SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL SHORT TERM PLUS FUND Retail Class: SBHPX; Institutional Class: SBAPX |
Summary Prospectus | April 29, 2024 |
Before you invest, you may want to review the Segall Bryant & Hamill Short Term Plus Fund’s (the “Fund”) prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s prospectus, reports to shareholders and other information about the Fund online at https://www.sbhfunds.com/literature/. You can also get this information at no cost by calling (800) 392-2673, or by contacting your financial intermediary. You may get this information at no cost by sending an email request to Fulfillment@ultimusfundsolutions.com. The Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, each dated April 29, 2024, along with the Fund’s most recent annual report dated December 31, 2023, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus and may be obtained, free of charge, at the website, phone number or email address noted above.
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks to provide current income and competitive total return.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — | ||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.25% | 0.25% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 0.98% | 0.88% | ||
Shareholder service fee(1) | 0.19% | 0.10% | ||
All other expenses | 0.79% | 0.78% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.23% | 1.13% | ||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) | (0.74)% | (0.73)% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operations Expenses | ||||
After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) | 0.49% | 0.40% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
(2) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed until at least April 30, 2025, to waive the investment advisory and/or administration fees and/or to reimburse other expenses (not including acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, redemption in kind processing fees, brokerage expenses, class action claim fees, tax reclaim fees, and extraordinary expenses), so that the ratio of expenses of average net assets as reported in the Fund’s Financial Highlights will be no more than 0.49% and 0.40% to the Fund’s Retail Class and Institutional Class, respectively, for such period. This agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Adviser prior to the termination date without the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
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 either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of 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, that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same. This Example reflects the net operating expenses with expense wavers for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without expense waivers for years two through ten.
1
SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL SHORT TERM PLUS FUND
Although your actual costs may be | ||||
higher or lower, based on these | ||||
assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $50 | $317 | $604 | $1,423 |
Institutional Class | $41 | $287 | $552 | $1,309 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 45% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | The Fund invests 80% or more of its assets in investment-grade debt securities–those rated in the top four rating categories by at least one nationally recognized rating agency, such as Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s (a “Rating Agency”). The dollar-weighted average quality is expected to be “Baa” or better. A “Baa” rating typically is the lowest of the four investment-grade categories. |
● | The Fund may invest up to twenty percent (20%) of its assets in high yield securities. The Fund considers “high yield” securities to include securities rated, at the time of purchase, below investment grade by at least one Rating Agency or are unrated and determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and may include securities that are already in default. |
● | The Fund expects to maintain an effective duration of between 0 and 2 years and an effective maturity of between 0 and 3 years, under normal circumstances. |
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least eighty percent (80%) of the value of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in investment-grade securities with average maturities of five years or less and the dollar weighted average maturity will be three years or less. Investment-grade securities for purposes of this limitation include corporate bonds, government and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, mortgage pass-through securities, asset-backed securities, taxable municipal bonds, bonds issued in the U.S. by foreign entities, and zero coupon bonds. |
● | Although the Fund normally focuses on U.S. dollar-denominated securities, the Fund may invest up to ten percent (10%) in non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities. |
● | The portfolio management team implements an investment strategy that is based on bottom up research and security selection. The team opportunistically seeks inefficiencies within the bond market created by the size of the market, behaviors of large investors and the nature of over-the-counter trading. The team also opportunistically focuses on discrepancies in credit ratings provided by different credit rating agencies to provide income. |
● | The team uses a multiple step screening process and internally built modeling to identify suitable investments, taking into account financial and credit strength, operating cash flow, free cash flow stability, interest coverage and leverage ratios. The team typically focuses on publicly available data and company data rather than third-party research. The team also meets with company management teams in a variety of venues, including direct phone contact, conferences, one-on-one meetings at conferences, visits to our offices, company-site analyst days and quarterly earnings calls, to better understand potential investments. |
● | SBH utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) practices within its investment process alongside other non-ESG factors. SBH believes responsible corporate citizenship is additive to the creditworthiness of underlying issuers and contributes to our quality determination and assessment of risks, however consideration of ESG factors would not necessarily result in an issuer being included or excluded from the evaluation process. |
● | Using a collaborative approach grounded in proprietary research, the team constructs a diversified portfolio by issuer to seek to minimize issuer-specific credit risk. Potential transactions are analyzed to evaluate impact on the entire portfolio. |
● | Securities may be sold when conditions have changed, and the security’s prospects are no longer attractive, the security has achieved the team’s valuation target or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
2
SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL SHORT TERM PLUS FUND
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. 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.
● | Fixed Income Securities Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Additionally, there is a possibility that the Fund’s income may decline due to a decrease in interest rates. |
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the market. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. |
● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that particular types of securities held will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Credit Risk: An issuer may be unable to make principal and interest payments when due or that the price of the security changes due to a downgrade in the credit quality of the issuer. In such cases, the value of the Fund’s portfolio could fall. |
● | Corporate Bond Risk: The investment return of corporate bonds reflects interest earned on the security and changes in the market value of the security. The market value of a corporate bond may be affected by changes in interest rates, the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation’s performance and perceptions of the corporation in the marketplace. The market value of a corporate bond generally may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates. The market value of intermediate and longer-term corporate bonds is generally more sensitive to changes in interest rates than is the market value of shorter-term corporate bonds. Corporate bonds are also subject to the credit risk of the issuer, as the issuer of corporate bonds may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by an instrument. |
● | Interest Rate Risk: A principal risk of investing in the Fund is that the value of a fixed income portfolio will generally decrease when interest rates rise, which means the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) will likewise decrease. Generally, debt securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, with longer-term securities being more sensitive than shorter- term securities. For example, the approximate percentage change in the price of a security with a two -year duration would be expected to drop by approximately 2% in response to a 1% increase in interest rates. |
● | Prepayment Risk: A general decline in interest rates may result in prepayments of certain obligations the Fund will acquire. These prepayments may require the Fund to reinvest at a lower rate of return. They may also reduce the Fund’s share price because the value of those securities may depreciate or may not appreciate as rapidly as debt securities, which cannot be prepaid. |
● | Industrial Sector Risk: The industrial sector can be significantly affected by, among other things, worldwide economic growth, supply and demand for specific products and services, rapid technological developments, international political and economic developments, environmental issues, tariffs and trade barriers, and tax and governmental regulatory policies. As the demand for, or prices of, industrials increase, the value of the Fund’s investments generally would be expected to also increase. Conversely, declines in the demand for, or prices of, industrials generally would be expected to contribute to declines in the value of such securities. Such declines may occur quickly and without warning and may negatively impact the value of the Fund and your investment. |
3
SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL SHORT TERM PLUS FUND
● | Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, make significant investments in a particular sector which may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. If an economic downturn occurs in a sector in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities, and by extension, the value of the Fund’s portfolio. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often-complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. |
● | Below-Investment Grade Securities Risk: High-yield fixed income securities, sometimes referred to as “junk” bonds, are considered speculative. While generally providing greater income than investments in higher-quality securities, these lower quality securities involve greater risk to principal and income than higher-quality securities, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of the security. Like other fixed income securities, the value of high-yield securities will also fluctuate as interest rates rise. |
● | U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. |
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
4
SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL SHORT TERM PLUS FUND
Performance Information
Bar Chart and Performance Tables
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Retail Class performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one- and five-years and since inception for both the Retail Class and the Institutional Class compared with those of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
Retail Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: 6/30/2020 3.41% | Lowest Quarterly Return: 3/31/2020 (2.65)% |
The returns above are for the Retail Class of the Fund. The Institutional Class would have substantially similar annual returns to the Retail Class because the classes are invested in the same portfolio securities. The Institutional Class’ returns will be higher over the long-term when compared to the Retail Class’ returns to the extent that the Retail Class has higher expenses.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
After-tax returns for the Retail Class are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown only for the Retail Class, after-tax returns for the Institutional Class will be different. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Segall Bryant & Hamill Short Term Plus Fund | 1 Year | 5 Years | Since Inception | Inception Date |
Retail Class | ||||
Return Before Taxes | 5.09% | 1.65% | 1.67% | 12/14/18 |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 4.05% | 0.97% | 1.00% | 12/14/18 |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 3.00% | 0.97% | 0.99% | 12/14/18 |
Institutional Class | ||||
Return Before Taxes | 5.17% | 1.76% | 1.78% | 12/14/18 |
Bloomberg U.S. Government/Credit 1-3 Year Index | ||||
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | 4.61% | 1.51% | 1.60% |
5
SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL SHORT TERM PLUS FUND
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
James D. Dadura, CFA |
|
Director of Fixed Income – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC | |
Portfolio Manager of the Fund | December 14, 2018 |
Gregory C. Hosbein, CFA | |
Senior Portfolio Manager – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC | |
Portfolio Manager of the Fund | December 14, 2018 |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually). You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707.
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation - Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
6