This Prospectus provides important information
about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
These securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the accuracy or
adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted
by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder
reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will
be made available on the Fund’s website www.funds.anchor-capital.com, and you will be notified by mail each time a report
is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you have already elected to receive shareholder
reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder
reports and other communications from the Fund electronically anytime by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer
or bank).
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000
in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes
that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual
costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:
The Fund may also invest in U.S. or foreign
cash equivalents including money market funds and treasuries.
The adviser seeks to achieve the Fund’s
secondary objective by managing risk through hedging the Fund’s investment portfolio when it believes security prices will
decline. The adviser will hedge by:
The Fund may invest in inverse funds linked
to equity securities or indices when the adviser believes this strategy will provide an effective hedge to manage risk for the
Fund’s equity investments.
Generally, the adviser does not attempt to
evaluate individual securities. The adviser uses technical analysis, including monitoring price movements and price trends, of
equity markets in an effort to achieve the Fund’s objective through proper allocation of the Fund’s portfolio securities.
The adviser’s decision to buy or sell the Fund holding will be made based on adviser developed trend and risk models that
evaluate current market conditions, and this analysis will guide the adviser’s determination of the appropriate exposure
level to the equity market. The adviser buys and sells securities and derivatives to increase or decrease the Fund’s exposure
to the equity market. The Fund’s adviser may engage in active and frequent trading of the Fund’s portfolio securities
and derivatives to achieve the Fund’s investment objective.
The following describes the risks the Fund
bears directly or indirectly through investments in Underlying Funds. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund
will achieve its goal.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
April 29, 2020
This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI")
is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the combined Prospectus of the Anchor Risk Managed Equity Strategies
Fund (the “Fund”) dated April 29, 2020. The Fund’s Prospectus is hereby incorporated by reference, which means
it is legally part of this document. You can obtain copies of the Fund’s Prospectus, annual or semi-annual reports without
charge by contacting the Fund’s transfer agent, Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska
68022 or by calling 1-844-594-1226. You may also obtain a Prospectus by visiting the website at www.funds.anchor-capital.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE FUNDS
|
1
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TYPES OF INVESTMENTS
|
2
|
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
|
18
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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
|
20
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MANAGEMENT
|
21
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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
|
27
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INVESTMENT ADVISER
|
27
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THE DISTRIBUTOR
|
30
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PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
|
31
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ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE
|
32
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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
|
33
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OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
33
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
|
36
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ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM
|
37
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PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
|
37
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TAX STATUS
|
42
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
48
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LEGAL COUNSEL
|
48
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
48
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APPENDIX A – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
|
A-1
|
THE FUND
The Fund is a diversified
series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, a Delaware statutory trust organized on June 2, 2015 (the "Trust"). The Trust
is registered as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the "Board"
or "Trustees").
The Fund may issue an unlimited
number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares have equal rights and privileges. Each share of the Fund is entitled to one
vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote. In addition, each share of the Fund is entitled to participate equally
with other shares (i) in dividends and distributions declared by the Fund and (ii) on liquidation to its proportionate share of
the assets remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities. Shares of the Fund are fully paid, non-assessable and fully
transferable when issued and have no pre-emptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionately the same
rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.
The Fund’s investment
objective, restrictions and policies are more fully described here and in the Prospectus. The Board may add classes to and reclassify
the shares of the Fund, start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.
The Fund offers two classes
of shares: Advisor Class shares and Institutional Class shares. Only Advisor Class shares are described this SAI. Institutional
Class shares of the Fund are offered by a separate Prospectus and SAI. Each share class represents an interest in the same assets
of the Fund, has the same rights and is identical in all material respects except that (i) each class of shares may be subject
to different (or no) sales loads, (ii) each class of shares may bear different (or no) distribution fees; (iii) each class of shares
may have different shareholder features, such as minimum investment amounts; (iv) certain other class-specific expenses will be
borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable, including transfer agent fees attributable to a specific class
of shares, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials to current shareholders of a specific
class, registration fees paid by a specific class of shares, the expenses of administrative personnel and services required to
support the shareholders of a specific class, litigation or other legal expenses relating to a class of shares, Trustees’
fees or expenses paid as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares and accounting fees and expenses relating to
a specific class of shares and (v) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its own distribution
arrangements. The Board of Trustees may classify and reclassify the shares of the Fund into additional classes of shares at a future
date.
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.
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 the descriptions of the Fund’s principal investment strategies are set forth under "Investment Objective”
and Principal Investment Strategies” in the Prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may
be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust.
The following pages contain
more detailed information about the types of instruments in which the Fund may invest directly or indirectly as a principal or
non-principal investment strategy. These instruments include (i) open-end investment companies (mutual funds), (ii) closed-end
funds, (iii) exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), (iv) limited partnerships, (v) limited liability companies and (vi) other
types of pooled investment vehicles (collectively, "Underlying Funds") and strategies Anchor Capital Management Group,
Inc. (the “Adviser”) employs in pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective and a summary of related risks.
Securities of Other Investment
Companies
Investments in ETFs and
mutual funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in
such funds. Due to legal limitations, the Fund will be prevented from: 1) purchasing more than 3% of an investment company's (including
ETFs) outstanding shares; 2) investing more than 5% of the Fund’s assets in any single such investment company, and 3) investing
more than 10% of the Fund’s assets in investment companies overall; unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or
the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC");
and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. In
the alternative, the Fund may rely on Rule 12d1-3, which allows unaffiliated mutual funds to exceed the 5% limitation and the 10%
limitation, provided the aggregate sales loads any investor pays (i.e., the combined distribution expenses of both the acquiring
fund and the acquired fund) does not exceed the limits on sales loads established by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)
for funds of funds. In addition to ETFs, the Fund may invest in other investment companies such as open-end mutual funds or exchange-traded
funds, within the limitations described above. Each investment company is subject to specific risks, depending on the nature of
the Fund. ETFs and mutual funds may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying stock or other index upon which
they are based.
Open-End Investment Companies
The Fund and any "affiliated
persons," as defined by the 1940 Act, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any
underlying fund. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of the underlying fund, the Fund’s ability to invest
fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that
would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an underlying fund whose shares are purchased by the
Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the underlying fund’s outstanding
securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an underlying fund’s outstanding
securities therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not
exceed 15% of the Fund’s total assets.
Under certain circumstances
an underlying fund may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of securities
from its portfolio, in lieu of
cash, in conformity with the rules of the SEC. In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed
by an underlying fund until the Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.
Investment decisions by
the investment advisers of the underlying fund(s) are made independently of the Fund and the Adviser. Therefore, the investment
adviser of one underlying fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment adviser
of another such fund. The result would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.
Exchange Traded Funds
ETFs are generally passive
funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and
typically provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging,
have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, some ETFs are unit investment trusts.
Under certain circumstances, the Adviser may invest in ETFs, known as "inverse funds," which are designed to produce
results opposite to market trends. Inverse ETFs are funds designed to rise in price when stock prices are falling.
ETFs have two markets. The
primary market is where institutions swap "creation units" in block-multiples of, for example, 50,000 shares for in-kind
securities and cash in the form of dividends. The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single
share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded after hours once the
NAV is calculated. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.
Foreign Securities
Investing in securities
of foreign companies and countries involves certain considerations and risks that are not typically associated with investing in
U.S. government securities and securities of domestic companies. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign
issuer than a domestic one, and foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial standards
and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision and regulation
of foreign securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies than exists in the United States. Interest and dividends paid by
foreign issuers may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes, which may decrease the net return on such investments as
compared to dividends and interest paid to the Fund by domestic companies or the U.S. government. There may be the possibility
of expropriations, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, confiscatory taxation, political, economic or social instability
or diplomatic developments that could affect assets of the Fund held in foreign countries. Finally, the establishment of
exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions could adversely affect the payment of obligations.
To the extent currency exchange
transactions do not fully protect the Fund against adverse changes in currency exchange rates, decreases in the value of currencies
of the foreign countries in which the Fund will invest relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding decrease in the
U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets denominated in those currencies (and possibly a corresponding increase in the amount
of securities required to be liquidated to meet distribution requirements). Conversely, increases in the value of currencies of
the foreign countries in which the Fund invests relative to the U.S. dollar will result in
a corresponding increase in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets (and possibly a corresponding decrease in the amount
of securities to be liquidated).
Short Sales
The Fund may sell securities
short as an outright investment strategy and to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities. A short sale
is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not
wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.
When the Fund makes a short
sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing
the security. The Fund is required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Fund may have to pay a fee
to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities.
If the price of the security
sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund covers its short position, the Fund will incur a
loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased,
by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation
between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.
To the extent the Fund sells
securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales "against the box")
will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with its custodian
in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short
and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker. A short sale is "against the box" to
the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.
Equity Securities
Equity securities include
common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and
options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of
individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity
securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations
can be significant.
Common Stock
Common stock represents
an equity (ownership) interest in a company, and usually possesses voting rights and earns dividends. Dividends on common stock
are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer. Common stock generally represents the riskiest investment in a
company. In addition, common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential because increases and decreases
in earnings are usually reflected in a company's stock price.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock is a class
of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be
liquidated, although preferred stock is usually junior to the debt securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not
possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates.
A 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
Convertible securities include
fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer's underlying common
stock at the option of the holder during a specified period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred
stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of "usable" bonds and warrants or a combination of the features
of several of these securities. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks in an issuer's capital structure, but are usually
subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income
derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also gives
an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company
depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security's underlying common stock.
Real Estate Investment
Trusts
The Fund may invest in securities
of real estate investment trusts ("REITs"). REITs are publicly traded corporations or trusts that specialize in acquiring,
holding and managing residential, commercial or industrial real estate. A REIT is not taxed at the entity level on income distributed
to its shareholders or unitholders if it distributes to shareholders or unitholders at least 95% of its taxable income for each
taxable year and complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income.
REITs generally can be classified
as "Equity REITs", "Mortgage REITs" and "Hybrid REITs." An Equity REIT invests the majority of its
assets directly in real property and derives its income primarily from rents and from capital gains on real estate appreciation,
which are realized through property sales. A Mortgage REIT invests the majority of its assets in real estate mortgage loans and
services its income primarily from interest payments. A Hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of an Equity REIT and a Mortgage
REIT. Although the Fund can invest in all three kinds of REITs, its emphasis is expected to be on investments in Equity REITs.
Investments in the real
estate industry involve particular risks. The real estate industry has been subject to substantial fluctuations and declines on
a local, regional and national basis in the past and may continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real
property continue to be in the future. Real property values and income
from real property may decline due to general and local
economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases
in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents,
changes in neighborhoods and in demographics, increases in market interest rates, or other factors. Factors such as these may adversely
affect companies that own and operate real estate directly, companies that lend to such companies, and companies that service the
real estate industry.
Investments in REITs also
involve risks. Equity REITs will be affected by changes in the values of and income from the properties they own, while Mortgage
REITs may be affected by the credit quality of the mortgage loans they hold. In addition, REITs are dependent on specialized management
skills and on their ability to generate cash flow for operating purposes and to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders
REITs may have limited diversification and are subject to risks associated with obtaining financing for real property, as well
as to the risk of self-liquidation. REITs also can be adversely affected by their failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through
treatment of their income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or their failure to maintain an exemption from registration
under the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder bears not only a proportionate share of the
expenses of the Fund, but also may indirectly bear similar expenses of some of the REITs in which it invests.
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.
Depositary Receipts
Sponsored and unsponsored
American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), are receipts issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership
of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U.S. securities markets.
Unsponsored ADRs may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these ADRs generally bear all the costs
of the ADR facility, whereas foreign issuers typically bear certain costs in a sponsored ADR. The bank or trust company depositary
of an unsponsored ADR may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to
pass through voting rights. Many of the risks described below regarding foreign securities apply to investments in ADRs.
Emerging Markets Securities
Investing in emerging market
securities imposes risks different from, or greater than, risks of investing in foreign developed countries. These risks include:
smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility;
restrictions on foreign investment; possible repatriation of investment income and capital. In addition, foreign investors may
be required to register the proceeds of sales; future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers,
expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization, or creation of government monopolies. The currencies of emerging
market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments
in these
currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative
effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.
Additional risks of emerging
markets securities may include: greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability; more substantial governmental
involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation; unavailability of currency hedging techniques; companies
that are newly organized and small; differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability
of material information about issuers; and less developed legal systems. In addition, emerging securities markets may have different
clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make
it difficult to engage in such transactions. Settlement problems may cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities,
hold a portion of its assets in cash pending investment, or be delayed in disposing of a portfolio security. Such a delay could
result in possible liability to a purchaser of the security.
Certificates of Deposit
and Bankers' Acceptances
Certificates of deposit
are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited
plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the
secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers' acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable
businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter
or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then "accepted" by a
bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may
then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount
for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six
months or less.
Commercial Paper
Commercial paper consists
of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current
operations. It may be secured by letters of credit, a surety bond or other forms of collateral. Commercial paper is usually repaid
at maturity by the issuer from the proceeds of the issuance of new commercial paper. As a result, investment in commercial paper
is subject to the risk the issuer cannot issue enough new commercial paper to satisfy its outstanding commercial paper, also known
as rollover risk. Commercial paper may become illiquid or may suffer from reduced liquidity in certain circumstances. Like all
fixed income securities, commercial paper prices are susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates. If interest rates rise, commercial
paper prices will decline. The short-term nature of a commercial paper investment makes it less susceptible to interest rate risk
than many other fixed income securities because interest rate risk typically increases as maturity lengths increase. Commercial
paper tends to yield smaller returns than longer-term corporate debt because securities with shorter maturities typically have
lower effective yields than those with longer maturities. As with all fixed income securities, there is a chance that the issuer
will default on its commercial paper obligation.
Information on Time Deposits
and Variable Rate Notes
Time deposits are issued
by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to
the depositor on the date specified with respect to the deposit. Time deposits do not trade in the secondary market prior to maturity.
However, some time deposits may be redeemable prior to maturity and may be subject to withdrawal penalties.
The commercial paper obligations
are typically unsecured and may include variable rate notes. The nature and terms of a variable rate note (i.e., a "Master
Note") permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement between
the Fund and the issuer. It permits daily changes in the amounts invested. The Fund, typically, has the right at any time to increase,
up to the full amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding under the note. The issuer may prepay
at any time and without penalty any part of or the full amount of the note. The note may or may not be backed by one or more bank
letters of credit. Because these notes are direct investment arrangements between the Fund and the issuer, it is not generally
contemplated that they will be traded; moreover, there is currently no secondary market for them. Except as specifically provided
in the Prospectus, there is no limitation on the type of issuer from whom these notes may be purchased; however, in connection
with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, the Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of
the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made
demand simultaneously. Variable rate notes are subject to the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities unless
such notes can be put back to the issuer (redeemed) on demand within seven days.
Insured Bank Obligations
The Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation ("FDIC") insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings and loan associations (collectively
referred to as "banks") up to $250,000. The Fund may elect to purchase bank obligations in small amounts so as to be
fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently, to remain fully insured as to principal, these investments must be limited
to $250,000 per bank; if the principal amount and accrued interest together exceed $250,000, the excess principal and accrued interest
will not be insured. Insured bank obligations may have limited marketability.
Closed-End Investment
Companies
The Fund may invest its
assets in "closed-end" investment companies (or "closed-end funds"), subject to the investment restrictions
set forth above. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group
of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price. Such securities
are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System (commonly known as "NASDAQ") or, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares
of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the
Fund), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.
The Fund generally will
purchase shares of closed-end funds only in the secondary market. The Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases
similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market.
The Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end
fund in an initial public offering when, in the opinion
of the Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end
fund’s proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions and the level of demand for such securities, they represent
an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The initial offering price typically will include a dealer spread, which may be
higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such securities in the secondary market.
The shares of many closed-end
funds, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share, which is less than the NAV per share, the difference
representing the "market discount" of such shares. This market discount may be due in part to the investment objective
of long-term appreciation, which is sought by many closed-end funds, as well as to the fact that the shares of closed-end funds
are not redeemable by the holder upon demand to the issuer at the next determined NAV but rather are subject to the principles
of supply and demand in the secondary market. A relative lack of secondary market purchasers of closed-end fund shares also may
contribute to such shares trading at a discount to their NAV.
The Fund may invest in shares
of closed-end funds that are trading at a discount to NAV or at a premium to NAV. There can be no assurance that the market discount
on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by the Fund will ever decrease. In fact, it is possible that this market discount may
increase and the Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further decline in the market price of the securities
of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the NAV of the Fund’s shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance
that any shares of a closed-end fund purchased by the Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a premium or that the premium
will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund.
Closed-end funds may issue
senior securities (including preferred stock and debt obligations) for the purpose of leveraging the closed-end fund’s common
shares in an attempt to enhance the current return to such closed-end fund’s common shareholders. The Fund’s investment
in the common shares of closed-end funds that are financially leveraged may create an opportunity for greater total return on its
investment, but at the same time may be expected to exhibit more volatility in market price and NAV than an investment in shares
of investment companies without a leveraged capital structure.
United States Government
Obligations
These consist of various
types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations
of the United States government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable
government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis.
Debt
Issued by United States Government Agencies
These consist of debt securities
issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including the various types of instruments currently
outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, Government
National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae"), Farmer's Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States,
Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home
Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac"), the Farm
Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie
Mae"), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States government (e.g., United States
Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed
securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency's or instrumentality's right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g.,
Fannie Mae Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency's or instrumentality's own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley
Association).
Government-related guarantors
(i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae is
a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency)
residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations,
mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae are
guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by Fannie Mae but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States Government.
Freddie Mac was created
by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored
corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. Freddie Mac issues
participation certificates (“PCs”), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from Freddie Mac's national
portfolio. Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by
the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance
companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage
loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors
of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than
government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in
the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance
or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees
are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.
On September 7, 2008, the
U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Authority (the "FHFA") announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac had been placed into conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of
returning the entity to normal business operations. The U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA at the same time established a secured
lending facility and a Secured Stock Purchase Agreement with both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure that each entity had the
ability to fulfill its financial obligations. The FHFA announced that it does not anticipate any disruption in pattern of payments
or ongoing business operations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Securities Options
The Fund may purchase
and write (i.e., sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may
or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation.
Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments,
and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the
underlying instruments themselves.
A call option for
a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation to sell, the underlying
security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the
security. The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option
for a particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to
the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.
Stock index options
are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks.
The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options,
the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by
delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if
the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the
case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the
stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with
changes in the market value of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market
index, such as the Standard & Poor's 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index or a narrower market index, such as the
Standard & Poor's 100®. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment, such as the NYSE Arca Oil and Gas Index
or the Computer and Business Equipment Index. Options on stock indices are currently traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange,
the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ PHLX.
The Fund’s
obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written
by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction,
which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series (i.e., same underlying instrument, exercise
price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize
a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying
instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. The cost of such
a liquidation purchase plus transactions costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event
the Fund will have paid a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular
option. An option writer unable to effect a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument or
liquidate the assets held in a segregated account, as described below, until the option expires or the optioned instrument is delivered
upon exercise. In such circumstances, the writer will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument
during such period.
If an option purchased
by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. If the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction
on an option purchased by it, the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more
than the premium paid to purchase the option, or a loss if it is less. If an option written by the Fund expires on the stipulated
expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing
purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold). If an option written by the Fund is exercised,
the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss.
Certain Risks
Regarding Options
There are several
risks associated with transactions in options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options
markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives.
In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, may be absent
for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed
by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be
imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances
may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all
times be adequate to handle current trading value; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be
compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event
the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options
that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable
in accordance with their terms.
Successful use by
the Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the directions
of the stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities.
In addition, the Fund’s ability to effectively hedge all or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation
of or during a market decline, through transactions in put options on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements
in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Fund. Inasmuch as the Fund’s securities
will not duplicate the components of an index, the correlation will not be perfect. Consequently, the Fund bears the risk that
the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices.
It is also possible that there may be a negative correlation between the index and the Fund’s securities that would result
in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock indices acquired by the Fund.
The hours of trading
for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets
close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets
that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment
techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index
options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result
of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.
There is no assurance
that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for
some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Fund is unable to close out a call option on securities
that it has written before the option is exercised, the Fund may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy
its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect
to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur
transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.
Cover for Options
Positions
Transactions using
options (other than options that the Fund has purchased) expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter
into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting ("covered") position in securities or other options
or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided
in (i) above. The Fund will comply with 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 Fund custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC
guidelines, the Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions in which the Fund writes or sells options.
Assets used as cover
or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced
with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts
could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
Options on Futures Contracts
The Fund may purchase and
sell options on the same types of futures in which it may invest. Options on futures are similar to options on underlying instruments
except that options on futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures
contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), rather than to purchase or sell
the futures contract, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the
delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by the delivery of
the accumulated balance in the writer's futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures
contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option
on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the
premium paid.
Dealer Options
The Fund may engage in transactions
involving dealer options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While the
Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund were to purchase a dealer option it
would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer
to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.
Exchange-traded options
generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize
the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly,
when the Fund writes a dealer option, it may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering
into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter
into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions
with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price
at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase
transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In
the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written
by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, because
the Fund
must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets,
which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s
ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.
The Staff of the SEC has
taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. The Fund may treat the cover used for written dealer
options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be
calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum
purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat dealer options as
subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options,
the Fund will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.
Spread Transactions
The Fund may purchase covered
spread options from securities dealers. These covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The
purchase of a spread option gives the Fund the right to put securities that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread
in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to the Fund, in addition
to the risks of dealer options described above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any transaction costs. The purchase
of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the
yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. This protection is provided only during the life of the spread
options.
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into
repurchase agreements. In a repurchase agreement, an investor (such as the Fund) purchases a security (known as the "underlying
security") from a securities dealer or bank. Any such dealer or bank must be deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. At that time,
the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon price on a designated future
date. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and
repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at an agreed upon rate due to the Fund on repurchase. In either case, the income
to the Fund generally will be unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying securities. Repurchase agreements must be "fully
collateralized," in that the market value of the underlying securities (including accrued interest) must at all times be equal
to or greater than the repurchase price. Therefore, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by the underlying
securities.
Repurchase agreements are
generally for a short period of time, often less than a week, and will generally be used by the Fund to invest excess cash or as
part of a temporary defensive strategy. Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated
as illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience
both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. These losses could result from: (a) possible decline in the value
of the underlying security while the Fund is seeking to enforce its rights under the repurchase
agreement; (b) possible reduced levels of income or lack of access to income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing
its rights.
Trading in Futures Contracts
A futures contract provides
for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g.,
units of a stock index) for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Brokerage fees
are paid when a futures contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. Entering into a contract to buy is commonly
referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position. Entering into a contract to sell is commonly referred
to as selling a contract or holding a short position.
Unlike when the Fund purchases
or sells a security, no price would be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering
into a futures contract, and to maintain the Fund’s open positions in futures contracts, the Fund would be required to deposit
with its custodian or futures broker in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government
securities, suitable money market instruments, or other liquid securities, known as "initial margin." The margin required
for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from
time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that
may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.
If the price of an open
futures contract changes (by increase in underlying instrument or index in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase)
so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the
broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes
in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund.
These subsequent payments,
called "variation margin," to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets
fluctuate making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as "marking to
the market." The Fund expect to earn interest income on margin deposits.
Although certain futures
contracts, by their terms, require actual future delivery of and payment for the underlying instruments, in practice most futures
contracts are usually closed out before the delivery date. Closing out an open futures contract purchase or sale is effected by
entering into an offsetting futures contract sale or purchase, respectively, for the same aggregate amount of the identical underlying
instrument or index and the same delivery date. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund
realizes a gain; if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase
price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these
calculations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect
to a particular futures contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund
will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract.
For example, one contract
in the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index future is a contract to buy 25 pounds sterling multiplied by the level of the UK
Financial Times 100 Share Index on a given future date. Settlement of a stock index futures
contract may or may not be in the underlying instrument or index. If not in the underlying instrument or index, then settlement
will be made in cash, equivalent over time to the difference between the contract price and the actual price of the underlying
asset at the time the stock index futures contract expires.
Regulation as a Commodity Pool Operator
The Trust, on behalf of
the Fund, has filed with the National Futures Association, a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity
pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgated
thereunder, with respect to both Funds’ operation. Accordingly, the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as
a commodity pool operator.
When-Issued, Forward
Commitments and Delayed Settlements
The Fund may purchase and
sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under
the section entitled "Custodian") will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account.
Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be required
subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the
Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside
portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.
The Fund does not intend
to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives. Because the Fund
will segregate liquid assets to satisfy purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability
of the Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued
securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.
The Fund will purchase securities
on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed
advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered
into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement
date. In these cases the Fund may realize a taxable capital gain or loss. When the Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment
and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result
in the Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous.
The market value of the
securities underlying a when-issued purchase, forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any subsequent
fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when determining the market value of the Fund starting on the day the
Fund agrees to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until it
has paid for and delivered on the settlement date.
Illiquid and Restricted
Securities
The Fund may invest up to
15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions
on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"))
and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because
trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that
have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased
directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are
not considered to be illiquid.
Restricted and other illiquid
securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. The Fund might be unable to dispose
of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests
from shareholders. The Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense
and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.
A large institutional
market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that
there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of
the liquidity of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities
otherwise subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a "safe harbor" from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced
liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such securities may continue to expand as a result of this regulation
and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered
securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by NASDAQ.
Under guidelines adopted
by the Board, an adviser may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private
placement exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered.
A determination of whether such a security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Adviser will
consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the
security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the
security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or equity, date
of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g.,
the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating
of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the Adviser will also
determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two
highest rating categories by at least two Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations ("NRSROs") or, if only
one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.
Rule 144A securities and
Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Adviser to
determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section
4(a)(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities
if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.
Lending Portfolio Securities
For the purpose of achieving
income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S.
Government securities or cash or cash equivalents (cash, U.S. Government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers'
acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market
value of the securities loaned, (2) the Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of securities loaned, (3) the
Fund will receive any interest or dividends received on the loaned securities,
and (4) the aggregate value of the securities loaned
will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the Fund.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Fund has adopted the
following investment restrictions that may not be changed without approval by a "majority of the outstanding shares"
of the Fund, which, as used in this SAI, means the vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund represented
at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b)
more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund may not:
1. Issue senior securities,
except as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
2. Borrow money, except
(a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund;
or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding
5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering
into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments
of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions;
3. Purchase securities
on margin, participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any securities trading account, or underwrite securities. This
limitation does not preclude the Fund from obtaining such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases
and sales of its portfolio securities, and except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities
Act, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities;
4. Purchase or sell real
estate or interests in real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured
by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities
or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate
(including REITs);
5. Invest more than 25%
of the market value of its assets in the securities of companies engaged in any one industry or group of industries. This limitation
does not apply to investment in the securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
6. Purchase or sell commodities
(unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments) or commodity futures contracts, except that the Fund
may purchase and sell futures contracts and options to the full extent permitted under the 1940 Act, sell foreign currency contracts
in accordance with any rules of the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission, invest in securities or other instruments backed by commodities, and invest in companies that are engaged
in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities; or
7. Make loans to others,
except that the Fund may, in accordance with its investment objective and policies, (i) lend portfolio securities, (ii) purchase
and hold debt securities or other debt instruments, including but not limited to loan participations and sub-participations, assignments,
and structured securities, (iii) make loans secured by mortgages on real property, (iv) enter into repurchase
agreements, (v) enter
into transactions where each loan is represented by a note executed by the borrower, and (vi) make time deposits with financial
institutions and invest in instruments issued by financial institutions. For purposes of this limitation, the term "loans"
shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.
The Fund observes the
following policies, which are not deemed fundamental and which may be changed without shareholder vote. The Fund may not:
1. Invest in any issuer
for purposes of exercising control or management;
2. Invest in securities
of other investment companies except as permitted under the 1940 Act;
3. Invest, in the aggregate,
more than 15% of its net assets in securities with legal or contractual restrictions on resale, securities, which are not readily
marketable and repurchase agreements with more than seven days to maturity. However, if more than 15% of Fund assets (defined as
net assets plus the amount of any borrowing for investment purposes) are illiquid, the Adviser will reduce illiquid assets such
that they do not represent more than 15% of Fund assets, subject to timing and other considerations which are in the best interests
of the Fund and its shareholders; or
4. 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.
If a restriction on the
Fund’s investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of Fund assets
invested in certain securities or other instruments of the Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value
of the Fund’s total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage
requirement applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by applicable law.
With respect to fundamental
investment restriction #2 above, if the Fund’s asset coverage falls below 300%, the Fund will reduce borrowing within 3 days
in order to ensure that the Fund has 300% asset coverage.
With respect to fundamental
investment restriction #5, if the Fund invests in one or more investment companies that concentrates its investments in a particular
industry, the Fund will examine its other investment company holdings to ensure that the Fund is not indirectly concentrating its
investments in a particular industry.
Although fundamental investment
restriction #7 reserves for the Fund the ability to make loans, there is no present intent to loan money or portfolio securities
and additional disclosure will be provided if such a strategy is implemented in the future.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Trust has adopted policies
and procedures that govern the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to
ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders.
It is the Trust's policy
to: (1) ensure that any disclosure of portfolio holdings information is in the best interest of Trust shareholders; (2) protect
the confidentiality of portfolio holdings information; (3) have procedures in place to guard against personal trading based on
the information; and (4) ensure that the disclosure of portfolio holdings information does not create conflicts between the interests
of the Trust's shareholders and those of the Trust's affiliates.
The Fund discloses its portfolio
holdings by mailing the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the fiscal year
and semi-annual period. In addition, the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings reports on Forms N-CSR and Form N-PORT two months
after the end of each quarter/semi-annual period.
The Fund may choose to make
portfolio holdings information available to rating agencies such as Lipper, Morningstar or Bloomberg 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-PORT. In each case, a determination has been made that
such advance disclosure is supported by a legitimate business purpose and that the recipient is subject to a duty to keep the information
confidential and is prohibited from trading on material non-public information.
The Adviser. Personnel of the Adviser,
including personnel responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio, may have full daily access to Fund portfolio holdings
since that information is necessary in order for the Adviser to provide its management, administrative, and investment services
to the Fund. As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability,
as demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio managers in the trading of such securities,
Adviser personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.
Gemini Fund Services, LLC. Gemini Fund
Services, LLC is the transfer agent, fund accountant, administrator and custody administrator for the Funds; therefore, its personnel
have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide
the agreed-upon services for the Trust.
MUFG Union Bank, N.A. MUFG Union Bank,
N.A. is custodian for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that
information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.
BBD, LLP. 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 review of
the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.
Additions to List of Approved Recipients
The Trust’s Chief
Compliance Officer is the person responsible, and whose prior approval is required, for any disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio
securities at any time or to any persons other than those described above. In such cases, the recipient must have a legitimate
business need for the information and must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential and not trade on any material,
non-public information. There are no ongoing arrangements in place with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings. In no
event shall the Fund, the Adviser, or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure
of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
Compliance with Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures
The Trust’s Chief
Compliance Officer will report periodically to the Board with respect to compliance with the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure
procedures, and from time to time will provide the Board any updates to the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.
There is no assurance that
the Trust's policies on disclosure of portfolio holdings will protect the Fund from the potential misuse of holdings information
by individuals or firms in possession of that information.
MANAGEMENT
The business of the Trust
is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trust's By-laws (the
"Governing Documents"), which have been filed with the SEC and are available upon request. The Board consists of three
(3) individuals, each of whom are not "interested persons" (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust or any investment
adviser to any series of the Trust ("Independent Trustees"). Pursuant to the Governing Documents, the Trustees shall
elect officers including a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Principal Executive Officer and a Principal Accounting Officer.
The Board retains the power to conduct, operate and carry on the business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses,
which, in the opinion of the Board, are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the Trust's purposes. The Trustees, officers,
employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his
or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.
Board Leadership Structure
The Trust is
led by Joseph Breslin, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since July 2015. The Board of Trustees is comprised of
three independent Trustees. Additionally, under certain 1940 Act governance guidelines that apply to the Trust, the
Independent Trustees will meet in executive session, at least quarterly. Under the Governing Documents, the Chairman of the
Board is responsible for (a) presiding at board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, (c) executing
and administering of Trust policies including (i) setting the agendas for board meetings and (ii) providing information to
board members in advance of each board meeting and between board meetings. The Trust believes that its Chairman, the
independent chair of the Audit Committee, and, as an entity, the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is
in the best interests of the Trust, its funds and each shareholder.
Board Risk Oversight
The Board of Trustees has
a standing independent Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Contract Review Committee, each with a separate
chair. The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management
and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its 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. The primary purposes
of the Nominating and Governance Committee are to consider and evaluate the structure, composition and operation of the Board,
to evaluate and recommend individuals to serve on the Board of the Trust, and to consider and make recommendations relating to
the compensation of the Trust’s independent trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee may consider recommendations
for candidates to serve on the Board from any source it deems appropriate. The primary purpose of the Contract Review Committee
is to oversee and guide the process by which the Independent Trustees annually consider whether to approve or renew the Trust’s
investment advisory, sub-advisory and distribution agreements, Rule 12b-1 plans, and such other agreements or plans involving the
Trust as specified in the Contract Review Committee’s charter or as the Board determines from time to time.
Trustee Qualifications
Generally, the Trust believes
that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications,
(iii) attributes and (iv) skills. Mr. Breslin has over 20 years of business experience in the investment management and brokerage
business and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based,
in part, upon his years of service as an officer and/or Trustee to other registered investment companies. Thomas Sarkany is qualified
to serve as a Trustee based on his experience in various business and consulting positions, and through his experience from service
as a board member of the Trust and other investment companies. Since 2010, he has been the President of a financial services firm
and from 1994 through 2010, held various roles at a publicly held company providing financial research, publications and money
management services to retail and institutional investors, including Director of Marketing and Asset Management, Director of Index
Licensing, and member of the Board of Directors. In addition to his service as a Trustee of the Trust, Mr. Sarkany serves as a
trustee of the Northern Lights Fund Trust II and has previously served as a director of certain public companies. Charles R. Ranson
has more than 20 years’ experience in strategic analysis and planning, risk assessment, and capital formation in the operation
of complex organizations and entrepreneurial ventures. In addition to his service to the Trust, Mr. Ranson serves as an independent
trustee to another mutual fund complex. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his duties effectively also has been enhanced by his educational background and
professional training. The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee's qualifications, but
that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them each highly qualified.
The following is a list
of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and each person’s principal occupation over the last five years. The
business address of each Trustee and Officer is 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, OH 45246. All correspondence to the
Trustees and Officers should be directed to c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 541150, Omaha, Nebraska 68154.
Independent Trustees
Name, Address and Year of
Birth
|
Position/Term of Office*
|
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years
|
Number of Funds in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee
|
Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years
|
Joseph Breslin
Year of Birth: 1953
|
Independent Trustee and Chairman of the Board since 2015
|
President and Consultant, Adviser Counsel, Inc. (formerly J.E. Breslin
& Co.) (management consulting firm to investment advisers) (since 2009); Senior Counsel, White Oak Global Advisors, LLC. (since
2018).
|
4
|
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (for series not affiliated with the Fund since 2015); Director, Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc. (since 2000); Trustee, Kinetics Portfolios Trust (since 2000); Trustee, Forethought Variable Insurance Trust (since 2013); Trustee, BlueArc Multi-Strategy Fund (2014-2017); Hatteras Trust (2004-2016)
|
Thomas Sarkany
Year of Birth: 1946
|
Independent Trustee since 2015
|
Founder and President, TTS Consultants, LLC (financial services) (since 2010).
|
4
|
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (for series not affiliated with the Fund since 2015); Arrow Investments Trust (since 2014), Arrow ETF Trust (since 2012), Trustee, Northern Lights Fund Trust II (since 2011); Director, Aquila Distributors (since 1981)
|
Charles Ranson
Year of Birth: 1947
|
Independent Trustee since 2015
|
Principal, Ranson & Associates (strategic analysis and planning, including risk assessment and capital formation for entrepreneurial ventures) (since 2003); GR Group (since 2008).
|
4
|
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (for series not affiliated with the Fund since 2015); Advisors Preferred Trust (since November 2012)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officers
Name, Address and Year of
Birth
|
Position/Term of Office*
|
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years
|
Number of Funds in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee
|
Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years
|
Wendy Wang
Born in 1970
|
President since 2015
|
Senior Vice President, Director of Tax and Compliance Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Sam Singh
Born in 1976
|
Treasurer since 2015
|
Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2015); Assistant Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2011-2014).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Jennifer Farrell
Born in 1969
|
Secretary since 2017
|
Manager, Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2018); Senior Paralegal, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2015); Legal Trainer, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2013-2015); Senior Paralegal, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006-2012).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
James Ash
Born in 1976
|
Chief Compliance Officer since 2019***
|
Senior Compliance Officer, Northern Lights Compliance, LLC (since 2019); Senior Vice President, National Sales Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2017-2019); Senior Vice President and Director of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2012 - 2017).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
* The term of office for each Trustee and officer
listed above will continue indefinitely until the individual resigns or is removed.
** As of December 1, 2019, the Trust was comprised
of 14 other active portfolios managed by unaffiliated investment advisers. The term “Fund Complex” applies only
to the Fund. The Fund does not hold itself out as related to any other series within the Trust for investment purposes, nor
does it share the same investment adviser with any other series.
*** Effective April 3, 2019, Mr. Ash was appointed
as the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust.
Board Committees
Audit Committee
The Board has an Audit Committee
that consists of all the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The
Audit Committee's responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the Trust's
independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit; (iii) discussing with the independent
auditors certain matters relating to the Trust's financial
statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended
by such independent auditors, or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing on a periodic basis a formal written statement
from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing with the independent auditors any relationships or
services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust's independent auditors and recommending
that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor's independence; and (v) considering
the comments of the independent auditors and management's responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust's
accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit
Committee Charter. The Audit Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing nominee candidates for consideration as Independent
Trustees as is from time to time considered necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee generally will not consider shareholder
nominees. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and setting Independent Trustee compensation from time to time
when considered necessary or appropriate. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019, the Audit Committee met four times.
Nominating and Governance
Committee
The Board has a Nominating
and Governance Committee that consists of all the "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
The Committee’s responsibilities (which may also be conducted by the Board) include: (i) recommending persons to be nominated
or re-nominated as Trustees in accordance with the Independent Trustee's Statement of Policy on Criteria for Selecting Independent
Trustees; (ii) reviewing the Funds’ officers, and conducting Chief Compliance Officer searches, as needed, and providing
consultation regarding other CCO matters, as requested; (iii) reviewing trustee qualifications, performance, and compensation;
(iv) reviewing periodically with the Board the size and composition of the Board as a whole; (v) annually evaluating the operations
of the Board and its Committees and assisting the Board in conducting its annual self-evaluation; (vi) making recommendations on
the requirements for, and means of, Board orientation and training; (vii) periodically reviewing the Board’s corporate governance
policies and practices and recommending, as it deems appropriate, any changes to the Board; (ix) considering any corporate governance
issues that arise from time to time, and developing appropriate recommendations for the Board; and (x) supervising counsel for
the Independent Trustees. Mr. Ranson serves as the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Nominating and Governance
Committee operates pursuant to a Nominating and Governance Committee Charter. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019, the
Nominating and Governance Committee met one time.
Contract Review Committee
The Board has a Contract
Review Committee that consists of all the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of
the 1940 Act. The primary purpose of the Contract Review Committee is to oversee and guide the process by which the Independent
Trustees annually consider whether to approve or renew the Trust’s investment advisory, sub-advisory and distribution agreements,
Rule 12b-1 plans, and such other agreements or plans involving the Trust as specified in the Contract Review Committee’s
charter or as the Board determines from time to time. The Board may also assign to the Contract Review Committee responsibility
to evaluate and make recommendations on contracts in unusual situations, for example, where a contract is expected to terminate
because of a change of control of an investment adviser. The Contract Review Committee's responsibilities include: (i) identifying
the scope and format of information to be requested from service providers in connection with the evaluation of each contract or
plan and meet and evaluate such information at least annually in advance of the automatic expiration of such contracts by operation
of law or by their terms; (ii) providing guidance to independent legal counsel regarding specific information requests to
be made by such counsel on behalf of the Board or the Independent Trustees; (iii) evaluating regulatory and other
developments coming to its attention that might reasonably be expected to have an impact on the Independent Trustees’ consideration
of how to evaluate and whether
or not to renew a contract or plan; (iv) assisting in circumscribing the range of factors considered
by the Board relating to the approval or renewal of advisory or sub-advisory agreements; (v) recommending to other committees
and/or to the Independent Trustees specific steps to be taken by them regarding the renewal process, including, for example, proposed
schedules of meetings by Independent Trustees; (vi) investigating and reporting on any other matter brought to its attention
within the scope of its duties; and (vii) performing such other duties as are consistent with the Contract Review Committee’s
purpose or that are assigned to it by the Board. Mr. Sarkany serves as the Chairman of the Contract Review Committee. The Contract
Review Committee operates pursuant to a Contract Review Committee Charter. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019, the Contract
Review Committee had no meetings.
Compensation
Each Trustee
who is not affiliated with the Trust or an investment adviser to any series of the Trust (each an “Independent Trustee”)
will receive a quarterly fee of $22,500 to be paid by the Trust within 10 days of the commencement of each calendar quarter for
his service as a Trustee of the Board of Trustees and for serving in his respective capacity as Chair of the Audit Committee, Nominating
and Governance Committee and Contract Review Committee, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred for attending
regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. Additionally, in the event that an in-person meeting of the Board of Trustees
other than its regularly scheduled meetings (a “Special Meeting”) is required, each Independent Trustee will receive
a fee of $5,000 per Special Meeting, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred, to be paid by the Trust or
the relevant series of the Trust or its investment adviser depending on the circumstances necessitating the Special Meeting. The
Independent Trustees at their sole discretion shall determine when a particular meeting constitutes a Special Meeting for purpose
of the $5,000 fee.
None of the executive
officers receive compensation from the Trust.
The table below
details the amount of compensation the Trustees received from the Trust during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019. Each Independent
Trustee is expected to attend all quarterly meetings during the period. The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, pension
or retirement plan.
Name and Position
|
Aggregate Compensation From Anchor Risk Managed Credit Strategies Fund
|
Aggregate Compensation From Anchor Risk Managed
Equity Strategies Fund
|
Aggregate Compensation From Anchor Risk Managed Global Strategies Fund
|
Aggregate Compensation From Anchor Risk Managed Municipal Strategies Fund
|
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Funds Expenses
|
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement
|
Estimated Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex* Paid to Trustees+
|
Joseph Breslin
|
$3,163
|
$3,625
|
$1,632
|
$3,129
|
$0
|
$0
|
$11,549
|
Thomas Sarkany
|
$3,163
|
$3,625
|
$1,632
|
$3,129
|
$0
|
$0
|
$11,549
|
Charles Ranson
|
$3,163
|
$3,625
|
$1,632
|
$3,129
|
$0
|
$0
|
$11,549
|
*There
are currently numerous series comprising the Trust. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to Funds managed by the same
investment adviser.
Management and Trustee Ownership
As of December 3, 2019,
the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned no shares of the Fund or any of the Fund Complex’s outstanding shares.
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL
HOLDERS
A principal shareholder
is any person who owns (either of record or beneficially) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a fund. A control person is one
who owns, either directly or indirectly more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control.
A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company
or acknowledged the existence of control.
As of the date of this SAI,
there are no shareholders that own 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Adviser Class of the Fund.
As of April 24, 2020, the
following shareholder(s) of record owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Institutional class of the Fund.
Title of Fund/Class*
Anchor Tactical Equity Strategies Fund – Institutional Class
|
Account Name
TD Ameritrade
INC FBO/OUR Customers
P.O. Box 2226
Omaha, NE 68103-2226
Charles Schwab & Co
Inc/Special Custody A/C
FBO Customers
Attn: Mutual Funds
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
E*Trade Savings Bank/FBO #324
P.O. Box 6503
Englewood, CO 80155
|
Percentage Held of Record
70.48%
13.39%
6.05%
|
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Investment Adviser
and Advisory Agreement
Anchor Capital Management
Group, Inc., 15 Enterprise, Suite 450, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. The Adviser
is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a California
corporation formed in 1995. Its clients are pooled investment vehicles and mutual funds. Eric Leake and Garrett Waters, who each
serve as portfolio managers to the Fund, control the Adviser because each owns more than 25% of the interests in the Adviser.
Subject to the oversight
of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the overall management of the Fund’s investment-related business
affairs. Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with the Trust, on behalf of the Fund,
the Adviser, in conformity with the stated policies of the Fund, manages the portfolio investment operations of the Fund. The Adviser
has overall supervisory responsibilities for the general management and investment of the Fund’s securities portfolio, as detailed
below, which are subject to review and approval by the Board of
Trustees. In general, the Adviser's duties include setting the
Fund’s overall investment strategies and asset allocation.
Pursuant to the Advisory
Agreement, the Adviser, agrees to invest the assets of the Fund in accordance with applicable law and the investment objective,
policies and restrictions set forth in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject
to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser. The Adviser shall act as
the investment adviser to the Fund and, as such shall, (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries,
business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities here under,
(ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective,
policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by the Fund,
and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to
be effected; provided, that the Adviser or its designee, directly, will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations
either directly with the issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best
price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and to
brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and pay such brokers in return a higher commission
or spread than may be charged by other brokers. The Adviser also provides the Fund with all necessary office facilities and personnel
for servicing the Fund’s investments, compensates all officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors
or employees of the Adviser, and all personnel of the Fund or the Adviser performing services relating to research, statistical
and investment activities. The Advisory Agreement was most recently renewed by the Board of the Trust, including by a majority
of the Independent Trustees, at a meeting held on July 18, 2019.
In addition, the Adviser,
provides the management and supplemental administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund. These services include
providing assistance in supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents, accountants, underwriters and other
persons dealing with the Fund; assisting in the preparing of all general shareholder communications and conducting shareholder
relations; assisting in maintaining the Fund’s records and the registration of the Fund’s shares under federal securities
laws and making necessary filings under state securities laws; assisting in developing management and shareholder services for
the Fund; and furnishing reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the Trustees.
The Fund pays an annual
management fee (computed daily and payable monthly) of 1.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets to the Adviser pursuant
to the Advisory Agreement.
For the fiscal year or period
ended August 31, 2019, the Adviser earned $2,406,616 in advisory fees.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2018, the Adviser earned $1,470,406 in advisory fees.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2017, the Adviser earned $877,191 in advisory fees.
The Adviser has contractually
agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund, until at least December 31, 2021, to ensure that total annual fund
operating expenses after fee waiver and/or reimbursement (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, brokerage
fees and commissions, borrowing costs (such as interest
and dividend expense on securities sold short),
acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses associated with investments
in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses), or
extraordinary expenses such as litigation) will not exceed 2.00% of average daily net assets attributable to Advisor Class shares
of the Fund. This fee waiver/and or reimbursement is subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling
three-year basis (within the three years from the waiver or reimbursement) 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 for the Fund is available in the Fund’s
annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2019.
Expenses not expressly assumed
by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement are paid by the Fund. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Fund is responsible
for the payment of the following expenses among others: (a) the fees payable to the Adviser, (b) the fees and expenses of Trustees
who are not affiliated persons of the Adviser or Distributor (as defined under the section entitled "The Distributor")
(c) the fees and certain expenses of the Custodian and Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent (as defined under the section entitled
"Transfer Agent"), including the cost of maintaining certain required records of the Fund and of pricing the Fund’s
shares, (d) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent accountants for the Fund, (e) brokerage commissions and any
issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its securities transactions, (f) all taxes and corporate fees
payable by the Fund to governmental agencies, (g) the fees of any trade association of which the Fund may be a member, (h) the
cost of fidelity and liability insurance, (i) the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the
Fund and of shares with the SEC, qualifying its shares under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the
Fund’s registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes, (j) all expenses of shareholders and Trustees' meetings
(including travel expenses of trustees and officers of the Trust who are not directors, officers or employees of the Adviser) and
of preparing, printing and mailing reports, proxy statements and prospectuses to shareholders in the amount necessary for distribution
to the shareholders and (k) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary
course of the Fund’s business.
The Advisory Agreement continued
in effect for two (2) years initially and thereafter continues from year to year provided such continuance is approved at least
annually by (a) a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose
of voting on such approval and by (b) the majority vote of either all of the Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding
shares of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty on 60 days written notice by a vote of a majority
of the Trustees or by the Adviser, or by holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares (with respect to the Fund).
The Advisory Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
Codes of Ethics
The Trust, the Adviser and
the Distributor have each adopted codes of ethics (each a “Code”) under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that governs
the personal securities transactions of their board members, officers and employees who may have access to current trading information
of the Trust. Under the Codes, the Trustees are permitted to invest in securities that may also be purchased by the Fund.
In addition, the Trust has
adopted a code of ethics (the “Trust Code”), which applies only to the Trust's executive officers to ensure that these
officers promote professional conduct in the practice of
corporate governance and management. The purpose behind these guidelines
is to promote (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between
personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents
that the Trust files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Fund; (iii) compliance with applicable
governmental laws, rule and regulations; (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Trust Code to an appropriate person
or persons identified in the Trust Code; and (v) accountability for adherence to the Trust Code.
Proxy Voting Policies
The Board has adopted Proxy
Voting Policies and Procedures ("Policies") on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies
to the Adviser or its designee, subject to the Board's continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser or its designee
vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and shareholders. The Policies also require the
Adviser or its designee to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser's Proxy Policies, or the proxy policies of the
Adviser's designee, and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser or its designee on behalf of the Fund, including a report on
the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser as involving a conflict of interest.
Where a proxy proposal raises
a material conflict between the Adviser's interests and the Fund’s interests, the Adviser will resolve the conflict by voting
in accordance with the policy guidelines or at the client's directive using the recommendation of an independent third party. If
the third party's recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, the Adviser will abstain from voting the securities held
by that client's account. A copy of the Adviser's and proxy voting policies is attached hereto as Appendix A.
More information.
Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund during the most recent 12-month
period ending June 30 will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-844-594-1226; and (2) on the
U.S. 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 1-844-594-1226 and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.
THE DISTRIBUTOR
Northern Lights Distributors,
LLC, located at 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022 (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 FINRA. The offering of each Shares is continuous. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Distributor,
as agent in connection with the distribution of the Fund’s shares, will use reasonable efforts to facilitate the sale of
the Fund’s shares.
The Underwriting Agreement
provides that, unless sooner terminated, it will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from
year to year, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority
of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or
of the Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Underwriting Agreement
may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of the
Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund on 60 days written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor
at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days written notice to the Fund. The Underwriting Agreement will automatically
terminate in the event of its assignment.
The following table sets
forth the total compensation received by the Distributor from the Fund for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019:
Fiscal Year ended August 31
|
Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions
|
Compensation on Redemptions and Repurchases
|
Brokerage Commissions
|
Other Compensation
|
2019
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
2018
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
2017
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
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.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Garrett Waters and Eric
Leake serve as the portfolio managers of the Fund. And as of August 31, 2019, the portfolio managers are responsible for the portfolio
management of the following types of accounts in addition to the Fund:
Total Other Accounts
By Type
|
Total Number of Accounts by Account Type
|
Total Assets By Account Type
|
Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance
Fee
(in millions)
|
Garrett Waters
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
3
|
$61,900,000
|
0
|
0
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Other Accounts
|
171
|
$22,900,000
|
0
|
0
|
Total Other Accounts
By Type
|
Total Number of Accounts by Account Type
|
Total Assets By Account Type
|
Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Eric Leake
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
3
|
$61,9000,000
|
0
|
0
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Other Accounts
|
171
|
$22,900,000
|
0
|
0
|
Conflicts of Interest
As a general matter, certain
conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager's management of the Fund’s investments, on the one
hand, and the investments of other accounts for which the portfolio manager is responsible, on the other. For example, it is possible
that the various accounts managed could have different investment strategies that, at times, might conflict with one another to
the possible detriment of the Fund. Alternatively, to the extent that the same investment opportunities might be desirable for
more than one account, possible conflicts could arise in determining how to allocate them. Other potential conflicts might include
conflicts created by specific portfolio manager compensation arrangements, and conflicts relating to selection of brokers or dealers
to execute the Fund’s portfolio trades and/or specific uses of commissions from the Fund’s portfolio trades (for example,
research, or "soft dollars", if any). The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures and has structured the portfolio
managers' compensation in a manner reasonably designed to safeguard the Fund from being negatively affected as a result of any
such potential conflicts.
Compensation
Mr. Leake and Mr. Waters
draw a base salary from the Adviser, based on assets under management. Mr. Leake and Mr. Waters have ownership interests in the
Adviser and will participate in business profits accordingly. Currently no deferred compensation or retirement plans have been
established, nor is there a bonus plan.
Ownership of Securities
The following table shows
the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Fund as of August 31, 2019.
Name of Portfolio Manager
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Anchor Risk Managed Equity Strategies
|
Garrett Waters
|
$0
|
Eric Leake
|
$0
|
ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE
Specific decisions to purchase
or sell securities for the Fund are made by the co-portfolio managers who are employees of the Adviser. The Adviser is authorized
by the Trustees to allocate the orders placed by them on behalf of the Fund to brokers or dealers who may, but need not, provide
research or statistical material or other services to the Fund or the Adviser for the Fund’s use. Such allocation is to be
in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser may determine.
In selecting a broker
or dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Adviser will take the following into consideration:
-
the best net price available;
-
the reliability, integrity and financial
condition of the broker or dealer;
-
the size of and difficulty in executing
the order; and
-
the value of the expected contribution
of the broker or dealer to the investment performance of the Fund on a continuing basis.
Brokers or dealers executing
a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Fund may receive a commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or
dealer would have charged for executing the transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable
in relation to the value of brokerage and research services provided to the Fund. In allocating portfolio brokerage, the Adviser
may select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage, research and other services to other accounts over which the Adviser
exercises investment discretion. Some of the services received as the result of Fund transactions may primarily benefit accounts
other than the Fund, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts
may primarily benefit the Fund.
For the fiscal year or period
ended August 31, 2019, the Fund paid $240,431 in brokerage commissions.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2018, the Fund paid $86,621 in brokerage commissions.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2017, the Fund paid $146,445 in brokerage commissions.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund’s portfolio
turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly
average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. The calculation excludes from both the
numerator and the denominator securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover
involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. A
100% turnover rate would occur if all of the Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period.
The following table displays
the portfolio turnover rates for the Fund for the fiscal years or ended:
Fund
|
Portfolio Turnover Rates
|
August 31, 2019
|
August 31, 2018
|
Anchor Risk Managed Equity Strategies Fund
|
1,068%
|
1,091%
|
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
Fund Administration, Fund Accounting and Transfer Agent Services
Gemini Fund Services, LLC,
(“GFS”), which has its principal office at 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022, serves as administrator,
fund accountant and transfer agent for the Fund pursuant to the Fund Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the
Fund and subject to the supervision of the Board. GFS is primarily in the business of providing administrative, fund accounting and transfer agent services to retail and institutional
mutual funds. GFS is an affiliate of the Distributor. GFS may also provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers
may be directors, officers or employees of GFS or its affiliates.
The Agreement became effective
on July 27, 2016, and remained in effect for two years from the applicable effective date for the Fund, and will continue in effect
for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of
the Board. The Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 90 days’ written notice and may be assigned by either party,
provided that the Trust may not assign this agreement without the prior written consent of GFS. The Agreement provides that GFS
shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to the Agreement.
Under the Agreement, GFS
performs administrative services, including: (1) monitoring the performance of administrative and professional services rendered
to the Trust by others service providers; (2) monitoring Fund holdings and operations for post-trade compliance with the Fund’s
registration statement and applicable laws and rules; (3) preparing and coordinating the printing of semi-annual and annual financial
statements; (4) preparing selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses; (5) preparing and disseminating
materials for and attending and participating in meetings of the Board; (6) determining income and capital gains available for
distribution and calculating distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements; (7) reviewing the
Trust's federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust's independent public accountants; (8) preparing
and maintaining the Trust's operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to the Fund to calculate
its daily net asset value; (9) assisting in and monitoring the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination
to shareholders of amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders
and the SEC, notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2, proxy materials and reports to the SEC on Forms N-CEN, N-CSR, N-PORT and N-PX; (10)
coordinating the Trust's audits and examinations by assisting the Fund’s independent public accountants; (11) determining,
in consultation with others, the jurisdictions in which shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale and facilitating
such registration or qualification; (12) monitoring sales of shares and ensuring that the shares are properly and duly registered
with the SEC; (13) monitoring the calculation of performance data for the Fund; (14) preparing, or causing to be prepared, expense
and financial reports; (15) preparing authorizations for the payment of Trust expenses and paying, from Trust assets, all bills
of the Trust; (16) providing information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report
price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies; (17) upon request, assisting the Fund in the evaluation
and selection of other service providers, such as independent public accountants, printers, EDGAR providers and proxy solicitors
(such parties may be affiliates of GFS) and (18) performing other services, recordkeeping and assistance relating to the affairs
of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.
Effective February 1, 2019,
NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC, the parent company of GFS and its affiliated companies including Northern Lights Distributors,
LLC and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (collectively, the “Gemini Companies”), sold its interest in the Gemini
Companies to a third party private equity firm that contemporaneously acquired Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (an independent mutual
fund administration firm) and its affiliates (collectively, the “Ultimus Companies”). As a result of these separate
transactions, the Gemini Companies and the Ultimus Companies are now indirectly owned through a common parent entity, The Ultimus
Group, LLC.
For administrative services
rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. For
the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the
Fund pays GFS the greater of an annual minimum fee or an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund
also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2019, the Fund paid $138,342 for administrative services.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2018, the Fund paid $74,933 for administrative services.
For the fiscal period ended
August 31, 2017, the Fund paid $48,501 for administrative services.
GFS also provides the Fund
with accounting services, including: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and
records as required by the 1940 Act; (iii) production of the Fund’s listing of portfolio securities and general ledger reports;
(iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Fund; (vi) maintenance of certain
books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciliation of account information and balances among the
Custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluation of daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares
of the Fund.
For fund accounting services
rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. For
the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS the greater of an annual minimum fee or
an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2019, the Fund paid $45,622 for accounting services.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2018, the Fund paid $35,572 for accounting services.
For the fiscal period ended
August 31, 2017, the Fund paid $30,157 for accounting services.
GFS also acts as transfer,
dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to the Agreement. Under the Agreement, GFS is responsible
for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary
records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
For transfer, dividend disbursing
and shareholder servicing agent services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS an asset based fee, which
scales downward based upon net assets. For the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays
GFS the greater of an annual minimum fee or an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays
GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.
For the fiscal year August
31, 2019, the Fund paid $12,402 for transfer agency services.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2018, the Fund paid $8,975 for transfer agency services.
For the fiscal period ended
August 31, 2017, the Fund paid $7,720 for transfer agency services.
Custodian
MUFG Union Bank, N.A., (the
"Custodian" or “Union Bank”), Union Bank, serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to
a custody agreement (the "Custody Agreement") by and between the Custodian and the Trust on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian's
responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of
securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, the Custodian
also maintains original entry documents and books of record and general ledgers; posts cash receipts and disbursements; and records
purchases and sales based upon communications from the Adviser. The Fund may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by
the Board to hold foreign assets.
Compliance Officer
Northern Lights Compliance
Services, LLC (“NLCS”), 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022, 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 plus an annual asset based fee,
which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays NLCS for any out-of-pocket expenses.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2019, the Fund paid $19,279 for compliance services.
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2018, the Fund paid $6,803 for compliance services.
For the fiscal period ended
August 31, 2017, the Fund paid $8,154 for compliance services.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
Each share of beneficial
interest of the Trust has one vote in the election of Trustees. Cumulative voting is not authorized for the Trust. This means that
the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to
do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any Trustees.
Shareholders of the Trust
and any other future series of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by series except as otherwise required by law or when
the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interest of the shareholders of a particular series or classes.
Matters such as election of Trustees are not subject to separate voting requirements and may be acted upon by shareholders of the
Trust voting without regard to series.
The Trust is authorized
to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. Each share has equal, per-class, dividend, distribution and liquidation
rights. There are no conversion or preemptive rights applicable to any shares of the Fund. All shares issued are fully paid and
non-assessable.
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM
The Trust has established
an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the "Program") as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 ("USA PATRIOT Act"). To ensure compliance
with this law, the Trust's Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of
anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness
of the Program. The Trust's secretary serves as its Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.
Procedures to implement
the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Fund’s Distributor and Transfer Agent have established
proper anti-money laundering procedures, reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and a providing a complete and thorough
review of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot
be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.
As a result of the Program,
the Trust may be required to "freeze" the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious
activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons,
or the Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
Calculation of Share
Price
As indicated in the Prospectus
under the heading "How Shares are Priced," the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares is determined
by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number
of shares outstanding (on a per-class basis) of the Fund.
Generally, the Fund’s
domestic securities are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary exchange. Securities traded
or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions
against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary
exchange, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on such exchange. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ for which
market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If market quotations are not readily
available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s fair value committee
in accordance with procedures approved by the Board and as further described below. Securities that are not traded or dealt in
any securities exchange (whether domestic or foreign) and for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available generally
shall be valued at the last sale price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask price on such
over-the-counter market.
Certain securities or investments
for which daily market quotes are not readily available may be valued, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board, with reference
to other securities or indices. Debt securities not traded on an exchange may be valued at prices supplied by a pricing agent(s)
based on broker or dealer supplied valuations or matrix pricing, a method of valuing securities by reference to the value of other
securities with similar characteristics, such as rating, interest rate and maturity. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days
or less may be generally valued at amortized cost when it approximated fair value.
Exchange traded options
are valued at the last quoted sales price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on the
exchange on which such options are traded. Futures and options on futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the
exchange. Other securities for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith
by the Board or persons acting at their direction. Swap agreements and other derivatives are generally valued daily based upon
quotations from market makers or by a pricing service in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board.
Under certain circumstances,
the Fund may use an independent pricing service to calculate the fair market value of foreign equity securities on a daily basis
by applying valuation factors to the last sale price or the mean price as noted above. The fair market values supplied by the independent
pricing service will generally reflect market trading that occurs after the close of the applicable foreign markets of comparable
securities or the value of other instruments that have a strong correlation to the fair-valued securities. The independent pricing
service will also take into account the current relevant currency exchange rate. A security that is fair valued may be valued at
a price higher or lower than actual market quotations or the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures.
Because foreign securities may trade on days when Fund shares are not priced, the value of securities held by the Fund can change
on days when Fund shares cannot be redeemed or purchased. In the event that a foreign security’s market quotations are not
readily available or are deemed unreliable (for reasons other than because the foreign exchange on which it trades closed before
the Fund’s calculation of NAV), the security will be valued at its fair market value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s
fair value committee in accordance with procedures approved by the Board as discussed below. Without fair valuation, it is possible
that short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation
of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there
is no assurance that it will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short-term traders. In addition, because the Fund may
invest in underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges, and these exchanges
may trade on weekends or other days when the underlying ETFs do not price their shares, the value of these portfolio securities
may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares.
Investments initially valued
in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to U.S. dollars using exchange rates obtained from pricing services. As
a result, the NAV of the Fund's shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The
value of securities traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be
affected significantly on a day that the NYSE is closed and an investor is not able to purchase, redeem or exchange shares.
The Fund’s shares
are valued at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) (the "Exchange
Close") on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is open. For purposes of calculating the
NAV, the Fund normally uses pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the Exchange Close and do not normally
take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the Exchange Close. Domestic fixed income and foreign
securities are normally priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Information
that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular
day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of the security or the NAV determined earlier that day.
When market quotations are
insufficient or not readily available, the Fund may value securities at fair value or estimate their value as determined in good
faith by the Board or their designees, pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. Fair valuation may also be used by the Board
if extraordinary events occur after the close of the relevant market but prior to the Exchange Close.
The Fund may hold securities,
such as private placements, interests in commodity pools, other non-traded securities or temporarily illiquid securities, for which
market quotations are not readily available or are determined to be unreliable. These securities will be valued at their fair market
value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board. The Board has delegated execution of these
procedures to a fair value committee composed of one of more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and
(iii) Adviser. The committee may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer
on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of
this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.
Fair Value Committee. The
fair value committee is composed of one of more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) Adviser.
The applicable investments are valued collectively via inputs from each of these groups. For example, fair value determinations
are required for the following securities: (i) securities for which market quotations are insufficient or not readily available
on a particular business day (including securities for which there is a short and temporary lapse in the provision of a price by
the regular pricing source), (ii) securities for which, in the judgment of the Adviser, the prices or values available do not represent
the fair value of the instrument. Factors which may cause the Adviser to make such a judgment include, but are not limited to,
the following: only a bid price or an asked price is available; the spread between bid and asked prices is substantial; the frequency
of sales; the thinness of the market; the size of reported trades; and actions of the securities markets, such as the suspension
or limitation of trading; (iii) securities determined to be illiquid; (iv) securities with respect to which an event that will
affect the value thereof has occurred (a “significant event”) since the closing prices were established on the principal
exchange on which they are traded, but prior to the Fund’s calculation of its NAV. Specifically, interests in commodity pools
or managed futures pools are valued on a daily basis by reference to the closing market prices of each futures contract or other
asset held by a pool, as adjusted for pool expenses. Restricted or illiquid securities, such as private placements or non-traded
securities are valued via inputs from the Adviser valuation based upon the current bid for the security from two or more independent
dealers or other parties reasonably familiar with the facts and circumstances of the security (who should take into consideration
all relevant factors as may be appropriate under the circumstances). If the Adviser is unable to obtain a current bid from such
independent dealers or other independent parties, the fair value committee shall determine the fair value of such security using
the following factors: (i) the type of security; (ii) the cost at date of purchase; (iii) the size and nature of the Fund’s
holdings; (iv) the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase and subsequent
thereto; (v) information as to any transactions or offers with respect to the security; (vi) the nature and duration of restrictions
on disposition of the security and the existence of any registration rights; (vii) how the yield of the security compares to similar
securities of companies of similar or equal creditworthiness; (viii) the level of recent trades of similar or comparable securities;
(ix) the liquidity characteristics of the security; (x) current market conditions; and (xi) the market value of any securities
into which the security is convertible or exchangeable.
Standards For Fair Value
Determinations. As a general principle, the fair value of a security is the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to realize
upon its current sale. The Trust has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
Codification
Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820"). In accordance with ASC 820, fair value is defined as
the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal
or most advantageous market of the investment. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market
data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.
Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions
about risk, for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including such a pricing
model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs
are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market
data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity's
own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on the best
information available under the circumstances.
Various inputs are used
in determining the value of the Fund’s investments relating to ASC 820. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels
listed below.
Level 1 – quoted prices
in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2 – other significant
observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3 – significant
unobservable inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
The fair value committee
takes into account the relevant factors and surrounding circumstances, which may include: (i) the nature and pricing history (if
any) of the security; (ii) whether any dealer quotations for the security are available; (iii) possible valuation methodologies
that could be used to determine the fair value of the security; (iv) the recommendation of a portfolio manager of the fund with
respect to the valuation of the security; (v) whether the same or similar securities are held by other funds managed by the Adviser
or other funds and the method used to price the security in those funds; (vi) the extent to which the fair value to be determined
for the security will result from the use of data or formula produced by independent third parties and (vii) the liquidity or illiquidity
of the market for the security.
Board of Trustees Determination.
The Board of Trustees meets at least quarterly to consider the valuations provided by the fair value committee and to ratify the
valuations made for the applicable securities. The Board of Trustees considers the reports provided by the fair value committee,
including follow up studies of subsequent market-provided prices when available, in reviewing and determining in good faith the
fair value of the applicable portfolio securities.
The Trust expects that the
Exchange will be closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Purchase of Shares
Orders for shares received
by the Fund in good order prior to the close of business on the Exchange on each day during such periods that the Exchange is open
for trading are priced at the
public offering price, which is NAV plus any sales charge, or at net asset value per share on a per-class
basis (if no sales charges apply) computed as of the close of the regular session of trading on the Exchange. Orders received in
good order after the close of the Exchange, or on a day it is not open for trading, are priced at the close of such Exchange on
the next day on which it is open for trading at the next determined net asset value per share plus sales charges, if any.
Notice to Texas Shareholders
Under section 72.1021(a)
of the Texas Property Code, initial investors in the Fund who are Texas residents may designate a representative to receive notices
of abandoned property in connection with Fund shares. Texas shareholders who wish to appoint a representative should notify the
Trust’s Transfer Agent by writing to the address below to obtain a form for providing written notice to the Trust:
Anchor Risk Managed Equity
Strategies Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services,
LLC
4221 North 203rd Street,
Suite 100
Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022
Redemption of Shares
The Fund will redeem all
or any portion of a shareholder's shares of the Fund when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the "How
to Redeem Shares" section of the Prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, a shareholder's right to redeem shares and to receive payment
therefore may be suspended at times:
(a) when the Exchange is
closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings;
(b) when trading on that
exchange is restricted for any reason;
(c) when an emergency exists
as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable
for the Fund to fairly to determine the value of net assets, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (or any
succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or
(d) when the SEC by order
permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption.
In case of suspension of
the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the net asset value next determined after the termination
of the suspension.
Supporting documents in
addition to those listed under "How to Redeem Shares" in the Prospectus will be required from executors, administrators,
trustees, or if redemption is requested by someone other than the shareholder of record. Such documents include, but are not restricted
to, stock powers, trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor, and certificates of corporate authority and
waiver of tax required in some states when settling estates.
Waivers of Redemption
Fees: The Fund has elected not to impose the redemption fee for:
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redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares
acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions;
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certain types of redemptions and exchanges
of Fund shares owned through participant-directed retirement plans;
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redemptions or exchanges in discretionary
asset allocation, fee based or wrap programs ("wrap programs") that are initiated by the sponsor/financial advisor as
part of a periodic rebalancing;
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redemptions or exchanges in a fee based
or wrap program that are made as a result of a full withdrawal from the wrap program or as part of a systematic withdrawal plan
including the Fund’s systematic withdrawal plan; involuntary redemptions, such as those resulting from a shareholder's failure
to maintain a minimum investment in the Fund, or to pay shareholder fees; or
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other types of redemptions as the Adviser
or the Trust may determine in special situations and approved by the Adviser's chief compliance officer.
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TAX STATUS
The following discussion
is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. All shareholders
should consult a qualified tax adviser regarding their investment in the Fund.
The Fund intends to qualify
as regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Tax Code"),
which requires compliance with certain requirements concerning the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and the
amount and timing of its distributions to shareholders. Such qualification does not involve supervision of management or investment
practices or policies by any government agency or bureau. By so qualifying, the Fund should not be subject to federal income or
excise tax on its net investment income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable
timing requirements. Net investment income and net capital gain of the Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of
the Tax Code.
Net investment income is
made up of dividends and interest less expenses. Net capital gain for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital
loss carryforward of the Fund. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning after December 22, 2010 may now be carried forward
indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could be carried forward
to offset any capital gains for only eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital losses, irrespective of the character
of the original loss. Capital loss carryforwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these
carryforwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.
The Fund intends to distribute
all of its net investment income, any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, and any excess
of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Tax
Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Distributions of net investment income and
net capital gain will be made after the end of each fiscal year, and no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions
will be in shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.
To be treated as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Tax Code, the Fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends,
interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or
foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with
respect to the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each
fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, U.S. government securities
and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for purposes of this calculation, generally limited
in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of
the market value of the Fund’s assets and 10% of the outstanding
voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of (other
than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) any one issuer, two or more issuers
which the Fund controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or the securities of
certain publicly traded partnerships.
If the Fund fails to qualify
as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year, it may be able to pay a tax penalty on the portion of
income that caused to inadvertently violate Subchapter M or it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
If treated as a corporation, the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its net investment income and net realized capital
gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of the Fund generally would not be liable for income
tax on the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders,
whether from the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the
extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.
The Fund is subject to a
4% nondeductible excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital gain under a prescribed formula contained
in Section 4982 of the Tax Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing
at least 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income (i.e.,
the excess of its capital gains over capital losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year plus
100% of any income that was neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the preceding calendar year. Under ordinary circumstances,
the Fund expects to time its distributions so as to avoid liability for this tax.
The following discussion
of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders that are IRAs or other
qualified retirement plans are exempt from income taxation under the Tax Code.
Distributions of taxable
net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders
as ordinary income.
Distributions of net capital
gain ("capital gain dividends") generally are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length
of time the shares of the Fund have been held by such shareholders.
For taxable years beginning
after December 31, 2012, certain U.S. shareholders, including individuals and estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional
3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which should include dividends from the Fund
and net gains from the disposition of shares of the Fund. U.S. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding
the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Fund.
A redemption of the Fund’s
shares by a shareholder will result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the
amount realized and the shareholder's tax basis in his or her Fund shares. Such gain
or loss is treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets. However, any loss realized upon the redemption
of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts
treated as capital gain dividends during such six-month period. All or a portion of any loss realized upon the redemption of shares
may be disallowed to the extent shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within 30 days
before or after such redemption.
Distributions of taxable
net investment income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above, whether received in additional cash or shares. Shareholders
electing to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each
share so received equal to the net asset value of a share on the reinvestment date.
All distributions of taxable
net investment income and net capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each taxable shareholder
on his or her federal income tax return. Dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December as of a record date
in such a month, if any, will be deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of the following
year. Redemptions of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder and are also subject to these reporting
requirements.
Under the Tax Code, the
Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as
gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup
withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Tax Code, distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain and
proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal
income tax in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification
numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law, or if the Fund is notified by
the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect TIN or a previous failure to report taxable interest or dividends.
If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional
shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.
Other Reporting and Withholding
Requirements
Payments to a shareholder
that is either a foreign financial institution (“FFI”) or a non-financial foreign entity (“NFFE”) within
the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding
tax on: (a) income dividends paid by the Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising
from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2016. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an
FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it enters into a valid agreement with the IRS
to, among other requirements, report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts
held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or
(ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. The Fund may disclose the information that it receives
from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also
may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of the Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications
or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.
Options, Futures, Forward
Contracts and Swap Agreements
To the extent such investments
are permissible for the Fund, the Fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts,
straddles and foreign currencies will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash
sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments
in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into
short-term capital gains and convert
short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of
distributions to shareholders.
To the extent such investments
are permissible, a certain percentage of the Fund’s hedging activities (including its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies
or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income.
If the Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess book income will be treated
as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from
tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient's basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter,
as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could
be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regular investment company that is accorded special tax
treatment.
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.
Passive Foreign Investment
Companies
Investment by the Fund in
certain passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including
interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company,
which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a qualified
electing fund ("QEF"), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the company's income and net capital
gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company.
The Fund also may make an
election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings "to the market" as though it had sold and
repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as
ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of
cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed for the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore
may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement,
which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return.
Foreign Currency Transactions
The Fund’s transactions
in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and
forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results
from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned.
Foreign Taxation
Income received by the Fund
from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties and
conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s
total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may be able to elect to
"pass through" to the Fund’s shareholders the amount of eligible foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund.
If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable
dividends actually received) his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct
(as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his or her taxable income or to use it as a
foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to certain limitations. In particular, a shareholder
must hold his or her shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 more days during
the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a gain dividend.
No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions. Each shareholder will be notified
within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year whether the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will "pass through"
for that year.
Generally, a credit for
foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder's U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign
source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of the Fund’s income will flow
through to shareholders of the Fund. With respect to the Fund, gains from the sale of securities will be treated as derived from
U.S. sources and certain currency fluctuation gains, including fluctuation gains from foreign currency-denominated debt securities,
receivables and payables will be treated as ordinary income derived from U.S. sources. The limitation on the foreign tax credit
is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. A shareholder may be unable to claim
a credit for the full amount of his or her proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. The foreign tax credit can
be used to offset only 90% of the revised alternative minimum tax imposed on corporations and individuals and foreign taxes generally
are not deductible in computing alternative minimum taxable income.
Original Issue Discount
and Pay-In-Kind Securities
Current federal tax law
requires the holder of a U.S. Treasury or other fixed income zero coupon security to accrue as income each year a portion of the
discount at which the security was purchased, even though the holder receives no interest payment in cash on the security during
the year. In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even
though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.
Some of the debt securities
(with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as
debt securities that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount ("OID")
is treated as interest income and is included in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount
is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. A portion of the OID includable in income with respect
to certain high-yield corporate debt securities (including certain pay-in-kind securities) may be treated as a dividend for U.S.
federal income tax purposes.
Some of the debt securities
(with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund in the secondary
market may be treated as having market discount. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment
of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment,
does not exceed the "accrued market discount" on such debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily
installments. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having market discount, which could
affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
Some debt securities (with
a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as having
acquisition discount, or OID in the case of certain types of debt securities. Generally, the Fund will be required to include the
acquisition discount, or OID, in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received
until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities
having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
The Fund that holds the
foregoing kinds of securities may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount, which is greater than the
total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by
liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains
or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may
receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such transactions.
Shareholders of the Fund
may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of the Fund’s shares.
A brief explanation of the
form and character of the distribution accompany each distribution. In January of each year, the Fund issues to each shareholder
a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.
Shareholders should consult
their tax advisers about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board has selected BBD,
LLP, located at 1835 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, as its independent registered public accounting firm for
the current fiscal year. The firm provides services including (i) audit of annual financial statements, and (ii) assistance and
consultation in connection with SEC filings.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Thompson Hine LLP, 41 South
High Street, Suite 1700, Columbus, Ohio 43215, serves as the Trust's legal counsel.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The financial statements
and report of the independent registered public accounting firm required to be included in this SAI are hereby incorporated by
reference to the Annual Report for the Fund for the fiscal year or period ended August 31, 2019. You can obtain a copy of the Annual
Report without charge by calling the Fund at 1-844-594-1226. You can obtain a copy of the financial statements without charge by
calling the Fund at 1-844-594-1226.
Adviser Proxy Voting Policies
and Procedures
ANCHOR PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
PURPOSE AND GENERAL STATEMENTS
The purpose of these proxy
voting policies and procedures are to set forth the principles, guidelines and procedures by which Anchor Capital’s reviews
and votes the securities owned by its advisory clients and/or as an Adviser to any mutual funds. These policies and procedures
have been designed to ensure that Proxies are voted in a sound corporate governance, ethical responsibility and best interests
of its clients in accordance with its fiduciary duties pursuant to Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (the
“Advisers Act”) and per Northern Lights Fund Trust IV Compliance Manual (dated: July 2015) (the “Manual”).
GENERAL POLICY RELATING TO PROXY VOTING
The guiding principle by which
Anchor Capital relies upon is to refrain from and not to vote on behalf of any clients regarding Proxy votes and to act in a manner
consistent with the best interest of its clients, without subrogating the clients’ interest to those of Anchor Capital.
It is the General Policy absent
any legal or regulatory requirement to the contrary to refrain from voting on behalf of clients on all matters presented in any
Proxy. All Proxy materials received on behalf of a client are to be promptly forwarded to that client or the client’s designated
representative who is authorized to receive and vote the Proxy.
PROXY VOTING POLICY- SPECIFIC TO MUTUAL
FUNDS
Anchor Capital (also referred
to as the “Adviser”) has been delegated proxy voting responsibility by its affiliated mutual fund(s), the Adviser Funds
(the “Fund”), for proxies solicited on the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio, which is managed by Adviser.
These policies and procedures, which may be amended from time to time, only apply to the voting of such proxies by Adviser.
Adviser of the Fund invests a majority
of the Fund’s assets in other registered investment companies that are not affiliated with the Fund ("Underlying Funds"),
generally under the reliance of Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)
and is therefore required by Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act to vote proxies received from Underlying Funds in a certain manner.
Notwithstanding any other guidelines provided in these procedures, it is the policy of Adviser to vote all Fund proxies received
from Underlying Funds in the same proportion that all shares of the Underlying Funds are voted (i.e. mirror voting), or in accordance
with instructions received from Fund shareholders, pursuant to the safe harbor of Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act.
In addition, the Fund may invest
in underlying investment companies in excess of the limitations prescribed within the 12d-1 safe harbor. This generally means the
Fund is participating in exemptive orders of Underlying Funds and the Trust has signed the requisite participation agreements.
In these cases, Adviser must follow the exemptive order procedures outlined in section 6.O of the Manual.
OTHER PROPOSALS
Proxies received by Adviser
from issuers of securities held by the Fund that are not Underlying Funds, are initially referred to the Responsible Voting Party
for voting. Adviser will vote all proxies based upon its policies or instructions. In keeping with its fiduciary obligations to
the Fund, Adviser will review all proxy proposals, even those that may be considered to be routine matters. Although these guidelines
are to be followed as a general policy, in all cases each proxy proposal received from a non- Underlying Fund issuer will be considered
based on the relevant facts and circumstances. Adviser may deviate from these general guidelines when it determines that the particular
facts and circumstances warrant such deviation to protect the interests of Fund. These guidelines cannot provide an exhaustive
list of all the issues that may arise nor can Adviser anticipate all future situations.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Anchor Capital reserves the
right to override these guidelines for voting Proxies, when it considers that such an override would be in the best interest of
the Trust, taking into consideration all relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote.
Anchor Capital reserves the right
to abstain on any particular vote or otherwise withhold its vote on any matter if in the sole judgment of Anchor Capital, the cost
associated with voting such Proxy outweigh the benefits to the Trust or if the circumstances make such an abstention or withholding
otherwise advisable and in the best interest of the Trust.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Adviser may occasionally be
subject to conflicts of interest in the voting of proxies due to business or personal relationships it maintains with persons having
an interest in the outcome of certain votes. For example, Adviser and/or one of its, or the Fund’s affiliates may provide
investment management, brokerage, underwriting, and related services to accounts owned or controlled by companies whose management
is soliciting proxies. Adviser, its, or the Fund’s affiliates and/or employees may also occasionally have business or personal
relationships with other proponents of proxy proposals, participants in proxy contests, corporate directors or candidates for directorships.
If at any time, any Adviser officers
and/or employees become aware of any type of potential or actual conflict of interest relating to a particular proxy proposal,
they will promptly report such conflict to the CCO. If it is the CCO who is aware of the conflict, he will report such to the Fund’s
CCO. Conflicts of interest will be handled in various ways depending on the type and materiality. This includes:
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I.
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Where the Proxy Voting Guidelines outline Adviser’s voting position,
as generally “for” or “against” such proxy proposal, voting will be in accordance with the Proxy Voting
Guidelines.
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II.
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Where the Proxy Voting Guidelines outline Adviser’s voting position
to be determined on a “case by case” basis for such proxy proposal, or such proposal is not listed in the Proxy Voting
Guidelines, then one of the two following methods will be selected by Adviser depending upon the facts and circumstances of each
situation and the requirements of applicable law:
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A.
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Voting the proxy in accordance with the voting recommendation of a non-affiliated
third party vendor. If the third party vendor’s recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, Adviser will abstain
from voting the proxy.
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B.
Voting the proxy pursuant to direction by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. RECORDING KEEPING
Anchor Capital shall maintain records of all
proxies voted in accordance with Rule 204-2 of the
Advisers Act. As required per
rule 204-2(c) under the Advisers Act, the following records are maintained as follows:
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Copies of all policies and procedures required by SEC Proxy voting Rule 206(4)-6;
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A copy of each Proxy statement that is received regarding client securities;
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A copy of all correspondence forwarding Proxy materials to the client and/or
designated representative who is authorized to receive and vote the Proxy;
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A record of each vote cast by Anchor Capital on behalf of the Trust;
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A copy of any document created by Anchor Capital that was material to making
a decision how to vote Proxies on behalf of the Trust or that memorializes the basis for that decision; and
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Each written client request for Proxy voting records or a request for Anchor
Capital’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures.
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***To prepare and file when applicable
any proxy voting by the Adviser with Northern Lights that require a N-PX Reports per the Compliance process (section 13.B) of the
Compliance Manual.