485APOS 1 fp0027632_485apos.htm

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 23, 2017

 REGISTRATION NOS. 333 -191476
 811 - 22894

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
[   ]
 
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.
[   ]
 
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 128
[X]
 
AND/OR
 
     
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
[   ]
 
AMENDMENT NO. 131
[X]
 

 
INVESTMENT MANAGERS SERIES TRUST II
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

235 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (414) 299-2295

Constance Dye Shannon
UMB Fund Services, Inc.
235 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

COPIES TO:

Michael Glazer
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
300 South Grand Avenue, 22nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
 

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

[   ]
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485; or
[   ]
on ______________, pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485; or
[   ]
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485;
[   ]
on _______________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485; or
[X] 
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485; or
[   ]
on _______________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485; or
[   ]
on _______________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

[   ]
This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
 

The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
 
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 23, 2017
 
REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund

Investor Class
(Ticker Symbol: [ ])

Institutional Class
(Ticker Symbol: [ ])
  
PROSPECTUS
_______ ___, 2017
 

 
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.



REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund
A series of Investment Managers Series Trust II (the “Trust”)
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY SECTION
3
MORE ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
15
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
35
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE PLAN
36
YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE FUND
37
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
47
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
48
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
49
 
This Prospectus sets forth basic information about the Fund that you should know before investing. It should be read and retained for future reference.
 
The date of this Prospectus is _____ _, 2017.

SUMMARY SECTION

Investment Objective
The investment objective of the REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund (the “Fund”) is to seek to provide investors with long exposure to the price movements of bitcoin.

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.
 
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Investor
Class
Shares
Institutional
Class
Shares
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases
None
None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load)
None
None
Redemption fee if redeemed within 180 days of purchase (as a percentage of amount redeemed)
1.00%
1.00%
Wire fee
$20
$20
Overnight check delivery fee
$25
$25
Retirement account fees (annual maintenance fee)
$15
$15
     
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
   
Management fees1
____%
____%
Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees
0.25%
None
Other expenses [(includes shareholder service fees of up to ___%)]2
____%
____%
Subsidiary expenses3
____%
____%
Acquired fund fees and expenses2    
Total annual fund operating expenses
____%
____%
Fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed4
(____%)
(____%)
Total annual fund operating expenses after waiving fees and/or reimbursing expenses4
 ____%
 ____%

1
Management fees include a management fee paid to the Advisor (as defined herein) by the Subsidiary (as defined herein) at the annual rate of ___% of the Subsidiary’s average daily net assets. The Advisor will not collect advisory fees with respect to assets held by the Subsidiary at both the Fund level and the Subsidiary level. Accordingly, the Advisor has contractually agreed, for so long as the Fund invests in the Subsidiary, to waive the management fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the management fee paid to the Advisor by the Subsidiary. This undertaking may not be terminated unless the Advisor obtains the prior approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
2
“Other expenses” and “acquired fund fees and expenses” have been estimated for the current fiscal year. Actual expenses may differ from estimates.
3
Subsidiary expenses will be borne indirectly by the Fund as a result of investing through the Subsidiary.
4
The Fund’s advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding any taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with Form N-1A), expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed ___% and ___% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class and Institutional Class shares of the Fund, respectively. This agreement is in effect until ____ __, 2018, and it may be terminated before that date only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Fund’s advisor is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Fund, subject to certain limitations, of fees waived or payments made to the Fund for a period ending three full fiscal years after the date of the waiver or payment, provided that the reimbursement does not cause the Fund’s annual expense ratio to exceed the lesser of (a) the limitation on Fund expenses in effect at the time of the relevant reduction in advisory fees or payment of the Fund’s expenses, or (b) the limitation on Fund expenses at the time of the reimbursement.
3

SUMMARY SECTION

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 on these assumptions your costs would be:

 
One Year
Three Years
Investor Class
$_____
$_____
Institutional Class
$_____
$_____

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund is newly-created and, as a result, does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate. The Fund expects to have a portfolio turnover rate above 100%.

Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective, under normal circumstances, by investing directly or indirectly in an actively managed portfolio of financial instruments providing long exposure to movements in the value of bitcoin, together with an actively managed portfolio of fixed income instruments. The value of the Fund’s shares relates directly to the value of, and realized profit or loss from, the financial instruments and other assets held by the Fund. Fluctuations in the price of these financial instruments or assets could materially adversely affect an investment in the Fund.

“Bitcoin” is a digital asset based on the decentralized, open source protocol of the peer-to-peer bitcoin computer network (the “Bitcoin Network”). No single entity owns or operates the Bitcoin Network; the infrastructure is collectively maintained by a decentralized user base. The Bitcoin Network is accessed through software, and software governs bitcoin’s creation, movement, and ownership. The value of bitcoin is determined by the supply of and demand for bitcoin on websites that facilitate the transfer of bitcoin in exchange for government-issued currencies (“Bitcoin Exchanges”), and in private end-user-to-end-user transactions.

Bitcoin transaction and ownership records are reflected on the “Blockchain,” which is a digital public record, or ledger. Copies of this ledger are stored in a decentralized manner on the computers of each Bitcoin Network user. Transaction data is permanently recorded in files called “blocks,” which reflect transactions that have been recorded and authenticated by Bitcoin Network participants. Bitcoin Network miners engage in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations in order to add a block to the Blockchain and thereby confirm Bitcoin transactions included in that block’s data. New blocks cannot be submitted to the network without a correct answer. A new block that is added to the Blockchain serves to take recent-yet-unconfirmed transactions and verify that none are fraudulent, and the miner that first solves such block receives the reward of a fixed number of bitcoin for their effort. The Bitcoin Network software source code includes protocols that govern the creation of bitcoin and the cryptographic system that secures and verifies Bitcoin transactions.

The Fund does not expect to invest directly in bitcoin. Instead, the Fund will invest directly or indirectly in financial instruments that provide exposure to the price movements of bitcoin, including futures contracts linked to the price of bitcoin or an index thereof and that are traded and/or listed in the United States (“Bitcoin Futures”). The Fund intends for the notional value of its exposure to bitcoin to be equal to approximately 100% of Fund assets at the close of each trading day, but the notional value of such exposure may be less, and could be substantially less, at the close of any trading day.
4

SUMMARY SECTION

The Fund expects to obtain significant exposure to Bitcoin Futures primarily by investing up to 25% of its total assets, as measured at the end of every quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, in a wholly-owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (the “Subsidiary”). The Subsidiary generally will invest in long positions in Bitcoin Futures and will periodically sell Bitcoin Futures to unwind a portion of its positions. The Subsidiary may also invest in other instruments that provide exposure to the price movement of bitcoin, including commodity futures, option, and swap contracts; fixed income securities; pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”); and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivatives positions. The Subsidiary is advised by the Adviser, managed on a day-to-day basis by Vident Investment Advisory, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”), and has the same investment objective as the Fund. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest to a greater extent in commodities, including Bitcoin Futures, than the Fund. The Subsidiary’s investments in such instruments will be subject to limits on leverage imposed by the 1940 Act. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with an effective means of obtaining exposure to Bitcoin Futures in a manner consistent with U.S. federal tax law requirements applicable to regulated investment companies. The Fund may also invest in Bitcoin Futures directly to a limited extent, consistent with limitations imposed by the federal securities laws and U.S. federal tax law requirements applicable to regulated investment companies.

Futures contracts, by their terms, have stated expirations and, at a specified point in time prior to expiration, trading in a futures contract for the current delivery month will cease. Therefore, in order to maintain consistent exposure to Bitcoin Futures, the Fund must periodically migrate out of Bitcoin Futures nearing expiration and into Bitcoin Futures with later expirations — a process referred to as “rolling.” The effect of this continuous process of selling contracts nearing expiration and buying longer-dated contracts is called “roll yield.”

Investments in derivative instruments, such as futures, options and swap agreements, have the economic effect of creating financial leverage in the Fund’s portfolio because such investments may give rise to losses that exceed the amount the Fund has invested in those instruments. Financial leverage will magnify, sometimes significantly, the Fund’s exposure to any increase or decrease in prices associated with a particular reference asset resulting in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s portfolio. The value of the Fund’s portfolio is likely to experience greater volatility over short-term periods. While such financial leverage has the potential to produce greater gains, it also may result in greater losses, which in some cases may cause the Fund to liquidate other portfolio investments at a loss to comply with limits on leverage and asset segregation requirements imposed by the 1940 Act or to meet redemption requests.

In addition to the Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary and in Bitcoin Futures, the Fund may also invest in (1) swap agreements that provide exposure to bitcoin or the price movements of bitcoin; (2) exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), exchange-traded closed-end funds, other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, and other pooled investment vehicles, including securities that are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (collectively, “Underlying Funds”) that provide exposure to bitcoin or the price movements of bitcoin; (3) exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”) that provide exposure to bitcoin or the price movements of bitcoin; and (4) fixed income securities (namely, commercial paper and U.S. government obligations), bank instruments, cash, and other cash equivalents to collateralize its exposure to the Bitcoin Futures and other investments and for investment purposes. The Fund may also take short positions with respect to Underlying Funds and/or ETNs that provide exposure to bitcoin. The Fund may invest without limit in U.S. and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities of foreign issuers. The Fund may also invest in foreign exchange futures and may have up to 25% of its assets invested in foreign instruments.
5

SUMMARY SECTION

Principal Risks of Investing
Risk is inherent in all investing. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

Although the Fund seeks to provide investors with long exposure to the price movements of bitcoin, the Fund will experience positive or negative performance based on changes in the value of the Fund’s investments. As a result, price movements of bitcoin may not always correspond directly to price movements of the Fund’s holdings, and it is possible that the value of the Fund’s holdings may decrease even if the value of bitcoin increases. Investors should understand that the Fund does not expect to invest directly in, and may not successfully provide exposure to the price movements of, bitcoin.
 
Bitcoin risk. Because of the complex nature of bitcoin itself, an investor in the Fund may face numerous material risks that may not be present in other investments. These risks include:

o
Bitcoin exchange risk. A number of Bitcoin Exchanges have been closed due to fraud, failure or security breaches. A lack of stability in the Bitcoin Exchange market and the closure or temporary shutdown of Bitcoin Exchanges may reduce confidence in the Bitcoin Network and result in greater volatility in the price of bitcoin.

o
Competition risk. If a digital asset other than bitcoin obtains significant market share, this could reduce bitcoin’s market share and have an impact on the demand for, and price of, bitcoin and thereby adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments.

o
Intellectual property risk. Third parties may assert intellectual property claims relating to the holding and transfer of digital assets and their software code.

o
Internet and Cybersecurity Risk. The Bitcoin Network’s functionality relies on the Internet. A significant disruption of Internet connectivity affecting large numbers of users or geographic areas could impede the functionality of the Bitcoin Network and adversely affect the Fund. In addition, the certain features of the Bitcoin Network, such as decentralization, open source protocol, and reliance on peer-to-peer connectivity, may increase the risk of fraud or cyber-attack by potentially reducing the likelihood of a coordinated response.

o
Maintenance risk. Transactions on the Bitcoin Network are verified by bitcoin miners, which are Bitcoin Network participants that secure and verify bitcoin transactions through a peer-to-peer computer process. Miners may not have an adequate incentive to continue mining and may cease their mining operations, which may result in a reduction in the aggregate hashrate (confirmation process) of the Bitcoin Network. Any reduction in confidence in the confirmation process or aggregate hashrate of the Bitcoin Network may adversely affect the value of bitcoin. A reduction in the hashrate expended by miners on the Bitcoin Network could increase the likelihood of a malicious actor obtaining control in excess of 50% of the aggregate hashrate active on the Bitcoin Network. If such a scenario were to materialize, the malicious actor, by virtue of controlling in excess of 50% of the aggregate hashrate active on the Bitcoin Network, could prevent new transactions from being confirmed and/or reverse transactions that were previously completed. This would likely result in the loss of confidence in the confirmation process and the Bitcoin Network, which could adversely affect the price of bitcoin and an investment in the Fund.
6

SUMMARY SECTION

o
New asset and limited trading history risk. Bitcoin, which is a new technological innovation with a limited history, is a new and highly speculative asset. There is no assurance that usage of bitcoin will continue to grow. A contraction in the use of bitcoin may result in increased volatility or a reduction in the price of bitcoin, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund. Bitcoin was invented in 2009; bitcoin and its trading history thus have existed for a relatively short time, which limits a potential shareholder’s ability to evaluate an investment in the Fund. Moreover, Bitcoin Futures have only recently been introduced to the U.S. marketplace.

o
Regulatory risk. There exists regulatory uncertainty concerning the treatment of bitcoin. To the extent that future regulatory actions or policies limit the ability to exchange bitcoin or utilize them for payments, the demand for bitcoin may be reduced, which could impact the price of bitcoin and the value of the Fund’s investments.

o
Structural risk. A small group of individuals contribute to core bitcoin decisions, including proposed software upgrades that alter the protocols and software that govern the properties of bitcoin, and such decisions may adversely affect an investment in the Fund. Moreover, if less than a significant majority of the users and miners on the Bitcoin Network install such software upgrade(s), the Bitcoin Network could “fork,” effectively splitting the Bitcoin Network into two competing networks, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. On August 1, 2017, the Bitcoin Network experienced a fork that resulted in a new digital currency referred to as “Bitcoin Cash.” The impact that the fork and Bitcoin Cash will have on the Bitcoin Network and bitcoin is unclear.

o
Supply risk. It is possible, and in fact, reasonably likely, that a small group of early bitcoin adopters hold a significant proportion of the bitcoin that has thus far been created. Sales of such bitcoin may impact the price of bitcoin.

o
Usage risk. The growth of the Bitcoin Network is subject to a high degree of uncertainty. There is no assurance that the Bitcoin Network, or the service providers necessary to accommodate it, will continue in existence or grow. A decline in the popularity or acceptance of the Bitcoin Network may impair the price of bitcoin, which could have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund’s investments.

o
Valuation risk. Political or economic crises may motivate large-scale sales of bitcoin either globally or locally. Large-scale sales of bitcoin could result in movements in the price of bitcoin and could negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Investors should be aware that there is no assurance that bitcoin will maintain its long-term value in terms of purchasing power in the future or that the acceptance of bitcoin for payments by mainstream retail merchants and commercial businesses will continue to grow.

Bitcoin futures risk. Because Bitcoin Futures were only recently introduced, the degree to which Bitcoin Futures are likely to provide exposure to movements in the price of bitcoin is extremely uncertain. If market participants executing trades in Bitcoin Futures face constraints, including capital constraints, security risks, or high execution costs with respect to direct investments in bitcoin, the price at which Bitcoin Futures trade may fail to capture price movements in the underlying price of bitcoin. Moreover, it is not clear how changes to the Bitcoin Network and determinations by any relevant futures exchange with respect to such changes to the Bitcoin Network will affect the value of any positions in Bitcoin Futures. When the Fund has an open futures contract position, it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements. Because futures require only a small initial investment in the form of a deposit or margin, they involve a high degree of leverage. If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of or exposure to futures contracts may increase volatility of the Fund’s net asset value. Futures contracts are also subject to liquidity risk.
7

SUMMARY SECTION

Unlike the futures markets for traditional physical commodities, the market for Bitcoin Futures is new and may be riskier, less liquid, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than more established futures markets. The liquidity of the market will depend on, among other things, the adoption of bitcoin and the commercial and speculative interest in the market for the ability to hedge against the price of bitcoin with Bitcoin Futures. There can be no guarantee that a liquid market for Bitcoin Futures will develop. The Fund may be unable to consistently achieve exposure to bitcoin using Bitcoin Futures if a liquid market for Bitcoin Futures does not develop.

Commodities risk. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than cash market investments in securities. Prices of commodities and related contracts may fluctuate significantly over short periods for a variety of reasons, including: changes in interest rates, supply and demand relationships and balances of payments and trade; weather and natural disasters; and governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies. The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions and other disruptions. U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices which may occur during a single business day. Limit prices have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices.

Commodity pool risk. The Fund’s investment exposure to Bitcoin Futures will cause it to be deemed to be a commodity pool, thereby subjecting the Fund to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules. The Subsidiary is also considered to be a commodity pool and therefore, subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act. The Advisor is registered as a Commodity Pool Operator (“CPO”), the Sub-Advisor is registered as a Commodity Trading Advisor (“CTA”), and the Fund will be operated in accordance with applicable CFTC rules, as well as the regulatory scheme applicable to registered investment companies. Registration as a CPO and CTA imposes additional compliance obligations on the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor and the Fund related to additional laws, regulations, and enforcement policies, which could increase compliance costs and may affect the operations and financial performance of the Fund.

Correlation risk. The Fund is not expected to invest directly in bitcoin and may not successfully track the price movements of bitcoin.

Counterparty credit risk. Many purchases, sales, financing arrangements, and derivative transactions in which the Fund may engage involve instruments that are not traded on an exchange. Rather, these instruments are traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships. As a result, the Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under the related contract. Although the Fund expects to enter into transactions only with counterparties believed by the Advisor or Sub-Advisor to be creditworthy, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will not default and that the Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction as a result.

Credit risk. If an issuer or guarantor of a debt security held by the Fund or a counterparty to a financial contract with the Fund defaults or is downgraded or is perceived to be less creditworthy, or if the value of the assets underlying a security declines, the value of the Fund’s portfolio will typically decline.

Derivative risk. Derivatives include instruments and contracts that are based on and valued in relation to one or more underlying commodities, securities, financial benchmarks, indices, or other reference obligations or measures of value. Using derivatives can have a leveraging effect and increase fund volatility. Derivatives transactions can be highly illiquid and difficult to unwind or value, and changes in the value of a derivative held by the Fund may not correlate with the value of the underlying instrument or the Fund’s other investments. Many of the risks applicable to trading the instruments underlying derivatives are also applicable to derivatives trading. However, additional risks are associated with derivatives trading that are possibly greater than the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying instruments. These additional risks include, but are not limited to, illiquidity risk and counterparty credit risk. For derivatives that are required to be cleared by a regulated clearinghouse, other risks may arise from the Fund’s relationship with a brokerage firm through which it would submit derivatives trades for clearing, including in some cases from fellow clearing customers of the brokerage firm.
8

SUMMARY SECTION

ETN risk. ETNs are debt securities that combine certain aspects of ETFs and bonds. ETNs are not investment companies and thus are not regulated under the 1940 Act. ETNs, like ETFs, are traded on stock exchanges and generally track specified market indices, and their value depends on the performance of the underlying index and the credit rating of the issuer. ETNs may be held to maturity, but unlike bonds there are no periodic interest payments and principal is not protected.

Fixed income risk. The prices of fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to changes in an issuer’s credit rating or market perceptions about the creditworthiness of an issuer. Generally fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, and longer-term and lower rated securities are more volatile than shorter-term and higher rated securities.

Foreign (non-U.S.) investment risk. The prices of foreign securities may be more volatile than the prices of securities of U.S. issuers because of economic and social conditions abroad, political developments, and changes in the regulatory environments of foreign countries. In addition, changes in exchange rates and interest rates may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s foreign investments. Foreign companies are generally subject to different legal and accounting standards than U.S. companies, and foreign financial intermediaries may be subject to less supervision and regulation than U.S. financial firms.

Forward and futures contract risk. The Fund may enter into forward contracts that are not traded on exchanges and may not be regulated. There are no limitations on daily price moves of forward contracts. Banks and other dealers with which the Fund maintains accounts may require that the Fund deposit margin with respect to such trading. The Fund’s counterparties are not required to continue making markets in such contracts. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread (the difference between the price at which the counterparty is prepared to buy and that at which it is prepared to sell). Arrangements to trade forward contracts may be made with only one or a few counterparties, and liquidity problems therefore might be greater than if such arrangements were made with numerous counterparties. The imposition of credit controls by governmental authorities might limit such forward trading to less than the amount that the Advisor or Sub-Advisor would otherwise recommend, to the possible detriment of the Fund.

The Fund may invest in futures that trade on an exchange and that are cleared by a clearinghouse. A futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take delivery of) the specified security, commodity or currency underlying the contract on the expiration date of the contract at an agreed upon price. An index futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount multiplied by the difference between the value of a specific index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying securities in the index is made. Generally, these futures contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contracts. The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in correlation with the value of the underlying instrument. Risks of futures contracts may arise from an imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the instruments and the price of the underlying securities. The Fund’s use of futures contracts (and related options) exposes the Fund to leverage risk because of the small margin requirements relative to the value of the futures contract. A relatively small market movement will have a proportionately larger impact on the funds that the Fund has deposited or will have to deposit with a broker to maintain its futures position. Leverage can lead to large losses as well as gains. While futures contracts are generally liquid instruments, under certain market conditions they may become illiquid. Futures exchanges may impose daily or intraday price change limits and/or limit the volume of trading. Additionally, government regulation may further reduce liquidity through similar trading restrictions. As a result, the Fund may be unable to close out its futures contracts at a time that is advantageous. The price of futures can be highly volatile; using them could lower total return, and the potential loss from futures can exceed the Fund’s initial investment in such contracts.
9

SUMMARY SECTION

Futures rolling risk. The Fund is expected to invest in Bitcoin Futures and is subject to costs associated with and risks related to “rolling.” The contractual obligations of a buyer or seller holding a futures contract to expiration may be satisfied by settling in cash as designated in the contract specifications. The Fund’s investment strategy is subject to risks related to rolling futures contracts (i.e., moving from futures nearing expiration into futures with later expirations). Depending on market factors, the further a futures contract is from expiration, the price of a futures contract may be higher than the spot price of the underlying commodity (a condition known as “contango”) or lower (a condition known as “backwardation”), which can impact the Fund’s returns.

Hedging transactions risk. The Fund may employ hedging techniques that involve a variety of derivative transactions, including futures contracts, swaps, exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities or on financial indices, and various interest rate and foreign-exchange transactions (collectively, “Hedging Instruments”). Hedging techniques involve risks different than those of underlying investments. In particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of Hedging Instruments and price movements in the position being hedged means that losses on the hedge may be greater than gains in the value of the Fund’s positions, or that there may be losses on both parts of a transaction. In addition, certain Hedging Instruments and markets may not be liquid in all circumstances. As a result, in volatile markets, the Fund may not be able to close out a transaction in certain of these instruments without incurring losses. The Advisor or Sub-Advisor may use Hedging Instruments to minimize the risk of total loss to the Fund by offsetting an investment in one security with a comparable investment in a contrasting security. However, such use may limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the hedged position. Whether the Fund hedges successfully will depend on the Advisor’s or Sub-Advisor’s ability to predict pertinent market movements. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, because the value of those securities is likely to fluctuate as a result of independent factors not related to currency fluctuations. The daily variation margin requirements in futures contracts might create greater financial risk than would options transactions, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund.

Index risk. If a derivative in which the Fund invests is linked to the performance of an index, the derivative will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index.

Issuer-specific risk. The value of a specific security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole.

Leveraging risk. Certain Fund transactions, including entering into futures contracts and taking short positions in financial instruments, may give rise to a form of leverage. Leverage can magnify the effects of changes in the value of the Fund’s investments and make the Fund more volatile. Leverage creates a risk of loss of value on a larger pool of assets than the Fund would otherwise have had, potentially resulting in the loss of all assets. The Fund may also have to sell assets at inopportune times to satisfy its obligations in connection with such transactions.
10

SUMMARY SECTION

Liquidity risk. The Fund may not be able to sell some or all of the investments that it holds due to a lack of demand in the marketplace or other factors such as market turmoil, or if the Fund is forced to sell an illiquid asset to meet redemption requests or other cash needs it may only be able to sell those investments at a loss. In addition, the reduction in dealer market-making capacity in the fixed income markets that has occurred in recent years has the potential to decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s investments.

Management and strategy risk. The value of your investment depends on the judgment of the Advisor or Sub-Advisor about the quality, relative yield, value or market trends affecting a particular security or investment which may prove to be incorrect.

Market risk. The market price of a security or instrument may decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The market value of a security or instrument also may decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.

New fund risk. As a new fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case it could ultimately liquidate. The Fund will compete with direct investments in bitcoin and other potential financial vehicles that are similar to the Fund, which could limit the ability for the Fund to grow. In addition, the Advisor is newly established and has not previously managed a mutual fund.

Non-diversification risk. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified,” which means the Fund may invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. Investment in securities of a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential losses than if its assets were diversified among the securities of a greater number of issuers.

Options risk. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. The Fund may not fully benefit from or may lose money on an option if changes in its value do not correspond as anticipated to changes in the value of the underlying securities. If the Fund is not able to sell an option held in its portfolio, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of the underlying securities. Ownership of options involves the payment of premiums, which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. To the extent that the Fund invests in over-the-counter options, the Fund may be exposed to counterparty risk.

Over-the-counter, non-cleared derivatives transactions. The Fund may enter into derivatives that are not traded on an exchange or other organized facility or contract market. Many of these instruments are also not required to be cleared or are not cleared on a voluntary basis. The risk of nonperformance by the obligor on such an instrument may be greater than the risk associated with an instrument traded on an exchange or other organized trading facility and centrally cleared. In addition, the Fund may not be able to dispose of, or enter into a closing transaction with respect to, such an instrument as easily as in the case of an instrument traded on an exchange or other organized trading facility. Significant disparities may exist between “bid” and “asked” prices for derivative instruments that are not traded on an exchange or other organized facility. Derivatives not traded on exchanges or other organized facilities may be subject to less regulation than exchange-traded and on-facility instruments, and many of the protections afforded to participants on an exchange or other organized facility may not be available with respect to these instruments. In situations where the Fund is required to post margin or other collateral with a counterparty, the counterparty may fail to segregate the collateral or may commingle the collateral with the counterparty's own assets. As a result, in the event of the counterparty's bankruptcy or insolvency, the Fund's collateral may be subject to the conflicting claims of the counterparty's creditors and the Fund may be exposed to the risk of being treated as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral.
11

SUMMARY SECTION

Bilateral derivatives trading has become subject to increased regulation under recent financial reform laws – such as margin requirements for non-cleared transactions – may offer market participants additional protections once implemented. Nonetheless, the Fund will not be fully protected from risks that are present in an over-the-counter, non-cleared trading environment.

Portfolio turnover risk. Active and frequent trading of the Fund’s portfolio securities may lead to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions than would otherwise be the case, which could negatively affect the Fund’s performance. A high rate of portfolio turnover is 100% or more.

Regulatory risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund. For example, the SEC recently proposed regulations that, upon effectiveness, would subject activities of mutual funds trading certain derivative instruments to additional regulation, which could increase the operating expenses of the Fund and impair the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Short sale exposure risk. The Fund may seek “short” exposure to certain instruments through financial instruments such as swap agreements, which may cause the Fund to be exposed to certain risks associated with selling securities short. These risks include, under certain market conditions, an increase in the volatility and decrease in the liquidity of securities underlying the short position, which may lower the Fund’s return, result in a loss, have the effect of limiting the Fund’s ability to obtain exposure through financial instruments, or require the Fund to seek exposure through alternative investment strategies that may be less desirable or more costly to implement.

Short sales risk. In connection with a short sale of a security or other instrument, the Fund is subject to the risk that instead of declining, the price of the security or other instrument sold short will rise. If the price of the security or other instrument sold short increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security or other instrument borrowed to make the short sale, the Fund will experience a loss, which is theoretically unlimited. Shorting options or futures may have an imperfect correlation to the assets held by the Fund and may not adequately protect against losses in or may result in greater losses for the Fund’s portfolio.

Subsidiary risk. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund (see “Commodities Risk” above). The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund.

Swap agreement risk. The Fund may enter into swap transactions. A swap contract is a commitment between two parties to make or receive payments based on agreed upon terms, and whose value and payments are derived by changes in the value of an underlying financial instrument. Swap transactions can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names. Depending on their structure, swap transactions may increase or decrease the Fund’s exposure to long-term or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices, values of baskets of securities, or inflation rates. Interest rate swaps are contracts involving the exchange between two contracting parties of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments). Credit default swaps are contracts whereby one party makes periodic payments to a counterparty in exchange for the right to receive from the counterparty a payment equal to the par (or other agreed-upon) value of an underlying debt obligation in the event of default by the issuer of the debt security. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the change in market value of the underlying assets, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or security indexes during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate of the total return from other underlying assets. Depending on how they are used, swap transactions may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the Fund’s portfolio. The most significant factor in the performance of a swap transaction is the change in the specific interest rate, currency, individual equity values or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. Swap agreements subject the Fund to counterparty and liquidity risk.
12

SUMMARY SECTION

Tax risk. For the Fund to qualify for the favorable tax treatment applicable to a regulated investment company (a “RIC”), the Fund will need to meet certain statutory requirements regarding the Fund’s assets, income and annual distributions. Although the Fund intends to comply with those requirements, there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), or a court, will determine that to be the case. In particular, it is not entirely certain that the Fund’s use of a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary to make bitcoin-related investments, which, if the Fund made them directly, could generate nonqualifying income for purposes of the RIC income test, will be respected for federal income tax purposes – although this is a structure that has been, and is, employed by many existing RICs as a way of making commodities-related investments. Furthermore, the ability of the Fund to gain bitcoin-related exposure as contemplated may be adversely affected by future legislation, regulatory developments, interpretive guidance or other actions by the IRS or the Treasury Department. Any failure of the Fund to qualify as a RIC would likely result in additional tax liability, because the Fund would be separately taxable on its net income each year in addition to the Fund’s shareholders being taxable on the distributions they receive. Additionally, the Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary could require the Fund to make substantial distributions to its shareholders in order to continue to qualify as a RIC.

Underlying funds risk. The Fund may invest in ETFs, exchange-traded closed-end funds, other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, other pooled investment vehicles not registered under the 1940 Act, and other securities that are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), in which case the Fund’s performance will be directly related to the performance of those investment companies. Through its positions in these investment companies, the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with such vehicles, including the possibility that the value of their securities or instruments could decrease. It may also be more expensive for the Fund to invest in these investment companies than to own the portfolio securities of these investment vehicles directly, and such investments may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. An ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value and the Fund will pay brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. Restricted securities not registered under the Securities Act may be less liquid and more difficult to value than other investments because such securities may not be readily marketable.

U.S. Government securities risk. The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. U.S. government securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. U.S. government securities have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, in 2011, several major credit rating agencies downgraded the long-term credit rating of U.S. government debt. Because of the rising U.S. government debt burden, it is possible that the U.S. government may not be able to meet its financial obligations or that securities issued by the U.S. government may experience additional or further credit downgrades. Such credit events may also adversely impact the financial markets. In addition, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
13

SUMMARY SECTION

Valuation risk. The sales price the Fund could receive for any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued by the Fund using a fair value methodology. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the security or had used a different valuation methodology.

Volatility risk. The Fund’s derivative investments can be highly volatile and the Fund may experience large losses when buying, selling or holding such instruments. The price of bitcoin has experienced extreme market volatility in the past and can be expect to be very volatile in the future. High volatility may have an adverse impact on the Fund.
 
The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund should be utilized only by investors who (a) understand the risks associated with the use of derivatives, (b) are willing to assume a high degree of risk, and (c) intend to actively monitor and manage their investments in the Fund. Additionally, the Fund should be utilized only by investors who understand that the Fund does not invest in physical bitcoin and may not successfully provide exposure to the price movements of bitcoin. Investors who do not meet these criteria should not buy shares of the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a complete investment program.

Performance
 
The Fund is new and does not have a full calendar year performance record to compare against other mutual funds or broad measures of securities market performance such as indices. Performance information will be available after the Fund has been in operation for one calendar year.

Investment Advisor
REX Capital Management, LLC (“REX Capital” or “Advisor”) is the advisor of both the Fund and the Subsidiary.

Sub-Advisor
Vident Investment Advisory, LLC (“Vident” or “Sub-Advisor”) is the sub-advisor of both the Fund and the Subsidiary.

Portfolio Manager
Denise M. Krisko, CFA, President of Vident, is the portfolio manager of the Fund. Ms. Krisko has been primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio since its inception on _____, 2017.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
To purchase shares of the Fund, you must invest at least the minimum amount.
   
Minimum Investments
To Open
Your Account
To Add to
Your Account
Investor Class
   
Direct Regular Accounts
$____
$____
Direct Retirement Accounts
$____
$____
Automatic Investment Plan
$____
$____
Gift Account For Minors
$____
$____
Institutional Class
   
Direct Regular Accounts
$____
$____
Direct Retirement Accounts
$____
$____
Automatic Investment Plan
$____
$____
Gift Account For Minors
$____
$____

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SUMMARY SECTION
 
Fund shares are redeemable on any business day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business, by written request or by telephone.
 
Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions are generally taxable, and will ordinarily be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Shareholders investing through such tax-advantaged arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements.

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

Investment Objective
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to provide investors with long exposure to the price movements of bitcoin. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.

The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval, upon at least 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund’s investment strategies and policies may be changed from time to time without shareholder approval or prior written notice, unless specifically stated otherwise in this Prospectus or the SAI.

Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective, under normal circumstances, by investing directly and indirectly in an actively managed portfolio of financial instruments providing long exposure to movements in the value of bitcoin, together with an actively managed portfolio of fixed income instruments.

Investments by the Fund
The Fund expects to obtain significant exposure to Bitcoin Futures primarily by investing up to 25% of its total assets, as measured at the end of every quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary generally will invest in long positions in Bitcoin Futures and will periodically sell Bitcoin Futures to unwind a portion of its positions. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements that apply to regulated investment companies and subject to the limits on leverage imposed by the 1940 Act.

In addition to Bitcoin Futures, the Subsidiary may invest in other instruments that provide exposure to the price movement of bitcoin, including commodity futures, option, and swap contracts; fixed income securities; pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act; and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivatives positions. The Subsidiary is considered to be a commodity pool and therefore, subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), however, has not passed upon the merits on an investment in the Fund or the Subsidiary, nor has the CFTC passed on the adequacy of this Prospectus.

To the extent the Subsidiary invests in bitcoin-linked derivative instruments, it will comply with the same segregation and asset coverage requirements that are applicable to the Fund’s transactions in derivatives under the 1940 Act. Similarly, to the extent they are applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will be subject to the same fundamental and certain other investment restrictions (except for the restriction on the purchase and sale of commodities and commodities contracts applicable to the Fund) and will follow the same compliance policies and procedures as the Fund. The Subsidiary is managed by the Advisor and sub-advised by the Sub-Advisor, and the Subsidiary is overseen by its own board of directors. However, because the Fund is the sole shareholder in the Subsidiary, the Fund’s Board of Trustees has direct oversight over the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary and indirect oversight over the Subsidiary’s operations and investment activities.

The Sub-Advisor will consider whether it is advantageous for the Fund to invest directly in Bitcoin Futures as well as other bitcoin-linked financial instruments or if the desired exposure can be achieved more efficiently by investing in its Subsidiary, which would, in turn, purchase and hold Bitcoin Futures as well as other bitcoin -linked financial instruments. As a result, the level of the Fund’s investment in its Subsidiary may vary (up to 25%) depending on the types of commodity-linked investments used to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. For example, the Fund’s increased use of bitcoin-linked notes typically will result in decreased investment in the Subsidiary, whereas the Fund’s increased use of Bitcoin Futures, swaps, or options on Bitcoin Futures typically will result in increased investment in the Subsidiary.

The Advisor does not take defensive positions in the Fund’s portfolios during periods of adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions as the Advisor intends for the Fund to remain fully invested consistent with its investment strategy under all market conditions. This means that, based on market and economic conditions, the Fund’s performance could be lower than other types of mutual funds that may shift their portfolio assets to take advantage of market opportunities or to lessen the impact of a market decline.
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More Information about Bitcoin
“Bitcoin” is a digital asset based on the decentralized, open source protocol of the peer-to-peer bitcoin computer network (the “Bitcoin Network”). Bitcoin can currently be used to pay for goods and services, can be purchased or sold on websites that facilitate the transfer of bitcoin in exchange for government-issued currencies (“Bitcoin Exchanges”), or can be transferred in individual end-user-to-end-user transactions under a barter system. No single entity owns or operates the Bitcoin Network; the infrastructure is collectively maintained by a decentralized user base. The Bitcoin Network is accessed through software, and software governs bitcoin’s creation, movement, and ownership.

The value of bitcoin is determined by the supply of and demand for bitcoin on the Bitcoin Exchanges (and in private end-user-to-end-user transactions), as well as by the number of merchants that accept bitcoin. Bitcoin transactions can be broadcast to the Bitcoin Network by any user’s Bitcoin Network software and bitcoin can be transferred without the involvement of intermediaries or third parties, other than verification by Bitcoin Network miners, which are Bitcoin Network participants that secure and verify bitcoin transactions through a peer-to-peer computer process. Third-party service providers such as Bitcoin Exchanges and third-party bitcoin payment processing services may charge potentially substantial fees for processing transactions and for converting, or facilitating the conversion of, bitcoin to or from fiat currency. The Bitcoin Network is decentralized and does not rely on either governmental authorities or financial institutions to create, transmit or determine the value of bitcoin. Rather, bitcoin is created and allocated by the Bitcoin Network protocol through the mining process subject to a strict, well-known issuance schedule contained within the protocol.

Bitcoin records are reflected on the “Blockchain,” which is a digital public record, or ledger, on which all bitcoin is recorded. The Blockchain is comprised of a digital record, copies of which are downloaded and stored, in a decentralized manner on the computers of each Bitcoin Network user. Transaction data is permanently recorded in files called “blocks,” which reflect transactions that have been recorded and authenticated by miners. Each newly recorded block of transactions refers back to and “connects” with the immediately prior recorded block of the public ledger, similar to pages of other types of transaction ledgers. Each new block records outstanding Bitcoin transactions, and outstanding transactions are settled and validated through such recording. The Blockchain represents a complete, transparent and unbroken history of all transactions on the Bitcoin Network, in the form of a public ledger that is accessible by all. The Bitcoin Network software source code includes the protocols that govern the creation of bitcoin and the cryptographic system that secures and verifies Bitcoin transactions.

To engage in bitcoin transactions, users generate two mathematically related numbers that are used to authenticate bitcoin transactions: a “public key” (also known as a “public address”) and a “private key.” The private key is frequently retained in a software program for facilitating bitcoin transactions, known as a “bitcoin wallet,” while the public key may be made publicly available. The public key serves as an address to which bitcoin can be transferred and from which bitcoin can be sent by the owner of the private key. The Bitcoin Network utilizes the Blockchain to evidence the existence of bitcoin associated with any “public key” that has been used in a transaction on the Bitcoin Network. A “private key” controls the transfer or “spending” of bitcoin from its associated public key. Only a specific private key can be used to authenticate, or “sign,” any transaction from the associated public address.

The Blockchain constitutes a canonical record of every bitcoin, every bitcoin transaction (including the creation or “mining” of new bitcoin) and every bitcoin address associated with a quantity of bitcoin. The Bitcoin Network and Bitcoin Network software programs can interpret the Blockchain to determine the exact bitcoin balance, if any, of any public Bitcoin address listed in the Blockchain as having taken part in a transaction on the Bitcoin Network.

Bitcoin Network miners engage in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations in order to add a block to the Blockchain and thereby confirm Bitcoin transactions included in that block’s data. In addition to confirming the authenticity of some or all recent transactions and referencing the preceding block, each block also contains an answer to a mathematical problem. Miners generate potential answers to this mathematical problem at a rapid rate, effectively searching for a correct answer via computational trial-and-error. New blocks cannot be submitted to the network without a correct answer. The mathematical problem in each block is extremely difficult to solve, but once a valid solution is found, it is very easy for the rest of the network to confirm that the solution is correct. Once the mathematical problem has been solved, the miner may then transmit a copy of the newly-formed block to peers on the Bitcoin Network, which then update their respective copies of the Blockchain by appending the new block. A new block that is added to the Blockchain serves to take recent-yet-unconfirmed transactions and verify that none are fraudulent, and the miner that first solves such block receives the reward of a fixed number of bitcoin for its effort.
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The protocol underlying the Bitcoin Network provides the rules by which all users and miners on the Bitcoin Network must operate. Bitcoin Network software automatically adjusts the difficulty of the mathematical problem so that a new block is mined approximately once every ten minutes. Estimates show that the current Bitcoin Network software can thus accommodate up to seven transactions per second. The protocol also lays out the block reward, the amount of bitcoin that a miner earns upon creating a new block. The initial block reward when the Bitcoin Network was introduced in 2009 was 50 bitcoin per block. That number has and will continue to halve approximately every four years until approximately 2140, when it is estimated that block rewards will go to zero. The most recent halving occurred on July 9, 2016, which reduced the block reward from 25 to 12.5 bitcoin. In addition to the block reward, end users pay fees as an incentive for a miner to confirm their transactions in newly created blocks. When a miner creates a new block, as part of the process the miner adds any unconfirmed transactions to the new block, and for doing so accepts fees associated with each transaction. Fees vary in amount based on a calculation conducted by a user’s bitcoin wallet software.

The Bitcoin Network was initially contemplated in a white paper that also described bitcoin and the operating software to govern the Bitcoin Network. The white paper was purportedly authored by Satoshi Nakamoto; however, no individual with that name has been reliably identified as Bitcoin’s creator, and the general consensus is that the name is a pseudonym for the actual inventor or inventors. The first bitcoin was created in 2009 after Nakamoto released the Bitcoin Network source code (the software and protocol that created and launched the Bitcoin Network). The Bitcoin Network protocol is built using open source software, allowing for any developer to review the underlying code and suggest changes. There is no official company or group that is responsible for making modifications to the Bitcoin Network, however, there are a number of individual developers that regularly contribute to a specific distribution of Bitcoin Network software dubbed “Bitcoin Core.” Significant changes to the Bitcoin Network protocol are typically accomplished through a so-called Bitcoin Improvement Proposal or BIP. Such proposals are generally posted on websites, and the proposals explain technical requirements for the protocol change as well as reasons why the change should be accepted.

The Bitcoin Network has no central authority, so the implementation of a change is achieved by users and miners downloading and running updated versions of Bitcoin Network software. If a significant proportion of Bitcoin Network users and miners decide to adopt a change to the Bitcoin Network that is not compatible with previous software, then this software will recognize and process transactions differently on a going-forward basis. If another significant proportion of Bitcoin Network users and miners decide not to adopt such change, then these two Bitcoin Network groups would not process transactions in the same way on a going-forward basis. In this scenario, the blocks recognized as valid by one group of users will be different from the blocks recognized as valid by the other group of users, which will cause transaction records to diverge, or “fork,” on a going-forward basis. If this were to occur, two separate Bitcoin Networks could result, one running the pre-modification software program and the other running the modified version (i.e., a second “Bitcoin” network). In the event of a permanent fork with two separate and incompatible Bitcoin Networks, the price movements of different versions of bitcoin on different Bitcoin Networks may deviate. In such case, the Advisor or Sub-Advisor will evaluate the characteristics of each Bitcoin Network to determine in its sole discretion which Bitcoin Network will provide exposure that best comports with the Fund’s investment objective. On August 1, 2017, the Bitcoin Network was forked by a group of developers and miners accepting changes to the Bitcoin Network software intended to increase transaction capacity. Blocks mined on this network now diverge from blocks mined on the Bitcoin Network, which has resulted in the creation of a new blockchain whose digital asset is referred to as “Bitcoin Cash.” The Bitcoin Network and the Bitcoin Cash network now operate as separate, independent networks. Multiple proposals for increasing the capacity of the Bitcoin Network still exist, and it is possible that one or more of these proposals could result in further network “forks.”
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Principal Risks of Investing
The Fund’s principal risks are set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause you to lose money.

Bitcoin risk. Bitcoin is an extremely new and nontraditional asset. Bitcoin was invented in 2009 and not all information with respect to its origin is known, which limits a potential shareholder’s ability to evaluate the performance of bitcoin. Digital assets, represented on a decentralized public transaction ledger that is maintained by an open source protocol, are substantively different from traditional assets and investments. Because of the complex nature of bitcoin itself coupled with an investment with exposure to the performance thereof, an investor in the Fund may face numerous material risks that may not be present in other investments. These risks include:

o
Bitcoin exchange risk. The Bitcoin Exchanges on which bitcoin trades are new and, in many cases, unregulated. Furthermore, many Bitcoin Exchanges (including several of the most prominent U.S. Dollar-denominated Bitcoin Exchanges) do not provide the public with significant information regarding their ownership structure, management teams, corporate practices or regulatory compliance. As a result, the marketplace may lose confidence in or may experience problems relating to Bitcoin Exchanges, including prominent exchanges which handle a significant portion of the volume of bitcoin trading. Bitcoin Exchanges may impose daily, weekly, monthly or customer-specific transaction or distribution limits, or the Bitcoin Exchanges may suspend withdrawals entirely, rendering the exchange of virtual currency for fiat currency difficult or impossible. Bitcoin Exchanges generally operate outside of the United States. An investor may have difficulty in successfully pursuing claims in the courts of such countries or enforcing in the courts of such countries a judgment obtained in another country. In general, certain less developed countries lack fully developed legal systems and bodies of commercial law and practices normally found in countries with more developed market economies. Currently, there are no specific regulatory protections in place that would protect an investor in bitcoin from financial losses if a Bitcoin Exchange were to fail or go out of business. Participation in Bitcoin Exchanges requires users to take on credit risk by transferring bitcoin from a personal account to a third party’s account.

A number of Bitcoin Exchanges have been closed due to fraud, failure or security breaches. In many of these instances, the customers of such Bitcoin Exchanges were not compensated or made whole for the partial or complete losses of their account balances in such Bitcoin Exchanges. While smaller Bitcoin Exchanges are less likely to have the infrastructure and capitalization that make larger Bitcoin Exchanges more stable, larger Bitcoin Exchanges are more likely to be appealing targets for hackers and “malware” (i.e., software used or programmed by attackers to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information or gain access to private computer systems). In 2014, the largest Bitcoin Exchange at the time, Mt. Gox, filed for bankruptcy in Japan amid reports the exchange lost up to 850,000 bitcoin, valued then at over $450 million, as well as $28 million in cash from the exchange’s bank accounts. In August 2016, Bitfinex, a Bitcoin Exchange located in Hong Kong, reported a security breach that resulted in the theft of approximately 120,000 bitcoin valued at the time at approximately $65 million, a loss which was allocated to all Bitfinex account holders (rather than just specified holders whose wallets were affected directly), regardless of whether the account holder held bitcoin or cash in their account.

A lack of stability in the Bitcoin Exchange market and the closure or temporary shutdown of Bitcoin Exchanges due to fraud, business failure, hackers or malware, or government-mandated regulation may reduce confidence in the Bitcoin Network and result in greater volatility in the price of bitcoin. These potential consequences of a Bitcoin Exchange’s failure could adversely affect the price of bitcoin, which would be likely to impact the value of the Fund’s investments.

o
Competition risk. The Bitcoin Network and bitcoin, as an asset, hold a “first-to-market” advantage over other digital assets. This first-to-market advantage is driven in large part by having, as of the date of this prospectus, the largest user and investor base and the largest number of miners and, consequently, the largest aggregate hashrate securing the Blockchain and verifying its transactions. Having a large mining network results in greater user confidence regarding the security and long-term stability of a digital asset’s network and its block chain; as a result, the advantage of more users and miners makes a digital asset more secure, which makes it more attractive to new users and miners, resulting in a network effect that strengthens the first-to-market advantage. However, it is possible that another digital asset could become materially popular due to either a perceived or exposed shortcoming of the Bitcoin Network protocol that is not immediately addressed by the bitcoin contributor community or a perceived advantage of an “altcoin” that includes features not incorporated into bitcoin. In particular, the digital asset “ethereum,” has gained substantial market share in recent months, which may be in part due to perceived institutional backing and/or potentially advantageous features not incorporated into bitcoin. Additionally, on August 1, 2017, the bitcoin network “forked”, creating a new digital asset referred to as Bitcoin Cash which was designed to address perceived limitations of the Bitcoin Network’s block size requirements. If a digital asset obtains significant market share (either in market capitalization, mining power or use as a payment technology), this could reduce bitcoin’s market share and have an impact on the demand for, and price of, bitcoin and thereby adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments.
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o
Intellectual property risk. Third parties may assert intellectual property claims relating to the holding and transfer of digital assets and their source code. Regardless of the merit of any intellectual property or other legal action, any threatened action that reduces confidence in the Bitcoin Network’s long-term viability or the ability of end-users to hold and transfer bitcoin may adversely affect an investment in the Shares. Additionally, a successful intellectual property claim could prevent market participants from accessing the Bitcoin Network or holding or transferring their bitcoin, which could adversely impact the price of bitcoin and the value of the Fund’s investments.

o
Internet and Cybersecurity Risk. The Bitcoin Network’s functionality relies on the Internet. A significant disruption of Internet connectivity affecting large numbers of users or geographic areas could impede the functionality of the Bitcoin Network and adversely affect the Fund. In addition, the certain features of the Bitcoin Network, such as decentralization, open source protocol, and reliance on peer-to-peer connectivity, may increase the risk of fraud or cyber-attack by potentially reducing the likelihood of a coordinated response.

o
Maintenance risk. The Bitcoin Network operates based on an open-source protocol maintained by contributors. As an open source project, Bitcoin is not represented by an official organization or authority. As the Bitcoin Network protocol is not sold and its use does not generate revenues for contributors, contributors are generally not compensated for maintaining and updating the Bitcoin Network protocol. The lack of guaranteed financial incentive for contributors to maintain or develop the Bitcoin Network and the lack of guaranteed resources to adequately address emerging issues with the Bitcoin Network may reduce incentives to address the issues adequately or in a timely manner.

Bitcoin Network miners engage in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations in order to add a block to the Blockchain and thereby confirm Bitcoin transactions. Miners that are successful in adding a block to the Blockchain are automatically awarded a fixed number of bitcoin for their effort. As the award of new bitcoin for solving blocks declines, and if transaction fees are not sufficiently high, miners may not have an adequate incentive to continue mining and may cease their mining operations. This reduction may result in a reduction in the aggregate hashrate of the Bitcoin Network as the incentive for miners will decrease, which would adversely affect the confirmation process for transactions (i.e., temporarily decreasing the speed at which blocks are added to the Blockchain until the next scheduled adjustment in difficulty for block solutions). More significant reductions in aggregate hashrate on the Bitcoin Network could result in material, though temporary, delays in block solution confirmation time. Any reduction in confidence in the confirmation process or aggregate hashrate of the Bitcoin Network may impact the value of bitcoin, which would be likely to impact the value of the Fund’s investments.
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Additionally, if a malicious actor obtains a majority of the processing power (referred to herein as “aggregate hashrate”) dedicated to mining on the Bitcoin Network, it will be able to exert unilateral control over the addition of blocks to the Blockchain. As long as the malicious actor enjoys this majority it may be able to “double-spend” its own bitcoin (i.e., spend the same bitcoin in two or more conflicting transactions) as well as prevent the confirmation of other Bitcoin transactions. A reduction in the hashrate expended by miners on the Bitcoin Network could increase the likelihood of a malicious actor obtaining control in excess of 50% of the aggregate hashrate active on the Bitcoin Network. If such a scenario were to materialize, it could adversely affect an investment in the Fund.

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New Asset and Limited Trading History Risk. Bitcoin, which is a new technological innovation with a limited history, is a new and highly speculative asset. There is no assurance that usage of bitcoin will continue to grow. A contraction in the use of bitcoin may result in increased volatility or a reduction in the price of bitcoin, which could adversely impact the value of a Fund. Bitcoin was invented in 2009; the asset, bitcoin, and its trading history thus have existed for a relatively short time, which limits a potential shareholder’s ability to evaluate an investment in the Fund. Moreover, Bitcoin Futures have only recently been introduced to the U.S. marketplace.

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Regulatory risk. To the extent that future regulatory actions or policies limit or enhance the ability to exchange bitcoin or utilize them for payments, the demand for bitcoin may be reduced or increased. Furthermore, regulatory actions may limit the ability of end-users to convert bitcoin into fiat currency (e.g., U.S. Dollars) or use bitcoin to pay for goods and services. Bitcoin currently faces an uncertain regulatory landscape in not only the United States but also in many foreign jurisdictions such as the European Union, China and Russia. Some foreign jurisdictions have banned bitcoin as a means of payment. Most regulatory bodies have not yet issued official statements regarding intention to regulate or determinations on regulation of bitcoin, the Bitcoin Network and bitcoin users. Various foreign jurisdictions may, in the near future, adopt laws, regulations or directives that affect the Bitcoin Network and its users, particularly Bitcoin Exchanges and service providers that fall within such jurisdictions’ regulatory scope. Such laws, regulations or directives may conflict with those of the United States and may negatively impact the acceptance of bitcoin by users, merchants and service providers outside of the United States and may therefore impede the growth of the bitcoin economy. The effect of any future regulatory change on bitcoin is impossible to predict, but such change could be substantial and adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Current and future legislation, CFTC and SEC rulemaking and other regulatory developments may affect how bitcoin is classified (e.g., as a security, property, commodity, currency, etc.) and regulated.

Current IRS guidance indicates that digital assets such as bitcoin should be treated and taxed as property, and that transactions involving the payment of bitcoin for goods and services should be treated as barter transactions. This treatment may create a potential tax reporting requirement in any circumstance where the ownership of a bitcoin passes from one person to another, usually by means of Bitcoin transactions. Foreign jurisdictions may also elect to treat digital assets such as bitcoin differently for tax purposes. To the extent a foreign jurisdiction with a significant share of the market of bitcoin users imposes onerous tax burdens on bitcoin users, or imposes sales or value added tax on purchases and sales of bitcoin for fiat currency, such actions could result in decreased demand for bitcoin in such jurisdiction, which could impact the price of bitcoin and negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Accounting standards may also change, creating an obligation to accrue for a tax liability that was not previously required to be accrued for or in situations where it is not expected that will directly or indirectly be ultimately subject to such tax liability.

Regulatory changes are impossible to predict and have the potential to increase or decrease interest in bitcoin, which could impact the price of bitcoin and the value of the Fund’s investments.

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Structural risk. A small group of individuals contribute to core bitcoin decisions. These individuals can propose refinements or improvements to the Bitcoin Network’s source code through one or more software upgrades that alter the protocols and software that govern the Bitcoin Network and the properties of bitcoin, including the irreversibility of transactions and limitations on the mining of new bitcoin. To the extent that a significant majority of the users and miners on the Bitcoin Network install such software upgrade(s), the Bitcoin Network would be subject to new protocols and software that may adversely affect an investment in the Fund. Moreover, a developer or group of developers could potentially propose a modification to the Bitcoin Network that is not accepted by a vast majority of miners and users, but that is nonetheless accepted by a substantial population of participants in the Bitcoin Network. If less than a significant majority of the users and miners on the Bitcoin Network install such software upgrade(s), the Bitcoin Network could “fork.” If this were to occur, two separate Bitcoin Networks could result, one running the pre-modification software program and the other running the modified version (i.e., a second “Bitcoin” network). In the event of a permanent fork with two separate and incompatible Bitcoin Networks, the price movements of different versions of bitcoin on different Bitcoin Networks may deviate. In such case, the Advisor or Sub-Advisor will evaluate the characteristics of each Bitcoin Network to determine in its sole discretion which Bitcoin Network will provide exposure that best comports with the Fund’s investment objective. If the Advisor or Sub-Advisor determines to provide exposure to the price movements of bitcoin from a selected Bitcoin Network, and the interest in such selected Bitcoin Network diminishes relative to the Bitcoin Network that was not selected, this could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. On August 1, 2017, the Bitcoin Network was forked by a group of developers and miners accepting changes to the Bitcoin Network software intended to increase transaction capacity. Blocks mined on this network now diverge from blocks mined on the Bitcoin Network, which has resulted in the creation of a new blockchain whose digital asset is referred to as “Bitcoin Cash.” The Bitcoin Network and the Bitcoin Cash network now operate as separate, independent networks. Multiple proposals for increasing the capacity of the Bitcoin Network still exist, and it is possible that one or more of these proposals could result in further network “forks.” It is possible that the consequences of this fork will not be fully appreciated for some time to come.
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The nature of the Bitcoin Network’s protocols and open source software makes the protocols vulnerable to alteration. If the individuals responsible for maintaining the protocol are unable to address potential flaws in a timely manner, a malicious actor who detects flaws in the protocol could damage the Bitcoin Network and adversely affect the market for bitcoin.

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Supply risk. There is no registry showing which individuals or entities own bitcoin or the quantity of bitcoin owned by any particular person or entity. It is possible, and in fact, reasonably likely, that a small group of early bitcoin adopters hold a significant proportion of the bitcoin that has thus far been created. There are no regulations in place that would prevent a large holder of bitcoin from selling their bitcoin, which could depress the price of bitcoin. Additionally, bitcoin mining operations are awarded a fixed number of bitcoin for their effort in maintaining the Blockchain. As the incentive to mine bitcoin decreases, high fixed expenses of professionalized mining operations may lead bitcoin miners to more immediately sell bitcoin earned from mining operations on one of the various bitcoin exchanges. Such bitcoin sales may impact the price of bitcoin.

Currently, there is relatively small use of bitcoin in the retail and commercial marketplace in comparison to relatively large use by speculators, contributing to price volatility that could adversely affect an investment in the Fund. Bitcoin and the Bitcoin Network have only recently become accepted as a means of payment for goods and services by certain major retail and commercial outlets, and use of bitcoin by consumers to pay such retail and commercial outlets remains limited. Conversely, a significant portion of bitcoin demand is generated by speculators and investors seeking to profit from the short- or long-term holding of bitcoins. A lack of expansion by bitcoins into retail and commercial markets, or a contraction of such use, may result in increased volatility, which could adversely affect an investment in the Fund.

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Usage risk. A digital asset such as bitcoin may be used, among other things, to buy and sell goods and services. The Bitcoin Network is a new and rapidly evolving industry. The growth of the digital asset industry in general, and the Bitcoin Network in particular, is subject to a high degree of uncertainty. The factors affecting the further development of the Bitcoin Network include:

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·
continued worldwide growth in the adoption and use of bitcoin, which may be impacted by, among other things, negative publicity, perceived illicit uses of bitcoin, security risks for individual holders of bitcoin, and software or hardware malfunctions impacting bitcoin users;
·
government and quasi-government regulation of bitcoin and its use, or restrictions on or regulation of access to and operation of the Bitcoin Network;
·
changes in consumer demographics and public tastes and preferences;
·
the availability and popularity of other forms or methods of buying and selling goods and services, including new means of using fiat currencies; and
·
general economic conditions and the regulatory environment relating to digital assets.

Additionally, Bitcoin Exchanges may charge a high fee for effecting transactions. Moreover, in order to incentivize miners to continue to contribute hashrate to the Bitcoin Network, the Bitcoin Network may either formally or informally transition from a set reward to transaction fees earned upon solving for a block. This transition could be accomplished by miners independently or collectively electing to record in the blocks they solve only those transactions that include payment of a sufficiently large transaction fee. If transaction fees paid for Bitcoin transactions become too high, the marketplace may be reluctant to accept bitcoin as a means of payment and existing users may be motivated to switch from bitcoin to another digital asset or back to fiat currency.

There is no assurance that the Bitcoin Network, or the service providers necessary to accommodate it, will continue in existence or grow. Furthermore, there is no assurance that the availability of and access to Bitcoin Network service providers will not be negatively affected by government regulation or supply and demand of bitcoin. A decline in the popularity or acceptance of the Bitcoin Network may impair the price of bitcoin, which could have an impact on the value of the Fund’s investments.

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Valuation risk. As an alternative to fiat currencies that are backed by governments, digital assets such as bitcoin, which are relatively new, are subject to supply and demand forces based upon the desirability of an alternative, decentralized means of buying and selling goods and services, and it is unclear how such supply and demand will be impacted by geopolitical events. Nevertheless, political or economic crises may motivate large-scale acquisitions or sales of bitcoin either globally or locally. Large-scale purchases or sales of bitcoin could result in movements in the price of bitcoin and could negatively or positively impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Because bitcoin is not backed by a government, it is not subject to the protections that apply to other currencies. For instance, no government can be expected to bolster the value of bitcoin in case of a crash in its value.

Fluctuations in the price of bitcoin could adversely affect an investment in the Fund. The price of bitcoin has fluctuated widely over the past three years, and many factors may affect the value of bitcoin, including, but not limited to:

·
Global bitcoin supply;
·
Global bitcoin demand, which is influenced by the growth of retail merchants’ and commercial businesses’ acceptance of bitcoin as payment for goods and services, the security of online Bitcoin Exchanges and public keys associated with bitcoin, the perception that the use and holding of bitcoin is safe and secure, and the lack of regulatory restrictions on their use;
·
Investors’ expectations with respect to the rate of inflation;
·
Interest rates;
·
Currency exchange rates, including the rates at which bitcoin may be exchanged for fiat currencies;
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·
Fiat currency withdrawal and deposit policies of the Bitcoin Exchange market;
·
Interruptions in service from or failures of the Bitcoin Exchange market;
·
Investment and trading activities of large investors, including private and registered funds, that may directly or indirectly invest in bitcoin;
·
Monetary policies of governments, trade restrictions, currency devaluations and revaluations;
·
Regulatory measures, if any, that restrict the use of bitcoin as a form of payment or the purchase of bitcoin on the Bitcoin Market;
·
The maintenance and development of the open-source software protocol of the Bitcoin Network;
·
Global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations; and
·
Expectations among bitcoin market participants that the value of bitcoin will soon change.

In addition, investors should be aware that there is no assurance that bitcoin will maintain its long-term value in terms of purchasing power in the future or that the acceptance of bitcoin for payments by mainstream retail merchants and commercial businesses will continue to grow.
 
Bitcoin futures risk. Because the performance history of the Bitcoin Futures is extremely limited, the degree to which Bitcoin Futures are likely to provide exposure to movements in the price of bitcoin is extremely uncertain. If market participants executing trades in Bitcoin Futures face constraints, including capital constraints, security risks, or high execution costs with respect to direct investments in bitcoin, the price at which Bitcoin Futures trade may fail to capture price movements in the underlying price of bitcoin. Moreover, it is not clear how changes to the Bitcoin Network, including changes that result in “forks” (as described further herein) will impact the trading price and settlement price of any Bitcoin Futures. It is likely that such changes to the Bitcoin Network would require determination to be made with respect to the Bitcoin Futures by the relevant futures exchange, and it is possible that such determinations will impact the value of any positions in Bitcoin Futures. In particular, it is possible that the price of the Bitcoin Futures subsequent to a “fork” will be linked to the price of bitcoin on only one of the resulting Bitcoin Networks, rather than the aggregate price of bitcoin on all resulting Bitcoin Networks, even though investors who hold bitcoin directly would participate in the value of bitcoin on all resulting Bitcoin Networks. As a result, it is likely that price of the Bitcoin Futures could decrease, even if the aggregate value of a direct investor’s bitcoin holdings remains unchanged. Because the price at which market participants enter into futures contracts may reflect the perception of the future value of those contracts, the price of Bitcoin Futures may decrease in the event that the likelihood of a fork increases, even if a fork does not actually occur.

The Fund’s use of futures contracts involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and could cause the Fund to lose more than the principal amount invested. Because futures require only a small initial investment in the form of a deposit or margin, they involve a high degree of leverage. Accordingly, the fluctuation of the value of futures in relation to the underlying assets upon which they are based is magnified. Thus, the Fund may experience losses that exceed losses experienced by funds that do not use futures contracts. There may be imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of a futures contract and price movements of investments for which futures are used as a substitute. Lack of correlation (or tracking) may be due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged, such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these instruments are traded. Consequently, the effectiveness of futures as a security substitute will depend, in part, on the degree of correlation between price movements in the futures and price movements in underlying securities. While futures contracts are generally liquid instruments, under certain market conditions they may become illiquid. Futures exchanges may impose daily or intra-day price change limits and/or limit the volume of trading. Additionally, government regulation may further reduce liquidity through similar trading restrictions. As a result, the Fund may be unable to close out its futures contracts at a time which is advantageous. The successful use of futures depends upon a variety of factors, particularly the ability of the Sub-Advisor to predict movements of the underlying securities markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. There can be no assurance that any particular futures strategy adopted will succeed.

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Commodities risk. Exposure to the commodities markets (including financial futures markets) may subject the Fund to greater volatility than cash market investments in securities. Prices of commodities and related contracts may fluctuate significantly over short periods for a variety of reasons, including: changes in interest rates, supply and demand relationships and balances of payments and trade; weather and natural disasters; and governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies. The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions and other disruptions. U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices which may occur during a single business day. Limit prices have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices.

Commodity pool risk. The Fund’s investment exposure to Bitcoin Futures will cause it to be deemed to be a commodity pool, thereby subjecting the Fund to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC rules as well as the rules that apply to registered investment companies. The Subsidiary is also considered to be a commodity pool and therefore, subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act. The Advisor will be registered as a CPO, the Sub-Advisor is registered as a Commodity Trading Advisor (“CTA”), and the Fund will be operated in accordance with CFTC rules. Registration as a CPO and CTA subjects the registrant to additional laws, regulations and enforcement policies, all of which could increase compliance costs and may affect the operations and financial performance of funds whose advisor is required to register as a CPO and sub-advisor is required to register as a CTA. However, the Fund’s status as a commodity pool, the Advisor’s registration as a CPO, and the Sub-Advisor’s status as a CTA are not expected to materially adversely affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Correlation risk. The Fund is not expected to invest directly in bitcoin and may not successfully track the price movements of bitcoin.

Credit risk. If an obligor (such as the issuer itself or a party offering credit enhancement) for a security held by the Fund fails to pay amounts due when required by the terms of the security, otherwise defaults, is perceived to be less creditworthy, becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy, a security’s credit rating is downgraded or the credit quality or value of any underlying assets declines, the value of the Fund’s investment could decline. If the Fund enters into financial contracts (such as certain derivatives, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions), the Fund will be subject to the credit risk presented by the counterparties. Credit risk is broadly gauged by the credit ratings of the securities in which the Fund invests.

Derivatives risk. Derivatives include instruments and contracts that are based on and valued in relation to one or more underlying commodities, securities, financial benchmarks, indices, or other reference obligations or measures of value. Major types of derivatives include futures, options, swaps and forward contracts. Depending on how the Fund uses derivatives and the relationship between the market value of the derivative and the underlying instrument, the use of derivatives could increase or decrease the Fund’s exposure to the risks of the underlying instrument. Using derivatives can have a leveraging effect and increase fund volatility. A small investment in derivatives could have a potentially large impact on the Fund’s performance. Derivatives transactions can be highly illiquid and difficult to unwind or value, and changes in the value of a derivative held by the Fund may not correlate with the value of the underlying instrument or the Fund’s other investments. Many of the risks applicable to trading the instruments underlying derivatives are also applicable to derivatives trading. However, additional risks are associated with derivatives trading that are possibly greater than the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying instruments. These additional risks include, but are not limited to, illiquidity risk, operational leverage risk and counterparty credit risk. For derivatives that are required to be cleared by a regulated clearinghouse, other risks may arise from the Fund’s relationship with a brokerage firm through which it would submit derivatives trades for clearing, brokerage firm. The Fund would also be exposed to counterparty risk with respect to the clearinghouse. Financial reform laws have changed many aspects of financial regulation applicable to derivatives. Recently adopted regulations, including margin, clearing, and trade execution requirements, may make derivatives more costly, may limit their availability, may present different risks or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of these instruments. The extent and impact of these regulations are not yet fully known and may not be known for some time. Certain risks relating to various types of derivatives in which the Fund may invest are described below.

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Hedging transactions. The Fund may employ hedging techniques that involve a variety of derivative transactions, including futures contracts, swaps, exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities or on financial indices, and various interest rate and foreign-exchange transactions (collectively, “Hedging Instruments”). Hedging techniques involve risks different than those of underlying investments. In particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of Hedging Instruments and price movements in the position being hedged means that losses on the hedge may be greater than gains in the value of the Fund’s positions, or that there may be losses on both parts of a transaction. In addition, certain Hedging Instruments and markets may not be liquid in all circumstances. As a result, in volatile markets, the Fund may not be able to close out a transaction in certain of these instruments without incurring losses. The Advisor or Sub-Advisor may use Hedging Instruments to minimize the risk of total loss to the Fund by offsetting an investment in one security with a comparable investment in a contrasting security. However, such use may limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the hedged position. Whether the Fund hedges successfully will depend on the Advisor’s or Sub-Advisor’s ability to predict pertinent market movements. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, because the value of those securities is likely to fluctuate as a result of independent factors not related to currency fluctuations. The daily variation margin requirements in futures contracts might create greater financial risk than would options transactions, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund.

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Forward contracts. The Fund may enter into forward contracts that are not traded on exchanges and may not be regulated. There are no limitations on daily price moves of forward contracts. Banks and other dealers with which the Fund maintains accounts may require that the Fund deposit margin with respect to such trading. The Fund’s counterparties are not required to continue making markets in such contracts. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread (the difference between the price at which the counterparty is prepared to buy and that at which it is prepared to sell). Arrangements to trade forward contracts may be made with only one or a few counterparties, and liquidity problems therefore might be greater than if such arrangements were made with numerous counterparties. The imposition of credit controls by governmental authorities might limit such forward trading to less than the amount that the Advisor or Sub-Advisor would otherwise recommend, to the possible detriment of the Fund.

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Futures contracts. The Fund may invest in futures that trade on an exchange and that are cleared by a clearinghouse. A futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take delivery of) the specified security, commodity or currency underlying the contract on the expiration date of the contract at an agreed upon price. An index futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount multiplied by the difference between the value of a specific index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying securities in the index is made. Generally, these futures contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contracts. The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in correlation with the value of the underlying instrument. Risks of futures contracts may arise from an imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the instruments and the price of the underlying securities. The Fund’s use of futures contracts (and related options) exposes the Fund to leverage risk because of the small margin requirements relative to the value of the futures contract. A relatively small market movement will have a proportionately larger impact on the funds that the Fund has deposited or will have to deposit with a broker to maintain its futures position. Leverage can lead to large losses as well as gains. While futures contracts are generally liquid instruments, under certain market conditions they may become illiquid. Futures exchanges may impose daily or intraday price change limits and/or limit the volume of trading. Additionally, government regulation may further reduce liquidity through similar trading restrictions. As a result, the Fund may be unable to close out its futures contracts at a time that is advantageous. The price of futures can be highly volatile; using them could lower total return, and the potential loss from futures can exceed the Fund’s initial investment in such contracts.

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Futures rolling. The Fund is expected to invest in Bitcoin Futures and is subject to costs associated with and risks related to “rolling.” The contractual obligations of a buyer or seller holding a futures contract to expiration may be satisfied by settling in cash as designated in the contract specifications. Alternatively, futures contracts may be closed out prior to expiration by making an offsetting sale or purchase of an identical futures contract on the same or linked exchange before the designated date of settlement. Once this date is reached, the futures contract “expires.” As the futures contracts held by the Fund near expiration, they are generally closed out and replaced by contracts with a later expiration. This process is referred to as “rolling.”

When the market for these contracts is such that the prices are higher in the more distant delivery months than in the nearer delivery months or the spot market of the underlying asset, the sale during the course of the “rolling process” of the contract with the nearer expiration would take place at a price that is lower than the price of the contract with the more distant expiration. This pattern of higher futures prices for longer expiration futures contracts is often referred to as “contango.” Alternatively, when the market for these contracts is such that the prices are higher in the nearer months or the spot market than in the more distant months, the sale during the course of the “rolling process” of the contract with the nearer expiration would take place at a price that is higher than the price of the contract with the more distant expiration. This pattern of higher futures prices for shorter expiration futures contracts is referred to as “backwardation.” The presence of contango in the relevant futures contracts at the time of rolling would be expected to adversely affect the Fund.

Because bitcoin and Bitcoin Futures have an extremely limited price history, the extent to which contango or backwardation may exist in Bitcoin Futures markets is unclear. Extended periods of contango or backwardation could cause significant losses for the Fund.

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Foreign futures transactions. Foreign futures transactions involve the execution and clearing of trades on a foreign exchange. This is the case even if the foreign exchange is formally “linked” to a U.S. exchange, whereby a trade executed on one exchange liquidates or establishes a position on the other exchange. A foreign exchange may register with the CFTC to offer U.S. market participants direct access to its market, but where the foreign exchange is not registered with the CFTC, it generally is not overseen or regulated by a U.S. organization. In such a case, a foreign organization may regulate the activities of a foreign exchange, including the execution, delivery, and clearing of transactions on such an exchange, and no U.S. regulator has the power to compel enforcement of the rules of the foreign exchange or the laws of the foreign country. Moreover, such laws or regulations will vary depending on the foreign country in which the transaction occurs. For these reasons, the Fund may not be afforded certain of the protections that apply to domestic transactions, provided that with respect to transactions on a foreign exchange that is formally linked to a domestic exchange, certain domestic disclosure and anti-fraud provisions may apply. In addition, the price of any foreign futures or option contract may be affected by any fluctuation in the foreign exchange rate between the time the order is placed and the foreign futures contract is liquidated or the foreign option contract is liquidated or exercised.

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Index risk. If the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, the Fund could receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below what the Fund paid. Certain indexed securities, including inverse securities (which move in an opposite direction to the index), may create leverage, to the extent that they increase or decrease in value at a rate that is a multiple of the changes in the applicable index.

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Liquidity of futures contracts. In connection with the Fund’s use of futures, the Advisor or Sub-Advisor will determine and pursue all steps that are necessary and advisable to ensure compliance with the Commodity Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may find it difficult or impossible to liquidate a position. Futures positions may be illiquid because certain commodity exchanges limit fluctuations in certain futures contract prices during a single day (each a "daily limit”). Under such daily limits, during a single trading day no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limits. Once the price of a particular futures contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in that contract can neither be entered into nor liquidated unless traders are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. Futures prices have occasionally moved beyond the daily limits for several consecutive days with little or no trading. Over-the-counter instruments generally are not as liquid as instruments traded on recognized exchanges. These constraints could prevent the Fund from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions, thereby subjecting the Fund to substantial losses. In addition, the CFTC and various exchanges limit the number of positions that the Fund may indirectly hold or control in particular commodities.

Unlike the futures markets for traditional physical commodities, the market for Bitcoin Futures is new and may be riskier, less liquid, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than more established futures markets. The liquidity of the market will depend on, among other things, the adoption of bitcoin and the commercial and speculative interest in the market for the ability to hedge against the price of bitcoin with Bitcoin Futures. There can be no guarantee that a liquid market for Bitcoin Futures will develop. The Fund may be unable to consistently achieve exposure to bitcoin using Bitcoin Futures if a liquid market for Bitcoin Futures does not develop.

The exchanges on which Bitcoin Futures trade may 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 contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading. Similar occurrences involving Bitcoin Futures could prevent the Fund from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions and subject the Fund to substantial losses. In addition, the Fund may not be able to execute futures contract trades at favorable prices if the trading volume in such contracts is low.

Certain commodity exchanges and regulatory agencies have established limits referred to as speculative position limits or position limits on the maximum net long or net short position any person or group of persons may hold or control in particular futures. Such limits could adversely affect the operations and profitability of the Fund.

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Swap transactions. The Fund may enter into swap transactions. A swap contract is a commitment between two parties to make or receive payments based on agreed upon terms, and whose value and payments are derived by changes in the value of an underlying financial instrument. Swap transactions can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names. Depending on their structure, swap transactions may increase or decrease the Fund’s exposure to long-term or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices, values of baskets of securities, or inflation rates. Interest rate swaps are contracts involving the exchange between two contracting parties of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments). Credit default swaps are contracts whereby one party makes periodic payments to a counterparty in exchange for the right to receive from the counterparty a payment equal to the par (or other agreed-upon) value of an underlying debt obligation in the event of default by the issuer of the debt security. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the change in market value of the underlying assets, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or security indexes during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate of the total return from other underlying assets. Depending on how they are used, swap transactions may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the Fund’s portfolio. The most significant factor in the performance of a swap transaction is the change in the specific interest rate, currency, individual equity values or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund.

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Call options. The seller (writer) of a call option which is covered (e.g., for which the writer holds the underlying security) assumes the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the purchase price of the underlying security less the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. The seller of an uncovered call option assumes the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the market price of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. The buyer of a call option assumes the risk of losing its entire investment in the call option. However, if the buyer of the call sells short the underlying security, the loss on the call will be offset in whole or in part by gain on the short sale of the underlying security.

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Put options. The seller (writer) of a put option which is covered (e.g., the writer holds or has a short position in the underlying security) assumes the risk of an increase in the market price of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option plus the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. The seller of an uncovered put option assumes the risk of an increase in the market price of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option plus the premium received. The buyer of a put option assumes the risk of losing its entire investment in the put option.

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Over-the-counter, non-cleared derivatives transactions. The Fund may enter into derivatives that are not traded on an exchange or other organized facility or contract market. Many of these instruments are also not required to be cleared or are not cleared on a voluntary basis. The risk of nonperformance by the obligor on such an instrument may be greater than the risk associated with an instrument traded on an exchange or other organized trading facility and centrally cleared. In addition, the Fund may not be able to dispose of, or enter into a closing transaction with respect to, such an instrument as easily as in the case of an instrument traded on an exchange or other organized trading facility. Significant disparities may exist between “bid” and “asked” prices for derivative instruments that are not traded on an exchange or other organized facility. Derivatives not traded on exchanges or other organized facilities may be subject to less regulation than exchange-traded and on-facility instruments, and many of the protections afforded to participants on an exchange or other organized facility may not be available with respect to these instruments. In situations where the Fund is required to post margin or other collateral with a counterparty, the counterparty may fail to segregate the collateral or may commingle the collateral with the counterparty's own assets. As a result, in the event of the counterparty's bankruptcy or insolvency, the Fund's collateral may be subject to the conflicting claims of the counterparty's creditors and the Fund may be exposed to the risk of being treated as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral.

Bilateral derivatives trading has become subject to increased regulation under recent financial reform laws, and further proposed measures – such as margin requirements for non-cleared transactions – may offer market participants additional protections once implemented. Nonetheless, the Fund will not be fully protected from risks that are present in an over-the-counter, non-cleared trading environment.

o
Cleared derivatives transactions. Transactions in certain derivatives, including some classes of swaps, that are traded on exchanges or other organized regulated trading facilities must be settled (“cleared”) by a regulated clearinghouse. For cleared derivatives transactions, the Fund will be subject to risks that may arise from its relationship with a brokerage firm through which it would submit derivatives trades for clearing, including counterparty risk. A brokerage firm typically imposes margin requirements with respect to open derivatives positions, and it is generally able to require termination of those positions in specified circumstances. These margin requirements and termination provisions may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to trade derivatives. The Fund may not be able to recover the full amount of its margin from a brokerage firm if the firm were to go into bankruptcy. The Fund would also be exposed to the credit risk of the clearinghouse. In addition, it is possible that the Fund would not be able to enter into a swap transaction that is required to be cleared if no clearinghouse will accept the swap for clearing.

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o
On-facility trading of swaps. Swaps that are required to be cleared must be traded on a regulated swap execution facility or contract market that makes them available for trading. Other swaps may be traded through such a facility or contact market on a voluntarily basis. The transition from entering into swaps bilaterally to trading them on a facility or contract market may not result in swaps being easier to trade or value and may present certain execution risks if the facilities and contract markets do not operate properly. On-facility trading of swaps is also expected to lead to greater standardization of contract terms. It is possible that the Fund may not be able to enter into swaps that fully meet its investment or hedging needs, or that the costs of entering into customized swaps, including any applicable margin requirements, will be significant.

o
Illiquidity. Derivatives, especially when traded in large amounts, may not always be liquid. In such cases, in volatile markets the Fund may not be able to close out a position without incurring a loss. Daily limits on price fluctuations and speculative position limits on exchanges on which the Fund may conduct its transactions in derivatives may prevent profitable liquidation of positions, subjecting the Fund to potentially greater losses.

o
Counterparty credit risk. Many purchases, sales, financing arrangements, and derivative transactions in which the Fund may engage involve instruments that are not traded on an exchange. Rather, these instruments are traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships. As a result, the Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under the related contract. Although the Fund expects to enter into transactions only with counterparties believed by the Advisor or Sub-Advisor to be creditworthy, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will not default and that the Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction as a result. Where derivative transactions are cleared by a clearinghouse, the clearinghouse is the Fund’s counterparty. There can be no assurance that any counterparty, clearing member or clearinghouse will meet its obligations to the Fund.

In situations where the Fund is required to post margin or other collateral with a counterparty, the counterparty may fail to segregate the collateral or may commingle the collateral with the counterparty's own assets. As a result, in the event of the counterparty's bankruptcy or insolvency, the Fund's collateral may be subject to the conflicting claims of the counterparty's creditors and the Fund may be exposed to the risk of being treated as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral. A futures commission merchant must segregate collateral used to margin the derivative transactions that are cleared by a clearinghouse. If a futures commission merchant defaults, even where the futures commission merchant properly segregated customer collateral, any shortfall in segregated funds could result in the Fund sharing losses on a pro rata basis with the defaulting futures commission merchant’s surviving customers.

The SAI provides a more detailed description of the types of derivative instruments in which the Fund may invest and their associated risks.

ETN risk. ETNs are debt securities that combine certain aspects of ETFs and bonds. ETNs are not investment companies and thus are not regulated under the 1940 Act. ETNs, like ETFs, are traded on stock exchanges and generally track specified market indices, and their value depends on the performance of the underlying index and the credit rating of the issuer. ETNs may be held to maturity, but unlike bonds there are no periodic interest payments and principal is not protected.

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Fixed income securities. The prices of fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to changes in an issuer’s credit rating or market perceptions about the creditworthiness of an issuer. Prices of fixed income securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Generally fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, with lower rated securities more volatile than higher rated securities. The longer the effective maturity and duration of the Fund’s portfolio, the more the Fund’s share price is likely to react to changes in interest rates. Duration is a weighted measure of the length of time required to receive the present value of future payments, both interest and principal, from a fixed income security. Some fixed income securities give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity dates. If an issuer calls its security during a time of declining interest rates, the Fund might have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, and therefore might not benefit from any increase in value of the security as a result of declining interest rates. During periods of market illiquidity or rising interest rates, prices of callable issues are subject to increased price fluctuation. In addition, the Fund may be subject to extension risk, which occurs during a rising interest rate environment because certain obligations may be paid off by an issuer more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of those securities held by the Fund to fall.

Foreign investment risk. Investments in foreign securities are affected by risk factors generally not thought to be present in the United States. The prices of foreign securities may be more volatile than the prices of securities of U.S. issuers because of economic and social conditions abroad, political developments, and changes in the regulatory environments of foreign countries. Special risks associated with investments in foreign markets include less liquidity, less developed or less efficient trading markets, lack of comprehensive company information, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, greater risks associated with counterparties and settlement, and difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations. In addition, changes in exchange rates and interest rates, and imposition of foreign taxes, may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s foreign investments. Foreign companies are generally subject to different legal and accounting standards than U.S. companies, and foreign financial intermediaries may be subject to less supervision and regulation than U.S. financial firms. The Fund’s investments in depository receipts (including ADRs) are subject to these risks, even if denominated in U.S. Dollars, because changes in currency and exchange rates affect the values of the issuers of depository receipts. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depository receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depository receipts, are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

Issuer-specific risk. The value of a specific security or option can be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole.

Leveraging risk. The use of leverage, such as entering into futures contracts, options, and short sales, may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. Because many derivatives have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying instrument can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.

Liquidity risk. The Fund may not be able to sell some or all of the investments that it holds due to a lack of demand in the marketplace or other factors such as market turmoil, or if the Fund is forced to sell an illiquid asset to meet redemption requests or other cash needs it may only be able to sell those investments at a loss. Moreover, the reduction in dealer market-making capacity in the fixed income markets that has occurred in recent years has the potential to decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s investments.

Management and strategy risk. The value of your investment depends on the judgment of the Fund’s Advisor or Sub-Advisor about the quality, relative yield, value or market trends affecting a particular security or investment, which may prove to be incorrect. Investment strategies employed by the Fund’s Advisor or Sub-Advisor in selecting investments for the Fund may not result in an increase in the value of your investment or in overall performance equal to other investments.

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Market risk. The market price of a security or instrument may decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The market value of a security or instrument also may decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. For example, the financial crisis that began in 2008 caused a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities; in particular, the values of some sovereign debt and of securities of issuers that invest in sovereign debt and related investments fell, credit became more scarce worldwide and there was significant uncertainty in the markets. Such environments could make identifying investment risks and opportunities especially difficult for the Advisor or Sub-Advisor. In response to the crisis, the United States and other governments have taken steps to support financial markets. The withdrawal of this support or failure of efforts in response to the crisis could negatively affect financial markets generally as well as the value and liquidity of certain securities. In addition, policy and legislative changes in the United States and in other countries are changing many aspects of financial regulation. The impact of these changes on the markets, and the practical implications for market participants, may not be fully known for some time.

New fund risk. As a new fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case it could ultimately liquidate. The Fund will compete with direct investments in bitcoin and other potential financial vehicles, possibly including securities backed by or linked to bitcoin and other digital asset, that are similar to the Fund. Market and financial conditions, and other conditions beyond the Fund’s control, may make it more attractive to invest in other financial vehicles, including vehicles that focus on other digital assets, or to invest in bitcoin directly, which could limit the opportunities for the Fund to grow. In addition, the Advisor is newly established and has not previously managed a mutual fund.

Non-diversification risk. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified,” which means the Fund may invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. Investment in securities of a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential losses than if its assets were diversified among the securities of a greater number of issuers.

Portfolio turnover risk. Active and frequent trading of the Fund’s securities may lead to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions, which could negatively affect the Fund’s performance. A high rate of portfolio turnover is 100% or more.

Regulatory risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund. For example, the CFTC or SEC may issue regulations that, upon effectiveness, subject activities of mutual funds trading certain derivative instruments to additional regulation, which could increase the operating expenses of the Fund and impair the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. In foreign jurisdictions, some countries have banned bitcoin as a means of payment. The Dodd-Frank Act may directly affect the Fund by mandating additional new reporting requirements, including, but not limited to, position information, use of leverage and counterparty and credit risk exposure. Until the CFTC and SEC implement the new requirements under the Dodd-Frank Act, it is unknown how burdensome such requirements will be. The regulation of swap transactions in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to further developments by government and judicial action. It is impossible to predict the impact of any future regulatory change on the Fund, but a regulatory change could be substantial and adverse to the Fund.

Short sale exposure risk. The Fund may seek “short” exposure to certain securities through financial instruments such as swap agreements, which may cause the Fund to be exposed to certain risks associated with selling securities short. These risks include, under certain market conditions, an increase in the volatility and decrease in the liquidity of securities underlying the short position, which may lower the Fund’s return, result in a loss, have the effect of limiting the Fund’s ability to obtain exposure through financial instruments, or require the Fund to seek exposure through alternative investment strategies that may be less desirable or more costly to implement. To the extent that, at any particular point in time, the securities underlying the short position may be thinly traded or have a limited market, including due to regulatory action, the Fund may be unable to meet its investment objective due to a lack of available securities or counterparties. Obtaining short exposure through these instruments may be considered an aggressive investment technique. Any income, dividends or payments by the assets underlying the Fund’s short positions will negatively impact the Fund.

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Short sales risk. In connection with a short sale of a security or other instrument, the Fund is subject to the risk that instead of declining, the price of the security or other instrument sold short will rise. If the price of the security or other instrument sold short increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security or other instrument borrowed to make the short sale, the Fund will experience a loss, which is theoretically unlimited since there is a theoretically unlimited potential for the market price of a security or other instrument sold short to increase. Shorting options or futures may have an imperfect correlation to the assets held by the Fund and may not adequately protect against losses in or may result in greater losses for the Fund’s portfolio. By investing the proceeds received from selling securities short, the Fund is employing leverage, which creates special risks. Furthermore, until the Fund replaces a security borrowed, or sold short, it must pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividends that accrue during the period of the short sale. In addition, the Fund will incur certain transaction fees associated with short selling.

Subsidiary risk. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are subject to the same risks that would apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund (see “Commodities Risk” above). There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and its Subsidiary are both managed by the Advisor, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. To the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as its parent Fund. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary will not seek to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.

There is a risk that the Internal Revenue Service could assert that the annual net profit realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Fund will not be considered “qualifying income” for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or its Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, the Fund’s shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

Tax risk. For the Fund to qualify for the favorable tax treatment applicable to a RIC, the Fund will need to meet certain statutory requirements regarding the Fund’s assets, income and annual distributions. Although the Fund intends to comply with those requirements, there can be no assurance that the IRS, or a court, will determine that to be the case. In particular, it is not entirely certain that the Fund’s use of a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary to make bitcoin-related investments, which, if the Fund made them directly, could generate nonqualifying income for purposes of the RIC income test, will be respected for federal income tax purposes – although this is a structure that has been, and is, employed by many existing RICs as a way of making commodities-related investments. The Fund’s investment in the subsidiary could require the Fund to make substantial distributions to its shareholders in order to continue to qualify as a RIC. Furthermore, the ability of the Fund to gain bitcoin-related exposure as contemplated may be adversely affected by future legislation, regulatory developments, interpretive guidance or other actions by the IRS or the Treasury Department. Any failure of the Fund to qualify as a RIC would likely result in additional tax liability, because the Fund would be separately taxable on its net income each year in addition to the Fund’s shareholders being taxable on the distributions they receive. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has provided guidance that “virtual currency” such as bitcoin is treated as property for federal income tax purposes and not treated as “foreign currency”. Accordingly, income generated from direct investments in bitcoin and derivatives thereof including Bitcoin Futures, is unlikely to be treated as “qualifying income” to the Fund.

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Underlying funds risk. The Fund may purchase shares of investment companies, such as ETFs, mutual funds, unit investment trusts, and closed-end funds, to gain exposure to a particular portion of the market while awaiting an opportunity to purchase securities directly or when such investments present a more cost efficient alternative to investing directly in securities. When the Fund invests in an investment company, in addition to directly bearing the expenses associated with its own operations, it will bear a pro rata portion of the investment company’s expenses. Further, in part because of these additional expenses, the performance of an investment company may differ from the performance the Fund would achieve if it invested directly in the underlying investments of the investment company. While the risks of owning shares of an investment company generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying investments of the investment company, the Fund may be subject to additional or different risks than if the Fund had invested directly in the underlying investments. For example, shares of an ETF are traded at market prices, which may vary from the NAV of its underlying investments. Also, the lack of liquidity in an ETF can contribute to the increased volatility of its value in comparison to the value of the underlying portfolio securities. In addition, the Fund may invest in investment companies or other pooled investment vehicles that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act and therefore, not subject to the regulatory scheme of the 1940 Act, and a Fund may invest in securities that are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

o
Closed-end fund risk. The Fund may invest in shares of closed-end funds in pursuit of its investment objective. Unlike conventional mutual funds which continually offer new shares for sale to the investing public, closed-end funds are exchange-traded and issue only a limited number of shares of stock. As such, closed-end funds may trade at a discount to their net asset value. In addition, closed-end funds may trade infrequently, with small volume, which may make it difficult for the Fund to buy and sell shares. Also, the market price of closed-end funds tends to rise more in response to buying demand and fall more in response to selling pressure than is the case with larger capitalization companies. Closed-end funds also may employ leverage to a greater extent than mutual funds.

o
ETF risk. The Fund may invest in shares of ETFs in pursuit of its investment objective. ETFs are pooled investment vehicles, which may be managed or unmanaged, that generally seek to track the performance of a specific index. Although individual shares of an ETF are traded on an exchange (such as the NYSE or NASDAQ), large blocks of shares of ETFs are redeemable at NAV. This ability to redeem large blocks of shares has historically resulted in the market price of individual shares of ETFs being at or near the NAV of the ETF’s underlying investments. However, shares of ETFs may trade below their NAV. The NAV of shares will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the ETF’s holdings. The trading prices of shares will fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as market supply and demand. The difference between the bid price and ask price, commonly referred to as the “spread,” will also vary for an ETF depending on the ETF’s trading volume and market liquidity. Generally, the greater the trading volume and market liquidity, the smaller the spread is and vice versa. Any of these factors may lead to an ETF’s shares trading at a premium or a discount to NAV. The Fund will pay brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. The Fund, from time to time, may invest in exchange-traded investment funds that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act. Such exchange-traded investment funds may include commodity pools that are registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Commodity Exchange Act.

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o
Restricted securities risk. Restricted securities are securities that are not registered under the Securities Act. They may be less liquid and more difficult to value than other investments because such securities may not be readily marketable. The Fund may not be able to sell restricted securities promptly or at a reasonable time or price. Restricted Securities generally cannot be sold to the public and may involve a high degree of business, financial and liquidity risk, which may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Although there may be a substantial institutional market for these securities, it is not possible to predict exactly how the market for such securities will develop or whether it will continue to exist. A restricted security that was liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid and its value may decline as a result. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for restricted securities than for more liquid securities. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering restricted securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration.

U.S. government securities risk. The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. U.S. government securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. U.S. government securities have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, in 2011, several major credit rating agencies downgraded the long-term credit rating of U.S. government debt. Because of the rising U.S. government debt burden, it is possible that the U.S. government may not be able to meet its financial obligations or that securities issued by the U.S. government may experience additional or further credit downgrades. Such credit events may also adversely impact the financial markets. In addition, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.

U.S. government debt securities generally do not involve the credit risks associated with investments in other types of debt securities, although, as a result, the yields available from U.S. government debt securities are generally lower than the yields available from other securities. Like other debt securities, however, the values of U.S. government securities change as interest rates fluctuate. Fluctuations in the value of portfolio securities will not affect interest income on existing portfolio securities but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value per share (“NAV”). Since the magnitude of these fluctuations will generally be greater at times when the Fund’s average maturity is longer, under certain market conditions the Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, accept lower current income from short-term investments rather than investing in higher yielding long-term securities. In addition, the recent economic crisis in the United States has negatively impacted government-sponsored entities, which include Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association (‘‘Fannie Mae’’) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (‘‘Freddie Mac’’). As the real estate market has deteriorated through declining home prices and increasing foreclosure, government-sponsored entities, which back the majority of U.S mortgages, have experienced extreme volatility and in some cases a lack of liquidity. In September 2008, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed under a conservatorship of the U.S. federal government. Any Fund investments issued by Federal Home Loan Banks and Fannie Mae may ultimately lose value.

Valuation risk. Many factors may influence the price at which the Fund could sell any particular portfolio investment. The sales price may well differ—higher or lower—from the Fund’s last valuation, and such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market conditions make it difficult to value some investments, the Fund may value these investments using more subjective methods, such as fair value methodologies. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher redemption proceeds, than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the securities or had used a different valuation methodology. The value of foreign securities, certain fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected by events after the close of the market on which they are valued but before the Fund determines its net asset value.

Volatility risk. The Fund’s derivative investments can be highly volatile and the Fund may experience large losses when buying, selling or holding such instruments. The price of bitcoin has experienced extreme market volatility in the past and can be expect to be very volatile in the future. As relatively new products and technologies, bitcoin and the Bitcoin Network have only recently become selectively accepted as a means of payment for goods and services by many major retail and commercial outlets, and use of bitcoin by consumers to pay such retail and commercial outlets remains limited. Banks and other established financial institutions may refuse to process funds for bitcoin transactions; process wire transfers to or from bitcoin exchanges, bitcoin-related companies or service providers; or maintain accounts for persons or entities transacting in bitcoin. Conversely, a significant portion of bitcoin demand is generated by speculators and investors seeking to profit from the short- or long-term holding of bitcoin, which may increase the volatility of bitcoin prices. As a result, bitcoin may be more likely to fluctuate in value due to changing investor confidence in future appreciation in the price of bitcoin. Price volatility undermines bitcoin’s role as a medium of exchange as retailers are much less likely to accept it as a form of payment. Market capitalization for bitcoin as a medium of exchange and payment method may always be low. A lack of expansion by bitcoin into retail and commercial markets, or a contraction of such use, may result in increased volatility or an increase or reduction in the value of bitcoin, which could adversely impact an investment in the Fund. High volatility may have an adverse impact on the Fund.

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Portfolio Holdings Information
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). Currently, disclosure of the Fund’s holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the Fund’s Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to Fund shareholders and in its quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Investment Advisor and Sub-Advisor
REX Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formed in 2017 which maintains its principal offices at 44 Post Road West, Westport, Connecticut, 06880, acts as the investment advisor to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Trust. The Advisor is a newly-formed investment advisor registered with the SEC and provides investment advice to open-end funds. REX Shares, LLC, the parent company of the Advisor, was founded in 2014. REX Shares, LLC specializes in creating investment vehicles that solve specific access and efficiency problems in investor portfolios. The Advisor is registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a “commodity pool operator.”

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Advisor an annual advisory fee of _____% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the services and facilities it provides, payable on a monthly basis.

Vident Investment Advisory, LLC, with its principal place of business at 89 Headquarters Plaza, North Tower, 14th Floor, Morristown, New Jersey, 07960, serves as the Fund’s Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor was founded in _____ and is registered investment advisor with the SEC. The Sub-Advisor is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, selection of the Fund’s portfolio investments and supervision of its portfolio transactions subject to the general oversight of the Board and the Advisor. As of _____ __, 20__, the Sub-Advisor had $__ million in assets under management. The Sub-Advisor is registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a “commodity trading advisor”.

The Subsidiary is managed by the Advisor pursuant to a separate advisory agreement, under which agreement the Subsidiary pays the Advisor a management fee. The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the management fee paid to the Adviser by the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is sub-advised by the Sub-Advisor.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to shareholders dated as of _____ __, 20__.

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Portfolio Manager
Denise M. Krisko, CFA, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

Ms. Krisko joined Vident Investment Advisory LLC as its President in November 2014 and has over nineteen years of investment management experience. Prior to joining Vident, Ms. Krisko was the Chief Investment Officer of Index Management Solutions. Prior to that, she was a Managing Director and Co-Head of the Equity Index Management and Head of East Coast Equity Index Strategies for Mellon Capital Management. She was also a Managing Director of The Bank of New York and Head of Equity Index Strategies for BNY Investment Advisors from August 2005 until the merger of The Bank of New York with Mellon Bank in 2007, when she assumed her role with Mellon Capital Management. Ms. Krisko attained the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2000. Ms. Krisko graduated with a BS from Pennsylvania State University and obtained her MBA from Villanova University.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s method of compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund securities.

Other Service Providers
IMST Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) is the Trust’s principal underwriter and acts as the Trust’s distributor in connection with the offering of Fund shares. The Distributor may enter into agreements with banks, broker-dealers, or other financial intermediaries through which investors may purchase or redeem shares. The Distributor is not affiliated with the Trust, the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor or any other service provider for the Fund.

Fund Expenses
The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses (all of which will be borne directly or indirectly by the Fund’s shareholders), including among others, legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Fund and the Fund’s independent trustees; insurance (including trustees’ and officers’ errors and omissions insurance); auditing and accounting expenses; taxes and governmental fees; listing fees; fees and expenses of the Fund’s custodians, administrators, transfer agents, registrars and other service providers; expenses for portfolio pricing services by a pricing agent, if any; expenses in connection with the issuance and offering of shares; brokerage commissions and other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio holding of the Fund; and any litigation expenses.
 
The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that the total annual fund operating expenses (excluding any taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with Form N-1A), expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed ___% and ___% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class and Institutional Class shares of the Fund, respectively.. This agreement is in effect until _____ __, 20___, and it may be terminated before that date only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
 
Any reduction in advisory fees or payment of the Fund’s expenses made by the Advisor in a fiscal year may be reimbursed by the Fund for a period ending three full years after the date of reduction or payment if the Advisor so requests. This reimbursement may be requested from the Fund if the reimbursement will not cause the Fund’s annual expense ratio to exceed the lesser of (a) the limitation on Fund expenses in effect at the time of the relevant reduction in advisory fees or payment of the Fund’s expenses or (b) the limitation on Fund expenses at the time of the reimbursement. However, the reimbursement amount may not exceed the total amount of fees waived and/or Fund expenses paid by the Advisor and will not include any amounts previously reimbursed to the Advisor by the Fund. Any such reimbursement is contingent upon the Board’s subsequent review of the reimbursed amounts and no reimbursement may cause the total operating expenses paid by the Fund in a fiscal year to exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses. The Fund must pay current ordinary operating expenses before the Advisor is entitled to any reimbursement of fees and/or Fund expenses.

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DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE PLAN

Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Fees (For Investor Class Shares)
The Trust has adopted a plan on behalf of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”) which allows the Fund to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of its Investor shares and/or shareholder liaison service fees in connection with the provision of personal services to shareholders of Investor shares and the maintenance of their shareholder accounts. The 12b-1 Plan provides for the payment of such fees at the annual rate of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Investor shares. Since these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets attributable to the Fund’s Investor shares, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and, over time, may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The net income attributable to Investor shares will be reduced by the amount of distribution and shareholder liaison service fees and other expenses of the Fund associated with that class of shares.

To assist investors in comparing classes of shares, the table under the Prospectus heading “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” provides a summary of expenses and an example of the sales charges and expenses of the Fund applicable to each class of shares offered in this Prospectus.

Institutional Class shares are not subject to any distribution fees under the 12b-1 Plan.

Shareholder Service Fee
The Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to [0.15%] of its average daily net assets attributable to Investor Class and Institutional Class shares to shareholder servicing agents. Shareholder servicing agents provide non-distribution administrative and support services to their customers, which may include establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to shareholders, processing dividend and distribution payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders, forwarding communications from the Fund, providing sub-accounting with respect to Fund shares, and other similar services. To the extent the Advisor pays for sales or distribution of Fund shares, it does so out of its profits derived from the Advisor’s management fee.

Additional Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
The Advisor may pay service fees to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisors or other financial institutions, some of which may be affiliates, for sub-administration, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus accounts, other group accounts or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents.

The Advisor, out of its own resources, and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to broker-dealers or intermediaries that sell shares of the Fund. These additional cash payments are generally made to intermediaries that provide shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary. The Advisor may pay cash compensation for inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or in other sales programs, or may pay an expense reimbursement in cases where the intermediary provides shareholder services to the Fund’s shareholders. The Advisor may also pay cash compensation in the form of finder’s fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of the shares sold.

YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE FUND

Share Price
The offering price of each class of the Fund’s shares is the net asset value per share (“NAV”) of that class. The difference among the classes’ NAVs reflects the daily expense accruals of the distribution fees applicable to Investor Class shares. The Fund’s NAVs are calculated as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, the normal close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), on each day the NYSE is open for trading. If for example, the NYSE closes at 1:00 p.m. New York time, the Fund’s NAVs would still be determined as of 4:00 p.m. New York time. In this example, portfolio securities traded on the NYSE would be valued at their closing prices unless the Trust’s Valuation Committee determines that a “fair value” adjustment is appropriate due to subsequent events. The NAV for each class is determined by dividing the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities, cash and other assets (including accrued interest) allocable to such class, less all liabilities (including accrued expenses) allocable to such class, by the total number of outstanding shares of such class. The Fund’s NAVs may be calculated earlier if trading on the NYSE is restricted or if permitted by the SEC. The NYSE is closed on weekends and most U.S. national holidays. However, foreign securities listed primarily on non-U.S. markets may trade on weekends or other days on which the Fund does not value its shares, and bitcoin is traded on exchange markets and over-the-counter 24-hours a day and seven days a week, which may significantly affect the Fund’s NAVs on days when you are not able to buy or sell Fund shares.

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The Fund’s most recent NAVs are available on the fund’s website, www.____.com.

The Fund’s securities generally are valued at market price. Securities are valued at fair value when market quotations are not readily available. The Board has adopted procedures to be followed when the Fund must utilize fair value pricing, including when reliable market quotations are not readily available, when the Fund’s pricing service does not provide a valuation (or provides a valuation that, in the judgment of the Advisor, does not represent the security’s fair value), or when, in the judgment of the Advisor, events have rendered the market value unreliable (see, for example, the discussion of fair value pricing of foreign securities in the paragraph below). Valuing securities at fair value involves reliance on the judgment of the Advisor and the Board (or a committee thereof), and may result in a different price being used in the calculation of the Fund’s NAVs from quoted or published prices for the same securities. Fair value determinations are made in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board. There can be no assurance that the Fund will obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it sells the security.

In certain circumstances, the Fund employs fair value pricing to ensure greater accuracy in determining daily NAVs and to prevent dilution by frequent traders or market timers who seek to exploit temporary market anomalies. Fair value pricing may be applied to foreign securities held by the Fund upon the occurrence of an event after the close of trading on non-U.S. markets but before the close of trading on the NYSE when the Fund’s NAVs are determined. If the event may result in a material adjustment to the price of the Fund’s foreign securities once non-U.S. markets open on the following business day (such as, for example, a significant surge or decline in the U.S. market), the Fund may value such foreign securities at fair value, taking into account the effect of such event, in order to calculate the Fund’s NAVs.

Other types of portfolio securities that the Fund may fair value include, but are not limited to: (1) investments that are illiquid or traded infrequently, including “restricted” securities and private placements for which there is no public market; (2) investments for which, in the judgment of the Advisor, the market price is stale; (3) securities of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (4) securities for which trading has been halted or suspended; and (5) fixed income securities for which there is no current market value quotation.

Purchase of Shares
This Prospectus offers two classes of shares of the Fund, designated as Investor Class and Institutional Class Shares.

·
Investor Class shares are subject to annual distribution and shareholder service fees.
·
Institutional Class shares are not subject to distribution fees but are subject to shareholder service fees.

By offering multiple classes of shares, the Fund permits each investor to choose the class of shares that is most beneficial given the type of investor, the amount to be invested and the length of time the investor expects to hold the shares.

Before you invest, you should compare the features of each share class, so that you can choose the class that is right for you. When selecting a share class, you should consider the following:

·
which shares classes are available to you;
·
how long you expect to own your shares;
·
how much you intend to invest;
·
total costs and expenses associated with a particular share class; and
·
whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of sales charges.

Investor Class shares are generally available to all investors. Institutional Class shares are subject to different fees and expenses, and have different minimum investment requirements. Institutional Class Ssares are available for purchase by clients of financial intermediaries who charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or similar services. Such clients may include individuals, corporations, endowments and foundations. You should consult with your financial advisor for more information to determine which share class is most appropriate for your situation.

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Each class of shares generally has the same rights, except for the distribution fees, and related expenses associated with each class of shares, and the exclusive voting rights by each class with respect to any distribution plan or service plan for such class of shares.

To purchase shares of the Fund, you must invest at least the minimum amount indicated in the following table.

Minimum Investments
To Open
Your Account
To Add to
Your Account
Investor Class
   
Direct Regular Accounts
$____
$____
Direct Retirement Accounts
$____
$____
Automatic Investment Plan
$____
$____
Gift Account For Minors
$____
$____
Institutional Class
   
Direct Regular Accounts
$____
$____
Direct Retirement Accounts
$____
$____
Automatic Investment Plan
$____
$____
Gift Account For Minors
$____
$____

Shares of the Fund may be purchased by check, by wire transfer of funds via a bank or through an approved financial intermediary (i.e., a supermarket, investment advisor, financial planner or consultant, broker, dealer or other investment professional and their agents) authorized by the Fund to receive purchase orders. Financial intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem shares, which may include different sales charges as described in this Prospectus, additional fees and different investment minimums. In addition, from time to time, a financial intermediary may modify or waive the initial and subsequent investment minimums. The share classes your financial intermediary sells may depend on, among other things, the type of investor account and the policies, procedures and practices adopted by your financial intermediary. You should review these arrangements with your financial intermediary.

You may make an initial investment in an amount greater than the minimum amounts shown in the preceding table and the Fund may, from time to time, reduce or waive the minimum initial investment amounts. The minimum initial investment amount is automatically waived for Fund shares purchased by Trustees of the Trust and current or retired directors and employees of the Advisor and its affiliates.

To the extent allowed by applicable law, the Fund reserves the right to discontinue offering shares at any time or to cease operating entirely.

In-Kind Purchases and Redemptions
The Fund reserves the right to accept payment for shares in the form of securities that are permissible investments for the Fund. The Fund also reserves the right to pay redemptions by an “in-kind” distribution of portfolio securities (instead of cash) from the Fund. In-kind purchases and redemptions are taxable events and may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. See the SAI for further information about the terms of these purchases and redemptions.

Additional Investments
Additional subscriptions in the Fund generally may be made by investing at least the minimum amount shown in the table above. Exceptions may be made at the Fund’s discretion. You may purchase additional shares of the Fund by sending a check together with the investment stub from your most recent account statement to the Fund at the applicable address listed in the table below. Please ensure that you include your account number on the check. If you do not have the investment stub from your account statement, list your name, address and account number on a separate sheet of paper and include it with your check. You may also make additional investments in the Fund by wire transfer of funds or through an approved financial intermediary. The minimum additional investment amount is automatically waived for shares purchased by Trustees of the Trust and current or retired directors and employees of the Advisor and its affiliates. Please follow the procedures described in this Prospectus.

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Dividend Reinvestment
You may reinvest dividends and capital gains distributions in shares of the Fund. Such shares are acquired at NAV (without a sales charge) on the applicable payable date of the dividend or capital gain distribution. Unless you instruct otherwise, dividends and distributions on Fund shares are automatically reinvested in shares of the same class of the Fund paying the dividend or distribution. This instruction may be made by writing to the Transfer Agent or by telephone by calling 1-888-_____. You may, on the account application form or prior to any declaration, instruct that dividends and/or capital gain distributions be paid in cash or be reinvested in the Fund at the next determined NAV. If you elect to receive dividends and/or capital gain distributions in cash and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver the check, or if a check remains outstanding for six months or more, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account at the Fund’s current NAV and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.

Customer Identification Information
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you open an account, you will be asked for your name, date of birth (for a natural person), your residential address or principal place of business, and mailing address, if different, as well as your Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number. Additional information is required for corporations, partnerships and other entities. Applications without such information will not be considered in good order. The Fund reserves the right to deny any application if the application is not in good order.

This Prospectus should not be considered a solicitation to purchase or as an offer to sell shares of the Fund in any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so under the laws of that jurisdiction. Please note that the value of your account may be transferred to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in the account within the time period specified by state law.

Automatic Investment Plan
If you intend to use the Automatic Investment Plan (“AIP”), you may open your account with the initial minimum investment amount. Once an account has been opened, you may make additional investments in the Fund at regular intervals through the AIP. If elected on your account application, funds can be automatically transferred from your checking or savings account on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th or 25th of each month. In order to participate in the AIP, each additional subscription must be at least $200, and your financial institution must be a member of the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) network. The first AIP purchase will be made 15 days after the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) receives your request in good order. The Transfer Agent will charge a $25 fee for any ACH payment that is rejected by your bank. Your AIP will be terminated if two successive mailings we send to you are returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable. You may terminate your participation in the AIP at any time by notifying the Transfer Agent at 1-888-______ at least five days prior to the date of the next AIP transfer. The Fund may modify or terminate the AIP at any time without notice.

Timing and Nature of Requests
The purchase price you will pay for the Fund’s shares will be the next NAV (plus any sales charge, as applicable) calculated after the Transfer Agent or your authorized financial intermediary receives your request in good order. “Good order” means that your purchase request includes: (1) the name of the Fund, (2) the dollar amount of shares to be purchased, (3) your purchase application or investment stub, and (4) a check payable to REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund. All requests received in good order before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on any business day will be processed on that same day. Requests received at or after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) will be transacted at the next business day’s NAV. All purchases must be made in U.S. Dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions.

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Methods of Buying
Through a broker-
dealer or other
financial
intermediary
The Fund is offered through certain approved financial intermediaries (and their agents). The Fund is also offered directly. A purchase order placed with a financial intermediary or its authorized agent is treated as if such order were placed directly with the Fund, and will be deemed to have been received by the Fund when the financial intermediary or its authorized agent receives the order and executed at the next NAV (plus any sales charge, as applicable) calculated by the Fund. Your financial intermediary will hold your shares in a pooled account in its (or its agent’s) name. The Fund may pay your financial intermediary (or its agent) to maintain your individual ownership information, maintain required records, and provide other shareholder services. A financial intermediary which offers shares may require payment of fees from its individual clients in addition to those described in this Prospectus. If you invest through your financial intermediary, its policies and fees may be different than those described in this Prospectus. For example, the financial intermediary may charge transaction fees or set different minimum investments. Your financial intermediary is responsible for processing your order correctly and promptly, keeping you advised of the status of your account, confirming your transactions and ensuring that you receive copies of the Fund’s Prospectus. Please contact your financial intermediary to determine whether it is an approved financial intermediary of the Fund or for additional information.
By mail
The Fund will not accept payment in cash, including cashier’s checks. Also, to prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, Treasury checks, credit card checks, traveler’s checks, money orders or starter checks for the purchase of shares. All checks must be made in U.S. Dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions.
 
To buy shares directly from the Fund by mail, complete an account application and send it together with your check for the amount you wish to invest to the Fund at the address indicated below. To make additional investments once you have opened your account, write your account number on the check and send it to the Fund together with the most recent confirmation statement received from the Transfer Agent. If your check is returned for insufficient funds, your purchase will be canceled and a $25 fee will be assessed against your account by the Transfer Agent.
 
Regular Mail
REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund
P.O. Box 2175
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
Overnight Delivery
REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund
235 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
 
The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents.
By telephone
 
To make additional investments by telephone, you must authorize telephone purchases on your account application. If you have given authorization for telephone transactions and your account has been open for at least 15 days, call the Transfer Agent toll-free at 1-888-_____ and you will be allowed to move money in amounts of at least $[100], but not greater than $[50,000], from your bank account to the Fund’s account upon request. Only bank accounts held at U.S. institutions that are ACH members may be used for telephone transactions. If your order is placed before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on a business day shares will be purchased in your account at the NAV (plus any sales charge, as applicable) calculated on that day. Orders received at or after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) will be transacted at the next business day’s NAV. For security reasons, requests by telephone will be recorded.

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By wire
To open an account by wire, a completed account application form must be received by the Fund before your wire can be accepted. You may mail or send by overnight delivery your account application form to the Transfer Agent. Upon receipt of your completed account application form, an account will be established for you. The account number assigned to you will be required as part of the wiring instruction that should be provided to your bank to send the wire. Your bank must include the name of the Fund, the account number, and your name so that monies can be correctly applied. Your bank should transmit monies by wire to:
 
UMB Bank, n.a.
ABA Number 101000695
For credit to REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund
A/C #_____________
For further credit to:
Your account number
Fund Name
Name(s) of investor(s)
Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number
  Before sending your wire, please contact the Transfer Agent at 1-888-________ to notify it of your intention to wire funds. This will ensure prompt and accurate credit upon receipt of your wire. Your bank may charge a fee for its wiring service.
 
Wired funds must be received prior to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on a business day to be eligible for same day pricing. The Fund and UMB Bank, n.a. are not responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from the banking or Federal Reserve wire system, or from incomplete wiring instructions.

Selling (Redeeming) Fund Shares
Through a broker-
dealer or other
financial
intermediary
If you purchased your shares through an approved financial intermediary, your redemption order must be placed through the same financial intermediary. The Fund will be deemed to have received a redemption order when a financial intermediary (or its authorized agent) receives the order. The financial intermediary must receive your redemption order prior to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on a business day for the redemption to be processed at the current day’s NAV. Orders received at or after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on a business day or on a day when the Fund does not value its shares will be transacted at the next business day’s NAV. Please keep in mind that your financial intermediary may charge additional fees for its services. In the event your approved financial intermediary is no longer available or in operation, you may place your redemption order directly with the Fund as described below.
By mail
You may redeem shares purchased directly from the Fund by mail. Send your written redemption request to REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund at the address indicated below. Your request must be in good order and contain the Fund name, the name(s) on the account, your account number and the dollar amount or the number of shares to be redeemed. The redemption request must be signed by all shareholders listed on the account. Additional documents are required for certain types of shareholders, such as corporations, partnerships, executors, trustees, administrators, or guardians (i.e., corporate resolutions dated within 60 days, or trust documents indicating proper authorization).
 
Regular Mail
REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund
P.O. Box 2175
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
Overnight Delivery
REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund
235 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
 
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A Medallion signature guarantee must be included if any of the following situations apply:
· You wish to redeem more than $50,000  worth of shares;
· When redemption proceeds are sent to any person, address or bank account not on record;
· If a change of address was received by the Transfer Agent within the last 15 days;
· If ownership is changed on your account; or
· When establishing or modifying certain services on your account.
 By telephone
To redeem shares by telephone, call the Fund at 1-888-_______ and specify the amount of money you wish to redeem. You may have a check sent to the address of record, or, if previously established on your account, you may have proceeds sent by wire or electronic funds transfer through the ACH network directly to your bank account. Wire transfers are subject to a $20 fee paid by the shareholder and your bank may charge a fee to receive wired funds. Checks sent via overnight delivery are subject to a $25 charge. You do not incur any charge when proceeds are sent via the ACH network; however, credit may not be available for two to three business days.
 
If you are authorized to perform telephone transactions (either through your account application form or by subsequent arrangement in writing with the Fund), you may redeem shares worth up to $[100,000], by instructing the Fund by phone at 1-888-_______. Unless noted on the initial account application, a Medallion signature guarantee is required of all shareholders in order to qualify for or to change telephone redemption privileges.
 
Note: The Fund and all of its service providers will not be liable for any loss or expense in acting upon instructions that are reasonably believed to be genuine. To confirm that all telephone instructions are genuine, the caller must verify the following:
 
· The Fund account number;
· The name in which his or her account is registered;
· The Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number under which the account is registered; and
· The address of the account holder, as stated in the account application form.

Medallion Signature Guarantee
In addition to the situations described above, the Fund reserves the right to require a Medallion signature guarantee in other instances based on the circumstances relative to the particular situation.

Shareholders redeeming more than $100,000 worth of shares by mail should submit written instructions with a Medallion signature guarantee from an eligible institution acceptable to the Transfer Agent, such as a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association, or from any participant in a Medallion program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. The three currently recognized Medallion programs are Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, Stock Exchanges Medallion Program and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program. Signature guarantees that are not part of these programs will not be accepted. Participants in Medallion programs are subject to dollar limitations which must be considered when requesting their guarantee. The Transfer Agent may reject any signature guarantee if it believes the transaction would otherwise be improper. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
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Systematic Withdrawal Plan
You may request that a predetermined dollar amount be sent to you on a monthly or quarterly basis. Your account must maintain a value of at least $[5,000] for you to be eligible to participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan (“SWP”). The minimum withdrawal amount is $[500]. If you elect to receive redemptions through the SWP, the Fund will send a check to your address of record, or will send the payment via electronic funds transfer through the ACH network, directly to your bank account on record. You may request an application for the SWP by calling the Transfer Agent toll-free at 1-888-________. The Fund may modify or terminate the SWP at any time. You may terminate your participation in the SWP by calling the Transfer Agent at least five business days before the next withdrawal.

Payment of Redemption Proceeds
You may redeem shares of the Fund at a price equal to the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent and/or authorized agent receives your redemption request in good order. Generally your redemption request cannot be processed on days the NYSE is closed. Redemption proceeds for requests received in good order by the Transfer Agent and/or authorized agent before the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) will usually be sent to the address of record or the bank you indicate or wired using the wire instructions on record on the following business day. Payment of redemption proceeds may take longer than typically expected, but will be sent within seven calendar days after the Fund receives your redemption request, except as specified below.

If you purchase shares using a check and request a redemption before the check has cleared, the Fund may postpone payment of your redemption proceeds up to 15 calendar days while the Fund waits for the check to clear. Furthermore, the Fund may suspend the right to redeem shares or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven calendar days: (1) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend or holiday closings) or trading on the NYSE is restricted; (2) for any period during which an emergency exists affecting the sale of the Fund’s securities or making such sale or the fair determination of the value of the Fund’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders.

Other Redemption Information
Shareholders who hold shares of the Fund through an IRA or other retirement plan must indicate on their redemption requests whether to withhold federal income tax. Redemption requests failing to indicate an election not to have taxes withheld will generally be subject to a 10% federal income tax withholding. In addition, if you are a resident of certain states, state income tax also applies to non-Roth IRA distributions when federal withholding applies. Please consult with your tax professional.

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. The Fund typically expects to satisfy redemption requests by selling portfolio assets or by using holdings of cash or cash equivalents. The Fund uses these methods during both normal and stressed market conditions. During conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and/or in order to protect the interests of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund may pay all or part of a shareholder’s redemption proceeds in portfolio securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption-in-kind) in lieu of cash. The Fund may redeem shares in-kind during both normal and stressed market conditions. If the Fund redeems your shares in kind, you will bear any market risks associated with investment in these securities, and you will be responsible for the costs (including brokerage charges) of converting the securities to cash.

Cost Basis Information
Federal tax law requires that regulated investment companies, such as the Fund, report their shareholders' cost basis, gain/loss, and holding period to the IRS on the shareholders’ Consolidated Form 1099s when “covered” shares of the regulated investment companies are sold. Covered shares are any shares acquired (including pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan) on or after January 1, 2012.

The Fund has chosen “first-in, first-out” (“FIFO”) as its standing (default) tax lot identification method for all shareholders, which means this is the method the Fund will use to determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing net asset values and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Fund’s standing tax lot identification method is the method it will use to report the sale of covered shares on your Consolidated Form 1099 if you do not select a specific tax lot identification method. Redemptions are taxable and you may realize a gain or a loss upon the sale of your shares. Certain shareholders may be subject to backup withholding.
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Subject to certain limitations, you may choose a method other than the Fund’s standing method at the time of your purchase or upon the sale of covered shares. Please refer to the appropriate Treasury regulations or consult your tax advisor with regard to your personal circumstances.

Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions
The Trust’s Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by Fund shareholders. The Trust discourages excessive, short-term trading and other abusive trading practices that may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm the Fund’s performance. The Trust takes steps to reduce the frequency and effect of these activities in the Fund. These steps may include monitoring trading activity and using fair value pricing. In addition, the Trust may take action, which may include using its best efforts to restrict a shareholder’s trading privileges in the Fund, if that shareholder has engaged in four or more “round trips” in the Fund during a 12-month period. Although these efforts (which are described in more detail below) are designed to discourage abusive trading practices, these tools cannot eliminate the possibility that such activity may occur. Further, while the Trust makes efforts to identify and restrict frequent trading, the Trust receives purchase and sale orders through financial intermediaries and cannot always know or detect frequent trading that may be facilitated by the use of intermediaries or the use of group or omnibus accounts by those intermediaries. The Trust seeks to exercise its judgment in implementing these tools to the best of its ability in a manner that the Trust believes is consistent with the interests of Fund shareholders.

Closing and Reopening the Fund
The Advisor may take action to periodically close inflows into (“hard close”) or limit inflows into (“soft close”) the Fund in order to best enable the Fund to pursue its investment strategy and objective. When the Advisor believes that assets can again be invested according to the investment objective and strategy of the Fund, the Advisor may reopen the Fund to investment. Decisions to open or close the Fund to investment will be posted to the Fund’s website at www.____, and the Advisor will make every effort to provide at least two weeks’ notice of any Fund closure via a posting on its website. The Advisor and Fund reserve the right to make exceptions to any action taken to close or limit inflows into the Fund.
 
Redemption Fee
You will be charged a redemption fee of 1.00% of the value of the Fund shares being redeemed if you redeem your shares of the Fund within 180 days of purchase.  The “first in, first out” (“FIFO”) method is used to determine the holding period; this means that if you bought shares on different days, the shares purchased first will be redeemed first for the purpose of determining whether the redemption fee applies.  The redemption fee is deducted from the sale proceeds and is retained by the Fund for the benefit of its remaining shareholders. The fee will not apply to redemptions (i) due to a shareholder’s death or disability, (ii) from certain omnibus accounts with systematic or contractual limitations, (iii) of shares acquired through reinvestments of dividends or capital gains distributions, (iv) through certain employer-sponsored retirement plans or employee benefit plans or, with respect to any such plan, to comply with minimum distribution requirements, (v) effected pursuant to asset allocation programs, wrap fee programs, and other investment programs offered by financial institutions where investment decisions are made on a discretionary basis by investment professionals, (vi) effected pursuant to an automatic non-discretionary rebalancing program, (vii) effected pursuant to the SWP, or (viii) by the Fund with respect to accounts falling below the minimum initial investment amount.  The Trust reserves the right to waive this fee in other circumstances if the Advisor determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund.
 
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Monitoring Trading
Practices
The Trust may monitor trades in Fund shares in an effort to detect short-term trading activities.  If, as a result of this monitoring, the Trust believes that a shareholder of the Fund has engaged in excessive short-term trading, it may, in its discretion, ask the shareholder to stop such activities or refuse to process purchases in the shareholder’s accounts.  In making such judgments, the Trust seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interest of Fund shareholders.  Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying abusive trading activity, there can be no assurance that the Trust’s efforts will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered abusive.

General Transaction Policies
Some of the following policies are mentioned above. In general, the Fund reserves the right to:

·
vary or waive any minimum investment requirement;
·
refuse, change, discontinue, or temporarily suspend account services, including purchase or telephone redemption privileges (if redemption by telephone is not available, you may send your redemption order to the Fund via regular or overnight delivery), for any reason;
·
reject any purchase request for any reason (generally the Fund does this if the purchase is disruptive to the efficient management of the Fund due to the timing of the investment or an investor’s history of excessive trading);
·
delay paying redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days after receiving a request, if an earlier payment could adversely affect the Fund;
·
reject any purchase or redemption request that does not contain all required documentation; and
·
subject to applicable law and with prior notice, adopt other policies from time to time requiring mandatory redemption of shares in certain circumstances.

If you elect telephone privileges on the account application or in a letter to the Fund, you may be responsible for any fraudulent telephone orders as long as the Fund and/or its service providers have taken reasonable precautions to verify your identity. In addition, once you place a telephone transaction request, it cannot be canceled or modified.

During periods of significant economic or market change, telephone transactions may be difficult to complete. If you are unable to contact the Fund by telephone, you may also mail your request to the Fund at the address listed under “Methods of Buying.”

Your broker or other financial intermediary may establish policies that differ from those of the Fund. For example, the organization may charge transaction fees, set higher minimum investments, or impose certain limitations on buying or selling shares in addition to those identified in this Prospectus. Contact your broker or other financial intermediary for details.

Please note that the value of your account may be transferred to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in the account within the time period specified by state law.

Conversion of Shares
A share conversion is a transaction in which shares of one class of the Fund are exchanged for shares of another class of the Fund. Share conversions can occur between each share class of the Fund. Generally, share conversions occur when a shareholder becomes eligible for another share class of the Fund or no longer meets the eligibility criteria of the share class owned by the shareholder (and another class exists for which the shareholder would be eligible). Please note that a share conversion is generally a non-taxable event, but you should consult with your personal tax advisor on your particular circumstances. Please also note, all share conversion requests must be approved by the Advisor.

47

A request for a share conversion will not be processed until it is received in “good order” (as defined above) by the Fund or your financial intermediary. To receive the NAV of the new class calculated that day, conversion requests must be received in good order by the Fund or your financial intermediary before 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time or the financial intermediary’s earlier applicable deadline. Please note that, because the NAV of each class of the Fund will generally vary from the NAVs of the other classes due to differences in expenses, you will receive a number of shares of the new class that is different from the number of shares that you held of the old class, but the total value of your holdings will remain the same.

The Fund’s frequent trading policies will not be applicable to share conversions. If you hold your shares through a financial intermediary, please contact the financial intermediary for more information on share conversions. Please note that certain financial intermediaries may not permit all types of share conversions. The Fund reserves the right to terminate, suspend or modify the share conversion privilege for any shareholder or group of shareholders.

The Fund reserves the right to automatically convert shareholders from one class to another if they either no longer qualify as eligible for their existing class or if they become eligible for another class. Such mandatory conversions may be as a result of a change in value of an account due to market movements, exchanges or redemptions. The Fund will notify affected shareholders in writing prior to any mandatory conversion.

Availability of Information
The Prospectus and SAI are also available on the Fund’s website at www.__________.
 
Prospectus and Shareholder Report Mailings
In order to reduce the amount of mail you receive and to help reduce expenses, we generally send a single copy of any shareholder report and Prospectus to each household. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those of other members of your household, please contact your authorized dealer or the Transfer Agent.

Additional Information
The Fund enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including among others the Fund’s investment advisor and sub-advisor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third party”) beneficiaries of, those contractual arrangements.

The Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this prospectus nor the SAI is intended to give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.
 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund will make distributions of net investment income annually and net capital gains, if any, at least annually, typically in December. The Fund may make additional payments of dividends or distributions if it deems it desirable at any other time during the year.

All dividends and distributions will be reinvested in Fund shares unless you choose one of the following options: (1) to receive net investment income dividends in cash, while reinvesting capital gain distributions in additional Fund shares; or (2) to receive all dividends and distributions in cash. If you wish to change your distribution option, please write to the Transfer Agent before the payment date of the distribution.

If you elect to receive distributions in cash and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your check, or if your distribution check has not been cashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account at the Fund’s then current NAV and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.
48

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following discussion is very general and does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold Fund shares through an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged account. The SAI contains further information about taxes. Because each shareholder’s circumstances are different and special tax rules may apply, you should consult your tax advisor about your investment in the Fund.

You will generally have to pay federal income taxes, as well as any state or local taxes, on distributions received from the Fund, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. If you sell Fund shares, it is generally considered a taxable event. If you exchange shares of the Fund for shares of another fund, the exchange will be treated as a sale of the Fund’s shares and any gain on the transaction may be subject to federal income tax.

Distributions of net investment income, other than “qualified dividend income,” and distributions of net short-term capital gains, are taxable for federal income tax purposes at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions from the Fund’s net capital gain (i.e., the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss) are taxable for federal income tax purposes as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long the shareholder has held Fund shares.

Dividends paid by the Fund (but none of the Fund’s capital gain distributions) may qualify in part for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders, provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Distributions of investment income that the Fund reports as “qualified dividend income” may be eligible to be taxed to non-corporate shareholders at the reduced rates applicable to long-term capital gain if derived from the Fund’s qualified dividend income and if certain other requirements are satisfied. “Qualified dividend income” generally is income derived from dividends paid by U.S. corporations or certain foreign corporations that are either incorporated in a U.S. possession or eligible for tax benefits under certain U.S. income tax treaties. In addition, dividends that the Fund receives in respect of stock of certain foreign corporations may be qualified dividend income if that stock is readily tradable on an established U.S. securities market.

You may want to avoid buying shares of the Fund just before it declares a distribution (on or before the record date), because such a distribution will be taxable to you even though it may effectively be a return of a portion of your investment.

Although distributions are generally taxable when received, dividends declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record as of a date in such month and paid during the following January are treated as if received on December 31 of the calendar year when the dividends were declared.

Information on the federal income tax status of dividends and distributions is provided annually.

Dividends and distributions from the Fund and net gain from redemptions of Fund shares will generally be taken into account in determining a shareholder’s “net investment income” for purposes of the Medicare contribution tax applicable to certain individuals, estates and trusts.

If you do not provide the Fund with your correct taxpayer identification number and any required certifications, you will be subject to backup withholding on your redemption proceeds, dividends and other distributions. The backup withholding rate is currently 28%.

Dividends and certain other payments made by the Fund to a non-U.S. shareholder are subject to such withholding of federal income tax at the rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be determined in accordance with any applicable treaty). Dividends that are reported by the Fund as “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends” are generally exempt from such withholding. In general, the Fund may report interest-related dividends to the extent of its net income derived from U.S.-source interest and the Fund may report short-term capital gain dividends to the extent its net short-term capital gain for the taxable year exceeds its net long-term capital loss. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that have been subject to the 30% withholding tax described in this paragraph.

49

Unless certain non-U.S. entities that hold shares comply with IRS requirements that will generally require them to report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to distributions and, after, December 31, 2018, to redemption proceeds and certain capital gain dividends payable to such entities. A non-U.S. shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the United States and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

Some of the Fund’s investment income may be subject to foreign income taxes that are withheld at the country of origin. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes, but there can be no assurance that the Fund will qualify for treaty benefits.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Because the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, no financial information is available.
50

Investment Advisor
REX Capital Management, LLC
44 Post Road West
Westport, CT 06880

 
Sub-Advisor
Vident Investment Advisory, LLC
89 Headquarters Plaza, North Tower, 14th Floor
Morristown, New Jersey, 07960

 
Fund Co-Administrator
Mutual Fund Administration, LLC
2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226
Glendora, California 91740

 
Fund Co-Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant
UMB Fund Services, Inc.
235 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

 
Custodian
UMB Bank, n.a.
928 Grand Boulevard, 5th Floor
Kansas City, Missouri 64106

 
Distributor
IMST Distributors, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, Maine 04101
www.foreside.com

Independent Counsel
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
300 S. Grand Avenue, 22nd Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
________________
_________________
_________________
51

REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund
A series of Investment Managers Series Trust II

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
The SAI provides additional details about the investments and techniques of the Fund and certain other additional information. A current SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference. This means that the SAI is legally considered a part of this Prospectus even though it is not physically within this Prospectus.

Shareholder Reports
Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund’s annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its most recent fiscal year.

The Fund’s SAI is available and annual and semi-annual reports will be available, free of charge, on the Fund’s website at www._____. You can also obtain a free copy of the Fund’s SAI or annual and semi-annual reports, request other information, or inquire about the Fund by contacting a broker that sells shares of the Fund or by calling the Fund (toll-free) at 1-888-________ or by writing to:

REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund
P.O. Box 2175
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201

Information about the Fund (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the Public Reference Room of the SEC in Washington, DC. You can obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are also available:
 
·
Free of charge, on the SEC’s EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov;
·
For a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or;
·
For a duplication fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-1520.
 
(Investment Company Act file no. 811- 21719.)

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 23, 2017

The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Statement of Additional Information
[_____ __, 20__]

REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund
Investor Class Shares (Ticker Symbol: _____)
Institutional Class Shares (Ticker Symbol: _____)

a series of Investment Managers Series Trust II

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus, and it should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated [_____ ___, 20__], as may be amended from time to time, of the REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Investment Managers Series Trust II (the “Trust”). REX Capital Management, LLC (the “Advisor”) is the investment advisor to the Fund. Vident Investment Advisory, LLC (the “Sub-Advisor”) is the sub-advisor to the Fund. A copy of the Fund’s Prospectus may be obtained by contacting the Fund at the address or telephone number specified below.

REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund
P.O. Box 2175
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
1-___-___-____

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE TRUST AND THE FUND
2
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, POLICIES AND RISKS
2
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
37
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
49
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
50
PROXY VOTING POLICY
50
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM
51
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION
51
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
53
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES
54
FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS
55
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
61
GENERAL INFORMATION
62
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
64
APPENDIX A DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
65
APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
70
 

THE TRUST AND THE FUND

The Trust is an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware on August 20, 2013. The Trust currently consists of several other series of shares of beneficial interest. This SAI relates only to the Fund and not to the other series of the Trust.

The Trust is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an open-end management investment company. Such a registration does not involve supervision of the management or policies of the Fund. The Prospectus of the Fund and this SAI omit certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC. Copies of such information may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the prescribed fee.

The Fund is a non-diversified fund, which means it is not subject to the diversification requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not, with respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of one issuer (and in not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer), excluding cash, Government securities, and securities of other investment companies. Although the Fund is not required to comply with the above requirement, the Fund intends to diversify its assets to the extent necessary to qualify for tax treatment as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

The Fund currently offers two classes of shares: the Investor Class and Institutional Class. Other classes may be established from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”). Each class of shares of the Fund generally is identical in all respects except that each class of shares is subject to its own distribution expenses and minimum investments. Each class of shares also has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution fees.

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, POLICIES AND RISKS

The discussion below supplements information contained in the Fund’s Prospectus pertaining to the investment policies of the Fund.

The Fund intends to obtain significant exposure to Bitcoin Futures (defined below) primarily by investing up to 25% of its total assets, as measured at the end of every quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, in a wholly-owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (the “Subsidiary”). The Subsidiary is advised by the Advisor, is managed on a day-to-day basis by the Sub-Advisor, and has the same investment objective as the Fund. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest to a greater extent in commodities, including Bitcoin Futures, than the Fund. The Subsidiary’s investments in such instruments will be subject to limits on leverage imposed by the 1940 Act. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with an effective means of obtaining exposure to Bitcoin Futures in a manner consistent with U.S. federal tax law requirements applicable to regulated investment companies. References in the SAI to investments by, and activities and risks of, the Fund may also include investments by, and activities and risks of the Subsidiary.

Principal Investment Strategies, Policies and Risks

Bitcoin Exposure

“Bitcoin” is a digital asset based on the decentralized, open source protocol of the peer-to-peer bitcoin computer network (the “Bitcoin Network”). Bitcoin can currently be used to pay for goods and services, can be purchased or sold on websites that facilitate the transfer of bitcoin in exchange for government-issued currencies (“Bitcoin Exchanges”), or can be transferred in individual end-user-to-end-user transactions under a barter system. No single entity owns or operates the Bitcoin Network; the infrastructure is collectively maintained by a decentralized user base. The Bitcoin Network is accessed through software and software governs bitcoin’s creation, movement, and ownership.

B-2

The value of bitcoin is determined by the supply of and demand for bitcoin on the Bitcoin Exchanges (and in private end-user-to-end-user transactions), as well as by the number of merchants that accept bitcoin. Bitcoin transactions can be broadcast to the Bitcoin Network by any user’s Bitcoin Network software and bitcoin can be transferred without the involvement of intermediaries or third parties, other than verification by Bitcoin Network miners (defined below) , which are Bitcoin Network participants that secure and verify bitcoin transactions through a peer-to-peer computer process. Third-party service providers such as Bitcoin Exchanges and third-party bitcoin payment processing services may charge potentially substantial fees for processing transactions and for converting, or facilitating the conversion of, bitcoin to or from fiat currency. The Bitcoin Network is decentralized and does not rely on either governmental authorities or financial institutions to create, transmit or determine the value of bitcoin. Rather, bitcoin is created and allocated by the Bitcoin Network protocol through the mining process subject to a strict, well-known issuance schedule that was contained within the protocol.

Bitcoin records are reflected on the “Blockchain,” which is a digital public record, or ledger, on which all bitcoin is recorded. The Blockchain is comprised of a digital record, copies of which are downloaded and stored in a decentralized manner on the computers of each Bitcoin Network user. Transaction data is permanently recorded in files called “blocks,” which reflect transactions that have been recorded and authenticated by Bitcoin Network participants known as “miners.” Each newly recorded block of transactions refers back to and “connects” with the immediately prior recorded block of the public ledger, similar to pages of other types of transaction ledgers. Each new block records outstanding Bitcoin transactions, and outstanding transactions are settled and validated through such recording. The Blockchain represents a complete, transparent and unbroken history of all transactions on the Bitcoin Network, in the form of a public ledger that is accessible by all. The Bitcoin Network software source code includes the protocols that govern the creation of bitcoin and the cryptographic system that secures and verifies Bitcoin transactions.

To engage in bitcoin transactions, users generate two mathematically related numbers that are used to authenticate bitcoin transactions: a “public key” (also known as a “public address”) and a “private key.” The private key is frequently retained in a software program for facilitating bitcoin transactions, known as a “bitcoin wallet,” while the public key may be made publicly available. The public key serves as an address to which bitcoin can be transferred and from which bitcoin can be sent by the owner of the private key. The Bitcoin Network utilizes the Blockchain to evidence the existence of bitcoin associated with any “public key” that has been used in a transaction on the Bitcoin Network. A “private key” controls the transfer or “spending” of bitcoin from its associated public key. Only a specific private key can be used to authenticate, or “sign,” any transaction from the associated public address.

The Blockchain constitutes a canonical record of every bitcoin, every bitcoin transaction (including the creation or “mining” of new bitcoin) and every bitcoin address associated with a quantity of bitcoin. The Bitcoin Network and Bitcoin Network software programs can interpret the Blockchain to determine the exact bitcoin balance, if any, of any public Bitcoin address listed in the Blockchain as having taken part in a transaction on the Bitcoin Network.

Bitcoin Network miners engage in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations in order to add a block to the Blockchain and thereby confirm Bitcoin transactions included in that block’s data. In addition to confirming the authenticity of some or all recent transactions and referencing the preceding block, each block also contains an answer to a mathematical problem. Miners generate potential answers to this mathematical problem at a rapid rate, effectively searching for a correct answer via computational trial-and-error. New blocks cannot be submitted to the network without a correct answer. The mathematical problem in each block is extremely difficult to solve, but once a valid solution is found, it is very easy for the rest of the network to confirm that the solution is correct. Once the mathematical problem has been solved, the miner may then transmit a copy of the newly-formed block to peers on the Bitcoin Network, which then update their respective copies of the Blockchain by appending the new block. A new block that is added to the Blockchain serves to take recent-yet-unconfirmed transactions and verify that none are fraudulent, and the miner that first solves such block receives the reward of a fixed number of bitcoin for its effort.

B-3

The protocol underlying the Bitcoin Network provides the rules by which all users and miners on the Bitcoin Network must operate. Bitcoin Network software automatically adjusts the difficulty of the mathematical problem so that a new block is mined approximately once every ten minutes. Estimates show that the current Bitcoin Network software can accommodate up to seven transactions per second. The protocol also lays out the block reward, the amount of bitcoin that a miner earns upon creating a new block. The initial block reward when the Bitcoin Network was introduced in 2009 was 50 bitcoin per block. That number has and will continue to halve approximately every four years until approximately 2140, when it is estimated that block rewards will go to zero. The most recent halving occurred on July 9, 2016, which reduced the block reward from 25 to 12.5 bitcoin. In addition to the block reward, end users pay fees as an incentive for a miner to confirm their transactions in newly created blocks. When a miner creates a new block, as part of the process the miner adds any unconfirmed transactions to the new block, and for doing so accepts fees associated with each transaction. Fees vary in amount based on a calculation conducted by a user’s bitcoin wallet software.

The Bitcoin Network was initially contemplated in a white paper that also described bitcoin and the operating software to govern the Bitcoin Network. The white paper was purportedly authored by Satoshi Nakamoto; however, no individual with that name has been reliably identified as Bitcoin’s creator, and the general consensus is that the name is a pseudonym for the actual inventor or inventors. The first bitcoin was created in 2009 after Nakamoto released the Bitcoin Network source code (the software and protocol that created and launched the Bitcoin Network). The Bitcoin Network protocol is built using open source software, allowing for any developer to review the underlying code and suggest changes. There is no official company or group that is responsible for making modifications to the Bitcoin Network, however, there are a number of individual developers that regularly contribute to a specific distribution of Bitcoin Network software dubbed “Bitcoin Core.” Significant changes to the Bitcoin Network protocol are typically accomplished through a so-called Bitcoin Improvement Proposal or BIP. Such proposals are generally posted on websites, and the proposals explain technical requirements for the protocol change as well as reasons why the change should be accepted.

The Bitcoin Network has no central authority, so the implementation of a change is achieved by users and miners downloading and running updated versions of Bitcoin Network software. If a significant proportion of Bitcoin Network users and miners decide to adopt a change to the Bitcoin Network that is not compatible with previous software, then this software will recognize and process transactions differently on a going-forward basis. If another significant proportion of Bitcoin Network users and miners decide not to adopt such change, then these two Bitcoin Network groups would not process transactions in the same way on a going-forward basis. In this scenario, the blocks recognized as valid by one group of users will be different from the blocks recognized as valid by the other group of users, which will cause transaction records to diverge, or “fork,” on a going-forward basis. If this were to occur, two separate Bitcoin Networks could result, one running the pre-modification software program and the other running the modified version (i.e., a second “Bitcoin” network). In the event of a permanent fork with two separate and incompatible Bitcoin Networks, the price movements of different versions of bitcoin on different Bitcoin Networks may deviate. In such case, the Advisor or Sub-Advisor will evaluate the characteristics of each Bitcoin Network to determine in its sole discretion which Bitcoin Network will provide exposure that best comports with the Fund’s investment objective. On August 1, 2017, the Bitcoin Network was forked by a group of developers and miners accepting changes to the Bitcoin Network software intended to increase transaction capacity. Blocks mined on this network now diverge from blocks mined on the Bitcoin Network, which has resulted in the creation of a new blockchain whose digital asset is referred to as “Bitcoin Cash.” The Bitcoin Network and the Bitcoin Cash network now operate as separate, independent networks. Multiple proposals for increasing the capacity of the Bitcoin Network still exist, and it is possible that one or more of these proposals could result in further network “forks.”
B-4

Regulation of Bitcoin

Regulatory changes or actions may restrict the use of bitcoin or the operation of the Bitcoin Network or the Bitcoin Exchange market in a manner that adversely affects an investment in the Fund. As bitcoin has grown in both popularity and market size, the U.S. Congress and a number of U.S. federal and state agencies (including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), SEC, CFTC, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the IRS, and state financial institution regulators) have been examining the Bitcoin Network, bitcoin users and the Bitcoin Exchange market, with particular focus on the extent to which bitcoin can be used to launder the proceeds of illegal activities or fund criminal or terrorist enterprises and the safety and soundness of exchanges or other service providers that hold bitcoin for users. Many of these state and federal agencies have issued consumer advisories regarding the risks posed by bitcoin to investors. Ongoing and future regulatory actions may alter, perhaps to a materially adverse extent, the nature of an investment in the Fund or the ability of the Fund to continue to operate.

The Bitcoin Network is a recent technological innovation, and the bitcoin that is created, transferred, used and stored by entities and individuals have certain features associated with several types of assets, most notably commodities and currencies. In 2013 guidance, FinCEN took the position that any administrator or exchanger of convertible digital currencies, including bitcoin, must register with FinCEN as a money transmitter and must comply with the anti-money laundering regulations applicable to money transmitters. FinCEN subsequently issued several interpretive letters clarifying which entities would be considered administrators or exchangers and which would be considered mere “users” not subject to registration. The requirement that bitcoin exchangers that do business in the United States register with FinCEN and comply with anti-money laundering regulations may increase the cost of buying and selling bitcoin and therefore may adversely affect its price.

In 2015, the New York State Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) finalized a rule that requires most businesses involved in digital currency business activity in or involving New York, excluding merchants and consumers, to apply for a license, commonly known as a BitLicense, from the NYDFS and to comply with anti-money laundering, cyber security, consumer protection, and financial and reporting requirements, among others. As an alternative to the BitLicense in New York, firms can apply for a charter to become limited purpose trust companies qualified to engage in digital currency business activity. Other states have considered regimes similar to the BitLicense (for example, a bill in California would have imposed a similar regime, although the bill was shelved), or have required digital currency businesses to register with their states as money transmitters, such as Washington and Georgia, which results in digital currency businesses being subject to requirements similar to those of NYDFS’ BitLicense regime. Certain state regulators, such as the Texas Department of Banking, Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, have found that mere transmission of bitcoin, without activities involving transmission of fiat currency, does not constitute money transmission requiring licensure. The North Carolina Commissioner of Banks has issued guidance providing that North Carolina’s money transmission regulations only apply to the transmission of digital currency and not its use. The inconsistency in applying money transmitting licensure requirements to certain bitcoin businesses may make it more difficult for bitcoin businesses to provide services, which may affect consumer adoption of bitcoin and its price.

As of the date of this SAI, the SEC has not asserted regulatory authority over the Bitcoin Network or bitcoin trading or ownership and has not expressed the view that digital assets, including bitcoin, should be classified or treated as securities for purposes of U.S. federal securities laws. In a July 2017 report, however, the SEC stated that at least one blockchain-based digital asset, which is technologically similar to but legally distinct from a digital asset such as bitcoin, meets the definition of a security under the federal securities laws. The report went on to state that any exchange dealing in such digital assets must register with the SEC. Because such digital assets may trade on exchanges that also exchange bitcoin, increased regulatory compliance costs and other unforeseen consequences of this determination may reduce the number of exchanges in the Bitcoin Exchange market or otherwise adversely affect the market for digital assets, which could affect consumer adoption and the price of bitcoin. Additionally, the SEC has commented on bitcoin and bitcoin-related market developments and has taken action against investment schemes involving bitcoin. For example, in the SEC’s recent review of proposed rule changes to list and trade shares of certain bitcoin-related investment vehicles on public markets, the SEC stated that the bitcoin markets are not properly regulated, which results in the public markets’ inability to enter into surveillance-sharing agreements that help address concerns regarding fraudulent or manipulative acts and practices.

B-5

Commissioners of the CFTC initially expressed the belief that bitcoin meets the definition of a commodity and that the CFTC has regulatory authority over futures and other derivatives based on digital assets, subject to facts and circumstances. Additional clarity was obtained on September 17, 2015, when, in the Coinflip case,1 the CFTC instituted and settled administrative proceedings that involved a bitcoin derivatives trading platform and its chief executive officer. The Coinflip order found that the respondents (i) conducted activity related to commodity options transactions without complying with the provisions of the CEA and CFTC regulations, and (ii) operated a facility for the trading of swaps without registering the facility as a swap execution facility (“SEF”) or designated contract market (“DCM”). The Coinflip order was significant as it is the first time the CFTC determined that bitcoin is properly defined as a commodity under the CEA. Based on this determination, the CFTC applied CEA provisions and CFTC regulations that apply to transactions in commodity options and swaps to the conduct of the bitcoin derivatives trading platform. Additionally, the CFTC appears to have taken the position that bitcoin is not encompassed by the definition of currency under the CEA and CFTC regulations. In Coinflip, the CFTC defined bitcoin and other “virtual currencies” as “a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and/or a store of value, but does not have legal tender status in any jurisdiction. Bitcoin and other virtual currencies are distinct from ‘real’ currencies, which are the coin and paper money of the United States or another country that are designated as legal tender, circulate, and are customarily used and accepted as a medium of exchange in the country of issuance.” The CFTC affirmed its approach to the regulation of bitcoin and bitcoin-related enterprises on June 2, 2016, when the CFTC settled charges against Bitfinex, a Bitcoin Exchange based in Hong Kong. In its order, the CFTC found that Bitfinex engaged in “illegal, off-exchange commodity transactions and failed to register as a futures commission merchant” when it facilitated borrowing transactions among its users to permit the trading of bitcoin on a “leveraged, margined or financed basis” without first registering with the CFTC. 2

In July 2017, the CFTC issued an order granting LedgerX, LLC (“LedgerX”) registration as a derivatives clearing organization under the CEA. Under the order, LedgerX is authorized to provide clearing services for fully-collateralized digital currency swaps. LedgerX, which was also granted an order of registration as a SEF in July 2017, is the first federally-regulated exchange and clearing house for derivatives contracts settling in digital currencies.

It is not known whether all U.S. or foreign regulators will share this view, adopt a single, different view or espouse a variety of differing views. As of the date of this SAI, a U.S. magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas3 and the German Ministry of Finance have ruled that bitcoin is a “form of money” and a “unit of account,” respectively; a Florida circuit court judge determined that bitcoin does not qualify as money or “tangible wealth”;4 and an opinion from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois identified bitcoin as a “unit of account.” 5 Additionally, the IRS has classified bitcoin as property that is not currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes.6 The degree to which such interpretations will become the norm is unknown. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, citing the IRS classification, defined bitcoin and other digital assets as “intangible property,” 7 and a number of other states have issued their own guidance regarding the tax treatment of bitcoin for state income or sales tax purposes.
 

1
In re Coinflip Inc., d/b/a Derivabit, and Francisco Riordan, Case No. 15-29 (CFTC September 17, 2015).
2
See In re BFXNA Inc., Case No. 16-19 (CFTC June 2, 2016). In October 2016, Poloniex, a U.S.-based digital asset exchange that permits margin trading, submitted a request to the CFTC for no-action relief to clarify the “actual delivery” exemption under the CEA, the issue at stake in In re BFXNA Inc.
3
SEC v. Shavers, Memorandum Opinion Regarding the Court’s Subject Matter Jurisdiction, Case No. 4:13-CV-00416 (E.D. Texas, Aug. 6, 2013).
4
The State of Florida v. Espinoza, Order Granting Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss the Information, Case No. F14-2923 (Fla. 11th Cir. Ct. July 22, 2016) (quoting § 896.101(2)(e), Fla. Stat. (2016)).
5
Greene v. Mt. Gox Inc., et al., Memorandum Opinion and Order, Case No. 1:14-cv-01437 (N.D.IL Aug. 26, 2016).
6
Internal Revenue Service, IRS Virtual Currency Guidelines, Notice 2014-14 (Apr. 14, 2014).
7
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Tax Department Policy on Transactions Using Convertible Virtual Currency (Dec. 5, 2014).
 

B-6

On May 25, 2017, a bipartisan bill entitled “Combatting Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Counterfeiting Act of 2017” was introduced into the U.S. Senate. The proposed bill adds language to existing anti-money laundering provisions to include digital wallets, prepaid access devices and other “digital currency exchangers” if they contain over $10,000 of digital assets. If enacted, this bill may adversely affect bitcoin and, consequently, the Fund.

Bitcoin has been characterized as a virtual commodity, digital asset, digital currency and virtual currency by other international regulatory bodies. Since December 2013, regulators in jurisdictions including the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland have provided greater regulatory clarity, while Chinese, Icelandic and Vietnamese government officials have taken steps to limit the participation of their respective financial services sectors from directly interacting with the Bitcoin Network ecosystem, creating additional regulatory uncertainty in those countries. 8 In China, a December 2013 government notice classified bitcoin as “virtual commodities,” and not legal tender. The same notice restricted the existing banking and payment industries from using bitcoin, limiting the scope of the operations of bitcoin exchanges in one of the largest bitcoin markets. In January 2017, in response to informal guidance received from the People’s Bank of China (the “PBoC”) concerning the creation of tighter anti-money laundering and foreign exchange controls, the largest China-based Bitcoin Exchanges adjusted their terms to pause or limit loan and borrowing services. These exchanges later introduced a 0.2% fixed-rate transaction fee for all bitcoin buy and sell orders, with similar measures soon adopted by many of China’s smaller bitcoin exchanges. Bitcoin withdrawals have also been halted on these exchanges. In March 2017, the PBoC reaffirmed its commitment to regulating Bitcoin Exchanges and indicated the possibility of licensing a number of qualified exchanges. These events have substantially reduced trading volume on Chinese Bitcoin Exchanges.

In 2016, the Australian government announced its plan to update its anti-money laundering laws to apply to digital currency exchanges, following an inquiry by the government into the country’s tax treatment and regulation of bitcoin. In Japan, regulations went into effect in April 2017 that recognize digital currencies as a legal method of payment and require market participants, including exchanges, to meet certain compliance requirements and be subject to oversight by the Financial Services Agency, a Japanese regulator. The government of Israel and the Israel Tax Authority decided in January 2017 to apply capital gains tax to sales of bitcoin and other digital currencies. Conversely, regulatory bodies in some countries such as India have declined to exercise regulatory authority when afforded the opportunity. At the other extreme, in 2014, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Bangladesh banned the use of bitcoin and other digital currencies.
 

8
See e.g., HM Revenue & Customs, Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies, Revenue and Customs Brief 9-2014 (Mar. 3, 2014); Federal Council of Switzerland, Federal Council Report on Virtual Currencies in Response to the Schwaab (13.3687) and Weibel (13.4070) Postulates (June 25, 2014); Central Bank of Iceland, Significant Risk Attached to Use of Virtual Currency, Release No. 9/2014 (Mar. 19, 2014); State Bank of Vietnam, Press Release on Bitcoins and Other Virtual Currencies (Feb. 28, 2014).
 

B-7

In July 2016, the European Commission released a draft directive that proposed applying counter-terrorism and anti-money laundering regulations to digital assets, and, in September 2016, the European Banking Authority advised the European Commission to institute new regulation specific to digital assets, with amendments to existing regulation as a stopgap measure.9 Furthermore, in April 2017, Russian regulators indicated their plan to recognize bitcoin and other digital currencies as a legitimate financial instrument by 2018, as part of the government’s broader efforts to tackle money laundering. This plan stands in contrast with the government’s previous attempts to ban the conversion of bitcoin and other “money surrogates” into government currency and impose criminal penalties for such violations.

U.S. regulators, at both the state and Federal level, and foreign regulators and legislatures have taken action against digital asset businesses or enacted restrictive regimes in response to adverse publicity arising from cybersecurity risks, potential consumer harm, or digital assets used in connection with criminal activity. The value of bitcoin could thus be impacted by such adverse publicity. Various foreign jurisdictions may, in the near future, adopt laws, regulations or directives that affect the Bitcoin Network, the Bitcoin Exchange market and their users, particularly bitcoin exchanges and service providers that fall within such jurisdictions’ regulatory scope. Such laws, regulations or directives may conflict with those of the United States and may negatively impact the acceptance of bitcoin by users, merchants and service providers outside the United States and may therefore impede the growth or sustainability of the bitcoin economy globally, or otherwise negatively affect the value of bitcoin. The regulatory uncertainty surrounding the treatment of bitcoin creates risks for the Fund.

Bitcoin Exposure through Investment in the Subsidiary

In addition to other financial instruments, the Fund intends to invest directly and indirectly in futures contracts linked to the price of bitcoin or an index thereof (“Bitcoin Futures”). The Fund intends to gain significant exposure to Bitcoin Futures, which are considered commodities, by investing up to 25% of its total assets, as measured at the end of every quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, in the Subsidiary. The purpose of this investment in the Subsidiary is to provide the Fund with an effective means of obtaining exposure to Bitcoin Futures in a manner consistent with U.S. federal tax law requirements applicable to regulated investment companies. As a result, the Fund may be considered to be investing indirectly in the investments of the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary may invest to a greater extent in commodities, including Bitcoin Futures, option and swap contracts, and pooled investment vehicles, than the Fund.

The Subsidiary is managed by the Advisor and sub-advised by the Sub-Advisor. For the Subsidiary, pursuant to a management agreement between the Subsidiary and the Advisor (the “Subsidiary Agreement”), the Advisor will: (i) provide management services; (ii) pay all expenses incurred by the Subsidiary except for the fee paid to the Advisor pursuant to the Subsidiary Agreement (the “Subsidiary Management Fee”), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing or settlement of orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, and extraordinary expenses; and, in consideration thereof, (iii) receive the Subsidiary Management Fee. The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the Subsidiary Management Fee, if any, paid to the Advisor by the Subsidiary. The Advisor, and not the Fund or the Subsidiary, pays the Sub-Advisor’s fees. Please refer to the section in this SAI titled “Federal Income Tax Matters” for information about certain tax aspects of the Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary.
 

9
European Commission, Proposal for Amending Directive 2015/849/EU on the Prevention of the Use of the Financial System for the Purposes of Money Laundering or Terrorist Financing and Amending Directive 2009/101/EC, Directive 2016/0208 (July 5, 2016); European Banking Authority, Opinion on the EU Commission’s Proposal to Bring Virtual Currencies into the Scope of Directive 2015/849/EU, EBA Opin. 2016-07 (Aug. 11, 2016).

B-8

As is further discussed in the Fund’s Prospectus, in addition to the Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary and Bitcoin Futures, the Fund also may invest in the following instruments: (1) swap agreements that provide exposure to bitcoin; (2) exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), exchange-traded closed-end funds, other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, and other pooled investment vehicles (collectively, “Underlying Funds”) that provide exposure to bitcoin; (3) exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”) that provide exposure to bitcoin; and (4) fixed income securities (namely, commercial paper and U.S. government obligations), bank instruments, cash, and other cash equivalents to collateralize its exposure to the Bitcoin Futures and other investments and for investment purposes. The Fund may invest, directly and indirectly, in inverse index-based Underlying Funds or ETNs (i.e., Underlying Funds or ETNs that seek to return the opposite of the performance of the index or benchmark they seek to track), but the Fund will limit its long positions in such vehicles or instruments to no more than 15% of its net assets consistent with SEC staff guidance. The Fund may not invest in leveraged index-based Underlying Funds or ETNs (i.e., Underlying Funds or ETNs that seek to return a multiple of the performance of the index or benchmark they seek to track).

Investment Company Securities

The Fund may invest in shares of Underlying Funds, including open-end funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts (“UITs”) and ETFs, to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain restrictions set forth in this SAI.

Under Sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 12(d)(1)(B) of the 1940 Act, the Fund and any companies controlled by the Fund may hold securities of an Underlying Fund in amounts which (i) do not exceed 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of such Underlying Fund, (ii) do not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and (iii) when added to all other Underlying Fund securities held by the Fund, do not exceed 10% of the value of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund may exceed these limits when permitted by SEC order or other applicable law or regulatory guidance, such as is the case with many ETFs.

Generally, under Sections 12(d)(1)(F) and 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act and SEC rules adopted pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Fund may acquire the securities of affiliated and unaffiliated Underlying Funds subject to the following guidelines and restrictions:
 
·
The Fund may own an unlimited amount of the securities of any registered open-end fund or registered unit investment trust that is affiliated with the Fund, so long as any such Underlying Fund has a policy that prohibits it from acquiring any securities of registered open-end funds or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on certain sections of the 1940 Act.
 
·
The Fund and its “affiliated persons” may own up to 3% of the outstanding stock of any fund, subject to the following restrictions:
 
i.
the Fund and each Underlying Fund, in the aggregate, may not charge a sales load greater than the limits set forth in Rule 2830(d)(3) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) applicable to funds of funds;
 
ii.
each Underlying Fund is not obligated to redeem more than 1% of its total outstanding securities during any period less than 30 days; and
B-9

iii.
the Fund is obligated either to (i) seek instructions from its shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies with respect to the Underlying Fund and to vote in accordance with such instructions, or (ii) to vote the shares of the Underlying Fund held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders of the Underlying Fund.
 
Acquired funds typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses as Fund shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to certain leverage risks. The net asset value and market value of leveraged securities will be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged securities. Investment companies may have investment policies that differ from those of the Fund.

Under certain circumstances an open-end investment company in which the Fund invests may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or in part by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, instead of in cash. As a result, the Fund may hold such securities until the Advisor determines it is appropriate to dispose of them. Such disposition will impose additional costs on the Fund.

Investment decisions by the investment advisors to the registered investment companies in which the Fund invests are made independently of the Fund. At any particular time, one Underlying Fund may be purchasing shares of an issuer whose shares are being sold by another Underlying Fund. As a result, under these circumstances the Fund indirectly would incur certain transactional costs without accomplishing any investment purpose.

Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”)
The Fund may invest in shares of ETFs. ETFs are pooled investment vehicles that generally seek to track the performance of specific indices. ETFs may be organized as open-end funds or as UITs. Their shares are listed on stock exchanges and can be traded throughout the day at market-determined prices.

An ETF generally issues index-based investments in aggregations of 50,000 shares known as “Creation Units” in exchange for a “Portfolio Deposit” consisting of (a) a portfolio of securities substantially similar to the component securities (“Index Securities”) of the applicable index (the “Index”), (b) a cash payment equal to a pro rata portion of the dividends accrued on the ETF’s portfolio securities since the last dividend payment by the ETF, net of expenses and liabilities, and (c) a cash payment or credit (“Balancing Amount”) designed to equalize the net asset value of the Index and the net asset value of a Portfolio Deposit.

Shares of ETFs are not individually redeemable, except upon termination of the ETF. To redeem shares of an ETF, an investor must accumulate enough shares of the ETF to reconstitute a Creation Unit. The liquidity of small holdings of ETF shares, therefore, will depend upon the existence of a secondary market for such shares. Upon redemption of a Creation Unit, the portfolio will receive Index Securities and cash identical to the Portfolio Deposit required of an investor wishing to purchase a Creation Unit that day.

The price of ETF shares is based upon (but not necessarily identical to) the value of the securities held by the ETF. Accordingly, the level of risk involved in the purchase or sale of ETF shares is similar to the risk involved in the purchase or sale of traditional common stock, with the exception that the pricing mechanism for ETF shares is based on a basket of stocks. Disruptions in the markets for the securities underlying ETF shares purchased or sold by the Fund could result in losses on such shares. There is no assurance that the requirements of the national securities exchanges necessary to maintain the listing of shares of any ETF will continue to be met.
B-10

Inverse ETFs
The Fund may invest in inverse ETFs. Inverse ETFs seek to negatively correlate with the performance of a particular index by using various forms of derivative transactions, including by short-selling the underlying index. An investment in an inverse ETF will decrease in value when the value of the underlying index rises. A number of factors may affect an inverse ETF’s ability to achieve a high degree of inverse correlation with the benchmark index, and there can be no guarantee that an inverse ETF will achieve a high degree of inverse correlation. By investing in inverse ETFs, the Fund can commit fewer assets to the investment in the securities represented on the index than would otherwise be required.

Inverse ETFs present all of the risks that regular ETFs present. In addition, such ETFs determine their return over a specific, pre-set time period, typically daily, and, as a result, there is no guarantee that the ETF’s actual long term returns will be equal to the daily return that the Fund seeks to achieve. As a result of compounding, inverse ETFs typically have a single day investment objective. An inverse ETF’s performance for periods greater than a single day is likely to be either better or worse than the inverse of the benchmark index performance, before accounting for fees and fund expenses. This effect becomes more pronounced for these types of ETFs as market volatility increases.

Furthermore, because inverse ETFs achieve their results by using derivative instruments, they are subject to the risks associated with derivative transactions, including the risk that the value of the derivatives may rise or fall more rapidly than other investments, thereby causing the ETF to lose money and, consequently, the value of the Fund’s investment to decrease. Investing in derivative instruments also involves the risk that other parties to the derivative contract may fail to meet their obligations, which could cause losses to the ETF. Short sales in particular are subject to the risk that, if the price of the security sold short increases, the inverse ETF may have to cover its short position at a higher price than the short sale price, resulting in a loss to the ETF and, indirectly, to the Fund. An ETF’s use of these techniques will make the Fund’s investment in the ETF more volatile than if the Fund were to invest directly in the securities underlying the tracked index, or in an ETF that does not use derivative instruments. However, by investing in inverse ETFs rather than directly purchasing and/or selling derivative instruments, the Fund will limit its potential loss solely to the amount actually invested in the ETF (that is, the Fund will not lose more than the principal amount invested in the ETF).

Closed-End Funds
The Fund may invest in shares of closed-end funds. Investments in closed-end funds are subject to various risks, including reliance on management’s ability to meet the closed-end fund’s investment objective and to manage the closed-end fund portfolio; fluctuation in the net asset value of closed-end fund shares compared to the changes in the value of the underlying securities that the closed-end fund owns; and bearing a pro rata share of the management fees and expenses of each underlying closed-end fund resulting in the Fund’s shareholders being subject to higher expenses than if he or she invested directly in the closed-end fund(s).

Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETNs”)
The Fund may invest in shares of ETNs. An investment in an ETN involves risks, including possible loss of principal. ETNs are unsecured debt securities issued by a bank that are linked to the total return of a market index. Risks of investing in ETNs also include limited portfolio diversification, uncertain principal payment, and illiquidity. Additionally, the investor fee will reduce the amount of return on maturity or at redemption, and as a result the investor may receive less than the principal amount at maturity or upon redemption, even if the value of the relevant index has increased. An investment in an ETN may not be suitable for all investors.

Derivatives

The Fund may utilize a variety of derivatives contracts, such as futures, options, swaps and forward contracts, both for investment purposes and for hedging purposes. Hedging involves special risks including the possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Advisor’s assessment of certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of hedging could result in losses greater than if hedging had not been used. Nonetheless, with respect to certain investment positions, the Fund may not be sufficiently hedged against market fluctuations, in which case an investment position could result in a loss greater than if the Advisor had been sufficiently hedged with respect to such position.

B-11

The Advisor will not, in general, attempt to hedge all market or other risks inherent in the Fund’s positions, and may hedge certain risks, if at all, only partially. Specifically, the Advisor may choose not, or may determine that it is economically unattractive, to hedge certain risks, either in respect of particular positions or in respect of the Fund’s overall portfolio. Moreover, it should be noted that the Fund’s portfolio always will be exposed to unidentified systematic risk factors and to certain risks that cannot be completely hedged, such as credit risk (relating both to particular securities and to counterparties). The Fund’s portfolio composition may result in various directional market risks remaining unhedged, although the Advisor may rely on diversification to control such risks to the extent that the Advisor believes it is desirable to do so.

Recent legislation calls for new regulation of the derivatives markets. The extent and impact of the regulation is not yet fully known and may not be for some time. New regulations could adversely affect the value, availability and performance of certain derivative instruments, may make them more costly, and may limit or restrict their use by the Funds.

Certain additional risk factors related to derivatives are discussed below:

Derivatives Risk. Under recently adopted rules by the CFTC, transactions in some types of interest rate swaps and index credit default swaps on North American and European indices will be required to be cleared. In a cleared derivatives transaction, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house (such as CME Clearing, ICE Clearing or LCH.Clearnet), rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members, who are futures commission merchants that are members of the clearing houses and who have the appropriate regulatory approvals to engage in swap transactions. The Fund will make and receive payments owed under cleared derivatives transactions (including margin payments) through its accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house. In contrast to bilateral derivatives transactions, following a period of advance notice to the Fund, clearing members generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time and increases in margin above the margin that it required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing transactions and to terminate transactions. Any such increase or termination could interfere with the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Also, the Fund is subject to execution risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or that the Advisor expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. While the documentation in place between the Fund and its clearing members generally provides that the clearing members will accept for clearing all transactions submitted for clearing that are within credit limits specified by the clearing members in advance, the Fund could be subject to this execution risk if the Fund submits for clearing transactions that exceed such credit limits, if the clearing house does not accept the transactions for clearing, or if the clearing members do not comply with their agreement to clear such transactions. In that case, the transaction might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of any increase in the value of the transaction after the time of the transaction. In addition, new regulations could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund or increasing margin or capital requirements. If the Fund is not able to enter into a particular derivatives transaction, the Fund’s investment performance and risk profile could be adversely affected as a result.

B-12

Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk with respect to OTC derivatives may be affected by new regulations promulgated by the CFTC and SEC affecting the derivatives market. As described under “Derivatives Risk” above, some derivatives transactions will be required to be cleared, and a party to a cleared derivatives transaction is subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivative transaction. Clearing members are required to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to cleared derivatives transactions from the clearing member’s proprietary assets. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are generally held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account, which may also invest those funds in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulations. The assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the Fund’s clearing member because the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s customers for a relevant account class. Also, the clearing member transfers to the clearing house the amount of margin required by the clearing house for cleared derivatives transactions, which amounts are generally held in an omnibus account at the clearing house for all customers of the clearing member. For commodities futures positions, the clearing house may use all of the collateral held in the clearing member’s omnibus account to meet a loss in that account, without regard to which customer in fact supplied that collateral. Accordingly, in addition to bearing the credit risk of its clearing member, each customer to a futures transaction also bears “fellow customer” risk from other customers of the clearing member. However, with respect to cleared swaps positions, recent regulations promulgated by the CFTC require that the clearing member notify the clearing house of the amount of initial margin provided by the clearing member to the clearing house that is attributable to each customer. Because margin in respect of cleared swaps must be earmarked for specific clearing member customers, the clearing house may not use the collateral of one customer to cover the obligations of another customer. However, if the clearing member does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is subject to the risk that a clearing house will use the Fund’s assets held in an omnibus account at the clearing house to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing house. In addition, a clearing member may generally choose to provide to the clearing house the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of the clearing member’s customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount of each customer. The Fund is therefore subject to the risk that a clearing house will not make variation margin payments owed to the Fund if another customer of the clearing member has suffered a loss and is in default.

Options on Securities and Securities Indices
The Fund may invest in options on securities and stock indices. A call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the option period. A put option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to sell specified securities during the option period. The Fund may invest in both European-style or American-style options. A European-style option is only exercisable immediately prior to its expiration. American-style options are exercisable at any time prior to the expiration date of the option.

Writing Call Options. The Fund may write covered call options. A call option is “covered” if the Fund owns the security underlying the call or has an absolute right to acquire the security without additional cash consideration or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or cash equivalents in such amounts as held in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian. The writer of a call option receives a premium and gives the purchaser the right to buy the security underlying the option at the exercise price. The writer has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price during the option period. If the writer of an exchange-traded option wishes to terminate his obligation, he may effect a “closing purchase transaction.” This is accomplished by buying an option of the same series as the option previously written. A writer may not effect a closing purchase transaction after it has been notified of the exercise of an option.

B-13

Effecting a closing transaction in a written call option will permit the Fund to write another call option on the underlying security with either a different exercise price, expiration date or both. Also, effecting a closing transaction will permit the cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale of any securities subject to the option to be used for other investments of the Fund. If the Fund desires to sell a particular security from its portfolio on which it has written a call option, it will effect a closing transaction prior to or concurrent with the sale of the security.

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

If the Fund were assigned an exercise notice on a call it has written, it would be required to liquidate portfolio securities in order to satisfy the exercise, unless it has other liquid assets that are sufficient to satisfy the exercise of the call. If the Fund has written a call, there is also a risk that the market may decline between the time the Fund has a call exercised against it, at a price which is fixed as of the closing level of the index on the date of exercise, and the time it is able to sell securities in its portfolio.

In addition to covered call options, the Fund may write uncovered (or “naked”) call options on securities, including shares of ETFs, and indices; however, SEC rules require that the Fund segregates assets on its books and records with a value equal to the value of the securities or the index that the holder of the option is entitled to call. Segregated securities cannot be sold while the option strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other suitable assets. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

Writing Covered Index Call Options. The Fund may sell index call options. The Fund may also execute a closing purchase transaction with respect to the option it has sold and then sell another option with either a different exercise price and/or expiration date. The Fund’s objective in entering into such closing transactions is to increase option premium income, to limit losses or to protect anticipated gains in the underlying stocks. The cost of a closing transaction, while reducing the premium income realized from the sale of the option, should be offset, at least in part, by the appreciation in the value of the underlying index, and by the opportunity to realize additional premium income from selling a new option.

When the Fund sells an index call option, it does not deliver the underlying stocks or cash to the broker through whom the transaction is effected. In the case of an exchange-traded option, the Fund establishes an escrow account. The Fund’s custodian (or a securities depository acting for the custodian) acts as the Fund’s escrow agent. The escrow agent enters into documents known as escrow receipts with respect to the stocks included in the Fund (or escrow receipts with respect to other acceptable securities). The escrow agent releases the stocks from the escrow account when the call option expires or the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. Until such release, the underlying stocks cannot be sold by the Fund. The Fund may enter into similar collateral arrangements with the counterparty when it sells OTC index call options.

When the Fund sells an index call option, it is also required to “cover” the option pursuant to requirements enunciated by the staff of the SEC. The staff has indicated that a mutual fund may “cover” an index call option by (1) owning and holding for the term of the option a portfolio of stocks substantially replicating the movement of the index underlying the call option; (2) purchasing an American-style call option on the same index with an exercise price not greater than the exercise price of the written option; or (3) establishing and maintaining for the term of the option a segregated account consisting of cash, U.S. Government securities or other high-grade debt securities, equal in value to the aggregate contract price of the call option (the current index value times the specific multiple). The Fund generally “covers” the index options it has sold by owning and holding stocks substantially replicating the movement of the applicable index. As an alternative method of “covering” the option, the Fund may purchase an appropriate offsetting option.

B-14

The purchaser of an index call option sold by the Fund may exercise the option at a price fixed as of the closing level of the index on exercise date. Unless the Fund has liquid assets sufficient to satisfy the exercise of the index call option, the Fund would be required to liquidate portfolio securities to satisfy the exercise. The market value of such securities may decline between the time the option is exercised and the time the Fund is able to sell the securities. For example, even if an index call which the Fund has written is “covered” by an index call held by the Fund with the same strike price, it will bear the risk that the level of the index may decline between the close of trading on the date the exercise notice is filed with the Options Clearing Corporation and the close of trading on the date the Fund exercises the call it holds or the time it sells the call, which in either case would occur no earlier than the day following the day the exercise notice was filed. If the Fund fails to anticipate an exercise, it may have to borrow from a bank (in amounts not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets) pending settlement of the sale of the portfolio securities and thereby incur interest charges. If trading is interrupted on the index, the Fund would not be able to close out its option positions.

Risks of Transactions in Options. There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities and indices. Options may be more volatile than the underlying securities and, therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation in value than an investment in the underlying securities themselves. There are also significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objective. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options of underlying securities; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or clearing corporation may not be adequate to handle current trading volume at all times; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. The extent to which the Fund may enter into options transactions may be limited by the requirements of the Code, for qualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company.

OTC Options. The Fund may engage in transactions involving OTC as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to OTC options. The Fund may engage a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, but if the Fund purchased an OTC option, it must then rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option if the option is 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.

B-15

Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while OTC options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of an OTC option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes an OTC option, the Fund may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into OTC options only with dealers who will agree to and are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate an OTC option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered OTC call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate an OTC 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 at a time when such sale might be advantageous.

The SEC has taken the position that purchased OTC 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 purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat OTC options as subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of OTC options, the Fund will change the treatment of such instruments accordingly.

Stock Index Options. The Fund may invest in options on indices, including broad-based security indices. Puts and calls on indices are similar to puts and calls on other investments except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question rather than on price movements in individual securities. When a fund writes a call on an index, it receives a premium and agrees that, prior to the expiration date, the purchaser of the call, upon exercise of the call, will receive from the fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the call is based is greater than the exercise price of the call. The amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (“multiplier”), which determines the total dollar value for each point of such difference. When the Fund buys a call on an index, it pays a premium and has the same rights as to such call as are indicated above. When the Fund buys a put on an index, it pays a premium and has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the seller of the put, upon the fund’s exercise of the put, to deliver to the fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the put, which amount of cash is determined by the multiplier, as described above for calls. When the Fund writes a put on an index, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the Fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the difference between the closing level of the index and exercise price times the multiplier if the closing level is less than the exercise price.

The risks of investment in options on indices may be greater than options on securities. Because index options are settled in cash, if the Fund writes a call on an index it cannot provide in advance for its potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying index. The Fund can offset some of the risk of writing a call index option by holding a diversified portfolio of securities or instruments similar to those on which the underlying index is based. However, the Fund cannot, as a practical matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same securities or instruments as underlie the index and, as a result, bears a risk that the value of the securities or instruments held will vary from the value of the index.

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Even if the Fund could assemble a portfolio that exactly reproduced the composition of the underlying index, it still would not be fully covered from a risk standpoint because of the “timing risk” inherent in writing index options. When an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is entitled to receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price and the closing index level on the date when the option is exercised. As with other kinds of options, the Fund as the call writer will not learn of the assignment until the next business day at the earliest. The time lag between exercise and notice of assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call on a specific underlying security or instrument, such as common stock, because there the writer’s obligation is to deliver the underlying security or instrument, not to pay its value as of a fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns the underlying security or instrument, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply delivering it, and the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise date is borne by the exercising holder. In contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds investments that exactly match the composition of the underlying index, it will not be able to satisfy its assignment obligations by delivering those investments against payment of the exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an amount based on the closing index value on the exercise date. By the time it learns that it has been assigned, the index may have declined, with a corresponding decline in the value of its portfolio. This “timing risk” is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their risk exposure by holding security or instrument positions.

If the Fund has purchased an index option and exercises it before the closing index value for that day is available, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the Fund will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.

Futures and Options on Futures
The Fund may use interest rate, foreign currency, index and other futures contracts. The Fund may use options on futures contracts. A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified quantity of the security or other financial instrument at a specified price and time. A futures contract on an index is an agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index contract originally was written. Although the value of an index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, physical delivery of these securities is not always made. A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of indexes, as well as financial instruments, including, without limitation: U.S. Treasury bonds; U.S. Treasury notes; GNMA Certificates; three-month U.S. Treasury bills; 90-day commercial paper; bank certificates of deposit; Eurodollar certificates of deposit; the Australian Dollar; the Canadian Dollar; the British Pound; the Japanese Yen; the Swiss Franc; the Mexican Peso; and certain multinational currencies, such as the Euro. It is expected that other futures contracts will be developed and traded in the future.

The Fund may purchase and write (sell) call and put futures options. Futures options possess many of the same characteristics as options on securities and indexes (discussed above). A futures option gives the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price upon expiration of, or at any time during the period of, the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true. When a purchase or sale of a futures contract is made by the Fund, the Fund is required to deposit with its futures commission merchant a specified amount of liquid assets (“initial margin”). The margin required for a futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded and may be modified during the term of the contract. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract that is returned to the Fund upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The Fund expects to earn taxable interest income on its initial margin deposits. The Fund, as a writer of an option, may have no control over whether the underlying futures contracts may be sold (call) or purchased (put) and as a result, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the valuation of the futures contracts underlying the written option. The Fund, as a purchaser of an option, bears the risk that the counterparties to the option may not have the ability to meet the terms of the option contract.

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Futures and options on futures are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). The Advisor is registered as a commodity pool operator with respect to the Fund, and the Sub-Advisor is registered as a commodity trading advisor. As a result, both the Advisor and Sub-Advisor are subject to CFTC requirements in their capacities as such, including recordkeeping, reporting, and disclosure requirements. In addition, the Advisor and Sub-Advisor may be subject to substantially the same requirements with regard to the Subsidiary.

A futures contract held by the Fund is valued daily at the official settlement price of the exchange on which it is traded. Each day the Fund pays or receives cash, called “variation margin”, equal to the daily change in value of the futures contract. This process is known as “marking to market”. Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by the Fund but is instead a settlement between the Fund and the broker of the amount one would owe the other if the futures contract expired. In computing daily net asset value, the Fund will mark to market its open futures positions. The Fund also is required to deposit and to maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it. Such margin deposits will vary depending on the nature of the underlying futures contract (and the related initial margin requirements), the current market value of the option and other futures positions held by the Fund. Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying securities, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (involving the same exchange, underlying security or index and delivery month). If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. The transaction costs also must be included in these calculations.

The Fund may write covered straddles consisting of a call and a put written on the same underlying futures contract. A straddle will be covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet the Fund’s immediate obligations. The Fund may use the same liquid assets to cover both the call and put options if the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or if the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Fund also will segregate liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is “in the money.”

With respect to options and futures contracts that are cash settled, a Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations under the contracts (less any amounts the Fund has posted as margin), if any, rather than the full notional value. In the case of options and futures contracts that are not cash settled, a Fund will set aside liquid assets equal to the full notional value of the contracts (less any amounts the Fund has posted as margin), while the positions are open.

Swap Transactions
The Fund may enter into interest rate, currency and index swaps and the purchase or sale of related caps, floors and collars. The Fund may enter into these transactions to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency fluctuations or to protect against any increase in the price of securities it anticipates purchasing at a later date. Swaps may be used in conjunction with other instruments to offset interest rate, currency or other underlying risks. For example, interest rate swaps may be offset with “caps,” “floors” or “collars”. A “cap” is essentially a call option which places a limit on the amount of floating rate interest that must be paid on a certain principal amount. A “floor” is essentially a put option which places a limit on the minimum amount that would be paid on a certain principal amount. A “collar” is essentially a combination of a long cap and a short floor where the limits are set at different levels.

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The Fund will usually enter into swaps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. To the extent obligations created thereby may be deemed to constitute senior securities, the Fund will maintain required collateral in a segregated account consisting of U.S. Government securities or cash or cash equivalents.

Total Return Swaps. The Fund may enter into total return swap contracts for investment purposes. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the change in market value of the underlying assets, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or security indexes during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate of the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swaps may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or market, including in cases in which there may be disadvantages associated with direct ownership of a particular security. In a typical total return equity swap, payments made by the Fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular reference asset or assets (such as an equity security, a combination of such securities, or an index). That is, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, basket of stocks, or stock index in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Total return swaps involve not only the risk associated with the investment in the underlying securities, but also the risk of the counterparty not fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.

Currency Swaps. The Fund may enter into currency swap transactions for investment purposes. Currency swaps are similar to interest rate swaps, except that they involve multiple currencies. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has exposure to one currency and desires exposure to a different currency. Typically the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. In addition to paying and receiving amounts at the beginning and termination of the agreements, both sides will also have to pay in full periodically based upon the currency they have borrowed. Change in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

Interest Rate Swaps. The Fund may enter into an interest rate swap in an effort to protect against declines in the value of fixed income securities held by the Fund. In such an instance, the Fund may agree to pay a fixed rate (multiplied by a notional amount) while a counterparty agrees to pay a floating rate (multiplied by the same notional amount). If interest rates rise, resulting in a diminution in the value of the Fund’s portfolio, the fund would receive payments under the swap that would offset, in whole or in part, such diminution in value.

Options on Swaps. The Fund may enter into an option on a swap agreement. An option on a swap agreement, or a “swaption,” is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. In return, the purchaser pays a “premium” to the seller of the contract. The seller of the contract receives the premium and bears the risk of unfavorable changes on the underlying swap. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions. The Fund may also enter into swaptions on either an asset-based or liability-based basis, depending on whether the Fund is hedging its assets or its liabilities. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions to the same extent it may make use of standard options on securities or other instruments. The Fund may enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its holdings, as a duration management technique, to protect against an increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or for any other purposes, such as for speculation to increase returns. Swaptions are generally subject to the same risks involved in the Fund’s use of options.

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Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than it will incur when it purchases a swaption. When the Fund purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swaption, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

OTC Derivatives Transactions
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”), signed into law on July 21, 2010, the regulation of derivatives has significantly changed. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act establishes a new legal framework for over-the-counter derivatives (such as swaps), which has significantly increased the CFTC’s and SEC’s authority over U.S. derivatives markets and market participants. Pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, to the extent that the Fund trades over-the-counter derivatives, the Fund and its counterparty to each such transaction must be eligible contract participants (“ECPs”) as defined in Section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC Regulation 1.3(m). In addition, the Fund and its over-the-counter derivatives counterparties must comply with all applicable regulations concerning the trading of swaps, including swap data reporting requirements and swap margin requirements. Although the CFTC and SEC, as well as other federal regulators, responsible for promulgating rules to implement the Dodd-Frank Act have adopted many final rules that are in effect, the full impact of the Dodd-Frank Act remains uncertain.

Prior to the Dodd-Frank Act, the OTC derivatives markets were traditionally traded on a bilateral basis (so-called “bilateral OTC transactions”). Now certain OTC derivatives contracts are required to be centrally cleared and traded on exchanges or electronic trading platforms called swap execution facilities (“SEFs”). Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”), signed into law on July 21, 2010, the regulation of derivatives has significantly changed. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act establishes a new legal framework for over-the-counter derivatives (such as swaps), which has significantly increased the CFTC’s and SEC’s authority over U.S. derivatives markets and market participants. Pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, to the extent that the Fund trades over-the-counter derivatives, the Fund and its counterparty to each such transaction must be eligible contract participants (“ECPs”) as defined in Section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC Regulation 1.3(m). In addition, the Fund and its over-the-counter derivatives counterparties must comply with all applicable regulations concerning the trading of swaps, including swap data reporting requirements and swap margin requirements. Although the CFTC and SEC, as well as other federal regulators, responsible for promulgating rules to implement the Dodd-Frank Act have adopted many final rules that are in effect, the full impact of the Dodd-Frank Act remains uncertain.

Bilateral OTC transactions differ from exchange-traded or cleared derivatives transactions in several respects. Bilateral OTC transactions are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation. Without the availability of a clearing corporation, bilateral OTC transaction pricing is normally done by reference to information from market makers, which information is carefully monitored by the Advisor and verified in appropriate cases. As bilateral OTC transactions are entered into directly with a dealer, there is a risk of nonperformance by the dealer as a result of its insolvency or otherwise. Under recently-adopted CFTC regulations, counterparties of registered swap dealers and major swap participants have the right to elect segregation of initial margin in respect of uncleared swaps. If a counterparty makes such an election, any initial margin that is posted to the swap dealer or major swap participant must be segregated in individual customer accounts held at an independent third-party custodian. In addition, the collateral may only be invested in certain categories of instruments identified in the CFTC’s regulations. Agreements covering these segregation arrangements must generally provide for consent by both the counterparty and the swap dealer or major swap participant to withdraw margin from the segregated account. Given these limitations on the use of uncleared swaps collateral, there is some likelihood that the electing counterparty will experience an increase in the costs associated with trading swaps with the relevant swap dealer or major swap participant. Certain other protections apply to a counterparty to uncleared swaps under the CFTC’s regulations even if the counterparty does not elect segregation of its initial margin. These regulations are newly adopted, and it remains unclear whether they will be effective in protecting initial margin in the manner intended in the event of significant market stress or the insolvency of a swap dealer or major swap participant.

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Furthermore, a bilateral OTC transaction may only be terminated voluntarily by entering into a closing transaction with the dealer with which the Fund originally dealt. Any such cancellation may require the Fund to pay a premium to that dealer. In those cases in which the Fund has entered into a covered transaction and cannot voluntarily terminate the transaction, the Fund will not be able to sell the underlying security until the transaction expires or is exercised or different cover is substituted. The Fund will seek to enter into OTC transactions only with dealers which agree to, and which are expected to be capable of, entering into closing transactions with the Fund. There is also no assurance that the Fund will be able to liquidate an OTC transaction at any time prior to expiration.

The requirement to execute certain OTC derivatives contracts on SEFs may offer certain advantages over traditional bilateral OTC trading, such as ease of execution, price transparency, increased liquidity and/or favorable pricing. However, SEF trading may make it more difficult and costly for the Fund to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions and may result in additional costs and risks. Market participants such as the Fund that execute derivatives contracts through a SEF, whether directly or through a broker intermediary, are required to submit to the jurisdiction of the SEF and comply with SEF and CFTC rules and regulations which impose, among other things disclosure and recordkeeping obligations. In addition, the Fund will generally incur SEF or broker intermediary fees when it trades on a SEF. The Fund may also be required to indemnify the SEF or broker intermediary for any losses or costs that may result from the Fund’s transactions on the SEF.

Commodities and Commodity Contracts
The Fund may purchase and sell commodity futures contracts and options; may enter into foreign exchange contracts; may enter into swaps and other financial transactions not requiring the delivery of physical commodities; and may purchase or sell physical commodity contracts or options on such contracts in compliance with applicable commodities laws. Investing in commodities in this manner carries risks. The Fund may also invest in instruments related to commodities, including structured notes, securities of commodities finance and operating companies. The Fund’s exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, and other risks affecting a particular industry or commodity.

There are additional factors associated with commodity futures contracts which may subject the Fund’s investments in them to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. In the commodity futures markets there are often costs of physical storage associated with purchasing the underlying commodity. The price of the commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity, including the time value of money invested in the physical commodity. To the extent that the storage costs for an underlying commodity change while the Fund is invested in futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately. In the commodity futures markets, producers of the underlying commodity may decide to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity by selling futures contracts today to lock in the price of the commodity at delivery tomorrow. In order to induce speculators to purchase the other side of the same futures contract, the commodity producer generally must sell the futures contract at a lower price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. Conversely, if most hedgers in the futures market are purchasing futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only sell the other side of the futures contract at a higher futures price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the commodities markets will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price, which can have significant implications for the Fund. If the nature of hedgers and speculators in futures markets has shifted when it is time for the Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a maturing futures contract in a new futures contract, the Fund might reinvest at higher or lower futures prices, or choose to pursue other investments. The commodities which underlie commodity futures contracts may be subject to additional economic and non-economic variables, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political and regulatory developments. These factors may have a larger impact on commodity prices and commodity-linked instruments, including futures contracts, than on traditional securities. Certain commodities are also subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors. Others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of the prices for certain raw materials and the instability of the supplies of other materials.
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Changes in the regulation of derivatives, including commodity-based derivatives, arising from the Dodd-Frank Act may make it more expensive for the Fund and otherwise limit the Fund’s ability to engage in such trading, which could adversely affect the Fund.

Investment in the Subsidiary

The Fund expects to achieve significant exposure to Bitcoin Futures and other bitcoin-linked financial instruments through investment in the Subsidiary. Such investment may not exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets, as measured at the end of every quarter of the Fund’s taxable year. The Subsidiary will invest in derivatives, including Bitcoin Futures, as well as other bitcoin-linked financial - instruments, and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral or otherwise support the Subsidiary’s derivatives positions. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in futures and may use leveraged investment techniques. The Subsidiary otherwise is subject to the same general investment policies and restrictions as the Fund. Except as noted, references to the investment strategies of the Fund for non-equity securities include the investment strategies of the Subsidiary.

The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act. As an investor in the Subsidiary, the Fund, as the Subsidiary’s sole shareholder, would not have the protections offered to investors in registered investment companies. However, because the Fund would wholly own and control the Subsidiary, and the Fund and Subsidiary would be managed by the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor, it is unlikely that the Subsidiary would take action contrary to the interests of the Fund or the Fund’s shareholders. The Board of Trustees of the Trust has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investments in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. Also, in managing the Subsidiary’s portfolio, the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor would be subject to the same investment restrictions and operational guidelines that apply to the management of the Fund. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary are organized, respectively, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this SAI and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders.

In order for the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code, the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from qualifying income, which is described in more detail in the “Federal Income Tax Matters” section below. In September 2016, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued proposed regulations that would generally require the Subsidiary to distribute its income each year in order for the Fund to treat that income as “qualifying income.” The Fund intends to take the position that income from its investments in the Subsidiary will constitute qualifying income even in the event that the Subsidiary does not distribute all of its income on an annual basis. In the absence of a revenue ruling from the IRS, however, there can be no certainty in this regard, and the Fund has not sought an opinion from counsel on this position. To the extent the Subsidiary makes distributions out of its earnings and profits, the Fund expects such distributions to be treated as qualifying income. The Advisor will carefully monitor the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary to ensure that no more than 25% of the Fund’s assets are invested in the Subsidiary to ensure compliance with the Fund’s asset diversification test (see “Federal Income Tax Matters” below for a discussion of the asset diversification test).

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Accordingly, the extent to which the Fund invests in certain derivatives through the Subsidiary may be limited by the qualifying income and asset diversification tests, which the Fund must continue to satisfy to maintain its status as a regulated investment company. If the Fund failed the qualifying income or asset diversification test, the Fund might cease to qualify as a regulated investment company or could be required to reduce its exposure to such investments, which may result in difficulty in implementing the Fund’s investment strategy. If the Fund did not qualify as a regulated investment company for any taxable year and certain relief provisions were not available, the Fund’s taxable income would be subject to tax at the Fund level and to a further tax at the Fund shareholder level when such income is distributed by the Fund. Failure to comply with the requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company would have significant negative tax consequences to Fund shareholders.

Debt Securities

The Fund may invest in debt securities. Debt securities are used by issuers to borrow money. Generally, issuers pay investors periodic interest and repay the amount borrowed either periodically during the life of the security and/or at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest, but are purchased at a discount from their face values and accrue interest at the applicable coupon rate over a specified time period. Some debt securities pay a periodic coupon that is not fixed; instead payments “float” relative to a reference rate, such as LIBOR. This “floating rate” debt may pay interest at levels above or below the previous interest payment. The market prices of debt securities fluctuate depending on such factors as interest rates, credit quality and maturity. In general, market prices of debt securities decline when interest rates rise and increase when interest rates fall.

Lower rated debt securities, those rated Ba or below by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and/or BB or below by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) or unrated but determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality, are described by the rating agencies as speculative and involve greater risk of default or price changes than higher rated debt securities due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness or the fact that the issuer may already be in default. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than higher quality securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. It may be more difficult to sell or to determine the value of lower rated debt securities.

Certain additional risk factors related to debt securities are discussed below:

Sensitivity to interest rate and economic changes. Debt securities may be sensitive to economic changes, political and corporate developments, and interest rate changes. In addition, during an economic downturn or periods of rising interest rates, issuers that are highly leveraged may experience increased financial stress that could adversely affect their ability to meet projected business goals, obtain additional financing, and service their principal and interest payment obligations. Furthermore, periods of economic change and uncertainty can be expected to result in increased volatility of market prices and yields of certain debt securities. For example, prices of these securities can be affected by financial contracts held by the issuer or third parties (such as derivatives) related to the security or other assets or indices.

Payment expectations. Debt securities may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a lower interest rate environment, the Fund would have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in decreased income to investors. If the issuer of a debt security defaults on its obligations to pay interest or principal or is the subject of bankruptcy proceedings, the Fund may incur losses or expenses in seeking recovery of amounts owed to it.

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Liquidity. Liquidity risk may result from the lack of an active market, or reduced number and capacity of traditional market participants to make a market in fixed income securities, and may be magnified in a rising interest rate environment or other circumstances where investor redemptions from fixed income mutual funds may be higher than normal, causing increased supply in the market due to selling activity. In such cases, a Fund, due to limitations on investments in illiquid securities and the difficulty in purchasing and selling such securities or instruments, may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain sector. To the extent that a Fund’s principal investment strategies involve investments in securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations, foreign non-U.S. securities, Rule 144A securities, illiquid sectors of fixed income securities, derivatives or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk, the Fund will tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk. Further, fixed income securities with longer durations until maturity face heightened levels of liquidity risk as compared to fixed income securities with shorter durations until maturity. Finally, liquidity risk also refers to the risk of unusually high redemption requests or other unusual market conditions that may make it difficult for a Fund to fully honor redemption requests within the allowable time period. Meeting such redemption requests could require a Fund to sell securities at reduced prices or under unfavorable conditions, which would reduce the value of the Fund. It may also be the case that other market participants may be attempting to liquidate fixed income holdings at the same time as a Fund, causing increased supply in the market and contributing to liquidity risk and downward pricing pressure.

The Advisor and/or Sub-Advisor attempts to reduce the risks described above through diversification of the Fund’s portfolio, credit analysis of each issuer, and by monitoring broad economic trends as well as corporate and legislative developments, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so. Credit ratings of debt securities provided by rating agencies indicate a measure of the safety of principal and interest payments, not market value risk. The rating of an issuer is a rating agency’s view of past and future potential developments related to the issuer and may not necessarily reflect actual outcomes. There can be a lag between corporate developments and the time a rating is assigned and updated.

Changing Fixed Income Market Conditions. Following the financial crisis that began in 2007, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) has attempted to stabilize the U.S. economy and support the U.S. economic recovery by keeping the federal funds rate at or near zero percent. In addition, the Federal Reserve has purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities on the open market (“Quantitative Easing”). As the Federal Reserve “tapers” or reduces Quantitative Easing, and when the Federal Reserve raises the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates across the U.S. financial system will rise. These policy changes may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility and may reduce liquidity for certain Fund investments, which could cause the value of the Fund’s investments and share price to decline. Because the Fund invests in derivatives tied to fixed income markets it may be more substantially exposed to these risks than a fund that does not invest in derivatives. To the extent the Fund experiences high redemptions because of these policy changes, the Fund may experience increased portfolio turnover, which will increase the costs that the Fund incurs and may lower the Fund’s performance. The liquidity levels of the Fund’s portfolio may also be affected.

Bond markets have consistently grown over the past three decades while the capacity for traditional dealer counterparties to engage in fixed income trading has not kept pace and in some cases has decreased. As a result, dealer inventories of corporate bonds, which provide a core indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to “make markets,” are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. Because market makers provide stability to a market through their intermediary services, the significant reduction in dealer inventories could potentially lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Such issues may be exacerbated during periods of economic uncertainty.

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Bond Ratings. Bond rating agencies may assign modifiers (such as +/–) to ratings categories to signify the relative position of a credit within the rating category. Investment policies that are based on ratings categories should be read to include any security within that category, without considering the modifier. Please refer to Appendix A for more information about credit ratings.

Over-the-Counter Transactions – Fixed Income Securities
The Fund may enter into over-the-counter (“OTC”) transactions involving fixed income securities. Over-the-counter (“OTC”) transactions differ from exchange-traded transactions in several respects. OTC transactions are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation. Without the availability of a clearing corporation, OTC transaction pricing is normally done by reference to information from market makers, which information is carefully monitored by the Advisor and verified in appropriate cases. As OTC transactions are transacted directly with dealers, there is a risk of nonperformance by the dealer as a result of the insolvency of such dealer or otherwise. The Fund intends to enter into OTC transactions only with dealers which agree to, and which are expected to be capable of, entering into closing transactions with the Fund. There is also no assurance that the Fund will be able to liquidate an OTC transaction at any time prior to expiration.

Government Obligations
The Fund may invest in U.S. Government obligations. Such obligations include Treasury bills, certificates of indebtedness, notes and bonds. U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government securities, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis. U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises.

Payment of principal and interest on U.S. Government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities, including government-sponsored enterprises, where it is not obligated to do so. In addition, U.S. Government obligations are subject to fluctuations in market value due to fluctuations in market interest rates. As a general matter, the value of debt instruments, including U.S. Government obligations, declines when market interest rates increase and rises when market interest rates decrease. Certain types of U.S. Government obligations are subject to fluctuations in yield or value due to their structure or contract terms.

Agency Obligations
The Fund may invest in agency obligations, such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Tennessee Valley Authority, Resolution Funding Corporation, Farmers Home Administration, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), commonly known as “Ginnie Mae,” Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), commonly known as “Fannie Mae,” Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), commonly known as “Freddie Mac,” and the Student Loan Marketing Association (“SLMA”). Some, such as those of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, are supported only by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others, such as those of the FNMA and FHLMC, are supported by only the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations; still others, such as those of the SLMA, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities because they are not obligated by law to do so. As a result, there is a risk that these entities will default on a financial obligation. For instance, in September 2008, at the direction of the U.S. Treasury, FNMA and FHLMC were placed into conservatorship under the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), a newly created independent regulator.

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Foreign Investments

The Fund may make foreign investments. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers and other non-U.S. investments may involve risks in addition to those normally associated with investments in the securities of U.S. issuers or other U.S. investments. All foreign investments are subject to risks of foreign political and economic instability, adverse movements in foreign exchange rates, and the imposition or tightening of exchange controls and limitations on the repatriation of foreign capital. Other risks stem from potential changes in governmental attitude or policy toward private investment, which in turn raises the risk of nationalization, increased taxation or confiscation of foreign investors’ assets.

The financial problems in global economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, may continue to cause high volatility in global financial markets. In addition, global economies are increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact a different country or region. The severity or duration of these conditions may also be affected if one or more countries leave the Euro currency or by other policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations.

Additional non-U.S. taxes and expenses may also adversely affect the Fund’s performance, including foreign withholding taxes on foreign securities’ dividends. Brokerage commissions and other transaction costs on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than in the United States. Foreign companies may be subject to different accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. To the extent foreign securities held by the Fund are not registered with the SEC or with any other U.S. regulator, the issuers thereof will not be subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC or any other U.S. regulator. Accordingly, less information may be available about foreign companies and other investments than is generally available on issuers of comparable securities and other investments in the United States. Foreign securities and other investments may also trade less frequently and with lower volume and may exhibit greater price volatility than U.S. securities and other investments.

Changes in foreign exchange rates will affect the value in U.S. Dollars of any foreign currency-denominated securities and other investments held by the Fund. Exchange rates are influenced generally by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign currency markets and by numerous other political and economic events occurring outside the United States, many of which may be difficult, if not impossible, to predict.

Income from any foreign securities and other investments will be received and realized in foreign currencies, and the Fund is required to compute and distribute income in U.S. Dollars. Accordingly, a decline in the value of a particular foreign currency against the U.S. Dollar occurring after the Fund’s income has been earned and computed in U.S. Dollars may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio securities or other investments to acquire sufficient U.S. Dollars to make a distribution. Similarly, if the exchange rate declines between the time the Fund incurs expenses in U.S. Dollars and the time such expenses are paid, the Fund may be required to liquidate additional portfolio securities or other investments to purchase the U.S. Dollars required to meet such expenses.

The Fund may purchase foreign bank obligations. In addition to the risks described above that are generally applicable to foreign investments, the investments that the Fund makes in obligations of foreign banks, branches or subsidiaries may involve further risks, including differences between foreign banks and U.S. banks in applicable accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, and the possible establishment of exchange controls or other foreign government laws or restrictions applicable to the payment of certificates of deposit or time deposits that may affect adversely the payment of principal and interest on the securities and other investments held by the Fund.

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Short Sales

The Fund may seek to hedge investments or realize additional gains through the use of short sales. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline. If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund replaces the borrowed security, 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 will be increased, by the transaction costs incurred by the Fund, including the costs associated with providing collateral to the broker-dealer (usually cash and liquid securities) and the maintenance of collateral with its custodian. The Fund also may be required to pay a premium to borrow a security, which would increase the cost of the security sold short. Although the Fund’s gain is limited to the price at which it sold the security short, its potential loss is theoretically unlimited.

The broker-dealer will retain the net proceeds of the short sale to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements until the short position is closed out.

When the Advisor believes that the price of a particular security held by the Fund may decline, it may make “short sales against the box” to hedge the unrealized gain on such security. Selling short against the box involves selling a security which the Fund owns for delivery at a specified date in the future. The Fund will incur transaction costs to open, maintain and close short sales against the box.

To the extent the Fund sells securities short (except in the case of short sales “against the box”), it is required to segregate an amount of cash or liquid securities on its records equal to the market price of the securities sold short. The segregated assets are marked to market daily in an attempt to ensure that the amount deposited in the segregated account is at least equal to the market value of the securities sold short. Segregated securities cannot be sold while the position they are covering is outstanding, unless they are replaced with similar securities. As a result, there is the possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could affect its portfolio management.

Short-Term Investments

The Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:

Bank Certificates of Deposit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Time Deposits
The Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits in U.S. Dollar or foreign currencies. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against monies deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning in effect that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. The commercial banks issuing these short-term instruments which the Fund may acquire must, at the time of purchase, have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million (including assets of both domestic and foreign branches), based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such bank obligations are fully insured by the U.S. Government. If the Fund holds instruments of foreign banks or financial institutions, it may be subject to additional investment risks that are different in some respects from those incurred if the Fund invests only in debt obligations of U.S. domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments, the possible imposition of withholding taxes by the particular country in which the issuer is located, the possible confiscation or nationalization of foreign deposits, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which may adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on these securities.

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Domestic banks and foreign banks are subject to different governmental regulations with respect to the amount and types of loans that may be made and interest rates that may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry depends largely upon the availability and cost of funds and the interest income generated from lending operations. General economic conditions and the quality of loan portfolios affect the banking industry.

As a result of federal and state laws and regulations, domestic banks are required to maintain specified levels of reserves, limited in the amount that they can loan to a single borrower, and are subject to regulations designed to promote financial soundness. However, such laws and regulations may not necessarily apply to foreign banks, thereby affecting the risk involved in bank obligations that the Fund may acquire.

In addition to purchasing certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, to the extent permitted under its investment strategies and policies stated above and in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest in interest-bearing time deposits or other interest-bearing deposits in commercial or savings banks. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate.

Savings Association Obligations
The Fund may invest in certificates of deposit (interest-bearing time deposits) issued by savings banks or savings and loan associations that have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million, based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such obligations is fully insured by the U.S. Government.

Commercial Paper, Short-Term Notes and Other Corporate Obligations
The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in commercial paper and short-term notes. Commercial paper consists of unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations. Issues of commercial paper and short-term notes will normally have maturities of less than nine months and fixed rates of return, although such instruments may have maturities of up to one year.

The Fund’s investment in commercial paper and short-term notes will consist of issues rated at the time of purchase “A-2” or higher by S&P, “Prime-1” or “Prime-2” by Moody’s, or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization or, if unrated, will be determined by the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor to be of comparable quality. These rating symbols are described in Appendix A.

Corporate debt obligations are subject to the risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligations, i.e., credit risk. The Advisor or the Sub-Advisor may actively expose the Fund to credit risk. However, there can be no guarantee that the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor will be successful in making the right selections and thus fully mitigate the impact of credit risk changes on the Fund.

Other Investment Strategies, Policies and Risks

Equity Securities

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

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The fundamental risk of investing in common stock is that the value of the stock might decrease. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of an individual company or in response to general market and/or economic conditions. While common stocks have historically provided greater long-term returns than preferred stocks, fixed-income and money market investments, common stocks have also experienced significantly more volatility than the returns from those other investments.

Other Foreign Investments

Emerging Markets
The Fund may invest in companies organized or doing substantial business in emerging market countries or developing countries as defined by the World Bank, International Financial Corporation or the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) emerging market indices or other comparable indices. Developing countries may impose restrictions on the Fund’s ability to repatriate investment income or capital. Even where there is no outright restriction on repatriation of investment income or capital, the mechanics of repatriation may affect certain aspects of the operations of the Fund.

Some of the currencies in emerging markets have experienced devaluations relative to the U.S. Dollar, and major adjustments have been made periodically in certain of such currencies. Certain developing countries face serious exchange constraints.

Governments of some developing countries exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector. In some countries, the government owns or controls many companies. Therefore, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions in developing countries, which could affect the private sector companies in which the Fund invests.

Foreign Currency Transactions
The Fund may conduct foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot, i.e., cash, basis at the prevailing rate in the foreign exchange market or by entering into a forward foreign currency contract. A forward foreign currency contract (“forward contract”) involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward contracts are considered to be derivatives. The Fund enters into forward contracts in order to “lock in” the exchange rate between the currency it will deliver and the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. In addition, the Fund may enter into forward contracts to hedge against risks arising from securities the Fund owns or anticipates purchasing or the U.S. Dollar value of interest and dividends paid on those securities.

If the Fund delivers the foreign currency at or before the settlement of a forward contract, it may be required to obtain the currency by selling some of the Fund’s assets that are denominated in that specific currency. The Fund may close out a forward contract obligating it to purchase a foreign currency by selling an offsetting contract, in which case it will realize a gain or a loss.

Foreign currency transactions involve certain costs and risks. The Fund incurs foreign exchange expenses in converting assets from one currency to another. Forward contracts involve a risk of loss if the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor is inaccurate in predicting currency movements. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. The precise matching of forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved is generally not possible. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional foreign currency if the market value of the security is less than the amount of the foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver under the forward contract and the decision is made to sell the security and deliver the foreign currency. The use of forward contracts as a hedging technique does not eliminate the fluctuation in the prices of the underlying securities the Fund owns or intends to acquire, but it fixes a rate of exchange in advance. Although forward contracts can reduce the risk of loss if the values of the hedged currencies decline, these instruments also limit the potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the hedged currencies.

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There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies, and there is no regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Quotation information available is generally representative of very large transactions in the interbank market. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global around-the-clock market. Since foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of foreign currency options, the Fund may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots. The Fund may take positions in options on foreign currencies in order to hedge against the risk of foreign exchange fluctuation on foreign securities the Fund holds in its portfolio or which it intends to purchase.

Other Debt Securities

Mortgage –Backed Securities
The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities and derivative mortgage-backed securities, and may also invest in “principal only” and “interest only” components. Mortgage-backed securities are securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property. As with other debt securities, mortgage-backed securities are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk. However, the yield and maturity characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from traditional debt securities. A major difference is that the principal amount of the obligations may normally be prepaid at any time because the underlying assets (i.e., loans) generally may be prepaid at any time. The relationship between prepayments and interest rates may give some mortgage-backed securities less potential for growth in value than conventional fixed-income securities with comparable maturities. In addition, in periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayments tends to increase. During such periods, the reinvestment of prepayment proceeds by the Fund will generally be at lower rates than the rates that were carried by the obligations that have been prepaid. If interest rates rise, borrowers may prepay mortgages more slowly than originally expected. This may further reduce the market value of mortgage-backed securities and lengthen their durations. Because of these and other reasons, a mortgage-backed security’s total return, maturity and duration may be difficult to predict precisely.

Mortgage-backed securities come in different classes that have different risks. Junior classes of mortgage-backed securities are designed to protect the senior class investors against losses on the underlying mortgage loans by taking the first loss if there are liquidations among the underlying loans. Junior classes generally receive principal and interest payments only after all required payments have been made to more senior classes. If the Fund invests in junior classes of mortgage-related securities, it may not be able to recover all of its investment in the securities it purchases. In addition, if the underlying mortgage portfolio has been overvalued, or if mortgage values subsequently decline, the Fund may suffer significant losses. Investments in mortgage-backed securities involve the risks of interruptions in the payment of interest and principal (delinquency) and the potential for loss of principal if the property underlying the security is sold as a result of foreclosure on the mortgage (default). These risks include the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as the effects of general and local economic conditions on real estate values, the conditions of specific industry segments, the ability of tenants to make lease payments and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants, which in turn may be affected by local market conditions such as oversupply of space or a reduction of available space, the ability of the owner to provide adequate maintenance and insurance, energy costs, government regulations with respect to environmental, zoning, rent control and other matters, and real estate and other taxes. If the underlying borrowers cannot pay their mortgage loans, they may default and the lenders may foreclose on the property.

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The ability of borrowers to repay mortgage loans underlying mortgage-backed securities will typically depend upon the future availability of financing and the stability of real estate values. For mortgage loans not guaranteed by a government agency or other party, the only remedy of the lender in the event of a default is to foreclose upon the property. If borrowers are not able or willing to pay the principal balance on the loans, there is a good chance that payments on the related mortgage-related securities will not be made. Certain borrowers on underlying mortgages may become subject to bankruptcy proceedings, in which case the value of the mortgage-backed securities may decline.
 
The residential real estate market in the United States continues to experience unprecedented upheaval. Among other things, the value of residential real estate has decreased significantly. This decrease in value has been more pronounced in some regions of the country but, overall, prices have dropped substantially. These significant decreases have affected the value of both prime and subprime mortgage-backed securities, as payments of principal and interest on residential mortgages have varied due to foreclosures, job losses, and other factors. As a result of these conditions, mortgage-backed securities have lost value, including the “senior” classes of those securities. There can be no assurance of when, or if, the residential real estate market will stabilize or home prices will recover. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that mortgage-backed securities will make payments of principal and interest at the times or in the amounts scheduled.

Asset-Backed Securities
The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities that, through the use of trusts and special purpose vehicles, are securitized with various types of assets, such as automobile receivables, credit card receivables and home-equity loans in pass- through structures similar to the mortgage-related securities described above. In general, the collateral supporting asset-backed securities is of shorter maturity than the collateral supporting mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments. However, asset-backed securities are not backed by any governmental agency. Credit card receivables are generally unsecured, and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors the right to set off certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thereby reducing the balance due. In addition, some issuers of automobile receivables permit the servicers to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicers were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related automobile receivables. The impairment of value of collateral or other assets underlying an asset-based security, such as a result of non-payment of loans or non-performance of other collateral or underlying assets, may reduce the value of such asset-based security and result in losses to the Fund.

Other Short-Term Investments

Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with respect to its portfolio securities. Pursuant to such agreements, the Fund acquires securities from financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers deemed to be creditworthy by the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor, subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase and the Fund’s agreement to resell such securities at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The repurchase price generally equals the price paid by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates (which may be more or less than the rate on the underlying portfolio security). Securities subject to repurchase agreements will be held by the custodian or in the Federal Reserve/Treasury Book-Entry System or an equivalent foreign system. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of the underlying securities at not less than 102% of the repurchase price under the agreement. If the seller defaults on its repurchase obligation, the Fund will suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from a sale of the underlying securities are less than the repurchase price under the agreement. Bankruptcy or insolvency of such a defaulting seller may cause the Fund’s rights with respect to such securities to be delayed or limited. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans under the 1940 Act.

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Reverse Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into “reverse” repurchase agreements to avoid selling securities during unfavorable market conditions to meet redemptions. The Fund may invest a maximum of 10% of total assets in reverse repurchase agreements. Pursuant to a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund will sell portfolio securities and agree to repurchase them from the buyer at a particular date and price. Whenever the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it will establish a segregated account in which it will maintain liquid assets in an amount at least equal to the repurchase price marked to market daily (including accrued interest), and will subsequently monitor the account to ensure that such equivalent value is maintained. The Fund pays interest on amounts obtained pursuant to reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings by the Fund.

Cyber Security Risk

Investment companies, such as the Fund, and its service providers may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Fund or the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor, the Fund’s custodian or transfer agent, or intermediaries or other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential company information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses, and cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. While the Fund and its service providers have established business continuity plans and risk management systems designed to prevent or reduce the impact of cyber security attacks, such plans and systems have inherent limitations due in part to the ever-changing nature of technology and cyber security attack tactics, and there is a possibility that certain risks have not been adequately identified or prepared for. Furthermore, the Fund cannot control any cyber security plans or systems implemented by its service providers.

Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment in such portfolio companies to lose value. Bitcoin may generally be more susceptible to the threat of cyber attack than traditional physical commodities, because bitcoin transactions are irreversible. An improper transfer, whether accidental or resulting from theft, can only be undone by the receiver of the bitcoin agreeing to send the bitcoin back to the original sender in a separate subsequent transaction. In the event that a collateral account holding bitcoin for a futures exchange or other derivatives transaction counterparty is compromised by a cyber attack, the Fund may bear the loss in the event of default by such exchange or counterparty. There can be no assurance that the Fund or its service providers will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

Market Conditions

The equity and debt capital markets in the United States and internationally experienced unprecedented volatility from 2008 through 2012. These conditions caused a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities and other instruments. It is impossible to predict whether such conditions will recur. Because such situations may be widespread, it may be difficult to identify both risks and opportunities using past models of the interplay of market forces, or to predict the duration of such events.
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Borrowing

The Fund may engage in limited borrowing activities. Borrowing creates an opportunity for increased return, but, at the same time, creates special risks. Furthermore, if the Fund were to engage in borrowing, an increase in interest rates could reduce the value of the Fund’s shares by increasing the Fund’s interest expense. Subject to the limitations described under “Investment Limitations” below, the Fund may be permitted to borrow for temporary purposes and/or for investment purposes. Such a practice will result in leveraging of the Fund’s assets and may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. This borrowing may be secured or unsecured. Provisions of the 1940 Act require the Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed, with an exception for borrowings not in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets made for temporary administrative purposes. Any borrowings for temporary administrative purposes in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets will count against this asset coverage requirement. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint if the Fund sells securities at that time. Borrowing will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest charges which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased, if any. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowings or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.

Illiquid and Restricted Securities

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including (i) securities for which there is no readily available market; (ii) securities in which the disposition would be subject to legal restrictions (so called “restricted securities”); and (iii) repurchase agreements having more than seven days to maturity. However, the Fund will not acquire illiquid securities if, as a result, such securities would comprise more than 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets. The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) or its delegate has the ultimate authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the federal securities laws, which securities are liquid or illiquid for purposes of this 15% limitation. The Board has delegated to the Advisor the day-to-day determination of the illiquidity of any security held by the Fund, although it has retained oversight and ultimate responsibility for such determinations. Although no definitive liquidity criteria are used, the Board has directed the Advisor to consider to such factors as (a) frequency of trading and availability of quotations; (b) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the availability of buyers; (c) the willingness of dealers to be market makers in the security; and (d) the nature of trading activity including (i) the time needed to dispose of a position or part of a position and (ii) offer and solicitation methods. A considerable period of time may elapse between the Fund’s decision to sell such securities and the time when the Fund is able to sell them, during which time the value of the securities could decline. Illiquid securities will usually be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or its delegate. If, through the appreciation of illiquid securities or the depreciation of liquid securities, more than 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets is invested in illiquid securities, including restricted securities which are not readily marketable, the Fund will take such steps as are deemed advisable, if any, to protect liquidity.

The Fund may invest in 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, as amended (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 that which prevailed when it decided to sell. Restricted securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act that have a readily available market usually are not deemed illiquid for purposes of this limitation by the Fund. However, investing in Rule 144A securities could result in increasing the level of the Fund’s illiquidity if qualified institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing these securities.

B-33

The Fund may purchase commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act. 4(2) commercial paper has substantially the same price and liquidity characteristics as commercial paper generally, except that the resale of 4(2) commercial paper is limited to the institutional investor marketplace. Such a restriction on resale makes 4(2) commercial paper technically a restricted security under the 1933 Act. In practice, however, 4(2) commercial paper can be resold as easily as any other unrestricted security held by the Fund. Accordingly, 4(2) commercial paper has been determined to be liquid under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.

Large Shareholder Redemption Risk

Certain account holders may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these account holders of their shares in the Fund may impact the Fund’s liquidity and net asset value. Such redemptions may also force the Fund to sell securities at a time when it would not otherwise do so, which may increase the Fund’s broker costs and impact shareholder taxes.

Lending Portfolio Securities

Consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and the Fund’s investment restrictions, the Fund may lend portfolio securities to securities broker-dealers or financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time by the Fund (subject to notice provisions described below), and are at all times secured by cash or cash equivalents, which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are at least equal to the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned securities while at the same time earns interest on the cash amounts deposited as collateral, which will be invested in short-term obligations. The Fund will not lend portfolio securities if such loans are not permitted by the laws or regulations of any state in which its shares are qualified for sale. The Fund’s loans of portfolio securities will be collateralized in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and no loan will cause the value of all loaned securities to exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets.

A loan may generally be terminated by the borrower on one business day’s notice, or by the Fund on five business days’ notice. If the borrower fails to deliver the loaned securities within five days after receipt of notice or fails to maintain the requisite amount of collateral, the Fund could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost over collateral. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio securities will only be made to firms deemed by the Fund’s management to be creditworthy and when the income that can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan period would inure to the Fund. The risks associated with loans of portfolio securities are substantially similar to those associated with repurchase agreements. Thus, if the counterparty to the loan petitions for bankruptcy or becomes subject to the United States Bankruptcy Code, the law regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. As a result, under extreme circumstances, there may be a restriction on the Fund’s ability to sell the collateral, and the Fund would suffer a loss. When voting or consent rights that accompany loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities, to be delivered within one day after notice, to permit the exercise of such rights if the matters involved would have a material effect on the Fund’s investment in such loaned securities. The Fund will pay reasonable finder’s, administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities.

B-34

Developments in the China Region

After nearly 30 years of unprecedented growth, the People's Republic of China now faces a slowing economy. The real estate market, which many observers believed to be inflated, has begun to decline. Local governments, which had borrowed heavily to bolster growth, face high debt burdens and limited revenue sources. As a result, demand for Chinese exports by the United States and countries in Europe, and demands for Chinese imports from such countries, may weaken due to the effects of more limited economic growth. Additionally, Chinese actions to lay claim to disputed islands have caused relations with China's regional trading partners to suffer, and could cause further disruption to regional and international trade. In the long run, China's ability to develop and sustain a credible legal, regulatory, monetary, and socioeconomic system could influence the course of outside investment.

Europe – Recent Events

A number of countries in Europe have experienced severe economic and financial difficulties. Many non-governmental issuers, and even certain governments, have defaulted on, or been forced to restructure, their debts; many other issuers have faced difficulties obtaining credit or refinancing existing obligations; financial institutions have in many cases required government or central bank support, have needed to raise capital, and/or have been impaired in their ability to extend credit; and financial markets in Europe and elsewhere have experienced extreme volatility and declines in asset values and liquidity. These difficulties may continue, worsen or spread within and without Europe. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world.

The European Union (the “EU”) currently faces major issues involving its membership, structure, procedures and policies, including the successful political, economic and social integration of new member states, the EU’s resettlement and distribution of refugees, and resolution of the EU’s problematic fiscal and democratic accountability. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the Euro, the common currency of the EU, and/or withdraw from the EU. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching.

In June 2016, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) voted in a referendum to leave the EU. On March 29, 2017, UK Prime Minister Theresa May delivered a letter invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and notifying the European Council of the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU. The letter triggered the two year withdrawal negotiation process, and thus it is anticipated that the UK will leave the EU on or before March 29, 2019. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. In addition, it is possible that measures could be taken to revote on the issue of Brexit, or that portions of the UK could seek to separate and remain a part of the EU. As a result of the political divisions within the UK and between the UK and the EU that the referendum vote has highlighted and the uncertain consequences of a Brexit, the UK and European economies and the broader global economy could be significantly impacted, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth on markets in the UK, Europe and globally that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund’s investments.

Whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets. The Fund may also be susceptible to these events to the extent that the Fund invests in municipal obligations with credit support by non-U.S. financial institutions.

B-35

Investment Restrictions

The Fund has adopted the following restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without the favorable “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund means the vote of the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund’s investment objective is a non-fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval.

The Fund may not:

1.
Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except that (i) the Fund may borrow from banks in amounts not exceeding one-third of its net assets (including the amount borrowed); and (ii) this restriction shall not prohibit the Fund from engaging in options transactions or short sales or investing in financial futures, swaps, when-issued or delayed delivery securities, or reverse repurchase agreements;

2.
Act as underwriter, except to the extent the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the sale of securities in its investment portfolio;

3.
Invest 25% or more of its total assets, calculated at the time of purchase, in any one industry. This limit does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities;

4.
Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate or real estate limited partnerships (although the Fund may purchase and sell securities which are secured by real estate and securities of companies which invest or deal in real estate, such as real estate investment trusts (REITs));

5.
Make loans of money, except (a) for purchases of debt securities consistent with the investment policies of the Fund, (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements or, (c) through the loan of portfolio securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of the Fund’s net assets; or

6.
Purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments; provided the Fund may purchase or sell commodity contracts or options on such contracts in compliance with applicable commodities laws and in a manner consistent with its intent to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Code. This restriction shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling commodity-linked derivative instruments, including but not limited to swap transactions and commodity-linked structured notes, options and forward and futures contracts with respect to indices or individual commodities, or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities or by indices.

The Fund observes the following restriction as a matter of operating but not fundamental policy, pursuant to positions taken by federal regulatory authorities:

The Fund may not invest, in the aggregate, more than 15% of its net assets in securities with legal or contractual restrictions on resale, securities that are not readily marketable and repurchase agreements with more than seven days to maturity.

Except with respect to borrowing, if a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth herein or in the Prospectus is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation.
B-36

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Trustees and Officers
The overall management of the business and affairs of the Trust is vested with its Board of Trustees. The Board approves all significant agreements between the Trust and persons or companies furnishing services to it, including the agreements with the Advisor, co-administrators, distributor, custodian and transfer agent. The day-to-day operations of the Trust are delegated to its officers, except that the Advisor is responsible for making day-to-day investment decisions in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, strategies, and policies, all of which are subject to general supervision by the Board.

The Trustees and officers of the Trust, their years of birth and positions with the Trust, term of office with the Trust and length of time served, their business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years and other directorships held during the past five years are listed in the table below. Unless noted otherwise, each person has held the position listed for a minimum of five years. Thomas Knipper, Kathleen K. Shkuda, Larry D. Tashjian and John P. Zader are all of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (collectively, the “Independent Trustees”).

 
 
Name, Address, Year of
Birth and Position(s)
held with Trust
 
Term of
Officec and Length of
Time Served
 
 
Principal Occupation During the Past
Five Years and Other Affiliations
Number of Portfolios in
the Fund
Complex
Overseen by Trusteed
Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During the
Past Five Years
“Independent” Trustees:
     
Thomas Knipper, CPAa
(Born 1957)
Trustee
Since September 2013
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, Ameritas Investment Partners, a registered investment advisor (1995 – present).
1
None.
Kathleen K. Shkudaa
(born 1951)
Trustee
 
Since September 2013
Zigzag Consulting, a financial services consulting firm (2008 – present). Director, Managed Accounts, Merrill Lynch (2007-2008).
1
None.
Larry D. Tashjiana
(born 1953)
Trustee and Chairman of the Board
Since September 2013
Principal, CAM Capital Advisors, a family office (2001 – present).
 
1
General Finance Corporation.
John P. Zader a
(born 1961)
Trustee
Since September 2013
Retired (June 2014 – present). CEO, UMB Fund Services, Inc., a mutual fund and hedge fund service provider, and the transfer agent, fund accountant, and co-administrator for the Fund (December 2006 – June 2014).
1
Investment Managers Series Trust, a registered investment company (includes 72 portfolios).
Interested Trustee:
     
Eric M. Banhazlb†
(born 1957)
Trustee
 
 
Since September 2013
 
 
 
Chairman (2016 – present), and President (2006 – 2015), Mutual Fund Administration, LLC, co-administrator for the Fund. Trustee and Vice President, Investment Managers Series Trust (September 2013 – January 2016).
1
 Investment Managers Series Trust, a registered investment company (includes 72 portfolios).
 
B-37

 
 
Name, Address, Year of
Birth and Position(s)
held with Trust
 
Term of
Officec and Length of
Time Served
 
 
Principal Occupation During the Past
Five Years and Other Affiliations
Number of Portfolios in
the Fund
Complex
Overseen by Trusteed
Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During the
Past Five Years
Officers of the Trust:
   
Terrance P. Gallagher a
(born 1958)
President
 
Since September 2013
Executive Vice President, UMB Fund Services, Inc. (2007 – present). Director of Compliance, Unified Fund Services Inc. (now Huntington Fund Services), a mutual fund service provider (2004 – 2007).
N/A
N/A
Rita Damb
(born 1966)
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
Since September 2013
Co-Chief Executive Officer (2016 – present), and Vice President (2006 – 2015), Mutual Fund Administration, LLC.
N/A
N/A
Joy Ausilib
(born 1966)
Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Since January 2016
Co- Chief Executive Officer (2016 – present), and Vice President (2006 – 2015), Mutual Fund Administration, LLC. Secretary and Assistant Treasurer, Investment Managers Series Trust (September 2013 – January 2016).
N/A
N/A
Diane Drakeb
(born 1967)
Secretary
Since January 2016
Senior Counsel, Mutual Fund Administration, LLC (October 2015 – present). Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (2010 – 2015).
N/A
N/A
Martin Dziurab
(born 1959)
Chief Compliance Officer
Since September 2013
Principal, Dziura Compliance Consulting, LLC (October 2014 - present). Managing Director, Cipperman Compliance Services (2010 – September 2014). Chief Compliance Officer, Hanlon Investment Management (2009 - 2010). Vice President − Compliance, Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2000 − 2009).
N/A
N/A

a
Address for certain Trustees and certain officers: 235 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212.
b
Address for Mr. Banhazl, Ms. Ausili, Ms. Dam and Ms. Drake: 2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226, Glendora, California 91740.
Address for Mr. Dziura: 39 Stafford Square, Boyertown, Pennsylvania 19512.
c
Trustees and officers serve until their successors have been duly elected.
d
The Trust is comprised of numerous series managed by unaffiliated investment advisors. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Fund managed by the same investment advisor. The Fund does not hold itself out as related to any other series within the Trust, for purposes of investment and investor services, nor does it share the same investment advisor with any other series.
Mr. Banhazl is an “interested person” of the Trust by virtue of his position with Mutual Fund Administration, LLC.
B-38

Compensation
Each Independent Trustee receives from the Trust a quarterly retainer of $9,500 and $4,000 for each special in-person meeting attended and $1,000 for each special telephonic meeting attended. The Trust has no pension or retirement plan. No other entity affiliated with the Trust pays any compensation to the Trustees.

Name of Person/Position
Aggregate
Compensation
From the Fund ($)1
Pension or
Retirement Benefits
Accrued as Part of
Fund’s Expenses ($)
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon
Retirement ($)
Total Compensation
from Fund and Fund Complex Paid to
Trustees ($)1,2
Thomas Knipper, Independent Trustee and Audit Committee Chair
$1,500
None
None
$[ ]
Kathleen K. Shkuda, Independent Trustee and Nominating Committee Chair
$1,500
None
None
$[ ]
Larry D. Tashjian, Independent Trustee, Chairman and Valuation Committee Chair
$1,500
None
None
$[ ]
John Zader, Independent Trustee
$1,500
None
None
$[ ]

1
 Estimated annual compensation for the first year.
2
There are currently numerous portfolios comprising the Trust. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Fund.

Mr. Banhazl is not compensated for his service as Trustee because of his affiliation with the Trust. Officers of the Trust are not compensated by the Fund for their services.

Additional Information Concerning the Board and the Trustees
The current Trustees were selected in September 2013 with a view towards establishing a Board that would have the broad experience needed to oversee a registered investment company comprised of multiple series employing a variety of different investment strategies. As a group, the Board has extensive experience in many different aspects of the financial services and asset management industries.
 
The Trustees were selected to join the Board based upon the following factors, among others: character and integrity; willingness to serve and willingness and ability to commit the time necessary to perform the duties of a Trustee; as to each Trustee other than Mr. Banhazl and Mr. Zader (at that time), satisfying the criteria for not being classified as an “interested person” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act; and, as to Mr. Banhazl, his position with Mutual Fund Administration, LLC, one of the Trust’s co-administrators. In addition, the Trustees have the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills relevant to the operations of the Trust:
B-39

·
Mr. Knipper has substantial experience with respect to the operation, administration and compliance programs of mutual funds and as a senior executive with a registered investment advisor.

·
Ms. Shkuda has substantial experience in the investment management industry, including as a consultant with respect to operations and marketing of investment managers and distribution of mutual funds and other investment products.

·
Mr. Tashjian has extensive leadership experience in the investment management industry, including as a principal and a chief executive officer of a registered investment advisor.

·
Mr. Banhazl has significant experience serving in senior executive and board positions for mutual funds and with respect to the organization and operation of mutual funds and multiple series trusts similar to the Trust.

·
Mr. Zader has substantial experience serving in senior executive positions at mutual fund administrative service providers.

In its periodic self-assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Fund. The summaries set forth above as to the qualifications, attributes and skills of the Trustees are required by the registration form adopted by the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and do not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board as a whole than would otherwise be the case.

The Board of Trustees has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Nominating, Governance and Regulatory Review Committee (the “Nominating Committee”), and the Valuation Committee.

·
The function of the Audit Committee, with respect to each series of the Trust, is to review the scope and results of the series’ annual audit and any matters bearing on the audit or the series’ financial statements and to assist the Board’s oversight of the integrity of the series’ pricing and financial reporting. The Audit Committee is comprised of all of the Independent Trustees and is chaired by Mr. Knipper. It does not include any Interested Trustees. The Audit Committee is expected to meet at least twice a year with respect to each series of the Trust.
 
The Audit Committee also serves as the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee (“QLCC”) for the Trust for the purpose of compliance with Rules 205.2(k) and 205.3(c) of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding alternative reporting procedures for attorneys retained or employed by an issuer who appear and practice before the SEC on behalf of the issuer.

·
The Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing matters pertaining to composition, committees, and operations of the Board, as well as assisting the Board in overseeing matters related to certain regulatory issues. The Nominating Committee meets from time to time as needed. The Nominating Committee will consider trustee nominees properly recommended by the Trust’s shareholders. Shareholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send nominations that include, among other things, biographical data and the qualifications of the proposed nominee to the Trust’s Secretary. The Independent Trustees comprise the Nominating Committee, and the Committee is chaired by Ms. Shkuda.
B-40

·
The function of the Valuation Committee is to recommend to the Board for its approval methodologies for valuing securities held by any series of the Trust for which current and reliable market quotations are not readily available; monitor prices determined by officers of the Trust pursuant to such methodologies; and approve fair valued security prices that are not determined pursuant to an approved methodology. The actions of the Valuation Committee are subsequently reviewed by the Board. The Valuation Committee is comprised of all the Trustees and is chaired by Mr. Tashjian, but action may be taken by any one of the Trustees. The Valuation Committee meets as needed.

Independent Trustees comprise 80% of the Board and Larry Tashjian, an Independent Trustee, serves as Chairperson of the Board. The Chairperson serves as a key point person for dealings between the Trust’s management and the other Independent Trustees. As noted above, through the committees of the Board the Independent Trustees consider and address important matters involving each series of the Trust, including those presenting conflicts or potential conflicts of interest. The Independent Trustees also regularly meet outside the presence of management and are advised by independent legal counsel. The Board has determined that its organization and leadership structure are appropriate in light of its fiduciary and oversight obligations, the special obligations of the Independent Trustees, and the relationship between the Interested Trustees and the Trust’s co-administrators. The Board also believes that its structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from management.

Consistent with its responsibility for oversight of the Fund in the interests of shareholders, the Board among other things oversees risk management of the Fund’s investment programs and business affairs directly and through the Audit Committee. The Board has emphasized to the Advisor the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management programs and procedures.

The Fund faces a number of risks, such as investment risk, valuation risk, reputational risk, risk of operational failure or lack of business continuity, and legal, compliance and regulatory risk. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Fund. Under the overall supervision of the Board, the Advisor, Sub-advisor and other service providers to the Fund employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various of those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. Various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”), the Advisor’s management, and other service providers (such as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm) make periodic reports to the Board or to the Audit Committee with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Fund’s investment objective, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations.
B-41

Fund Shares Beneficially Owned by Trustees
Certain information regarding ownership by the Trustees of the Fund and other series of the Trust, as of December 31, 2016, is set forth in the following table.

Name of Trustee
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund ($)
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in all Registered
Investment Companies Overseen
by Trustee in Family of
Investment Companies ($)
Larry Tashjian, Independent Trustee
None
Above $100,000
Kathy Shkuda, Independent Trustee
None
None
Thomas Knipper, Independent Trustee
None
$10,001 - $50,000
John P. Zader, Independent Trustee
None
None
Eric M. Banhazl, Interested Trustee
None
None

Control Persons, Principal Shareholders, and Management Ownership
A principal shareholder is a holder of record of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of the Fund, including shareholders that are financial intermediaries.10 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. Shareholders with a controlling interest could affect the outcome of voting or the direction of management of the Fund.

As of the date of this SAI, the Fund is under the control of [__________________], which had voting authority with respect to 100% of the outstanding shares in the Fund on such date. However, once the Fund commences investment operations and its shares are sold to the public, this control will be diluted.

The Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group did not own more than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Furthermore, neither the Independent Trustees, nor members of their immediate families, own securities beneficially or of record in the Advisor, the Fund’s distributor, IMST Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), or any of their respective affiliates

The Advisor
REX Capital Management, LLC (“Advisor”), located at 44 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06880, acts as investment advisor to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). REX Shares, LLC, the parent company of the Advisor, was founded in 2014. REX Shares, LLC specializes in creating investment vehicles that solve specific access and efficiency problems in investor portfolios.

Subject to such policies as the Board of Trustees may determine, the Advisor is ultimately responsible for investment decisions for the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor provides the Fund with such investment advice and supervision as it deems necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments. The Advisor also continuously monitors and maintains the Fund’s investment criteria and determines from time to time what securities may be purchased by the Fund.

The Advisory Agreement will remain in effect for an initial two-year period. After the initial two-year period, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect with respect to the Fund from year to year only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Advisory Agreement. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund, upon giving the Advisor 60 days’ notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by a vote of a majority of the Board, or by the Advisor on 60 days’ written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Advisory Agreement provides that the Advisor will not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the Advisory Agreement, except for a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, or for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by the Advisor of its duties under the Advisory Agreement.
 

10
The Fund has no information regarding the beneficial owners of Fund shares owned through accounts with financial intermediaries.

B-42

In consideration of the services to be provided by the Advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor is entitled to receive from the Fund an investment advisory fee computed daily and paid monthly based on an annual rate equal to a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets specified in the Prospectus.

Sub-Advisor
The Advisor has entered into a sub-advisory agreement with Vident Investment Advisory, LLC (the “Sub-Advisor”) with respect to the Fund (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). The Sub-Advisor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vident Financial, LLC.

The Advisor compensates the Sub-Advisor out of the investment advisory fees the Advisor receives from the Fund. The Sub-Advisor makes investment decisions for the assets it has been allocated to manage, subject to the overall supervision of the Advisor.

The Sub-Advisory Agreement will remain in effect for an initial two-year period. After the initial two-year period, the Sub-Advisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year only as long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund, and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to the Sub-Advisory Agreement or interested persons of the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor or the Trust. The Sub-Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund, or by the Sub-Advisor or the Advisor, upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party. Additionally, the Sub-Advisory Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment. The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that the Sub-Advisor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the Sub-Advisory Agreement, except for a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, or for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by the Sub-Advisor of its duties under the Sub-Advisory Agreement.

Fund Expenses
The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses (all of which will be borne directly or indirectly by the Fund’s shareholders), including among others, legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Fund and the Fund’s independent trustees; insurance (including trustees’ and officers’ errors and omissions insurance); auditing and accounting expenses; taxes and governmental fees; listing fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; fees and expenses of the Fund’s custodians, administrators, transfer agents, registrars and other service providers; expenses for portfolio pricing services by a pricing agent, if any; expenses in connection with the issuance and offering of shares; expenses relating to investor and public relations; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for public sale; brokerage commissions and other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio holding of the Fund; expenses of preparation and distribution of reports, notices and dividends to shareholders; expenses of the dividend reinvestment plan; compensation and expenses of trustees; any litigation expenses; and costs of shareholders’ and other meetings.

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The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that the total annual fund operating expenses (excluding, as applicable, any taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with Form N-1A), expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) do not exceed [_____]% and [ _____]% of the average daily net assets of Investor Class shares and Institutional Class share of the Fund respectively. This agreement is effective until [_____ __, 2018], and it may be terminated before that date only by the Board of Trustees.

Any reduction in advisory fees or payment of the Fund’s expenses made by the Advisor in a fiscal year may be reimbursed by the Fund for a period ending three full fiscal years after the date of reduction or payment if the Advisor so requests. This reimbursement may be requested from the Fund if the reimbursement will not cause the Fund’s annual expense ratio to exceed the lesser of (a) the limitation on Fund expenses in effect at the time of the relevant reduction in advisory fees or payment of the Fund’s expenses, or (b) the limitation on Fund expenses at the time of the reimbursement. However, the reimbursement amount may not exceed the total amount of fees waived and/or Fund expenses paid by the Advisor and will not include any amounts previously reimbursed to the Advisor by the Fund. Any such reimbursement is contingent upon the Board’s subsequent review of the reimbursed amounts. The Fund must pay current ordinary operating expenses before the Advisor is entitled to any reimbursement of fees and/or Fund expenses.

Portfolio Manager
Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Manager. As of [October __, 2017], information on other accounts managed by the Fund’s portfolio manager is as follows.

Denise Krisko
     
     
With Advisory Fee based on performance
 
Type of Accounts
Number of
Accounts
Total
Assets ($)
Number of
Accounts
Total
Assets ($)
Registered Investment Companies
____
____
____
____
Other Pooled Investments
____
____
____
____
Other Accounts
____
____
____
____

Material Conflicts of Interest. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or other account. Where conflicts of interest arise between the Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, the Advisor and Sub-Advisor will proceed in a manner that ensures that the Fund will not be treated less favorably. There may be instances where similar portfolio transactions may be executed for the same security for numerous accounts managed by the portfolio managers. In such instances, securities will be allocated in accordance with the Advisor’s and Sub-Advisor’s trade allocation policy.

Compensation. Ms. Krisko is compensated by the Sub-Advisor and does not receive any compensation directly from the Fund or the Advisor. Ms. Krisko receives a base salary and is eligible to earn discretionary bonuses from time to time. The availability and amount of any bonus will be based on factors such as the Sub-Advisor’s profitability, her individual performance and team contribution.

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Ownership of the Fund by the Portfolio Managers. The following chart sets forth the dollar range of Fund shares owned by each portfolio manager in the Fund as of the date of this SAI.

Name of Portfolio Manager
Dollar Range of Securities in the Fund
(None, $1-$10,000, $10,001-$50,000, $50,001-$100,000,
$100,001 - $500,000, $500,001 - $1,000,000, Over $1,000,000)
Denise Krisko
[None]


Organization and Management of the Subsidiary
The Fund intends to gain exposure to bitcoins by investing up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary intends to invest the majority of its assets in Bitcoin Futures, other instruments that provide exposure to the price movement of bitcoin, including commodity futures, option, and swap contracts; fixed income securities; pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act; and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivatives positions. The Subsidiary is a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, whose registered office is located at ______________________. The Subsidiary’s affairs are overseen by a separate board of directors.

The Subsidiary has entered into a separate agreement with the Advisor pursuant to which the Advisor provides investment advisory services to the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary has agreed to pay the Advisor a management fee at the annual rate of ____% of the Subsidiary’s average daily net assets. However, the Advisor has contractually agreed, for so long as the Fund invests in the Subsidiary, to waive the management fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the management fee paid to the Advisor by the Subsidiary. This undertaking may not be terminated unless the Advisor obtains the prior approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Subsidiary is sub-advised by the Sub-Advisor. The Subsidiary has also entered into separate contracts for the provision of custody, transfer agency, and audit services with the same or with affiliates of the same service providers that provide those services to the Fund.

Service Providers
Pursuant to a Co-Administration Agreement (the “Co-Administration Agreement”), UMB Fund Services, Inc. (“UMBFS”), 235 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212, and Mutual Fund Administration, LLC (“MFAC”), 2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226, Glendora, California 91740 (collectively the “Co-Administrators”), act as co-administrators for the Fund. The Co-Administrators provide certain administrative services to the Fund, including, among other responsibilities, coordinating the negotiation of contracts and fees with, and the monitoring of performance and billing of, the Fund’s independent contractors and agents; preparing for signature by an officer of the Trust of all documents required to be filed for compliance with applicable laws and regulations including those of the securities laws of various states; arranging for the computation of performance data, including net asset value and yield; arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the Fund; and providing, at their own expense, office facilities, equipment and personnel necessary to carry out their duties. In this capacity, the Co-Administrators do not have any responsibility or authority for the management of the Fund, the determination of investment policy, or for any matter pertaining to the distribution of Fund shares. The Co-Administration Agreement provides that neither Co-Administrator shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or its series, except for losses resulting from a Co-Administrator’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under the Agreement.
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As compensation for their services, the Fund pays the Co-Administrators an administration fee payable monthly at the annual rate set forth below as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets:

Net Assets
Rate
First $150 million
0.10%
Next $100 million
0.08%
Thereafter
0.05%

Because the Fund is a newly formed fund and has yet to commence operations, the Fund has not paid any fees to the Co-Administrators as of the date of this SAI.

UMBFS also acts as the Trust’s fund accountant, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent pursuant to separate agreements.

UMB Bank, n.a. (the “Custodian”), an affiliate of UMBFS, is the custodian of the assets of the Fund pursuant to a custody agreement between the Custodian and the Trust, whereby the Custodian provides services for fees on a transactional basis plus out‑of‑pocket expenses. The Custodian’s address is 928 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The Custodian does not participate in decisions pertaining to the purchase and sale of securities by the Fund.

[__________] is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. Its services include auditing the Fund’s financial statements and the performance of related tax services.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (“Morgan Lewis”), 300 South Grand Avenue, 22nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, serves as legal counsel to the Trust. Morgan Lewis also serves as independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees.

Distributor and the Distribution Agreement
IMST Distributors, LLC is the distributor (also known as the principal underwriter) of the shares of the Fund and is located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of FINRA. The Distributor is not affiliated with the Trust, the Advisor or any other service provider for the Fund.

Under a Distribution Agreement with the Trust dated January 1, 2013 (the “Distribution Agreement”), the Distributor acts as the agent of the Trust in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund. The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares. The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Trust.

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund. With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Fund and/or the Advisor, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements. These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor. These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein. Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares. Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary. The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary. The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective. The Advisor pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

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The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, amounts received by the Distributor are not held for profit by the Distributor, but instead are used to pay for and/or reimburse the Advisor for distribution-related expenditures.

Rule 12b-1 Plan
The Trust has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "12b-1 Plan") that provides for Fund assets to be used for the payment for distribution services for Investor Class shares. The 12b-1 Plan provides alternative methods for paying sales charges and may help the Fund grow or maintain asset levels to provide operational efficiencies and economies of scale. The 12b-1 Plan also provides for the payment of service fees in connection with the provision of post-sales shareholder liaison services to holders of Investor Class shares, as defined in FINRA regulations, including personal services such as responding to customer inquiries, and services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts. Because 12b-1 fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets attributable to Investor Class shares on an ongoing basis, they will, over time, increase the cost of an investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges.

The 12b-1 Plan provides that the distribution fees paid by Investor Class Shares of the Fund may be used to pay for any expenses primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of such Class, including, but not limited to: (a) costs of payments, including incentive compensation, made to agents for and consultants to the Distributor or the Trust, including pension administration firms that provide distribution services and broker–dealers that engage in the distribution of the shares of such Class of the Fund; (b) payments made to, and expenses of, persons who provide support services in connection with the distribution of shares of such Class of the Fund; (c) payments made pursuant to any dealer agreements between the Distributor and certain broker-dealers, financial institutions and other service providers with respect to such Class of the Fund; (d) costs relating to the formulation and implementation of marketing and promotional activities; (e) costs of printing and distributing prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports of the Fund to prospective shareholders of such Class of the Fund; (f) costs involved in preparing, printing and distributing sales literature pertaining to such Class of the Fund; (g) costs involved in obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities that the Trust may deem advisable with respect to such Class of the Fund; and (h) reimbursement to the Advisor for expenses advanced on behalf of the Fund or Class with respect to such activities. The 12b-1 Plan is a compensation plan, which means that the Distributor is compensated regardless of its expenses, as opposed to a reimbursement plan which reimburses only for expenses incurred. The Distributor does not retain any 12b-1 fees for profit. All 12b-1 fees are held in a retention account by the Distributor to pay for and/or reimburse the Advisor for distribution-related expenditures.

B-47

The 12b-1 Plan may not be amended to materially increase the amount to be paid by the Investor Class shares for distribution services without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such shares. The 12b-1 Plan shall continue in effect indefinitely with respect to a Class, provided that such continuance is approved at least annually by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose or by vote of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Class. The 12b-1 Plan may be terminated with respect to the Fund’s Investor Class shares at any time without penalty by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund’s Investor Class shares.

If the 12b-1 Plan is terminated for the Fund’s Investor Class shares in accordance with its terms, the obligation of the Fund to make payments pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan will cease and the Fund will not be required to make any payments past the termination date. Thus, there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay any expenses incurred by the Distributor other than fees already payable under the 12b-1 Plan, if the 12b-1 Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms for any reason.

Shareholder Service Plan
The Board has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, a Shareholder Service Plan (the “Service Plan”) under which the Advisor will provide, or arrange for others (such as banks, trust companies, broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries (each, a “Service Organization”)) to provide, certain specified non-distribution shareholder servicing functions for Fund shares owned by its respective customers, including but not limited to (a) establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to customers who invest in the Fund; (b) aggregating and processing orders involving Fund shares; (c) processing dividend and other distribution payments from the Fund on behalf of customers; (d) preparing tax reports or forms on behalf of customers; (e) forwarding communications from the Fund; (f) providing sub-accounting with respect to Fund shares; (g) providing customers with a service that invests the assets of their accounts in Fund shares pursuant to specific or pre-authorized instructions; and (h) providing such other similar services as the Advisor may reasonably request to the extent it or a Service Organization is permitted to do so under applicable statutes, rules or regulations. The Fund will pay the Advisor or Service Organizations, as applicable, at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, payable monthly.

Marketing and Support Payments
The Advisor, out of its own resources and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide cash payments or other compensation to certain financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. These payments are in addition to other fees described in the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI, and are generally provided for shareholder services or marketing support. Payments for marketing support are typically for inclusion of the Fund on sales lists, including electronic sales platforms. Investors may wish to take these payments into account when considering and evaluating recommendations to purchase shares of the Fund.
B-48

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Advisor and Sub-Advisor determine which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which broker-dealers are eligible to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The purchases and sales of securities in the over-the-counter market will generally be executed by using a broker for the transaction.

Purchases of portfolio securities for the Fund also may be made directly from issuers or from underwriters. Where possible, purchase and sale transactions will be effected through dealers (including banks) that specialize in the types of securities which the Fund will be holding unless better executions are available elsewhere. Dealers and underwriters usually act as principals for their own accounts. Purchases from underwriters will include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and purchases from dealers will include the spread between the bid and the asked price. If the execution and price offered by more than one dealer or underwriter are comparable, the order may be allocated to a dealer or underwriter that has provided research or other services as discussed below.

In placing portfolio transactions, the Advisor and Sub-Advisor will use reasonable efforts to choose broker-dealers capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable price and execution available. The full range and quality of services available will be considered in making these determinations, such as the size of the order, the difficulty of execution, the operational facilities of the broker-dealer involved, the risk in positioning the block of securities, and other factors. In those instances where it is reasonably determined that more than one broker-dealer can offer the services needed to obtain the most favorable price and execution available, consideration may be given to those broker-dealers which furnish or supply research and statistical information to the Advisor and Sub-Advisor that they may lawfully and appropriately use in their investment advisory capacities, as well as provide other services in addition to execution services. Each of the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor considers such information, which is in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by it under its Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Fund, to be useful in varying degrees, but of indeterminable value.

While it is the Fund’s general policy to seek to obtain the most favorable price and execution available in selecting a broker-dealer to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund, weight is also given to the ability of a broker-dealer to furnish brokerage and research services as defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to the Fund or to the Advisor or Sub-Advisor, even if the specific services are not directly useful to the Fund and may be useful to the Advisor and Sub-Advisor in advising other clients. In negotiating commissions with a broker or evaluating the spread to be paid to a dealer, the Fund may therefore pay a higher commission or spread than would be the case if no weight were given to the furnishing of these supplemental services, provided that the amount of such commission or spread has been determined in good faith by the Advisor and Sub-Advisor to be reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such broker-dealer. The standard of reasonableness is to be measured in light of the Advisor’s or Sub-Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the Fund.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other client accounts that may be managed or advised by the Advisor or Sub-Advisor. Nevertheless, it is possible that at times, identical securities will be acceptable for both the Fund and one or more of such client accounts. In such event, the position of the Fund and such client accounts in the same issuer may vary and the holding period may likewise vary. However, to the extent any of these client accounts seek to acquire the same security as the Fund at the same time, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a position in such security as it desires, or it may have to pay a higher price or obtain a lower yield for such security. Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as high a price for, or as large an execution of, an order to sell any particular security at the same time as the Advisor’s or Sub-Advisor’s other client accounts.

B-49

The Fund does not effect securities transactions through brokers in accordance with any formula, nor does it effect securities transactions through brokers for selling shares of the Fund. However, broker-dealers who execute brokerage transactions may effect purchase of shares of the Fund for their customers. The brokers may also supply the Fund with research, statistical and other services.

Holdings of Securities of the Fund’s Regular Brokers and Dealers
From time to time, the Fund may acquire and hold securities issued by its “regular brokers or dealers” or the parents of those brokers or dealers. “Regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund are the ten brokers or dealers that, during the most recent fiscal year, (i) received the greatest dollar amounts of brokerage commissions from the Fund’s portfolio transactions, (ii) engaged as principal in the largest dollar amounts of the portfolio transactions of the Fund, or (iii) sold the largest dollar amounts of the Fund’s shares. Any securities of any “regular brokers or dealers” held by the Fund during a fiscal year will be disclosed by the Fund after the end of such fiscal year.
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

Although the Fund generally will not invest for short-term trading purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Advisor, investment considerations warrant such action. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in the Fund’s portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions. To the extent net short-term capital gains are realized, any distributions resulting from such gains will generally be taxed at ordinary income tax rates for federal income tax purposes. The Fund is newly-created and, as a result, does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate.
  
PROXY VOTING POLICY

The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Trust Policies”) on behalf of the Trust, which delegates the responsibility for voting the Fund’s proxies to the Advisor and Sub-Advisor, as applicable, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Trust Policies require that the Advisor and Sub-Advisor vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund. The Trust Policies also require the Advisor and Sub-Advisor to present to the Board, at least annually, the Advisor’s and Sub-Advisor’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Advisor Policies”) and a record of each proxy voted by the Advisor or Sub-Advisor on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Advisor and Sub-Advisor as involving a conflict of interest. See Appendix B for the Trust Policies and Advisor Policies. The Trust Policies and the Advisor Policies are intended to serve as guidelines and to further the economic value of each security held by the Fund. The Trust’s CCO will review the Trust Policies and Advisor Policies annually. Each proxy will be considered individually, taking into account the relevant circumstances at the time of each vote.

If a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Advisor’s or Sub-Advisor’s interests and the Fund’s interests, the Advisor or Sub-Advisor will resolve the conflict by following the Advisor’s or Sub-Advisor’s policy guidelines or the recommendation of an independent third party.

B-50

The Fund is required to annually file Form N-PX, which lists the Fund’s complete proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 of each year. Once filed, the Fund’s proxy voting record will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 1-___-______-____ and on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.
 
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM

The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”). In order to ensure compliance with this law, the Program provides for the development and implementation of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program.

Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Distributor and the Fund’s Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures, reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity, checking shareholder names against designated government lists, including Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), and a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.
 
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Trust has adopted policies and procedures regarding disclosure of portfolio holdings information (the “Disclosure Policy”). The Board of Trustees determined that the adoption of the Disclosure Policy, including the disclosure permitted therein, was in the best interests of the Trust. The Disclosure Policy applies to the Fund, Advisor, Sub-Advisor and other internal parties involved in the administration, operation or custody of the Fund, including, but not limited to UMBFS, MFAC, the Board of Trustees, counsel to the Trust and Independent Trustees, Morgan Lewis, and the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, [_________] (collectively, the “Service Providers”). Pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, non-public information concerning the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed to its Service Providers only if such disclosure is consistent with the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the fiduciary duties owed by the Fund and the Advisor to the Fund’s shareholders. The Fund and its Service Providers may not receive compensation or any other consideration (which includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor, Sub-Advisor or any affiliated person of the Advisor or Sub-Advisor in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information of the Fund. The Fund’s Disclosure Policy is implemented and overseen by the CCO of the Trust, subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to the Trust’s Board.

Portfolio holdings information will be deemed public when it has been (1) posted to the Fund’s public website (www._________.com) or (2) disclosed in periodic regulatory filings on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Management of the Fund may make publicly available its portfolio holdings on the Fund’s public website no earlier than five days after the date of such information (e.g., information as of January 31 may be made available no earlier than February 5).

Non-Public Portfolio Holdings Information Policy. All portfolio holdings information that has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally as described above is considered non-public portfolio holdings information for the purposes of the Disclosure Policy. Pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, the Fund or its Service Providers may disclose non-public portfolio holdings information to certain third parties who fall within pre-authorized categories on a daily basis, with no lag time unless otherwise specified below. These third parties include: (i) the Fund’s Service Providers and others who need access to such information in the performance of their contractual or other duties and responsibilities to the Fund (e.g., custodians, accountants, the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor, administrators, attorneys, officers and Trustees) and who are subject to duties of confidentiality imposed by law or contract, (ii) brokers who execute trades for the Fund, (iii) evaluation service providers (as described below) and (iv) shareholders receiving in-kind redemptions (as described below).
B-51

Evaluation Service Providers. These third parties include mutual fund evaluation services, such as Morningstar, Inc. and Lipper, Inc., if the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for disclosing the information, provided that the third party expressly agrees to maintain the non-public portfolio holdings information in confidence and not to trade portfolio securities based on the non-public portfolio holdings information. Subject to the terms and conditions of any agreement between the Fund or its authorized service providers and the third party, if these conditions for disclosure are satisfied, there shall be no restriction on the frequency with which the Fund’s non-public portfolio holdings information is released, and no lag period shall apply. In addition, persons who owe a duty of trust or confidence to the Fund or its Service Providers (such as legal counsel) may receive non-public portfolio holdings information without entering into a non-disclosure agreement.

Shareholder In-Kind Distributions. The Fund may, in certain circumstances, pay redemption proceeds to a shareholder by an in-kind distribution of portfolio securities (instead of cash). In such circumstances, pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, Fund shareholders may receive a complete listing of the portfolio holdings of the Fund up to seven (7) calendar days prior to making the redemption request provided that they represent orally or in writing that they agree to maintain the confidentiality of the portfolio holdings information and not to trade portfolio securities based on the non-public holdings information.

Other Entities. Pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, the Fund or the Advisor may disclose non-public portfolio holdings information to a third party who does not fall within the pre-approved categories, and who are not executing broker-dealers; however, prior to the receipt of any non-public portfolio holdings information by such third party, the recipient must have entered into a non-disclosure agreement and the disclosure arrangement must have been approved by the CCO of the Trust. The CCO will report to the Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis regarding any recipients of non-public portfolio holdings information approved pursuant to this paragraph. There are no other ongoing arrangements as of the date of this SAI.

The Advisor and its affiliates may provide investment advice to clients other than the Fund that have investment objectives that may be substantially similar to those of the Fund. These clients also may have portfolios consisting of holdings substantially similar to those of the Fund and generally have access to current portfolio holdings information for their accounts. These clients do not owe the Advisor or the Fund a duty of confidentiality with respect to disclosure of their portfolio holdings.

Current Arrangements Regarding Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings. As of the date of this SAI, the Trust or the Fund has ongoing business arrangements with the following entities which involve making portfolio holdings information available to such entities as an incidental part of the services they provide to the Trust: (i) the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor, MFAC and UMB (the Co-Administrators) and UMB Bank, N.A. (the Custodian) pursuant to investment management, administration and custody agreements, respectively, under which the Trust’s portfolio holdings information is provided daily on a real-time basis (i.e. with no time lag); (ii) [________] (independent registered public accounting firm), Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (attorneys) and other professionals engaged by the Trust to whom the Trust provides portfolio holdings information on a regular basis with varying lag times after the date of the information; (iii) [____________] pursuant to a proxy voting agreement under which the Fund’s portfolio holdings information is provided daily, subject to a one-day lag; and (iv) Morningstar, Inc., Lipper Inc., Thomson Financial, Vickers Stock Research Corporation, and Bloomberg L.P., to which the Fund’s portfolio holdings information is provided quarterly after the end of the previous fiscal quarter, with a 60-day time lag and no earlier than the date such information is filed on the SEC’s EDGAR system on Form N-Q (for the first and third fiscal quarters) or the Annual or Semi-Annual Report is mailed to shareholders (for the second and fourth fiscal quarters), as applicable.
B-52

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

The net asset values per share (the “NAVs”) of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate and are determined as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the normal close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The NAVs may be calculated earlier if trading on the NYSE is restricted or if permitted by the SEC. The NYSE annually announces the days on which it will not be open for trading. The most recent announcement indicates that the NYSE will not be open for 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. However, the NYSE may close on days not included in that announcement.

The NAV of each class is computed by dividing (a) the difference between the value of the Fund’s securities, cash and other assets and the amount of the Fund’s expenses and liabilities attributable to the class by (b) the number of shares outstanding in that class (assets – liabilities / # of shares = NAV). Each NAV takes into account all of the expenses and fees of that class of the Fund, including management fees and administration fees, which are accrued daily.]

Net Assets
=
NAV
Shares Outstanding

Generally, the Fund’s investments are valued at market value or, in the absence of a market value, at fair value as determined in good faith by the Advisor and the Trust’s Valuation Committee pursuant to procedures approved by or under the direction of the Board. Pursuant to those procedures, the Board considers, among other things: 1) the last sale price on the securities exchange, if any, on which a security is primarily traded; 2) the mean between the bid and ask prices; 3) price quotations from an approved pricing service (which use information provided by market makers or estimates of market value based on similar securities), and 4) other factors as necessary to determine a fair value under certain circumstances.

The Fund’s securities which are traded on securities exchanges are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any reported sales, at the mean between the last available bid and ask prices.

Securities that are traded on more than one exchange are valued on the exchange determined by the Advisor to be the primary market. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (“NASDAQ”), National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has not been any sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and ask prices. Over-the-counter (“OTC”) securities which are not traded in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the most recent trade price.

Stocks that are “thinly traded” or events occurring when a foreign market is closed but the NYSE is open (for example, the value of a security held by the Fund has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded) may create a situation where a market quote would not be readily available. When a market quote is not readily available, the security’s value is based on “fair value” as determined by procedures adopted by the Board. The Board will periodically review the reliability of the Fund’s fair value methodology. The Fund may hold portfolio securities, such as those traded on foreign securities exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund’s shares are not priced, and bitcoin is traded on exchange markets and over-the-counter 24-hours a day and seven days a week. Therefore, the value of the Fund’s shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

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Short-term debt obligations with remaining maturities in excess of 60 days are valued at current market prices, as discussed above. Short-term securities with 60 days or less remaining to maturity are, unless conditions indicate otherwise, amortized to maturity based on their cost to the Fund if acquired within 60 days of maturity or, if already held by the Fund on the 60th day, based on the value determined on the 61st day.

All other assets of the Fund are valued in such manner as the Board in good faith deems appropriate to reflect as their fair value.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

Detailed information on the purchase and redemption of shares is included in the Fund’s Prospectus. Shares of the Fund are sold at the next offering price calculated after receipt of an order for purchase. In order to purchase shares of the Fund, you must invest the initial minimum investment for the relevant class of shares. However, the Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive the minimum initial investment amount for certain investors, or to waive or reduce the minimum initial investment for 401(k) plans or other tax-deferred retirement plans. You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business by placing orders with the Fund.

The Fund reserves the right to refuse any purchase requests, particularly those that would not be in the best interests of the Fund or its shareholders and could adversely affect the Fund or its operations. This includes those from any individual or group who, in the Fund’s view, is likely to engage in or has a history of excessive trading (usually defined as more than four round-trip transactions out of the Fund within a calendar year). Furthermore, the Fund may suspend the right to redeem its shares or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven calendar days (i) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend or holiday closings) or trading on the NYSE is restricted; (ii) for any period during which an emergency exists affecting the sale of the Fund’s securities or making such sale or the fair determination of the value of the Fund’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or (iii) for such other periods as the SEC may permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders. In addition, if shares are purchased using a check and a redemption is requested before the check has cleared, the Fund may postpone payment of the redemption proceeds up to 15 days while the Fund waits for the check to clear.

Redemptions In Kind. The Trust has filed an election under SEC Rule 18f-1 committing to pay in cash all redemptions by a shareholder of record up to amounts specified by the rule (the lesser of (i) $250,000 or (ii) 1% of the Fund’s assets). The Fund has reserved the right to pay the redemption price of its shares in excess of the amounts specified by the rule, either totally or partially, by an in-kind distribution of portfolio securities (instead of cash). The securities so distributed would be valued at the same amounts as those assigned to them in calculating the NAV for the Fund shares being redeemed. If a shareholder receives an in-kind distribution, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.

The Fund does not intend to hold any significant percentage of its portfolio in illiquid securities, although the Fund, like virtually all mutual funds, may from time to time hold a small percentage of securities that are illiquid. In the unlikely event the Fund were to elect to make an in-kind redemption, the Fund expects that it would follow the normal protocol of making such distribution by way of a pro rata distribution based on its entire portfolio. If the Fund held illiquid securities, such distribution may contain a pro rata portion of such illiquid securities or the Fund may determine, based on a materiality assessment, not to include illiquid securities in the in-kind redemption. The Fund does not anticipate that it would ever selectively distribute a greater than pro rata portion of any illiquid securities to satisfy a redemption request. If such securities are included in the distribution, shareholders may not be able to liquidate such securities and may be required to hold such securities indefinitely. Shareholders’ ability to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind may be restricted by resale limitations or substantial restrictions on transfer imposed by the issuers of the securities or by law. Shareholders may only be able to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind at a substantial discount from their value, and there may be higher brokerage costs associated with any subsequent disposition of these securities by the recipient.
B-54

FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS

The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal (and, where noted, state and local) income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders. The discussion is very general. Current and prospective shareholders are therefore urged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the specific federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of investing in the Fund. The summary is based on the laws in effect on the date of this SAI and existing judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.

The Fund is treated as a separate entity from other series of the Trust for federal income tax purposes. The Fund intends to elect to be, and intends to qualify each year for treatment as, a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code by complying with all applicable requirements of the Code, including, among other things, requirements as to the sources of the Fund’s income, diversification of the Fund’s assets and timing of Fund distributions. To so qualify, the Fund must, among other things: (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (i.e., partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or tradable on a secondary market, other than partnerships that derive 90% of their income from interest, dividends, capital gains, and other traditionally permitted mutual fund income); (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, securities of other regulated investment companies, U.S. Government securities and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the Fund’s assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, in the securities (other than the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or in the securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships;” and (c) distribute an amount equal to the sum of at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction) and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (including, for purposes of satisfying this distribution requirement, certain distributions made by the Fund after the close of its taxable year that are treated as made during such taxable year). The IRS has provided guidance that “virtual currency” such as Bitcoin is treated as property for federal income tax purposes and not treated as “foreign currency”. Accordingly, income generated from direct investments in Bitcoin and derivatives thereof, including Bitcoin Futures, is unlikely to be treated as “qualifying income” to the Fund.

As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its taxable investment income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders provided that it satisfies a minimum distribution requirement. In order to also avoid liability for a non-deductible federal excise tax, the Fund must distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) 98.2% of the excess of its realized capital gains over its realized capital losses for the 12-month period generally ending on October 31 during such year and (iii) any amounts from the prior calendar year that were not distributed and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax. The Fund will be subject to income tax at regular corporate tax rates on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders. The Fund's policy is to distribute to its shareholders all investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and any net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) for each fiscal year in a manner that complies with the distribution requirements of the Code, so that the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or excise taxes.

B-55

If, for any taxable year, the Fund was to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company or was to fail to meet certain minimum distribution requirements under the Code, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In addition, in the event of a failure to qualify, the Fund’s distributions, to the extent derived from the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, including any distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividend income for federal income tax purposes. However, such dividends would be eligible, subject to any generally applicable limitations, (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals, and (ii) for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. Moreover, if the Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company in any year, it would be required to pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a regulated investment company. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may be able to cure a failure to qualify as a regulated investment company, but in order to do so the Fund might incur significant Fund-level taxes and might be forced to dispose of certain assets. If the Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund would generally be required to recognize any net built-in gains with respect to certain of its assets upon a disposition of such assets within ten years of qualifying as a regulated investment company in a subsequent year.

The Fund intends to invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary, which the Fund expects to be treated as a Controlled Foreign Corporation (“CFC”) under the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund expects the Subsidiary will make actual annual distributions in an amount at least equal to the subpart F income attributed to the Fund. To the extent the Subsidiary makes such distributions out of earnings and profits, the Fund expects such distributions to be treated as qualifying income. The Advisor will carefully monitor the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary to ensure that no more than 25% of the Fund’s assets is invested in the Subsidiary.

The Fund wholly owns the Subsidiary. A U.S. person that owns (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a foreign corporation is a “U.S. Shareholder” for purposes of the CFC provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. A foreign corporation is a CFC if, on any day of its taxable year, more than 50% of the voting power or value of its stock is owned (directly, indirectly or constructively) by “U.S. Shareholders.” Because the Fund is a U.S. person that will own all of the stock of the Subsidiary, the Fund will be a “U.S. Shareholder” and the Subsidiary will be a CFC. As a “U.S. Shareholder,” the Fund will be required to include in its gross income for United States federal income tax purposes the Subsidiary’s “subpart F income” (described below), whether or not such income is distributed by the Subsidiary. It is expected that all of the Subsidiary’s income will be “subpart F income.” It is expected that the Subsidiary will distribute all of its income to the Fund shareholder on at least an annual basis. “Subpart F income” generally includes interest, original issue discount, dividends, net gains from the disposition of stocks or securities, receipts with respect to securities loans and net payments received with respect to equity swaps and similar derivatives. “Subpart F income” also includes the excess of gains over losses from transactions (including futures, forward and similar transactions) in any commodities. The Fund’s recognition of the Subsidiary’s “subpart F income” will increase the Fund’s tax basis in the Subsidiary. Distributions by the Subsidiary to the Fund will be tax-free, to the extent of its previously undistributed “subpart F income,” and will correspondingly reduce the Fund’s tax basis in the Subsidiary. “Subpart F income” is generally treated as ordinary income, regardless of the character of the Subsidiary’s underlying income.

B-56

In general, each “U.S. Shareholder” is required to file IRS Form 5471 with its U.S. federal income tax (or information) returns providing information about its ownership of the CFC Subsidiary. In addition, a “U.S. Shareholder” may in certain circumstances be required to report a disposition of shares in the Subsidiary by attaching IRS Form 5471 to its U.S. federal income tax (or information) return that it would normally file for the taxable year in which the disposition occurs. In general, these filing requirements will apply to investors of the Fund if the investor is a U.S. person who owns directly, indirectly or constructively (within the meaning of Sections 958(a) and (b) of the Code) 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting stock of a foreign corporation that is a CFC for an uninterrupted period of thirty (30) days or more during any tax year of the foreign corporation, and who owned that stock on the last day of that year.

Shareholders generally will be subject to federal income taxes on distributions made by the Fund whether paid in cash or additional shares. Distributions of net investment income (including interest, dividend income and net short-term capital gain in excess of any net long-term capital loss, less certain expenses), other than qualified dividend income, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions of qualified dividend income generally will be taxed to non-corporate shareholders at the federal income tax rates applicable to net capital gain, provided the Fund reports the amount distributed as qualified dividend income.
 
In general, dividends may be reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund. Qualified dividend income generally means dividend income received from the Fund’s investments in common and preferred stock of U.S. companies and stock of certain qualified foreign corporations, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met by both the Fund and its shareholders. If 95% or more of the Fund’s gross income (calculated without taking into account net capital gain derived from sales or other dispositions of stock or securities) consists of qualified dividend income, the Fund may report all distributions of such income as qualified dividend income.

A foreign corporation is treated as a qualified foreign corporation for this purpose if it is incorporated in a possession of the United States or it is eligible for the benefits of certain income tax treaties with the United States and meets certain additional requirements. Certain foreign corporations that are not otherwise qualified foreign corporations will be treated as qualified foreign corporations with respect to dividends paid by them if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Passive foreign investment companies are not qualified foreign corporations for this purpose.

Dividends received by the Fund from REITs generally do not qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income.

Dividends paid by the Fund may qualify in part for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders, provided the Fund reports the amount distributed as a qualifying dividend and certain holding period and other requirements under the Code are satisfied. The reported amount, however, cannot exceed the aggregate amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for its taxable year. Eligibility for qualified dividend income treatment and the dividends-received deduction may be reduced or eliminated if, among other things, (i) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property or (ii) certain holding period requirements are not satisfied at both the Fund and shareholder levels. In addition, qualified dividend income treatment is not available if a shareholder elects to have the dividend income treated as investment income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of investment interest.

B-57

Distributions of net capital gain, if any, that the Fund reports as capital gain dividends will be taxable to non-corporate shareholders as long-term capital gain without regard to how long a shareholder has held shares of the Fund. The Fund may retain certain amounts of capital gains and designate them as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, who (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amounts so designated, (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the income tax paid by the Fund on those undistributed amounts against their federal income tax liabilities and to claim refunds to the extent such credits exceed their liabilities and (iii) will be entitled to increase their federal income tax basis in their shares by an amount equal to the excess of the amounts of undistributed net capital gain included in their respective income over their respective income tax credits.

Distributions in excess of earnings and profits will, as to each shareholder, be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the shareholder’s basis in his or her Fund shares. A distribution treated as a return of capital will reduce the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, which will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or a decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on a later sale of such shares. After the shareholder’s basis is reduced to zero, any distributions in excess of earnings and profits will be treated as a capital gain, assuming the shareholder holds his or her shares as capital assets.

A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax generally applies to all or a portion of the net investment income of a shareholder who is an individual and not a nonresident alien for federal income tax purposes and who has adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) that exceeds a threshold amount ($250,000 if married filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For these purposes, interest, dividends and certain capital gains (among other categories of income) are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income.

Distributions are generally taxable when received. However, distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in such a month and paid the following January are taxable for federal income tax purposes as if received on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Distributions are includable in alternative minimum taxable income in computing a shareholder's liability for the federal alternative minimum tax. In addition, certain distributions made after the close of a taxable year of the Fund may be “spilled back” and treated for certain purposes as paid by the Fund during such taxable year. In such case, shareholders generally will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made. For purposes of calculating the amount of a regulated investment company’s undistributed income and gain subject to the 4% excise tax described above, such “spilled back” dividends are treated as paid by the regulated investment company when they are actually paid.

A redemption of Fund shares may result in recognition of a taxable gain or loss. The gain or loss will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year, and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for one year or less. Any loss realized upon a redemption or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long‑term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions of long‑term capital gains during such six‑month period. Any loss realized upon a redemption may be disallowed under certain wash sale rules to the extent shares of the Fund or substantially identical stock or securities are purchased (through reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the redemption.

If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases exempted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not exempted. The fact that a loss is so reportable does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper.

B-58

The Fund's transactions in options and other similar transactions, such as futures, may be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, affect the character of any income realized by the Fund from such investments, accelerate recognition of income to the Fund, defer Fund losses, affect the holding period of the Fund's securities, affect whether distributions will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction or be treated as qualified dividend income and affect the determination of whether capital gain and loss is characterized as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions may also require the Fund to "mark-to-market" certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding U.S. federal income and excise taxes. The Fund will monitor these transactions and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records, and if the Fund deems it advisable, will make appropriate elections if available in order to mitigate the effect of these rules, prevent disqualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company and minimize the imposition of U.S. federal income and excise taxes.
 
The Fund's transactions in broad based equity index futures contracts, exchange-traded options on such indices and certain other futures contracts are generally considered "Section 1256 contracts" for federal income tax purposes. Any unrealized gains or losses on such Section 1256 contracts are treated as though they were realized at the end of each taxable year. The resulting gain or loss is treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Gain or loss recognized on actual sales of Section 1256 contracts is treated in the same manner. As noted above, distributions of net short-term capital gain are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income while distributions of net long-term capital gain are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long the shareholder has held shares of the Fund.

The Fund's entry into a short sale transaction, an option or certain other contracts, such as futures, could be treated as the constructive sale of an appreciated financial position, causing the Fund to realize gain, but not loss, on the position.

If the Fund invests in certain pay-in-kind securities, zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities or, in general, any other securities with original issue discount (or with market discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the Fund must accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Fund must distribute, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), including such accrued income to shareholders to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities (potentially under disadvantageous circumstances) to generate cash, or may have to undertake leverage by borrowing cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements. Dispositions of portfolio securities may result in additional gains and additional distribution requirements.

If the Fund invests in a market discount bond, it will be required to treat any gain recognized on the disposition of such market discount bond as ordinary income (instead of capital gain) to the extent of the accrued market discount, unless the Fund elects to include the market discount in income as it accrues as discussed above. A market discount bond is a security acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value (or its adjusted issue price if it is also an original issue discount bond).

B-59

The Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries, including taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains with respect to its investments in those countries, which would, if imposed, reduce the yield on or return from those investments. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. So long as the Fund qualifies for treatment as a regulated investment company and incurs “qualified foreign taxes,” if more than 50% of its net assets at the close of its taxable year consist of stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may elect to "pass through" to its shareholders the amount of such foreign taxes paid. If this election is made, information with respect to the amount of the foreign income taxes that are allocated to the Fund's shareholders will be provided to them and any shareholder subject to tax on dividends will be required (i) to include in ordinary gross income (in addition to the amount of the taxable dividends actually received) his/her proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid that are attributable to such dividends; and (ii) either to deduct his/her proportionate share of such foreign taxes in computing his/her taxable income or to claim that amount as a foreign tax credit (subject to applicable limitations) against U.S. income taxes.

Shareholders who do not itemize deductions for U.S. federal income tax purposes will not be able to deduct their pro rata portion of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund, although such shareholders will be required to include their shares of such taxes in gross income if the Fund makes the election described above. Qualified foreign taxes generally include taxes that would be treated as income taxes under U.S. tax regulations but do not include most other taxes, such as stamp taxes, securities transaction taxes, and similar taxes. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability.

If the Fund makes the election to pass through qualified foreign taxes and a shareholder chooses to take a credit for the foreign taxes deemed paid by such shareholder, the amount of the credit that may be claimed in any year may not exceed the same proportion of the U.S. tax against which such credit is taken that the shareholder’s taxable income from foreign sources (but not in excess of the shareholder’s entire taxable income) bears to his entire taxable income. For this purpose, long-term and short-term capital gains the Fund realizes and distributes to shareholders will generally not be treated as income from foreign sources in their hands, nor will distributions of certain foreign currency gains subject to Section 988 of the Code or of any other income realized by the Fund that is deemed, under the Code, to be U.S.-source income in the hands of the Fund. This foreign tax credit limitation may also be applied separately to certain specific categories of foreign-source income and the related foreign taxes. As a result of these rules, which may have different effects depending upon each shareholder’s particular tax situation, certain shareholders may not be able to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Shareholders who are not liable for U.S. federal income taxes, including tax-exempt shareholders, will ordinarily not benefit from this election. If the Fund does make the election, it will provide required tax information to shareholders. The Fund generally may deduct any foreign taxes that are not passed through to its shareholders in computing its income available for distribution to shareholders to satisfy applicable tax distribution requirements.

Foreign exchange gains or losses realized by the Fund in connection with certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt securities, certain options and futures contracts relating to foreign currency, foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currencies, or payables or receivables denominated in a foreign currency are subject to Section 988 of the Code, which generally causes such gains or losses to be treated as ordinary gain or loss and may affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.

The Fund is required to withhold (as “backup withholding”) a portion of reportable payments, including dividends, capital gain distributions and the proceeds of redemptions and exchanges or repurchases of Fund shares, paid to shareholders who have not complied with certain IRS regulations. The backup withholding rate is 28%. In order to avoid this withholding requirement, shareholders, other than certain exempt entities, must certify on IRS Forms W-9 or on certain other documents, that the Social Security Numbers or other Taxpayer Identification Numbers they provide are their correct numbers and that they are not currently subject to backup withholding, or that they are exempt from backup withholding. The Fund may nevertheless be required to backup withhold if it receives notice from the IRS or a broker that a number provided is incorrect or that backup withholding is applicable as a result of previous underreporting of interest or dividend income.

B-60

Ordinary dividends and certain other payments made by the Fund to non-U.S. shareholders are generally subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate (or a lower rate as may be determined in accordance with any applicable treaty). In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN or similar form certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty. The withholding tax does not apply to regular dividends paid to a non-U.S. shareholder who provides an IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the non-U.S. shareholder were a U.S. shareholder. A non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate).

The 30% withholding tax described in the preceding paragraph generally will not apply to distributions of net capital gain, to redemption proceeds, or to dividends that the Fund reports as (a) interest-related dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the Fund’s “qualified net interest income,” or (b) short-term capital gain dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the Fund’s “qualified short-term gain.” “Qualified net interest income” is the Fund’s net income derived from U.S.-source interest and original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. “Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of the net short-term capital gain of the Fund for the taxable year over its net long-term capital loss, if any. In order to qualify for an exemption from withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form). Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to this 30% withholding tax.

Unless certain non-U.S. entities that hold Fund shares comply with IRS requirements that will generally require them to report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to the Fund’s distributions and, after December 31, 2018, to redemptions and certain capital gain dividends payable to such entities. A non-U.S. shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the United States and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.

This discussion and the related discussion in the Prospectus have been prepared by management of the Fund, and counsel to the Trust has expressed no opinion in respect thereof.

Shareholders and prospective shareholders of the Fund should consult their own tax advisors concerning the effect of owning shares of the Fund in light of their particular tax situations.
 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund will receive income in the form of dividends and interest earned on its investments in securities. This income, less the expenses incurred in its operations, is the Fund’s net investment income, substantially all of which will be declared as dividends to the Fund’s shareholders.

The amount of income dividend payments by the Fund is dependent upon the amount of net investment income received by the Fund from its portfolio holdings, is not guaranteed and is subject to the discretion of the Board. The Fund does not pay “interest” or guarantee any fixed rate of return on an investment in its shares.

B-61

The Fund also may derive capital gains or losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Any net gain the Fund may realize from transactions involving investments held for less than the period required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing short‑term capital gains and losses (taking into account any available carryover of capital losses), although a distribution from capital gains, will be distributed to shareholders with and as a part of the income dividends paid by the Fund and will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. If during any year the Fund realizes a net gain on transactions involving investments held for more than the period required for long‑term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing long‑term capital gains and losses, the Fund will have a net long‑term capital gain. After deduction of the amount of any net short‑term capital loss, the balance (to the extent not offset by any capital losses available to be carried over) generally will be distributed and treated as long‑term capital gains in the hands of the shareholders regardless of the length of time the Fund’s shares may have been held by the shareholders. For more information concerning applicable capital gains tax rates, see your tax advisor.
 
Any dividend or distribution paid by the Fund reduces the Fund’s NAVs on the date paid by the amount of the dividend or distribution per share. Accordingly, a dividend or distribution paid shortly after a purchase of shares by a shareholder will generally be taxable, even if it effectively represents a partial return of the shareholder’s capital.

Dividends and other distributions will be made in the form of additional shares of the Fund unless the shareholder has otherwise indicated. Investors have the right to change their elections with respect to the reinvestment of dividends and distributions by notifying the Transfer Agent in writing, but any such change will be effective only as to dividends and other distributions for which the record date is seven or more business days after the Transfer Agent has received the written request.

The Fund’s investments in partnerships, if any, including in qualified publicly traded partnerships, may result in that Fund being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.
 
GENERAL INFORMATION

Investment Managers Series Trust II is an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware on August 20, 2013. The Trust has a number of outstanding series of shares of beneficial interest, each of which represents interests in a separate portfolio of securities.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to create additional series of shares, to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest of each series, including the Fund, and to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the series. The assets belonging to a series is charged with the liabilities in respect of that series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that series only. Therefore, any creditor of any series may look only to the assets belonging to that series to satisfy the creditor’s debt. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as pertaining to any particular series are allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among the existing series in the sole discretion of the Trustees. Each share of the Fund represents an interest in the Fund proportionately equal to the interest of each other share. Upon the Fund’s liquidation, all shareholders would share pro rata in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders.

The Trust may offer more than one class of shares of any series. Each share of a series or class represents an equal proportionate interest in that series or class with each other share of that series or class. With respect to the Fund, the Trust currently offers two classes of shares: Investor Class and Institutional Class. The Trust has reserved the right to create and issue additional series or classes. Each share of a series or class represents an equal proportionate interest in that series or class with each other share of that series or class.

B-62

The shares of each series or class participate equally in the earnings, dividends and assets of the particular series or class. Expenses of the Trust, which are not attributable to a specific series or class, are allocated among all the series in a manner believed by management of the Trust to be fair and equitable. Shares issued do not have pre‑emptive or conversion rights. Shares when issued are fully paid and non‑assessable, except as set forth below. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held. Shares of each series or class generally vote together, except when required under federal securities laws to vote separately on matters that only affect a particular series or class, such as the approval of distribution plans for a particular class.

The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders but will hold special meetings of shareholders of a series or class when, in the judgment of the Board, it is necessary or desirable to submit matters for a shareholder vote. Shareholders have, under certain circumstances, the right to communicate with other shareholders in connection with requesting a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of removing one or more trustees. Shareholders also have, in certain circumstances, the right to remove one or more trustees without a meeting. No material amendment may be made to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each portfolio affected by the amendment.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides that, at any meeting of shareholders of the Trust or of any series or class, a shareholder servicing agent may vote any shares as to which such shareholder servicing agent is the agent of record for shareholders who are not represented in person or by proxy at the meeting, proportionately in accordance with the votes cast by holders of all shares of that portfolio otherwise represented at the meeting in person or by proxy as to which such shareholder servicing agent is the agent of record. Any shares so voted by a shareholder servicing agent will be deemed represented at the meeting for purposes of quorum requirements. Any series or class may be terminated (i) upon the merger or consolidation with, or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of its assets to, another entity, if approved by the vote of the holders of two‑thirds of its outstanding shares, except that if the Board recommends such merger, consolidation or sale or disposition of assets, the approval by vote of the holders of a majority of the series’ or class’ outstanding shares will be sufficient, or (ii) by the vote of the holders of a majority of its outstanding shares, or (iii) by the Board by written notice to the series’ or class’ shareholders. Unless each series and class is so terminated, the Trust will continue indefinitely.

Shareholders may send communications to the Board. Shareholders should send communications intended for the Board by addressing the communications to the Board, in care of the Secretary of the Trust and sending the communication to 2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226, Glendora, California 91740. A shareholder communication must (i) be in writing and be signed by the shareholder, (ii) provide contact information for the shareholder, (iii) identify the Fund to which it relates, and (iv) identify the class and number of shares held by the shareholder. The Secretary of the Trust may, in good faith, determine that a shareholder communication should not be provided to the Board because it does not reasonably relate to the Trust or its operations, management, activities, policies, service providers, Board, officers, shareholders or other matters relating to an investment in the Fund or is otherwise immaterial in nature. Other shareholder communications received by the Funds not directly addressed and sent to the Board will be reviewed and generally responded to by management, and will be forwarded to the Board only at management's discretion based on the matters contained therein.

The Declaration of Trust provides that no Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be subject to any personal liability in connection with the assets or affairs of the Trust or any of its series except for losses in connection with his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. The Trust has also entered into an indemnification agreement with each Trustee which provides that the Trust shall advance expenses and indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee in certain circumstances against any expenses incurred by the Trustee in any proceeding arising out of or in connection with the Trustee's service to the Trust, to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, and which provides for certain procedures in connection with such advancement of expenses and indemnification.

B-63

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust shall maintain appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity bonding and errors and omissions insurance) for the protection of the Trust, its shareholders, trustees, officers, employees and agents covering possible tort and other liabilities.

The Declaration of Trust does not require the issuance of stock certificates. If stock certificates are issued, they must be returned by the registered owners prior to the transfer or redemption of shares represented by such certificates.

Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that as to any investment company which has two or more series outstanding and as to any matter required to be submitted to shareholder vote, such matter is not deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a “majority” (as defined in the rule) of the voting securities of each series affected by the matter. Such separate voting requirements do not apply to the election of Trustees or the ratification of the selection of accountants. The Rule contains special provisions for cases in which an advisory contract is approved by one or more, but not all, series. A change in investment policy may go into effect as to one or more series whose holders so approve the change even though the required vote is not obtained as to the holders of other affected series.

The Trust, the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor have adopted Codes of Ethics under Rule 17j‑1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics permit, subject to certain conditions, personnel of each of those entities to invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As the Fund has recently commenced operations, there are no financial statements available at this time. Shareholders of the Fund will be informed of the Fund’s progress through periodic reports when those reports become available. Financial statements certified by the independent registered public accounting firm will be submitted to shareholders at least annually.
B-64

APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

Corporate Bonds (Including Convertible Bonds)

Moody’s

Aaa
Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

Aa
Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A
Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa
Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba
Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B
Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa
Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca
Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery.

C
Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

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

S&P

AAA An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA
An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only in small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A
An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB
An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B-65

Note
Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB
An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions, which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B
An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC
An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC
An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C
The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action has been taken, but payments on this obligation are being continued.

D
An obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Note
Plus (+) or minus (-). The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories. The “r” symbol is attached to the ratings of instruments with significant noncredit risks. It highlights risks to principal or volatility of expected returns, which are not addressed in the credit rating. Examples include: obligations linked or indexed to equities, currencies, or commodities; obligations exposed to severe prepayment risk-such as interest-only or principal-only mortgage securities; and obligations with unusually risky interest terms, such as inverse floaters.
 
Preferred Stock

Moody’s

Aaa
An issue that is rated “Aaa” is considered to be a top-quality preferred stock. This rating indicates good asset protection and the least risk of dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stocks.

Aa
An issue that is rated “Aa” is considered a high-grade preferred stock. This rating indicates that there is a reasonable assurance the earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well maintained in the foreseeable future.
B-66

A
An issue that is rated “A” is considered to be an upper-medium grade preferred stock. While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the “Aaa” and “Aa” classification, earnings and asset protection are, nevertheless, expected to be maintained at adequate levels.

Baa
An issue that is rated “Baa” is considered to be a medium-grade preferred stock, neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Earnings and asset protection appear adequate at present but may be questionable over any great length of time.

Ba
An issue that is rated “Ba” is considered to have speculative elements and its future cannot be considered well assured. Earnings and asset protection may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during adverse periods. Uncertainty of position characterizes preferred stocks in this class.

B
An issue that is rated “B” generally lacks the characteristics of a desirable investment. Assurance of dividend payments and maintenance of other terms of the issue over any long period of time may be small.

Caa
An issue that is rated “Caa” is likely to be in arrears on dividend payments. This rating designation does not purport to indicate the future status of payments.

Ca
An issue that is rated “Ca” is speculative in a high degree and is likely to be in arrears on dividends with little likelihood of eventual payments.

C
This is the lowest rated class of preferred or preference stock. Issues so rated can thus be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
 
Note
Moody’s applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each rating classification: 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.

S&P

AAA
This is the highest rating that may be assigned by Standard & Poor’s to a preferred stock issue and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay the preferred stock obligations.
 
AA
A preferred stock issue rated AA also qualifies as a high-quality, fixed-income security. The capacity to pay preferred stock obligations is very strong, although not as overwhelming as for issues rated AAA.

A
An issue rated A is backed by a sound capacity to pay the preferred stock obligations, although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions.

BBB
An issue rated BBB is regarded as backed by an adequate capacity to pay the preferred stock obligations. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to make payments for a preferred stock in this category than for issues in the A category.

BB, B, CCC
Preferred stock rated BB, B, and CCC is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay preferred stock obligations. BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and CCC the highest. While such issues will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
B-67


CC
The rating CC is reserved for a preferred stock issue that is in arrears on dividends or sinking fund payments, but that is currently paying.

C
A preferred stock rated C is a nonpaying issue.

D
A preferred stock rated D is a nonpaying issue with the issuer in default on debt instruments.

N.R.
This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.

Note Plus (+) or minus (-). To provide more detailed indications of preferred stock quality, ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

Short Term Ratings

Moody’s
Moody’s employs the following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

Prime-1
Issuers rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics:

·
Leading market positions in well-established industries.

·
High rates of return on funds employed.

·
Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection.
 
·
Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation.

·
Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

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

Prime-3
Issuers rated Prime-3 (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.
 
Not Prime
Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

S&P
 
A-1
A short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2
A short-term obligation rated A-2 is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3
A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B
A short-term obligation rated B is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties, which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

C
A short-term obligation rated C is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D
A short-term obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
B-69

APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES


INVESTMENT MANAGERS SERIES TRUST II
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Investment Managers Series Trust II (the “Trust”) is registered as an open-end investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust offers multiple series (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”). Consistent with its fiduciary duties and pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Proxy Rule”), the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) has adopted this proxy voting policy on behalf of the Trust (the “Policy”) to reflect its commitment to ensure that proxies are voted in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders.

Delegation of Proxy Voting Authority to Fund Advisors

The Board believes that the investment advisor of each Fund (each an “Advisor” and, collectively, the “Advisors”), as the entity that selects the individual securities that comprise its Fund’s portfolio, is the most knowledgeable and best-suited to make decisions on how to vote proxies of portfolio companies held by that Fund. The Trust shall therefore defer to, and rely on, the Advisor of each Fund to make decisions on how to cast proxy votes on behalf of such Fund.

The Trust hereby designates the Advisor of each Fund as the entity responsible for exercising proxy voting authority with regard to securities held in the Fund’s investment portfolio. Consistent with its duties under this Policy, each Advisor shall monitor and review corporate transactions of corporations in which the Fund has invested, obtain all information sufficient to allow an informed vote on all proxy solicitations, ensure that all proxy votes are cast in a timely fashion, and maintain all records required to be maintained by the Fund under the Proxy Rule and the 1940 Act. Each Advisor shall perform these duties in accordance with the Advisor’s proxy voting policy, a copy of which shall be presented to this Board for its review. Each Advisor shall promptly provide to the Board updates to its proxy voting policy as they are adopted and implemented.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policy and Records Available to Fund Shareholders

If a Fund or an Advisor has a web site, a copy of the Advisor’s proxy voting policy and this Policy may be posted on such website. A copy of such policies and of each Fund’s proxy voting record shall also be made available, without charge, upon request of any shareholder of the Fund, by calling the applicable Fund’s toll-free telephone number as printed in the Fund’s prospectus. The Trust’s administrator shall reply to any Fund shareholder request within three business days of receipt of the request, by first-class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery.

Each Advisor shall provide a complete voting record, as required by the Proxy Rule, for each series of the Trust for which it acts as advisor, to the Trust’s co-administrator within 30 days after June 30 of each year . The Trust’s co-administrator, MFAC will file a report based on such record on Form N-PX on an annual basis with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than August 31st of each year.
B-70

REX Capital Management, LLC
 
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

[to be provided]
B-71

Vident Investment Advisory, LLC

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

[to be provided]
 
B-72

PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund

ITEM 28.
EXHIBITS

(a)
(1) Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Registrant (1)
(2) Certificate of Trust (1)
(3) Certificate of Designation of the REX Bitcoin Strategy Fund – filed herewith
(b)
Amended By-Laws of Registrant (5)
(c)
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders is incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws.
(d)
Investment Advisory Agreement – to be filed by amendment
(1) Sub-Advisory Agreement with Vident Investment Advisory, LLC – to be filed by amendment
(2) Investment Advisory Agreement (Subsidiary) - to be filed by amendment
(3) Sub-Advisory Agreement (Subsidiary) - to be filed by amendment
(e) Distribution Agreement (2)
(f) Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts is not applicable.
(g) Custody Agreement (2)
(1) Custody Agreement between UMB Bank, N.A. and (Subsidiary) - to be filed by amendment
(h) Other Material Contracts
(1) Transfer Agency Agreement (2)
(i) Amended and Restated Schedule B to the Transfer Agency Agreement (3)
(2) Fund Accounting Agreement (2)
(3) Co-Administration Agreement (2)
(4) Operating Expense Agreement – to be filed by Amendment
(5) Shareholder Service Plan – to be filed by amendment
(6) Administration, Fund Accounting and Recordkeeping Agreement between UMB Fund Services, Inc. and (Subsidiary) - to be filed by amendment
(7) Fee Waiver Agreement - to be filed by amendment
(i) Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel – to be filed by amendment
(j) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – to be filed by amendment
(k) Not applicable
(l) Form of Initial Subscription Agreement – to be filed by amendment
(m) Rule 12b-1 Plan – to be filed by amendment
(n) Rule 18f-3 Plan – to be filed by amendment
(o) Powers of Attorney (4)
(p) Code of Ethics
(1) Code of Ethics of the Trust (2)
(2) Code of Ethics of the Advisor – to be filed by amendment
(3) Code of Ethics of the Sub-Advisor – to be filed by amendment


(1) Previously filed in Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the commission on September 30, 2013.
(2) Previously filed in Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed with the commission on November 15, 2013.
(3) Previously filed in Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 filed with the commission on October 17, 2014.
(4) Previously filed in Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 filed with the commission on October 17, 2014.
(5) Previously filed in Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 92 filed with the commission on August 12, 2016.


ITEM 29.
PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE FUNDS

See the Statement of Additional Information.

ITEM 30.
INDEMNIFICATION

Pursuant to Del. Code Ann. Title 12 Section 3817, a Delaware statutory trust may provide in its governing instrument for the indemnification of its officers and Trustees from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.

Reference is made to Article 8, Section 8.4 of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which provides:

Subject to the limitations, if applicable, hereinafter set forth in this Section 8.4, the Trust shall indemnify (from the assets of the Series or Series to which the conduct in question relates) each of its Trustees, officers, employees and agents (including Persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter, together with such Person’s heirs, executors, administrators or personal representative, referred to as a “Covered Person”)) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, except with respect to any matter as to which it has been determined that such Covered Person (i) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust; (ii) had acted with willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office (iii) for a criminal proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful (the conduct described in (i), (ii) and (iii) being referred to hereafter as “Disabling Conduct”). A determination that the Covered Person is entitled to indemnification may be made by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Covered Person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action or an administrative proceeding against a Covered Person for insufficiency of evidence of Disabling Conduct, or (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnity was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act nor parties to the proceeding (the “Disinterested Trustees”), or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by one or more Series to which the conduct in question related in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding; provided that the Covered Person shall have undertaken to repay the amounts so paid to such Series if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article 8 and (i) the Covered Person shall have provided security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the disinterested Trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


The Registrant has also entered into Indemnification Agreements with each of its trustees which provide that the Registrant shall advance expenses and indemnify and hold harmless each trustee in certain circumstances against any expenses incurred by a trustee in any proceeding arising out of or in connection with the trustee’s service to the Registrant, to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, and which provide for certain procedures in connection with such advancement of expenses and indemnification.

Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement between the Trust and IMST Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), the Trust has agreed to indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor, and each of its present or former directors, members, officers, employees, representatives and any person who controls or previously controlled the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (“Distributor Indemnitees”), free and harmless (a) from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, charges, payments, costs and expenses (including the costs of investigating or defending any alleged losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, charges, payments, costs or expenses and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) of any and every nature (“Losses”) which Distributor and/or each of the Distributor Indemnitees may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other statute (including Blue Sky laws) or any rule or regulation thereunder, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in the registration statement or any prospectus, an annual or interim report to shareholders or sales literature, or any amendments or supplements thereto, or arising out of or based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Trust’s obligation to indemnify Distributor and any of the Distributor Indemnitees shall not be deemed to cover any Losses arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Distributor and furnished to the Trust or its counsel by Distributor in writing for the purpose of, and used in, the preparation thereof; (b) from and against any and all Losses which Distributor and/or each of the Distributor Indemnitees may incur in connection with this Agreement or the Distributor’s performance hereunder, except to the extent the Losses result from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, (c) from and against any and all Losses which Distributor and/or each of the Distributor Indemnitees may incur resulting from the actions or inactions of any prior service provider to the Trust or any Funds in existence prior to, and added to Schedule A after, the date of this Agreement, or (d) from and against any and all Losses which Distributor and/or each of the Distributor Indemnitees may incur when acting in accordance with instructions from the Trust or its representatives; and provided further that to the extent this agreement of indemnity may require indemnity of any Distributor Indemnitee who is also a trustee or officer of the Trust, no such indemnity shall inure to the benefit of such trustee or officer if to do so would be against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act.

ITEM 31.
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

With respect to the Advisor, the response to this Item will be incorporated by reference to the Advisor’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Advisor’s Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

ITEM 32.
IMST DISTRIBUTORS, LLC

 
(a)
IMST Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:
 
1.
Investment Managers Series Trust
2.
Investment Managers Series Trust II
 
 
(b)
The following are the Officers and Manager of the Distributor. The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.
 


Name
Address
Position with Underwriter
Position with Registrant
Richard J. Berthy
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101
President, Treasurer and Manager
None
Mark A. Fairbanks
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101
Vice President
None
Jennifer K. DiValerio
899 Cassatt Road, 400 Berwyn Park,
Suite 110, Berwyn, PA 19312
Vice President
None
Susan K. Moscaritolo
899 Cassatt Road, 400 Berwyn Park,
Suite 110, Berwyn, PA 19312
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
None
Jennifer E. Hoopes
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101
Secretary
None
 
 
(c)
Not applicable.

ITEM 33.
LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.
 
The books and records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 are maintained at the following locations:

Records Relating to:
Are located at:
Registrant’s Transfer Agent, Fund Accountant and Co-Administrator
UMB Fund Services, Inc.
235 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Registrant’s Co-Administrator
Mutual Fund Administration, LLC
2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226
Glendora, California 91740
Registrant’s Custodian
UMB Bank, n.a.
928 Grand Boulevard, 5th Floor
Kansas City, Missouri, 64106
Registrant’s Advisor
REX Capital Management, LLC
44 Post Road West
Westport, CT 06880
Registrant’s Sub-Advisor
 
 
Vident Investment Advisory, LLC
89 Headquarters Plaza, North Tower, 14th Floor
Morristown, New Jersey, 07960
Registrant’s Distributor
IMST Distributors, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, Maine 04101
 
ITEM 34.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Not applicable

ITEM 35.
UNDERTAKINGS

Not applicable

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, on the 23rd day of August 2017.
 
 
INVESMENT MANAGERS SERIES TRUST II 
 
       
 
By:
/s/ Terrance P. Gallagher
 
   
Terrance P. Gallagher, President
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed on the 23rd day of August 2017, by the following persons in the capacities set forth below.
 
Signature
 
Title
     
   
Thomas Knipper
 
Trustee
     
   
Kathleen K. Shkuda
 
Trustee
     
   
Larry D. Tashjian
 
Trustee
     
   
John P. Zader
 
Trustee
     
 
Eric M. Banhazl
 
Trustee
     
/s/ Terrance P. Gallagher
 
Terrance P. Gallagher
 
President
     
/s/ Rita Dam
 
Rita Dam
  Treasurer
 
By
/s/ Rita Dam
 
Attorney-in-fact, pursuant to power of attorney filed
with Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 filed on October 17, 2014.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Exhibit No.
Certificate of Designation
EX99.28(a)(3)