HORIZON ACTIVE INCOME FUND



Class

N

Shares

AIMNX

Class

I

Shares

AIRIX



PROSPECTUS April 1, 2014

 










1-855-754-7932



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


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








TABLE OF CONTENTS


FUND SUMMARY

1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

4

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

8

Investment Adviser

8

Investment Adviser Portfolio Managers

8

HOW SHARES ARE PRICED

9

HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES

10

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

11

TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

14

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES

15

HOUSEHOLDING

16

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

17

PRIVACY NOTICE









FUND SUMMARY


Investment Objective:  The Fund's investment objective is income.


Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.


Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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

 

Class N

 

Class I

Management Fees

 

0.77%

 

0.77%

Other Expenses (1)

 

0.95%

 

0.70%

Shareholder Servicing Expenses

0.25%

 

0.00%

 

Remaining Other Expenses

0.70%

 

0.70%

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses  (2)

 

0.24%

 

0.24%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.96%

 

1.71%

Fee Waiver (3)

 

(0.48)%

 

(0.48)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursements

 

1.48%

 

1.23%


(1) Other expenses are estimated for the current fiscal year.

(2) This number represents the combined total fees and operating expenses of the underlying funds owned by the Fund and is not a direct expense incurred by the Fund or deducted from Fund assets.  Since this number does not represent a direct operating expense of the Fund, the operating expenses set forth in the Fund's financial highlights do not include this figure.

(3) The fees shown above take into account an advisory fee waiver agreement to limit total operating expenses at least through March 31, 2015, so that Class I Share and Class N Share direct expenses (not including any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, borrowing costs (such as dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation) do not exceed 0.99% and 1.24% of average daily net assets of the Fund’s Class I and Class N shares, respectively.  These fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limit.  Only the Fund's Board of Trustees may elect to terminate the advisory fee waiver agreement.


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

Year

Class N

Class I

1

$151

$125

3

$569

$492

 

 

 

Portfolio Turnover:  The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the period ended November 30, 2013, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 71% of the average value of the portfolio.


Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund:

The Fund's investment adviser, Horizon Investments, LLC ("Horizon"), seeks to achieve the Fund's investment objective by allocating assets across various sectors of the global securities markets.  Horizon executes this strategy by investing in exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") listed on U.S. exchanges and other income producing securities.  The Fund will invest in fixed income ETFs and other income oriented ETFs.  The adviser defines “income oriented ETFs” as those that invest in (1) equity securities, (2) fixed-income securities, (3) alternative/specialty securities or (4) cash equivalents.  In addition, the Fund may also invest in sovereign debt (including U.S. treasuries), fixed and floating rate securities of publicly traded companies, convertible bonds, preferred stocks, master limited partnerships (“MLPs”), mortgage-backed



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securities (“MBS”) and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).  The Fund will invest primarily in U.S. Dollar denominated securities, but may also invest a portion of its assets in non-U.S. Dollar denominated securities.  The adviser will not adhere to any specific allocation of the Fund’s assets as between ETFs and other income producing securities, and other investments in the Fund’s portfolio. The adviser will invest the Fund’s portfolio without restriction as to capitalization.


Horizon selects portfolio investments without restriction as to the issuer country, capitalization, currency, maturity or credit quality.  Additionally, Horizon may select inverse ETFs to hedge against market declines or generate returns from falling asset prices.  Inverse ETFs are designed to produce results opposite to market trends.  


Horizon selects asset classes using a tactical approach that allocates the Fund's portfolio between asset classes that Horizon believes will generate the greatest amount of income, relative to a given amount of risk. Tactical investing strategies seek to maximize returns by adjusting portfolio asset-allocations among various asset classes based upon near-term forecasts. Horizon assesses expected income, relative to risk, using a multi-disciplined approach consisting of economic, quantitative and fundamental analysis.  A representative security is selected for inclusion in the portfolio after it is reviewed for sufficient trading liquidity and fit within overall portfolio diversification needs.  Depending on market conditions, the Fund may have a high turnover rate.    


Principal Risks of the Fund: Many factors affect the Fund's performance. The Fund's share price changes daily based on changes in market conditions in response to economic, political and financial developments. The direction and extent of those price changes will be affected by the financial condition, industry and economic sector, and geographic location of the securities held by ETFs in which the Fund invests.  The Fund is not federally insured or guaranteed by any government agency.   YOU MAY LOSE MONEY BY INVESTING IN THE FUND .


Credit Risk:   Issuers of fixed-income securities may default on interest and principal payments due to a Fund. Generally, securities with lower debt ratings have speculative characteristics and have greater risk the issuer will default on its obligation. Fixed-income securities rated in the fourth classification by Moody’s (Baa) and S&P (BBB) (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”) have speculative characteristics and changes in economic conditions or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of those issuers to make principal or interest payments, as compared to issuers of more highly rated securities. These securities can also be thinly traded or have restrictions on resale, making them difficult to sell at an acceptable price.


ETF Risk:  You will indirectly pay fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in addition to the Fund's direct fees and expenses.  As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in ETF shares and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds.  Each ETF is subject to specific risks, depending on the nature of the fund.  These risks could include sector risk (increased risk from a focus on one or more sectors of the market), as well as risks associated with fixed income securities, foreign currencies and commodities.


Fixed Income Risk :  When the Fund invests in fixed income securities, derivatives on fixed income securities or Underlying Funds that invest in fixed income securities, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates.  Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of the fixed income securities owned by the Fund.  Issuers of floating rate debt are exposed to higher interest payments in a rising rate environment.  Issuers may default on interest and principal payments.  Generally, securities with lower debt ratings ("junk bonds") have greater credit risk.


Foreign Currency Risk:   Currency trading risks include market risk, credit risk and country risk.  Market risk results from adverse changes in exchange rates in the currencies the Fund is long or short.  Credit risk results because a currency-trade counterparty may default.  Country risk arises because a government may interfere with transactions in its currency.


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




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Inverse Risk: The Fund engages in hedging or investment activities by investing in inverse ETFs.  Inverse ETFs may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying index upon which they are based.  Any strategy that includes inverse securities could cause the Fund to suffer significant losses.


Limited History of Operations:  The Fund has a limited history of operations for investors to evaluate.


Management Risk:   The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the allocation of the Fund's assets.  Horizon may allocate the Fund's investments so as to under-emphasize or over-emphasize investments under the wrong market conditions, in which case the Fund's value may be adversely affected.


Market Risk:  Investments in securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The Fund's investments may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, or particular countries, segments, economic sectors, industries or companies within those markets. The value of a security may decline due to general economic and market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular issuer.


MBS Risk:  MBS are subject to credit risk because underlying loan borrowers may default.  Additionally, these securities are subject to prepayment risk because the underlying loans held by the issuers may be paid off prior to maturity at faster or slower rates than expected.


MLP Risk:  Investments in MLPs involve risks different from those of investing in common stock including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP's general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks and risks related to the general partner's limited call right.  MLPs, typically, do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level.  Instead, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses.  A change in current tax law or in the underlying business mix of a given MLP could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income.  


Real Estate Risk:  Real estate values rise and fall in response to a variety of factors, including local, regional and national economic conditions, interest rates and tax considerations.  REIT performance depends on the types and locations of the rental properties it owns and on how well it manages those properties.


Sovereign Debt Risk.  Sovereign government debt issuers, including the United States, may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments because of factors such as tax revenue shortfalls or the inability to refinance maturing debt in local or global capital markets.


Turnover Risk:   Higher portfolio turnover will result in higher transactional and brokerage costs.


Performance: Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time.  In the future, performance information will be presented in this section of this Prospectus.  Also, shareholder reports containing financial and performance information will be mailed to shareholders semi-annually. Updated performance information will be available at no cost by calling 1-855-754-7932.  


Investment Adviser: Horizon Investments, LLC.


Portfolio Managers:  Robbie Cannon, President and CEO of the adviser, Ronald Saba, CFA Director of Equity Research of the adviser and Scott Ladner, Director of Alternative Strategies, share responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund as Co-Portfolio Managers. Mr. Cannon, Mr. Saba, Mr. Blocker and Mr. Ladner have each been a Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund since its inception in September 2013.



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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, subject to certain restrictions described under the section titled "How to Purchase Shares" and “How to Redeem Shares” of the Fund's Prospectus.  Purchases and redemptions may be made by mailing an application or redemption request to Horizon Funds c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, or by calling 1-855-754-7932.   You also may purchase and redeem shares through a financial intermediary. The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $2,500.  The minimum subsequent investment is $250 .


Tax Information:   Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund are taxable to you as either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-free account.


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


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS


Investment Objective:  The Fund's investment objective is income. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon 60 days written notice to shareholders.


Principal Investment Strategies:


Horizon seeks to achieve the Fund's investment objective by allocating assets across various sectors of the global securities markets.  Horizon executes this strategy by investing in ETFs listed on U.S. exchanges and other income producing securities.  The Fund will invest in fixed income ETFs and other income oriented ETFs.  The adviser defines “income oriented ETFs” as those that invest in (1) equity securities, (2) fixed-income securities, (3) alternative/specialty securities or (4) cash equivalents.  Horizon will vary the allocation percentages to ETFs, and other income producing securities, based on the current economic and market environment and the adviser’s tactical views. Horizon anticipates that, under normal market conditions, the Fund’s primary investment exposure will be ETFs listed on U.S. exchanges.  Horizon selects specific ETFs, in part, on their investment goals and strategies, their investment adviser and portfolio manager, and on the analysis of their past performance (absolute, relative and risk-adjusted).  Horizon also considers other factors in the selection of ETFs, such as fund size, liquidity, expense ratio, quality of shareholder service, reputation and tenure of portfolio manager, general composition of its investment portfolio and current and expected portfolio holdings.  Some ETFs in which the Fund invests may not share the same investment goal and investment limitations as the Fund.  Horizon may buy inverse ETFs, including non-leveraged inverse ETFs, to hedge overall market risk as a part of the adviser’s overall risk management process, when it believes market conditions are unfavorable.

In addition to investment in ETFs and other income producing securities, the Fund may also invest in fixed and floating rate securities of publicly traded companies, convertible bonds, preferred stocks, MLPs and REITs.  MLPs are typically engaged in one or more aspects of the exploration, production, processing, transmission, marketing, storage or delivery of energy-related commodities such as natural gas, natural gas liquids, coal, crude oil or refined petroleum products.  The Fund will invest primarily in U.S. Dollar denominated securities, but may also invest a portion of its assets in non-U.S. Dollar denominated securities.  The adviser will not adhere to any specific allocation of the Fund’s assets as between ETFs and other income producing securities, and other investments in the Fund’s portfolio. The adviser will invest the Fund’s portfolio without restriction as to capitalization.



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Horizon's investment philosophy is that markets are dynamic.  Horizon selects asset classes using a tactical approach that allocates the Fund's portfolio between asset classes that Horizon believes will generate the greatest amount of income, relative to a given amount of risk. Tactical investing strategies seek to maximize returns by adjusting portfolio asset-allocations among various asset classes based upon near-term forecasts. Horizon assesses expected income, relative to risk using a multi-disciplined approach consisting of economic, quantitative and fundamental analysis.  


The investment process relies on Horizon's economic, quantitative and fundamental research groups to identify actionable investment ideas.  Horizon's process may focus on forecasts of relative economic growth rates across countries and regions, industry or sector-specific growth rates, foreign currency exchange rates as well as company versus peer group metrics, such as price-to-earnings ratio.  The adviser believes the Fund's portfolio construction is based on the latest optimization and risk mitigation tools available and is focused on balancing the tradeoff between expected risk and return. Risk is controlled through position, portfolio, and market level metrics.  The Fund's portfolio is rigorously tested through both historical as well as simulated market environments to evaluate potential periods of volatility and downside risk.  When allocating assets, Horizon selects portfolio investments without restriction as to the issuer country, capitalization, currency, maturity or credit quality.  A representative security is selected for inclusion in the Fund after it is reviewed for sufficient trading liquidity and fit within overall portfolio diversification needs.  Depending on market conditions, the Fund may experience high turnover of its portfolio.  


Principal Investment Risks:

Credit Risk:   Issuers of fixed-income securities may default on interest and principal payments due to a Fund. Generally, securities with lower debt ratings have speculative characteristics and have greater risk the issuer will default on its obligation. Fixed-income securities rated in the fourth classification by Moody’s (Baa) and S&P (BBB) (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”) have speculative characteristics and changes in economic conditions or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of those issuers to make principal or interest payments, as compared to issuers of more highly rated securities. These securities can also be thinly traded or have restrictions on resale, making them difficult to sell at an acceptable price.


ETF Risk:  Because the Fund invests in ETFs, the value of your investment will fluctuate in response to the performance of the ETFs.  In addition, investing through a portfolio of ETFs involves certain additional expenses and certain tax results that would not arise if you invested directly in the ETFs. By investing indirectly in ETFs through the Fund, you will bear not only your proportionate share of the Fund's expenses (including operating costs and investment advisory, 12b-1 and administrative fees), but also, indirectly, similar expenses and charges of the ETFs.  In addition, to the extent these ETFs trade their portfolios actively; they will incur higher brokerage commissions as well as increased realization of taxable gains.  When the Fund invests in ETFs that use margin, leverage, short sales and other forms of financial derivatives, such as options and futures, an investment in the Fund may be more volatile than investments in other funds.


Fixed Income Risk:   When the Fund invests in fixed income securities, derivatives on fixed income securities or Underlying Funds that invest in fixed income securities, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates.  Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of the fixed income securities owned by the Fund.  In general, the market price of debt securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities.  Issuers of floating rate debt are exposed to higher interest payments in a rising rate environment, which increases the change of default.  Other risk factors impacting fixed income securities include credit risk, maturity risk, market risk, extension or prepayment risk, illiquid security risks, investment-grade and high yield securities risk.  Issuers may default on interest and principal payments.  Generally, securities with lower debt ratings ("junk bonds") have greater credit risk.  These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund possibly causing the Fund’s share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.


Foreign Currency Risk:  Currency trading involves significant risks, including market risk, interest rate risk, country risk, counterparty credit risk and short sale risk.  Market risk results from the price movement



5





of foreign currency values in response to shifting market supply and demand.  Since exchange rate changes can readily move in one direction, a currency position carried overnight or over a number of days may involve greater risk than one carried a few minutes or hours.  Interest rate risk arises whenever a country changes its stated interest rate target associated with its currency.  Country risk arises because virtually every country has interfered with international transactions in its currency.  Interference has taken the form of regulation of the local exchange market, restrictions on foreign investment by residents or limits on inflows of investment funds from abroad.  Restrictions on the exchange market or on international transactions are intended to affect the level or movement of the exchange rate.  This risk could include the country issuing a new currency, effectively making the “old” currency worthless.   The Fund may also take short positions, through derivatives, if the Adviser believes the value of a currency is likely to depreciate in value.  A “short” position is, in effect, similar to a sale in which the Fund sells a currency it does not own but, has borrowed in anticipation that the market price of the currency will decline.  The Fund must replace a short currency position by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement, which may be more or less than the price at which the Fund took a short position in the currency.


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


Inverse Risk:   The Fund engages in hedging or investing activities by investing in inverse ETFs.  These investments are significantly different from the investment activities commonly associated with conservative stock funds.  Positions in inverse securities are speculative and can be more risky than "long" positions (purchases).  Under certain circumstances, the adviser may invest in ETFs, known as "inverse funds," which are designed to produce results opposite to market trends.  Inverse funds seek daily investment results, before fees and expenses, which correspond to the inverse (opposite) of the daily performance of a specific benchmark.  Inverse stock ETFs are funds designed to rise in price when stock prices are falling. Inverse ETF index funds seek to provide investment results that will match a certain percentage of the inverse of the performance of a specific benchmark on a daily basis.  For example, if a fund's current benchmark is 100% of the inverse of the Russell 2000 Index and the fund meets its objective, the value of the fund will tend to increase on a daily basis when the value of the underlying index decreases (if the Russell 2000 Index goes down 5% then the fund's value should go up 5%).  Conversely, when the value of the underlying index increases, the value of the fund's shares tend to decrease on a daily basis (if the Russell 2000 Index goes up 5% then the fund's value should go down 5%). Additionally, inverse ETFs may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying stock index upon which they are based.  For example, if an inverse ETF's current benchmark is 200% of the inverse of the Russell 2000 Index and the ETF meets its objective, the value of the ETF will tend to increase on a daily basis when the value of the underlying index decreases (e.g., if the Russell 2000 Index goes down 5% then the inverse ETF's value should go up 10%).  You should be aware that any strategy that includes inverse securities could suffer significant losses.


Limited History of Operations:  The Fund has a limited history of operations for investors to evaluate.  Mutual funds and their advisers are subject to restrictions and limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code that do not apply to an adviser's management of individual and institutional accounts.  As a result, investors cannot directly judge the adviser by its track record of managing individual and institutional accounts and the adviser may not achieve the intended result in managing the Fund.


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


Market Risk:  The net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate based on changes in the value of the securities and derivatives in which the Fund invests. The Fund invests in securities and derivatives, which may be more volatile and carry more risk than some other forms of investment. The price of securities and derivatives may rise or fall because of economic or political changes. Security and derivative prices in



6





general may decline over short or even extended periods of time. Market prices of securities and derivatives in broad market segments may be adversely affected by price trends in commodities, interest rates, exchange rates or other factors wholly unrelated to the value or condition of an issuer.


MBS Risk:  MBS are subject to credit risk because underlying loan borrowers may default.  Additionally, these securities are subject to prepayment risk because the underlying loans held by the issuers may be paid off prior to maturity.  The value of these securities may go down as a result of changes in prepayment and/or default rates on the underlying mortgage loans.  During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment rates usually increase and the Fund may have to reinvest prepayment proceeds at lower interest rates.  During periods of rising interest rates, prepayment rates usually decrease and the Fund may have less opportunity to reinvest prepayment proceeds at higher interest rates.


MLP Risk:  Investments in MLPs involve risks different from those of investing in common stock including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP's general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks and risks related to the general partner's limited call right.  MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the use of MLPs could enhance or harm the overall performance of the Fund.


MLP Tax Risk:  MLPs, typically, do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level.  Instead, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses.  A change in current tax law or in the underlying business mix of a given MLP could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income.  The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP.  Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of your investment in the Fund and lower income, as compared to an MLP that is not taxed as a corporation.


Real Estate Risk:  Real estate values rise and fall in response to a variety of factors, including local, regional and national economic conditions, interest rates and tax considerations.  When economic growth is slow, demand for property decreases and prices tend to decline.  Property values tend to decrease because of overbuilding, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, environmental regulations or hazards, uninsured casualty or condemnation losses, or a general decline in neighborhood values. A REIT's performance depends on the types and locations of the properties it owns and on how well it manages those properties.  A decline in rental income will occur because of extended vacancies, increased competition from other properties, tenants' failure to pay rent or poor management.  A REIT's performance also depends on the company's ability to finance property purchases and renovations and manage its cash flows.  Because REITs typically are invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, they are more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments.


Sovereign Debt Risk.   Sovereign government debt issuers, including the United States, may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments because of factors such as tax revenue shortfalls or the inability to refinance maturing debt in local or global capital markets or through multinational borrowing facilities such as the International Monetary Fund.  The ability of governments to repay their obligations is adversely impacted by tax-payer insolvency and by political instability, including authoritarian and/or military involvement in governmental decision-making, armed conflict, civil war, social instability and the impact of these events and circumstances on a country’s economy and its government's revenues.  Defaulted sovereign debt may become worthless because of a lack of legal recourse against a sovereign government or any other means to compel complete or even partial repayment.  Governments may also repudiate their debts in spite of their ability to pay.  These risks are more pronounced in developing or smaller countries.  


Turnover Risk:  A higher portfolio turnover may result in higher transactional and brokerage costs associated with the turnover which may reduce the Fund's return, unless the securities traded can be



7





bought and sold without corresponding commission costs.  Active trading of securities may also increase the Fund's realized capital gains or losses, which may affect the taxes you pay as a Fund shareholder.



Temporary Defensive Strategies


To respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, during defensive periods the Fund may invest 100% of its total assets, without limitation, in high-quality short-term debt securities and money market instruments.  These short-term debt securities and money market instruments include: shares of money market mutual funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, U.S. Government securities and repurchase agreements.  While the Fund is in a defensive position, the opportunity to achieve its investment objective will be limited.  Furthermore, to the extent that the Fund invests in money market mutual funds for cash positions, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund pays its pro-rata portion of such money market funds’ advisory fees and operational fees.  The Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.


Portfolio Holdings Disclosure


A description of the Fund's policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.  Shareholders may request portfolio holdings schedules at no charge by calling 1-855-754-7932.


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND


Investment Adviser


Horizon Investments, LLC, a South Carolina limited liability company, serves as investment adviser to the Fund.  Horizon has been an investment adviser to individuals, employee benefit plans, trusts and corporations since 1995.  As of December 31, 2013, Horizon managed approximately $3 billion in client assets.  Horizon maintains its principal offices at 13024 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Suite 225, Charlotte, NC  28277.  Under the terms of its investment advisory agreement, Horizon is responsible for formulating the Fund's investment program and for making day-to-day investment decisions and engaging in portfolio transactions. Horizon also furnishes officers, provides office space, services and equipment and assistance in supervising matters relating to the Fund's operations.


Horizon has agreed to waive its advisory fee and reimburse expenses to limit total operating expenses at least through March 31, 2015, so that direct expenses (not including any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, borrowing costs (such as dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation) for each class of do not exceed 0.99% and 1.24% of average daily net assets of the Fund ’s Class I and Class N shares, respectively.  These fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limit.  Only the Fund's Board of Trustees may elect to terminate the advisory fee waiver agreement.


A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees' approval of the investment advisory agreement of the Fund is available in the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders dated November 30, 2013..


Investment Adviser Portfolio Managers


Robbie Cannon – President & CEO


Robbie Cannon is the president and CEO of Horizon, an SEC registered investment advisor based in Charlotte NC.  His firm specializes in active asset allocation, retirement income and principal protection.



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During his tenure, which began in 1999, Horizon has grown from a small retail RIA firm to a multi-billion dollar third party investment management group with a national footprint of independent broker dealers and institutional clients.  His career in finance began in 1994, and has encompassed various aspects of portfolio management including asset allocation, equity analysis and risk management. He graduated from Furman University. 


Ronald Saba, CFA - Director of Equity Research


Mr. Saba has more than twenty years of experience performing fundamental research and managing equity portfolios.  He joined Horizon in 2009 and is Senior Managing Director of Investment Management for the firm. Prior to joining Horizon, Mr. Saba was Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Charlotte Capital, LLC from 1999 through 2006 where he was lead portfolio manager for the firm’s two institutional investment products.    Prior to his association with Charlotte Capital, Mr. Saba was a Portfolio Manager with Pioneer Investments where he was lead portfolio manager of institutional small cap value portfolios and co-managed the Pioneer Small Company mutual fund.  Before that, Mr. Saba was a Portfolio Manager and Analyst with Heartland Advisors where he managed separately managed accounts and served as Co-Portfolio Manager of the Heartland Value Plus Fund, a Morningstar 5-STAR rated mutual fund.  Mr. Saba regularly contributes to the financial media.  He has appeared on CNBC and was featured in Barron’s magazine.  Mr. Saba holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.


Scott Ladner , - Director of Alternative Strategies

Mr. Ladner joined Horizon in 2010 and provides trading, risk management and quantitative expertise to several of the firm’s strategies, with a particular emphasis on building Horizon’s Risk Management suite of products, as well as its capabilities within the alternative and absolute return investment space. Prior to joining Horizon, Mr. Ladner founded Charlotte Global Advisors and Principal Guard, LLC in 2006, and operated Principal Guard, LLC jointly with Horizon until joining Horizon. Mr. Ladner helped to launch an equity index volatility and dispersion trading unit at PE Δ K6 Investments in Chicago, a proprietary listed option trading firm. Previously at First Union/Wachovia, Mr. Ladner founded and ran the $4 billion equity swap and forwards portfolio while also managing equity option and volatility portfolios. He also co-founded and managed the Risk Arbitrage and Special Situations portfolio. Mr. Ladner then managed the $300 billion notional swaption and cap/floor portion of the bank’s interest rate derivatives portfolio. Mr. Ladner received his BA in Economics and Russian Language & Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


HOW SHARES ARE PRICED


The Fund's net asset value ("NAV") is calculated on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. The New York Stock Exchange is closed on weekends and most national holidays. The NAV is the value of a single share of the Fund on a class-specific basis. The NAV is calculated for the Fund at the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time ("Valuation Time"). The Fund's NAV is determined by subtracting the total of the Fund's liabilities from its total assets and dividing the remainder by the number of shares outstanding. The value of the Fund's total assets is generally based on the market value of the securities that the Fund holds. Fund portfolio securities, which are traded on a national securities exchange, are valued at the last quoted sale price.  NASDAQ traded securities are valued using the NASDAQ official closing price (NOCP).  Certain short-term securities are valued on the basis of amortized cost.  Foreign securities may be traded in their primary markets on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares.  Therefore, the NAV of the Fund when holding foreign securities may change on days when shareholders will not be able to buy or redeem their Fund shares.


If a security does not have a readily available market quotation, the Fund values the security based on fair value, as determined in good faith in accordance with the guidelines established by the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board"). The types of securities for which fair value pricing is required include, but are not limited to:



9






§

Securities for which market quotations are insufficient or not readily available at the Valuation Time 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);


§

Securities for which, in the judgment of Horizon, the prices or values available do not represent the fair value of the instrument. Factors which may cause Horizon 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;


§

Securities determined to be illiquid; and


§

Securities with respect to which an event that will affect the value thereof has occurred since the closing prices were established on the principal exchange on which they are traded, but prior to the Fund's calculation of its NAV.


Fair value pricing should result in a more accurate determination of the Fund's NAV, which should eliminate the potential for arbitrage in the Fund. However, valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than securities that have readily available market quotations.  Horizon makes such determinations under the supervision of the Board, in good faith, in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board.  


Fair valuation of the Fund's portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund's NAV by short-term traders.  There is no assurance that the Fund will obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell such security while it is fair valued.


With respect to any portion of the Fund's assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), the Fund's net asset value is calculated based upon the NAV of the registered open-end management investment companies in which the Fund invests, 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


Choosing a Class


The Fund is comprised of two classes of shares: Class N shares and Class I shares.  Class N shares of the Fund are currently available for sale.  Class I shares of the Fund are not currently available for sale.  


If you are making your initial investment in the Fund, you must select a class of shares.  Each class of shares in the Fund represents an interest in the same portfolio of investments within the Fund. The main difference between the share classes is the ongoing fees.  Class N shares pay an annual fee of up to 0.25% for shareholder services, and Class I shares do not pay such fees.  Not all share classes may be available for purchase in all states.  


Different share classes allow you to choose the class that will be most beneficial to you. Your decision should depend upon a number of factors including the amount you purchase and the length of time you plan to hold the shares.  All share classes are not available to all investors.  Class N shares of the Fund are presently offered only through financial intermediaries that have been approved by the Fund. Please refer to your financial representative for detailed information on purchasing Class N shares.  Your financial consultant can assist you in determining which class is best for you. Because all future investments in your account will be made in the share class you designate when opening the account, you should make your decision carefully.



10





HOW TO REDEEM SHARES


You have the right to sell ("redeem") all or any part of your shares subject to certain restrictions. Selling your shares in the Fund is referred to as a "redemption" because the Fund buys back its shares. We will redeem your shares at the NAV next computed following receipt of your redemption request in good order.  See Redemption Procedures Request in Good Order.

We will mail your redemption proceeds to your address of record or transmit them electronically to your designated bank account. Except under certain extraordinary conditions, we will send your redemption to you within seven days after we receive your redemption request. If you purchase shares by check and, soon after, request a redemption, your redemption request will not be processed until the check used for your purchase has cleared (usually within 10 days).

Please refer to your financial representative for detailed information on redeeming Class N shares.  

The Fund cannot accept requests that specify a certain date for redemption or which specify any other special conditions. Redemption proceeds must be payable to the registered shareholder(s) of the account or to a financial intermediary for the benefit of the registered shareholder(s) of the account. Please call 1-855-754-7932 for further information. We will not process your redemption request if it is not in good order. We will notify you if your redemption request is not in good order.

If, as a result of your redemption, your account value drops below $2,500, we may redeem the remaining shares in your account. We will notify you in writing of our intent to redeem your shares. We will allow at least sixty days thereafter for you to make an additional investment to bring your account value up to at least the minimum amount before we will process the redemption.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan

For Class N shares, please refer to your financial representative for detailed information on whether your financial representative's firm is participating in the Fund's systematic withdrawal plan.  Generally, the Fund will mail your redemption proceeds to your address of record or transmit them electronically to your designated bank account. Except under certain extraordinary conditions, we will send your redemption to you within seven days after we receive your redemption request. If you purchase shares by check and, soon after, request a redemption, your redemption request will not be processed until the check used for your purchase has cleared (usually within business 10 days).  Generally, if your current account value is 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.

For Class I shares, if your current account value is 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 1-855-754-7932.

Medallion Signature Guarantees

Under certain circumstances, your redemption request must be accompanied by a "medallion signature guarantee" under certain circumstances, such as if you are redeeming shares valued at $50,000 or greater or if you ask us to send the redemption proceeds to an address other than the address of record.


11




Third Party Transactions

For Class N shares, the Fund has authorized certain financial intermediaries to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption orders.  The Fund will be deemed to have received the order when an approved financial intermediary or an authorized designee accepts your order. Your order will be priced at the Fund's net asset value next computed after it is received by an approved financial intermediary or its authorized designee.

For Class I shares, if you buy and redeem shares of the Fund through a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. that member may charge a fee for that service. The Fund has authorized one or more brokers to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such brokers are authorized to designate intermediaries to accept orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received the order when an authorized broker or a broker authorized designee accepts your order. Your order will be priced at the Fund's net asset value next computed after it is received by the authorized broker or broker authorized designee.

Horizon may pay certain financial institutions (which may include banks, brokers, securities dealers and other industry professionals) a fee for providing distribution related services and/or for performing certain administrative and servicing functions for Fund shareholders and/or making the funds available for purchase on their platforms.  These payments are made from Horizon and are not charged to the Fund, unless part of an approved 12b-1 Plan.

Redemptions in Kind

The Fund reserves the right to honor requests for redemption or repurchase orders by making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities ("redemption in kind") if the amount of such a request is large enough to affect operations (for example, if the request is greater than $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's assets). The securities will be chosen by the Fund and valued at the Fund's net asset value. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.

 

 

Method of

Redemption


Redemption Procedures

 

 

By Telephone     


You may authorize redemption of some or all shares in your account with the Fund by telephoning the Fund at 1-855-754-7932 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on any day the Fund is open.

You will NOT be eligible to use the telephone redemption service if you:

· have declined or canceled your telephone investment privilege;

· wish to redeem shares valued at $50,000 or greater or if you ask us to send the redemption proceeds using an address, bank instructions, or payee other than what is currently on file.  

· must provide supporting legal documents such as a signature guarantee for redemption

· have an account set up as a corporation, trust or partnership; or

· wish to redeem from certain types of retirement account.

 

 

By Mail         

If you are redeeming Shares, you may send your redemption request to:

Horizon Funds

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE 68130

You must include the following information in your written request:

· a letter of instruction stating the name of the Fund, the number of shares you are redeeming, the names in which the account is registered and your account


12




 

number;

· other supporting legal documents, if necessary, for redemption requests by corporations, trusts and partnerships;

· a signature guarantee, if necessary.

 

 

 

By Wire          

You may request your redemption proceeds be wired directly to the bank account designated on your application. The Fund’s transfer agent will charge you a $10.00 fee for each wire redemption. The transfer agent will deduct the fee directly from your account. Your bank may also impose a fee for the incoming wire.

 

 

Request in “Good Order”

For our mutual protection, all redemption requests must include:

· your account number;

· the amount of the transaction;

· for mail request, signatures of all owners EXACTLY as registered on the account and signature guarantees, if required (signature guarantees can be obtained at most banks, credit unions, and licensed brokers); and

· any supporting legal documentation that may be required.

Your redemption request will be processed at the next determined share price after we have received all required information.

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTE

Once we have processed your redemption request, and a confirmation number has been given, the transaction cannot be revoked.


Options For Redemption Proceeds

You may receive your redemption proceeds by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire.

Check Redemptions: Normally we will mail your check within two business days of a redemption.

ACH Redemptions: Before you can receive redemption proceeds by ACH, you must establish this option by completing a special form or the appropriate section of your account application.

Wire Redemptions: Before you can receive redemption proceeds by wire, you must establish this option by completing a special form or the appropriate section of your account application.

You may request that your redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. The Fund’s transfer agent imposes a $10.00 fee for each wire redemption and deducts the fee directly from your account. Your bank may also impose a fee for the incoming wire. The redemption proceeds must be paid to the same bank and account as designated on the application or in written instructions in proper form subsequently received by the Fund.

Telephone Redemptions

We will automatically establish the telephone redemption option for your account, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing. Telephone redemptions are easy and convenient, but this account option involves a risk of loss from unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. We will take reasonable precautions to protect your account from fraud. You should do the same by keeping your account information private and by reviewing immediately any account statements and confirmations that you receive. Please contact us immediately about any transaction you believe to be unauthorized.

The Fund reserves the right to refuse a telephone redemption if the caller cannot provide:

·

the account number

·

the name and address exactly as registered on the account

·

the primary social security or employer identification number as registered on the account



13





We may also require a password from the caller.

The Fund will not be responsible for any account losses due to telephone fraud, so long as we have taken reasonable steps to verify the caller's identity. If you wish to cancel the telephone redemption feature for your account, please notify us in writing.

Limitation On Purchases and Redemptions

Purchases or sales of shares of the Fund should not be used to try to take advantage of short-term swings in the market. Frequent purchase and sale transactions create higher expenses for the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund reserves the right to limit or terminate the ability to purchase shares of the Fund for any shareholder making frequent purchases or sales.

Transferring Registration

You can transfer the registration of your shares in the Fund to another owner by completing a transfer form and sending it to the Horizon Funds, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. Generally, a medallion signature guarantee is required for all transfers.


TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS


As a shareholder of the Fund, you are entitled to your share of the Fund's net income and capital gains on its investments. The Fund passes substantially all of its earnings along to its investors as distributions. When the Fund earns dividends from stocks and interest from bonds and other debt securities and distributes these earnings to shareholders, it is called a dividend.  The Fund realizes capital gains when it sells securities for a higher price than it paid. When net long-term capital gains are distributed to shareholders, it is called a capital gain distribution. Net short-term capital gains are considered ordinary income and are included in dividends.


Long-Term vs. Short-Term Capital Gains


§

Long-term capital gains are realized on securities held for more than one year and are part of your capital gain distribution.

§

Short-term capital gains are realized on securities held less than one year and are part of your dividends.


The Fund distributes dividends quarterly and capital gains annually, if any. These distributions are typically declared in December and paid in January of the following year, but are taxable as if paid on December 31 st of the year declared. The IRS requires you to report these amounts on your income tax return for the year declared.  


You will receive distributions from the Fund in additional shares of the Fund unless you choose to receive your distributions in cash. If you wish to change the way in which you receive distributions, please contact your financial representative for instructions.


If you have elected to receive distributions in cash, and the postal or other delivery service returns your check to the Fund as undeliverable, you will not receive interest on amounts represented by the uncashed checks.


FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS


Your investment will have tax consequences that you should consider. Some of the more common federal tax consequences are described here but you should consult your tax consultant about your particular situation. Although it is not an investment objective, Horizon attempts to take into account the tax


14






consequences of its investment decisions. However, there may be occasions when Horizon's investment decisions will result in a negative tax consequence for the Fund's shareholders.


Taxes on Distributions:   You will generally be subject to pay federal income tax and possibly state taxes on all Fund distributions. Your distributions will be taxed in the same manner whether you receive the distributions in cash or additional shares of the Fund making the distribution. Distributions that are derived from net long-term capital gains will generally be taxed as long-term capital gains. The rate of tax will depend on how long the Fund held the securities on which it realized the gains. In general, for individual shareholders, the maximum capital gain rate is 15 percent. All other distributions, including short-term capital gains, will be taxed as ordinary income. The Fund sends detailed tax information to its shareholders about the amount and type of its distributions by January 31st for the prior calendar year.


Taxes on Sales:   If you redeem your shares of the Fund, you will be subject to tax on any taxable gain. Your taxable gain or loss is computed by subtracting your tax basis in the shares from the redemption proceeds.  Because your tax basis depends on the original purchase price and on the price at which any dividends may have been reinvested, you should keep your account statements so that you or your tax preparer will be able to determine whether a sale or exchange will result in a taxable gain or loss.


"Buying a Dividend":   Unless your investment is in a tax-deferred account, you may want to avoid investing in the Fund close to the date of a distribution because you pay the full pre-distribution price for your shares and then receive part of your investment back as a taxable distribution.


Tax Withholding:   The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at the rate of 28% from all taxable distributions and from proceeds from certain sales and exchanges payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Any such withheld amounts may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability.


 For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, certain U.S. shareholders, including individuals and estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.85% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which should include dividends from the Fund and net gains from the disposition of shares of the Fund. U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Fund.


FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES


The Board has adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by Fund shareholders and discourages market timing. Market timing is an investment strategy using frequent purchases, redemptions and/or exchanges in an attempt to profit from short-term market movements. Market timing may disrupt portfolio management strategies and hurt Fund performance. Such practices may dilute the value of Fund shares, interfere with the efficient management of the Fund's investments, and increase brokerage and administrative costs. The Fund may reject purchase orders or temporarily or permanently revoke privileges if there is reason to believe that a shareholder is engaging in market timing activities. Brokers maintaining omnibus accounts with the Fund have agreed to provide shareholder transaction information, to the extent known to the broker, to the Fund upon request.


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


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


It is a violation of policy for an officer or Trustee of the Fund to knowingly facilitate a purchase, redemption where the shareholder executing the transaction is engaged in any activity which violates the


15






terms of the Fund's Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, and/or is considered not to be in the best interests of the Fund or its other shareholders.


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


We reserve the right to modify our policies and procedures at any time without prior notice as we deem in our sole discretion to be in the best interests of Fund shareholders, or to comply with state or Federal legal requirements.


Shareholder Servicing


The Board of Trustees of the Fund has adopted a shareholder serving plan for Class N Shares (the "Plan").  The Plan allows the Fund to use part of its assets for shareholder servicing expenses. For these services, the Fund pays a fee up to 0.25% of average net assets attributable to Class N Shares of the Fund on an annualized basis.  Payments under the Plan are made for the provision of support services to shareholders. The entities providing shareholder services may provide such services directly, or may arrange for such services to be provided by another entity that has a servicing relationship with one or more shareholders. However, payments under the Plan are an operating expense of the Fund that is subject to the expense limitation provided by the adviser.  Payments under the Plan may vary and are determined by the Fund in its sole discretion, in amounts up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class N shares of the Fund on an annualized basis.

HOUSEHOLDING

To reduce expenses, we mail only one copy of the prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the Fund at 1-855-754-7932 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern time on days the Fund is open for business or contact your financial institution. We will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.


16






FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


The Financial Highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance during the period of the Fund’s operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Fund’s November 30, 2013 annual report, which is available upon request.






17






The table below sets forth financial data for one share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class N Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 30, 2013 *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

 

 

 

 $                          10.00

 

 

Increase From Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Net investment income (a)

 

 

 

0.02

 

 

  Net loss from investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

    (both realized and unrealized)

 

 

 

(0.01)

 

 

Total from operations

 

 

 

                               0.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

 

 

 

 $                          10.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return ( b )

 

 

 

0.10%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets, end of period (in 000's)

 

 

 

 $                        70,951

 

       

Ratio to average net assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Gross Expenses  (c, d, e)

 

 

 

1.72%

 

 

    Net Expenses (c, d)

 

 

 

1.24%

 

 

    Net investment income (loss),

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Net of Reimbursement (c, d)

 

 

 

1.00%

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate (f)

 

 

 

71%

 

__________

 

 

 

 

 

*

Since September 30, 2013 (Commencement of Operations).

(a)

Per share amounts are calculated using the average shares method, which appropriately presents the

per share data for the period.

(b)

Total returns are historical in nature and assume changes in share price, reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions, if any.  Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

(c)

Annualized.

 

 

 

 

 

(d)

Does not reflect the expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

(e)

Represents the ratio of expenses to average net assets absent fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by the Adviser.

(f)

Not annualized.

 

 

 

 

 



18






PRIVACY NOTICE


                                                                                                                     Rev. Jan. 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FACTS

WHAT DOES ADVISORONE FUNDS ("ADVISORONE") DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

Why?

Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

§

Social Security number

§

Employment information

§

Account balances

§

Account transactions

§

Income

§

Investment experience

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 a customer's personal information to run their everyday business - to process transactions, maintain customer accounts, and report to credit bureaus. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customer's personal information; the reasons AdvisorOne chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

Reasons we can share your personal information

Does AdvisorOne share?

Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes --
such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

Yes

No

For our marketing purposes --
to offer our products and services to you

Yes

No

For joint marketing with other financial companies

Yes

No

For our affiliates' everyday business purposes --
information about your transactions and experiences

Yes

No

For our affiliates' everyday business purposes --
information about your creditworthiness

No

We don't share

For nonaffiliates to market to you

No

We don't share

Questions?

Call (866) 811-0225 or go to www.advisoronefunds.com







This page is not part of the prospectus

 

 

 

 







19






Page 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who we are

Who is providing this notice?

AdvisorOne Funds

What we do

How does AdvisorOne 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.

How does AdvisorOne collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

§

open an account

§

give us your income information

§

provide employment information

§

provide account information

§

give us your contact information


We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can't I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

§

sharing for affiliates' everyday business purposes—information about your creditworthiness

§

affiliates from using your information to market to you

§

sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you


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

Definitions

Affiliates

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

The following companies may be considered affiliates of AdvisorOne :

§

NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC

§

Gemcom, LLC

§

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

§

Gemini Alternative Funds, LLC

§

Gemini Hedge Fund Services, LLC

§

Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC

§

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

§

Orion Advisor Services, LLC

§

Constellation Trust Company

Nonaffiliates

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

AdvisorOne 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 and services to you.

Our joint marketing partners include other financial service companies.





20





WHERE TO GO FOR MORE INFORMATION


You will find more information about the Fund in the following documents:

Annual and Semi-annual Reports: Our annual and semi-annual reports list the holdings in the Fund, describe the Fund's performance, include financial statements for the Fund, and discuss the market conditions and strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during the last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"): The Statement of Additional Information contains additional and more detailed information about the Fund.


The SAI is incorporated by reference into (and is thus a part of) this Prospectus.


In addition to requesting these documents from your financial representative, there are three additional ways to get a copy of these documents:


1. Call or write for one, and a copy will be sent without charge.


      Horizon Active Income Fund

      c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

     17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

      Omaha, NE 68130

      1-855-754-7932


 The Fund currently does not maintain a website.


2. Write to the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and ask them to mail you a copy. Or, you may e-mail your request to publicinfo@sec.gov. The SEC charges a fee for this service.


You can also go to the Public Reference Room and copy the documents while you are there. The SEC is located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549-1520.


You may get information about the Public Reference Room and its business hours by writing or calling the number below.


      Public Reference Room - U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

      100 F Street, NE

      Washington, DC 20549-1520

      1-202-551-8090


3. Go to the SEC's website ( www.sec.gov ) and download a free text-only version.

 

If you are a current Fund shareholder and would like information about your account, account transactions, or account statements, please call us at 1-855-754-7932.


If you purchased your shares through a financial institution, you may contact that institution for more information.










The AdvisorOne Funds' Investment Company Act File Number is 811-08037.




HORIZON ACTIVE INCOME FUND

17605 Wright Street • Omaha, NE 68130
1-855-754-7932


Distributed by Northern Lights Distributors, LLC
Member FINRA

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.









HORIZON ACTIVE INCOME FUND

a series of AdvisorOne Funds


Class

N

Shares

AIMNX

Class

I

Shares

AIRIX


  STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

April 1, 2014


This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus, but is an incorporated part of the Prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Horizon Active Income Fund Prospectus of the AdvisorOne Funds (the "Trust") dated April 1, 2014.  



TABLE OF CONTENTS


General Information and History

1

Investment Restrictions

1

Description of Securities, Other Investment Policies

and Risk Considerations

3

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

24

Management of the Trust

25

Principal Holders of Securities

31

Investment Management and Other Services

32

Affiliations and Control of the Adviser and Other Service Providers

32

Administrator

31

Custodian

33

Transfer Agent Services

33

Distribution of Shares

33

Compliance Officer

33

Code of Ethics

33

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

34

Portfolio Managers

34

Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices

35

Redemption of Securities Being Offered

36

Shareholder Services

37

Determination of Net Asset Value

38

Anti-Money Laundering Program

38

Taxes

39

Organization of the Trust

40

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

41

Legal Matters

41

Financial Statements

41

Appendix A

Appendix B



For more information on the Fund, including charges and expenses, call the Trust at the number indicated above for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.








GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY


The Trust is an open-end management investment company, commonly known as a “mutual fund,” and sells and redeems shares every day that it is open for business. The Trust was organized as a Delaware business trust by a Declaration of Trust filed December 20, 1996, with the Secretary of State of Delaware, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”).  

The Fund represents a separate series of beneficial interest in the Trust having different investment objectives, investment programs, policies and restrictions. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust.


This Statement of Additional Information deals solely with the Horizon Active Income Fund referred to herein as a "Fund."  The Fund is comprised of Class N shares and Class I shares.  Class N shares of the Fund are currently available for sale.  Class I shares of the Fund are not currently available for sale.  


Class I and Class N shares of the Fund represent an interest in the same assets of their respective Fund, have the same rights and are identical in all material respects except that (i) each class of shares may bear different distribution fees; (ii) certain other class specific expenses will be borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable and (iii) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its own distribution arrangements.  The Board of Trustees may classify and reclassify the shares of any Fund into additional classes of shares at a future date.


The Fund is managed by Horizon Investments, LLC, a South Carolina limited liability company (the “Adviser”).The Adviser directs the day-to-day operations and the investment of assets of the Fund.  


Gemini Fund Services, LLC, (“the Administrator”) is the administrator, accounting agent, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund.  Union Bank, N.A. (“Union Bank”) is the custodian for the Fund.


INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS


The following policies and limitations supplement those set forth in the Prospectus. Unless otherwise noted, whenever a policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of the Fund’s assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard or percentage limitations will be determined immediately after and as a result of the Fund’s acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, any subsequent change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered when determining whether the investment complies with the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.


The Fund’s fundamental investment policies and limitations may be changed only with the consent of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund. As used in this Statement of Additional Information, the term “majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of: (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund present at a meeting where the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Shares of the Fund will be voted separately on matters affecting the Fund, including approval of changes in the fundamental investment policies of the Fund. Except for the fundamental investment limitations listed below, the investment policies and limitations described in this Statement of Additional Information are not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.


THE FOLLOWING ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS OF THE FUND


The Fund will not:


(1) Purchase securities on margin, except the Fund may make margin deposits in connection with permissible options and futures transactions subject to (5) below and may obtain short-term credits as may be necessary for clearance of transactions.


(2) Issue any class of securities senior to any other class of securities except in compliance with the 1940 Act.




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(3) Borrow money for investment purposes in excess of 33-1/3% of the value of its total assets, including any amount borrowed less its liabilities not including any such borrowings. Any borrowings, which come to exceed this amount, will be reduced in accordance with applicable law. Additionally, the Fund may borrow up to 5% of its total assets (not including the amount borrowed) for temporary or emergency purposes.


(4) Purchase or sell real estate, or invest in real estate limited partnerships, except the Fund may, as appropriate and consistent with its respective investment objective, policies and other investment restrictions, buy securities of issuers that engage in real estate operations and securities that are secured by interests in real estate (including shares of real estate mortgage investment conduits, mortgage pass-through securities, mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations) and may hold and sell real estate acquired as a result of ownership of such securities.


(5) Purchase or sell commodities or contracts thereon, except that the Fund may enter into financial futures contracts and options thereon.


(6) Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter, within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, in connection with the purchase of securities directly from an issuer in accordance with the Fund's investment objective, policies and restrictions.


(7) Make loans, except that the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions may: (i) invest in all or a portion of an issue of publicly issued or privately placed bonds, debentures, notes, other debt securities and loan participation interests for investment purposes; (ii) purchase money market securities and enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) lend its portfolio securities in an amount not exceeding one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets.


(8) Make an investment unless 75% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other investment companies and “other securities.” For purposes of this restriction, the term “other securities” means securities as to which the Fund invests no more than 5% of the value of its total assets in any one issuer or purchases no more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. As a matter of operating policy, the Fund will not consider repurchase agreements to be subject to the above-stated 5% limitation if all of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreements are U.S. government securities and such repurchase agreements are fully collateralized.


(9) Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in any one industry. This limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities or repurchase agreements secured by U.S. government securities.


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


The Fund may not:


(1) Invest in portfolio companies for the purpose of acquiring or exercising control of such companies.


(2) Invest in puts, calls, straddles, spreads or any combination thereof, except to the extent permitted by the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.


(3) Purchase or otherwise acquire any security or invest in a repurchase agreement if, as a result, more than 15% of the net assets of the Fund would be invested in securities that are illiquid or not readily marketable, including repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days and non-negotiable fixed time deposits with maturities over seven days. The Fund may invest without limitation in



2






restricted securities provided such securities are considered to be liquid by the Board of Trustees. If, through a change in values, net assets or other circumstances, the Fund were in a position where more than 15% of its net assets were invested in illiquid securities, it would seek to take appropriate steps to protect liquidity.


(4) Mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate in any other manner, or transfer as security for indebtedness any security owned by the Fund, except as may be necessary in connection with permissible borrowings and then only if such mortgaging, pledging or hypothecating does not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets. Collateral arrangements with respect to margin, option and other risk management and when-issued and forward commitment transactions are not deemed to be pledges or other encumbrances for purposes of this restriction.


DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES, OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS


The following pages contain more detailed information about the types of instruments in which the Fund may invest, strategies the Adviser may employ in pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective and a summary of related risks. The Fund will make only those investments described below that are in accordance with its investment objectives and policies. The Fund may invest in the following instruments either directly, or through its investments in other investment companies and exchange-traded funds (the “underlying funds”). The Adviser may not buy all of these instruments or use all of these techniques unless it believes that doing so will help the Fund achieve its investment objectives.


ADJUSTABLE RATE SECURITIES. Adjustable rate securities (i.e., variable rate and floating rate instruments) are securities that have interest rates that are adjusted periodically, according to a set formula. The maturity of some adjustable rate securities may be shortened under certain special conditions described more fully below.


Floating rate instruments have interest rate reset provisions similar to those for variable rate instruments and may be subject to demand features like those for variable rate instruments. The interest rate is adjusted, periodically (e.g., daily, monthly, semi-annually), to the prevailing interest rate in the marketplace. The interest rate on floating rate securities is ordinarily determined by reference to the 90-day U.S. Treasury bill rate, the rate of return on commercial paper or bank certificates of deposit or an index of short-term interest rates. The maturity of a floating rate instrument is considered to be the period remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand.


BELOW-INVESTMENT-GRADE DEBT SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in debt securities that are rated below “investment grade” by Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or, if unrated, are deemed by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. Securities rated less than Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P are classified as below investment grade securities and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” or high yield, high risk securities. Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C and debt rated Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C is regarded by S&P and Moody’s, respectively, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. For S&P, BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation. For Moody’s, Ba indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. Similarly, debt rated Ba or BB and below is regarded by the relevant rating agency as speculative. Debt rated C by Moody’s or S&P is the lowest rated debt that is not in default as to principal or interest, and such issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing. Such securities are also generally considered to be subject to greater risk than securities with higher ratings with regard to a deterioration of general economic conditions. Excerpts from S&P’s and Moody’s descriptions of their bond ratings are contained in the Appendix A to this SAI.


Ratings of debt securities represent the rating agency’s opinion regarding their quality and are not a guarantee of quality. Rating agencies attempt to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments and do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value. Also, since rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings in response to subsequent events, the Adviser continuously monitors the issuers of high yield bonds in the



3






portfolio of the Fund to determine if the issuers will have sufficient cash flows and profits to meet required principal and interest payments. The achievement of the Fund’s investment objective may be more dependent on the Adviser’s own credit analysis than might be the case for a fund which invests in higher quality bonds. The Fund may retain a security whose rating has been changed. The market values of lower quality debt securities tend to reflect individual developments of the issuer to a greater extent than do higher quality securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. In addition, lower quality debt securities tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions and generally have more volatile prices than higher quality securities. Issuers of lower quality securities are often highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. For example, during an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of lower quality securities may experience financial stress. During such periods, such issuers may not have sufficient revenues to meet their interest payment obligations. The issuer’s ability to service debt obligations may also be adversely affected by specific developments affecting the issuer, such as the issuer’s inability to meet specific projected business forecasts or the unavailability of additional financing. Similarly, certain emerging market governments that issue lower quality debt securities are among the largest debtors to commercial banks, foreign governments and supranational organizations such as the World Bank and may not be able or willing to make principal and/or interest repayments as they come due. The risk of loss due to default by the issuer is significantly greater for the holders of lower quality securities because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors of the issuer. Lower quality debt securities frequently have call or buy-back features, which would permit an issuer to call or repurchase the security from the Fund. In addition, the Fund may have difficulty disposing of lower quality securities because they may have a thin trading market. There may be no established retail secondary market for many of these securities, and the Fund anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of dealers or institutional investors. The lack of a liquid secondary market also may have an adverse impact on market prices of such instruments and may make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund’s portfolios. The Fund may also acquire lower quality debt securities during an initial underwriting or which are sold without registration under applicable securities laws. Such securities involve special considerations and risks.


In addition to the foregoing, factors that could have an adverse effect on the market value of lower quality debt securities in which the Fund may invest, include: (i) potential adverse publicity, (ii) heightened sensitivity to general economic or political conditions, and (iii) the likely adverse impact of a major economic recession. The Fund may also incur additional expenses to the extent the Fund is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings, and the Fund may have limited legal recourse in the event of a default. Debt securities issued by governments in emerging markets can differ from debt obligations issued by private entities in that remedies for defaults generally must be pursued in the courts of the defaulting government, and legal recourse is therefore somewhat diminished. Political conditions, in terms of a government’s willingness to meet the terms of its debt obligations, also are of considerable significance. There can be no assurance that the holders of commercial bank debt may not contest payments to the holders of debt securities issued by governments in emerging markets in the event of default by the governments under commercial bank loan agreements. The Adviser attempts to minimize the speculative risks associated with investments in lower quality securities through credit analysis and by carefully monitoring current trends in interest rates, political developments and other factors. Nonetheless, investors should carefully review the investment objective and policies of the Fund and consider their ability to assume the investment risks involved before making an investment. The Fund may also invest in unrated debt securities. Unrated debt securities, while not necessarily of lower quality than rated securities, may not have as broad a market. Because of the size and perceived demand for an issue, among other factors, certain issuers may decide not to pay the cost of obtaining a rating for their bonds. The Adviser will analyze the creditworthiness of the issuer of an unrated security, as well as any financial institution or other party responsible for payments on the security.


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


Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers’ acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance



4






commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.


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


CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS.  A credit default swap is a specific kind of counterparty agreement that allows the transfer of third party credit risk from one party to the other. One party in the swap is akin to a lender and faces credit risk from a third party, and the counterparty in the credit default swap agrees to insure this risk in exchange for regular periodic payments (essentially an insurance premium). If the third party defaults, the party providing insurance will have to purchase from the insured party the defaulted asset. In turn, the insurer typically pays the insured the remaining interest on the debt, as well as the principal.  Swaps are considered to be derivatives, the risks of which are described below under “SWAP AGREEMENTS.”


DEALER (OVER-THE-COUNTER) OPTIONS.  The Fund may engage in transactions involving dealer options. Certain risks are specific to dealer options. While the Fund would look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund were to purchase a dealer option, it would rely on the dealer from whom it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.


Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options have none. Consequently, the Fund will generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising it or reselling it to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes a dealer option, it generally will be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to which the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Until the Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) or currencies used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the contra party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, since the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets, which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities or currencies at a time when such sale might be advantageous.


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


EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN MARKETS. Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments. The value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends and interest paid with respect to such securities will fluctuate based on the relative strength of the U.S. dollar.




5






There may be less publicly available information about foreign securities and issuers than is available about domestic securities and issuers. Foreign companies generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to domestic companies. Securities of some foreign companies are less liquid and their prices may be more volatile than securities of comparable domestic companies. The Fund's interest and dividends from foreign issuers maybe subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes, thereby reducing the Fund's net investment income.


Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods and can be subject to unpredictable change based on such factors as political developments and currency controls by foreign governments. Because the Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, it may seek to hedge foreign currency risks by engaging in foreign currency exchange transactions. These may include buying or selling foreign currencies on a spot basis, entering into foreign currency forward contracts, and buying and selling foreign currency options, foreign currency futures, and options on foreign currency futures. Many of these activities constitute “derivatives” transactions.


The Fund may invest in issuers domiciled in “emerging markets,” those countries determined by the Adviser to have developing or emerging economies and markets. Emerging market investing involves risks in addition to those risks involved in foreign investing. For example, many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. In addition, economies in emerging markets generally are dependent heavily upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The securities markets of emerging countries are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and other more developed countries. Brokerage commissions, custodial services and other costs relating to investment in foreign markets generally are more expensive than in the United States, particularly with respect to emerging markets. In addition, some emerging market countries impose transfer taxes or fees on a capital market transaction.


Foreign investments involve a risk of local political, economic, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments, and may be affected by actions of foreign governments adverse to the interests of U.S. investors. Such actions may include the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on U.S. investment or on the ability to repatriate assets or convert currency into U.S. dollars, or other government intervention. There is no assurance that the Adviser will be able to anticipate these potential events or counter their effects. These risks are magnified for investments in developing countries, which may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small number of securities.


Economies of particular countries or areas of the world may differ favorably or unfavorably from the economy of the United States. Foreign markets may offer less protection to investors than U.S. markets. It is anticipated that in most cases the best available market for foreign securities will be on an exchange or in over-the-counter markets located outside the United States. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States, and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign security trading practices, including those involving securities settlement where Fund assets may be released prior to receipt of payment, may result in increased risk in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of a foreign broker-dealer, and may involve substantial delays. In addition, the costs of foreign investing, including withholding taxes, brokerage commissions and custodial costs, are generally higher than for U.S. investors. In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States. It may also be difficult to enforce legal rights in foreign countries. Foreign issuers are generally not bound by uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements and standards of practice comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers.


Some foreign securities impose restrictions on transfer within the United States or to U.S. persons. Although securities subject to such transfer restrictions may be marketable abroad, they may be less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions. American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global Depositary



6






Receipts (GDRs), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks include foreign exchange risk as well as the political and economic risks of the underlying issuer’s country.


Investments in emerging markets can be subject to a number of types of taxes that vary by country, change frequently, and are sometimes defined by custom rather than written regulation. Emerging countries can tax interest, dividends, and capital gains through the application of a withholding tax. The local custodian normally withholds the tax upon receipt of a payment and forwards such tax payment to the foreign government on behalf of the Fund. Certain foreign governments can also require a foreign investor to file an income tax return and pay the local tax through estimated tax payments, or pay with the tax return. Although not frequently used, some emerging markets have attempted to slow conversion of their currency by imposing a repatriation tax. Generally, this tax is applied to amounts, which are converted from the foreign currency to the investor’s currency and withdrawn from the local bank account. Transfer taxes or fees, such as stamp duties, security transfer taxes, and registration and script fees, are generally imposed by emerging markets as a tax or fee on a capital market transaction. Each emerging country may impose a tax or fee at a different point in time as the foreign investor perfects his interest in the securities acquired in the local market. A stamp duty is generally a tax on the official recording of a capital market transaction. Payment of such duty is generally a condition of the transfer of assets and failure to pay such duty can result in a loss of title to such asset as well as loss of benefit from any corporate actions. A stamp duty is generally determined based on a percentage of the value of the transaction conducted and can be charged against the buyer (e.g., Cyprus, India, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Philippines), against the seller (e.g., Argentina, Australia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Portugal, South Korea, Trinidad, Tobago, and Zimbabwe). Although such a fee does not generally exceed 100 basis points, certain emerging markets have assessed a stamp duty as high as 750 basis points (e.g., Pakistan). A security transfer tax is similar to a stamp duty and is generally applied to the purchase, sale or exchange of securities, which occur in a particular foreign market. These taxes are based on the value of the trade and similar to stamp taxes, can be assessed against the buyer, seller or both. Although the securities transfer tax may be assessed in lieu of a stamp duty, such tax can be assessed in addition to a stamp duty in certain foreign markets (e.g., Switzerland, South Korea, Indonesia). Upon purchasing a security in an emerging market, such security must often be submitted to a registration process in order to record the purchaser as a legal owner of such security interest. Often foreign countries will charge a registration or script fee to record the change in ownership and, where physical securities are issued, issue a new security certificate. In addition to assessing this fee upon the acquisition of a security, some markets also assess registration charges upon the registration of local shares to foreign shares.


FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF OPTIONS, FUTURES CONTRACTS AND FORWARD FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRACTS. The Fund may enter into certain option, futures, and forward foreign exchange contracts, including options and futures on currencies, which are Section 1256 contracts and may result in the Fund entering into straddles.


Open Section 1256 contracts at fiscal year end will be considered to have been closed at the end of the Fund’s fiscal year and any gains or losses will be recognized for tax purposes at that time. Such gains or losses from the normal closing or settlement of such transactions will be characterized as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss regardless of the holding period of the instrument. The Fund will be required to distribute net gains on such transactions to shareholders even though it may not have closed the transaction and received cash to pay such distributions.


Options, futures and forward foreign exchange contracts, including options and futures on currencies, which offset a security or currency position may be considered straddles for tax purposes, in which case a loss on any position in a straddle will be subject to deferral to the extent of unrealized gain in an offsetting position. The holding period of the securities or currencies comprising the straddle may be deemed not to begin until the



7






straddle is terminated. The holding period of the security offsetting an “in-the-money qualified covered call” option will not include the period of time the option is outstanding. Losses on written covered calls and purchased puts on securities, excluding certain “qualified covered call” options, may be long-term capital loss, if the security covering the option was held for more than twelve months prior to the writing of the option.


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


FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. The Fund may also invest in non-deliverable forward contracts (cash-settled contracts for currencies of countries which do not allow non-residents to hold substantial sums of their currency, e.g. china), in order to hedge the foreign currency risk. These contracts are principally traded in the interbank market conducted directly between currency traders (usually large, commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades.


The Fund may enter into forward contracts for a variety of purposes in connection with the management of the foreign currency exposure of its portfolio. The Fund’s use of such contracts would include, but not be limited to, the following: First, when the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, it may desire to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of dollars of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying security transactions, the Fund will be able to protect itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date the security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received.


Second, when the Adviser believes that one currency may experience a substantial movement against another currency, including the U.S. dollar, or it wishes to alter the Fund’s exposure to the currencies of the countries in its investment universe, it may enter into a forward contract to sell or buy foreign currency in exchange for the U.S. dollar or another foreign currency. Alternatively, where appropriate, the Fund may manage all or part of its foreign currency exposure through the use of a basket of currencies or a proxy currency where such currency or currencies act as an effective proxy for other currencies. In such a case, the Fund may enter into a forward contract where the amount of the foreign currency to be sold exceeds the value of the securities denominated in such currency. The use of this basket hedging technique may be more efficient and economical than entering into separate forward contracts for each currency held in the Fund. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures. The projection of short-term currency market movement is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. Under normal circumstances, consideration of the prospect for currency parities will be incorporated into the longer-term investment decisions made with regard to overall diversification strategies. However, the Adviser believes that it is important to have the flexibility to enter into such forward contracts when it determines that the best interests of the Fund will be served.


The Fund may enter into forward contracts for any other purpose consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and program. However, the Fund will not enter into a forward contract, or maintain exposure to any such contract(s), if the amount of foreign currency required to be delivered thereunder would exceed the Fund’s holdings of liquid securities and currency available for cover of the forward contract(s). In determining the amount to be delivered under a contract, the Fund may net offsetting positions.


At the maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may sell the portfolio security and make delivery of the foreign currency, or it may retain the security and either extend the maturity of the forward contract (by “rolling” that contract forward) or may initiate a new forward contract.  




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If the Fund retains the portfolio security and engages in an offsetting transaction, the Fund will incur a gain or a loss (as described below) to the extent that there has been movement in forward contract prices. If the Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, it may subsequently enter into a new forward contract to sell the foreign currency. Should forward prices decline during the period between the Fund's entering into a forward contract for the sale of a foreign currency and the date it enters into an offsetting contract for the purchase of the foreign currency, the Fund will realize a gain to the extent the price of the currency it has agreed to sell exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to purchase. Should forward prices increase, the Fund will suffer a loss to the extent of the price of the currency it has agreed to purchase exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to sell.


The Fund’s dealing in forward foreign currency exchange contracts will generally be limited to the transactions described above. However, the Fund reserves the right to enter into forward foreign currency contracts for different purposes and under different circumstances. Of course, the Fund is not required to enter into forward contracts with regard to its foreign currency denominated securities and will not do so unless deemed appropriate by the Adviser. It also should be realized that this method of hedging against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange at a future date. Additionally, although such contracts tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, at the same time, they tend to limit any potential gain, which might result from an increase in the value of that currency.


Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the “spread”) between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer.


FOREIGN FUTURES AND OPTIONS. Participation in foreign futures and foreign options transactions involves the execution and clearing of trades on or subject to the rules of a foreign board of trade. Neither the National Futures Association nor any domestic exchange regulates activities of any foreign boards of trade, including the execution, delivery and clearing of transactions, or has the power to compel enforcement of the rules of a foreign board of trade or any applicable foreign law. This is true even if the exchange is formally linked to a domestic market so that a position taken on the market may be liquidated by a transaction on another market. Moreover, such laws or regulations will vary depending on the foreign country in which the foreign futures or foreign options transaction occurs. For these reasons, customers who trade foreign futures or foreign options contracts may not be afforded certain of the protective measures provided by the Commodity Exchange Act, the CFTC’s regulations and the rules of the National Futures Association and any domestic exchange, including the right to use reparations proceedings before the Commission and arbitration proceedings provided by the National Futures Association or any domestic futures exchange. In particular, funds received from the Fund for foreign futures or foreign options transactions may not be provided the same protections as funds received in respect of transactions on United States futures exchanges. In addition, the price of any foreign futures or foreign options contract and, therefore, the potential profit and loss thereon may be affected by any variance in the foreign exchange rate between the time the Fund's order is placed and the time it is liquidated, offset or exercised.


FUTURES CONTRACTS. Transactions in Futures.  The Fund may enter into futures contracts, including stock index, interest rate and currency futures (“futures or futures contracts”).


Stock index futures contracts may be used to provide a hedge for a portion of the Fund’s portfolio, as a cash management tool, or as an efficient way for the Adviser to implement either an increase or decrease in portfolio market exposure in response to changing market conditions. The Fund may, purchase or sell futures contracts with respect to any stock index. Nevertheless, to hedge the Fund’s portfolio successfully, the Fund must sell futures contracts with respect to indices or sub-indices whose movements will have a significant correlation with movements in the prices of the Fund's portfolio securities.


Interest rate or currency futures contracts may be used to manage the Fund’s exposure to changes in prevailing levels of interest rates or currency exchange rates in order to establish more definitely the effective return on



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securities or currencies held or intended to be acquired by the Fund. In this regard, the Fund could sell interest rate or currency futures as an offset against the effect of expected increases in interest rates or currency exchange rates and purchase such futures as an offset against the effect of expected declines in interest rates or currency exchange rates.


The Fund will enter into futures contracts, which are traded on national or foreign futures exchanges, and are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument. Futures exchanges and trading in the United States are regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). Futures are traded in London at the London International Financial Futures Exchange in Paris at the MATIF and in Tokyo at the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of futures contracts could be used for the above-referenced purposes, futures contracts offer an effective and relatively low cost means of implementing the Fund's objectives in these areas.


Although the Fund has no current intention of engaging in futures or options transactions other than those described above, they reserve the right to do so. Such futures and options trading might involve risks, which differ from those involved in the futures and options described in this Statement of Additional Information.


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


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


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


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


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



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For example, one contract in the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index future is a contract to buy 25 pounds sterling multiplied by the level of the UK Financial Times 100 Share Index on a given future date. Settlement of a stock index futures contract may or may not be in the underlying instrument or index. If not in the underlying instrument or index, then settlement will be made in cash, equivalent over time to the difference between the contract price and the actual price of the underlying asset at the time the stock index futures contract expires.


SPECIAL RISKS OF TRANSACTIONS IN FUTURES CONTRACTS.


VOLATILITY AND LEVERAGE. The prices of futures contracts are volatile and are influenced, among other things, by actual and anticipated changes in the market and interest rates, which in turn are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and national and international political and economic events. Most United States futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of futures contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses.


Because of the low margin deposits required, futures trading involves an extremely high degree of leverage. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss, as well as gain, to the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract were deposited as margin, a subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction costs, if the account were then closed out. A 15% decrease would result in a loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit, if the contract were closed out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount of margin deposited to maintain the futures contract. However, the Fund would presumably have sustained comparable losses if, instead of the futures contract, it had invested in the underlying financial instrument and sold it after the decline. Furthermore, in the case of a futures contract purchase, in order to be certain that the Fund has sufficient assets to satisfy its obligations under a futures contract, the Fund earmarks to the futures contract money market instruments or other liquid securities equal in value to the current value of the underlying instrument less the margin deposit.


LIQUIDITY. The Fund may elect to close some or all of its futures positions at any time prior to their expiration. The Fund would do so to reduce exposure represented by long futures positions or short futures positions. The Fund may close its positions by taking opposite positions, which would operate to terminate the Fund’s position in the futures contracts. Final determinations of variation margin would then be made, additional cash would be required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund would realize a loss or a gain.


Futures contracts may be closed out only on the exchange or board of trade where the contracts were initially traded. Although the Fund intends to purchase or sell futures contracts only on exchanges or boards of trade where there appears to be an active market, there is no assurance that a liquid market on an exchange or board of trade will exist for any particular contract at any particular time. The reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange are substantially the same as those discussed under “Special Risks of Transactions in Options on Futures Contracts.” In the event that a liquid market does not exist, it might not be possible to close out a futures contract, and in the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin. However, in the event futures contracts have been used to hedge the underlying instruments, the Fund would continue to hold the underlying instruments subject to the hedge until the futures contracts could be terminated. In such circumstances, an increase in the price of underlying instruments, if any, might partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract. However, as described below, there is no guarantee that the price of the underlying instruments will, in fact, correlate with the price movements in the futures contract and thus provide an offset to losses on a futures contract.




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HEDGING RISK. A decision of whether, when, and how to hedge involves skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some degree because of unexpected market behavior or market or interest rate trends. There are several risks in connection with the use by the Fund of futures contracts as a hedging device. One risk arises because of the possible imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the futures contracts and movements in the prices of the underlying instruments, which are the subject of the hedge. The Adviser will, however, attempt to reduce this risk by entering into futures contracts whose movements, in its judgment, will have a significant correlation with movements in the prices of the Fund’s underlying instruments sought to be hedged.


Successful use of futures contracts by the Fund for hedging purposes is also subject to the Adviser’s ability to correctly predict movements in the direction of the market. It is possible that, when the Fund has sold futures to hedge its portfolio against a decline in the market, the index, indices, or instruments underlying futures might advance and the value of the underlying instruments held in the Fund’s portfolio might decline. If this were to occur, the Fund would lose money on the futures and also would experience a decline in value in its underlying instruments. However, while this might occur to a certain degree, the Adviser believes that over time the value of the Fund’s portfolio will tend to move in the same direction as the market indices used to hedge the portfolio. It is also possible that if the Fund were to hedge against the possibility of a decline in the market (adversely affecting the underlying instruments held in its portfolio) and prices instead increased, the Fund would lose part or all of the benefit of increased value of those underlying instruments that it has hedged, because it would have offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, in such situations, if the Fund had insufficient cash, it might have to sell underlying instruments to meet daily variation margin requirements. Such sales of underlying instruments might be, but would not necessarily be, at increased prices (which would reflect the rising market). The Fund might have to sell underlying instruments at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so.


In addition to the possibility that there might be an imperfect correlation, or no correlation at all, between price movements in the futures contracts and the portion of the portfolio being hedged, the price movements of futures contracts might not correlate perfectly with price movements in the underlying instruments due to certain market distortions. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors might close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal relationship between the underlying instruments and futures markets. Second, the margin requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities markets, and as a result the futures market might attract more speculators than the securities markets do. Increased participation by speculators in the futures market might also cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortion in the futures market and also because of the imperfect correlation between price movements in the underlying instruments and movements in the prices of futures contracts, even a correct forecast of general market trends by the Adviser might not result in a successful hedging transaction over a very short time period.


ILLIQUID OR RESTRICTED SECURITIES. Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”). Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to sell. Restricted securities will be priced at fair value as determined in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. If through the appreciation of illiquid securities or the depreciation of liquid securities, the Fund should be in a position where more than 15% of the value of its net assets are invested in illiquid assets, including restricted securities, the Fund will take appropriate steps to protect liquidity.


Notwithstanding the above, the Fund may purchase securities which, while privately placed, are eligible for purchase and sale under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. This rule permits certain qualified institutional buyers to trade in privately placed securities even though such securities are not registered under the 1933 Act. The Adviser under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, will consider whether securities purchased under Rule 144A are illiquid and thus subject to the Fund's restriction of investing no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. A determination of whether a Rule 144A security is liquid or not is a question of fact.



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In making this determination, the Adviser will consider the trading markets for the specific security taking into account the unregistered nature of a Rule 144A security. In addition, the Adviser could consider: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes, (2) the number of dealers and potential purchases, (3) any dealer undertakings to make a market, and (4) the nature of the security and of marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer). The liquidity of Rule 144A securities would be monitored, and if as a result of changed conditions it is determined that a Rule 144A security is no longer liquid, the Fund's holdings of illiquid securities would be reviewed to determine what, if any, steps are required to assure that the Fund does not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Investing in Rule 144A securities could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund's assets invested in illiquid securities if qualified institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.


LOANS AND OTHER DIRECT DEBT INSTRUMENTS. Direct debt instruments are interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental, or other borrower to lenders or lending syndicates (loans and loan participations), to suppliers of goods or services (trade claims or other receivables), or to other parties. Direct debt instruments are subject to the Fund’s policies regarding the quality of debt securities.


Purchasers of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of principal and interest. Direct debt instruments may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating service. If the Fund does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the Fund’s share price and yield could be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured offer the Fund more protections than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. However, there is no assurance that the liquidations of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral could be liquidated. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Direct indebtedness of developing countries also involves a risk that the governmental entities responsible for the repayment of the debt may be unable, or unwilling, to pay interest and repay principal when due.


Investments in loans through direct assignment of a financial institution’s interests with respect to a loan may involve additional risks to the Fund. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the Fund could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, the Fund could be held liable as a co-lender. Direct debt instruments may also involve a risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary. Direct debt instruments that are not in the form of securities may offer less legal protection to the Fund in the event of fraud or misrepresentation. In the absence of definitive regulatory guidance, the Fund relies on the Adviser’s research in an attempt to avoid situations where fraud or misrepresentation could adversely affect the Fund.


A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, the Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, it may have to rely on the agent to apply appropriate credit remedies against a borrower. If assets held by the agent for the benefit of the Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the agent’s general creditors, the Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on the loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal or interest.


Direct indebtedness purchased by the Fund may include letters of credit, revolving credit facilities, or other standby financing commitments obligating the Fund to pay additional cash on demand. These commitments may have the effect of requiring the Fund to increase its investment in a borrower at a time when it would not otherwise have done so, even if the borrower’s condition makes it unlikely that the amount will ever be repaid. The Fund will set aside appropriate liquid assets in a custodial account to cover its potential obligations under standby financing commitments.


The Fund limits the amount of total assets that it will invest in any one issuer or, in issuers within the same industry (see the Fund’s investment limitations). For purposes of these limitations, the Fund generally will treat the borrower as the “issuer” of indebtedness held by the Fund. In the case of loan participations where a bank or other lending institution serves as financial intermediary between the Fund and the borrower, if the participation



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does not shift to the Fund the direct debtor-creditor relationship with the borrower, SEC interpretations require the Fund, in appropriate circumstances, to treat both the lending bank or other lending institution and the borrower as “issuers” for these purposes. Treating a financial intermediary as an issuer of indebtedness may restrict the Fund’s ability to invest in indebtedness related to a single financial intermediary, or a group of intermediaries engaged in the same industry, even if the underlying borrowers represent many different companies and industries.


MATURITY OF DEBT SECURITIES. The maturity of debt securities may be considered long (10 years or more), intermediate (3 to 10 years), or short-term (less than 3 years). In general, the principal values of longer-term securities fluctuate more widely in response to changes in interest rates than those of shorter-term securities, providing greater opportunity for capital gain or risk of capital loss. A decline in interest rates usually produces an increase in the value of debt securities, while an increase in interest rates generally reduces their value.


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


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


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


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


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




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


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


OPTIONS. Writing Covered Call Options. The Fund may write (sell) American or European style “covered” call options and purchase options to close out options previously written by the Fund. In writing covered call options, the Fund expects to generate additional premium income which should serve to enhance the Fund’s total return and reduce the effect of any price decline of the security or currency involved in the option. Covered call options will generally be written on securities or currencies which, in the Adviser's opinion, are not expected to have any major price increases or moves in the near future but which, over the long term, are deemed to be attractive investments for the Fund.


A call option gives the holder (buyer) the “right to purchase” a security or currency at a specified price (the exercise price) at expiration of the option (European style) or at any time until a certain date (the expiration date) (American style). So long as the obligation of the writer of a call option continues, he may be assigned an exercise notice by the broker-dealer through whom such option was sold, requiring him to deliver the underlying security or currency against payment of the exercise price. This obligation terminates upon the expiration of the call option, or such earlier time at which the writer effects a closing purchase transaction by repurchasing an option identical to that previously sold. To secure his obligation to deliver the underlying security or currency in the case of a call option, a writer is required to deposit in escrow the underlying security or currency or other assets in accordance with the rules of a clearing corporation.


The Fund will write only covered call options. This means that the Fund will own the security or currency subject to the option or an option to purchase the same underlying security or currency, having an exercise price equal to or less than the exercise price of the "covered" option, or will establish and maintain with its custodian for the term of the option, an account consisting of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities having a value equal to the fluctuating market value of the securities or currencies on which the Fund holds a covered call position.


Portfolio securities or currencies on which call options may be written will be purchased solely on the basis of investment considerations consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. The writing of covered call options is a conservative investment technique believed to involve relatively little risk (in contrast to the writing of naked or uncovered options), but capable of enhancing the Fund’s total return. When writing a covered call option, the Fund, in return for the premium, gives up the opportunity for profit from a price increase in the underlying security or currency above the exercise price, but conversely retains the risk of loss should the price of the security or currency decline. Unlike one who owns securities or currencies not subject to an option, the Fund has no control over when it may be required to sell the underlying securities or currencies, since it may be assigned an exercise notice at any time prior to the expiration of its obligation as a writer. If a call option, which the Fund



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has written, expires, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium; however, such gain may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying security or currency during the option period. If the call option is exercised, the Fund will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security or currency. The Fund does not consider a security or currency covered by a call to be “pledged” as that term is used in the Fund's policy which limits the pledging or mortgaging of its assets.


The premium received is the market value of an option. The premium the Fund will receive from writing a call option will reflect, among other things, the current market price of the underlying security or currency, the relationship of the exercise price to such market price, the historical price volatility of the underlying security or currency, and the length of the option period. Once the decision to write a call option has been made, the Adviser, in determining whether a particular call option should be written on a particular security or currency, will consider the reasonableness of the anticipated premium and the likelihood that a liquid secondary market will exist for those options. The premium received by the Fund for writing covered call options will be recorded as a liability of the Fund. This liability will be adjusted daily to the option's current market value, which will be the latest sale price at the time at which the net asset value per share of the Fund is computed (close of the New York Stock Exchange), or, in the absence of such sale, the latest asked price. The option will be terminated upon expiration of the option, the purchase of an identical option in a closing transaction, or delivery of the underlying security or currency upon the exercise of the option.


Closing transactions will be effected in order to realize a profit on an outstanding call option, to prevent an underlying security or currency from being called, or, to permit the sale of the underlying security or currency. Furthermore, effecting a closing transaction will permit the Fund to write another call option on the underlying security or currency with either a different exercise price or expiration date or both. If the Fund desires to sell a particular security or currency from its portfolio on which it has written a call option, or purchased a put option, it will seek to effect a closing transaction prior to, or concurrently with, the sale of the security or currency. There is, of course, no assurance that the Fund will be able to effect such closing transactions at favorable prices. If the Fund cannot enter into such a transaction, it may be required to hold a security or currency that it might otherwise have sold. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it runs the risk of not being able to participate in the appreciation of the underlying securities or currencies above the exercise price, as well as the risk of being required to hold on to securities or currencies that are depreciating in value. This could result in higher transaction costs. The Fund will pay transaction costs in connection with the writing of options to close out previously written options. Such transaction costs are normally higher than those applicable to purchases and sales of portfolio securities.


Call options written by the Fund will normally have expiration dates of less than nine months from the date written. The exercise price of the options may be below, equal to, or above the current market values of the underlying securities or currencies at the time the options are written. From time to time, the Fund may purchase an underlying security or currency for delivery in accordance with an exercise notice of a call option assigned to it, rather than delivering such security or currency from its portfolio. In such cases, additional costs may be incurred.


The Fund will realize a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from the writing of the option. Because increases in the market price of a call option will generally reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security or currency, any loss resulting from the repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset in whole or in part by appreciation of the underlying security or currency owned by the Fund.


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



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than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.


As an alternative to writing or purchasing call and put options on stock index futures, the Fund may write or purchase call and put options on stock indices. Such options would be used in a manner similar to the use of options on futures contracts.


SPECIAL RISKS OF TRANSACTIONS IN OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The risks described under “Special Risks of Transactions in Futures Contracts” are substantially the same as the risks of using options on futures. In addition, where the Fund seeks to close out an option position by writing or buying an offsetting option covering the same underlying instrument, index or contract and having the same exercise price and expiration date, its ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options, or underlying instruments; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or a clearing corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in the class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on the exchange that had been issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. There is no assurance that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not, at times, render certain of the facilities of any of the clearing corporations inadequate, and thereby result in the institution by an exchange of special procedures which may interfere with the timely execution of customers' orders.


PURCHASING CALL OPTIONS. The Fund may purchase American or European style call options. As the holder of a call option, the Fund has the right to purchase the underlying security or currency at the exercise price at any time during the option period (American style) or at the expiration of the option (European style). The Fund may enter into closing sale transactions with respect to such options, exercise them or permit them to expire. The Fund may purchase call options for the purpose of increasing its current return or avoiding tax consequences, which could reduce its current return. The Fund may also purchase call options in order to acquire the underlying securities or currencies. Examples of such uses of call options are provided below.


Call options may be purchased by the Fund for the purpose of acquiring the underlying securities or currencies for its portfolio. Utilized in this fashion, the purchase of call options enables the Fund to acquire the securities or currencies at the exercise price of the call option plus the premium paid. At times the net cost of acquiring securities or currencies in this manner may be less than the cost of acquiring the securities or currencies directly. This technique may also be useful to the Fund in purchasing a large block of securities or currencies that would be more difficult to acquire by direct market purchases. So long as it holds such a call option rather than the underlying security or currency itself, the Fund is partially protected from any unexpected decline in the market price of the underlying security or currency and in such event could allow the call option to expire, incurring a loss only to the extent of the premium paid for the option.


PURCHASING PUT OPTIONS. The Fund may purchase American or European style put options. As the holder of a put option, the Fund has the right to sell the underlying security or currency at the exercise price at any time during the option period (American style) or at the expiration of the option (European style). The Fund may enter into closing sale transactions with respect to such options, exercise them or permit them to expire. The Fund may purchase put options for defensive purposes in order to protect against an anticipated decline in the value of its securities or currencies. An example of such use of put options is provided below.


The Fund may purchase a put option on an underlying security or currency (a "protective put") owned by the Fund as a defensive technique in order to protect against an anticipated decline in the value of the security or currency. Such hedge protection is provided only during the life of the put option when the Fund, as the holder of the put option, is able to sell the underlying security or currency at the put exercise price regardless of any



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decline in the underlying security's market price or currency's exchange value. For example, a put option may be purchased in order to protect unrealized appreciation of a security or currency where the Adviser deems it desirable to continue to hold the security or currency because of tax considerations. The premium paid for the put option and any transaction costs would reduce any capital gain otherwise available for distribution when the security or currency is eventually sold.


The Fund may also purchase put options at a time when the Fund does not own the underlying security or currency. By purchasing put options on a security or currency it does not own, the Fund seeks to benefit from a decline in the market price of the underlying security or currency. If the put option is not sold when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying security or currency remains equal to or greater than the exercise price during the life of the put option, the Fund will lose its entire investment in the put option. In order for the purchase of a put option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security or currency must decline sufficiently below the exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs, unless the put option is sold in a closing sale transaction.


REGULATORY LIMITATIONS. The Fund will engage in futures contracts and options thereon only for bona fide hedging, yield enhancement, and risk management purposes, in each case in accordance with rules and regulations of the CFTC.


The Fund's use of futures contracts may result in leverage. Therefore, to the extent necessary, in instances involving the purchase of futures contracts or the writing of call or put options thereon by the Fund, an amount of cash, U.S. government securities or other appropriate liquid securities, equal to the market value of the futures contracts and options thereon (less any related margin deposits), will be identified in an account with the Fund's custodian to cover (such as owning an offsetting position) the position, or alternative cover will be employed. Assets used as cover or held in an identified account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option or future is open, unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund's assets to cover or identified accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund's ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.


REGULATION AS A COMMODITY POOL OPERATOR.  The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, will file with the National Futures Association, a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), as amended, and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) promulgated thereunder, with respect to the Fund’s operation.  Accordingly, the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator.

OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES. The Fund’s investments in an underlying portfolio of Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds and closed-end funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in the underlying funds.


EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS. ETFs are typically passive funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging, have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, ETFs are unit investment trusts (UITs) that have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap “creation units” in block-multiples of 50,000 shares for in-kind securities and cash in the form of dividends. The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded once the net asset value (NAV) is calculated. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds as discussed in the following paragraphs.

   

OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES. The 1940 Act provides that an underlying fund whose shares are purchased by the Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the underlying fund's outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an underlying fund's outstanding securities therefore, will generally be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not exceed 15% of the Fund's assets.  In some cases deemed appropriate by the Adviser or the Board of Trustees, Shares held by the Fund in excess of



18






1% of an underlying fund’s outstanding securities will be considered readily marketable securities (for example, exchange traded funds which are registered as open-end investment companies but listed on an exchange).


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


Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying funds are made independently of the Fund and the Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one underlying fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment adviser of another such fund. The result of this would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.


CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES. The Fund may invest in "closed-end" investment companies (or "closed-end funds"), subject to the investment restrictions set forth below. The Fund, together with any company or companies controlled by the Fund, and any other investment companies having the Adviser as an investment adviser, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any closed-end fund. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price. Such securities are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (commonly known as "NASDAQ") and, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the Fund), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.


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


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


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


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



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MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE. Notwithstanding these limitations, the Fund reserves the right to convert to a "master/feeder" structure at a future date. If the Board approved the use of a master-feeder structure for the Fund, the Fund (the "feeder" fund) would invest all of its investable assets in an open-end management investment company (the "master" fund) with substantially the same investment objectives, policies and limitations as the Fund. For this purpose, "all of the Fund's investable assets" means that the only investment securities that would be held by the Fund would be the Fund's interest in the master fund. Under such a structure, one or more "feeder" funds, such as the Fund, invest all of their assets in a "master" fund, which, in turn, invests directly in a portfolio of securities. If required by applicable law, the Fund will seek shareholder approval before converting to a master/feeder structure. If the requisite regulatory authorities determine that such approval is not required, shareholders will be deemed, by purchasing shares, to have consented to such a conversion and no further shareholder approval will be sought. Such a conversion is expressly permitted under the investment objective and fundamental policies of the Fund.


REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is an instrument under which the investor (such as the Fund) acquires ownership of a security (known as the "underlying security") and the seller (i.e., a bank or primary dealer) agrees, at the time of the sale, to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon time and price, thereby determining the yield during the term of the agreement. This results in a fixed rate of return insulated from market fluctuations during such period, unless the seller defaults on its repurchase obligations. The Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements where: (i) the underlying securities are of the type (excluding maturity limitations) which the Fund's investment guidelines would allow it to purchase directly, (ii) the market value of the underlying security, including interest accrued, will be at all times at least equal to the value of the repurchase agreement, and (iii) payment for the underlying security is made only upon physical delivery or evidence of book-entry transfer to the account of the Fund's custodian. Repurchase agreements usually are for short periods, often under one week, and will not be entered into by the Fund for a duration of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 15% of the net asset value of the Fund would be invested in such agreements or other securities which are not readily marketable.


The Fund will assure that the amount of collateral with respect to any repurchase agreement is adequate. As with a true extension of credit, however, there is risk of delay in recovery or the possibility of inadequacy of the collateral should the seller of the repurchase agreement fail financially. In addition, the Fund could incur costs in connection with the disposition of the collateral if the seller were to default. The Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with sellers deemed to be creditworthy by, or pursuant to guidelines established by, the Board of Trustees of the Trust and only when the economic benefit to the Fund is believed to justify the attendant risks. The Fund has adopted standards for the sellers with whom they will enter into repurchase agreements. The Board of Trustees of the Trust believe these standards are designed to reasonably assure that such sellers present no serious risk of becoming involved in bankruptcy proceedings within the time frame contemplated by the repurchase agreement. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with well-established securities dealers or with member banks of the Federal Reserve System.

SHORT SALES. The Fund may sell securities short as part of its overall portfolio management strategies involving the use of derivative instruments and to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own or has the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.


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


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




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To the extent the Fund sells securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales "against the box") will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker (not including the proceeds of the short sale. The Fund may sell securities short to the full extent permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). A short sale is "against the box" to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.


SPECIAL RISKS OF TRANSACTIONS IN OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The risks described under "Special Risks of Transactions on Futures Contracts" are substantially the same as the risks of using options on futures. In addition, where the Fund seeks to close out an option position by writing or buying an offsetting option covering the same underlying instrument, index or contract and having the same exercise price and expiration date, its ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options, or underlying instruments; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or a clearing corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in the class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on the exchange that had been issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. There is no assurance that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not, at times, render certain of the facilities of any of the clearing corporations inadequate, and thereby result in the institution by an exchange of special procedures which may interfere with the timely execution of customers' orders.


SWAP AGREEMENTS. The Fund may enter into interest rate, index and currency exchange rate swap agreements in attempts to obtain a particular desired return at a lower cost to the Fund than if the Fund has invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard "swap" transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of returns) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or "swapped" between the parties are calculated with respect to a "notional amount," i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a "basket" of securities representing a particular index. The "notional amount" of the swap agreement is only a fictive basis on which to calculate the obligations the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. The Fund's obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the "net amount"). The Fund's obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the maintenance of a segregated account consisting of cash, U.S. government securities, or other liquid securities, to avoid leveraging of the Fund's portfolio. The Fund will not enter into a swap agreement with any single party if the net amount owed or to be received under existing contracts with that party would exceed 5% of the Fund's assets.


Whether the Fund's use of swap agreements enhance the Fund's total return will depend on the Adviser's ability correctly to predict whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Because they are two-party contracts and may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The Adviser will cause the Fund to enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that would be eligible for consideration as repurchase agreement counterparties under the Fund's repurchase agreement guidelines. The swap market is a relatively new market and is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the swaps



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market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund's ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.


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


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


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


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


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


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



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offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract.


For example, one contract in the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index future is a contract to buy 25 pounds sterling multiplied by the level of the UK Financial Times 100 Share Index on a given future date. Settlement of a stock index futures contract may or may not be in the underlying instrument or index. If not in the underlying instrument or index, then settlement will be made in cash, equivalent over time to the difference between the contract price and the actual price of the underlying asset at the time the stock index futures contract expires.


WARRANTS. The Fund may invest in warrants. Warrants are pure speculation in that they have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. Warrants basically are options to purchase equity securities at a specific price valid for a specific period of time. They do not represent ownership of the securities, but only the right to buy them. Warrants differ from call options in that warrants are issued by the issuer of the security, which may be purchased on their exercise, whereas call options may be written or issued by anyone. The prices of warrants do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities.


WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES and FORWARD COMMITMENT TRANSACTIONS. The Fund may, from time to time, purchase securities on a "when-issued" or delayed delivery basis. The price for such securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the when-issued securities take place at a later date. Normally, the settlement date occurs within one month of the purchase, but may take up to three months. During the period between purchases and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its net asset value. The Fund will maintain, in a segregated account with the custodian, cash or appropriate liquid securities equal in value to commitments for when-issued securities. When-issued and forward commitment transactions involve the risk that the price or yield obtained in a transaction may be less favorable than the price or yield available in the market when the transaction takes place.


WRITING COVERED PUT OPTIONS. The Fund may write American or European style covered put options and purchase options to close out options previously written by the Fund. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell and the writer (seller) has the obligation to buy, the underlying security or currency at the exercise price during the option period (American style) or at the expiration of the option (European style). So long as the obligation of the writer continues, it may be assigned an exercise notice by the broker-dealer through whom such option was sold, requiring it to make payment of the exercise price against delivery of the underlying security or currency. The operation of put options in other respects, including their related risks and rewards, is substantially identical to that of call options.


The Fund would write put options only on a covered basis, which means that the Fund would maintain in a segregated account cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid appropriate securities in an amount not less than the exercise price or the Fund will own an option to sell the underlying security or currency subject to the option having an exercise price equal to or greater than the exercise price of the "covered" option at all times while the put option is outstanding. (The rules of a clearing corporation currently require that such assets be deposited in escrow to secure payment of the exercise price.) The Fund would generally write covered put options in circumstances where the Adviser wishes to purchase the underlying security or currency for the Fund's portfolio at a price lower than the current market price of the security or currency. In such event the Fund would write a put option at an exercise price, which, reduced by the premium received on the option, reflects the lower price it is willing to pay. Since the Fund would also receive interest on debt securities or currencies maintained to cover the exercise price of the option, this technique could be used to enhance current return during periods of market uncertainty. The risk in such a transaction would be that the market price of the underlying security or currency would decline below the exercise price less the premiums received. Such a decline could be substantial and result in a significant loss to the Fund. In addition, the Fund, because it does not own the specific securities or currencies, which it may be required to purchase in exercise of the put, cannot benefit from appreciation, if any, with respect to such specific securities or currencies.




23






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


UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCY SECURITIES. These consist of debt securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), Farmer's Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., GNMA mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency's or instrumentality's right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., FNMA Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency's or instrumentality's own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association).


DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS


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


No sooner than sixty days after the end of each quarter/semi-annual period, the Fund will make available a complete schedule of portfolio holdings as of the last day of the quarter/semi-annual period.  The Trust files with the SEC a Form N-CSR or a Form N-Q report for the period that includes the date as of which that list of portfolio holdings was current.  The filing discloses the Fund’s portfolio holdings as of the end of the applicable quarter.  


Other than to rating agencies and service providers, as described below, the Fund does not selectively disclose portfolio holdings to any person.   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 portfolios, may have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for the Adviser to provide its management, administrative, and investment services to the Fund.  As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability, demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio managers in the trading of such securities, Adviser personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers and portfolio research providers.

·

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

·

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



24






·

Rating Agencies.  Morningstar, Lipper and other mutual fund rating agencies may also receive the Fund's full portfolio holdings, generally quarterly on a 60-day lag basis with the understanding that such holdings may be posted or disseminated to the public by the rating agencies at any time.   


·

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.


The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, or his or her designee, may also grant exceptions to permit additional disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information at differing times and with different lag times (the period from the date of the information to the date the information is made available) in instances where the Fund has legitimate business purposes for doing so, it is in the best interests of shareholders, and the recipients are subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the nonpublic information and are required to execute an agreement to that effect. The Board will be informed of any such disclosures at its next regularly scheduled meeting or as soon as is reasonably practicable thereafter.  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.


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


MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST


Trustees and Officers


Because AdvisorOne Funds is a Delaware business trust, there are Trustees appointed to oversee the Trust. These Trustees are responsible for overseeing the services provided by the Adviser and the general operations of the Trust. These responsibilities include approving the arrangements with companies that provide necessary services to the Fund, ensuring the Fund's compliance with applicable securities laws and that dividends and capital gains are distributed to shareholders.  The Trustees oversee each fund in the AdvisorOne Funds.  None of the Trustees or Officers holds public directorships.  The Trustees have appointed officers to provide many of the functions necessary for day-to-day operations.


Board Leadership Structure


The Trust is led by Mr. Todd Clarke, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since November 21, 2012.  Mr. Clarke is an interested person by virtue of his position as Chief Executive Officer of CLS Investments, LLC, the investment adviser to all the funds in the Trust except the Horizon Active Asset Allocation Fund and the Horizon Active Income Fund.  Mr. Eric Clarke is an interested person by virtue of his position as President and Director of Constellation Trust Company, IRA custodian to the Trust. T he Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Todd Clarke and Mr. Eric Clarke and four (4) Independent Trustees.   The Independent Trustees have selected Mr. John W. Davidson as Lead Independent Trustee. Additionally, under certain 1940 Act governance guidelines that apply to the Trust, the Independent Trustees meet in executive session, at least quarterly.  Under the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, (c) execution and administration of Trust policies including (i) setting the agendas for board meetings and (ii) providing information to board members in advance of each board meeting and between board meetings.  The Chairman is currently an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act.  The Board believes that its leadership structure, including the Interested Chair, the Lead Independent Trustee, and the percentage of the Board who are Independent Trustees is most appropriate for the Trust at this time for the following key reasons: (i) as Chief Executive Officer of CLS Investments, Mr. Todd Clarke has a personal and professional stake in the quality and continuity of services provided to the Trust and has a strong incentive to achieve superior performance results (ii) Mr. Todd Clarke’s past experience as President of the Trust and his additional roles with the Trust’s affiliates improve the Board’s understanding of the Trust’s operations and enhance the effectiveness of communications to shareholders and the Trustees, (iii) Mr. Todd Clarke’s ability to work effectively with other Trustees, and (iv) the extent to which the Independent Trustees meet as needed in the



25






absence of management and Interested Trustees.  Generally, the Trust believes it best to have a 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 and the Lead Independent Trustee, 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 an independent Audit Committee with a separate chairman. 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. Todd Clarke has over 20 years of business experience in the investment management business, and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his years of service to CLS Investments, LLC.  Mr. Gary W. Lanzen has over 20 years of business experience in the financial services industry, holds a Masters in Education Administration degree, is a Certified Financial Planner ("CFP") and serves as a member of other mutual fund boards outside of the Trust and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his years of service to mutual fund boards.   Mr. Larry A. Carter has over 20 years of business experience in financial management which includes areas such as accounting, internal control, financial reporting, auditing and SEC compliance, holds a B.S. in Business Administration and a Certified Public Accountant designation, has served on boards outside of the Trust and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate.  Mr. John W. Davidson has over 20 years of business experience in the financial services industry, holds a Master of Arts in Mathematics and Masters in Business Administration, is a Chartered Financial Analyst and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate. Mr. Edward D. Foy has over 20 years of business experience in the financial services industry, holds a Bachelor of Science degree and is a Registered Financial Consultant with the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate. Mr. Eric Clarke has over 15 years of business experience in the financial services industry, holds a Masters in Business Administration. 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.


Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130.





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Independent Trustees


Name, Address and Year of Birth

Position/Term of Office(1)

Principal Occupation

During the Past Five Years

Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex(2)

 Overseen by Trustee

Other Directorships held by Trustee

During the Past Five Years

Gary W. Lanzen(3)

1954

Trustee

Since 2003


Retired (December 31, 2012), President, Orizon Investment Counsel, LLC (2000-2010); Chief Investment Officer, Orizon Investment Counsel, LLC, (2000- 2011); Founding Partner, Orizon Group, Inc. (a financial services company) (2002-2006).

16

Northern Lights Fund Trust and Northern Lights Variable Trust (106 portfolios),(since 2005)

 The Alternative Strategies Fund (since 2010)

Larry A. Carter

1952

Trustee

Since February 2012

Consultant to private equity clients on grain processing industry (since 2004).

16

NONE

John W. Davidson

1946

Trustee

Since February 2012

Director, President & Chief Economist of PartnerRe Asset Management Corporation; Chief Investment Officer of Partner Reinsurance Company of the US (2001-2008);  Creator, author and founder of John Davidson’s Economic Comments (2009-Present).

16

NONE

Edward D. Foy

1952

Trustee

Since February 2012

President and Chief Investment Officer of Foy Financial Services, Inc. (1987-Present).

16

NONE



Interested Trustees and Officers


Name, Address and Year of Birth

Position/Term of Office(1)

Principal Occupation

During the Past Five Years

Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex(2)

Overseen by Trustee

Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years

Todd Clarke(4)

1969

Trustee since November 2012

Chief Executive Officer and Manager, CLS Investments, LLC (since September 2012); President, CLS Investments, LLC (2004-2012); Director, Constellation Trust Company (since February 2013).

16

NONE

Eric Clarke(5)

1973

Trustee since November 2012

President and Manager, Orion Advisor Services, LLC (since 2004); President and Director, Constellation Trust Company, (since 2004).

16

NONE



27









Ryan Beach

1977

President since November 2012

President of the Trust (since November 2012), President, CLS Investments, LLC (since September 2012); Associate General Counsel, NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC (2011-2012); Attorney, Scudder Law Firm, P.C., L.L.O. (2005-2011).

N/A

N/A



28









Brian Nielsen(6)

1972

Secretary and Chief Legal Officer

Since 2003

General Counsel and Secretary (since 2001) of CLS Investments, LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (since 2001) of Orion Advisor Services, LLC; Manager (since 2012), General Counsel and Secretary (since 2003) of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC; CEO (since 2012), General Counsel and Secretary (since 2003), Manager (since 2005), President (from 2005 to 2013) of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (since 2003) of AdvisorOne Funds; Director, Secretary and General Counsel (since 2004) of Constellation Trust Company; Manager (since 2008), General Counsel and Secretary (since 2011), Assistant Secretary (from 2004 to 2011) of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC; Trustee (since 2011) of Northern Lights Fund Trust II; General Counsel and Secretary (since 2011) and Assistant Secretary (from 2004 to 2011) of Gemcom, LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (since 2012) and Assistant Secretary (from 2003 to 2012) of Gemini Fund Services, LLC; Manager (since 2012) of Arbor Point Advisors, LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (since 2013) of Gemini Hedge Fund Services, LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (since 2013) of Gemini Alternative Funds, LLC; Assistant Secretary (from 2011 to 2013) of Northern Lights Fund Trust; and Assistant Secretary (from 2011 to 2013) of Northern Lights Variable Trust.

N/A

N/A



29









Michael J. Wagner

80 Arkay Drive Hauppauge, NY 11788

1950

Chief Compliance Officer

Since 2006

President (4/2006-present) and Chief Operating Officer (9/2004–3/2006) of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC.

N/A

N/A

Dawn Borelli

80 Arkay Drive.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

1972

Treasurer

Since April 2012

Assistant Vice President, of Fund Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC since 2010, Assistant Vice President of Global Fund Administration, Legg Mason & Co. LLC (financial service company) from 2003 to 2010.

N/A

N/A

(1) The term of office for each Trustee and officer listed above will continue indefinitely.

(2) The term "Fund Complex" refers to the AdvisorOne Funds trust.

(3) Gary W. Lanzen, also serves as an independent trustee of Northern Lights Fund Trust and Northern Lights Variable Trust, (collectively the “NL Trusts”), each series trusts that are separate from the Fund Complex.  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 NL Trusts, including Mr. Lanzen, and one former trustee of the NL Trusts.  To settle the SEC’s charges, GFS and NLCS each agreed to pay $50,000 penalties, and both firms and the named trustees in the Order agreed to engage an independent compliance consultant to address the violations found in the Order.  The firms and the named trustees in the Order agreed to settle with the SEC without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, while agreeing to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of those provisions.  There were no allegations that shareholders suffered any monetary harm.  

(4) Todd Clarke is an “interested person” of the Trust as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, because of his affiliation with CLS Investments, LLC (investment adviser to certain funds of the Trust).  Mr. Clarke is the brother of Eric Clarke and the brother-in-law of Brian Nielsen.

(5) Eric Clarke is an “interested person” of the Trust as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, because of his affiliation with Orion Advisor Services, LLC and Constellation Trust Company, both affiliates of CLS Investments, LLC and is the brother of Todd Clarke and brother-in-law of Brian Nielsen.

(6) Brian Nielsen is the brother-in-law of Todd Clarke and Eric Clarke.



The Board of Trustees has an Audit and Nominating Committee (the "Committee") that consists of all the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Committee's responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the Trust's independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit; (iii) discussing with the independent auditors certain matters relating to the Trust's financial statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent auditors, or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing with the independent auditors any relationships or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust's independent auditors and recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor's independence; and (v) considering the comments of the independent auditors and management's responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust's accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls. The Board has adopted a written charter for the Committee. The Committee also reviews and nominates candidates to serve as non-interested Trustees. The Committee generally will not consider nominees recommended by shareholders of a Fund.  During the year ended November 30 30, 2013, the Committee met four times.





COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES


The Trust pays each Trustee of the Trust who was not an interested person a fee of $6,000 per quarter. In every instance, the cost of the fees are to be allocated among the participating Funds in accordance with a formula that takes into account the overall asset size of each affected Fund. The Trust also reimburses the Trustees for travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board.  Officers of the Trust and Trustees who are interested persons of the Trust do not receive any direct compensation from the Trust.



30







The following table sets forth information regarding the aggregate compensation received by the Trustees from the Trust for the period ended November 30, 2013.



COMPENSATION TABLE




Name of Person



Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund

Pension or Retirement Benefits Estimated Accrued as Part of Trust Expense

Annual
Benefits
Upon
Retirement

Total Compensation From Registrant and Fund Complex Paid To Trustees

Anthony J. Hertl*

$18,000

N/A

N/A

$18,000

Gary Lanzen

$24,000

N/A

N/A

$24,000

John Davidson

$24,000

N/A

N/A

$24,000

Larry Carter

$24,000

N/A

N/A

$24,000

Edward Foy

$24,000

N/A

N/A

$24,000

*Mr. Hertl resigned from his duties as Trustee on April 24, 2013.


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


Share Ownership. Information relating to share ownership by each Trustee of the Trust as of December 31, 2013 is set forth in the chart below:





Trustees



Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity In The Fund

Aggregate Dollar Range of Securities In All Registered Funds Overseen by Trustee In AdvisorOne Funds

Interested Trustee:

 

 

Todd Clarke

None

over $100,000

Eric Clarke

None

over $100,000

Non-Interested Trustees:

 

 

Larry A. Carter

None

None

John W. Davidson

None

$10,001-$50,000

Edward D. Foy

None

None

Gary Lanzen

None

None



CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.  A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of control.  A controlling person possesses the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted for shareholder vote by the Fund.  As of March 3, 2014, no shareholders were shareholders of record owning 5% or more of the Fund's shares.


As of  December 31, 2013 the Trustees and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of shares of the Fund.


INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES


INVESTMENT ADVISER


In addition to the duties set forth in the Prospectus under the section entitled “Management,” the Adviser, in furtherance of such duties and responsibilities, is authorized in its discretion to engage in the following activities: (i) develop a continuing program for the management of the assets of the Fund; (ii) buy, sell, exchange, convert,



31






lend, or otherwise trade in portfolio securities and other assets; (iii) place orders, negotiate commissions for the execution of transactions in securities and establish relationships with or through broker-dealers, underwriters, or issuers; (iv) prepare and supervise the preparation of shareholder reports and other shareholder communications; and (v) obtain and evaluate business and financial information in connection with the exercise of its duties.


Subject to policies established by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”), which has overall responsibility for the business and affairs of the Fund, the Adviser manages the operations of the Fund. In addition to providing advisory services, the Adviser furnishes the Fund with office space and certain facilities and personnel required for conducting the business of the Fund.


Horizon Investments, LLC (the “Adviser”), the adviser of the Fund, serves as the investment adviser pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement that has been approved by the Board.  The Adviser is located at 13024 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Suite 225, Charlotte, NC 28277.


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


For the advisory services provided and expenses assumed by it, the Adviser has agreed to a fee computed daily and payable monthly at an annual rate of 0.77% from the Fund.


The following table shows the amount of advisory fees paid by the Fund to the Adviser and the amount of the advisory fees waived by the Adviser for the period ended November 30, 2013.


SHARE CLASS

GROSS ADVISORY FEE

FEE WAIVED BY THE ADVISER

ADVISORY FEE PAID BY FUND  - NET OF WAIVERS

 

 

 

 

Class N Shares

$54,779

($34,847)

$19,932


The Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its management fee and to reimburse expenses, other than expenses relating to any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, borrowing costs (such dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigationat least until March 31, 2015, so that total annual operating expenses for the Fund does not exceed the limits stated below, subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three year basis if such recoupment can be achieved within the below stated expense limits:


FUND SHARE CLASS

EXPENSE CAP

CONTRACTUAL PERIOD

Class I

0.99%

March 31, 2015

Class N

1.24%

March 31, 2015




AFFILIATIONS AND CONTROL OF OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS


Gemini Fund Services, LLC, the administrator to the Fund and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, the distributor to the Fund are each wholly owned subsidiaries of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“NorthStar”).  In addition, Gemcom, LLC (“Gemcom”) provides edgarization and printing services to the Fund and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”) provides chief compliance officer services to the Fund.  Both Gemcom and NLCS are also subsidiaries of NorthStar.  Constellation Trust



32






Company, an affiliate of NorthStar, provides certain custody record keeping services to the Fund for IRA account holders.  



ADMINISTRATOR


The Administrator for the Fund is Gemini Fund Services, LLC, (the “Administrator”), which has its principal office at the Hauppauge Corporate Center, 80 Arkay Drive, Hauppauge, New York 11788, and is primarily in the business of providing administrative, fund accounting and transfer agent services to retail and institutional mutual funds.  


Pursuant to a Fund Services Agreement with the Fund the Administrator provides all administrative services necessary for the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees. The Administrator may provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees of the Administrator or its affiliates.


The Fund Services Agreement has an initial term of two years and remains in effect for successive twelve-month periods, subject to annual approval of the Board of Trustees. The Fund Services Agreement may be assigned provided the non-assigning party provides prior written consent and provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, the Administrator shall not be liable for any action or failure to act in accordance with its duties thereunder.


Under the Fund Services Agreement, the Administrator provides all administrative services, including, without limitation: (i) providing services of persons competent to perform such administrative and clerical functions as are necessary to provide effective administration of the Fund; (ii) overseeing the performance of administrative and professional services to the Fund by others, including the Fund’s Custodian; (iii) preparing , in conjunction with Fund counsel, but not paying for, the periodic updating of the Fund’s Registration Statement, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, including the printing of such documents for the purpose of filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities administrators, preparing the Fund’s tax returns, and preparing reports to the Fund’s shareholders and the Securities and Exchange Commission; (iv) preparing in conjunction with Fund counsel, but not paying for, all filings under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such states or countries as are designated by the Distributor, which may be required to register or qualify, or continue the registration or qualification, of the Fund and/or its shares under such laws; (v) preparing, in conjunction with Fund counsel notices and agendas for meetings of the Board of Trustees and minutes of such meetings in all matters required by the 1940 Act to be acted upon by the Board; and (vi) monitoring daily and periodic compliance with respect to requirements and restrictions of the Investment Company Act, the Internal Revenue Code and the Prospectus.


The Administrator, pursuant to the Fund Services Agreement, provides the Fund with accounting services, including, without limitation: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and records as required by the Investment Company Act; (iii) production of the Fund’s listing of portfolio securities and general ledger reports; (iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Fund; (vi) maintaining certain books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciling account information and balances among the Fund’s custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluating daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Fund.


For the services rendered to the Fund by the Administrator, the Fund pays the Administrator a fee, computed daily and payable monthly at annual rate of 0.10% on assets up to $100 million; 0.08% on assets from $100 million to $250 million; 0.05% on assets from $250 million to $500 million; and 0.03% on assets greater than $500 million, or a minimum fee of $40,000 per year of the Fund’s average daily net assets, whichever is greater. The Fund also pays the Administrator for any out-of-pocket expenses.  During the period ended November 30, 2013, the Fund paid $14,055 in fees for administrative and fund accounting services.  



CUSTODIAN



33







Union Bank (the “Custodian”) serves as the Custodian of the Trust’s assets pursuant to a Custody Agreement by and between the Custodian and the Trust. The Custodian’s responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Trust’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Trust’s investments. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, the Custodian also provides certain accounting and pricing services to the Trust; maintaining original entry documents and books of record and general ledgers; posting cash receipts and disbursements; reconciling bank account balances monthly; recording purchases and sales based upon communications from the Adviser; and preparing monthly and annual summaries to assist in the preparation of financial statements of, and regulatory reports for, the Trust. The Trust may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board of Trustees to hold foreign assets. The Custodian is located at 400 California Street,  San Francisco, California  94104.


TRANSFER AGENT SERVICES


Gemini Fund Services, LLC, whose principal office is located in Hauppauge, New York, provides transfer agent and dividend disbursing services to the Fund at the location of 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, NE 68130.


For the services rendered to the Fund under the Fund Services Agreement, the Trust pays the Administrator transfer agency fees including a base annual fee of $16 per account plus other activity related charges, subject to select per-fund minimum charges.  The Fund also pays the Administrator for any out-of-pocket expenses.  During the period ended November 30, 2013, the Fund paid $6,075 in fees to the Administrator for transfer agency services.



DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES


Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (“NLD”) serves as the distributor of the shares of each class of the Fund pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement with the Trust. NLD’s principal place of business is 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, NE 68130. NLD is an affiliate of the Administrator.


COMPLIANCE OFFICER


Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”), (formerly known as Fund Compliance Services, LLC) 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. During the period ended November 30, 2013, the Fund paid $1,464 to NLCS for compliance services.



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.


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




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PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES


Proxies for any portfolio security held by the fund of the Trust are voted by the Adviser in accordance with the Proxy and Corporate Action Voting Policies and Procedures of the Adviser. The Adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures appear in Appendix B.


The actual voting records relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available as soon as practicable after filing with the SEC, upon request, by calling toll-free, 1-866-811-0225 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  Telephone requests will be honored within three business days of receipt of the request.  


PORTFOLIO MANAGERS


The Adviser utilizes a team approach for management of the Fund, and from the team the fund is assigned a lead manager, responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.  Robbie Cannon, Ronald Saba and Scott Ladner are the Portfolio Managers of the Fund.  As of December 31, 2013 the Portfolio Managers were primarily responsible for the management of the following types of other accounts:


Portfolio
Manager

Registered

Investment

Company

Accounts

Assets

Managed

($millions)

Pooled

Investment

Vehicle

Accounts

Assets

Managed

($millions)


Other

Accounts

Assets

Managed

($bmillions)

Total

Assets

Managed

($ billions)

Robbie Cannon

2

$306.1

5

$22.7

11,864

$1,107.2

$1,436

Ronald Saba

2

$306.1

5

$22.7

11,864

$1,107.2

$1,436

Scott Ladner

2

$306.1

5

$22.7

11,864

$1,107.2

$1,436


When a portfolio manager has responsibility for managing more than one account, potential conflicts of interest may arise.  Those conflicts could include preferential treatment of one account over others in terms of allocation of resources or of investment opportunities. For instance, the Adviser may receive fees from certain accounts that are higher than the fee it receives from the Fund, or it may receive a performance-based fee on certain accounts. In those instances, the portfolio manager may have an incentive to favor the higher and/or performance-based fee accounts over the Fund. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures designed to address these potential material conflicts.  For instance, portfolio managers within the Adviser are normally responsible for all accounts within a certain investment discipline, and do not, absent special circumstances, differentiate among the various accounts when allocating resources.  Additionally, the Adviser and their advisory affiliates utilize a system for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that is designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation.


The compensation of the Adviser’s portfolio managers is based on a number of factors. These factors include an annual fixed salary that is based on various market factors and the skill and experience of the individual.  The portfolio managers are also eligible to receive a discretionary bonus.  The discretionary bonus takes into account several factors including the Adviser’s profitability (net income and ability to pay a bonus), the value and number of accounts/portfolios overseen by the portfolio manager, the general performance of client accounts relative to market conditions and the performance of the Fund based on percent return, adjusted for dividends and capital gains, calculated on a pre-tax basis relative to the performance of the Fund’s relevant benchmarks for the preceding one and three-year periods, or shorter if the Fund has not operated for these periods.  The formula for determining these amounts may vary, and no individual’s compensation is solely tied to the investment performance or asset value of any one product or strategy.  


The dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Fund as of the date of this SAI is as follows:


 

Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially Owned

Robbie Cannon

None

Ronald Saba

None

Scott Ladner

None




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BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES


Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Adviser is responsible for making decisions with respect to the purchase and sale of portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund. The Adviser is also responsible for the implementation of those decisions, including the selection of broker-dealers t o effect portfolio transactions, the negotiation of commissions, and the allocation of principal business and portfolio brokerage. In purchasing and selling the Fund’s portfolio securities, it is the Adviser’s policy to obtain quality execution at the most favorable prices through responsible broker-dealers and, in the case of agency transactions, at competitive commission rates where such rates are negotiable. However, under certain conditions, the Fund may pay higher brokerage commissions in return for brokerage and research services. In selecting broker-dealers to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions, consideration is given to such factors as the price of the security, the rate of the commission, the size and difficulty of the order, the reliability, integrity, financial condition, general execution and operational capabilities of competing brokers and dealers, their expertise in particular markets and the brokerage and research services they provide to the Adviser or the Fund. It is not the policy of the Adviser to seek the lowest available commission rate where it is believed that a broker or dealer charging a higher commission rate would offer greater reliability or provide better price or execution.  


Transactions on stock exchanges involve the payment of brokerage commissions. In transactions on stock exchanges in the United States, these commissions are negotiated. Traditionally, commission rates have generally not been negotiated on stock markets outside the United States. In recent years, however, an increasing number of overseas stock markets have adopted a system of negotiated rates, although a number of markets continue to be subject to an established schedule of minimum commission rates. It is expected that equity securities will ordinarily be purchased in the primary markets, whether over-the-counter or listed, and that listed securities may be purchased in the over-the-counter market if such market is deemed the primary market. In the case of securities traded on the over-the-counter markets, there is generally no stated commission, but the price usually includes an undisclosed commission or markup. In underwritten offerings, the price includes a disclosed, fixed commission or discount.


For fixed income securities, it is expected that purchases and sales will ordinarily be transacted with the issuer, the issuer’s underwriter, or with a primary market maker acting as principal on a net basis, with no brokerage commission being paid by the Fund. However, the price of the securities generally includes compensation, which is not disclosed separately. Transactions placed through dealers who are serving as primary market makers reflect the spread between the bid and asked prices.


With respect to equity and fixed income securities, the Adviser may effect principal transactions on behalf of the Fund with a broker or dealer who furnishes brokerage and/or research services, designate any such broker or dealer to receive selling concessions, discounts or other allowances or otherwise deal with any such broker or dealer in connection with the acquisition of securities in underwritings. The prices the Fund pays to underwriters of newly-issued securities usually include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter. The Adviser may receive research services in connection with brokerage transactions, including designations in fixed price offerings.


The Adviser receives a wide range of research services from brokers and dealers covering investment opportunities throughout the world, including information on the economies, industries, groups of securities, individual companies, statistics, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, and performance analyses of all the countries in which the Fund’s portfolio is likely to be invested. The Adviser cannot readily determine the extent to which commissions charged by brokers reflect the value of their research services, but brokers occasionally suggest a level of business they would like to receive in return for the brokerage and research services they provide. To the extent that research services of value are provided by brokers, the Adviser may be relieved of expenses, which it might otherwise bear. In some cases, research services are generated by third parties but are provided to the Adviser by or through brokers.


When one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Fund’s 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.



36







Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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, portfolio 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 their investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.


To the extent 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 Fund’s 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. 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 Fund’s 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. Portfolio securities will not be purchased from or sold to the Adviser or the Distributor, or any affiliated person or any of them acting as principal, except to the extent permitted by rule or order of the SEC. The Fund paid approximate brokerage commissions of $25,564 during the period ended November 30, 2013.



Portfolio Turnover. The portfolio turnover rate of the Fund is calculated by dividing the lesser of the Fund's purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the year by the monthly average value of the portfolio securities.  The calculation excludes all securities whose remaining maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less.  The portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year, and may also be affected by cash requirements for redemptions of shares.  High portfolio turnover rates will generally result in higher transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, to the Fund and may result in additional tax consequences to the Fund's Shareholders.  The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate during the period ended November 30, 2013 was 71%.


REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES BEING OFFERED


Redemptions In-Kind . The Fund intends to pay all redemptions of its shares in cash. However, the Fund may make full or partial payment of any redemption request by the payment to shareholders of portfolio securities of the applicable Fund (i.e., by redemption-in-kind), at the value of such securities used in determining the redemption price. The Fund, as a series of the Trust, nevertheless, pursuant to Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, has filed a notification of election under which the Fund is committed to pay in cash to any shareholder of record, all such shareholder’s requests for redemption made during any 90-day period, up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net asset value at the beginning of such period. The securities to be paid in-kind to any shareholders will be readily marketable securities selected in such manner, as the Board of Trustees of the Trust deems fair and equitable. If shareholders were to receive redemptions-in-kind, they would incur brokerage



37






costs should they wish to liquidate the portfolio securities received in such payment of their redemption request. The Trust does not anticipate making redemptions-in-kind.


The right to redeem shares or to receive payment with respect to any redemption of shares of the Fund may only be suspended (1) for any period during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is restricted or such Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings, (2) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of securities or determination of the net asset value of the Fund is not reasonably practicable, or (3) for such other periods as the SEC may by order permit for protection of shareholders of the Fund.


SHAREHOLDER SERVICES


Shareholder Servicing Agreement.  The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan for Class N shares (the “Plan”).  The Plan allows the Fund to use part of its assets for shareholder servicing expenses.  For these services, the Fund pays a fee up to 0.25% of average net assets attributable to Class N shares of the Fund on an annualized basis.  Payments under the Plan are made for the provision of support services to shareholders.  The entities providing shareholder services may provide such services directly, or may arrange for such services to be provided by another entity that has a servicing relationship with one or more shareholders.  However, payments under the Plan are an operating expense of the Fund that is subject to the expense limitation provided by the adviser.  Payments under the Plan may vary and are determined by the Fund in its sole discretion, in amounts up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class N shares of the Fund on an annualized basis.


Systematic Withdrawal Program. A shareholder owning or purchasing shares of the Fund having a total value of $10,000 or more may participate in a systematic withdrawal program providing regular monthly or quarterly payments. An application form containing details of the Systematic Withdrawal Program is available upon request from the Fund's transfer agent. The Program is voluntary and may be terminated at any time by the shareholders.


Income dividends and capital gain distributions on shares of the Fund held in a Systematic Withdrawal Program are automatically reinvested in additional shares of the relevant Fund at net asset value. A Systematic Withdrawal Program is not an annuity and does not and cannot protect against loss in declining markets. Amounts paid to a shareholder from the Systematic Withdrawal Program represent the proceeds from redemptions of Fund shares, and the value of the shareholder’s investment in the Fund will be reduced to the extent that the payments exceed any increase in the aggregate value of the shareholder's shares (including shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and distributions). If a shareholder receives payments that are greater than the appreciation in value of his or her shares, plus the income earned on the shares, the shareholder may eventually withdraw his or her entire account balance. This will occur more rapidly in a declining market. For tax purposes, depending upon the shareholder's cost basis and date of purchase, each withdrawal will result in a capital gain or loss. See “Distributions” and “Federal Tax Considerations” in the Fund's Prospectus and “Taxes” in this SAI.


The Fund offers certain shareholder services, which are designed to facilitate investment in their shares. Each of the options is described in the Fund's Prospectus. All of these special services may be terminated by either the Fund or the shareholder without any prior written notice.


Automatic Account Builder. An investor may arrange to have a fixed amount of $100 or more automatically invested in shares of the Fund monthly by authorizing his or her bank account to be debited to invest specified dollar amounts in shares of the Fund. The investor’s bank must be a member of the Automatic Clearing House System. Stock certificates are not issued to Automatic Account Builder participants.


Further information about these programs and an application form can be obtained from the Fund's Transfer Agent.


DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE




38






The net asset value per share of the Fund will be determined for each class of shares. The net asset value per share of a given class of shares of the Fund is determined by calculating the total value of the Fund’s assets attributable to such class of shares, deducting its total liabilities attributable to such class of shares in conformance with the provisions of the plan adopted by the Fund in accordance with Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act and dividing the result by the number of shares of such class outstanding. The net asset value of shares of each class of the Fund is normally calculated as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on every day the NYSE is open for trading. The NYSE is open Monday through Friday except 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.


The net asset value per share of the different classes of the Fund’s shares is expected to be substantially the same; from time to time, however, the per share net asset value of the different classes of shares may differ.


In determining the Fund’s NAV per share, equity securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value using the last reported sales price. NASDAQ traded securities are valued using the NASDAQ official closing price (NOCP).  If no sale price is reported, the last bid price is used. If market quotations are not readily available, then securities are valued at fair value as determined by the Board (or its delegate). Short-term debt instruments with a remaining maturity of more than 60 days, intermediate and long-term bonds, convertible bonds, and other debt securities are generally valued on the basis of dealer supplied quotations or by pricing system selected by the Adviser and approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. Where such prices are not available, valuations will be obtained from brokers who are market makers for such securities. However, in circumstances where the Adviser deems it appropriate to do so, the mean of the bid and asked prices for over- the-counter securities or the last available sale price for exchange-traded debt securities may be used. Where no last sale price for exchange traded debt securities is available, the mean of the bid and asked prices may be used. Short-term debt securities with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are amortized to maturity, provided such valuations represent par value.


Other securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available or for which valuation cannot be provided, as described above, are valued as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.


Trading in securities on Far Eastern securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets is normally completed well before the close of business on each business day in New York (i.e., a day on which the NYSE is open). In addition, Far Eastern securities trading generally or in a particular country or countries may not take place on all business days in New York. Furthermore, trading takes place in Japanese markets on certain Saturdays in various foreign markets on days, which are not business days in New York, and on which the Fund’s net asset value is not calculated. The Fund calculates net asset value per share, and therefore effects sales, redemptions and repurchases of its shares, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE once on each day on which the NYSE is open. Such calculation may not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of the majority of the portfolio securities used in such calculation. If events that may materially affect the value of such securities occur between the time when their price is determined and the time when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated, such securities may be valued at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.


ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION PROGRAMS

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. When completing a new Account Application, you will be required to supply the Fund with information, such as your taxpayer identification number, that will assist the Fund in verifying your 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.




39






When opening an account for a foreign business, enterprise or non-U.S. person that does not have an identification number, we require alternative government-issued documentation certifying the existence of the person, business or enterprise


TAXES


The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. In general, to qualify as a RIC: (a) at least 90% of the gross income of the Fund for the taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to loans of securities, gains from the sale or other disposition of securities, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in securities; (b) the Fund must distribute to its shareholders 90% of its ordinary income and net short-term capital gains; and (c) the Fund must diversity its assets so that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the fair market value of its total (gross) assets is comprised of cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to no more than 5% of the fair market value of the Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (ii) no more than 25% of the fair market value of its total assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers controlled by the Fund and engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses.


In addition, the Fund must declare and distribute dividends equal to at least 98% of its ordinary income (as of the twelve months ended December 31) and at least 98.2% of its net capital gain (as of the twelve months ended October 31), in order to avoid a federal excise tax. The Fund intends to make the required distributions, but they cannot guarantee that they will do so. Dividends attributable to the Fund’s ordinary income and net capital gain are taxable as such to shareholders in the year in which they are received except dividends declared in October, November and December to the shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month and paid in January of the following year are taxable in the previous year.


A corporate shareholder may be entitled to take a deduction for income dividends received by it that are attributable to dividends received from a domestic corporation, provided that both the corporate shareholder retains its shares in the applicable Fund for more than 45 days and the Fund retains its shares in the issuer from whom it received the income dividends for more than 45 days. A distribution of net capital gain reflects the Fund's excess of net long-term gains over its net short-term losses. The Fund must designate distributions of net capital gain and must notify shareholders of this designation within sixty days after the close of the Trust’s taxable year. A corporate shareholder of the Fund cannot use a dividends-received deduction for distributions of net capital gain.


Foreign currency gains and losses, including the portion of gain or loss on the sale of debt securities attributable to foreign exchange rate fluctuations are taxable as ordinary income. If the net effect of these transactions is a gain, the dividend paid by the Fund will be increased; if the result is a loss, the income dividend paid by the Fund will be decreased. Adjustments to reflect these gains and losses will be made at the end of the Fund’s taxable year.


At the time of purchase, the Fund’s net asset value may reflect undistributed income or net capital gains. A subsequent distribution to shareholders of such amounts, although constituting a return of their investment, would be taxable either as dividends or capital gain distributions. For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is permitted to carry forward its net realized capital losses, if any, for eight years, and realize net capital gains up to the amount of such losses without being required to pay taxes on, or distribute such gains.


Income received by the Fund from sources within various foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. Under the Internal Revenue Code, if more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year comprise securities issued by foreign corporations, the Fund may file an election with the Internal Revenue Service to “pass through” to the Fund’s shareholders the amount of any foreign income taxes paid by the Fund. Pursuant to this election, shareholders will be required to: (i) include in gross income, even though not actually received, their respective pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund; (ii) treat their pro rata share of foreign taxes as paid by them; and (iii) either deduct their pro rata share of



40






foreign taxes in computing their taxable income, or use it as a foreign tax credit against U.S. income taxes (but not both). No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions.


If, in any taxable year, the Fund should not qualify as an RIC under the Internal Revenue Code: (1) that Fund would be taxed at normal corporate rates on the entire amount of its taxable income without deduction for dividends paid or other distributions to its shareholders, and (2) that Fund’s distributions to the extent made out of that Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits would be taxable to its shareholders (other than shareholders in tax deferred accounts) as ordinary dividends (regardless of whether they would otherwise have been considered capital gain dividends), and may qualify for the deduction for dividends received by corporations.


The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 increased the highest marginal income tax rate on ordinary income to 39.6% effective January 1, 2013.  The highest marginal income tax rate on capital gains and qualified dividend income was increased to 20%.  For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax generally will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that any such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.  Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of federal, state, local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.


PASSIVE FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANIES. The Fund may invest in the stock of foreign companies that may be treated as “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) under the Internal Revenue Code. Certain other foreign corporations, not operated as investment companies, may also satisfy the PFIC definition. A portion of the income and gains that the Fund derives may be subject to a non-deductible federal income tax unless the Fund makes a mark-to-market election. Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign issuer as a PFIC in advance of making the investment, the Fund will elect to do mark-to-market and identified PFIC to avoid the PFIC tax.


If the Fund purchases shares in certain foreign passive investment entities described in the Internal Revenue Code as passive foreign investment companies (“PFIC”), the Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” (the Fund's ratable share of distributions in any year that exceeds 125% of the average annual distribution received by the Fund in the three preceding years or the Fund’s holding period, if shorter, and any gain from the disposition of such shares) even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Fund to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Fund in respect of deferred taxes arising from such “excess distributions.” If the Fund were to invest in a PFIC and elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” under the Internal Revenue Code (and if the PFIC were to comply with certain reporting requirements), in lieu of the foregoing requirements the Fund would be required to include in income each year its pro rata share of the PFIC’s ordinary earnings and net realized capital gains, whether or not such amounts were actually distributed to the Fund.


Pursuant to legislation enacted on August 5, 1997 any taxpayer holding shares of “marketable” PFICs may make an election to mark that stock to market at the close of the taxpayer's taxable year. A fund making an irrevocable election will mark its PFICs to market at taxable year-end for income tax purposes and at October 31 for purposes of the excise tax minimum distribution requirements of Code Section 4982. This provision is effective for taxable years of U.S. persons beginning after December 31, 1997.


ORGANIZATION OF THE TRUST


As a Delaware business trust entity, the Trust need not hold regular annual shareholder meetings and, in the normal course, does not expect to hold such meetings. The Trust, however, must hold shareholder meetings for such purposes as, for example: (1) approving certain agreements as required by the 1940 Act; (2) changing fundamental investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Fund; and (3) filling vacancies on the Board of Trustees of the Trust in the event that less than two-thirds of the Trustees were elected by shareholders. The Trust expects that there will be no meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees unless and until such time as less than two-thirds of the Trustees holding office have been elected by shareholders. At such time,



41






the Trustees then in office will call a shareholders’ meeting for the election of Trustees. In addition, holders of record of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust may remove a Trustee from office by a vote cast in person or by proxy at a shareholder meeting called for that purpose at the request of holders of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the Trust. The Fund has the obligation to assist in such shareholder communications. Except as set forth above, Trustees will continue in office and may appoint successor Trustees.


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose address is 1818 Market Street, Suite 2400, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm providing services including (1) audit of annual financial statements, and (2) assistance in connection with SEC filings.


LEGAL MATTERS


Legal advice regarding certain matters relating to the federal securities laws applicable to the Fund and the offer and sale of its shares has been provided by Thompson Hine LLP, 41 South High Street, Suite 1700, Columbus, Ohio 43215


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The financial statements of the Fund for the period ended November 30, 2013, which are included in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated November 30, 2013, are incorporated herein by reference. These financial statements include the schedules of investments, statements of assets and liabilities, statements of operations, statements of changes in net assets, financial highlights, notes and independent accountants’ reports.  Once produced, you can obtain a copy of the financial statements contained in the Fund's Annual or Semi-Annual Report without charge by calling the Fund at 1-855-754-7932.





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APPENDIX A



DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S CORPORATE BOND RATINGS


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


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


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


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


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


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


     Moody's applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through B. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.


DESCRIPTION OF S&P CORPORATE BOND RATINGS


     AAA. Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by S&P to a debt obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.


     AA. Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differ from the highest rated issues only in a small degree.


     A. Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.


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




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     BB and B. Bonds rated BB and B are regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB represents a lower degree of speculation than B. While such bonds will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.




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APPENDIX B


Horizon Investments, LLC

Proxy Voting Policy


Adopted January 3, 2012; Updated September 10, 2012


A.

Introduction



Investment advisers who exercise voting authority with respect to client securities must adopt and implement written policies and procedures, reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes proxies in the best interest of its clients. The procedures must address material conflicts that may arise in connection with proxy voting. Rule 206(4)-6 - Investment Advisers Act of 1940 further requires the adviser to provide a concise summary of the adviser’s proxy voting process and offer to provide copies of the complete proxy voting policy and procedures to clients upon request. Finally, the Rule requires that the adviser disclose to clients how they may obtain information on how the adviser voted their proxies.


Horizon votes proxies for the Investment Company Fund(s) (the “Funds”) that it advises, and therefore has adopted and implemented this Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures.


B.

Compliance Reference Chart




Responsibility


CCO

Operational Areas

Compliance

Proxy Committee


Frequency

Each time Horizon obtains a new proxy

Statute/Rule

Rule 206(4)-6 - Investment Advisers Act of 1940

Records

Proxy voting record/Committee Minutes

·

ISS Proxy Records


Reviews

Horizon reviews this procedure no less than annually.


C.

Policy


Horizon will vote any such proxies in the best interests of the Funds and in accordance with the procedures outlined below (as applicable).  It should be noted that these procedures will be applied solely when Horizon is requested to exercise its voting authority with respect to client securities.  There are situations in which Horizon may be requested to provide consent on a particular issue related to its investment activities or the holding of a particular security where Horizon may not apply the technical requirements of these procedures because Horizon is not being asked to exercise voting authority with respect to client securities (although Horizon will act in the best interests of the Funds and investors (as applicable) in responding to any such request).



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In the absence of specific voting guidelines from the Fund, Horizon will vote proxies in the best interests of each particular Fund.  Horizon believes that voting proxies in accordance with the following guidelines is in the best interests of its clients.


Any general or specific proxy voting guidelines provided by an advisory client or its designated agent in writing will supersede this policy. Clients may wish to have their proxies voted by an independent third party or other named fiduciary or agent, at the client’s cost.



D.

Procedures

Updated August 31, 2012 / May 1, 2013


Horizon assumes voting responsibility for those Funds solely where such responsibility is specifically set forth in the Advisory Agreement. Absent such language, Horizon will not vote client proxies. Horizon will generally cast votes for all shares for which it has voting authority.


In light of Horizon’s fiduciary duties, and given the complexity of the issues that may be raised in connection with proxy votes, Horizon has retained a third party service provider, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) to assist in the coordination and voting of client proxies. Horizon will utilize ISS, as ISS specializes in providing a variety of fiduciary-level proxy-related services to investment managers. The services provided to Horizon will include timely delivery of meeting and record date information; proxy analysis through an electronic web-based vote execution platform; and detailed recordkeeping needs of Horizon’s proxy voting function.


Horizon/ISS shall maintain a list of all clients for which it votes proxies. The list will be maintained electronically and updated by the Proxy Committee.


The following guidelines are to be followed when possible:


·

Horizon/ISS (as the case may be)to monitor and keep track of all proxy votes

·

Where applicable, ISS to vote pursuant to the guidelines suggested by Glass Lewis


Proxy Voting Procedures


(1)

Proxies will be provided directly to ISS.  Any proxies sent to Funds that are actually received by Horizon (to vote on behalf of the Funds) should be immediately forwarded to ISS.  


(2)

The Proxy Committee will generally adhere to the following procedures (subject to limited exception):

(a)

A written record of each proxy received by Horizon(on behalf of the Funds) will be kept in Horizon’s files;

(b)

The Proxy Committee will determine which of the Funds hold the security to which the proxy relates;

(i)

The Proxy Committee’s designee will have responsibility for voting the proxies in accordance with this policy

(c)

Prior to voting any proxies, the Proxy Committee’s Designee will determine if there are any conflicts of interest related to the proxy in question in accordance with the general guidelines below.  If a conflict is identified, the Proxy Committee’s Designee will then make a determination (which may be in consultation with the full Proxy Committee, Horizon’s third party compliance consultants, or outside legal counsel) as to whether the conflict is material or



46






not.


(d)

If no material conflict is identified pursuant to these procedures, the Proxy Committee’s Designee will make a decision on how to vote the proxy in question in accordance with the guidelines set forth below .   The Proxy Committee Designee is responsible for coordinating any voting “rules” with ISS, which rules may be specific to a particular Fund or client, and shall be retained in ISS’s system.

(e)

The Proxy Committee Designee will provide reports to the Committee of the previous quarter’s voting activity, at the Committee’s quarterly meetings.


Resolving Potential Conflicts of Interest


Conflicts of interest may arise due to a variety of reasons and the Proxy Committee will reasonably try to assess any material conflicts between Horizon’s interests and those of the Funds with respect to proxy voting. If the Proxy Committee detects a conflict of interest, Horizon (where ISS is not used) will use predetermined guidelines and their research, and make an objective voting decision.


If a conflict is identified and deemed “material” by the Proxy Committee, Horizon will determine whether voting in accordance with the proxy voting guidelines outlined herein is in the best interests of affected Funds (which may include utilizing an independent third party to vote such proxies).


With respect to material conflicts, Horizon will determine whether it is appropriate to disclose the conflict to the affected Funds and give such Funds (and Investors, if applicable) the opportunity to vote the proxies in question themselves, except that if the Fund is subject to the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and an ERISA Investor has, in writing, reserved the right to vote proxies when Horizon has determined that a material conflict exists that does affect its best judgment as a fiduciary to the Fund, Horizon will:


·

Give the ERISA Investor the opportunity to vote the proxies in question themselves; or

·

Follow designated special proxy voting procedures related to voting proxies pursuant to the terms of the written agreements with such ERISA Investors (if any).


Recordkeeping


Horizon will maintain the documentation described in the following section for a period of not less than five (5) years, the first two (2) years at its principal place of business. The CCO will be responsible for the following procedures and for ensuring that the required documentation is retained.


Client request to review proxy votes:


·

Clients are informed that they should direct proxy voting requests to Horizon.


·

Any request, whether written (including e-mail) or oral, received by any Employee of Horizon, must be promptly forwarded to the CCO, or designee, for processing. All written requests must be retained in the permanent file.


·

In order to facilitate the management of the proxy voting record keeping process, and to facilitate the dissemination of such proxy voting records to clients, Horizon may distribute to any client requesting proxy voting information the complete proxy voting record for that client for the period requested.


·

Horizon will furnish the information requested, free of charge, to the client within a reasonable time period (within 10 business days). Horizon will maintain a copy of the written record provided in response to client’s written (including e-mail) or oral request.


·

Clients are permitted to request the proxy voting record for the five-year period prior to their request.



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Voting Guidelines


The guidelines established by ISS will generally be followed as the guidelines are designed to maximize returns for investment advisors by voting in a manner that limits financial risks to investors to the greatest extent possible. The guidelines are designed to increase investor’s potential financial gain through the use of the shareholder vote. The guidelines will ensure that all issues brought to shareholders are analyzed in light of the fiduciary responsibilities unique to investment advisors and investment companies on behalf of individual investor clients including mutual fund shareholders. The guidelines will encourage the maximization of return for such clients through identifying and avoiding financial, audit and corporate governance risks.


In the event that ISS’s guidelines will not be followed, the Proxy Committee Designee, in voting to elect board nominees for uncontested seats, shall take the following factors into account:

(i) whether a majority of the company’s directors are independent;

(ii) whether key board committees are entirely composed of independent directors;

(iii) whether board members have excessive board memberships and professional time commitments to effectively serve the company’s board; and,

(iv) the attendance record of incumbent directors at board and committee meetings.


Equity compensation plans will also be reviewed on a case-by-case basis based upon their specific features. For example, stock option plans will be evaluated using criteria such as:

(i) whether the plan is performance-based;

(ii) whether the vote will cause dilution to existing shareholders;

(iii) the cost of the plan;

(iv) whether discounted options are allowed under the plan;

(v) whether the plan authorizes the re-pricing of options or reload options without shareholder approval; and,

(vi) the equity overhang of all plans.


Similarly, employee stock purchase plans generally will be supported under the guidelines upon consideration of factors such as:

(i) whether the plan sets forth adequate limits on share issuance;

(ii) whether participation limits are defined; and,

(iii) whether discounts to employees exceed a threshold amount.


These guidelines allow the Proxy Committee to review and vote on shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis. In accordance with this approach, these guidelines support a shareholder proposal upon the compelling showing that it has a substantial economic impact on shareholder value. As such, proposals that request that the company report on environmental, labor or human rights issues are only supported when such concerns pose a substantial risk to shareholder value.


Similarly, shareholder resolutions seeking disclosure of the company’s charitable or political contributions are not supported in the absence clear evidence that such matters present a substantial risk to the investment in the portfolio company. Furthermore, proposals asking for the company abide by the CERES principles 1 , eliminate



__________________________________

1 The Ceres Principles are a 10-point code of corporate environmental ideals to be publicly endorsed by companies as an environmental mission statement or ethic. The 10 Ceres Principles are:

·

Protection of the biosphere

·

Sustainable use of natural resources

·

Reduction and disposal of wastes

·

Energy conservation

·

Risk reduction

·

Safe products and services

·

Environmental restoration

·

Informing the public

·

Management commitment

·

Audits and reports




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predatory pricing in the sales of pharmaceutical products, or adopt ethical standards for drug patent extensions will generally be voted against based upon this standard.


These guidelines dictate case-by-case analysis of each of the proposals.


Applying this approach, the guidelines would, for example:

(i) vote against a proposal regarding disclosure of officers’ compensation, because it requests a level of detail that may put the company at a competitive disadvantage and create internal personnel issues that would be counterproductive for a company and its shareholders;

(ii) also vote against a proposal seeking a report on a company’s lobbying activities regarding fuel economy standards, because there is no evidence of egregious or illegal conduct that might threaten shareholder value. Moreover, the disclosure requested seems unwarranted given the large body of regulation and reporting already required by various government agencies on this topic;

(iii) vote for a proposal to adopt cumulative voting in order to protect the interests of minority shareholders;

(iv) vote for a proposal to recapitalize a company’s dual-class stock to provide for equal voting rights, in general, upon review of the company’s governance structure. In this case, the proposal would be supported to enhance the voting rights of public shareholders and strengthen management accountability; and,

(v)  would vote in against a proposal seeking a report on global climate change. Since a company is required to inform shareholders on material issues as to environmental harm associated with its business operations in its regulatory filings, the cost of additional reporting is not warranted in the absence of a substantial risk to shareholder value.


“Mirror” Voting for Pooled Funds

Added April 24, 2013


Horizon advises both collective funds and the Horizon Active Asset Allocation Fund (Symbol: AAANX) the “Pooled Funds”. Under Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”), the Pooled Funds may only invest up to 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company, but may not own more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company or invest more than 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies. However, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that the provisions of paragraph 12(d)(1) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Pooled Funds if (i) immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding stock of such registered investment company is owned by the Pooled Funds and all affiliated persons of the Pooled Funds; and (ii) the Pooled Funds are not proposing to offer or sell any security issued by it through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price which includes a sales load of more than 1 ½% percent.


For the Pooled Funds managed by Horizon, Horizon is required to vote proxies in a manner specified under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "'40 Act"). In particular, the Pooled Funds rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the '40 Act to invest in the securities of other investment companies and Horizon must vote its shares in an underlying investment company (ETF’s in the case of Horizon) in accordance with Section 12(d)(1)(E) of the '40 Act. With respect to those Funds that rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F), Horizon and ISS will have no discretion in voting proxies and Horizon will instruct ISS to vote the Funds' proxies on underlying investment companies in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such securities (known as "echo" or "mirror" voting).  The voting records are maintained by ISS on behalf of Horizon.


Proxy statements received regarding client securities:


Upon physical receipt of a proxy, Horizon will process it, or if Horizon engages ISS it will be forwarded to ISS for processing.




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Responsibility


The CCO and designee are responsible for managing the relationship with ISS and for ensuring that all proxies are being properly voted and that ISS is retaining all of the appropriate proxy voting records and to provide a copy of the documents promptly upon request.


Form ADV Disclosure

Horizon will ensure that Part II of Form ADV is updated as necessary to reflect:

(i) all material changes to the Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures; and,

(ii) information about how clients may obtain information on how Horizon voted proxies.




Books and Records

Horizon shall maintain and preserve for five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on a record, with records for the first two years kept in the offices of Horizon.  Records of the following will be included in the files:

(i) their proxy voting policies and procedures;

(ii) proxy statements received regarding client securities;

(iii) records of votes they cast on behalf of clients;

(iv) records of client requests for proxy voting information, and,

(v) any documents prepared by Horizon that were material to making a decision how to vote, or that memorialized the basis for the decision.


Horizon will rely on proxy statements filed on the SEC EDGAR system instead of keeping its own copies, and will rely on proxy statements and records of proxy votes cast by ISS (where applicable).






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