years of business experience in the financial services industry, holds a Masters in Education Administration degree, 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.   Anthony J. Hertl has over 20 years of business experience in financial services industry and related fields including serving as a capital markets controller, chief financial officer, director of global taxation, 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 as a member of four 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.  Mark H. Taylor, has over two decades of academic and professional experience in the accounting and auditing areas, has Doctor of Philosophy, Masters and Bachelor  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.  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

Anthony J. Hertl ^

1950

Trustee

Since 2005; Chairman of the Board since 2013

Consultant to small and emerging businesses (since 2000).

98

AdvisorOne Funds (12 portfolios) (2004-2013); Ladenburg Thalmann Alternative Strategies Fund (since June 2010); Satuit Capital Management Trust; The Z-Seven Fund, Inc. (2007 – May, 2010), Greenwich Advisers Trust (2007- February 2011), Global Real Estate Fund (2008-2011), The World Funds Trust (since 2010) and Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2006)

Gary W. Lanzen ^

1954

Trustee

Since 2005

President, Orizon Investment Counsel, Inc. (2000-2006); Chief Investment Officer (2000 -2010); Founder and Partner, Orizon Group, Inc. (a financial services company) (2000-2006).

98

AdvisorOne Funds (12 portfolios) (since 2003);

Ladenburg Thalmann Alternative Strategies Fund (  2010-2011); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2006)

Mark H. Taylor ^

1964

Trustee

Since 2007

Andrew D. Braden Professor of Accounting and Auditing, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University (since 2009); John P. Begley Endowed Chair in Accounting, Creighton University (2002 – 2009); Former member of the AICPA Auditing Standards Board, AICPA (2008-2011). 

111

Ladenburg Thalmann Alternative Strategies Fund (since 2010); Lifetime Achievement Mutual Fund, Inc.  (LFTAX) (Director and Audit Committee Chairman) (2007-2012); NLFT III (since February 2012); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2007)

John V. Palancia

1954

Trustee

Since 2011

Retired (since 2011). Formerly, Director of Futures Operations, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. (1975-2011).

111

Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2011); NLFT III (since February 2012); Ladenburg Thalmann Alternative Strategies Fund (since  2012)


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

Michael Miola*** ^

1952

Trustee

Since 2005, Chairman of the Board 2005-2013

Co-Owner and Co-Managing Member of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC; Manager of Gemini Fund Services, LLC; Orion Adviser Services, LLC, CLS Investments, LLC, GemCom, LLC and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (since 2003); Director of Constellation Trust Company (since 2004).

98

AdvisorOne Funds (12 portfolios) (2003-2012); Ladenburg Thalmann Alternative Strategies Fund (since 2010); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2006)

Andrew Rogers

80 Arkay Drive

Hauppauge, NY  11788

1969

President

Since 2006

Chief Executive Officer, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); President and Manager, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006 - 2012); Formerly Manager, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (2006 – 2008); and President and Manager, GemCom LLC (2004 - 2011).

N/A

N/A

Kevin E. Wolf

80 Arkay Drive

Hauppauge, NY  11788

1969

Treasurer

Since 2006

President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Director of Fund Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006 - 2012); and Vice-President, GemCom, LLC (since 2004).

N/A

N/A

James P. Ash

80 Arkay Drive

Hauppauge, NY  11788

1976

Secretary

Since 2011

Senior Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2011 - 2012); Director of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2009 - 2011); Assistant Vice President of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2008 - 2011).

N/A

N/A

Lynn Bowley

1958

Chief Compliance Officer

Since 2007

Compliance Officer of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (since 2007); Vice President of Investment Support Services for Mutual of Omaha Companies (2002 – 2006).

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.

** The term “Fund Complex” includes the Northern Lights Fund Trust (“NLFT”), Northern Lights Fund Trust III (“NLFT III”) and the Northern Lights Variable Trust (“NLVT”).

*** Michael Miola is an “interested person” of the Trust as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, because of his affiliation with Gemini Fund Services, LLC, (the Trust’s Administrator, Fund Accountant, Transfer Agent) and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Fund’s Distributor).

^ These Trustees were named in the SEC order instituting settled administrative proceedings against Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC, Gemini Fund Services, LLC and certain Trustees.  For more information, please see the “Legal Proceedings” section below.


Legal Proceedings


On May 2, 2013, the SEC filed an order instituting settled administrative proceedings (the “Order”) against Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”), Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”), certain current Trustees of the Trust, and one former Trustee.  To settle the SEC’s charges, GFS and NLCS each agreed to pay $50,000 penalties, and both firms and the named Trustees agreed to engage an independent compliance consultant to address the violations found in the Order.  The firms and the named Trustees agreed to settle with the SEC without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, while agreeing to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of those provisions.  There were no allegations that shareholders suffered any monetary harm.  The SEC charges were not against the Adviser or the Fund.


The Order found that on certain occasions during the period January 2009 to December 2010, disclosures included in shareholder reports (concerning the Trustees’ adviser evaluation process under Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act) filed by certain funds of the Trust contained boilerplate disclosures that were materially untrue or misleading in violation of Section 34(b) of the 1940 Act.  These disclosures were included in the fund shareholder reports based on board minutes drafted by GFS, reviewed by the Trust’s outside counsel, and then reviewed and approved by the Trustees.  The Order found that the named Trustees therefore were a cause of these violations.  In addition, GFS failed to ensure that certain shareholder reports contained the required disclosures concerning the Trustees’ evaluation process and failed to ensure that certain series within the Trust maintained and preserved their Section 15(c) files in accordance with 1940 Act recordkeeping requirements.  Accordingly, GFS caused those funds’ violations of Sections 30(e) and 31(a) of the Investment Company Act and Rules 30e-1 and 31a-2(a) (6) thereunder.


The Order found that, during the relevant period, NLCS and the four named Trustees were also a cause of violations of Rule 38a-1(a)(1) under the 1940 Act, which requires registered investment companies to adopt and implement written compliance policies and procedures.  Specifically, the Order found that NLCS and the named Trustees failed to implement certain policies and procedures of the Trust that required the funds’ CCO to provide the advisers’ compliance manuals to the named Trustees for their review or, as an alternative, summaries of the compliance programs.  Rather than following this process, the Order found that the named Trustees’ approval of the advisers’ compliance programs was based primarily on their review of a brief written statement prepared by NLCS and a verbal representation by NLCS that such manuals were adequate.  


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 past fiscal year, the Audit Committee held twelve meetings.


Compensation


Effective April 1, 2013, 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 $27,625 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. Prior to April 1, 2013 each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or an adviser received a quarterly fee of $21,500.  Effective July 1, 2013, in addition to the quarterly fees and reimbursements, the Chairman of the Board receives a $30,000 annual fee, and the Audit Committee Chairman receives a $15,000 additional annual fee to be allocated between Northern Lights Fund Trust and Northern Lights Variable Trust, each to be paid quarterly.  


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 are expected to receive from the Trust during the Fund’s first fiscal year ending September 30, 2014.  Each Independent Trustee attended all quarterly meetings during the prior year.  The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plan.


Name and Position

Aggregate Compensation From Trust **

Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses

Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement

Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex*** Paid to Directors

Anthony J. Hertl

$140,500

None

None

$160,000

Gary Lanzen

$110,500

None

None

$130,000

Mark Taylor

$125,500

None

None

$162,375

John V. Palancia

$110,500

None

None

$154,000

Michael Miola*

None

None

None

None

*This Trustee is deemed to be an ‘interested person’ as defined in the 1940 Act as a result of his affiliation with Gemini Fund Services, LLC (the Trust’s Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant), Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Fund’s Distributor) and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (the Trust’s compliance service provider).  

**There are currently multiple series comprising the Trust.  Trustees’ fees will be allocated equitably among the series in the Trust.

***The term “Fund Complex” includes the Northern Lights Fund Trust, the Northern Lights Variable Trust and Northern Lights Fund Trust III.


Trustee Ownership


The following table indicates the dollar range of equity securities that each Trustee beneficially owned in the Portfolio as of the date of this SAI.



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

None

Gary Lanzen

None

None

Mark Taylor

None

None

John V. Palancia

None

None

Michael Miola*

None

None

* This Trustee is deemed to be an ‘interested person’ as defined in the 1940 Act as a result of his affiliation with Gemini Fund Services, LLC (the Trust’s Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant), Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Fund’s Distributor) and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (the Trust’s compliance service provider).


Management Ownership


Because there were no shares of the Fund outstanding as of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned 0.00% of the Portfolio’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, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund or acknowledges the existence of such control.  


As of the date of this SAI, there were no principal or control shareholders as there were no shares of the Portfolio outstanding.


INVESTMENT ADVISER


Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. (the "Adviser"), 1650 Market Street, 53rd Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19103 serves as investment adviser to the Fund.  Subject to the supervision and direction of the Trustees, the Adviser manages the Fund’s securities and investments in accordance with the Fund’s stated investment objectives, policies and restrictions, makes investment decisions and places orders to purchase and sell securities on behalf of the Fund.  The Adviser was established in 2010 for the purpose of advising the Fund and has no other clients.  The fee paid to the Adviser is governed by an investment advisory agreement ("Advisory Agreement") between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund and the Adviser.


Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, under the supervision of the Board, agrees to invest the assets of the Fund in accordance with applicable law and the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser.   The Adviser shall act as the investment adviser to the Fund and, as such shall (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities here under, (ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective, policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by the Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations either directly with the issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and to brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and pay such brokers in return a higher commission or spread than may be charged by other brokers. The Adviser also provides the Fund with all necessary office facilities and personnel for servicing the Fund’s investments, compensates all officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors or employees of the Adviser, and all personnel of the Fund or the Adviser performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities. The Advisory Agreement was approved by the Board of the Trust, including by a majority of the Independent Trustees, at a meeting held on May 22, 2013.


In addition, the Adviser, directly subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, provides the management and administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund. These services include providing facilities for maintaining the Trust’s organization; supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents, accountants, underwriters and other persons dealing with the Fund; preparing all general shareholder communications and conducting shareholder relations; maintaining the Fund’s records and the registration of the Fund’s shares under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state securities laws; developing management and shareholder services for the Fund; and furnishing reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the Trustees.  


The following table sets forth the annual management fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets, computed daily and payable monthly:


 

 

Fund

Management Fee

Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund

1.25%


The advisory fee is computed daily and payable monthly. The Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its management fee and to reimburse expenses, other than expenses relating to dividends or interest on securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses or extraordinary or non-recurring expenses, at least until August 31, 2014, such that net annual fund operating expenses of the Fund do not exceed the percentages in the table below.  Waiver/reimbursement is subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits.  No reimbursement amount will be paid to the Adviser in any fiscal quarter unless the Trust’s Board of Trustees has determined in advance that a reimbursement is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease the Fund’s expenses and increase its performance.

 

 

 


Fund

Expense Cap

Minimum Duration

Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund Class A

1.90%

January 30, 2015

Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund Class C

2.65%

January 30, 2015

Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund Class I

1.65%

January 30, 2015


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 (c) the fees and certain expenses of the Custodian and Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent (as defined under the section entitled “Transfer Agent”), including the cost of maintaining certain required records of the Fund and of pricing the Fund’s shares, (d) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent accountants for the Fund, (e) brokerage commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its securities transactions, (f) all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Fund to governmental agencies, (g) the fees of any trade association of which the Fund may be a member, (h) the cost of 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 its 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 Fund who are directors, officers or employees of the Adviser) and of preparing, printing and mailing reports, proxy statements and prospectuses to shareholders in the amount necessary for distribution to the shareholders and (l) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.


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


A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees' approval of the advisory agreement will be available in the Fund's first annual or semi-annual shareholder report.


SUB-ADVISER


Main Point Advisors Inc., located at 1650 Market Street, 53rd floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19103, serves as sub-adviser to the Fund.  Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Sub-Adviser is responsible for the selection of the Fund's investments according to its investment objective, polices, and restrictions.  The Sub-Adviser was established in 2013 to manage the Fund.  As of the date of this SAI, the Fund was the Sub-Adviser’s only client.

 

Pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Adviser pays the Sub-Adviser, on a monthly basis, an annual advisory fee equivalent to 0.625% of the Fund's average daily net assets.


The 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 each Fund. The Sub-Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty on 60 days’ written notice by a vote of a majority of the Trustees or by the Adviser, or by holders of a majority of that Trust’s outstanding shares. The 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 sub-advisory agreement will be available in the Fund's first annual or semi-annual shareholder report.


Codes of Ethics


The Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Distributor (as defined under the section entitled (“The Distributor”) each have adopted respective codes of ethics 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 code of ethics 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 registrant files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission 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 this 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 of securities held by the Fund to the Adviser (which has delegated to the Sub-Adviser) and responsibility for voting proxies of securities held by the Fund to the Adviser (which has delegated to the Sub-Adviser), subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser (or its delegate) (which has delegated to the Sub-Adviser) vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.  The Policies also require the Adviser (or its delegate) to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser’s (or its delegate) Proxy Policies and a record of each proxy voted on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser (or its delegate) as involving a conflict of interest.  A copy of the Sub-Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies is attached hereto as an Appendix.  


More information .  Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund during the most recent 12-month period ending June 30 will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-877-766-2264.; 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 1-877-766-2264 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 the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“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 its best efforts to distribute 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 designated dealer of record.  

 

Rule 12b-1 Plans


The Trust has adopted Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for each of the Fund's Class A and Class C shares (the "Plans") pursuant to which the Funds are authorized to pay the Distributor, as compensation for Distributor’s account maintenance services under the respective Plans, a distribution and shareholder servicing fee at the rate of up to 0.25% for Class A shares and up to 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. Such fees shall be based upon the Funds’ average daily net assets during the preceding month, and shall be calculated and accrued daily. The Funds 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 Class A and Class C Fund shareholders, respectively, including arranging for certain securities dealers or brokers, administrators and others (“Recipients”) to provide these services and paying compensation for these services. Each Fund will bear its own costs of distribution with respect to its shares. 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 by Recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following: assistance in the offering and sale of Fund shares and in other aspects of the marketing of the shares to clients or prospective clients of the respective recipients; answering routine inquiries concerning the Funds; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Funds and in processing purchase and redemption transactions; making the Funds’ investment plan and shareholder services available; and providing such other information and services to investors in shares of the Funds as the Distributor or the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, 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 Funds.


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 initial term of the Rule 12b-1 Plans is one year and each will continue in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and do not have a direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan (“Rule 12b-1 Trustees”) by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. A Plan may be terminated at any time by the Trust or a Fund by vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the relevant share class of the Fund.


A Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the Distributor’s compensation to be paid by the Fund, unless such amendment is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the affected class of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Rule 12b- 1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the 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 Rule 12b-1 Plans, any related agreements, and all reports, for a period of not less than six years from the date of such document and for at least the first two years in an easily accessible place.


Any agreement related to the Rule 12b-1 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 Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the Fund; (b) it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act); and (c) it will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the date of its execution or adoption only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such agreement.


PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

The following table lists the number and types of accounts managed by each Portfolio Manager in addition to those of the Fund and assets under management in those accounts as of June 30, 2013:


Total Other Accounts Managed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Portfolio Manager

Registered Investment Company Accounts


Assets
Managed
($ millions)

Pooled
Investment
Vehicle
Accounts


Assets
Managed



Other
Accounts


Assets Managed

($ millions)

K. Sean Clark

1

$103.34

9

$107.53

7,429

$2,091.88

Jon Fiebach

0

N/A

0

N/A

0

N/A




Other Accounts Managed Subject to Performance-Based Fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Portfolio Manager

Registered Investment Company Accounts


Assets
Managed
($ millions)

Pooled
Investment
Vehicle
Accounts


Assets
Managed


Other
Accounts


Assets Managed
($ millions)

K. Sean Clark

0

N/A

0

N/A

0

N/A

Jon Fiebach

0

N/A

0

N/A

0

N/A


Conflicts of Interest.


As indicated in the table above, the portfolio manager at the Adviser may manage numerous accounts for multiple clients.  These accounts may include registered investment companies, other types of pooled accounts (e.g., collective investment funds), and separate accounts (i.e., accounts managed on behalf of individuals or public or private institutions).  The Portfolio manager at the Adviser make investment decisions for each account based on the investment objectives and policies and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that portfolio.


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 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. In those instances, the portfolio manager may have an incentive to favor the higher and/or performance-based fee accounts over the Fund.  The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures designed to address these potential material conflicts.  For instance, portfolio managers within the Adviser are normally responsible for all accounts within a certain investment discipline, and do not, absent special circumstances, differentiate among the various accounts when allocating resources.  Additionally, the Adviser utilizes a system for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that is designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation.


Each portfolio manager receives a salary and may be eligible for a performance-based bonus and a share of the profits, if any.  Jon Fiebach is also eligible to receive the profits of the Sub-Adviser as an owner.


Ownership.


Since the Fund is newly organized, the portfolio managers do not own shares of the Portfolio as of the date of this SAI.


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 or the Sub-Adviser.  The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser are authorized by the Trustees to allocate the orders placed 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/Sub-Adviser for the Fund's use. Such allocation is to be in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser may determine.


In selecting a broker or dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser will take the following into consideration:


· the best net price available;


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


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


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


Brokers or dealers executing a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Fund may receive a commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for executing the transaction if the Adviser/Sub-Adviser determines 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-Sub-Adviser may select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage, research and other services to other accounts over which the Adviser/Sub-Adviser exercises investment discretion. Some of the services received as the result of Fund transactions may primarily benefit accounts other than the Fund, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit the Fund.


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.  The Fund may engage in active trading to achieve its investment objectives and may experience episodes of substantial portfolio turnover.



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, Hauppauge, New York 11788, serves as the 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 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 Fund by GFS, the Fund pays GFS a fund administration fee equal to the greater of $40,000 minimum or 0.07% on the first $100 million of net assets, 0.05% on the next $100 million to $500 million of net assets, 0.03% on the next $500 million to $1 billion of net assets, and 0.02% on net assets greater than $1 billion. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


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 to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays a combined fee included with the administrative fees noted above; therefore, there is no separate base annual fee per fund or share class. The Fund will pay, after the first year, $6,000 for each additional share class above two, plus, $6,000 for bond fund charges. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


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 a transfer agent fee equal to the greater of $15,000 per share class or $14.00 per account per share class. The Fund also pays the Transfer Agent for any out-of-pocket expenses.


Custodian

  

Union Bank, National Association, (the “Custodian”), 350 California Street, 6 th Floor, San Francisco, California 94104 serves as the custodian of the Fund's assets pursuant to a 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 or Sub-Adviser. The Fund may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board to hold foreign assets.


Compliance Services


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 a one-time fee of $2,500, plus an annual fee, based on Fund assets, ranging from $13,500 (net assets of $50 million or less) to $31,500 (net assets over $1 billion).  The Fund also pays NLCS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


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 Fund’s 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 for appropriate persons and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program.


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 "Net Asset Value," the net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund's shares, by class, 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, by class.  


For purposes of calculating the NAV, portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotes are available are stated at market value. Market value is generally determined on the basis of last reported sales prices, or if no sales are reported, based on quotes obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers, or pricing services. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the last bid on the primary exchange. 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. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost. Exchange traded options; 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.


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.


In unusual circumstances, instead of valuing securities in the usual manner, 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 securities, such as private placements, interests in commodity pools, other non-traded securities or temporarily illiquid securities, for which market quotations are not readily available or are determined to be unreliable.  These securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board.  The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value team composed of one of more officers 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 Team and Valuation Process .  This team 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, such as private placements or non-traded 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 under 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 value team and to ratify valuations for the applicable securities. The Board of Trustees considers the reports provided by the fair value team, 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 New York Stock Exchange will be closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Purchase of Shares


Orders for shares received by the Fund in good order prior to the close of business on the NYSE on each day during such periods that the NYSE is open for trading are priced at NAV per share 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 "Redemptions" 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 to fairly determine the value of its net assets, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (or any succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or

(d) when the SEC by order permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption.

 

In case of suspension of the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the 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 “Redemptions” 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 advisor 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 net investment income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable timing requirements. Net investment income and net capital gain of the Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of the Code.  


Net investment income is made up of dividends and interest less expenses. Net capital gain for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning after December 22, 2010 may now be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss.  Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could be carried forward to offset any capital gains for only eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital losses, irrespective of the character of the original loss.  Capital loss carryforwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these carryforwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.  


The Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income, any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, and any excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Distributions of net investment income and net capital gain will be made after the end of each fiscal year, and no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions will be in shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.


To be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the 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 net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of the Fund generally would not be liable for income tax on the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders, whether from the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.


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


The following discussion of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax.  Shareholders that are IRAs or other qualified retirement plans are exempt from income taxation under the Code.


Distributions of taxable net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.  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.


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


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


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


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 purchased, even though the holder receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year. In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income, which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.


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


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


Some debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by a 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.


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 advisors about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

BBD, LLP, located at 1835 Market Street, 26 th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm providing services including (1) audit of annual financial statements, and (2) assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.   


LEGAL COUNSEL

 

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



FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The financial statements and report of the independent registered public accounting firm required to be included in this SAI will be incorporated by reference.  When available, you can obtain a copy of the Annual Report without charge by calling the Fund at 1-877-766-2264.



APPENDIX A

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES FOR

Clark Capital Management Group, Inc.


Policies and Procedures

Proxy Voting and Corporate Actions

Policy

Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. ( ADVISER ), as a matter of policy and as a fiduciary, has responsibility for voting proxies for portfolio securities consistent with the best economic interests of the Funds, Portfolios and clients. Our firm maintains written policies and procedures as to the handling, research, voting and reporting of proxy voting and makes appropriate disclosures about our firm’s proxy policies and practices. Our policy and practice includes the responsibility to monitor corporate actions, receive and vote client proxies and disclose any potential conflicts of interest as well as making information available to clients about the voting of proxies for their portfolio securities and maintaining relevant and required records.

Background

Proxy voting is an important right of shareholders and reasonable care and diligence must be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised.

Investment advisers registered with the SEC, and which exercise voting authority with respect to client securities, are required by Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act to (a) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that client securities are voted in the best interests of clients, which must include how an adviser addresses material conflicts that may arise between an adviser's interests and those of its Funds, Portfolios and clients; (b) to disclose to Funds, Portfolios and clients how they may obtain information from the adviser with respect to the voting of proxies for their securities; (c) to describe to clients a summary of its proxy voting policies and procedures and, upon request, furnish a copy to its clients; and (d) maintain certain records relating to the adviser's proxy voting activities when the adviser does have proxy voting authority.

Responsibility

Denise Williams has the responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of our proxy voting policy, practices, disclosures and record keeping, including outlining our voting guidelines in our procedures.

Procedure

ADVISER has adopted procedures to implement the firm’s policy and reviews to monitor and insure the firm’s policy is observed, implemented properly and amended or updated, as appropriate, which include the following:


Voting Procedures


I.

INTRODUCTION

ADVISER has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures as required by Rule 206(4)-6 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.  These policies and procedures are effective on September 21, 2010 and related only to the Fund (not applicable to separately managed accounts).


II.

PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINE


          Proposals Specific to Mutual Funds & ETFs

ADVISER serves as investment adviser to certain investment companies under the Northern Lights Fund Trust.  These funds invest in other investment companies that are not affiliated (“Underlying Funds”) and are required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) Act to handle proxies received from Underlying Funds in a certain manner.  Notwithstanding the guidelines provided in these procedures, it is the policy of ADVISER to vote all proxies received from the Underlying Funds in the same proportion that all shares of the Underlying Funds are voted, or in accordance with instructions received from fund shareholders, pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act.  After properly voted, the proxy materials are placed in a file maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer for future reference.  

Procedures

  When the mail arrives, the person responsible for separating the mail gives any proxy materials to the person who handles compliance issues.  The proxy materials are then opened by the Compliance person.  The Compliance person will send a “mirror vote” letter (sample attached) to the address of record on the proxy. A copy of the letters sent will be maintained according to the Books and Records policy.

Disclosure

The ADVISER will provide conspicuously displayed information in its Form ADV Part II in the Supporting Schedules, summarizing this proxy voting policy and procedures.



APPENDIX B

DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS


STANDARD & POOR’S DEBT RATINGS

 

A Standard & Poor’s corporate or municipal debt rating is a current assessment of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation.  This assessment 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 by the issuer or obtained by Standard & Poor’s from other sources it considers reliable.  Standard & Poor’s does not perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information.  The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or 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 other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting.

 

INVESTMENT GRADE

 

AAA - Debt rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

 

AA - Debt rated “AA” has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the highest rated 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 it normally exhibits adequate 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.

 

SPECULATIVE GRADE

 

Debt rated “BB”, “B”, “CCC”, “CC” and “C” is regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  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” is less vulnerable 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.

 

B - Debt rated “B” has a greater vulnerability to default than obligations rated BB 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.

 

CCC - Debt rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable 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.

 

CC - Debt rated “CC” typically is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

 

C - Debt rated “C” signifies that a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued.

 

D - Debt rated “D” is in payment default.  The “D” rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grade period.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.

 

MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INC. (“Moody’s”) LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

 

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 edged.”  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 fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risk 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.  Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

 

Ba - Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered well-assured.  Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well safeguarded during both 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 issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.



STATE AND MUNICIPAL NOTES

 

Excerpts from Moody’s description of state and municipal note ratings:

 

MIG-1- Notes bearing this designation are of the best quality, enjoying strong protection from established cash flows of funds for their servicing from established and board-based access to the market for refinancing, or both.

 

MIG-2- Notes bearing this designation are of high quality, with margins of protection ample although not so large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG-3- Notes bearing this designation are of favorable quality, with all security elements accounted for but lacking the strength of the preceding grade.  Market access for refinancing, in particular, is likely to be less well established.

 

 

FITCH, INC.  BOND RATINGS

 

Fitch investment grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings represent Fitch’s assessment of the issuer’s ability to meet the obligations of a specific debt issue or class of debt in a timely manner.

 

The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor, as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the issuer’s future financial strength and credit quality.

 

Fitch ratings do not reflect any credit enhancement that may be provided by insurance policies or financial guaranties unless otherwise indicated.

 

Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily identical credit quality since the rating categories do not fully reflect small differences in the degrees of credit risk.

 

Fitch ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any security ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature or taxability of payments made in respect of any security.

 

Fitch ratings are based on information obtained from issuers, other obligors, underwriters, their experts, and other sources Fitch believes to be reliable.  Fitch does not audit or verify the truth or accuracy of such information.  Ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or the unavailability of, information or for other reasons.

 

AAA Bonds considered investment grade and representing the lowest expectation of credit risk.  The obligor has an exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, a capacity that is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality.  This rating indicates a very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, a capacity that is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A Bond considered to be investment grade and represent a low expectation of credit risk.  This rating indicates a strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in economic conditions or circumstances than long term debt with higher ratings.

 

BBB Bonds considered to be in the lowest investment grade and indicates that there is currently low expectation of credit risk.  The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Bonds are considered speculative.  This rating indicates that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic changes over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.  Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.

 


B Bonds are considered highly speculative.  This rating indicates that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains.  Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

 

CCC, CC Bonds are considered a high default risk.  Default is a real and C possibility.  Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments.  A “CC” rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable.  “C” rating signal imminent default.

 

DDD, DD Bonds are in default.  Such bonds are not meeting current and D obligations and are extremely speculative.  “DDD” designates the highest potential for recovery of amounts outstanding on any securities involved and “D” represents the lowest potential for recovery.

 



SHORT-TERM RATINGS


STANDARD & POOR’S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS


A Standard & Poor’s commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of debt considered short-term in the relevant market.


Ratings are graded into several categories, ranging from `A-1’ for the highest quality obligations to “D” for the lowest.  These categories are as follows:


A-1 - This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong.  Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.


A-2 - Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory.  However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated “A-1”.


A-3 - Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely payment.  They are, however, more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.


B - Issues rated “B” are regarded as having only speculative capacity for timely payment.


C - This rating is assigned to short-term debt obligations with doubtful capacity for payment.


D - Debt rated “D” is in payment default.  The “D” rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due, even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grade period.

 

STANDARD & POOR’S NOTE RATINGS

 

A Standard & Poor’s note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market-access risks unique to notes.  Notes maturing 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 the assessment:


1.  Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely the issue is to be treated as a note.


2.  Source of payment - the more the issue depends on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it is to be considered a note.


Note rating symbols and definitions are as follows:


SP-1 - Strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  Issues determined to possess very strong capacity to pay principal and interest are given a plus (+) designation.


SP-2 - Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.


SP-3 - Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

MOODY’S SHORT-TERM RATINGS

 

Moody’s short-term debt ratings are opinions on the ability of issuers to repay punctually senior debt obligations.  These obligations have an original maturity not exceeding one year, unless explicitly noted.  Moody’s employs the following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment capacity of rated issuers:


Issuers rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior capacity for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations.  Prime-1 repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics: (I) leading market positions in well established industries, (II) high rates of return on funds employed, (III) conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, (IV) broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation, and (V) well established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternative liquidity.


Issuers rated Prime-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above, but to a lesser degree.  Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation.  Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions.  Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.


Issuers rated Prime-3 (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  The effect of industry characteristics and market composition may be more pronounced.  Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively high financial leverage.  Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.


Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the prime rating categories.


MOODY’S NOTE RATINGS

 

MIG 1/VMIG 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/VMIG 2 - This designation denotes high quality.  Margins of protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.


MIG 3/VMIG 3 - This designation denotes favorable quality.  All security elements are accounted for but there 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.


SG - This designation denotes speculative quality.  Debt instruments in this category lack margins of protection.


FITCH’S SHORT-TERM RATINGS

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on demand or have original maturities of up to three years, including commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and investment notes.


The short-term rating places greater emphasis than a long-term rating on the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer’s obligations in a timely manner.


F-1+ - Exceptionally strong credit quality.  Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.


F-1 - Very strong credit quality.  Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+.


F-2 - Good credit quality.  Issues assigned this rating have a satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment but the margin of safety is not as great as for issues assigned F-1+ and F-1 ratings.





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