Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund
Class A Shares: MHFAX
Class C Shares: MHFCX
Class I Shares: MHFIX
PROSPECTUS
January 28, 2014
Advised By:
Equinox Fund Management, LLC
1775 Sherman Street, Suite 2500
Denver, CO 80203
www.equinoxfunds.com 1-888-643-3431
This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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FUND SUMMARY
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1
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Investment Objective
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1
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Fees and Expenses of the Fund
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1
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Principal Investment Strategies
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2
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Principal Investment Risks
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5
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Performance
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11
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Investment Adviser
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12
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Portfolio Manager
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12
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Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
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12
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Tax Information
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12
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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
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12
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS
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13
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Investment Objective
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13
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Principal Investment Strategies
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14
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Principal Investment Risks
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17
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Temporary Investments
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27
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Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
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27
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MANAGEMENT
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27
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Investment Adviser
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27
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Portfolio Manager
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28
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HOW SHARES ARE PRICED
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30
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HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
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31
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HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
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40
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FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES
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43
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TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
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44
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DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES
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45
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Distributor
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46
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Distribution of Fund Shares
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46
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Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries
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47
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Householding
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48
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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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49
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Privacy Notice
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52
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FUND SUMMARY: Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund
Investment Objective:
The Fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation in both rising and falling (bull and bear) equity markets with an annualized level of volatility that is generally lower than the historic level of volatility experienced by the S&P 500 Index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund:
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in
How to Purchase Shares
of the Funds Prospectus on page 31.
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Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
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Class
A
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Class
C
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Class
I
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a% of offering price)
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5.75%
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None
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None
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a% of original purchase price)
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1.00%
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1.00%
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None
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load)
Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions
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None
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None
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None
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Redemption Fee
(as a% of amount redeemed, if sold in less than 30 days)
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1.00%
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1.00%
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1.00%
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Exchange Fee
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None
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None
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None
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
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Management Fees
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1.45%
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1.45%
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1.45%
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Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
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0.25%
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1.00%
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0.00%
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Other Expenses
(1)(2)
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0.65%
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0.65%
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0.65%
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
(3)
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0.07%
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0.07%
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0.07%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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2.42%
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3.17%
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2.17%
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Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement
(4)
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(0.11)%
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(0.11)%
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(0.11)%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement
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2.31%
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3.06%
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2.06%
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(1)
Other Expenses include fees and expenses associated with the Funds investments in those Trading Companies (as defined below) in which it invested through its wholly owned subsidiary (the Subsidiary) during the fiscal year ended on September 30, 2013 and the expenses of which were consolidated with the Funds financial statements. It does not include non-consolidated Trading Company investments. 0.29% of the Other Expenses for Class A, C and I shares are comprised of management fees paid to CTAs (as defined below) by the Trading Companies in which the Fund invested, 0.03% of the Other Expenses for Class A, C and I shares are comprised of performance-based incentive fees (Performance Fees) paid to such CTAs by such Trading Companies and 0.06% of the other expenses for Class A, C and I are comprised of operating expenses attributable to the Trading Companies. Positive performance of a Trading Company will have the
1
effect of increasing Other Expenses to the extent that the relevant CTA earns Performance Fees. The Funds direct or indirect investments in Trading Companies are also subject to certain derivative trading costs, including brokerage commissions and various exchange fees.
(2)
Other Expenses does not include direct costs associated with any over-the-counter derivatives that provide the Fund with exposure to Managed Futures Programs, which is the primary manner in which the Fund intends to gain exposure to Managed Futures Programs. Costs associated with such derivative instruments include any fee paid to the Funds counterparty and the fees and expenses associated with the Managed Futures Programs referenced by such derivative instruments. Such costs are included in the return of any such derivative instruments and, therefore, represent an indirect cost of investing in the Fund. The Fund does not anticipate that it will pay fees to derivative counterparties in the fiscal year 2014 in excess of 0.50% (annualized) of the notional exposure to Managed Futures Programs provided by the relevant derivative instrument. Based on the notional amount of the Funds over-the-counter derivative positions as of September 30, 2013, the Fund was subject to counterparty fees equal to approximately 0.54% (annualized) of Fund assets on such date. As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate weighted average management fees and weighed average Performance Fees of the Managed Futures Programs (as defined below) in which the Subsidiary invested were approximately 0.97% of notional exposure and 22.30% of trading profits, respectively.
(3)
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Funds financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.
(4)
The adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fees and/or to make payments to limit Fund expenses, until May 31, 2015 so that the total annual operating expenses (including the advisory fee, any Rule 12b-1 fees and other expenses described in the Investment Advisory Agreement
(
excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads; brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); taxes; or extraordinary expenses, such as litigation)) of the Fund do not exceed 1.86% for Class A shares, 2.61% for Class C shares and 1.61% for Class I shares. These fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits. This agreement may be terminated only by the Fund's Board of Trustees, on 60 days written notice to the adviser.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Funds operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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1 Year
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3 Years
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5 Years
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10 Years
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Class A
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$896
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$1,276
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$1,782
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$3,165
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Class C
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$409
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$967
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$1,650
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$3,468
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Class I
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$209
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$669
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$1,154
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$2,495
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Portfolio Turnover
:
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities or derivative instruments (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher
2
taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Funds performance. During the most recent fiscal period, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 0% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies:
The Fund pursues its investment objective by mainly investing, primarily, directly or indirectly through its wholly-owned subsidiary (the Subsidiary), in a combination of (i)
Trading Companies
that employ the
Managed Futures Program
of one or more commodity trading advisers (CTAs) selected by the Funds investment adviser, Equinox Fund Management, LLC ("Equinox" or the "Adviser") and/or derivative instruments such as swap agreements that provide exposure to the such Managed Futures Programs, and (ii) an actively managed fixed-income portfolio. A Managed Futures Program
generally is a trading program that a CTA uses to guide its investments in futures, forwards, options or spot contracts. Each of these investments may be tied to a particular asset class: commodities, equities, fixed income or foreign currencies. A Trading Company is a pooled investment vehicle organized as a limited liability company and operated as a commodity pool.
The Funds return will be derived principally from changes in the value of securities held in the Funds portfolio, and the Funds assets consist principally of securities (including shares of the Subsidiary). The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in any one issuer than a diversified fund.
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Derivative Instruments:
The Fund or the Subsidiary may invest directly in a variety of derivative instruments including exchange-traded futures and option contracts, forward contracts (including interbank currencies), swaps and other over the counter (
“
OTC) derivatives, or may invest in one or more Managed Futures Programs that utilize such derivative instruments to gain exposure to a wide variety of global markets for currencies, interest rates, stock market indices, energy resources, metals and agricultural products. Derivatives may be used as substitutes for securities, commodity, and currencies and for hedging price risk. In general, a derivative instrument typically involves leverage, i.e., it provides exposure to potential gain or loss from a change in the level of the market price of a security, currency or commodity (or a basket or index) in a notional amount that exceeds the amount of cash or assets required to establish or maintain the derivative contract. Any Managed Futures Program may take a long or short position in such markets. Any investment in derivative instruments may be subject to fees and transaction costs that will negatively impact the Funds performance.
To the extent the Fund employs derivatives to gain exposure to Managed Futures Programs, it is anticipated that the Fund will utilize a total return swap (a "Swap"), a type of derivative instrument based on a customized index of Managed Futures Program(s) or a basket of Trading Companies (in each case, a Reference Program) designed to replicate the aggregate returns of the Managed Futures Programs selected by the Adviser. Any Swap will be based on a notional amount agreed upon by the Adviser and a counterparty. The Adviser will retain the ability to (i) add or remove Managed Futures Programs from the Reference Program and (ii) adjust the notional exposure between the Managed Futures Programs that comprise the Reference Program. Generally, the
3
fees and expenses of a Swap are based on the notional value of the Swap. The value of a Reference Program typically includes a deduction for fees of the counterparty as well as management and performance fees of the relevant CTAs. Because the Reference Program is designed to replicate the returns of Managed Futures Programs selected by the Adviser, the performance of the Fund will depend on the ability of the relevant CTAs to generate returns in excess of the costs of the relevant Swap(s).
·
Fixed-Income Securities:
The fixed-income securities in which the Fund invests in may have any maturity and may include, without limitation, corporate bonds and other corporate debt securities, securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities, money market securities and other interest-bearing instruments or any derivative instrument meant to track the return of any such instrument, and cash. The Fund may buy debt securities for liquidity purposes, to serve as collateral related to other Fund investments, or to seek income. The Fund may, without limitation, seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts. The Fund may also invest, without limitation, in money market funds or other investment companies (such as exchange traded funds) whose assets are comprised primarily of fixed income securities or that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific fixed income indexes. These fixed-income securities and other investments may serve as margin and collateral for the derivatives positions of the Fund.
Subsidiary:
Generally, the Fund may invest up to approximately 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary, which has the same investment objective as the Fund. Investments in the Subsidiary are intended to provide the Fund with exposure to futures contracts and commodities in a manner consistent with the limitations of the federal tax requirements that apply to the Fund. To the extent they are applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund.
Equinox employs a multi-step process to select and allocate across Managed Futures Programs that are consistent with the Funds investment objective:
i.
Screening.
Equinox uses proprietary and commercial databases to identify a universe of Managed Futures Programs that may be suitable for investment by the Subsidiary. These programs are quantitatively screened primarily based on their historic performance data (i.e., return streams and volatility over selected time frames). Other criteria are also used to screen programs, including length of track record and assets under management.
ii.
Analysis and Selection.
Equinox further analyzes the pre-screened Managed Futures Programs by examining both qualitative and quantitative factors. The qualitative factors include the business backgrounds of the principals, the trading strategies used, and the depth of the CTAs research department. Quantitative analyses include a variety of financial and statistical measures that are used to better comprehend and categorize the program trading strategies.
4
All Managed Futures Programs selected for inclusion into the portfolio undergo rigorous due diligence reviews before receiving an allocation. Due diligence reviews include site visits, track record verification, and background checks of the firm and principals.
iii.
Portfolio Design.
Equinox invests the assets of the Subsidiary with the aim of providing exposure to a portfolio of complementary Managed Futures Programs that is consistent with the Funds investment objective. Equinox seeks to moderate portfolio risk by diversifying the Funds exposure to futures contracts and other derivative instruments across: (i) trading methodologies (e.g., trend following, countertrend, spread, technical, fundamental); (ii) trading time horizons; and (iii) sectors and markets (currencies, interest rates, stock market indices, energy resources, metals and agricultural products). The relative weightings and overall exposure to Managed Futures Programs in the portfolio are adjusted periodically.
iv.
Risk Management.
Equinox monitors the trading and performance of the Managed Futures Programs in the portfolio with the aims of identifying and mitigating unusual risks. Some of the factors monitored are margin usage, daily volatility, and equity drawdowns. Responses to extraordinary trading patterns or increased risk may include consultation with the CTA to determine the cause of the condition, partial redemption of allocated assets, or complete withdrawal from the trading program.
Principal Investment Risks:
As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. Many factors affect the Funds net asset value and performance.
The following describes some of the risks the Fund may bear through direct investments in securities and derivatives as well as indirectly through its investment in the Subsidiary.
Commodities Risk.
Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The performance of a Managed Futures Program may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.
Counterparty Risk.
The derivative contracts entered into by the Fund, the Subsidiary or a Trading Company may be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market. These contracts also involve exposure to credit risk, since contract performance depends in part on the financial condition of the counterparty. Relying on a counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If a counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, to the extent the Fund or Trading Company deals with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more
5
susceptible to the credit risks associated with those counterparties. The Fund is neither restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty nor from concentrating any or all of its transactions with one counterparty. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or number of counterparties and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Fund.
Credit Risk.
If a security issuer or a counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease significantly. Relying on a counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. In addition, the credit quality of securities may be lowered if an issuer's financial condition changes.
Currency Risk.
The Funds exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. Dollar, or, in the case of short positions, that the U.S. Dollar will decline in value relative to the currency that the Fund is short. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for any number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk.
The use of derivatives may expose the Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities, commodities or currencies underlying those derivatives. Derivatives have economic leverage inherent in their terms that will magnify losses. There may be an imperfect correlation between the changes in market value of derivatives and the underlying asset upon which they are based. Purchased options may expire worthless. Derivative counterparties may default. There may not always be a liquid secondary market for derivative contracts. Trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange, and government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and options. Derivatives are subject to the risk of mispricing or improper valuation.
Fixed-Income Securities Risk.
Fixed income securities are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk, as described more fully above, refers to the possibility that the issuer of a debt security will be unable to make interest payments or repay principal when it becomes due. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a debt security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates.
Foreign Market Risk.
There is less legal and regulatory protection for investors in foreign markets than that available domestically. Additionally, trading on foreign exchanges is subject to the risks presented by exchange controls, expropriation, increased tax burdens and exposure to local economic declines and political instability. Some foreign derivative markets are so-called principals markets in which performance is the responsibility only of the individual counterparty with whom the trader has entered into a commodity interest transaction and not of the exchange or clearing corporation. International trading activities are subject to foreign exchange risk.
6
Government Intervention and Regulatory Changes Risk
. The recent instability of financial markets has led the government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that are exposed to extreme volatility and in some cases lack of liquidity. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act) (which was passed into law in July 2010) significantly revises and expands the rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority of federal bank, securities and commodities regulators. It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund. There can be no assurance that future regulatory actions authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act will not adversely impact the Fund. Major changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act or other legislative or regulatory actions could materially affect the profitability of the Fund or the value of investments made by the Fund or force the Fund to revise its investment strategy or divest certain of its investments. Any of these developments could expose the Fund to additional costs, taxes, liabilities, enforcement actions and reputational risk.
In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act established a new regulatory structure for derivatives. If more restrictive position limits are imposed on investors in the commodity futures and other derivative markets, the Managed Futures Programs in which the Fund invests, and as a result, the Fund, may be adversely affected. Similarly, changes in the regulation of foreign currency-related trading arising from the Dodd-Frank Act may make such trading more expensive for the Fund, and otherwise limit the Funds ability to engage in such trading, which could adversely affect the Fund.
In 2012, the CFTC adopted certain rule amendments that significantly affected the exemptions from CFTC regulations available to the Fund and its Subsidiary. Effective January 1, 2013, the Fund and its Subsidiary are subject to CFTC regulations as a result of these changes. At the time of the CFTCs adoption of the rule amendments, Equinox was (and continues to be) registered as a commodity pool operator and, accordingly, is subject to CFTC regulations. On August 13, 2013, the CFTC adopted final rules to harmonize the compliance obligations of CPOs with respect to commodity pools that are also registered investment companies under the 1940 Act. Under the final harmonization rules, the CPOs of such commodity pools may elect substituted compliance whereby such CPOs will be deemed to have substantially satisfied the CFTC-mandated disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping obligations by complying with the SECs disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping regime under the 1940 Act, in lieu of complying with the CFTCs alternative requirements. The Fund intends to utilize the substituted compliance option.
Indirect Fees and Expenses Risk.
The cost of investing in the Fund may be higher than the cost of other mutual funds that invest directly in futures, forwards or other derivative instruments. In addition to the Fund's direct fees and expenses, you will indirectly bear fees and expenses paid by the Subsidiary and by any Managed Futures Program in which the Fund or the Subsidiary invest, including commodity brokerage commissions
7
and operating expenses. Further, any investment in a Managed Futures Program is expected to be subject to management and performance-based fees. Management fees typically are based on the leveraged account size or the notional exposure of the Fund to the relevant Managed Futures Program and not the actual cash invested.
Leverage/Volatility Risk
. The use of leverage by the Fund (or Managed Futures Programs in which the Fund invests) will cause the value of the Funds shares to be more volatile than if the Fund did not employ leverage.
This is because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Funds portfolio securities or other investments. Furthermore, derivative contracts are highly volatile and are subject to occasional rapid and substantial fluctuations. Consequently, you could lose all or substantially all of your investment in the Fund should the Funds trading positions suddenly turn unprofitable.
Liquidity Risk.
The Fund is subject to liquidity risk primarily due to its investments in derivatives. Investments in illiquid assets involve the risk that the Fund may be unable to sell such assets or sell them at a reasonable price.
Management Risk.
The Advisers judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation or depreciation of a particular security or derivative in which the Fund invests or sells short may prove to be inaccurate and may not produce the desired results.
Non-Diversification Risk.
The Fund is a non-diversified investment company, which means that more of the Funds assets may be invested in the securities of a single issuer than could be invested in the securities of a single issuer by a diversified investment company. The Fund has a greater potential to realize losses upon the occurrence of adverse events affecting a particular issuer.
OTC Trading Risk.
Certain of the derivatives in which the Fund may invest may be traded (and privately negotiated) in the over-the-counter or OTC market. While the OTC derivatives market is the primary trading venue for many derivatives, it is largely unregulated. As a result and similar to other privately negotiated contracts, the Fund is subject to counterparty credit risk with respect to such derivative contracts.
Performance Fees Risk.
The performance-based fees paid to a CTA may create an incentive for that CTA to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than those it might have made in the absence of such performance-based fees. In addition, because performance-based fees will generally be calculated on a basis that includes unrealized trading profits of the relevant Managed Futures Program, the fee may be greater than if it were based solely on realized gains. Positive performance of the Funds investments in a Managed Futures Program is expected to result in performance-based compensation being paid to the relevant CTA, which will be borne indirectly by the Fund, even if the Funds overall returns are negative. Further, because performance fees are frequently calculated on a quarterly basis (and, in some cases, upon a withdrawal of capital from a Trading Company), it is possible that a CTA could
8
earn a performance fee in a year in which its overall performance for the entire year was negative.
Short Sale Strategy Risk.
The trading strategies employed by a Managed Futures Program may involve short positions in the relevant markets and the underlying derivative instruments and futures contracts. The potential gain in respect of a short position is limited by the fact that such positions can never earn a trading profit greater than the price of the relevant asset at the time the short position was executed. Conversely, because losses on a short position arise from increases in the value of the security (or other asset) sold short, such loss is theoretically unlimited.
Subsidiary Risk
. The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all of the investor protections of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Thus, the Fund, as an investor in the Subsidiary, will not have all of the protections offered to investors in registered investment companies. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, Cayman Islands law does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands governmental authority taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.
Taxation Risk.
By investing in commodities indirectly through the Subsidiary, the Fund will obtain exposure to the commodities markets within the federal tax requirements that apply to the Fund. The Subsidiary is classified as a controlled foreign corporation for US tax purposes. Typically any gains/losses from trading in 1256 futures contracts, such as exchange-traded commodity futures contracts, are taxed 60% as long term capital gains/losses and 40% short term capital gains/losses. However, because the Subsidiary is a controlled foreign corporation, any income received from its investments in the Managed Futures Programs will be passed through to the Fund as ordinary income and reflected on shareholder's tax Forms 1099 as such.
Trading Strategy Risk.
The profitability of any Managed Futures Program depends primarily on the ability of its CTA to anticipate price movements in the relevant markets and underlying derivative instruments and futures contracts. Such price movements may be influenced by, among other things:
·
changes in interest rates;
·
governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies;
·
weather and climate conditions;
·
natural disasters, such as hurricanes;
·
changing supply and demand relationships;
9
·
changes in balances of payments and trade;
·
U.S. and international rates of inflation and deflation;
·
currency devaluations and revaluations;
·
U.S. and international political and economic events; and
·
changes in philosophies and emotions of various market participants.
A CTAs trading methods may not take all of these factors into account. In addition, the Fund will indirectly bear the expenses, including management fees, incentive fees and transaction fees, of the relevant Managed Futures Programs through reduced returns.
The successful use of forward and futures contracts relies upon the relevant CTAs skill and experience with respect to such instruments and is subject to special risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are:
Futures and forward contracts have a high degree of price variability and are subject to occasional rapid and substantial changes in market value of the instruments held;
the imperfect correlation between the change in the price of the forward or futures contracts and the market value of the underlying instrument or reference assets with respect to such contracts;
possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired;
possible market disruption or other extraordinary events, including but not limited to, governmental intervention;
losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited;
such CTAs inability to predict correctly the direction of asset prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; and
the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations.
The use of futures contracts, forward contracts and derivative instruments will have the economic effect of financial leverage. Financial leverage magnifies exposure to the swings in prices of an asset class underlying an investment and results in increased volatility, and potentially greater losses. There is no assurance that the Funds investment in Managed Futures Programs with leveraged exposure to certain investments and markets will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
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Performance:
The bar chart and performance table below show the variability of the Funds returns, which is some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows performance of the Funds Class A shares for each full calendar year since the Funds inception. Returns for Class C and Class I shares, which are not presented will vary from the returns of Class A shares. The performance table compares the performance of the Funds Class A, Class C and Class I shares over time to the performance of a broad-based securities market index. You should be aware that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) may not be an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information will be available at no cost by visiting www.mutualhedge.com or by calling 1-888-643-3431.
Performance Bar Chart For Class A Shares Total Return
Calendar Years Ended December 31
Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did
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Best Quarter:
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September 30, 2011
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6.81%
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Worst Quarter:
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June 30, 2013
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(4.77)%
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Performance Table
Average Annual Total Returns
(For periods ended December 31, 2013)
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|
|
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One
Year
|
Since
Inception
(12-31-09)
|
Class A Return before taxes
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(8.68)%
|
(1.59)%
|
Class A Return after taxes on distributions
|
(8.73)%
|
(2.20)%
|
Class A Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares
|
(4.88)%
|
(1.38)%
|
Class C Return before taxes
|
(4.81)%
|
(0.86)%
|
Class I Return before taxes*
|
(2.93)%
|
(2.08)%
|
S&P 500
®
Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
|
32.39%
|
15.90%
|
*Class I shares commenced operations on May 24, 2011
The S&P 500
®
Index is an unmanaged market capitalization-weighted index of 500 of the largest capitalized U.S. domiciled companies. Index returns assume reinvestment of dividends. An investor cannot invest directly in an index.
11
After-tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rate and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on a shareholders tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns are not relevant if you hold your Fund shares in tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (IRA). After tax returns for Class C shares and Class I shares, which are not shown, will vary from those of Class A shares.
Investment Adviser:
Equinox Fund Management, LLC.
Portfolio Manager:
Richard Bornhoft, Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser, has been the Funds portfolio manager since its inception on December 31, 2009. Ajay Dravid, Managing Director of Portfolio Strategy for the Adviser and Rufus Rankin, Director of Portfolio Management for the Adviser, each joined the Funds portfolio management team on October 31, 2011. Sue Osborne and Afroz Qadeer, members of the Advisers portfolio management team, each joined the Funds portfolio management team on April 1, 2013.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares:
You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading by written request, telephone or through a financial intermediary. The minimum initial and subsequent investment in Class A and Class C shares is $2,500 and $500. The minimum initial investment in Class I shares is $1,000,000 and there is no subsequent investment minimum.
Tax Information:
Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred plan such as an IRA or 401(k) plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries:
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS
Investment Objective:
The Fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation in both rising and falling (bull and bear) equity markets with an annualized level of volatility that is generally lower than the historic level of volatility experienced by the S&P 500 Index.
The Funds investment objective may be changed by the Funds Board of Trustees upon 60 days written notice to shareholders.
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Principal Investment Strategies:
The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily, directly or indirectly through its wholly-owned subsidiary (the Subsidiary), in a combination of (i)
Trading Companies
that employ the
Managed Futures Program
of one or more commodity trading advisers (CTAs) selected by the Funds investment adviser, Equinox Fund Management, LLC ("Equinox" or the "Adviser") and/or derivative instruments such as swap agreements that provide exposure to the such Managed Futures Programs, and (ii) an actively managed fixed-income portfolio. A Managed Futures Program
generally is a trading program that a CTA uses to guide its investments in futures, forwards, options or spot contracts. Each of these investments may be tied to a particular asset class: commodities, equities, fixed income or foreign currencies. A Trading Company is a pooled investment vehicle organized as a limited liability company and operated as a commodity pool.
The Funds return will be derived principally from changes in the value of securities held in the Funds portfolio, and the Funds assets consist principally of securities (including shares of the Subsidiary). The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in any one issuer than a diversified fund.
·
Derivative Instruments:
The Fund or the Subsidiary may invest directly in a variety of derivative instruments including exchange-traded futures and option contracts, forward contracts (including interbank currencies), swaps and other over the counter (“OTC) derivatives, or may invest in one or more Managed Futures Programs that utilize such derivative instruments to gain exposure to a wide variety of global markets for currencies, interest rates, stock market indices, energy resources, metals and agricultural products. Derivatives may be used as substitutes for securities, commodity, and currencies and for hedging price risk. In general, a derivative instrument typically involves leverage, i.e., it provides exposure to potential gain or loss from a change in the level of the market price of a security, currency or commodity (or a basket or index) in a notional amount that exceeds the amount of cash or assets required to establish or maintain the derivative contract. Any Managed Futures Program may take a long or
short position in such markets. Any investment in derivative instruments may be subject to fees and transaction costs that will negatively impact the Funds performance.
To the extent the Fund employs derivatives to gain exposure to Managed Futures Programs, it is anticipated that the Fund will utilize a total return swap (a "Swap"), a type of derivative instrument based on a customized index of Managed Futures Program(s) or a basket of Trading Companies (in each case, a Reference Program) designed to replicate the aggregate returns of the Managed Futures Programs selected by the Adviser. Any Swap will be based on a notional amount agreed upon by the Adviser and a counterparty. The Adviser will retain the ability to (i) add or remove Managed Futures Programs from the Reference Program and (ii) adjust the notional exposure between the Managed Futures Programs that comprise the Reference Program. Generally, the fees and expenses of a Swap are based on the notional value of the Swap. The value of a Reference Program typically includes a deduction for fees of the counterparty as well as management and performance fees of the relevant CTAs.
Because the Reference Program is designed to replicate the returns of Managed
Futures Programs selected by
13
the Adviser, the performance of the Fund will depend on the ability of the relevant CTAs to generate returns in excess of the costs of the relevant Swap(s).
·
Fixed-Income Securities:
The fixed-income securities in which the Fund invests may have of any maturity and may include, without limitation, corporate bonds and other corporate debt securities, securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities, money market securities and other interest-bearing instruments or any derivative instrument meant to track the return of any such instrument, and cash. The Fund may buy debt securities for liquidity purposes, to serve as collateral related to other Fund investments, or to seek income. The Fund may, without limitation, seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts. The Fund may also invest, without limitation, in money market funds or other investment companies (such as exchange traded funds) whose assets are comprised primarily of fixed income securities or that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific fixed income indexes. These fixed-income securities and other investments may serve as margin and collateral for the derivatives positions of the Fund.
Subsidiary:
Generally, the Fund may invest up to approximately 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary, which has the same investment objective as the Fund. Investments in the Subsidiary are intended to provide the Fund with exposure to futures contracts and commodities in a manner consistent with the limitations of the federal tax requirements that apply to the Fund. To the extent they are applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund. It is expected that the Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity and financial futures, option and swap contracts, fixed income securities and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiarys derivatives positions as well as interests in Trading Companies expected by the Adviser to provide similar exposure to the global derivatives market. Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for more information about the organization and management of the Subsidiary.
Investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Sub-chapter M requires, among other things, that at least 90% of the Funds income be derived from securities or derived with respect to its business of investing in securities (typically referred to as "qualifying income"). Income from certain of the commodity-linked derivatives in which the Fund invests may not be treated as "qualifying income" for purposes of the 90% income requirement. The Fund is relying on certain private letter rulings from the Internal Revenue Service issued to other mutual funds, which indicate that income from a funds investment in a subsidiary will constitute "qualifying income" for purposes of Subchapter M.
As with the Fund, the Adviser is responsible for the Subsidiarys day-to-day
business pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Subsidiary.
Under this agreement, the Adviser provides the Subsidiary with the same type of
management
14
services, under the same terms, as are provided to the Fund. The investment advisory agreement of the Subsidiary provides for automatic termination upon the termination of the investment advisory agreement with respect to the Fund. The Subsidiary has also entered into separate contracts for the provision of custody, transfer agency, and audit services with the same service providers that provide those services to the Fund. The Fund pays the Adviser a fee for its services. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the management fee paid to the Adviser by the Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue in effect for so long as the Fund invests in the Subsidiary, and may not be terminated by the Adviser unless the Adviser first obtains the prior approval of the Funds Board of Trustees for such termination. The Subsidiary will also bear the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the custody, transfer agency and audit services that it receives. The expenses borne by the Subsidiary are not expected to be material in relation to the value of the Funds assets. The Funds own expenses are reduced to some extent as a result of the payment of such expenses at the Subsidiary level. Therefore, any duplicative fees for similar services provided to the Fund and Subsidiary are not material.
To the extent they are applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will be managed pursuant to compliance policies and procedures that are the same, in all material respects, as the policies and procedures adopted by the Fund. As a result, the Adviser, in managing the Subsidiarys portfolio, is subject to the same investment policies and restrictions that apply to the management of the Fund, and, in particular, to the requirements relating to portfolio leverage, liquidity, brokerage, and the timing and method of the valuation of the Subsidiarys portfolio investments and shares of the Subsidiary. These policies and restrictions are described in detail in the Funds Statement of Additional Information. The Funds Chief Compliance Officer oversees implementation of the Subsidiarys policies and procedures, and makes periodic reports to the Funds Board regarding the Subsidiarys compliance with its policies and procedures.
The Subsidiary invests in the global derivatives markets through allocations to one or more proprietary Managed Futures Programs. Generally, Managed Futures Programs attempt to earn profits in a variety of markets by employing long and short trading algorithms applied to futures, options, forward contracts, and other derivative instruments. It is anticipated that the Managed Futures Programs accessed by the Fund will have investment exposure to a variety of global markets for currencies, interest rates, stock market indices, energy resources, metals and agricultural products. The Subsidiarys investment in a Managed Futures Program may be through investment in one or more Trading Companies advised by one or more CTAs registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or one or more derivative instruments such as a total return swap.
Equinox employs a multi-step process to select and allocate across Managed Futures Programs that are consistent with the Funds investment objective:
15
i.
Screening.
Equinox uses proprietary and commercial databases to identify a universe of Managed Futures Programs that may be suitable for investment by the Subsidiary. The initial screening is primarily quantitative in nature, based on the past performance of the Managed Futures Programs. Some qualitative factors may also be considered at this stage, such as length of track record and assets under management.
ii.
Analysis and Selection.
Equinox further analyzes the universe of pre-screened Managed Futures Programs by examining both qualitative and quantitative factors. The qualitative factors include such things as the business backgrounds of the principals, the trading strategies used, and the depth of the CTAs research department. Quantitative factors examined at this step include correlation analysis, time window analysis, and examination of performance cycles.
All programs selected for inclusion into the portfolio undergo rigorous due diligence reviews before receiving an allocation. Due diligence reviews include site visits, track record verification, and background checks of the firm and principals.
iii.
Portfolio Design.
Equinox invests the assets of the Subsidiary in such a manner as to provide exposure to a portfolio of Managed Futures Programs that Equinox believes to be complementary to one another and consistent with the aim of moderating risk by diversifying the Funds exposure to futures contracts and other derivative instruments across: (i) trading methodologies (e.g., trend following, countertrend, spread, technical, fundamental); (ii) trading time horizons; and (iii) sectors and markets (currencies, interest rates, stock market indices, energy resources, metals and agricultural products). The relative weighting of the different Managed Futures Programs in the portfolio is recalculated periodically.
iv.
Risk Management.
Equinox monitors the trading and performance of the Managed Futures Programs in the portfolio in an attempt to identify and mitigate unusual risks. Some of the items monitored are margin usage, daily volatility, and equity drawdowns. Responses to extraordinary trading patterns or increased risk may include consultation with the CTA to determine the cause of the condition, partial redemption of allocated assets, or complete withdrawal from the trading program.
Because the Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in the Subsidiary, which may hold some of the investments described in this Prospectus, the Fund may be considered to be investing indirectly in some of those investments through its Subsidiary. For that reason, references to the Fund may also include the Subsidiary.
16
|
|
|
Investment Objective and Strategies
|
Asset Class
|
Role in an Investor
’
s Portfolio
|
·
The Fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation in both rising and falling (bull and bear) equity markets while seeking to manage downside risk. Using a dynamic volatility target mechanism, the Fund seeks to constrain volatility at a level that is generally lower than the historical long-term volatility of the S&P 500 Index.
·
Invests in a combination of derivatives and fixed income securities.
·
Generally, the Fund may also invest up to approximately 25% of its total assets in its wholly-owned and controlled Subsidiary. The Subsidiary primarily invests in Trading Companies and derivatives (including futures, forwards, options, structured notes and swap contracts) that provide exposure to selected Managed Futures Programs and fixed income securities that serve as collateral for its derivative positions.
|
·
A combination of derivatives, government securities and other fixed income securities often referred to as a "managed futures" strategy.
|
·
Allocation to alternative assets.
·
Complimentary role to stocks, bonds and other alternative asset classes.
|
Principal Investment Risks:
The risk descriptions below provide a more detailed explanation of the principal investment risks that correspond to the risks described in the Fund Summary section of this Prospectus. The following describes the common risks of the Fund, except as noted.
Commodities Risk
Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility
than investments in traditional securities. The commodities markets may
fluctuate widely based on a variety of factors including changes in overall
market movements, political and economic events and policies, war, acts of
terrorism and changes in interest rates or inflation rates. Prices of various
commodities may also be affected by factors such as drought, floods, weather,
embargoes, tariffs and other regulatory developments. The prices of commodities
can also fluctuate widely due to supply and demand disruptions in major
producing or consuming regions. Certain commodities may be produced in a
17
limited number of countries and may be controlled by a small number of producers. As a result, political, economic and supply related events in such production countries could have a disproportionate impact on the prices of such commodities.
The performance of a Managed Futures Program may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity price volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or market sector.
Counterparty Risk
Many of the derivative contracts entered into by the Fund, the Subsidiary or a Trading Company will be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market. These contracts also involve exposure to credit risk, since contract performance depends in part on the financial condition of the counterparty. Relying on a counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If a counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, to the extent the Fund or a Trading Company deals with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the credit risks associated with those counterparties. The Fund is neither restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty nor from concentrating any or all of its transactions with one counterparty. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or number of counterparties and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Fund.
Credit Risk
Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of the security will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. Changes in an issuers credit rating or the markets perception of an issuers creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Funds investment in that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation. Securities rated in the four highest categories (Standard & Poors (S&P) (AAA, AA, A and BBB), Fitch Ratings (Fitch) (AAA, AA, A and BBB) or Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys) (Aaa, Aa, A and Baa)) by the rating agencies are considered investment grade but they may also have some speculative characteristics, meaning that they carry more risk than higher rated securities and may have problems making principal and interest payments in difficult economic climates. Investment grade ratings do not guarantee that bonds will not lose value.
If a security issuer defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this
default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. Lower
credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and in
shares of the Fund. Lower credit quality also may affect liquidity and make it
difficult to sell the security. Default, or the markets perception that an
issuer is likely to default, could reduce the value and
18
liquidity of securities, thereby reducing the value of your investment in Fund shares. In addition, default may cause the Fund to incur expenses in seeking recovery of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings.
When the Fund or any Trading Company invests in over-the-counter derivatives (including options), it is assuming a credit risk with regard to the party with which it trades and also bears the risk of settlement default. These risks may differ materially from risks associated with transactions effected on an exchange, which generally are backed by clearing organization guarantees, daily mark-to-market and settlement, segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Transactions entered into directly between two counterparties generally do not benefit from such protections. Relying on any counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that such counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If any counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease.
In addition, to the extent the Fund or any Trading Company deals with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the credit risks associated with those counterparties. The Fund is neither restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty nor from concentrating any or all of its transactions with one counterparty. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or number of counterparties and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Fund.
Currency Risk
The Funds indirect and direct exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. Dollar, or, in the case of short positions, that the U.S. Dollar will decline in value relative to the currency that the Fund is short. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad. In addition, the Fund may incur transaction costs in connection with conversions between various currencies.
Derivatives Risk
The Fund will invest a percentage of its assets in derivatives, such as futures and options contracts. The use of such derivatives may expose the Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities and commodities underlying those derivatives.
In general, a derivative instrument typically involves leverage, i.e., it
provides exposure to potential gain or loss from a change in the level of the
market price of a security, currency or commodity (or a basket or index) in a
notional amount that exceeds the
19
amount of cash or assets required to establish or maintain the derivative contract. The use of derivative instruments also poses additional risks and transaction costs. These instruments come in many varieties and have a wide range of potential risks and rewards, and may include futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options (both written and purchased), swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts. Risks of these instruments include:
that interest rates, securities and commodity prices and currency markets will not move in the direction that the Adviser or a CTA anticipate;
that prices of the relative derivative instruments and the prices of underlying securities, commodities, interest rates or currencies they are designed to reflect do not move together as expected;
that the skills needed to use these strategies are different than those needed to select portfolio securities;
the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument and, for exchange-traded instruments, possible exchange-imposed price fluctuation limits, either of which may make it difficult or impossible to close out a position when desired;
If the Fund enters into a derivative instrument directly, that adverse price movements in an instrument can result in a loss substantially greater than the Funds initial investment in that instrument (in some cases, the potential loss is unlimited);
particularly in the case of privately-negotiated instruments, that the counterparty will not perform its obligations, which could leave the Fund worse off than if it had not entered into the position;
the inability to close out certain hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences,
the fact that speculative position limits imposed by the CFTC and certain futures exchanges on net long and short positions may require the Fund to limit or unravel positions in certain types of instruments; and
the high levels of volatility some of these
instruments
may exhibit, in some cases due to the high levels of leverage an investor may achieve with them.
the risk of mispricing or improper valuation of the derivative.
Fixed-Income Securities Risk
Fixed income and debt securities may include bonds and other forms of debentures
or obligations. When an issuer sells debt securities, it sells them for a
certain price, and for a certain term. Over the term of the security, the issuer
promises to pay the buyer a certain rate of interest, then to repay the
principal at maturity. Debt securities are also bought and sold in a secondary
market that is, they are traded by people other than
20
their original issuers. Fixed Income securities are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a fixed income security will be unable to make interest payments or repay principal when it becomes due. Various factors could affect the issuers ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuers financial condition or in general economic conditions. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates rise, the value of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of fixed income securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a fixed income or debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but may affect the value of the Funds shares.
Foreign Market Risk
A substantial portion of the trades of the Managed Futures Programs are expected to take place on markets or exchanges outside the United States. There is no limit to the amount of assets of the Fund that may be committed to trading on foreign markets. The risk of loss in trading foreign futures and options on futures contracts can be substantial. Participation in foreign futures and options on futures contracts involves the execution and clearing of trades on, or subject to the rules of, a foreign board of trade or exchange. Some of these foreign markets, in contrast to U.S. exchanges, are so-called principals markets in which performance is the responsibility only of the individual counterparty with whom the trader has entered into a commodity interest transaction and not of the exchange or clearing corporation. In these kinds of markets, there is risk of bankruptcy or other failure or refusal to perform by the counterparty.
Some foreign markets present additional risk, because they are not subject to the same degree of regulation as their U.S. counterparts. No U.S. regulatory agency or any domestic exchange regulates activities on any foreign boards of trade or exchanges (such as the execution, delivery and clearing of transactions) or has the power to compel enforcement of the rules of a foreign board of trade or exchange or of any applicable foreign laws. Similarly, the rights of market participants, in the event of the insolvency or bankruptcy of a foreign market or broker are also likely to be more limited than in the case of U.S. markets or brokers. As a result, in these markets, there is less legal and regulatory protection than that available domestically.
Additionally, trading on foreign exchanges is subject to the risks presented by exchange controls, expropriation, increased tax burdens and exposure to local economic declines and political instability. An adverse development with respect to any of these variables could reduce the profit or increase the loss earned on trades in the affected international markets. International trading activities are subject to foreign exchange risk.
21
Government Intervention and Regulatory Changes Risk
The recent instability in financial markets has led the government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that are exposed to extreme volatility and in some cases lack of liquidity. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act) (which was passed into law in July 2010) significantly revises and expands the rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority of federal bank, securities and commodities regulators. It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund. There can be no assurance that future regulatory actions authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act will not adversely impact the Fund. Major changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act or other legislative or regulatory actions could materially affect the profitability of the Fund or the value of investments made by the Fund or force the Fund to revise its investment strategy or divest certain of its investments. Any of these developments could expose the Fund to additional costs, taxes, liabilities, enforcement actions and reputational risk.
In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act established a new regulatory structure for derivatives. If more restrictive position limits are imposed on investors in the commodity futures and other derivative markets, the Managed Futures Programs in which the Fund invests, and as a result, the Fund, may be adversely affected. Similarly, changes in the regulation of foreign currency-related trading arising from the Dodd-Frank Act may make such trading more expensive for the Fund, and otherwise limit the Funds ability to engage in such trading, which could adversely affect the Fund.
In 2012, the CFTC adopted certain rule amendments that significantly affected the exemptions from CFTC regulations available to the Fund and its Subsidiary. Effective January 1, 2013, the Fund and its Subsidiary are subject to CFTC regulations as a result of these changes. At the time of the CFTCs adoption of the rule amendments, Equinox was (and continues to be) registered as a commodity pool operator and, accordingly, is subject to CFTC regulations. On August 13, 2013, the CFTC adopted final rules to harmonize the compliance obligations of CPOs with respect to commodity pools that are also registered investment companies under the 1940 Act. Under the final harmonization rules, the CPOs of such commodity pools may elect substituted compliance whereby such CPOs will be deemed to have substantially satisfied the CFTC-mandated disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping obligations by complying with the SECs disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping regime under the 1940 Act, in lieu of complying with the CFTCs alternative requirements. The Fund intends to utilize the substituted compliance option.
Indirect Fees and Expenses Risk
The cost of investing in the Fund may be higher than the cost of other mutual
funds that invest directly in futures, forwards or other derivative instruments.
In addition to the
22
Fund's direct fees and expenses, you will indirectly bear fees and expenses paid by the Subsidiary and of any Managed Futures Program in which the Fund or the Subsidiary invests, including commodity brokerage commissions and operating expenses. Further, any investment in a Managed Futures Program is expected to be subject to management and performance-based fees. Management fees typically are based on the leveraged account size or the notional exposure of the Fund to the relevant Managed Futures Program and not the actual cash invested.
Leverage/Volatility Risk
The Fund may employ leverage and may invest in leveraged instruments. The more the Fund invests in leveraged instruments, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. Leverage will cause the value of the Funds shares to be more volatile than if the Fund did not use leverage. This is because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Funds portfolio securities or other investments. The Fund or any Managed Futures Program may engage in transactions or purchase instruments that give rise to forms of leverage. Such transactions and instruments may include the investment of collateral from loans of portfolio securities, or the use of when issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment transactions. Derivative contracts ordinarily have leverage inherent in their terms. The use of leverage may also cause the Fund or a Managed Futures Program to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements. Certain types of leveraging transactions could theoretically be subject to unlimited losses in cases where the Fund or a Managed Futures Program, for any reason, is unable to close out the transaction.
Furthermore, derivative contracts are highly volatile and are subject to occasional rapid and substantial fluctuations. Consequently, you could lose all or substantially all of your investment in the Fund should the trading positions of the Fund or any Managed Futures Program suddenly turn unprofitable.
Liquidity Risk
The Fund is subject to liquidity risk primarily due to its investments in derivatives. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities or instruments. Derivatives, such as swaps, options, warrants and other derivative instruments may not be readily marketable and, therefore, may be deemed to be illiquid. An asset is not readily marketable if it cannot be sold within seven business days in the ordinary course of business for approximately the amount at which it is valued. Investments in illiquid assets involve the risk that the Fund may be unable to sell the asset or sell it at a reasonable price. In addition, the Fund may be required to liquidate positions or close out derivatives on unfavorable terms at a time contrary to the interests of the Fund in order to raise cash to pay redemptions.
An investment in derivatives is also subject to the risk that the Fund may not
be able to terminate the derivatives effective on whatever date it chooses, or
that the settlement of
23
any early termination may depend on subsequent market movements. As a result, the Fund may be exposed to the risk of additional losses due to such delays.
Management Risk
The Advisers judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation or depreciation of a particular security or derivative in which the Fund invests or sells short may prove to be inaccurate and may not produce the desired results.
Non-Diversification Risk
The Fund is a non-diversified investment company, which means that more of the Funds assets may be invested in the securities of a single issuer than could be invested in the securities of a single issuer by a diversified investment company. This may make the value of the Funds shares more susceptible to certain risks than shares of a diversified investment company. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund has a greater potential to realize losses upon the occurrence of adverse events affecting a particular issuer.
OTC Trading Risk
Certain of the derivatives in which the Fund may invest, including swap agreements, may be traded (and privately negotiated) in the OTC market. While the OTC derivatives market is the primary trading venue for many derivatives, it is largely unregulated and lacks transparency with respect to the terms of OTC transactions. OTC derivatives are complex and often valued subjectively. Improper valuations can result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to the Fund. In addition, such derivative instruments are often highly customized and tailored to meet the needs of the counterparties. If a derivative transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price. As a result and similar to other privately negotiated contracts, the Fund is subject to counterparty credit risk with respect to such derivative contracts.
Performance Fees Risk
The performance-based fees paid to a CTA may create an incentive for that CTA to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than those it might have made in the absence of such performance-based fees. In addition, because performance-based fees will generally be calculated on a basis that includes unrealized trading profits of the relevant Managed Futures Program, the fee may be greater than if it were based solely on realized gains. Positive performance of the Funds investments in a Managed Futures Program is expected to result in performance-based compensation being paid to the relevant CTA, which will be borne indirectly by the Fund, even if the Funds overall returns are negative. Further, because performance fees are frequently calculated on a quarterly basis (and, in some cases, upon a withdrawal of capital from a Trading Company), it is possible that a CTA could earn a performance fee in a year in which its overall performance for the entire year was negative.
24
Short Sale Strategy Risk
The trading strategies employed by a Managed Futures Program may involve short positions in the relevant markets and the underlying derivative instruments and futures contracts. The potential gain in respect of a short position is limited by the fact that such positions can never earn a trading profit greater than the price of the relevant asset at the time the short position was executed. Conversely, because losses on a short position arise from increases in the value of the security (or other asset) sold short, such loss is theoretically unlimited.
Subsidiary Risk
The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all of the investor protections of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Thus, the Fund, as an investor in the Subsidiary, will not have all of the protections offered to investors in registered investment companies. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and the Subsidiary are both managed by the Adviser, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund or its shareholders. While the Subsidiary has its own board of directors that is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Subsidiary, the Funds Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Funds role as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. Also, to the extent they are applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Adviser will be subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions that apply to the management of the Fund in managing the Subsidiarys portfolio. It is not currently expected that shares of the Subsidiary will be sold or offered to investors other than the Fund.
Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, Cayman Islands law does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands governmental authority taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.
Taxation Risk
By investing in commodities indirectly through the Subsidiary, the Fund will
obtain exposure to the commodities markets within the federal tax requirements
that apply to the Fund. The Subsidiary is classified as a controlled foreign
corporation for US tax purposes. Typically any gains/losses from trading in 1256
futures contracts, such as exchange-traded commodity futures contracts, are
taxed 60% as long term capital gains/losses and 40% short term capital
gains/losses. However, because the Subsidiary is a controlled foreign
corporation, any income received from its investments in the
25
Managed Futures Programs will be passed through to the Fund as ordinary income and reflected on shareholder's tax Forms 1099 as such.
Trading Strategy Risk
The profitability of any Managed Futures Program depends primarily on the ability of its CTA to anticipate price movements in the relevant markets and underlying derivative instruments and futures contracts. Such price movements may be influenced by, among other things:
changes in interest rates;
governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies;
weather and climate conditions;
natural disasters, such as hurricanes;
changing supply and demand relationships;
changes in balances of payments and trade;
U.S. and international rates of inflation and deflation;
currency devaluations and revaluations;
U.S. and international political and economic events; and
changes in philosophies and emotions of various market participants.
A CTAs trading methods may not take all of these factors into account. The Managed Futures Programs in which the Fund may invest actively trade derivative instruments using a variety of strategies and investment techniques that involve significant risks. Such derivative instruments may include futures, options and forward contracts and other derivative instruments that have inherent leverage and price volatility that result in greater risk than instruments used by a typical mutual fund, and the systematic programs used to trade them may rely on proprietary investment strategies that are not fully disclosed, which may in turn result in risks that are not anticipated. In addition, Managed Futures Programs are typically subject to relatively high management fees and often include performance-based fees which further reduce the potential return of the Funds or the Subsidiarys investments. These costs are in addition to the operating expenses associated with the Fund. The combined impact of these costs will reduce Fund performance. Furthermore, performance-based fees may create an incentive for a CTA
to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than they might have
made in the absence of such arrangements. The Adviser anticipates that any
Managed
26
Futures Program will be subject to (i) management fees that range between 0.0% and 2.0% of notional exposure, and (ii) performance-based incentive fees are expected to range from 0.0% to 30.0% of new high net trading profits. Any Managed Futures Program is also subject to certain derivative trading costs, including brokerage commissions and various exchange fees.
A Managed Futures Programs use of futures contracts, forward contracts and derivative instruments will have the economic effect of financial leverage. Financial leverage magnifies exposure to the swings in prices of an asset class underlying an investment and results in increased volatility, which means the Managed Futures Programs (and indirectly the Fund through its investment in such Managed Futures Programs) will have the potential for greater losses, as well as the potential for greater gains, than if the Managed Futures Program did not employ leverage in its investment activity. Leveraging tends to magnify, sometimes significantly, the effect of any increase or decrease in a Managed Futures Programs exposure to an asset class and may cause the performance of such Managed Futures Program to be volatile. Accordingly, the Funds NAV may be volatile because of its investment in the Managed Futures Programs.
Temporary Investments:
To respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may invest 100% of its total assets, without limitation, in high-quality short-term debt securities and money market instruments. These short-term debt securities and money market instruments include: shares of money market mutual funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances, U.S. Government securities and repurchase agreements. While the Fund is in a defensive position, the opportunity to achieve its investment objective will be limited. Furthermore, to the extent that the Fund invests in money market mutual funds for cash positions, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund pays its pro-rata portion of such money market funds advisory fees and operational fees. The Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
: The Fund will publish a schedule of its 10 largest portfolio holdings, which may include its holding of the Subsidiary. In addition, the Fund shall publish a complete schedule of the Subsidiarys holdings that each individually account for at least 1% of the value of the Funds net assets. Both schedules shall be published as of the most recent calendar-month end on the Funds website at www.mutualhedge.com generally within 10 business days after the end of the calendar month. This information will remain on the website until new information for the next month is posted.
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser:
Equinox Fund Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formed in
2003, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. It has been registered with
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool
27
operator since 2003 and registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 2007. The Advisers principal place of business is located at 1775 Sherman Street, Suite 2500, Denver, CO 80203. The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of the Funds assets on a discretionary basis. As of December 31, 2013, the Adviser had approximately $1.315 million in assets under management.
For its services, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 1.45% of average daily net assets for the Fund. The Adviser has contractually agreed with the Fund to waive advisory fees and, if necessary, reimburse certain other expenses, to limit the Net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (including the advisory fee, any Rule 12b-1 fees and other expenses described in the Investment Advisory Agreement, (excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads; brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); taxes; or extraordinary expenses, such as litigation)) to 1.86% of average daily net assets for Class A Shares, 2.61% of average daily net assets for Class C Shares and 1.61% of average daily net assets for Class I Shares of the Fund through May 31, 2015. Fees deferred or reimbursed are subject to possible recoupment from the applicable class of Fund shares in future years on a rolling three year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees approval of the investment advisory contract with the Adviser will be available in the Funds Annual Report to Shareholders dated September 30, 2013.
Portfolio Managers
Richard Bornhoft is a Co-Founder and the Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser. He leads the Advisers Portfolio Management Team and is responsible for day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. Mr. Bornhoft has over 30 years of experience in the alternative investment industry. He specializes in the creation, evaluation, and risk monitoring of managed futures investment portfolios for institutional and individual investors. Mr. Bornhoft began his career directing hedging strategies for mortgage and agricultural companies and banks, and subsequently as a systematic CTA. Mr. Bornhoft co-founded one of the first multiple-CTA managed futures funds in 1983, and his own futures investment advisory firm in 1985. Over the course of his career, Mr. Bornhoft has financially engineered and directed the research, design and on-going management of multiple-CTA managed futures portfolios for approximately 20 pension plans, corporations and banking institutions throughout the world. He has served on numerous arbitration boards and committees of regulatory and industry organizations. Mr. Bornhoft earned his BS in Agricultural Business from Colorado State University. He holds securities licenses Series 7, 24, 63 and CFTC/NFA Series 3.
28
Dr. Ajay Dravid is the Managing Director of Portfolio Strategy for the Adviser and joined the Adviser in 2011. As a co-portfolio manager of Equinox Fund Managements mutual funds, Dr. Dravid is involved in day-to-day portfolio and risk management, as well as in developing and structuring new products. Prior to joining Equinox, he was a consultant and a member of the Executive Committee of The Frontier Fund. Dr. Dravid has more than 30 years of experience in industry, academia, and financial services. From 2004 to 2006, he was President of Saranac Capital Management, a separate entity spun out from Citigroup to manage more than $3 billion in hedge fund assets. From 1996 to 2004, he was a Director and then a Managing Director at Salomon Brothers and Citigroup, where he helped to build and manage the hedge fund business and platforms. He was a co-portfolio manager for the Multi-Strategy Arbitrage funds, a quantitative analyst for the Equity Long-Short funds, and the head of the Risk Committee. He was also involved in the structuring and marketing of funds and in client service. From 1993 to 1996, Dr. Dravid was a Vice President in the Asset Allocation Research Group of Salomon Brothers. Prior to this, he was an Assistant Professor of Finance at the Wharton School.
Dr. Dravid has published numerous papers in leading academic and practitioner journals including Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Journal of Derivatives. Dr. Dravid received a BSc in Physics from the University of Poona (India), an MA in Physics from SUNY at Stony Brook, an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Rochester, and a PhD in Finance from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. He holds securities licenses Series 7 and 63 and CFTC/NFA Series 3..
Sue Osborne is a member of the Advisers portfolio management team and joined the Advisor in April 2013. Ms. Osborne is also Director of Research at Equinox Institutional Asset Management, LP (formerly known as Tapestry Asset Management, LP), an affiliate of the Adviser, where she has been since 2003, first as a consultant and then in her current role. She has held positions in hedge fund research and portfolio management at Hamilton & Co. from 2002 to 2003, Goldman Sachs from 1998 to 2002, Lake Partners from 1996 to 1998, and Greenwich Associates in 1996. She holds an MBA from Lehigh University and a BS in Marketing from Duquesne University.
Afroz Qadeer is a member of the Advisers portfolio management team and joined the Adviser in April 2013. Mr. Qadeer co-founded Equinox Institutional Asset Management, LP (then known as Tapestry Asset Management, LP) in 2002 and serves as its President and Chief Investment Officer. He has held tenures in hedge fund research and portfolio management roles with Goldman Sachs, Optima Fund Management, and Lake Partners. In such roles, he participated in the launch of eight multi-manager funds, management of 20 multi-manager portfolios covering a diverse range of alternatives, and management of four hedge fund portfolios with assets of approximately $2 billion. Mr. Qadeer holds an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Commerce from Sydenham College, University of Bombay, India.
29
Rufus Rankin is the Advisers Director of Portfolio Management and joined the Adviser in 2011. Dr. Rankin works on the conception, development and implementation of new products and distribution strategies for investment products managed by Equinox Fund Management, a role that requires daily contact with and evaluation of CTAs, and other alternative investment managers. He is a co-portfolio manager of the firms mutual funds. Prior to his current role, he was Product Development Manager at Solon Capital, LLC, an affiliate of the adviser. Before then, he performed sales at SEI from August 2005 to February 2009, and was previously at Morgan Stanley from September 2004 to August 2005. Dr. Rankin holds a BA in Philosophy and a Masters in International Studies from North Carolina State University and a Doctorate of Business Administration from Grenoble Ecole de Management. His doctoral dissertation focused on statistical methods of enhancing multi-manager and multi-asset portfolio diversification, with an emphasis on portfolios of CTAs and Hedge Funds.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers compensation, other accounts managed, and ownership of Fund shares.
HOW SHARES ARE PRICED
The net asset value ("NAV") and offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charges) of each class of shares is determined at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for business. NAV is computed by determining, on a per class basis, the aggregate market value of all assets of a fund, less its liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding ((assets-liabilities)/number of shares = NAV). The NYSE is closed on weekends and New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The NAV takes into account, on a per class basis, the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management, administration, and distribution fees, which are accrued daily. The determination of NAV for a share class for a particular day is applicable to all applications for the purchase of shares, as well as all requests for the redemption of shares, received by the Fund (or an authorized broker or agent, or its authorized designee) before the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.
Generally, the Funds securities are valued each day at the last quoted sales
price on each securitys primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon
one or more securities exchanges (whether domestic or foreign) for which market
quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale
shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in
the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, mean between the current bid and
ask prices on such exchange. Securities primarily traded in the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ")
National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall
be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If market quotations are not
readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as
determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with procedures approved
by the Board and evaluated by the Board as to the reliability of the fair value
method used. In
30
these cases, the Fund's NAV will reflect certain portfolio securities' fair value rather than their market price. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security. The fair value prices can differ from market prices when they become available or when a price becomes available. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value team composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser and/or sub-adviser. The team may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.
The Fund may use independent pricing services to assist in calculating the value of the Funds securities. In addition, market prices for foreign securities are not determined at the same time of day as the NAV for the Fund. In computing the NAV, the Fund values foreign securities held by the Fund at the latest closing price on the exchange in which they are traded immediately prior to closing of the NYSE. Prices of foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. If events materially affecting the value of a security in the Funds portfolio, particularly foreign securities, occur after the close of trading on a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares, the security will be valued at fair value. For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before the Fund calculates its NAV, the adviser may need to price the security using the Funds fair value pricing guidelines. Without a fair value price, short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Funds portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Funds NAV by short term traders. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments. As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the prices used by other mutual funds to determine net asset value, or from the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security.
With respect to any portion of the Funds assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, the Funds net asset value is calculated based upon the net asset values of those open-end management investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
The Fund offers three classes of shares, Class A, Class C and Class I. The
primary differences between each class are the applicable sales charges, ongoing
fees and minimum investment requirements. Class A and Class C shares pay an
annual fee of up to 0.25% and 1.00%, respectively, for distribution expenses
pursuant to a plan under Rule 12b-1, and Class I shares do not pay such fees.
You will need to decide on a share class to purchase before making your initial
investment. You should weigh the
31
impact of all potential costs over the life of your investment. Each share class is available to all investors who meet the investment minimum for the class, as described below. The Fund may change investment minimums at any time. The Fund reserves the right to waive sales charges and investment minimums. Not all share classes may be available for purchase in all states.
Front-End Sales Charges Class A Shares
Class A shares of the Fund are offered at their public offering price, which is net asset value per share plus the applicable sales charge. The sales charge varies, depending on how much you invest. There are no sales charges on reinvested distributions. The following sales charges, which may be waived in the Advisers discretion, apply to your purchases of Class A shares of the Fund, at net asset value with the following front end sales charges ("FESC") based on the amount of purchase:
|
|
|
|
Amount Invested
|
Sales Charge as a% of Offering Price
(1)
|
Sales Charge as a% of Amount Invested
|
Dealer Reallowance
|
Under $25,000
|
5.75%
|
6.10%
|
5.00%
|
$25,000 to $49,999
|
5.00%
|
5.26%
|
4.25%
|
$50,000 to $99,999
|
4.75%
|
4.99%
|
4.00%
|
$100,000 to $249,999
|
3.75%
|
3.90%
|
3.25%
|
$250,000 to $499,999
|
2.50%
|
2.56%
|
2.00%
|
$500,000 to $999,999
|
2.00%
|
2.04%
|
1.75%
|
$1,000,000 and above
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
See Below
|
(1)
Offering price includes the front-end sales load. The sales charge you pay may differ slightly from the amount set forth above because of rounding that occurs in the calculation used to determine your sales charge.
A selling broker may receive commissions on purchases of Class A shares over $1 million calculated as follows: for sales of $1 million or more, payments may be made to those broker-dealers having at least $1 million of assets invested in the Fund, a fee of up to 1% of the offering price of such shares up to $2.5 million, 0.50% of the offering price from $2.5 million to $5 million, and 0.25% of the offering price over $5 million. The commission rate is determined based on the purchase amount combined with the current market value of existing investments in Class A shares.
As shown, investors that purchase $1,000,000 or more of the Funds Class A shares will not pay any initial sales charge on the purchase. However, purchases of $1,000,000 or more of Class A shares may be subject to a 1% CDSC on shares redeemed during the first 12 months after their purchase in the amount equal to the commissions paid on those shares redeemed.
You may qualify for reduced sales charges or sales charge waivers. If you
believe that you may qualify for a reduction or waiver of the sales charge, you
should discuss this matter with your broker or other financial intermediary. To
qualify for these reductions or waivers, you or your financial intermediary must
provide sufficient information at the
32
time of purchase to verify that your purchase qualifies for such treatment. This information could be used to aggregate, for example, holdings in retirement accounts, Fund shares owned by your immediate family members, and holdings in accounts at other brokers or financial intermediaries. In addition to breakpoint discounts, the following sections describe other circumstances in which sales charges are waived or otherwise may be reduced. See "Reduced Sales Charges" on the following page.
Waiver of Front-End Sales Charge Class A Shares
The front-end sales charge will be waived on Class A Shares purchased:
·
through reinvestment of dividends and distributions;
·
through an Equinox asset allocation account advised by the Adviser or one of its affiliates;
·
by persons repurchasing shares they redeemed within the last 90 days (see "Repurchase of Class A Shares");
·
by employees, and members of their immediate family, of the Adviser and its affiliates;
·
by employees and retirees of the Fund administrator or Distributor;
·
by Trustees and officers of the Trust;
·
by participants in certain "wrap-fee" or asset allocation programs or other fee based arrangements sponsored by broker-dealers and other financial institutions that have entered into agreements with the Distributor;
·
by clients of registered investment advisers that have entered into arrangements with the Distributor providing for the shares to be used in particular investment products made available to such clients and for which such registered investment advisers may charge a separate fee;
·
by persons investing an amount less than or equal to the value of an account distribution when an account for which a bank affiliated with the Adviser acted in a fiduciary, administrative, custodial or investment advisory capacity is closed;
·
through financial intermediaries who have entered into an agreement with the Funds Distributor to offer shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to its customers; or
·
through dealers, retirement plans, asset allocation programs and financial institutions that, under their dealer agreements with the Funds Distributor or otherwise, do not receive any portion of the front-end sales charge.
Repurchase of Class A Shares
You may repurchase any amount of Class A Shares of the Fund at NAV
(without the normal front-end sales charge), up to the limit of the value of any
amount of Class A Shares (other than those which were purchased with reinvested
dividends and distributions) of the Fund that you redeemed within the past 90
days. In effect, this allows you to reacquire shares that you may have had to
redeem, without repaying the front-end sales charge. To exercise this
privilege, the Fund must receive your purchase order within 90 days of your
redemption. In addition, you must notify the Fund when
33
you send in your purchase order that you are repurchasing shares. Certain tax rules may limit your ability to recognize a loss on the redemption of your Class A shares, and you should consult your tax advisor if recognizing such a loss is important to you.
Reduced Sales Charge Class A Shares
In addition to the above described reductions in initial sales charges for purchases over a certain dollar size, you may also be eligible to participate in one or more of the programs described below to lower your initial sales charge. To be eligible to participate in these programs, you must inform your broker-dealer or financial advisor at the time you purchase shares that you would like to participate in one or more of the programs and provide information necessary to determine your eligibility to participate, including the account number(s) and names in which your accounts are registered at the time of purchase. In addition, the Fund or its agent may request account statements if it is unable to verify your account information.
The Fund does not provide additional information on reduced sales charges on its website because the information is contained in this prospectus, which is available on the Funds website at http://mutualhedge.com.
Rights of Accumulation
In calculating the appropriate sales charge rate, this right allows you to add the value of the Class A shares you already own to the amount that you are currently purchasing. The Fund will combine the value of your current purchases with the current value of any Class A shares you purchased previously for (i) your account, (ii) your spouses account, (iii) a joint account with your spouse, or (iv) your minor childrens trust or custodial accounts. A fiduciary purchasing shares for the same fiduciary account, trust or estate may also use this right of accumulation. If your investment qualifies for a reduced sales load due to accumulation of purchases, you must notify the Funds transfer agent at the time of purchase of the existence of other accounts and/or holdings eligible to be aggregated to reduce or eliminate the sales load. You may be required to provide records, such as account statements, regarding the Fund shares held by you or related accounts at the Fund or at other financial intermediaries in order to verify your eligibility for a breakpoint discount. You will receive the reduced sales load only on the additional purchases and not retroactively on previous purchases. The Fund may amend or terminate this right of accumulation at any time.
Letter of Intent
You may purchase Class A shares at the sales charge rate applicable to the total
amount of the purchases you intend to make over a 13-month period. In other
words, a Letter of Intent allows you to purchase Class A shares of the Fund over
a 13-month period and receive the same sales charge as if you had purchased all
the shares at the same time. The Fund will only consider the value of Class A
shares sold subject to a sales charge. As a result, shares of the Class A
shares purchased with dividends or
34
distributions will not be included in the calculation. To be entitled to a reduced sales charge on the purchase of Class A shares based on shares you intend to purchase over the 13-month period, you must send the Fund a Letter of Intent. In calculating the total amount of purchases, you may include in your Letter purchases made up to 90 days before the date of the Letter. Purchases resulting from the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains do not apply toward fulfillment of the Letter. The 13-month period begins on the date of the first purchase, including those purchases made in the 90-day period before the date of the Letter. Please note that the purchase price of these prior purchases will not be adjusted.
You are not legally bound by the terms of your Letter of Intent to purchase the amount of your shares stated in the Letter. The Letter does, however, authorize the Fund to hold in escrow 5% of the total amount you intend to purchase. If you do not complete the total intended purchase of Class A shares at the end of the 13-month period, the Funds transfer agent will redeem the necessary portion of the escrowed shares to make up the difference between the reduced rate sales charge (based on the amount you intended to purchase) and the sales charge that would normally apply (based on the actual amount you purchased).
Combined Purchase/Quantity Discount Privilege
When calculating the appropriate sales charge rate, the Fund will, upon written notification at the time of purchase, combine same-day purchases of Class A Shares (that are subject to a sales charge) made by you, your spouse and your minor children (under age 21). This combination also applies to Class A Shares you purchase with a Letter of Intent.
Purchasers Qualifying for Reductions in Initial Sales Charges
Only certain persons or groups are eligible for the reductions in initial sales charges described in the preceding section. These qualified purchasers include the following:
Individuals
·
an individual, his or her spouse, or children residing in the same household;
·
any trust established exclusively for the benefit of an individual;
Trustees and Fiduciaries
·
a trustee or fiduciary purchasing for a single trust, estate or fiduciary account; and
Other Groups
·
any organized group of persons, whether or not incorporated, purchasing Fund shares, provided that (i) the organization has been in existence for at least six months; and (ii) the organization has some purpose other than the purchase at a discount of redeemable securities of a registered investment company.
35
Investors or dealers seeking to qualify orders for a reduced initial sales charge must identify such orders at the time of purchase and, if necessary, support their qualification for the reduced charge with appropriate documentation. Appropriate documentation includes, without limitation, account statements regarding shares of the Fund held in all accounts (
e.g
., retirement accounts) by the investor, and, if applicable, his or her spouse and children residing in the same household, including accounts at broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries different than the broker-dealer of record for the current purchase of Fund shares. The Distributor reserves the right to determine whether any purchaser is entitled, by virtue of the foregoing, to the reduced initial sales charge. No person or entity may distribute shares of the Fund without payment of the applicable sales charge other than to persons or entities who qualify for a reduction in the sales charge as provided herein.
General Information About Sales Charges
Your securities dealer is paid a commission when you buy your shares and is paid a servicing fee as long as you hold your shares. Your securities dealer or servicing agent may receive different levels of compensation depending on which class of shares you buy. From time to time, some financial institutions, including brokerage firms affiliated with the Adviser or the Distributor, may be reallowed up to the entire sales charge. Firms that receive a reallowance of the entire sales charge may be considered underwriters for the purpose of federal securities law.
Class C Shares
Class C shares of the Fund are offered at their NAV without an initial sales charge. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. Class C shares pay 1.00% on an annualized basis of their average daily net assets as reimbursement or compensation for service and distribution related activities with respect to the Fund and/or shareholder services. Over time, fees paid under this distribution and service plan will increase the cost of a Class C shareholder's investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges.
Brokers that have entered into selling agreements with the Funds distributor may receive a commission of up to 1.00% of the purchase price of Class C at the time of purchase. Brokers may also receive distribution and/or shareholder service fees for Class C shares held for over a year.
If you redeem Class C shares within one year after purchase, you will be charged a CDSC of up to 1.00%. The charge will apply to the lesser of the original cost of the Class C shares being redeemed or the proceeds of your redemption and will be calculated without regard to any redemption fee. When you redeem Class C shares, the redemption order is processed so that the lowest CDSC is charged. Class C shares that are not subject to a CDSC are redeemed first. In addition, you will not be charged a CDSC
when you redeem shares that you acquired through reinvestment of Fund
36
dividends or capital gains. Any CDSC paid on the redemptions of Class C shares expressed as a percentage of the applicable redemption amount may be higher or lower than the charge described due to rounding.
Class I Shares:
Class I shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. Class I shares charge no 12b-1 fees and require a minimum initial investment of $1,000,000.
Exchanges for Class I Shares
Holders of Class A and Class C shares issued by the Fund may exchange their shares for Class I shares provided that they hold their shares through a Selling Broker or other financial intermediary or institution that:(1) has a distribution agreement with the Funds Distributor to offer Class I shares, (2) charges such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or similar fee
‐
based charges for financial services or have entered into an agreement with the Fund
’
s Distributor to offer Class I shares through a no
‐
load network or platform; (3) authorizes such an exchange; and (4) are otherwise eligible to invest in Class I shares in accordance with the terms of this Prospectus. Any such exchange is subject to the Funds discretion to accept or reject the exchange. Class A shareholders who purchased $1,000,000 or more of shares, and who then exchange them for Class I shares within eighteen months of the original purchase date, will be subject to a CDSC for such exchange in the same manner as would be applicable to a redemption of Class A shares purchased in an amount of $1,000,000 or more and redeemed within eighteen months of the date of original purchase, unless the Funds Adviser in its sole discretion determines to waive the applicable CDSC. Class C
shareholders who exchange them for Class I shares within one year of the original purchase date will be subject to a CDSC for such exchange in the same manner as would be applicable to a redemption of Class C shares made within one year of the date of original purchase, unless the Funds Adviser in its sole discretion determines to waive the applicable CDSC. For federal income tax purposes, an exchange of Class A or Class C shares for Class I shares within the same Fund is not expected to result in the recognition of a capital gain or loss.
Purchasing Shares:
You may purchase shares of the Fund by sending a completed application form to the following address:
|
|
via Regular Mail
|
or Overnight Mail
|
Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 541150
Omaha, Nebraska 68154
|
Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2
Omaha, Nebraska 68130
|
37
Minimum and Additional Investment Amounts
The minimum initial investment to open an account is $2,500 for Class A shares and Class C shares and $1,000,000 for Class I shares and the minimum subsequent investment in Class A and Class C shares is $500. There is no minimum subsequent investment requirement for Class I shares or when you are buying shares by reinvesting dividends and distributions from the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to waive or reduce the above minimum investment requirements at the discretion of the Adviser. The Fund may change the investment minimums at any time.
The Fund, however, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any application to purchase shares. Applications will not be accepted unless they are accompanied by a check drawn on a U.S. bank, savings and loan, or credit union in U.S. funds for the full amount of the shares to be purchased. After you open an account, you may purchase additional shares by sending a check together with written instructions stating the name(s) on the account and the account number, to the above address.
Make all checks payable to the name of the particular Fund in which you intend to invest
. The Fund will not accept payment in cash, including cashiers checks or money orders. Also, to prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, U.S. Treasury checks, credit card checks, or starter checks for the purchase of shares.
Note: Gemini Fund Services, LLC ("GFS"), the Funds transfer agent, will charge a $25 fee against a shareholders account, in addition to any loss sustained by the Fund, for any check returned to the transfer agent for insufficient funds.
The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions, including the Fund, to adopt certain policies and programs to prevent money-laundering activities, including procedures to verify the identity of customers opening new accounts. As requested on the application, you should supply your full name, date of birth, social security number, and permanent street address. Mailing addresses containing a P.O. Box will not be accepted. This information will assist the Fund in verifying your identity. Until such verification is made, the Fund may temporarily limit additional share purchases. In addition, the Fund may limit additional share purchases or close an account if it is unable to verify a shareholders identity. As required by law, the Fund may employ various procedures, such as comparing the information to fraud databases or requesting additional information or documentation from you, to ensure that the information supplied by you is correct.
When Order is Processed
All shares will be purchased at the NAV, plus any applicable sales charges, per share next determined after the Fund receives your application or request in good order. All requests received in good order by the Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) will be executed on that same day. Requests received after 4:00 p.m. will be processed on the next business day.
38
|
Good Order:
When making a purchase request, make sure your request is in good order. "Good order" means your purchase request includes:
·
the
name
of the Fund;
·
the
dollar
amount of shares to be purchased;
·
a completed purchase application or investment stub; and
·
check payable to the Fund.
|
Purchases through Brokers
You may invest in the Fund through brokers or agents who have entered into selling agreements with the Funds Distributor. These brokers and agents are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or its designee receives the order. The broker or agent may set its own initial and subsequent investment minimums. You may be charged a fee if you use a broker or agent to buy or redeem shares of the Fund. Finally, various servicing agents use procedures and impose restrictions that may be in addition to, or different from those applicable to investors purchasing shares directly from the Fund. You should carefully read the program materials provided to you by your servicing agent.
Purchases by Wire
If you wish to wire money to make an investment in the Fund, please call the Fund at 1-888-643-3431 for wiring instructions and to notify the Fund that a wire transfer is coming. Any commercial bank can transfer same-day funds via wire. The Fund will normally accept wired funds for investment on the day received if they are received by the Funds designated bank before the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Your bank may charge you a fee for wiring same-day funds.
Automatic Investment Plan
You may participate in the Funds Automatic Investment Plan, an investment plan that automatically takes money from your bank account and invests it in the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers or automatic bank drafts. You may elect to make subsequent investments by transfers of a minimum of $25 on specified days of each month into your established Fund account. Please contact the Fund at 1-888-643-3431 for more information about the Funds Automatic Investment Plan.
Retirement Plans
You may purchase shares of the Fund for your individual retirement plans. Please call the Fund at 1-888-643-3431 for appropriate disclosure documentation on how to open a retirement account.
39
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
Redemptions
Written Redemption Requests
You will be entitled to redeem all or any portion of the shares credited to your accounts by submitting a written request for redemption by regular, express or overnight mail to:
|
|
via Regular Mail
|
or Overnight Mail
|
Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 541150
Omaha, Nebraska 68154
|
Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2
Omaha, Nebraska 68130
|
Redeeming by Telephone
The telephone redemption privilege is automatically available to all new accounts, except retirement accounts. If you do not want the telephone redemption privilege, you must indicate this in the appropriate area on your account application or you must write to the Fund and instruct it to remove this privilege from your account.
The proceeds will be sent by mail to the address designated on your account or wired directly to your existing account in any commercial bank or brokerage firm in the United States as designated on your application. To redeem by telephone, call 1-888-643-3431. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire within three business days after receipt of your telephone instructions. IRA accounts are not redeemable by telephone.
The Fund reserves the right to suspend the telephone redemption privileges with respect to your account if the name(s) or the address on the account has been changed within the previous 30 days. Neither the Fund, GFS, nor their respective affiliates will be liable for complying with telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost or expenses in acting on such telephone instructions and you will be required to bear the risk of any such loss. The Fund, GFS, or both, will employ reasonable procedures to determine that telephone instructions are genuine. If the Fund and/or GFS do not employ these procedures, they may be liable to you for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures may include, among others, requiring forms of personal identification prior to acting upon telephone instructions, providing written confirmation of the transactions and/or tape recording telephone instructions.
Wire Redemptions
If you request your redemption by wire transfer, you will be required to pay a $15.00 wire transfer fee to GFS to cover costs associated with the transfer but GFS
does not
40
charge a fee when transferring redemption proceeds by electronic funds transfer. In addition, your bank may impose a charge for receiving wires.
Early Redemption Fee
The Fund may charge a 1.00% redemption fee on the proceeds (calculated at market value) of a redemption of its shares made less than 30 days of purchase. The redemption fee is paid to the Fund and is intended to offset the trading costs, market impact and other costs associated with short-term trading into and out of the Fund. The redemption fee is imposed to the extent that the number of Fund shares redeemed in less than 30 days exceeds the number of Fund shares that have been held for 30 days or more. The redemption fee will not apply in the following circumstances:
·
Redemptions resulting from death or disability
·
Redemptions through an Automatic Transfer Plan
·
Redemptions of shares purchased through an Automatic Investment Plan
·
Redemptions of shares acquired through dividend reinvestment
·
Redemptions of shares held in certain omnibus accounts, including retirement plans qualified under Sections 401(a) or 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and
·
Redemptions in connection with Exchanges of Shares
Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. The Fund requests that financial intermediaries assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund.
However, the Fund recognizes that due to operational requirements, the intermediaries methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan
If your individual account, IRA, or other qualified plan account has a current account value of at least $10,000, you may adopt a Systematic Withdrawal Plan to provide for monthly, quarterly or other periodic checks for any designated amount of $100 or more. If you wish to open a Systematic Withdrawal Plan, please indicate on your application or contact the Fund at 1-888-643-3431.
When Redemptions are Sent
Once the Fund receives your redemption request in "good order" (as described below), it will issue a check based on the next determined NAV
following your redemption request. Before selling recently purchased shares,
please note that if the Funds transfer agent has not yet collected payment for
the shares you are selling, it may delay sending the proceeds until the payment
is collected, which may take up to 10 calendar
41
days from the purchase date. This procedure is intended to protect the Fund and its shareholders from loss.
Good Order
Your redemption request will be processed if it is in "good order." To be in good order, the following conditions must be satisfied:
·
The request should be in writing, unless redeeming by telephone, indicating the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed;
·
The request must identify your account number;
·
The request should be signed by you and any other person listed on the account, exactly as the shares are registered; and
·
If you request that the redemption proceeds to be sent to an address other than that of record, or if the address was changed within the last 30 days, or if the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000, the signature(s) on the request must be medallion signature guaranteed by an eligible signature guarantor.
When You Need Medallion Signature Guarantees
A medallion signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine and protects you from unauthorized account transfers. You will need your signature guaranteed if:
·
you wish to change the bank or brokerage account that you have designated on your account;
·
you request a redemption to be made payable to a person not on record with the Fund;
·
you request that a redemption be mailed to an address other than that on record with a Fund;
·
the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000;
·
any redemption is transmitted by federal wire transfer to a bank other than the bank of record; or
·
your address was changed within 30 days of your redemption request.
Signatures may be guaranteed by any eligible guarantor institution (including banks, brokers and dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies, and savings associations) or by completing a supplemental telephone redemption authorization form. Contact the Fund to obtain this form. Further documentation will be required to change the designated account if shares are held by a corporation, fiduciary, or other organization.
A notary public cannot guaranty signatures
.
Where shares are held in the name of an accredited bank, Medallion Signature Guarantee requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Fund.
Retirement Plans
If you
own an IRA or other retirement plan, you must indicate on your redemption
request whether the Fund should withhold federal income tax. Unless you elect
in your
42
redemption request that you do not want to have federal tax withheld, the redemption will be subject to withholding.
Redeeming through Financial Intermediaries
If shares of the Fund are held by a broker-dealer, financial institution, or other servicing agent, you must contact that servicing agent to redeem shares of the Fund. The servicing agent may charge a fee for this service.
Low Balances
For regular accounts, if at any time your account balance falls below $1,000 or there has been no shareholder activity in the account for the past 12 months, a Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least $1,000 or you initiate activity in the account within 60 days of the notice, your account could be closed. After the notice period, the Fund may redeem all of your shares and close your account by sending you a check to the address of record. Your account will not be closed if the account balance drops below $1,000 due to a decline in NAV.
FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES
The Fund discourages and does not accommodate market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Frequent trading into and out of the Fund can harm all Fund shareholders by disrupting the Funds investment strategies, increasing Fund expenses, decreasing tax efficiency, and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in small capitalization companies. Because these securities are often infrequently traded, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities (referred to as price arbitrage). Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the Fund portfolio to a greater degree than funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling these portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent redemption requests. Any successful price arbitrage also may cause dilution in the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders. Accordingly, the Funds Board has approved policies that seek to curb these disruptive activities while recognizing that shareholders may have a legitimate need to adjust their Fund investments as their financial needs or circumstances change. The Funds Board has also approved the 1.00% early redemption fee on shares redeemed in less than 30 days of purchase.
The Fund currently commits staff to review, on a continuing basis, recent trading activity in order to identify trading activity that may be contrary to the Funds "Market Timing Trading Policy." Though this method involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Funds shareholders.
The Fund
reserves the right to reject or restrict purchase or exchange requests for any
reason, particularly when the shareholders trading activity suggests that a
shareholder may be engaged in market timing or other disruptive trading
activities. Neither the Fund
43
nor the Adviser will be liable for any losses resulting from rejected purchase or exchange orders. The Adviser may also bar an investor who has violated these policies (and the investors financial adviser) from opening new accounts with the Fund.
Although the Fund attempts to uniformly limit disruptive trading activities, some investors use a variety of strategies to hide their identities and their trading practices. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify or limit these activities. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of the Fund. While The Fund will encourage financial intermediaries to apply the Funds Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers who invest indirectly in the Fund, the Fund is limited in its ability to monitor the trading activity or enforce the Funds Market Timing Trading Policy with respect to customers of financial intermediaries. For example, should it occur, the Fund may not be able to detect market timing that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries or made difficult to identify in the omnibus accounts used by those intermediaries for aggregated purchases, exchanges, and redemptions on behalf of all their customers. More specifically, unless the financial intermediaries have the ability to apply the Funds Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers through such methods as implementing short-term trading limitations or restrictions and monitoring trading activity for what might be market timing, the Fund may not be able to determine whether trading by customers of financial intermediaries is contrary to the Funds Market Timing Trading Policy. However, the Fund will ensure that financial intermediaries maintaining omnibus accounts on behalf of the Fund enter into an agreement with the Fund to provide shareholder transaction information, to the extent known to the financial intermediary, to the Fund upon request. If the Fund or its Transfer Agent or shareholder servicing agent suspects there is market timing activity in the account, the Fund will seek full cooperation from the service provider maintaining the account to identify the underlying participant. Upon instructions from the Adviser, the service providers will take immediate action to stop any further short-term trading by such participants.
TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Taxes
Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about federal, state and local income taxes.
The following is a summary of the federal income tax consequences of investing in the Fund. This summary does not apply to shares held in an individual retirement account or other tax-qualified plan, which are not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change.
The Fund
will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and its net
realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive,
whether in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund may be subject to
federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Income
distributions, including distributions
44
of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Long-term capital gains distributions and distributions that are designated by the Fund as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains. You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as "buying a dividend" and should be avoided by taxable investors. Call 1-888-643-3431 to find out when the Fund expects to make a distribution to shareholders.
The Fund may invest in complex securities and derivatives which may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund and/or defer the Funds ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund.
Each sale or exchange of shares of the Fund may be a taxable event. A sale may result in a capital gain or loss to you. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different Fund is the same as a sale. The gain or loss generally will be treated as short term if you held the shares 12 months or less, long term if you held the shares for longer.
More information about taxes is in the Statement of Additional Information.
Dividends and Distributions
Normally, the Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Funds record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.
The Fund will automatically reinvest dividends and distributions in additional shares of the Fund, unless you elect on your account application to receive them in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.
Choosing a Distribution Option
When you complete your account application, you may choose from three distribution options:
1. You may invest all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Fund. This option is assigned automatically if no other choice is made.
2. You may elect to receive income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash.
45
3. You may elect to receive income dividends in cash and to reinvest capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Fund.
If you elect to receive distributions and dividends by check and the post office cannot deliver your check and your proper address cannot be determined, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account at the Funds then current NAV per share and to reinvest all subsequent distributions in shares of the Fund until an updated address is received. You may change your election at any time. Your request for a change must be received in writing by the Transfer Agent prior to the record date for the distribution for which a change is requested.
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES
Distributor
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, is the distributor for the shares of the Fund. Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"). Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis.
Distribution of Fund Shares
The Trust, with respect to the Fund has adopted the Trusts Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans (the Plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act which allows the Fund to pay the Funds distributor an annual fee for distribution and shareholder servicing expense relating to Class A and Class C shares of 0.25% and 0.75% of the Funds average daily net asset attributable to Class A and Class C shares, respectively.
The Fund's distributor and other entities are paid pursuant to the Plan for distribution and shareholder servicing provided and the expenses borne by the distributor and others in the distribution of Fund shares, including the payment of commissions for sales of the shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of dealers and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund's shares to other than current shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising materials. In addition, the distributor or other entities may utilize fees paid pursuant to the Plan to compensate dealers or other entities for their opportunity costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a carrying charge on any un-reimbursed expenses.
Shareholder Servicing Arrangements
The Fund
may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to
shareholders. "Financial intermediaries" include affiliated or unaffiliated
brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies,
registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan
administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service,
administration, or any similar
46
arrangement with the Fund, their service providers or their respective affiliates. This section and the following section briefly describe how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services.
The Fund generally pays financial intermediaries a fee that is based on the assets of the Fund that are attributable to investments by customers of the financial intermediary. The services for which financial intermediaries are compensated may include record-keeping, transaction processing for shareholders accounts and other shareholder services. In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.
The Fund has adopted a shareholder servicing plan that provides that the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for shareholder services in an annual amount not to exceed 0.25%, based on average daily net assets for Class A Shares and Class C Shares. Class I Shares do not participate in the Plan. The Fund does not pay these service fees on shares purchased directly. In addition to payments made directly to financial intermediaries by the Fund, the Adviser or its affiliates may, at their own expense, pay financial intermediaries for these and other services to Fund shareholders, as described in the section below.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries
From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, at their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support. These payments may be in addition to any Rule 12b-1 fees and/or shareholder servicing payments that are reflected in the fees and expenses listed in the fee table section of this prospectus. These payments are sometimes characterized as "revenue sharing" payments and are made out of the Advisers and/or its affiliates own legitimate profits or other resources, and are not paid by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (
e.g.
, individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with "shelf space," placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries. For more information please see "Payments to Financial Intermediaries" under the heading "Shareholder Services" in the Funds Statement of Additional Information.
47
The level of payments to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediarys relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the net asset value or price of the Funds shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders, as well as information about any fees and/or commissions it charges.
Householding
To reduce expenses, the Fund will mail only one copy of the prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the Fund at 1-888-643-3431 on days the Fund is open for business or contacts your financial institution. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.
48
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The consolidated financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Funds (formerly MutualHedge Frontier Legend Fund) financial performance for the period of the Funds operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information for the Fund has been derived from the consolidated financial statements audited by McGladrey LLP, whose report, along with the Funds consolidated financial statements, are included in the Funds September 30, 2013 annual report, which is available upon request.
The table below sets forth financial data for one share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout the period presented
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Year Ended
September 30, 2013
|
|
Year Ended
September 30, 2012
|
|
Year Ended
September 30, 2011
|
|
Period Ended
September 30, 2010
(1)
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period
|
$ 9.94
|
|
$ 10.67
|
|
$ 10.10
|
|
$ 10.00
|
|
|
Activity from investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
(2)
|
(0.12)
|
|
(0.14)
|
|
(0.51)
|
|
(0.09)
|
|
|
Net realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
gain (loss) on investments
|
(0.97)
|
|
(0.22)
|
|
1.43
|
|
0.19
|
|
|
Total from investment operations
|
(1.09)
|
|
(0.36)
|
|
0.92
|
|
0.10
|
|
|
Less distributions from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
|
-
|
|
(0.37)
|
|
(0.35)
|
|
-
|
|
|
Net realized gains
|
-
|
|
(0.00)
|
(10)
|
(0.00)
|
(10)
|
-
|
|
|
Total distributions
|
-
|
|
(0.37)
|
|
(0.35)
|
|
-
|
|
|
Paid-in-capital from redemption fees
(10)
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of period
|
$ 8.85
|
|
$ 9.94
|
|
$ 10.67
|
|
$ 10.10
|
|
|
Total return
(3)
|
(10.97)%
|
|
(3.33)%
|
|
9.32%
|
|
1.00%
|
(9)
|
|
Net assets, at end of period (000s)
|
$ 278,757
|
|
$ 501,465
|
|
$ 456,108
|
|
$ 113,177
|
|
|
Ratios including the income and expenses of MFL-CFC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of gross expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets
(4)(7)(12)
|
2.35%
|
|
2.41%
|
|
5.96%
|
|
-
|
(11)
|
|
Ratio of net expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets
(7)(13)
|
2.24%
|
|
2.38%
|
|
5.93%
|
(6)
|
-
|
(11)
|
|
Ratio of net investment loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to average net assets
(8)(14)
|
(1.27)%
|
|
(1.41)%
|
|
(4.87)%
|
|
-
|
(11)
|
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
0%
|
(15)
|
9%
|
|
68%
|
|
0%
|
(9)
|
(1) The Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Funds Class A shares commenced operations on December 31, 2009.
|
(2) Per share amounts calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the period.
|
(3) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales charges and redemption fees.
|
(4) Represents the ratio of expenses to average net assets absent fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by the Adviser.
|
(5) Annualized for periods less than one full year.
|
(6) Represents the ratio of expenses to average net assets inclusive of Advisers recapture of waived/reimbursed fees from prior periods.
|
(7) Does not include the expenses of other exchange traded funds in which the Fund invests.
|
(8) Recognition of net investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the exchange traded funds in which the Fund invests.
|
(9) Not annualized.
|
(10) Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
|
(11) If the income and expenses of MFL-CFC had been included for the period ended September 30, 2010, the ratios would have been as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of gross expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets
(4)(7)
|
|
|
|
|
9.21%
|
(5)
|
Ratio of net expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets
(7)
|
|
|
|
|
8.43%
|
(5)
|
Ratio of net investment loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to average net assets
(8)
|
|
|
|
|
(7.42)%
|
(5)
|
(12) Ratio of gross expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets excluding the expenses of MFL-CFC
(4)(7)
|
1.98%
|
1.89%
|
1.97%
|
|
2.98%
|
(5)
|
(13) Ratio of net expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets excluding the expenses of MFL-CFC
(7)
|
1.86%
|
1.86%
|
1.93%
|
(6)
|
2.20%
|
(5)
|
(14) Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
excluding the income and expenses of MFL-CFC
(8)
|
(0.90)%
|
(0.90)%
|
(0.85)%
|
|
(1.19)%
|
(5)
|
(15) Amount represents less than 1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class C
|
|
Year Ended
September 30, 2013
|
|
Year Ended
September 30, 2012
|
|
Year Ended
September 30,
2011
|
|
Period Ended
September 30, 2010
(1)
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period
|
$ 9.78
|
|
$ 10.55
|
|
$ 10.05
|
|
$ 10.00
|
|
Activity from investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
(2)
|
(0.19)
|
|
(0.22)
|
|
(0.58)
|
|
(0.14)
|
|
Net realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
gain (loss) on investments
|
(0.94)
|
|
(0.21)
|
|
1.41
|
|
0.19
|
|
Total from investment operations
|
(1.13)
|
|
(0.43)
|
|
0.83
|
|
0.05
|
|
Less distributions from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
|
-
|
|
(0.34)
|
|
(0.33)
|
|
-
|
|
Net realized gains
|
-
|
|
(0.00)
|
(10)
|
(0.00)
|
(10)
|
-
|
|
Total distributions
|
-
|
|
(0.34)
|
|
(0.33)
|
|
-
|
|
Paid-in-capital from redemption fees
(10)
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
Net asset value, end of period
|
$ 8.65
|
|
$ 9.78
|
|
$ 10.55
|
|
$ 10.05
|
|
Total return
(3)
|
(11.55)%
|
|
(4.09)%
|
|
8.45%
|
|
0.50%
|
(9)
|
Net assets, at end of period (000s)
|
$ 53,154
|
|
$ 78,011
|
|
$ 59,920
|
|
$ 8,836
|
|
Ratios including the income and expenses of MFL-CFC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of gross expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets
(4)(7)(12)
|
3.10%
|
|
3.16%
|
|
6.71%
|
|
-
|
(11)
|
Ratio of net expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets
(7)(13)
|
2.99%
|
|
3.13%
|
|
6.67%
|
(6)
|
-
|
(11)
|
Ratio of net investment loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to average net assets
(8)(14)
|
(2.02)%
|
|
(2.17)%
|
|
(5.62)%
|
|
-
|
(11)
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
0%
|
(15)
|
9%
|
|
68%
|
|
0%
|
(9)
|
|
(1) The Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Funds Class C shares commenced operations on December 31, 2009.
|
(2) Per share amounts calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the period.
|
(3) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales charges and redemption fees.
|
(4) Represents the ratio of expenses to average net assets absent fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by the Adviser.
|
(5) Annualized for periods less than one full year.
|
(6) Represents the ratio of expenses to average net assets inclusive of Advisers recapture of waived/reimbursed fees from prior periods.
|
(7) Does not include the expenses of other exchange traded funds in which the Fund invests.
|
(8) Recognition of net investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the exchange traded funds in which the Fund invests.
|
(9) Not annualized.
|
(10) Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
|
(11) If the income and expenses of MFL-CFC had been included for the period ended September 30, 2010, the ratios would have been as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of gross expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
net assets
(4)(7)
|
|
|
12.20%
|
(5)
|
Ratio of net expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
net assets
(7)
|
|
|
9.18%
|
(5)
|
Ratio of net investment loss
|
|
|
|
|
to average net assets
(8)
|
|
|
(8.21)%
|
(5)
|
|
(12) Ratio of gross expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets excluding the expenses of MFL-CFC
(4)(7)
|
2.73%
|
2.65%
|
|
2.71%
|
|
5.97%
|
(5)
|
|
(13) Ratio of net expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets excluding the expenses of MFL-CFC
(7)
|
2.61%
|
2.61%
|
|
2.67%
|
(6)
|
2.95%
|
(5)
|
|
(14) Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
excluding the income and expenses of MFL-CFC
(8)
|
(1.65)%
|
(1.65)%
|
|
(1.60)%
|
|
(1.99)%
|
(5)
|
|
(15) Amount represents less than 1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Year Ended
September 30, 2013
|
|
Year Ended
September 30, 2012
|
|
Period Ended
September 30, 2011
(1)
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period
|
$ 9.96
|
|
$ 10.68
|
|
$ 10.23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Activity from investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
(2)
|
(0.10)
|
|
(0.07)
|
|
(0.16)
|
|
|
Net realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
gain (loss) on investments
|
(0.97)
|
|
(0.26)
|
|
0.61
|
|
|
Total from investment operations
|
(1.07)
|
|
(0.33)
|
|
0.45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less distributions from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
|
-
|
|
(0.39)
|
|
-
|
|
|
Net realized gains
|
-
|
|
(0.00)
|
(9)
|
-
|
|
|
Total distributions
|
-
|
|
(0.39)
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid-in-capital from redemption fees
(9)
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of period
|
$ 8.89
|
|
$ 9.96
|
|
$ 10.68
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return
(3)
|
(10.74)%
|
|
(3.08)%
|
|
4.40%
|
(8)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, at end of period (000s)
|
$ 236,188
|
|
$ 331,291
|
|
157,885
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios including the income and expenses of MFL-CFC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of gross expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets
(4)(6)(10)
|
2.10%
|
|
2.17%
|
|
5.43%
|
(5)
|
|
Ratio of net expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net assets
(6)(11)
|
1.99%
|
|
2.13%
|
|
5.33%
|
(5)
|
|
Ratio of net investment loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to average net assets
(7)(12)
|
(1.03)%
|
|
(1.19)%
|
|
(4.36)%
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
0%
|
(13)
|
9%
|
|
68%
|
(8)
|
(1) The Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Funds Class I shares commenced operations on May 24, 2011.
|
(2) Per share amounts calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the period.
|
(3) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales charges and redemption fees.
|
(4) Represents the ratio of expenses to average net assets absent fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by the Adviser.
|
(5) Annualized for periods less than one full year.
|
(6) Does not include the expenses of other exchange traded funds in which the Fund invests.
|
(7) Recognition of net investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the exchange traded funds in which the Fund invests.
|
(8) Not annualized.
|
(9) Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
|
|
|
|
|
|
(10) Ratio of gross expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
net assets excluding the expenses of MFL-CFC
(4)(6)
|
1.73%
|
1.65%
|
1.70%
|
(5)
|
(11) Ratio of net expenses to average
|
|
|
|
|
net assets excluding the expenses of MFL-CFC
(6)
|
1.61%
|
1.61%
|
1.61%
|
(5)
|
(12) Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets
|
|
|
|
|
excluding the income and expenses of MFL-CFC
(7)
|
(0.65)%
|
(0.67)%
|
(0.62)%
|
(5)
|
(13) Amount represents less than 1%
|
|
|
|
|
51
PRIVACY NOTICE
Rev. August 2011
|
|
FACTS
|
WHAT DOES NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
|
|
|
Why?
|
Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some, but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
|
|
|
What?
|
The types of personal information we collect and share depends on the product or service that you have with us. This information can include:
·
Social Security number and wire transfer instructions
·
account transactions and transaction history
·
investment experience and purchase history
When you are
no longer
our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.
|
|
|
How?
|
All financial companies need to share customers personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers personal information; the reasons Northern Lights Fund Trust chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.
|
|
|
|
Reasons we can share your personal information:
|
Does Northern Lights Fund Trust share information?
|
Can you limit this sharing?
|
For our everyday business purposes -
such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus.
|
YES
|
NO
|
For our marketing purposes -
to offer our products and services to you.
|
NO
|
We dont share
|
For joint marketing with other financial companies.
|
NO
|
We dont share
|
For our affiliates everyday business purposes -
information about your transactions and records.
|
NO
|
We dont share
|
For our affiliates everyday business purposes -
information about your credit worthiness.
|
NO
|
We dont share
|
52
|
|
|
For nonaffiliates to market to you
|
NO
|
We dont share
|
|
|
QUESTIONS?
|
Call 1-402-493-4603
|
|
|
What we do
:
|
How does
Northern Lights Fund Trust
protect my personal information?
|
To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.
|
How does
Northern Lights Fund Trust
collect my personal information?
|
We collect your personal information, for example, when you
·
open an account or deposit money
·
direct us to buy securities or direct us to sell your securities
·
seek advice about your investments
We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.
|
Why cant I limit all sharing?
|
Federal law gives you the right to limit only:
·
sharing for affiliates everyday business purposes information about your creditworthiness.
·
affiliates from using your information to market to you.
·
sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you.
State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.
|
|
|
Definitions
|
Affiliates
|
Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
·
Northern Lights Fund Trust does not share with our affiliates.
|
Nonaffiliates
|
Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
·
Northern Lights Fund Trust does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.
|
Joint marketing
|
A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies
that together market financial products or services to you.
·
Northern Lights Fund Trust doesnt jointly market
.
|
53
EQUINOX MUTUALHEDGE FUTURES STRATEGY FUND
|
|
|
|
Investment Adviser
Equinox Fund Management, LLC
1775 Sherman Street, Suite 2500
Denver, CO 80203
|
Transfer Agent
Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2
Omaha, NE 68130
|
Distributor
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC
17605 Wright Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68130
|
Custodian
U.S. Bank, N.A
1555 N. River Center Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53212
|
Legal Counsel
Thompson Hine LLP
41 South High Street, Suite 1700
Columbus, OH 43215
|
Independent Registered Public Accountants
McGladrey LLP
555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado 80202
|
Additional information about the Fund is included in the Funds Statement of Additional Information dated January 28, 2014 (the "SAI"). The SAI is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (i.e., legally made a part of this Prospectus). The SAI provides more details about the Funds policies and management. Additional information about the Funds investments is available in the Funds Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders. In the Funds Annual Report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during its last fiscal year.
To obtain a free copy of the SAI, the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders, or other information about the Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries about the Fund, please call 1-888-643-3431 or visit www.mutualhedge.com. You may also write to:
Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17605 Wright Street, Suite 2
Omaha, Nebraska 68130
You may review and obtain copies of the Funds information at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Please call 1-202-551-8090 for information relating to the operation of the Public Reference Room. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SECs Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
Investment Company Act File # 811-21720
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EQUINOX MUTUALHEDGE FUTURES STRATEGY FUND
a series of
NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST
EQUINOX MUTUALHEDGE FUTURES STRATEGY FUND
CLASS A SHARES: MHFAX
CLASS C SHARES: MHFCX
CLASS I SHARES: MHFIX
January 28, 2014
Investment Adviser:
Equinox Fund Management, LLC
This Statement of Additional Information
(SAI) is not a prospectus. It is intended to provide additional information about the activities and operations of Northern Lights Fund Trust (the Trust) and the Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund (the Fund) and should be read in conjunction with the Funds prospectus.
This SAI is incorporated by reference into the Funds prospectus. A prospectus may be obtained without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 1-888-643-3431.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
THE TRUST
|
1
|
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS
|
2
|
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
|
16
|
THE ADVISER
|
17
|
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
|
18
|
THE DISTRIBUTOR
|
23
|
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
|
26
|
FUND ADMINISTRATION, FUND ACCOUNTING, TRANSFER AGENT SERVICES
|
26
|
THE CUSTODIAN
|
28
|
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
28
|
LEGAL COUNSEL
|
28
|
COMPLIANCE SERVICES
|
28
|
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
|
28
|
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
|
36
|
TAXES
|
40
|
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER FUND BROKERAGE PRACTICES
|
45
|
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE
|
47
|
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
|
48
|
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM
|
49
|
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES LIABILITY
|
49
|
CODES OF ETHICS
|
50
|
APPENDIX A - RATINGS
|
A-1
|
THE TRUST
The Fund is a separate series of Northern Lights Fund Trust (the Trust), which offers other mutual fund series in addition to the Fund. The Trust is an open-end management investment company established under Delaware law as a statutory trust, and was organized on January 19, 2005 (the Trust). The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the Board or Trustees).
The Trust is authorized to offer Class A shares, Class C shares and Class I shares of the Fund. The different classes provide for variations in sales charges, certain distribution and shareholder servicing expenses and in the minimum initial investment requirements. Minimum investment requirements and investor eligibility are described in the prospectus. The Trust reserves the right to create and issue additional series and classes of shares and may re-classify existing share classes into additional classes. For information on shareholder servicing and distribution expenses, see the Distributor.
The Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act), meaning it may invest in fewer companies than diversified investment companies. Each share of the Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in the Fund.
See
Description of Shares.
The Trust pays its expenses, including fees of its service providers, audit and legal expenses, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering the shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing, insurance expenses, litigation and other extraordinary expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses. Expenses attributable to the Fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of the Fund.
Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate the Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if the Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board of Trustees.
Each Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares, in classes, of beneficial interest. All shares of the Fund have equal rights and privileges within their respective class. Each share of the Fund is entitled to one vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote by class or without distinction as to class. In addition, each share of the Fund is entitled to participate equally, by class, 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.
Under the Trusts 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.
1
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS
The Fund will only invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices if such investment or activity is consistent with the Funds investment objective and permitted by the Funds stated investment policies.
Derivatives.
Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based on an underlying asset, such as a stock or a bond, or an underlying economic factor, such as an interest rate or a market benchmark. Unless otherwise stated in the Funds prospectus, the Fund may use derivatives to gain exposure to a variety of underlying assets, rates or indexes and for risk management purposes, including to gain exposure to various markets in a cost efficient manner, to reduce transaction costs or to remain fully invested. The Fund may also invest in derivatives to protect them from broad fluctuations in market prices, interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates (a practice known as hedging). When hedging is successful, the Fund will have offset any depreciation in the value of its portfolio securities by the appreciation in the value of the derivative position. Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of derivatives could be used to control the exposure of the Fund to market fluctuations, the use of derivatives may be a more effective means of hedging this exposure. To the extent that the Fund engages in hedging, there can be no assurance that any hedge will be effective or that there will be a hedge in place at any given time.
Because many derivatives have a leverage or borrowing component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. Accordingly, certain derivative transactions may be considered to constitute borrowing transactions for purposes of the 1940 Act. Such a derivative transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance of a senior security by the Fund, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund, if the Fund covers the transaction or segregates sufficient liquid assets in accordance with the 1940 Act requirements, or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder.
Types of Derivatives:
Futures
- A futures contract is an agreement between two parties whereby one party sells and the other party agrees to buy a specified amount of a financial instrument, commodity, or index at an agreed upon price and time. The financial instrument underlying the contract may be a stock, stock index, bond, bond index, interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other similar instrument. Agreeing to buy the underlying financial instrument index is called buying a futures contract or taking a long position in the contract. Likewise, agreeing to sell the underlying financial instrument, commodity, or index is called selling a futures contract or taking a short position in the contract.
Futures contracts are traded in the U.S. on commodity exchanges or boards of trade known as contract markets approved for such trading and regulated by the CFTC. These contract markets standardize the terms, including the maturity date and underlying financial instrument, of all futures contracts.
Unlike other securities, the parties to a futures contract do not typically have to pay for or deliver the underlying financial instrument, commodity, or index until some future date (the delivery date). Contract markets require both the purchaser and seller to deposit initial margin with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant or custodian bank, when they enter into the contract. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contracts value. After they open a futures contract, the parties to the transaction must compare the purchase price of the contract to its daily market value. If the value of the futures contract changes in such a
2
way that a partys position declines, that party must make additional variation margin payments so that the margin payment is adequate. On the other hand, the value of the contract may change in such a way that there is excess margin on deposit, possibly entitling the party that has a gain to receive all or a portion of this amount. This process is known as marking to the market.
Although the actual terms of a futures contract often call for the actual delivery of and payment for the underlying commodity or security, in many cases the parties may close the contract early by taking an opposite position in an identical contract. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is less than the original purchase price, the person closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is more than the original purchase price, the person closing out the contract will realize a gain. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is more than the original sale price, the person closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is less than the original sale price, the person closing out the contract will realize a gain.
The Fund may incur commission expenses when it opens or closes a futures position.
Options
- An option is a contract between two parties for the purchase and sale of a financial instrument for a specified price (known as the strike price or exercise price) at any time during the option period. Unlike a futures contract, an option grants a right (not an obligation) to buy or sell a financial instrument. Generally, a seller of an option can grant a buyer two kinds of rights: a call (the right to buy the security) or a put (the right to sell the security). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and futures contracts. Options may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded-options) or may be customized agreements between the parties (over-the-counter or OTC options). Like futures, a financial intermediary, known as a clearing corporation, financially backs exchange-traded options. However, OTC options have no such intermediary and are subject to the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligations under the contract.
§
Purchasing Put and Call Options
When the Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the option premium). The Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities (protective puts) or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.
Call options are similar to put options, except that the Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the options strike price. The Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it owns or wants to buy. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.
The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:
§
Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;
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§
Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or
§
Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.
§
Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options
When the Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when the Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. The Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, it may cancel an over-the-counter option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to the option.
The Fund could try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect the put option to expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the securitys value. If security prices remain the same over time, the Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received. Writing covered put options may deprive the Fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities it would like to acquire.
The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. The Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, the Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the securitys value. However, the Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.
The Fund is permitted only to write covered options. At the time of selling the call option, the Fund may cover the option by owning, among other things:
§
The underlying security (or securities convertible into the underlying security without additional consideration), index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract;
§
A call option on the same security or index with the same or lesser exercise price;
§
A call option on the same security or index with a greater exercise price and segregating cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise prices;
§
Cash or liquid securities equal to at least the market value of the optioned securities, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract; or
§
In the case of an index, the portfolio of securities that corresponds to the index.
At the time of selling a put option, the Fund may cover the put option by, among other things:
§
Entering into a short position in the underlying security;
§
Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with the same or greater exercise price;
§
Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with a lesser exercise price and segregating cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise prices; or
§
Maintaining the entire exercise price in liquid securities.
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§
Options on Securities Indices
Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.
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Options on Futures
An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.
The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (
i.e.
, the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the traders profit or loss on the transaction.
The Fund may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. The Fund may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reasons it would sell a futures contract. It also may purchase such put options in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. The Fund may buy call options on futures contracts for the same purpose as the actual purchase of the futures contracts, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.
The Fund may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, the Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its portfolio securities.
The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, the Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to the Fund.
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Combined Positions
The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, the Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, the Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
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§
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of currency at a future date or date range at a specific price. In the case of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity by paying a specified fee. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ from foreign currency futures contracts in certain respects. Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts:
§
Do not have standard maturity dates or amounts (
i.e.
, the parties to the contract may fix the maturity date and the amount).
§
Are traded in the inter-bank markets conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers, as opposed to futures contracts which are traded only on exchanges regulated by the CFTC.
§
Do not require an initial margin deposit.
§
May be closed by entering into a closing transaction with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract, as opposed to a commodities exchange.
Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies
- A settlement hedge or transaction hedge is designed to protect the Fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars locks in the U.S. dollar price of the security. The Fund may also use forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency when it anticipates purchasing or selling securities denominated in foreign currency, even if it has not yet selected the specific investments.
The Fund may use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a position hedge, would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Funds investment is denominated. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a proxy hedge, could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.
Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities that the Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange that one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency and to limit any potential gain that might result from the increase in value of such currency.
The Fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. Such transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency, including currencies in which its securities are not then denominated. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a cross-hedge, will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased. Cross-hedges may protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency, but will cause the Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases. Cross hedging transactions also involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies involved.
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It is difficult to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, the Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot market if the market value of a security it is hedging is less than the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. Conversely, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency it received upon the sale of a security if the market value of such security exceeds the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver.
To the extent that the Fund engages in foreign currency hedging, there can be no assurance that any hedge will be effective or that there will be a hedge in place at any given time.
Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors
Swap Agreements
- A swap is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swaps are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices or inflation rates.
Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterpartys creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.
Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date under certain circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. The Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, the Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the contract.
A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Funds gains or losses. In order to reduce the risk associated with leveraging, the Fund may cover its current obligations under swap agreements according to guidelines established by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). If the Fund enters into a swap agreement on a net basis, it will segregate assets with a daily value at least equal to the excess, if any, of the Funds accrued obligations under the swap agreement over the accrued amount the Fund is entitled to receive under the agreement. If the Fund enters into a swap agreement on other than a net basis, it will segregate assets with a value equal to the full amount of the Funds accrued obligations under the agreement.
§
Total Return Swaps
Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from the underlying asset during the specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying asset. The total return includes appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset, plus any interest or dividend payments. Payments under the swap are based upon an agreed upon principal amount but since the principal amount is not exchanged, it represents neither an asset nor a liability
7
to either counterparty, and is referred to as notional. Total return swaps are marked to market daily using different sources, including quotations from counterparties, pricing services, brokers or market makers. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) related to the change in the valuation of the notional amount of the swap is combined with the amount due to the Fund at termination or settlement. The primary risks associated with total returns swaps are credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and market risk (if there is no liquid market for the agreement or unfavorable changes occur to the underlying asset).
§
Equity Swaps
In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that the Fund will be committed to pay.
§
Interest Rate Swaps
Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are fixed-for floating rate swaps, termed basis swaps and index amortizing swaps. Fixed-for floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for floating swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.
Like a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.
§
Currency Swaps
A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency. Typically the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above may negatively affect currency swaps.
Caps, Collars and Floors
- Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level. The seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.
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Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
Generally, the Fund will invest up to approximately 25% of its total assets in a wholly-owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (the "Subsidiary"), which is expected to invest primarily in commodity and financial futures and option contracts, as well as fixed income securities and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary's derivatives positions. As a result, the Fund may be considered to be investing indirectly in these investments through the Subsidiary. For that reason, and for the sake of convenience, references in this Statement of Additional Information to the Fund may also include the Subsidiary.
The Subsidiary will not be registered under the 1940 Act but, will be subject to certain of the investor protections of that Act, as noted in this Statement of Additional Information. The Fund, as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary, will not have all of the protections offered to investors in registered investment companies. However, since the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and Subsidiary are both managed by the Adviser, it is unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund or its shareholders. The Funds Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Funds role as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. Also, in managing the Subsidiary's portfolio, the Adviser will be subject to the same investment restrictions and operational guidelines that apply to the management of the Fund, including any collateral or segregation requirements in connection with various investment strategies.
Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Statement of Additional Information and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.
Risks of Derivatives:
While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of the Fund than if it had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify the Funds gains or losses, causing it to make or lose substantially more than it invested.
When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities the Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Fund to greater risks.
Correlation of Prices
- The Funds ability to hedge its securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities. In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities the Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument. The Adviser will try to minimize this risk by investing only in those contracts whose behavior it expects to resemble the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge. However, if the Funds prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility or other economic factors is incorrect, the Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.
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Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:
§
current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;
§
a difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading of an instrument stops; and
§
differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.
Derivatives based upon a single underlying asset, a basket of several underlying assets or a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.
While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of the Fund. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuers creditworthiness. Because the value of the Funds foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Funds investments precisely over time.
Lack of Liquidity
- Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, the Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Moreover, the Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded. If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, the Fund may:
§
have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;
§
have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;
§
not be able to hedge its investments; and
§
not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.
Derivatives may become illiquid (
i.e.
, difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions. For example:
§
an exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;
§
unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;
§
the facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;
§
equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or
§
investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.
Management Risk
- If the Adviser incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, the Fund may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if the Fund were to write a call option based on the Advisers expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if the Fund
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were to write a put option based on the Advisers expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.
Pricing Risk
- At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the Fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for Fund shares when you buy into the Fund. If the Fund underestimates its price, you may not receive the full market value for your Fund shares when you sell.
Margin
- Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.
If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. The Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.
Volatility and Leverage
- The prices of derivatives are volatile (
i.e.
, they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:
§
actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;
§
fiscal and monetary policies; and
§
national and international political events.
Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day. Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day. Once the price of a derivative reaches this value, the Fund may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses. Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative.
Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative. If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. The Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker-dealer with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).
ETFs are investment companies or grantor trusts whose shares are bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF holds a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. Some examples of ETFs are SPDRs®, streetTRACKS, DIAMONDS
SM
, NASDAQ 100 Index Tracking Stock
SM
(QQQs
SM
), and iShares®. The Fund could purchase an ETF to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the U.S. or foreign market while awaiting an opportunity to purchase securities directly. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities and ETFs have management fees that increase their costs versus the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. See also Investment Company Shares below.
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Fixed Income Securities
Fixed income securities include bonds, notes, debentures and other interest-bearing securities that represent indebtedness. The market value of the fixed income investments in which the Fund invests will change in response to interest rate changes and other factors. During periods of falling interest rates, the values of outstanding fixed income securities generally rise. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the values of such securities generally decline. Moreover, while securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields, the prices of longer maturity securities are also subject to greater market fluctuations as a result of changes in interest rates. Changes by recognized agencies in the rating of any fixed income security and in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal also affect the value of these investments. Changes in the value of these securities will not necessarily affect cash income derived from these securities but will affect the Funds net asset value.
Investment Company Shares.
The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies. Such investments are subject to limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder and applicable SEC staff interpretations thereof, or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Funds purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Funds expenses. Under the 1940 Act, unless an exception is available, the Fund are prohibited from acquiring the securities of another investment company if, as a result of such acquisition: (1) the Fund own more than 3% of the total voting stock of the other company; (2) securities issued by any one investment company represent more than 5% of the Funds total assets; or (3) securities (other than treasury stock) issued by all investment companies represent more than 10% of the total assets of the Fund.
For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. (See Exchange Traded Funds above). The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment companys shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things. Pursuant to an order issued by the SEC to iShares® Funds and procedures approved by the Board, the Fund may invest in iShares® Funds in excess of the 5% and 10% limits described above, provided that the Fund has described ETF investments in its prospectus and otherwise complies with the conditions of the SEC, as it may be amended, and any other applicable investment limitations. iShares® is a registered trademark of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. (BGI). Neither BGI nor the iShares® Funds makes any representations regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares® Funds.
Money Market Securities.
Money market securities include short-term U.S. government securities; custodial receipts evidencing separately traded interest and principal components of securities issued by the U.S. Treasury; commercial paper rated in the highest short-term rating category by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (NRSRO), such as Standard & Poors or Moodys, or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase; short-term bank obligations (certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers acceptances) of U.S. commercial banks with assets of at least $1 billion as of the end of their most recent fiscal year; and repurchase agreements involving such securities. Each of these money market securities are described below. For a description of ratings, see Appendix A Ratings to this SAI.
U.S. Government Securities.
Examples of types of U.S. government obligations in which the Fund may invest include U.S. Treasury Obligations and the obligations of U.S. government agencies such as Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home
12
Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, General Services Administration, Student Loan Marketing Association, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Freddie Mac (formerly Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation), Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Maritime Administration, and other similar agencies. Whether backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury or not, U.S. government securities are not guaranteed against price movements due to fluctuating interest rates.
·
U.S. Treasury Obligations.
U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal book-entry system known as Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (STRIPS) and Treasury Receipts (TRs).
·
Receipts.
Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. government obligations into a special account at a custodian bank. The custodian holds the interest and principal payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts. The custodian arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register. TRs and STRIPS are interests in accounts sponsored by the U.S. Treasury. Receipts are sold as zero coupon securities.
·
U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities.
STRIPS and receipts are sold as zero coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons. Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. The amount of this discount is accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes. Because of these features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities.
·
U.S. Government Agencies.
Some obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. Guarantees of principal by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Funds shares.
Commercial Paper.
Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by corporations and other entities. Maturities on these issues vary from a few to 270 days.
Obligations of Domestic Banks, Foreign Banks and Foreign Branches of U.S. Banks.
The Fund may invest in obligations issued by banks and other savings institutions. Investments in bank obligations include obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks. Such investments in domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks may involve risks that are different from investments in securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks. These risks may include future unfavorable political and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental restrictions which might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held by the Fund. Additionally, these institutions may be subject
13
to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks. Bank obligations include the following:
·
Bankers Acceptances
.
Bankers acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank. Corporations use bankers acceptances to finance the shipment and storage of goods and to furnish dollar exchange. Maturities are generally six months or less.
·
Certificates of Deposit
.
Certificates of deposit are interest-bearing instruments with a specific maturity. They are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Certificates of deposit with penalties for early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.
·
Time Deposits.
Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds. Like a certificate of deposit, it earns a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be traded in the secondary market. Time deposits with a withdrawal penalty or that mature in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid securities.
Repurchase Agreements.
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions. The Fund follow certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund will provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement (the Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement). Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Funds right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. It is the current policy of the Fund, not to invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with any other illiquid assets held by the Fund, amounts to more than 15% of the Funds total assets. The investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.
Securities Lending.
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Funds Board of Trustees. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the Fund (including the loan collateral). The Fund will not lend portfolio securities to their investment adviser or their affiliates unless they have applied for and received specific authority to do so from the SEC. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund.
The Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Funds securities lending agent.
By lending its securities, the Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. The Fund will adhere to the following conditions
14
whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed in the preceding paragraph from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Funds administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Funds ability to recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.
Illiquid Securities.
Illiquid securities are securities that cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business (within seven days) at approximately the prices at which they are valued. Because of their illiquid nature, illiquid securities must be priced at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Trusts Board of Trustees. Despite such good faith efforts to determine fair value prices, the Funds illiquid securities are subject to the risk that the securitys fair value price may differ from the actual price which the Fund may ultimately realize upon their sale or disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid securities may result in a loss or may be costly to the Fund. Under the supervision of the Trusts Board of Trustees, the Adviser determines the liquidity of the Funds investments. In determining the liquidity of the Funds investments, the Adviser may consider various factors, including (1) the frequency and volume of trades and quotations, (2) the number of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace, (3) dealer undertakings to make a market, and (4) the nature of the security and the market in which it trades (including any demand, put or tender features, the mechanics and other requirements for transfer, any letters of credit or other credit enhancement features, any ratings, the number of holders, the method of soliciting offers, the time required to dispose of the security, and the ability to assign or offset the rights and obligations of the security). The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
Restricted Securities
Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold freely to the public absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act) or an exemption from registration. As consistent with the Funds investment objectives, the Fund may invest in Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper. Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper is issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Act and is generally sold to institutional investors who purchase for investment. Any resale of such commercial paper must be in an exempt transaction, usually to an institutional investor through the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such commercial paper. The Trust believes that Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper is liquid to the extent it meets the criteria established by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Trust intends to treat such commercial paper as liquid and not subject to the investment limitations applicable to illiquid securities or restricted securities.
Short Sales
As consistent with the Funds investment objectives, the Fund may engage in short sales that are either uncovered or against the box. A short sale is against the box if at all times during which the short position is open, the Fund owns at least an equal amount of the securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable without further consideration for, securities of the same issue as the securities that are sold short. A short sale against the box is a taxable transaction to the Fund with respect to the securities that are sold short.
15
Uncovered short sales are transactions under which the Fund sells a security it does not own. To complete such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of the replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay the lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest that accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.
Until the Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will: (a) maintain a segregated account containing cash or liquid securities at such a level that (i) the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short; and (ii) the amount deposited in the segregated account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the security at the time the security was sold short, or (b) otherwise cover the Funds short position.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
Fundamental Policies
The following investment limitations are fundamental policies of the Fund that cannot be changed without the consent of the holders of a majority of the Funds outstanding shares. The phrase majority of the outstanding shares means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Funds shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Funds outstanding shares, whichever is less.
The Fund may not:
1.
Invest 25% or more of the value of the Funds total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry or group of industries.
2.
Borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
3.
Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
4.
Purchase or sell commodities or real estate, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
5.
Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
16
Non-Fundamental Policies
The following investment limitations of the Fund are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Trusts Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. These non-fundamental policies are based upon the regulations currently set forth in the 1940 Act.
The Fund may not:
1.
Borrow money in an amount exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets, provided that, for purposes of this limitation, investment strategies that either obligate the Fund to purchase securities or require the Fund to segregate assets are not considered to be borrowing. Asset coverage of at least 300% is required for all borrowing, except where the Fund has borrowed money for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of its total assets.
2.
Make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) lend its securities.
3.
Invest in illiquid securities in an amount exceeding, in the aggregate, 15% of the Funds net assets.
4.
Purchase securities or evidences of interest thereon on margin. This limitation is not applicable to short-term credit obtained by the Fund for the clearance of purchases and sales or redemption of securities, or to arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investment techniques.
Except with respect to the Funds policies concerning borrowing and illiquid securities, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changes in values or assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. With respect to the limitation on illiquid securities, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause the Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the limitations as soon as reasonably practicable. With respect to the limitation on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause the Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations as soon as reasonably practicable.
The Subsidiary will also follow the Funds fundamental and non-fundamental investment restrictions, described above, with respect to its investments. The Fund will look through the Subsidiary for purposes of compliance with diversification, leverage and concentration requirements and restrictions.
THE ADVISER
General.
Equinox Fund Management, LLC (the Adviser), a Delaware limited liability company, formed in 2003 as a commodity pool operator and registered with the SEC as a registered investment adviser in 2007. The Advisers principal place of business is located at 1775 Sherman Street, Suite 2500, Denver, CO 80203.
The Adviser is an affiliate of The Bornhoft Group Corporation, an alternative investment management firm founded in 1985 to address the investment needs of institutions and high net worth investors. The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of the Funds assets on a discretionary basis. As of December 31, 2013, the Adviser had approximately $1.316 million in assets under management.
17
Advisory Agreement with the Trust.
The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement with respect to the Fund (the Advisory Agreement). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as the investment adviser and makes the investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Funds investment program, subject to the supervision of, and policies established by, the Trustees of the Trust. After its initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees of the Trust or, with respect to the Fund, by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, on not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days written notice to the Adviser, or by the Adviser on 90 days written notice to the Trust. The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder.
Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser.
For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 1.45% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, the Adviser earned $13,242,336, of which $908,115 was waived by the Adviser. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, the Adviser earned $12,267,596, of which $301,993 was waived by the Adviser. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, the Adviser earned $5,137,626, of which $151,935 was waived by the Adviser. The Adviser is contractually limiting total annual operating expenses on each of the classes of each Fund through May 31, 2015 (including the advisory fee, any Rule 12b-1 fees and other expenses described in the Advisory Agreement
(excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads; brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); taxes; or extraordinary expenses, such as litigation)) subject to possible recoupment from the Classes of the Fund in future years on a rolling three year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits. Such limitations are expressed as a percentage of the Fund Classes average daily net assets.
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
S
hare Class
|
Expense Limitation
|
Contractual Period
|
Equinox MutualHedge Futures
Strategy Fund
|
Class A Shares
|
1.86%
|
May 31, 2015
|
Class C Shares
|
2.61%
|
May 31, 2015
|
Class I Shares
|
1.61%
|
May 31, 2015
|
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
This section supplements the information about Richard Bornhoft, Ajay Dravid, Sue Osborne, Afroz Qadeer, and Rufus Rankin, the Funds portfolio management team, provided in the Prospectus under the heading Portfolio Managers, and includes information about other accounts managed, the dollar range of Fund shares owned and compensation.
Compensation.
Mr. Bornhoft is the controlling principal of The Bornhoft Group Corporation, an owner of the Adviser. Mr. Bornhoft is compensated through an indirect ownership stake in the Adviser. Mr. Bornhoft, Dr. Dravid, Dr. Rankin, Ms. Osborne and Mr. Qadeer are each paid a fixed salary and discretionary bonus by the Adviser, which is contingent upon the overall performance of the Adviser and each individuals contribution to the Advisers performance, and is not directly contingent upon the performance of the Fund. Each of Mr.
18
Bornhoft, Dr. Dravid and Dr. Rankin has been granted shares of the Fund by the Adviser as additional compensation.
Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Managers.
Mr. Qadeer, Dr. Dravid, Dr. Rankin and Ms. Osborne own shares of the Fund as of September 30, 2013. Mr. Bornhoft does not own any shares of the Fund as of September 30, 2013. The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Portfolio Managers in the Fund as of September 30, 2013:
|
|
NAME OF PORTFOLIO MANAGER
|
DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY SECURITIES IN THE FUND
|
Ajay Dravid
|
$1-$10,000
|
Afroz Qadeer
|
$100,001-$500,000
|
Rufus Rankin
|
$1-$10,000
|
Sue Osborne
|
$1-$10,000
|
Richard Bornhoft
|
$0
|
Other Accounts.
In addition to the Fund, Mr. Bornhoft, Mr. Qadeer, Dr. Dravid, Dr. Rankin and Ms. Osborne are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below. The information below is provided as of September 30, 2013.
Richard Bornhoft
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Account Type
|
Number of Accounts by Account Type
|
Total Assets By Account Type
|
Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
4
|
$322,199,670
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
2
|
$340,716,158
|
2
|
$340,716,158
|
Other Accounts
|
3
|
$8,000,000
|
3
|
$8,000,000
|
Ajay Dravid
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Account Type
|
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
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
5
|
$330,487,635
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
1
|
$207,137,351
|
1
|
$207,137,351
|
Other Accounts
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Rufus Rankin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Account Type
|
Number of Accounts by Account Type
|
Total Assets By Account Type
|
Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
5
|
$330,487,635
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
1
|
$207,137,351
|
1
|
$207,137,351
|
Other Accounts
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Afroz Qadeer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Account Type
|
Number of Accounts by Account Type
|
Total Assets By Account Type
|
Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
5
|
$330,487,635
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Other Accounts
|
1
|
$60,000,000
|
1
|
$60,000,000
|
Sue Osborne
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Account Type
|
Number of Accounts by Account Type
|
Total Assets By Account Type
|
Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
5
|
$330,487,635
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
Other Accounts
|
1
|
$60,000,000
|
1
|
$60,000,000
|
Conflicts of Interests.
The portfolio managers management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Funds investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts referenced above, on the other. The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby the portfolio managers could favor one account over another. Another potential conflict could include the portfolio managers knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of the Funds trade, whereby the portfolio managers could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund. However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts it manages are fairly and equitably allocated.
Proxy Voting Policies.
The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (Policies) on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies of securities held by the Fund to the Adviser, subject to the Boards continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser to present to the Board, at least annually, the Advisers Proxy Policies and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser as involving a conflict of interest. A copy of the Advisers Proxy Voting Policies is attached hereto as Appendix C.
More information.
Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund during the most recent 12-month period ending June 30th will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-888-643-3431; and (2) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Funds proxy voting policies and procedures are also available by calling 1-888- 643-3431; and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY
Generally,
the Fund may invest up to approximately 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. It is expected that the Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity and financial futures and option contracts, as well as fixed income securities and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary's derivatives positions.
The Subsidiary is a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, whose registered office is located at the offices of Northern Lights SPC, c/o Maples and Calder, PO Box 309, Ugland House, South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. The Subsidiary's affairs are overseen by a board of directors consisting of the following directors:
Interested Directors
|
|
|
Name and Year of Birth
|
Position/Term of Office*
|
Principal Occupation
During the Past Five Years
|
Anthony J. Hertl
1950
|
Director since May 2013
|
Consultant to small and emerging businesses (since 2000).
|
|
|
|
Gary W. Lanzen 1954
|
Director since May 2013
|
President, Orizon Investment Counsel, Inc. (2000-2006); Chief Investment Officer (2000 -2010); Founder and Partner, Orizon Group, Inc. (a financial services company) (2000-2006).
|
21
|
|
|
Mark H. Taylor
1964
|
Director since May 2013
|
Andrew D. Braden Professor of Accounting and Auditing, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University (since 2009); John P. Begley Endowed Chair in Accounting, Creighton University (2002 2009); Former member of the AICPA Auditing Standards Board, AICPA (2008-2011).
|
John V. Palancia
1954
|
Director since
May 2013
|
Retired (since 2011). Formerly, Director of Futures Operations, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. (1975-2011).
|
Mark D. Gersten
|
Director since
December 2013
|
Independent Consultant (since 2012); Senior Vice President Global Fund Administration Mutual Funds & Alternative Funds, AllianceBernstein LP (1985 2011).
|
Mark Garbin
|
Director since
December 2013
|
Managing Principal, Coherent Capital Management LLC (since 2007); Managing Director and Head of Equity Derivatives -Americas, Rabobank International (2006-2007).
|
Andrew Rogers
1969
|
Director 2011- May 2013 and since September 2013
|
Chief Executive Officer, Gemini Alternative Funds, LLC (since 2013); Chief Executive Officer , Gemini Hedge Fund Services, LLC (since 2013); Chief Executive Officer, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); President and Manager, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006 - 2012); Formerly Manager, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (2006 2008); and President and Manager, GemCom LLC (2004 - 2011).
|
The Subsidiary has entered into separate contracts with the Adviser for the management of the Subsidiary's portfolio. The Subsidiary has also entered into arrangements with U.S. Bank, N.A. to serve as the Subsidiary's custodian, and with Gemini Fund Services, LLC to serve as the Subsidiary's transfer agent. The Subsidiary has adopted compliance policies and procedures that are substantially similar to the policies and procedures adopted by the Fund. The Fund's Chief Compliance Officer oversees implementation of the Subsidiary's policies and procedures, and makes periodic reports to the Fund's Board regarding the Subsidiary's compliance with its policies and procedures.
The Fund pays the Adviser a fee for its services. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the management fee paid to the Adviser by the Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue in effect for so long as the Fund invests in the Subsidiary, and may not be terminated by the Adviser unless the Adviser first obtains the prior approval of the Fund's Board of Trustees for such termination. The Subsidiary will bear the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the custody, transfer agency, and audit services that it receives. The Fund expects that the expenses borne by the Subsidiary will not be material in relation to the value of the Fund's assets. It is also anticipated that the Fund's own expense will be reduced to some extent as a result of the payment of such expenses at the Subsidiary level. It is therefore expected that the Fund's investment in the Subsidiary will not result in the Fund's paying duplicative fees for similar services provided to the Fund and Subsidiary.
Please refer to the section in this Statement of Additional Information titled "Tax Status -- Investment in Wholly- Owned Subsidiary" for information about certain tax aspects of the Fund's investment in the Subsidiary.
22
THE DISTRIBUTOR
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the Distributor) serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Fund pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement with the Trust (the Underwriting Agreement). The Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and each states securities laws and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The offering of the Funds shares is continuous. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Distributor, as agent in connection with the distribution of Fund shares, will use its best efforts to distribute the Funds shares.
The Underwriting Agreement provides that, unless sooner terminated, it will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of the Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund on 60 days' written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days' written notice to the Fund. The Underwriting Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
The Distributor may enter into selling agreements with broker-dealers that solicit orders for the sale of shares of the Fund and may allow concessions to dealers that sell shares of the Fund. If a class of the Fund charges a sales charge, the Distributor receives the portion of the sales charge on all direct initial investments in the Fund and on all investments in accounts with no designed dealer of record.
The Fund may make other payments, such as the contingent deferred sales charge on redemptions of shares of the Fund that are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
The following table sets forth the total compensation received by the Distributor from the Fund during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions
|
Compensation on Redemptions and Repurchases
|
Brokerage Commissions
|
Other Compensation
|
Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund
|
$41,961
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
The Distributor also receives 12b-1 fees from Fund as described under the following section entitled Rule 12b-1 Plan.
|
Rule 12b-1 Plan and Agreement
.
The Trust, with respect to the Fund, has adopted the Trusts Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for the Funds Class A and Class C shares (the "Plans") pursuant to which the Fund is authorized to pay the Distributor, as compensation for Distributors account maintenance services under the Plans, a distribution and shareholder servicing fee at the rate of up to 0.25% and 1.00% for the Funds Class A and Class C shares of the Funds average net assets, respectively attributable to Class A and Class C shares. Such fees are to be paid by the Fund monthly, or at such other intervals as the Board shall determine. There is no Plan for the Class I shares. Such fees shall be based upon the Fund's average daily net assets during the preceding month, and shall be calculated and accrued daily. The Fund may pay fees to the Distributor at a lesser rate, as agreed upon by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the
23
Distributor. The Plans authorize payments to the Distributor as compensation for providing account maintenance services to the Class A and Class C shareholders, including arranging for certain securities dealers or brokers, administrators and others ("Recipients") to provide these services and paying compensation for these services.
Selling brokers, or other financial intermediaries that have entered into selling and/or distribution agreements with the Distributor will receive from the Distributor a commission of 1.00% of the purchase price of Class C shares at the time of purchase. In such case, the Funds Distributor is entitled to retain distribution and/or shareholder service fees and any contingent deferred sales charge in respect of such Class C shares during the first year following such purchase (the Distributor Retained Amount) and will pay the Class C shares distribution and/or shareholder service fees to such selling brokers or other financial intermediaries for Class C shares held for over a year. To the extent that the Distributor Retained Amount is less than the amount of the commission paid by the Distributor at the time of the purchase of such Class C shares plus interest accrued at a rate consistent with the Distributors cost of borrow (the Distributor Paid Amount), the Funds Adviser has agreed to make a payment to the Distributor out of the Advisers own resources equal to the amount by which any Distributor Paid Amount exceeds the related Distributor Retained Amount. As consideration for the Advisers obligation to make such payments, the Distributor has agreed to make a payment to an affiliate of the Funds Adviser equal to the amount by which any Distributor Retained Amount exceeds the related Distributor Paid Amount.
The services to be provided by Recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following: assistance in the offering and sale of Fund shares and in other aspects of the marketing of the shares to clients or prospective clients of the respective recipients; answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and in processing purchase and redemption transactions; making the Fund's investment plan and shareholder services available; and providing such other information and services to investors in shares of the Fund as the Adviser or the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, may reasonably request. The distribution services shall also include any advertising and marketing services provided by or arranged by the Distributor with respect to the Fund. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, the Fund paid $1,979,829 in distribution related fees pursuant to the Plan. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid $1,724,106 in distribution related fees pursuant to the Plan. For the period indicated below, the Fund incurred the following allocated distribution expenses:
Actual 12b-1 Expenditures Paid by Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund
Shares During the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2013
|
|
|
Total Dollars Allocated
|
Advertising/Marketing
|
None
|
Printing/Postage
|
None
|
Payment to distributor
|
$32,278
|
Payment to dealers
|
$1,393,561
|
Compensation to sales personnel
|
None
|
Other
|
$298,267
|
Total
|
$1,724,106
|
The Distributor is required to provide a written report, at least quarterly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, specifying in reasonable detail the amounts expended pursuant to the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. Further, the Distributor will inform the Board of any Rule 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Distributor to Recipients.
24
The initial term of the Plan was one year and will continue in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust and do not have a direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan (Rule 12b-1 Trustees) by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Trust or the Fund by vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund.
The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the Distributor's compensation to be paid by the Fund, unless such amendment is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Rule 12b- 1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. During the term of the Plan, the selection and nomination of non-interested Trustees of the Trust will be committed to the discretion of current non-interested Trustees. The Distributor will preserve copies of the Plan, any related agreements, and all reports, for a period of not less than six years from the date of such document and for at least the first two years in an easily accessible place.
Any agreement related to the Plan will be in writing and provide that: (a) it may be terminated by the Trust or the Fund at any time upon sixty days written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the respective Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the Fund; (b) it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act); and (c) it will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the date of its execution or adoption only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such agreement.
Dealer Reallowances.
Class A Shares of the Fund are sold subject to a front-end sales charge as described in the prospectus. Selling dealers are normally reallowed 90% of the sales charge by the Distributor. The following table shows the amount of the front-end sales charge that is reallowed to dealers as a percentage of the offering price of Class A Shares.
|
|
|
|
Amount Invested
|
Sales Charge as a % of Offering Price
|
Sales Charge as a % of Amount Invested
|
Dealer Reallowance
|
Under $25,000
|
5.75%
|
6.10%
|
5.00%
|
$25,000 to $49,999
|
5.00%
|
5.26%
|
4.25%
|
$50,000 to $99,999
|
4.75%
|
4.99%
|
4.00%
|
$100,000 to $249,999
|
3.75%
|
3.90%
|
3.25%
|
$250,000 to $499,999
|
2.50%
|
2.56%
|
2.00%
|
$500,000 to $999,999
|
2.00%
|
2.04%
|
1.75%
|
$1,000,000 and above
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
See Below
|
The Adviser shall reimburse the Fund in connection with commissions retained by an authorized broker-dealers may receive commissions on purchases of Class A shares over $1 million calculated as follows: for sales of $1 million or more, payments may be made to those broker-dealers having at least $1 million of assets invested in the Fund, a fee of up to 1% of the offering price of such shares up to $2.5 million, 0.5% of the offering price from $2.5 million to $5 million, and 0.25% of the offering price over $5 million. The commission rate is determined based on the purchase amount combined with the current market value of existing investments in Class A shares.
25
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
The Adviser and/or its affiliates, at their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other
institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.
These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediarys retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediarys retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediarys retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.
The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.
Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.
FUND ADMINISTRATION, FUND ACCOUNTING AND TRANSFER AGENT SERVICES
Gemini Fund Services, LLC, ("GFS"), which has its principal office at 80 Arkay Drive, Hauppauge, New York 11788, serves as the administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent for the Fund pursuant to 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 June 22, 2011 and will remain in effect for two years from the applicable effective date for the Fund, and will continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board. The Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 90 days written notice and may be assigned by either party, provided that the Trust may not assign this agreement without the prior written consent of GFS. The Agreement provides that GFS shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to the Agreement.
26
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 Funds registration statement and applicable laws and rules; (3) preparing and coordinating the printing of semi-annual and annual financial statements; (4) preparing selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses; (5) preparing and disseminating materials for and attending and participating in meetings of the Board; (6) determining income and capital gains available for distribution and calculating distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements; (7) reviewing the Trust's federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust's independent public accountants; (8) preparing and maintaining the Trust's operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to each Fund to calculate its daily net asset value; (9) assisting in and monitoring the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination to shareholders of amendments to the Trusts Registration Statement on Form N-1A, periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders and the SEC, notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2, proxy materials and reports to the SEC on Forms N-SAR, N-CSR, N-Q and N-PX; (10) coordinating the Trust's audits and examinations by assisting the Funds independent public accountants; (11) determining, in consultation with others, the jurisdictions in which shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale and facilitating such registration or qualification; (12) monitoring sales of shares and ensure that the shares are properly and duly registered with the SEC; (13) monitoring the calculation of performance data for the Fund; (14) preparing, or cause to be prepared, expense and financial reports; (15) preparing authorizations for the payment of Trust expenses and pay, from Trust assets, all bills of the Trust; (16) providing information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies; (17) upon request, assisting 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.
For the administrative services rendered to the Fund by GFS, the Fund pays GFS a fund administration fee equal to the greater of $40,000 minimum or 0.10% on the first $100 million of net assets, 0.06% on the next $150 million of net assets and 0.05% on net assets greater than $250 million. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, the Fund paid $236,797 for administrative fees. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, the Fund paid $493,025 for administrative fees. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid $460,937 for administrative fees.
GFS also provides the Fund with accounting services, including: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and records as required by the 1940 Act; (iii) production of the Funds listing of portfolio securities and general ledger reports; (iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Fund; (vi) maintaining certain books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciling account information and balances among the Funds custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluating daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Fund.
For the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS an annual fee of $24,000 per fund portfolio, plus; $6,000 for each additional share class above one, plus; 0.02% on net assets of $25 million to $100 million and 0.01% on net assets greater than $100 million. Discounts are based on service fee minimums only. The Fund also pay GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses under the Fund Accounting Service Agreement. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, the Fund paid $70,719 for fund accounting fees. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, the Fund paid $120,794 for fund accounting fees. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid $119,160 for fund accounting fees.
27
GFS also acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to the Agreement. Under the Agreement, GFS is responsible for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
For such services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS a transfer agent fee equal to the greater of $15,000 per share class or $14.00 per account per share class. The Fund also pay GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, the Fund paid $241,001 for transfer agency fees. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, the Fund paid $21,395 for transfer agency fees. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid $876,230 for transfer agency fees.
THE CUSTODIAN
U.S. Bank, N.A, (the Custodian), 1555 N. River Center Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212,
acts as custodian of the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
McGladrey LLP, located at 555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80202, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. McGladrey LLP performs annual audits of the Funds consolidated financial statements and provides other audit, tax and related services for the Fund.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Thompson Hine LLP, 41 South High Street, Suite 1700, Columbus, Ohio 43215 serves as the Trust's legal counsel.
COMPLIANCE SERVICES
Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (NLCS), 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130, an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust as well as related compliance services pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust. NLCSs compliance services consist primarily of reviewing and assessing the policies and procedures of the Trust and its service providers pertaining to compliance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. For the compliance services rendered to the Fund, the Fund pays NLCS a one-time fee of $2,500, plus an annual fee, based on Fund assets, ranging from $13,500 (net assets of $50 million or less) to $31,500 (net assets over $1 billion). The Fund also pays NLCS for any out-of-pocket expenses. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, the Fund paid $12,577 for compliance services fees. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, the Fund paid $21,395 for compliance services fees. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid $29,677 for compliance services fees.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trusts By-laws (the Governing Documents), which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available upon request. The Board consists of seven (7) individuals, six (6) of whom are not interested persons (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust and the Adviser (Independent Trustees). Pursuant to the Governing Documents of the Trust, the Trustees shall elect officers including a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Principal Executive Officer and a Principal Accounting Officer.
28
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 Trusts purposes. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.
Board Leadership Structure
The Trust is led by Anthony Hertl, an Independent Trustee, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since July 2013. The Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Hertl, five (5) additional Independent Trustees, and one (1) Interested Trustee. Andrew Rogers, the Interested Trustee, is the Chief Executive Officer of Gemini Fund Services, LLC, and President of the Trust. 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 Trusts Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, (c) execution and administration of Trust policies including (i) setting the agendas for board meetings and (ii) providing information to board members in advance of each board meeting and between board meetings. Generally, the Trust believes it best to have a non-executive Chairman of the Board, who together with the President (principal executive officer), are seen by our shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership. The Trust believes that its Chairman, the independent chair of the Audit Committee, and, as an entity, the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust, its Funds and each shareholder.
Board Risk Oversight
The Board of Trustees has a standing independent Audit Committee with a separate chair, Mark H. Taylor. The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary. The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting risk within its area of responsibilities. Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information.
Trustee Qualifications
Generally, the Trust believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills. Mr. Hertl has over 20 years of business experience in financial services industry and related fields including serving as chair of the finance committee for the Borough of Interlaken, New Jersey and Vice President-Finance and Administration of Marymount College, holds a Certified Public Accountant designation, serves or has served as a member of other mutual fund boards outside of the Fund Complex and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his years of service to this Board and other fund boards. Gary W. Lanzen has over 20 years of business experience in the financial services industry, holds a Masters degree in Education Administration, is a Certified Financial Planner ("CFP"), serves as a member of two other mutual fund boards outside of the Fund Complex and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his years of service to this Board and other mutual fund boards. Mark H. Taylor, has over two decades of academic and professional experience in the accounting and auditing areas, has Doctor of Philosophy, a Masters and Bachelor degrees in Accounting, is a Certified Public Accountant and is Professor of Accountancy at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He serves as a member of two other mutual fund boards outside of the Fund Complex, has served a
29
fellowship in the Office of the Chief Accountant at the headquarters of the United States Securities Exchange Commission, served a three-year term on the AICPA Auditing Standards Board (2008-2011), and like the other Board members, possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his years of service to this Board and other mutual fund boards. John V. Palancia has over 30 years of business experience in financial services industry including serving as the Director of Futures Operations for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. Mr. Palancia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He also possesses a strong understanding of risk management, balance sheet analysis and the regulatory framework under which regulated financial entities must operate based on service to Merrill Lynch. Additionally, he is well versed in the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate and serves as a member of three other fund boards. Andrew Rogers has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and has served as the President of the Trust since 2006. Mr. Rogers is also currently the Chief Executive Officer of Gemini Fund Services, LLC. Prior to joining Gemini Fund Services, LLC, he served in executive roles at J.P. Morgan Chase and Co. and Alliance Capital Management Holdings L.P. as Financial Reporting Manager. Mr. Rogers holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Mark D. Gersten has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, having served in executive roles at AllianceBernstein LP and holding key industry positions at Prudential-Bache Securities and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He also serves as a member of two other mutual fund boards outside of the Fund Complex. Mr. Gersten is a certified public accountant and holds an MBA in accounting. Like other trustees, his experience has given him a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies operate. Mark S. Garbin has more than 30 years of experience in corporate balance sheet and income statement risk management for large asset managers, serving as Managing Principal of Coherent Capital Management LLC since 2007. Mr. Garbin has extensive derivatives experience and has provided consulting services to alternative asset managers. He is both a Chartered Financial Analyst and Professional Risk Manager charterholder and holds advanced degrees in international business. The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee's qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them each highly qualified.
The following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and each persons principal occupation over the last five years. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130.
Independent Trustees
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address and Year of Birth
|
Position/Term o102f Office*
|
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee
|
Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years
|
Anthony J. Hertl
^
Born in 1950
|
Trustee
Since 2005; Chairman of the Board since 2013
|
Consultant to small and emerging businesses (since 2000).
|
102
|
AdvisorOne Funds (12 portfolios) (2004-2013); Alternative Strategies Fund (since June 2010); Satuit Capital Management Trust; The Z-Seven Fund, Inc. (2007 May, 2010), Greenwich Advisers Trust (2007- February 2011), Global Real Estate Fund (2008-2011), The World Funds Trust (2010-2013) and Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2006)
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
Gary W. Lanzen
^
Born in 1954
|
Trustee
Since 2005
|
President, Orizon Investment Counsel, Inc. (2000-2006); Chief Investment Officer (2000 -2010); Founder and Partner, Orizon Group, Inc. (a financial services company) (2000-2006).
|
102
|
AdvisorOne Funds (12 portfolios) (since 2003);
Alternative Strategies Fund (2010-2011); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2006)
|
Mark H. Taylor
^
Born in 1964
|
Trustee
Since 2007
|
Andrew D. Braden Professor of Accounting and Auditing, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University (since 2009); John P. Begley Endowed Chair in Accounting, Creighton University (2002 2009); Former member of the AICPA Auditing Standards Board, AICPA (2008-2011).
|
128
|
Alternative Strategies Fund (since 2010); Lifetime Achievement Mutual Fund, Inc. (LFTAX) (Director and Audit Committee Chairman) (2007-2012); NLFT III (since February 2012); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2007)
|
John V. Palancia
Born in 1954
|
Trustee
Since 2011
|
Retired (since 2011). Formerly, Director of Futures Operations, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. (1975-2011).
|
128
|
Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2011); NLFT III (since February 2012); Alternative Strategies Fund (since 2012)
|
Mark D. Gersten
Born in 1950
|
Trustee
Since 2013
|
Independent Consultant (since 2012); Senior Vice President Global Fund Administration Mutual Funds & Alternative Funds, AllianceBernstein LP (1985 2011).
|
102
|
Schroder Global Series Trust and Two Roads Shared Trust (since 2012); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2013)
|
Mark Garbin
Born in 1951
|
Trustee
Since 2013
|
Managing Principal, Coherent Capital Management LLC (since 2007); Managing Director and Head of Equity Derivatives -Americas, Rabobank International (2006-2007).
|
102
|
Two Roads Shared Trust
(since 2012); Forethought Variable Insurance Trust (since 2013) (Lead Independent and Chairman of the Valuation Committee); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2013)
|
Interested
Trustees
and
Officers
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address and Year of Birth
|
Position/Term of Office*
|
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee
|
Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew Rogers
80 Arkay Drive***
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Born in 1969
|
Trustee Since 2013;
President
Since 2006
|
Chief Executive Officer, Gemini Alternative Funds, LLC (since 2013); Chief Executive Officer , Gemini Hedge Fund Services, LLC (since 2013); Chief Executive Officer, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); President and Manager, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006 - 2012); Formerly Manager, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (2006 2008); and President and Manager, GemCom LLC (2004 - 2011).
|
102
|
Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2013)
|
Kevin E. Wolf
80 Arkay Drive
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Born in 1969
|
Treasurer
Since 2006
|
President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Director of Fund Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006 - 2012); and Vice-President, GemCom, LLC (2004 - 2013).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
James P. Ash
80 Arkay Drive
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Born in 1976
|
Secretary
Since 2011
|
Senior Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2011 - 2012); Director of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2009 - 2011); Assistant Vice President of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2008 - 2011).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Lynn Bowley
17605 Wright Street Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130
Born in 1958
|
Chief Compliance Officer
Since 2007
|
Compliance Officer of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (since 2007); Vice President of Investment Support Services for Mutual of Omaha Companies (2002 2006).
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
* The term of office for each Trustee and officer listed above will continue indefinitely until the individual resigns or is removed.
** The term Fund Complex includes the Northern Lights Fund Trust (NLFT), Northern Lights Fund Trust III (NLFT III) and the Northern Lights Variable Trust (NLVT).
***Andrew Rogers is an interested person of the Trust as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, because of his affiliation with Gemini Fund Services, LLC, (the Trusts Administrator, Fund Accountant, Transfer Agent).
^ These Trustees were named in the SEC order instituting settled administrative proceedings against Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC, Gemini Fund Services, LLC and certain Trustees. For more information, please see the Legal Proceedings below.
1
Named in May 2, 2013 SEC Order. See section titled Legal Proceedings below.
Legal Proceedings
On May 2, 2013, the SEC filed an
order instituting settled administrative proceedings (the Order) against Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (NLCS), Gemini Fund Services, LLC (GFS), certain current Trustees of the Trust, and two former Trustees. To settle the SECs charges, GFS and NLCS each agreed to pay $50,000 penalties, and both firms and the named Trustees agreed to engage an independent compliance consultant to address the violations found in the Order. The firms and the named Trustees agreed to settle with the SEC without admitting or denying the SECs findings, while agreeing to cease and desist from committing or causing
32
any violations and any future violations of those provisions. There were no allegations that shareholders suffered any monetary harm. The SEC charges were not against the Adviser or the Fund.
The Order found that on certain occasions during the period January 2009 to December 2010, disclosures included in shareholder reports (concerning the Trustees adviser evaluation process under Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act) filed by certain funds of the Trust contained boilerplate disclosures that were materially untrue or misleading in violation of Section 34(b) of the 1940 Act. These disclosures were included in the fund shareholder reports based on board minutes drafted by GFS, reviewed by the Trusts outside counsel, and then reviewed and approved by the Trustees. The Order found that the named Trustees therefore were a cause of these violations. In addition, GFS failed to ensure that certain shareholder reports contained the required disclosures concerning the Trustees evaluation process and failed to ensure that certain series within the Trust maintained and preserved their Section 15(c) files in accordance with 1940 Act recordkeeping requirements. Accordingly, GFS caused those funds violations of Sections 30(e) and 31(a) of the Investment Company Act and Rules 30e-1 and 31a-2(a)(6) thereunder.
The Order found that, during the relevant period, NLCS and the four named Trustees were also a cause of violations of Rule 38a-1(a)(1) under the 1940 Act, which requires registered investment companies to adopt and implement written compliance policies and procedures. Specifically, the Order found that NLCS and the named Trustees failed to implement certain policies and procedures of the Trust that required the funds CCO to provide the advisers compliance manuals to the named Trustees for their review or, as an alternative, summaries of the compliance programs. Rather than following this process, the Order found that the named Trustees approval of the advisers compliance programs was based primarily on their review of a brief written statement prepared by NLCS and a verbal representation by NLCS that such manuals were adequate.
Board Committees
Audit Committee
The Board has an Audit Committee that consists of all the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Audit Committees responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the Trusts 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 Trusts 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 Trusts independent auditors and recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditors independence; and (v) considering the comments of the independent auditors and managements responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trusts accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter. The Audit Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing nominee candidates for consideration as Independent Trustees as is from time to time considered necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee generally will not consider shareholder nominees. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and setting Independent Trustee compensation from time to time when considered necessary or appropriate. During the past fiscal year, the Audit Committee held twelve meetings.
33
Compensation
Effective October 1, 2013, each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or an investment adviser to any series of the Trust will receive a quarterly fee of $28,587.50 for his attendance at the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Trustees, to be paid in advance of each calendar quarter, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred. From April 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013, each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or an investment adviser to any series of the Trust received a quarterly fee of $27,625. Prior to April 1, 2013 each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or an adviser received a quarterly fee of $21,500. Effective July 1, 2013, in addition to the quarterly fees and reimbursements, the Chairman of the Board receives a quarterly fee of $5,775 and the Audit Committee Chairman receives a quarterly fee of $1,725.
Additionally, in the event a meeting of the Board of Trustees other than its regularly scheduled meetings (a Special Meeting) is required, each Independent Trustee will receive a fee of $2,500 per Special Meeting, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred, to be paid by the relevant series of the Trust or its investment adviser depending on the circumstances necessitating the Special Meeting.
The interested persons who serve as Trustees of the Trust receive no compensation for their services as Trustees. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust.
The table below details the amount of compensation the Trustees received from the Trust during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013. Each Independent Trustee attended 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 Trust ****
|
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses
|
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement
|
Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex***** Paid to Directors
|
Anthony J. Hertl
|
$119,250
|
None
|
None
|
$140,000
|
Gary Lanzen
|
$103,250
|
None
|
None
|
$120,000
|
Mark H. Taylor
|
$103,250
|
None
|
None
|
$144,125
|
John V. Palancia
|
$103,250
|
None
|
None
|
$141,000
|
Michael Miola*
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Andrew Rogers**
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Mark D. Gersten***
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Mark Garbin***
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
_______________
* This Trustee was deemed to be an interested person as defined in the 1940 Act as a result of his affiliation with Gemini Fund Services, LLC (the Trusts Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant) and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Funds Distributor) and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (the Trusts compliance service provider). Mr. Miola resigned from the Trust in September 2013.
** This Trustee is deemed to be an interested person as defined in the 1940 Act as a result of his affiliation with Gemini Fund Services, LLC (the Trusts Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant).
***Elected as a Trustee in September 2013.
**** There are currently multiple series comprising the Trust. Trustees fees are allocated equitably among the series in the Trust.
***** The term Fund Complex includes the Northern Lights Fund Trust, Northern Lights Fund Trust III and the Northern Lights Variable Trust.
34
Trustee Ownership
The following table indicates the dollar range of equity securities that each Trustee beneficially owned in the Fund as of December 31, 2013.
|
|
|
Name of Trustee
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment Companies
|
Anthony J. Hertl
|
None
|
None
|
Gary Lanzen
|
None
|
None
|
John V. Palancia
|
None
|
None
|
Andrew Rogers*
|
None
|
None
|
Mark Taylor
|
None
|
None
|
Mark D. Gersten
|
None
|
None
|
Mark Garbin
|
None
|
None
|
* This Trustee is deemed to be an interested person as defined in the 1940 Act as a result of his affiliation with Gemini Fund Services, LLC (the Trusts Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant),
Management Ownership
As of January 2, 2014, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned no shares of the Fund and less than 1.00% of the Fund Complexs 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
As of January 2, 2014 the following shareholders of record owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Funds Class A, Class C and Class I shares, as noted.
|
|
|
Name and Address
|
Number of Shares Owned
|
Percentage of Fund Share Class Held
|
35
|
|
|
Class A Shares
Charles Schwab & Co
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
Raymond James
Hourse ACCT Firm 92500015
ATTN: Courtney Waller
880 Carillon Pkwy
Saint Petersburg, FL 33716
Class C Shares
Raymond James
Hourse ACCT Firm 92500015
ATTN: Courtney Waller
880 Carillon Pkwy
Saint Petersburg, FL 33716
Class I Shares
Charles Schwab & Co
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
TD Ameritrade Inc.
PO Box 2226
Omaha, NE 68103
Raymond James
Hourse ACCT Firm 92500015
ATTN: Courtney Waller
880 Carillon Pkwy
Saint Petersburg, FL 33716
|
2,836,730
6,366,520
2,684,343
3,947,775
1,237,011
7,573,702
|
13.87%
31.13%
50.45%
20.23%
6.34%
38.82%
|
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
Calculation of Share Price
- As indicated in the Prospectus under the heading "How Shares are Priced," NAV of the Fund's shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund's portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund.
For purposes of calculating the NAV, portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotes are available are stated at market value. Market value is generally determined on the basis of last reported sales prices, or if no sales are reported, based on quotes obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers, or pricing services. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (NOCP). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the last bid on the primary exchange. Certain securities or investments for which daily market quotes are not readily available may be valued, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board, with
36
reference to other securities or indices. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost. Exchange traded options; futures and options on futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the exchange. Other securities for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or persons acting at their direction.
Investments initially valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to U.S. dollars using exchange rates obtained from pricing services. As a result, the NAV of the Fund's shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The value of securities traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the New York Stock Exchange is closed and an investor is not able to purchase, redeem or exchange shares.
Fund shares are valued at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) (the "NYSE Close") on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. For purposes of calculating the NAV, the Fund normally uses pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the NYSE Close and does not normally take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the NYSE Close. Domestic fixed income and foreign securities are normally priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Information that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of the security or the NAV determined earlier that day.
On a daily basis, over-the counter derivative instruments held by the Fund will be valued at fair value by the counterparty to the derivative based on the appreciation or depreciation of relevant underlying assets, rates or indexes.
Otherwise, the Fund may value securities at fair value or estimate their value as determined in good faith by the Board or its designees, pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. Fair valuation may also be used by the Board if extraordinary events occur after the close of the relevant market but prior to the NYSE Close.
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 team composed of one of more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) Adviser and/or sub-adviser. The team may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.
Fair Value Team and Valuation Process
. This team is composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) Adviser and/or sub-adviser. The applicable investments are valued collectively via inputs from each of these groups. For example, fair value determinations are required for the following securities: (i) securities for which market quotations are insufficient or not readily available on a particular business day (including securities for which there is a short and temporary lapse in the provision of a price by the regular pricing source), (ii) securities for which, in the judgment of the adviser or sub-adviser, the prices or values available do not represent the fair value of the instrument. Factors which may cause the adviser or sub-adviser to make such a judgment include, but are not limited to, the following: only a bid price or an asked price is available; the spread between bid and asked prices is substantial; the frequency of sales; the thinness of the market; the size of reported trades; and actions of the securities markets, such as the suspension or limitation of trading; (iii) securities determined to be illiquid; (iv) securities with respect to which an event that will affect
37
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 Funds calculation of its net asset value. Specifically, interests in commodity pools or managed futures pools are valued on a daily basis by reference to the closing market prices of each futures contract or other asset held by a pool, as adjusted for pool expenses. Restricted or illiquid securities, such as private placements or non-traded securities are valued via inputs from the Adviser or sub-adviser valuation based upon the current bid for the security from two or more independent dealers or other parties reasonably familiar with the facts and circumstances of the security (who should take into consideration all relevant factors as may be appropriate under the circumstances). If the Adviser or sub-adviser is unable to obtain a current bid from such independent dealers or other independent parties, the fair value team shall determine the fair value of such security using the following factors: (i) the type of security; (ii) the cost at date of purchase; (iii) the size and nature of the Fund's holdings; (iv) the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase and subsequent thereto; (v) information as to any transactions or offers with respect to the security; (vi) the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the security and the existence of any registration rights; (vii) how the yield of the security compares to similar securities of companies of similar or equal creditworthiness; (viii) the level of recent trades of similar or comparable securities; (ix) the liquidity characteristics of the security; (x) current market conditions; and (xi) the market value of any securities into which the security is convertible or exchangeable.
Standards For Fair Value Determinations
. As a general principle, the fair value of a security is the amount that 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 team takes into account the relevant factors and surrounding circumstances, which may include: (i) the nature and pricing history (if any) of the security; (ii) whether any dealer quotations for the security are available; (iii) possible valuation methodologies that could be used to determine the fair value of the security; (iv) the recommendation of a portfolio manager of the Fund with respect to the valuation of the security; (v) whether
38
the same or similar securities are held by other funds managed by the Adviser (or sub-adviser) or other funds and the method used to price the security in those funds; (vi) the extent to which the fair value to be determined for the security will result from the use of data or formulae produced by independent third parties and (vii) the liquidity or illiquidity of the market for the security.
Board of Trustees Determination
. The Board of Trustees meets at least quarterly to consider the valuations provided by fair value team and to ratify valuations for the applicable securities. The Board of Trustees considers the reports provided by the fair value team, including follow up studies of subsequent market-provided prices when available, in reviewing and determining in good faith the fair value of the applicable portfolio securities.
The Trust expects that the New York Stock Exchange will be closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Purchase of Shares
- Orders for shares received by the Fund in good order prior to the close of business on the NYSE on each day during such periods that the NYSE is open for trading are priced at NAV per share or offering price (NAV plus a sales charge, if applicable) computed as of the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE. Orders received in good order after the close of the NYSE, or on a day it is not open for trading, are priced at the close of such NYSE on the next day on which it is open for trading at the next determined NAV or offering price per share.
Redemption of Shares
- The Fund will redeem all or any portion of a shareholder's shares in the Fund when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the "Redemptions" section of the Prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, a shareholders right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be suspended at times:
(a) when the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday
closings;
(b) when trading on that exchange is restricted for any reason;
(c) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (or any succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or
(d) when the SEC by order permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption.
In case of suspension of the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the NAV next determined after the termination of the suspension.
The Fund may purchase shares of Underlying Funds which charge a redemption fee to shareholders (such as the Fund) that redeem shares of the Underlying Fund within a certain period of time (such as one year). The fee is payable to the Underlying Fund. Accordingly, if the Fund were to invest in an Underlying Fund and incur a redemption fee as a result of redeeming shares in such Underlying Fund, the Fund would bear such redemption fee. The Fund will not, however, invest in shares of an Underlying Fund that is sold with a contingent deferred sales load.
Supporting documents in addition to those listed under Redemptions in the Prospectus will be required from executors, administrators, Trustees, or if redemption is requested by someone other than the shareholder of record. Such documents include, but are not restricted to, stock powers, Trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor, certificates of corporate authority and waiver of tax required in some states when settling estates.
39
It is currently the Trusts policy to pay all redemptions in cash.
Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Agents.
Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, market prices for most securities held by the Fund are provided daily by third-party independent pricing agents that are approved by the Board. The valuations provided by third-party independent pricing agents are reviewed daily by the Administrator.
TAXES
The following is only a summary of certain additional federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and their shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Funds prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or their shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Funds prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Shareholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.
The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.
Qualifications as a RIC
The Fund intends to qualify and elects to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC) under Subchapter M of the Code. By following such a policy, the Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.
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.
In order to be taxable as a RIC, the Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income (generally net investment income plus the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any, to its shareholders (Distribution Requirement) and also must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the Funds gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income, including, generally, certain gains from options, futures, and forward contracts derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or
40
currencies, and net income derived from an interest in qualified publicly traded partnerships (90% Test); (ii) at the end of each fiscal quarter of each Funds taxable year, at least 50% of the market value of its total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Funds total assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (iii) at the end of each fiscal quarter of each Funds taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers that each Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, or similar, or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (Asset Test).
If the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any year, all of its income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income.
Federal Excise Tax
Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which only requires each Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company income and does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute, by the end of any calendar year, at least 98% of its ordinary income for that year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gain over short- and long-term capital loss) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts. The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax, but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. The Fund may, in certain circumstances, be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.
Shareholder Treatment
The Funds dividends that are paid to their corporate shareholders and are attributable to qualifying dividends they received from U.S. domestic corporations may be eligible, in the hands of such shareholders, for the corporate dividends received deduction, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. All dividends (including the deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation.
The Fund receive income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Funds net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by the Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.
Distributions by the Fund will be eligible for the reduced maximum tax rate to individuals of 15% (5% for individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent that the Fund receive qualified dividend income on the securities they hold and the Fund designate the distribution as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in
41
general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become ex-dividend (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from the Funds assets before it calculates the net asset value) with respect to such dividend (and the Fund also satisfies those holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder), (ii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iii) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Absent further legislation, the maximum 15% rate on qualified dividend income will not apply to dividends received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of the Funds net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of how long the Funds shares have been held by the shareholder.
If the Funds distributions exceed its taxable income and capital gains realized during a taxable year, all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be re-characterized as a return of capital to the shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholders cost basis in the Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.
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.
Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange, or redemption of shares of the Fund by a shareholder who is not a dealer in securities will generally, for individual shareholders, be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a net capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged, or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the net capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period.
Foreign Taxes.
If more than 50% of the value of the Funds total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to, and will, file an election with the Internal Revenue Service that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit or a deduction with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, the Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be
42
entitled to use against the shareholders federal income tax. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Funds income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions.
State Taxes.
Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Fund to their shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from rules for federal income taxation described above. No Fund is liable for any income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Fund.
Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the Fund. Investment in Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) or Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) securities, bankers acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.
Tax Treatment of Complex Securities.
The Fund may invest in complex securities. These investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund and/or defer the Funds ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject the Funds to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund.
Most foreign exchange gains realized on the sale of debt securities are treated as ordinary income by the Fund. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized by the Fund on the sale of debt securities are generally treated as ordinary losses by the Fund. These gains when distributed will be taxable to you as ordinary dividends, and any losses will reduce the Funds ordinary income otherwise available for distribution to you. This treatment could increase or reduce the Funds ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the Funds previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.
With respect to investments in STRIPS, TRs, and other zero coupon securities which are sold at original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, the Fund will be required to include as part of its current income the imputed interest on such obligations even though the Fund has not received any interest payments on such obligations during that period. Because each Fund distributes all of its net investment income to its shareholders, the Fund may have to sell Fund securities to distribute such imputed income which may occur at a time when the Adviser
would not have chosen to sell such securities and which may result in taxable gain or loss.
Commodity-linked Derivatives
. The status of the swap agreements and other commodity-linked derivative instruments under tests to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code has been recently addressed in Revenue Ruling 2006-1 and Revenue Ruling 2006-31 which provide that income from commodity-linked swaps in which the Fund invest will not be considered qualifying income after September 30, 2006. After such time, the Fund will therefore restrict its income from commodity-linked swaps (when combined with its other investments that produce non-qualifying income) to be less than 10 percent of its gross income. The Fund may also gain exposure to commodities through investments in controlled foreign corporations and certain qualified publicly traded partnerships.
43
Special Tax Considerations.
In general, with respect to the Fund, gains from foreign currencies and from foreign currency options, foreign currency futures, and forward foreign exchange contracts (forward contracts) relating to investments in stock, securities, or foreign currencies will be qualifying income for purposes of determining whether the Fund qualifies as a RIC. It is currently unclear, however, who will be treated as the issuer of a foreign currency instrument for purposes of the RIC diversification requirements applicable to the Fund.
Under the Code, special rules are provided for certain transactions in a foreign currency other than the taxpayers functional currency (
i.e.
, unless certain special rules apply, currencies other than the U.S. Dollar). In general, foreign currency gains or losses from forward contracts, from futures contracts that are not regulated futures contracts, and from unlisted options will be treated as ordinary income or loss under the Code. Also, certain foreign exchange gains derived with respect to foreign fixed-income securities are also subject to special treatment. In general, any such gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the Funds investment company taxable income available to be distributed to shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount of the Funds net capital gain. Additionally, if such losses exceed other investment company taxable income during a taxable year, the Fund would not be able to make any ordinary dividend distributions.
Other Tax Policies.
In certain cases, the Fund will be required to withhold, at the applicable withholding rate, and remit to the United States Treasury, such withheld amounts on any distributions paid to a shareholder who (1) has failed to provide a correct taxpayer identification number, (2) is subject to backup withholding by the Internal Revenue Service, (3) has not certified to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or (4) has not certified that such shareholder is a U.S. person or U.S. resident alien.
Non-U.S. investors in the Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund.
Wholly Owned Subsidiary
The Fund intends to invest a portion of its assets in the Subsidiary, which will be classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A foreign corporation, such as the Subsidiary, will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless it is deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. It is expected that the Subsidiary will conduct its activities in a manner so as to meet the requirements of a safe harbor under Section 864(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Safe Harbor") pursuant to which the Subsidiary, provided it is not a dealer in stocks, securities or commodities, may engage in the following activities without being deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business: (1) trading in stocks or securities (including contracts or options to buy or sell securities) for its own account; and (2) trading, for its own account, in commodities that are "of a kind customarily dealt in on an organized commodity exchange" if the transaction is of a kind customarily consummated at such place. Thus, the Subsidiary's securities and commodities trading activities should not constitute a U.S. trade or business. However, if certain of the Subsidiary's activities were determined not to be of the type described in the Safe Harbor or if the Subsidiary's gains are attributable to investments in securities that constitute U.S. real property interests (which is not expected), then the activities of the Subsidiary may constitute a U.S. trade or business, or be taxed as such.
In general, a foreign corporation that does not conduct a U.S. trade or business is nonetheless subject to tax at a flat rate of 30 percent (or lower tax treaty rate), generally payable through withholding, on the gross amount of certain U.S.-source income that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. There is presently no tax treaty in force between the U.S. and the Cayman Islands that would reduce this rate of withholding tax. Income subject to such a flat tax includes dividends and certain interest income. The 30 percent tax does not
44
apply to U.S.-source capital gains (whether long-term or short-term) or to interest paid to a foreign corporation on its deposits with U.S. banks. The 30 percent tax also does not apply to interest which qualifies as "portfolio interest." The term "portfolio interest" generally includes interest (including original issue discount) on an obligation in registered form which has been issued after July 18, 1984 and with respect to which the person, who would otherwise be required to deduct and withhold the 30 percent tax, received the required statement that the beneficial owner of the obligation is not a U.S. person within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code. Under certain circumstances, interest on bearer obligations may also be considered portfolio interest.
The Subsidiary will be wholly-owned by the Fund. A U.S. person who owns (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a foreign corporation is a "U.S. Shareholder" for purposes of the controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. A foreign corporation is a CFC if, on any day of its taxable year, more than 50 percent of the voting power or value of its stock is owned (directly, indirectly or constructively) by "U.S. Shareholders." Because the Fund is a U.S. person that will own all of the stock of the Subsidiary, the Fund will be a "U.S. Shareholder" and the Subsidiary will be a CFC. As a "U.S. Shareholder," the Fund will be required to include in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes all of the Subsidiary's "subpart F income" (defined, in part, below), whether or not such income is distributed by the Subsidiary. It is expected that all of the Subsidiary's income will be "subpart F income." "Subpart F income" generally includes interest, original issue discount, dividends, net gains from the disposition of stocks or securities, receipts with respect to securities loans and net payments received with respect to equity swaps and similar derivatives. "Subpart F income" also includes the excess of gains over losses from transactions (including futures, forward and similar transactions) in any commodities. The Fund's recognition of the Subsidiary's "subpart F income" will increase the Fund's tax basis in the Subsidiary. Distributions by the Subsidiary to the Fund will be tax-free, to the extent of its previously undistributed "subpart F income," and will correspondingly reduce the Fund's tax basis in the Subsidiary. "Subpart F income" is generally treated as ordinary income, regardless of the character of the Subsidiary's underlying income.
In general, each "U.S. Shareholder" is required to file IRS Form 5471 with its U.S. federal income tax (or information) returns providing information about its ownership of the CFC and the CFC. In addition, a "U.S. Shareholder" may in certain circumstances be required to report a disposition of shares in the Subsidiary by attaching IRS Form 5471 to its U.S. federal income tax (or information) return that it would normally file for the taxable year in which the disposition occurs. In general, these filing requirements will apply to investors of the Fund if the investor is a U.S. person who owns directly, indirectly or constructively (within the meaning of Sections 958(a) and (b) of the Internal Revenue Code) 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting stock of a foreign corporation that is a CFC for an uninterrupted period of 30 days or more during any tax year of the foreign corporation, and who owned that stock on the last day of that year.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER FUND BROKERAGE PRACTICES
Brokerage Transactions.
Generally, equity securities are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealers mark-up or reflect a dealers mark-down. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealers mark up or reflect a dealers mark down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.
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In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts it manages, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or the Fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of separate transactions. Nonetheless, the Adviser believes that the ability of the Fund to participate in higher volume transactions will generally be beneficial to the Fund.
Brokerage Selection.
The Trust does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Funds Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser. The Adviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act) permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, Fund strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.
To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Funds Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.
In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a research and a non-research use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.
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From time to time, the Fund may purchase new issues of securities in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. FINRA has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research credits in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).
Brokerage with Fund Affiliates.
The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. These rules further require that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed
usual and customary brokerage commissions. The rules define usual and customary commissions to include amounts which are reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time. The Trustees, including those who are not interested persons of the Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $32,041. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $35,277. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $3,366.
Portfolio Turnover.
The Funds 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 Funds portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period.
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 68%. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 9%. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 0%.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE
The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that govern the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders.
The Fund will disclose its portfolio holdings by mailing its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the fiscal year and semi-annual period. The Fund may also disclose its portfolio holdings by mailing a quarterly report to its shareholders. In addition, the Fund will disclose its portfolio holdings in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Forms N-CSR and N-Q two months after the end of each quarter/semi-annual period.
The Fund will publish a schedule of its 10 largest portfolio holdings, which may include its holding of the Subsidiary. In addition, the Fund shall publish a complete schedule of the Subsidiarys holdings that each individually account for at least 1% of the value of the Funds net assets. Both schedules shall be published as of the most recent calendar month end on the Funds website at www.equinoxfunds.com generally within 10 business days after the end of the calendar month. This information will remain on the website until new information for the next month is posted, or at least until the Fund files its Form N-Q or Form N-CSR for the period that includes the dates of the posted holdings.
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The Fund may choose to make its holdings 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 SEC on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q. In each case, a determination has been made that such advance disclosure is supported by a legitimate business purpose and that the recipient is subject to a duty to keep the information confidential.
·
The Adviser
. Personnel of the Adviser, including personnel responsible for managing the Fund's portfolio, may have full daily access to Fund portfolio holdings because 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, demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio manager 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 and administrator for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund's portfolio holdings because that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Fund.
·
U.S. Bank, N. A.
U.S, Bank, N.A. is the custodian for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Funds portfolio holdings because that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Fund.
·
McGladrey LLP.
McGladrey LLP is the Funds registered independent public accounting firm; therefore, its personnel have access to the Funds portfolio holdings in connection with auditing of the Funds annual consolidated financial statements and providing assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.
·
Thompson Hine LLP.
Thompson Hine LLP is counsel to the Fund; therefore its personnel have access to the Fund's portfolio holdings in connection with the review of the Fund's annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.
Additions to List of Approved Recipients.
The Trusts Chief Compliance Officer is the person responsible, and whose prior approval is required, for any disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities at any time or to any persons other than those described above. In such cases, the recipient must have a legitimate business need for the information and must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential. There are no ongoing arrangements in place with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings. In no event shall the Fund, the Adviser or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund's portfolio holdings.
Compliance with Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures.
The Trusts Chief Compliance Officer will report periodically to the Board with respect to compliance with the 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 Trusts 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.
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
Each share of beneficial interest of the Trust has one vote in the election of Trustees. Cumulative voting is not authorized for the Trust. This means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any Trustees.
Shareholders of the Trust and any other future series of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by series except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interest of the shareholders of a particular series. Matters such as ratification of the independent public accountants and election of Trustees are not subject to separate voting requirements and may be acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series.
The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. Each share has equal dividend, distribution and liquidation rights. There are no conversion or preemptive rights applicable to any shares of the Fund. All shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable.
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM
The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the Program) as required by Section 352 the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act). To ensure compliance with this law, the Trusts Program is written and has been approved by the Funds Board of Trustees. The Program provides for the development of policies, procedures and internal controls reasonable designed to prevent money maundering, the designation of an anti-money laundering compliance officers who are responsible for implementing and monitoring the Program, ongoing anti-money laundering training for appropriate persons and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program. The Trusts Secretary serves as its Anti-Money Laundering compliance officer.
Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Funds Distributor and Transfer Agent have established reasonable anti-money laundering procedures, reported suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and have completed thorough reviews of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.
As a result of the Program, the Trust may be required to freeze the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES LIABILITY
The Trusts Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Fund will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of
49
Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustees individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.
CODES OF ETHICS
The Trust, the Adviser, and the Distributor each have adopted codes of ethics 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 code of ethics adopted by the Trust (the Code), the Trustees are permitted to invest in securities that may also be purchased by the Fund.
In addition, the Code, which applies only to the Trusts executive officers to ensure that these officers promote professional conduct in the practice of corporate governance and management. The purpose behind these guidelines is to promote i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other public communications made by the Fund; iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rule and regulations; iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and v) accountability for adherence to the Code.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The consolidated 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 Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund (formerly MutualHedge Frontier Legends Fund) for the year ended September 30, 2013. You can obtain a copy of the Annual Report without charge by calling the Fund at 1-866-643-3431.
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APPENDIX A -
RATINGS
The following descriptions are summaries of published ratings.
I.
APPENDIX A RATINGS
II.
Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys), Standard &Poors
®
(S&P) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch) are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of debt obligations. A description of the ratings assigned by Moodys, S&P
®
and Fitch are provided below. These ratings represent the opinions of these rating services as to the quality of the securities that they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality.
Moodys credit ratings are current opinions of the relative future credit risk of entities, credit commitments, or debt or debt-like securities. Moodys defines credit risk as the risk that an entity may not meet its contractual, financial obligations as they come due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default. Credit ratings do not address any other risk, including but not limited to: liquidity risk, market value risk, or price volatility. Credit ratings are not statements of current or historical fact. Credit ratings do not constitute investment or financial advice, and credit ratings are not recommendations to purchase, sell, or hold particular securities. Credit ratings do not comment on the suitability of an investment for any particular investor. Moodys issues its credit ratings with the expectation and understanding that each investor will make its own study and evaluation of each security that is under consideration for purchase, holding, or sale.
An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&Ps view of the obligors capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Fitch credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, and repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving their money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitchs credit-ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.
Short-Term Credit Ratings
Moodys
Moodys short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.
Moodys employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:
A-1
P-1 - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
P-2 - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
P-3 - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
NP - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Note: Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.
S&P
S&Ps short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 daysincluding commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating.
The following summarizes the rating categories used by S&P for short-term issues:
A-1 - Obligations are rated in the highest category and indicate that the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2 - Obligations are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3 - Obligations exhibit adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B - Obligations are regarded as vulnerable and having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligors inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
C - Obligations are currently vulnerable to nonpayment and are dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
D - Obligations are in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
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Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks
- Country risk considerations are a standard part of S&Ps analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligors capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government's own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
Fitch
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream, and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as short term based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:
F1 Highest short-term credit quality. This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added + to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2 Good short-term credit quality. This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3 Fair short-term credit quality. This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B Speculative short-term credit quality. This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C High short-term default risk. This designation indicates that default is a real possibility.
RD Restricted default. This designation indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Or, the default of a specific short-term obligation.
D Default. This designation indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of all short-term obligations.
Specific limitations relevant to the Short-Term Ratings scale include:
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The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.
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The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuers securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.
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The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuers securities or stock.
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The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an obligation default.
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The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer or transactions profile other than the agencys opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of the rated issuer or obligation.
Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive.
Long-Term Credit Ratings
Moodys
Moodys long-term ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more. They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised. Such ratings use Moodys Global Scale and reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moodys for long-term debt:
Aaa - Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
Aa - Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
A - Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa - Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba - Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
B - Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa - Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca - Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C - Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
Note: Moodys appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
S&P
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&Ps analysis of the following considerations:
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·
Likelihood of paymentcapacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
·
Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
·
Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors rights.
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
The following summarizes the ratings used by S&P for long-term issues:
AAA - An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA - An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A - An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB - An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB - An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to the obligors inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B - An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial or economic conditions will likely impair the obligors capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CCC - An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
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CC - An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C - A C rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the C rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instruments terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
D - An obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days, irrespective of any grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation's rating is lowered to 'D' upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
Plus (+) or minus (-) - The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
NR - This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks
- Country risk considerations are a standard part of S&Ps analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligors capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government's own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
Fitch
Rated entities in a number of sectors, including financial and non-financial corporations, sovereigns and insurance companies, are generally assigned Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs). IDRs opine on an entitys relative vulnerability to default on financial obligations. The threshold default risk addressed by the IDR is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, IDRs also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership or similar concepts, although the agency recognizes that issuers may also make pre-emptive and therefore voluntary use of such mechanisms.
In aggregate, IDRs provide an ordinal ranking of issuers based on the agencys view of their relative vulnerability to default, rather than a prediction of a specific percentage likelihood of default. For historical information on the default experience of Fitch-rated issuers, please consult the transition and default performance studies available from the Fitch Ratings website.
The following summarizes long-term IDR categories used by Fitch:
AAA Highest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
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AA Very high credit quality. AA ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A High credit quality. A ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB Good credit quality. BBB ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB Speculative. BB ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments.
B Highly speculative. B ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
CCC Substantial credit risk. CCC ratings indicate that default is a real possibility.
CC Very high levels of credit risk. CC ratings indicate default of some kind appears probable.
C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. C ratings indicate default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a C category rating for an issuer include:
a.
the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;
b.
the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or
c.
Fitch otherwise believes a condition of RD or D to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange.
RD - Restricted default. RD ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitchs opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased business. This would include:
a.
the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;
b.
the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;
c.
the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or
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d.
execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.
D Default. D ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise ceased business.
Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange.
Imminent default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future.
In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agencys opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuers financial obligations or local commercial practice.
Note: The modifiers + or - may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the AAA Long-Term IDR category, or to Long-Term IDR categories below B.
Specific limitations relevant to the issuer credit rating scale include:
·
The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.
·
The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuers securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.
·
The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuers securities or stock.
·
The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an issuer default.
·
The ratings do not opine on the suitability of an issuer as a counterparty to trade credit.
·
The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuers business, operational or financial profile other than the agencys opinion on its relative vulnerability to default.
Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive.
Municipal Note Ratings
Moodys
Moodys uses three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment grade. These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) and are divided into three levels - MIG 1 through MIG 3. In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated SG, or speculative grade. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation.
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The following summarizes the ratings used by Moodys for these short-term obligations:
MIG 1 - This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2 - This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3 - This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG - This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned: a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moodys evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moodys evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (demand feature). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG scale.
When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated NR, e.g., Aaa/NR or NR/VMIG 1.
VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issues specific structural or credit features.
VMIG 1 - This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 2 - This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 3 - This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
SG - This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
S&P
An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&Ps opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&Ps analysis will review the following considerations:
·
Amortization schedulethe larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
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Source of paymentthe more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.
Note rating symbols are as follows:
SP-1 - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service are given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2 - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3 - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
Fitch
Fitch uses the same ratings for municipal securities as described above for other short-term credit ratings.
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APPENDIX B ADVISERS
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
EQUINOX FUND MANAGEMENT, LLC
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
(Adopted September 2008)
Pursuant to the recent adoption by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) of Rule 206(4)-6 (17 CFR 275.206(4)-6) and amendments to Rule 204-2 (17 CFR 275.204-2) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Act), it is a fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative act, practice or course of business, within the meaning of Section 206(4) of the Act, for an investment adviser to exercise voting authority with respect to client securities, unless (i) the adviser has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes proxies in the best interests of its clients, (ii) the adviser describes its proxy voting procedures to its clients and provides copies on request, and (iii) the adviser discloses to clients how they may obtain information on how the adviser voted their proxies.
In order to fulfill its responsibilities under the Act, Equinox Fund Management, LLC (hereinafter, Equinox, we or our) has adopted the following policies and procedures for proxy voting with regard to direct investments in companies held in investment portfolios of our clients.
KEY OBJECTIVES
The key objectives of these policies and procedures recognize that a companys management is entrusted with the day-to-day operations and longer term strategic planning of the company, subject to the oversight of the companys board of directors. While ordinary business matters are primarily the responsibility of management and should be approved solely by the corporations board of directors, these objectives also recognize that the companys shareholders must have final say over how management and directors are performing, and how shareholders rights and ownership interests are handled, especially when matters could have substantial economic implications to the shareholders.
Therefore, we will pay particular attention to the following matters in exercising our proxy voting responsibilities as a fiduciary for our clients:
Accountability
. Each company should have effective means in place to hold those entrusted with running a companys business accountable for their actions. Management of a company should be accountable to its board of directors and the board should be accountable to shareholders.
Alignment of Management and Shareholder Interests
. Each company should endeavor to align the interests of management and the board of directors with the interests of the companys shareholders. For example, we generally believe that compensation should be designed to reward management for doing a good job of creating value for the shareholders of the company.
Transparency
. Promotion of timely disclosure of important information about a companys business operations and financial performance enables investors to evaluate the performance of a company and to make informed decisions about the purchase and sale of a companys securities.
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DECISION METHODS
We generally believe that portfolio managers that invest in and track particular companies have a unique perspective to make decisions with regard to proxy votes. Therefore, we rely on that perspective to make the final decisions on how to cast proxy votes.
No set of proxy voting guidelines can anticipate all situations that may arise. In special cases, we may seek insight and expertise from outside sources as to how a particular proxy proposal will impact the financial prospects of a company, and vote accordingly.
In some instances, a proxy vote may present a conflict between the interests of a client, on the one hand, and our interests or the interests of a person affiliated with us, on the other. In such a case, we will abstain from making a voting decision and will forward all of the necessary proxy voting materials to the client to enable the client to cast the votes.
SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
Election of the Board of Directors
We believe that good corporate governance generally starts with a board composed primarily of independent directors, unfettered by significant ties to management, all of whose members are elected annually. We also believe that some measure of turnover in board composition typically promotes more independent board action and fresh perspectives on governance. Of greater importance is the skill set of the proposed board member. We will also look at the backgrounds of the directors to gauge their business acumen and any special talent or experience that may add value to their participation on the board.
The election of a companys board of directors is one of the most fundamental rights held by shareholders. Because a classified board structure prevents shareholders from electing a full slate of directors annually, we will pay special attention to efforts to declassify boards or other measures that permit shareholders to remove a majority of directors at any time.
Approval of Independent Auditors
We believe that the relationship between a company and its auditors should be limited primarily to the audit engagement, although it may include certain closely related activities that do not raise an appearance of impaired independence.
We will evaluate on a case-by-case basis instances in which the audit firm has a substantial non-audit relationship with a company to determine whether we believe independence has been, or could be, compromised.
Equity-based compensation plans
We believe that appropriately designed equity-based compensation plans, approved by shareholders, can be an effective way to align the interests of shareholders and the interests of directors, management, and employees by providing incentives to increase shareholder value. Conversely, we are opposed to plans that substantially dilute ownership interests in the company, provide participants with excessive awards, or have inherently objectionable structural features.
We will generally support measures intended to increase stock ownership by executives and the use of employee stock purchase plans to increase company stock ownership by employees. These may include:
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1.
Requiring senior executives to hold stock in a company.
2.
Requiring stock acquired through option exercise to be held for a certain period of time.
These are guidelines, and we consider other factors, such as the nature of the industry and size of the company, when assessing a plans impact on ownership interests.
Corporate Structure
We view the exercise of shareholders rights, including the rights to act by written consent, to call special meetings and to remove directors, to be fundamental to good corporate governance.
Because classes of common stock with unequal voting rights limit the rights of certain shareholders, we generally believe that shareholders should have voting power equal to their equity interest in the company and should be able to approve or reject changes to a companys by-laws by a simple majority vote.
We will generally support the ability of shareholders to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.
Shareholder Rights Plans
There are arguments both in favor of and against shareholder rights plans, also known as poison pills. For example, such measures may tend to entrench or provide undue compensation to current management, which we generally consider to have a negative impact on shareholder value. Therefore, our preference is for a plan that places shareholder value in a priority position above interests of management.
SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
As a fiduciary to its investors, Equinox recognizes the need to actively manage and vote proxies and other shareholder actions and consents that may arise in the course of its investment advisory activities on behalf of its clients. However, due to the nature of the investments of the Equinox Mutual Hedge Futures Strategy Fund and indirect exposure to underlying equity investments, we believe that it would be rare that Equinox would be in a position to cast a vote or called upon to vote a proxy.
In the event that Equinox does receive a proxy notice, shareholder consent, or is otherwise entitled to vote on any issue related to the investments of its advisory client accounts, Equinox will process and vote all shareholder proxies and other actions in a timely manner insofar as Equinox can determine based on the facts available to Equinox at the time of its action, in the best interests of the affected Equinox advisory client(s). Although Equinox expects that proxies will generally be voted in a manner consistent with the guidelines set forth in this policy, there may be individual cases where, based on facts available to Equinox, voting according to policy would not be in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders. In such cases, Equinox may vote counter to the stated policy.
Proxy Voting Procedure
1) Notices received are reviewed by the Compliance Department;
2) Forwarded to the Research & Asset Allocation Department for review and voting decision;
3) Vote or consent entered according to Equinoxs best judgment under the facts and circumstances presented. Such decision shall be made, documented and approved by the Research & Asset Allocation Department and at least one member of the Executive Committee;
4) Final review and sign-off by Compliance Department and filing with a copy in the Proxy Voting Log.
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Equinox may at any time, outsource Proxy Voting responsibilities to Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) or similar service provider that the Executive Committee may approve, provided that such service provider votes each proxy based on decisions made by Equinox.
CLIENT INFORMATION
A copy of these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures is available to our clients, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-643-3431 and can also be found on the EDGAR database on the web at http://www.sec.gov. We will send a copy of these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures within three business days of receipt of a request, by first-class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery.
In addition, we will provide each client, without charge, upon request, information regarding the proxy votes cast by us with regard to the clients securities.
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