ABSOLUTE Funds

Absolute Strategies Fund  [ASFIX]

Inception Date:
July 25,2005

Structure:
Open-End Mutual Fund

Ticker:
ASFIX

Share Classes:
I-Share

Fund Administration:
Apex Fund Services

Distributor:
Foreside Fund Services, LLC

The Absolute Strategies Fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation with an emphasis on absolute returns and low sensitivity to traditional financial market indices. The Fund is made up of external managers and an internal overlay strategy.

The Fund's external managers vary their exposures over time in order to manage risk and pursue unique long and short opportunities. Absolute’s overlay is used to adjust the overall sensitivity of the portfolio, allowing the Fund to take advantage of the extrnal managers' security selection skills across a wide range of strategy types without taking on all of the market sensitivity.

About the Underlying Strategies

ST. JAMES INVESTMENT COMPANY, LLC was founded in 1999 and is located in Dallas, Texas. St. James is an absolute return-oriented, “best ideas” equity manager whose philosophy focuses on valuation, independent fundamental research, and the view that risk is defined as a permanent loss of capital. Portfolio Manager Robert Mark seeks to make investments in a limited number of businesses that are purchased with a significant margin of safety. St. James utilizes a long term investment horizon and they are willing to be patient and hold cash in the absence of bargains.

Strategy run for the Fund: Opportunistic Equity

KOVITZ INVESTMENT GROUP PARTNERS is an investment and wealth management firm located in Chicago, IL. Kovitz was founded in October 2003 after operating as an independent group within Rothschild Investment Corporation starting in 1997. The firm manages assets with a value approach across a number of equity, fixed-income, and private strategies. The hedged equity strategy utilized by CAPOX is managed by a long-standing team of Mitch Kovitz, Jon Shapiro, and Joel Hirsh.

Strategy run for the Fund: Hedged Equity

ABSOLUTE INVESTMENT ADVISERS LLC is an Independent, employee-owned firm founded in 2004 by partners from various parts of the mutual fund, hedge fund and financial services industries. Located in Hingham, Massachusetts, Absolute manages a disciplined Convertible Arbitrage strategy with an investment objective focused on capital preservation. The firm’s experienced investment team (formerly Mohican Financial Management) utilizes intensive fundamental research for sourcing ideas and constructing portfolios of small/mid capitalization convertible securities. Their versatile understanding of total return, credit, and volatility provides the foundation for successful portfolio diversification and risk management.

Strategy run for the Fund: Convertible Arbitrage

Along with the convertible arbitrage strategy, Absolute Advisers is the adviser to the Fund and responsible for manager research, selection and ongoing allocations, Absolute also runs a portfolio overlay to manage/hedge exposures.

Fund Literature

Fact sheet

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Intro Presentation

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ASFIX Summary Prospectus

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Absolute Funds Prospectus

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Absolute Funds Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

Shareholder Reports

Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/22
Annual Report – Period Ending 3/31/22
Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/21
Annual Report – Period Ending 3/31/21
Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/20
Absolute Funds Information Statement – 9/17/20
Annual Report – Period Ending 3/31/20
Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/19
Annual Report – Period Ending 3/31/19
Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/18
Annual Report – Period Ending 3/31/18
Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/17
Annual Report – Period Ending 3/31/17
Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/16
Annual Report – Period Ending 3/31/16
Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/15
Annual Report – Period Ending 3/31/15
Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/14
Annual Report – Period Ending 3/31/14
Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/13
Annual Report – Period Ending 3/31/13
Semi-Annual Report – Period Ending 9/30/12

 

Portfolio Commentary

Portfolio Commentary for the Absolute Strategies Fund is provided on a quarterly basis. Additional information can be found within the shareholder letters in the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. If you are a financial adviser and would like to be added to our e-mail distribution list, contact us by e-mail.

“We believe the end of this market cycle could be very significant, and may result in the S&P 500 reversing down below the March 2020 lows, and possibly substantially lower; this would amount to market losses of at least 50%+. We also recognize the market continues to have potential for a continued melt-up, especially given the timing of the most recent stimulus checks. Many investors tried their luck with small spec stocks but could add this new found money back into large cap stocks. As such we have tried to maintain some patience regarding our positioning by maintaining a substantial net short position in market indices paired with shorter term upside call options. This provides the portfolio with a hedge against further speculative impulses while maintaining our longer term positioning. Should markets begin a new bear market, we intend to maintain an aggressive short position.” [read all]

    “The Fund has performed well given the incredible moves in markets over the past six months and the continued divergence between growth vs value indices. Our hedging and net short position in February and March enabled the Fund to capitalize on volatility and produce a positive return during the peak to trough market crash (Feb 19 to Mar 23)…. We believe having long exposure in under-valued, solid companies vs. short exposure in over-valued growth can provide substantial diversification and unique risk-adjusted performance to an otherwise beta-driven portfolio. The Fund also has a large allocation to convertible arbitrage, which has been a consistent performer and adds balance to our long value, short growth exposure. ” (Beta is the measure of a fund’s relative volatility as compared to the S&P 500 Index which by definition is 1.00) [read all]

      “Our Funds are focused on processes and strategies to create various forms of alpha in both equity and credit markets. Focusing on alpha, whether it be a long-only, neutral or short biased, can assist investors and asset allocators to achieve diversification and can help maintain a prudent assessment of financial market history. Not all market cycles provide a beneficial backdrop for achieving alpha performance, but these strategies do tend to perform best during the most difficult environments for passive, beta-style investments.” [ read all ]

      Fund Distribution Information

      The Fund distributes income semi-annually in June and December and distributes long and short-term capital gains in December. This page will be updated with distribution amounts when the data becomes available.

      2022 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class ASFIX Income $0.00 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/30/22 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/13/22 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/13/22
      Class Record Date Income 12/29/22 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/12/22 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/12/22

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share. 
      Class Income
      Class ASFIX Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/30/22
      Class Record Date Income 6/29/22
      2021 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.  
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class ASFIX Income $0.00 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/31/21 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/14/21 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/14/21
      Class Record Date Income 12/30/21 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/13/21 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/13/21

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share. 
      Class Income
      Class ASFIX Income $0.19110
      Class Ex Date Income 6/30/21
      Class Record Date Income 6/29/21
      2020 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income  $0.00 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/31/20 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/10/20 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/10/20
      Class Record Date Income 12/30/20 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/11/20 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/11/20

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/30/20
      Class Record Date Income 6/29/20
      2019 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/31/19 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/13/19 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/13/19
      Class Record Date Income 12/30/19 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/12/19 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/12/19

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00675
      Class Ex Date Income 6/28/19
      Class Record Date Income 6/27/19
      2018 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/31/18 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/14/18 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/14/18
      Class Record Date Income 12/28/18 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/13/18 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/13/18

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/29/18
      Class Record Date Income 6/28/18
      2017 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/29/17 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/15/17 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/15/17
      Class Record Date Income 12/28/17 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/14/17 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/14/17

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class ASFIX Income $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/30/17
      Class Record Date Income 6/29/17
      2016 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.79569
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.51099
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.79569
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.51099
      Class Ex Date Income 12/30/16 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/15/16 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/15/16
      Class Record Date Income 12/29/16 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/14/16 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/14/16

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class ASFIX Income $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/30/16
      Class Record Date Income 6/29/16
      2015 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.67929
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.16332
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.67929
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.16332
      Class Ex Date Income 12/31/15 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/15/15 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/15/15
      Class Record Date Income 12/30/15 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/14/15 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/14/15

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/30/15
      Class Record Date Income 6/29/15
      2014 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/31/14 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/12/14 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/12/14
      Class Record Date Income 12/30/14 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/11/14 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/11/14

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/30/14
      Class Record Date Income 6/27/14
      2013 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/31/13 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/12/13 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/12/13
      Class Record Date Income 12/31/13 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/11/13 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/11/13

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/29/13
      Class Record Date Income 6/27/13
      2012 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/31/12 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/13/12 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/13/12
      Class Record Date Income 12/31/12 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/12/12 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/12/12

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/29/12
      Class Record Date Income 6/28/12
      2011 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00316
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.05035
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.05035
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/30/11 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/13/11 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/13/11
      Class Record Date Income 12/29/11 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/12/11 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/12/11

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.01857
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/30/11
      Class Record Date Income 6/29/11
      2010 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.02984
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00907
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 12/31/10 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/9/10 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/9/10
      Class Record Date Income 12/30/10 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/8/10 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/8/10

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.01469
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      Class Ex Date Income 6/30/10
      Class Record Date Income 6/29/10
      2009 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $1.56
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains 0.00359
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $1.56
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains 0.00359
      Class Ex Date Income 12/31/09 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/10/09 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/10/09
      Class Record Date Income 12/30/09 Long-Term Capital Gains 12/9/09 Short-Term Capital Gains 12/9/09

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.06200
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.04629
      Class Ex Date Income 6/30/09
      Class Record Date Income 6/29/09
      2008 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.04928 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.10194 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.25210
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.02990 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.10194 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.25210

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.02702
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.00644
      2007 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.07299
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.02742
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.07320
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.05515
      2006 Distributions
      December – Income & Capital Gains Distributions per share.
      Class Income Long-Term Capital Gains Short-Term Capital Gains
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.12441
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00016
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.10418
      		 Long-Term Capital Gains $0.0002
      		 Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00

      .

      June – Income Distributions per share
      Class Income
      Class I-Share (ASFIX) Income $0.09216
      Class R-Share (ASFAX) Income $0.06774

      Investing in the Fund

      Purchasing Through a Financial Adviser:
      The Absolute Strategies Fund may serve as an important piece of a diversified portfolio. We encourage investors to consult their financial advisers for guidance on asset allocation and the role of the Fund. Financial Advisers should contact us directly for information on the Fund and how it may be purchased.
      Go to Contact Information Page

      Direct Investment in the Fund:
      Investors may purchase the Fund directly from the Fund using the applications below. Please complete the applications and follow the purchasing instructions. For additional information, please call the Fund’s shareholder servicing department at 1-888-99-ABSOLUTE

      Absolute Strategies Fund Application
      Absolute Strategies Fund IRA Application
      Absolute Strategies Fund IRA Transfer Form

      Fund Risks & Disclosure

      Since the Fund utilizes a multi-manager strategy with multiple sub-advisers, it may be exposed to varying forms of risk. The Fund’s net asset value and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, and an investment in the Fund is not by itself a complete or balanced investment program. For a complete description of the Fund’s principal investment risks please refer to the prospectus.

      The Fund may invest in small- and medium-sized companies, which involves greater risk than investing in larger, more established companies such as increased volatility of earnings and prospects, higher failure rates, and limited markets, product lines or financial resources. The Fund may invest in foreign or emerging markets securities, which involves special risks, including the volatility of currency exchange rates and, in some cases, limited geographic focus, political and economic instability, and relatively illiquid markets.

      The Fund may invest in debt securities which are subject to interest rate risk. An increase in interest rates typically causes a fall in the value of the debt securities in which the Fund may invest. The Fund may also invest in high yield, lower rated (junk) bonds which involve a greater degree of risk and price fluctuation than investment grade bonds in return for higher yield potential. The Fund’s distressed debt strategy may involve a substantial degree of risk, including investments in sub-prime mortgage securities.

      The Fund may purchase securities of companies in initial public offerings. Special risks associated with these securities may include a limited number of shares available for trading, unseasoned trading, lack of investor knowledge of the company and limited operating history. The Fund may leverage transactions, which includes selling securities short as well as borrowing for other than temporary or emergency purposes. Leverage creates the risk of magnified capital losses. The Fund may also invest in derivatives which can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of risks, depending upon the characteristics of a particular derivative. The Fund may invest in options and futures which are subject to special risks and may not fully protect the Fund against declines in the value of its stocks. In addition, an option writing strategy limits the upside profit potential normally associated with stocks. Futures trading is very speculative, largely due to the traditional volatility of futures prices.