Shareholder Letter
|
2
|
|
Sector Allocation
|
6
|
|
Schedule of Investments
|
7
|
|
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
|
10
|
|
Statement of Operations
|
11
|
|
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
|
12
|
|
Financial Highlights
|
14
|
|
Notes to Financial Statements
|
17
|
|
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement
|
27
|
|
Expense Examples
|
31
|
|
Additional Information
|
33
|
|
Privacy Notice
|
34
|
Semi-Annual Letter to Shareholders
|
March 2024
|
1)
|
The performance of the S&P 500 has been increasingly distorted over the past decade due to the record concentration in the Magnificent 7 stocks that have materially outperformed the other
493 stocks in the index in nine of the past ten calendar years.
|
|
2)
|
This unprecedented level of concentration has made it especially difficult for active managers to keep up with the S&P 500 over the past decade due to their natural bias to underweight the
largest stocks in the index. Indeed, according to Morningstar, only 9.8% of US Large Cap managers beat the index over this period. Happily, the Akre Focus Fund is among this minority despite owning virtually none of the Magnificent 7 during
this time.
|
|
3)
|
Because of the extraordinary level of concentration, a better gauge of active manager performance may be the equal-weighted S&P 500 index. Before protesting that this argument amounts to
“moving the goal post,” note that the equal-weighted S&P 500 has performed better than the standard market-cap-weighted index since 1990.
|
Akre Focus Fund Average Annual Total Returns as of January 31, 2024
|
|||||
Since Inception
|
|||||
1 Year
|
3 Year
|
5 Year
|
10 Year
|
(8/31/09)
|
|
Akre Focus Fund –
|
|||||
Retail (AKREX)
|
21.87
|
9.82
|
13.81
|
13.54
|
14.99
|
Akre Focus Fund –
|
|||||
Institutional (AKRIX)
|
22.18
|
10.10
|
14.11
|
13.85
|
15.29
|
S&P 500® Index
|
20.82
|
10.99
|
14.30
|
12.62
|
13.60
|
Top Ten Holdings as of January 31, 2024 (Unaudited)
|
Percentage of Net Assets
|
||||
Mastercard, Inc. – Class A
|
14.1
|
%
|
|||
Constellation Software, Inc.
|
13.4
|
%
|
|||
Moody’s Corp.
|
12.9
|
%
|
|||
KKR & Co., Inc.
|
10.2
|
%
|
|||
American Tower Corp.
|
8.7
|
%
|
|||
Visa, Inc. – Class A
|
6.9
|
%
|
|||
Roper Technologies, Inc.
|
6.2
|
%
|
|||
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
|
5.9
|
%
|
|||
Brookfield Corp.
|
5.3
|
%
|
|||
CoStar Group, Inc.
|
4.4
|
%
|
Date:
|
May 15, 2024
|
|
Time:
|
4:00 PM Eastern Time
|
|
Domestic Dial In:
|
(888) 575-5163
|
|
PIN:
|
8747
|
SECTOR ALLOCATION at January 31, 2024 (Unaudited)
|
Sector
|
Percent of Net Assets
|
||||
Financials
|
49.2
|
%
|
|||
Information Technology
|
23.8
|
%
|
|||
Real Estate
|
13.4
|
%
|
|||
Consumer Discretionary
|
7.1
|
%
|
|||
Health Care
|
3.3
|
%
|
|||
Cash & Equivalents1
|
3.2
|
%
|
|||
Total
|
100.0
|
%
|
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at January 31, 2024 (Unaudited)
|
Shares
|
Value
|
|||||||
COMMON STOCKS – 87.8%
|
||||||||
Capital Markets – 28.3%(a)
|
||||||||
Brookfield
|
||||||||
Corp. –
|
||||||||
Class A
|
17,410,451
|
$
|
690,846,696
|
|||||
KKR &
|
||||||||
Co., Inc.
|
15,175,000
|
1,313,851,500
|
||||||
Moody’s Corp.
|
4,244,000
|
1,663,817,760
|
||||||
3,668,515,956
|
||||||||
Financial Services – 20.9%
|
||||||||
Mastercard,
|
||||||||
Inc. – Class A
|
4,051,000
|
1,819,830,730
|
||||||
Visa, Inc. –
|
||||||||
Class A
|
3,253,000
|
888,914,780
|
||||||
2,708,745,510
|
||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services – 3.3%
|
||||||||
Danaher Corp.
|
1,750,000
|
419,842,500
|
||||||
Real Estate Management & Development – 4.4%
|
||||||||
CoStar
|
||||||||
Group, Inc.(b)
|
6,850,530
|
571,882,244
|
||||||
Software – 23.8%
|
||||||||
CCC Intelligent
|
||||||||
Solutions
|
||||||||
Holdings, Inc.(b)
|
7,000,000
|
76,930,000
|
||||||
Constellation
|
||||||||
Software, Inc.
|
628,500
|
1,737,080,598
|
||||||
Roper
|
||||||||
Technologies,
|
||||||||
Inc.
|
1,494,000
|
802,278,000
|
||||||
Topicus.com,
|
||||||||
Inc.(b)
|
6,000,000
|
464,130,313
|
||||||
3,080,418,911
|
||||||||
Specialty Retail – 7.1%
|
||||||||
CarMax, Inc.(b)(c)
|
2,200,000
|
156,596,000
|
||||||
O’Reilly
|
||||||||
Automotive,
|
||||||||
Inc.(b)
|
747,000
|
764,218,350
|
||||||
920,814,350
|
||||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
|
||||||||
(Cost $3,334,756,202)
|
11,370,219,471
|
|||||||
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS – 9.0%
|
||||||||
American
|
||||||||
Tower Corp.
|
5,770,000
|
1,128,900,500
|
||||||
SBA
|
||||||||
Communications
|
||||||||
Corp.
|
180,629
|
40,435,608
|
||||||
TOTAL REAL ESTATE
|
||||||||
INVESTMENT TRUSTS
|
||||||||
(Cost $502,804,094)
|
1,169,336,108
|
|||||||
Contracts
|
||||||||
WARRANTS – 0.0%(d)
|
||||||||
Software – 0.0%(d)
|
||||||||
Constellation
|
||||||||
Software, Inc.,
|
||||||||
Expires
|
||||||||
03/31/2040,
|
||||||||
Exercise Price
|
||||||||
$0.00(b)(e)
|
628,500
|
0
|
||||||
TOTAL WARRANTS
|
||||||||
(Cost $0)
|
0
|
|||||||
Shares
|
||||||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 1.6%
|
||||||||
Investments Purchased with Proceeds
|
||||||||
from Securities Lending – 0.0%(d)
|
||||||||
First American
|
||||||||
Government
|
||||||||
Obligations
|
||||||||
Fund – Class X,
|
||||||||
5.25%(f)
|
195,000
|
195,000
|
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at January 31, 2024 (Unaudited)
(Continued)
|
Par
|
Value
|
|||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills – 1.6%
|
||||||||
5.26%,
04/18/2024(g)
|
||||||||
205,000,000
|
$
|
202,724,055
|
||||||
TOTAL SHORT-TERM
|
||||||||
INVESTMENTS
|
||||||||
(Cost $202,917,137)
|
202,919,055
|
|||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS – 98.4%
|
||||||||
(Cost $4,040,477,433)
|
12,742,474,634
|
|||||||
Money Market Deposit
|
||||||||
Account – 0.8%(h)
|
97,138,048
|
|||||||
Other Assets in
|
||||||||
Excess of Liabilities – 0.8%
|
100,619,681
|
|||||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS – 100.0%
|
$
|
12,940,232,363
|
(a)
|
To the extent that the Fund invests more heavily in a particular industry or sector of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those
industries or sectors.
|
(b)
|
Non-income producing security.
|
(c)
|
All or a portion of this security is on loan as of January 31, 2024. The total market value of these securities was $185,068 which represented less than 0.05% of net assets.
|
(d)
|
Represents less than 0.05% of net assets.
|
(e)
|
Fair value determined using significant unobservable inputs in accordance with procedures established by and under the supervision of the Advisor, acting as Valuation Designee. These securities
represented $0 or 0.0% of net assets as of January 31, 2024.
|
(f)
|
The rate shown represents the 7-day effective yield as of January 31, 2024.
|
(g)
|
The rate shown is the effective yield.
|
(h)
|
The U.S. Bank Money Market Deposit Account (the “MMDA”) is a short-term vehicle in which the Fund holds cash balances. The MMDA will bear interest at a variable rate that is determined based on
market conditions and is subject to change daily. The rate as of January 31, 2024 was 3.45%.
|
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES at January 31, 2024
(Unaudited)
|
ASSETS
|
||||
Investments in unaffiliated securities, at value
|
||||
(Cost $4,040,477,433)
|
$
|
12,742,474,634
|
||
Cash and equivalents
|
189,786,595
|
|||
Receivables:
|
||||
Fund shares sold
|
18,774,207
|
|||
Dividends and interest
|
13,052,891
|
|||
Securities lending income, net
|
25
|
|||
Prepaid expenses
|
918,340
|
|||
Total assets
|
12,965,006,692
|
|||
|
||||
LIABILITIES
|
||||
Payables:
|
||||
Fund shares redeemed
|
11,414,107
|
|||
Investment advisory fees
|
9,766,749
|
|||
Shareholder servicing fees
|
1,561,469
|
|||
Distribution fees – Retail Class
|
918,901
|
|||
Fund administration fees
|
213,157
|
|||
Collateral received for securities loaned
|
195,000
|
|||
Fund accounting fees
|
121,073
|
|||
Custody fees
|
68,316
|
|||
Audit fees
|
9,195
|
|||
Chief Compliance Officer fees
|
1,288
|
|||
Other accrued expenses
|
505,074
|
|||
Total liabilities
|
24,774,329
|
|||
NET ASSETS
|
$
|
12,940,232,363
|
||
|
||||
COMPONENTS OF NET ASSETS
|
||||
Paid-in capital
|
$
|
3,107,428,395
|
||
Total distributable earnings
|
9,832,803,968
|
|||
Total net assets
|
$
|
12,940,232,363
|
||
Net Asset Value (unlimited shares authorized):
|
||||
Retail Class:
|
||||
Net assets
|
$
|
4,568,612,079
|
||
Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding
|
77,713,306
|
|||
Net asset value, offering price, and redemption price per share
|
$
|
58.79
|
||
Institutional Class:
|
||||
Net assets
|
$
|
7,275,487,134
|
||
Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding
|
118,798,874
|
|||
Net asset value, offering price, and redemption price per share
|
$
|
61.24
|
||
Supra Institutional Class:
|
||||
Net assets
|
$
|
1,096,133,150
|
||
Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding
|
17,747,983
|
|||
Net asset value, offering price, and redemption price per share
|
$
|
61.76
|
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS For the Six Months Ended January 31, 2024 (Unaudited)
|
INVESTMENT INCOME
|
||||
Dividends from unaffiliated securities
|
||||
(net of $899,267 foreign withholding tax)
|
$
|
50,447,396
|
||
Interest
|
3,499,722
|
|||
Income from securities lending, net
|
11,763
|
|||
Total investment income
|
53,958,881
|
|||
|
||||
EXPENSES
|
||||
Investment advisory fees
|
56,763,604
|
|||
Distribution fees – Retail Class
|
5,399,746
|
|||
Shareholder servicing fees – Retail Class
|
2,894,049
|
|||
Shareholder servicing fees – Institutional Class
|
2,030,304
|
|||
Fund administration fees
|
1,551,758
|
|||
Transfer agent fees
|
574,978
|
|||
Reflow fees
|
567,572
|
|||
Fund accounting fees
|
502,751
|
|||
Registration expense
|
287,877
|
|||
Custody fees
|
233,351
|
|||
Reports to shareholders
|
203,827
|
|||
Trustees fees
|
111,735
|
|||
Insurance expenses
|
30,824
|
|||
Miscellaneous expenses
|
10,712
|
|||
Audit fees
|
9,196
|
|||
Chief Compliance Officer fees
|
7,538
|
|||
Legal fees
|
1,918
|
|||
Total expenses
|
71,181,740
|
|||
Net investment income (loss)
|
(17,222,859
|
)
|
||
|
||||
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS:
|
||||
Realized gain (loss) on:
|
||||
Unaffiliated investments
|
1,346,310,681
|
|||
Net realized gain (loss)
|
1,346,310,681
|
|||
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on:
|
||||
Unaffiliated investments
|
233,306,236
|
|||
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation
|
233,306,236
|
|||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
|
1,579,616,917
|
|||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
|
$
|
1,562,394,058
|
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|||||||
|
January 31, 2024
|
Year Ended
|
||||||
|
(Unaudited)
|
July 31, 2023
|
||||||
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM:
|
||||||||
OPERATIONS
|
||||||||
Net investment gain (loss)
|
$
|
(17,222,859
|
)
|
$
|
(6,802,925
|
)
|
||
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments
|
1,346,310,681
|
387,145,958
|
||||||
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation
|
||||||||
on unaffiliated investments
|
233,306,236
|
(81,955,519
|
)
|
|||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation
|
||||||||
on affiliated investments
|
—
|
130,679,165
|
||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
|
||||||||
resulting from operations
|
1,562,394,058
|
429,066,679
|
||||||
|
||||||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
|
||||||||
Net distributions to shareholders – Retail Class
|
(157,812,980
|
)
|
(263,690,340
|
)
|
||||
Net distributions to shareholders – Institutional Class
|
(248,993,930
|
)
|
(436,322,252
|
)
|
||||
Net distributions to shareholders –
|
||||||||
Supra Institutional Class
|
(37,745,263
|
)
|
(64,115,175
|
)
|
||||
Total distributions to shareholders
|
(444,552,173
|
)
|
(764,127,767
|
)
|
||||
|
||||||||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
|
||||||||
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from net
|
||||||||
change in outstanding shares – Retail Class1
|
(232,105,968
|
)
|
(286,028,884
|
)
|
||||
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from net
|
||||||||
change in outstanding shares – Institutional Class1
|
(982,452,634
|
)
|
(894,521,028
|
)
|
||||
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived
|
||||||||
from net change in outstanding shares –
|
||||||||
Supra Institutional Class1
|
(70,054,879
|
)
|
(100,347,726
|
)
|
||||
Total increase (decrease) in net assets
|
||||||||
from capital share transactions
|
(1,284,613,481
|
)
|
(1,280,897,638
|
)
|
||||
Total increase (decrease) in net assets
|
(166,771,596
|
)
|
(1,615,958,726
|
)
|
||||
|
||||||||
NET ASSETS
|
||||||||
Beginning of period/year
|
13,107,003,959
|
14,722,962,685
|
||||||
End of period/year
|
$
|
12,940,232,363
|
$
|
13,107,003,959
|
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
|
1
|
Summary of share transactions is as follows:
|
Six Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||||
January 31, 2024
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
July 31, 2023
|
||||||||||||||||
Retail Class:
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
|||||||||||||
Shares sold
|
1,217,386
|
$
|
66,558,011
|
4,152,408
|
$
|
205,414,873
|
|||||||||||
Shares issued
|
|||||||||||||||||
in reinvestment
|
|||||||||||||||||
of distributions
|
2,633,827
|
145,150,175
|
5,198,097
|
244,466,510
|
|||||||||||||
Shares redeemed2
|
(8,219,132
|
)
|
(443,814,154
|
)
|
(14,828,564
|
)
|
(735,910,267
|
)
|
|||||||||
Net increase (decrease)
|
(4,367,919
|
)
|
$
|
(232,105,968
|
)
|
(5,478,059
|
)
|
$
|
(286,028,884
|
)
|
2
|
Net of redemption fees of $6,179 and $17,240, respectively.
|
Six Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||||
January 31, 2024
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
July 31, 2023
|
||||||||||||||||
Institutional Class:
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
|||||||||||||
Shares sold
|
27,043,634
|
$
|
1,513,545,264
|
21,235,149
|
$
|
1,085,267,209
|
|||||||||||
Shares issued
|
|||||||||||||||||
in reinvestment
|
|||||||||||||||||
of distributions
|
3,615,344
|
207,484,617
|
7,594,517
|
370,460,515
|
|||||||||||||
Shares redeemed3
|
(48,435,492
|
)
|
(2,703,482,515
|
)
|
(45,984,944
|
)
|
(2,350,248,752
|
)
|
|||||||||
Net increase (decrease)
|
(17,776,514
|
)
|
$
|
(982,452,634
|
)
|
(17,155,278
|
)
|
$
|
(894,521,028
|
)
|
3
|
Net of redemption fees of $10,424 and $30,419, respectively.
|
Six Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||||
January 31, 2024
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
July 31, 2023
|
||||||||||||||||
Supra Institutional Class:
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
|||||||||||||
Shares sold
|
688,424
|
$
|
39,496,710
|
1,154,644
|
$
|
59,543,434
|
|||||||||||
Shares issued
|
|||||||||||||||||
in reinvestment
|
|||||||||||||||||
of distributions
|
17
|
1,005
|
29
|
1,442
|
|||||||||||||
Shares redeemed4
|
(1,888,927
|
)
|
(109,552,594
|
)
|
(3,140,098
|
)
|
(159,892,602
|
)
|
|||||||||
Net increase (decrease)
|
(1,200,486
|
)
|
$
|
(70,054,879
|
)
|
(1,985,425
|
)
|
$
|
(100,347,726
|
)
|
4
|
Net of redemption fees of $1,514 and $4,254, respectively.
|
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a capital share outstanding
throughout each period
|
|
Period
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ending
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
January 31,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2024
|
Year Ended July 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(Unaudited)
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
|
2020
|
2019
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
of period/year
|
$
|
53.76
|
$
|
54.88
|
$
|
64.13
|
$
|
50.57
|
$
|
43.95
|
$
|
36.17
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
income (loss)1
|
(0.12
|
)
|
(0.12
|
)
|
(0.43
|
)
|
(0.17
|
)
|
(0.25
|
)
|
(0.16
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Net realized and
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
unrealized gain (loss)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
on investments
|
6.07
|
2.12
|
(6.48
|
)
|
13.73
|
8.20
|
8.13
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total from
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
investment operations
|
5.95
|
2.00
|
(6.91
|
)
|
13.56
|
7.95
|
7.97
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
From net realized gain
|
(2.04
|
)
|
(3.12
|
)
|
(2.34
|
)
|
—
|
(1.33
|
)
|
(0.19
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Total distributions
|
(2.04
|
)
|
(3.12
|
)
|
(2.34
|
)
|
—
|
(1.33
|
)
|
(0.19
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Proceeds from
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
redemption fees
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
||||||||||||
Net asset value,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
end of period/year
|
$
|
58.79
|
$
|
53.76
|
$
|
54.88
|
$
|
64.13
|
$
|
50.57
|
$
|
43.95
|
||||||||||||
Total return
|
13.41
|
%3
|
4.46
|
%
|
(11.27
|
)%
|
26.81
|
%
|
18.54
|
%
|
22.17
|
%
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
period/year (millions)
|
$
|
4,568.6
|
$
|
4,412.7
|
$
|
4,805.3
|
$
|
6,236.3
|
$
|
6,134.6
|
$
|
5,555.0
|
||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate
|
1
|
%3,5
|
2
|
%
|
1
|
%
|
10
|
%
|
4
|
%
|
3
|
%
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
RATIOS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses to
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
average net assets
|
1.31
|
%4
|
1.31
|
%
|
1.30
|
%
|
1.30
|
%
|
1.31
|
%
|
1.32
|
%
|
||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
income (loss) to
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
average net assets
|
(0.45
|
)%4
|
(0.23
|
)%
|
(0.72
|
)%
|
(0.32
|
)%
|
(0.55
|
)%
|
(0.41
|
)%
|
1
|
Calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
|
2
|
Does not round to $0.01 or $(0.01), as applicable.
|
3
|
Not annualized.
|
4
|
Annualized.
|
5
|
Portfolio turnover rate excludes the impact of in-kind transactions.
|
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a capital share outstanding
throughout each period
|
|
Period
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ending
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
January 31,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2024
|
Year Ended July 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(Unaudited)
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
|
2020
|
2019
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
of period/year
|
$
|
55.85
|
$
|
56.74
|
$
|
66.05
|
$
|
51.95
|
$
|
45.00
|
$
|
36.93
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
income (loss)1
|
(0.05
|
)
|
0.01
|
(0.28
|
)
|
(0.03
|
)
|
(0.14
|
)
|
(0.06
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Net realized and
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
unrealized gain (loss)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
on investments
|
6.60
|
2.22
|
(6.69
|
)
|
14.13
|
8.42
|
8.32
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total from
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
investment operations
|
6.55
|
2.23
|
(6.97
|
)
|
14.10
|
8.28
|
8.26
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
From net realized gain
|
(2.04
|
)
|
(3.12
|
)
|
(2.34
|
)
|
—
|
(1.33
|
)
|
(0.19
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Total distributions
|
(2.04
|
)
|
(3.12
|
)
|
(2.34
|
)
|
—
|
(1.33
|
)
|
(0.19
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Proceeds from
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
redemption fees
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
||||||||||||
Net asset value,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
end of period/year
|
$
|
61.24
|
$
|
55.85
|
$
|
56.74
|
$
|
66.05
|
$
|
51.95
|
$
|
45.00
|
||||||||||||
Total return
|
13.56
|
%3
|
4.73
|
%
|
(11.03
|
)%
|
27.14
|
%
|
18.85
|
%
|
22.50
|
%
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
period/year (millions)
|
$
|
7,275.5
|
$
|
7,627.8
|
$
|
8,722.2
|
$
|
10,107.4
|
$
|
7,616.0
|
$
|
4,993.9
|
||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate
|
1
|
%3,5
|
2
|
%
|
1
|
%
|
10
|
%
|
4
|
%
|
3
|
%
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
RATIOS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses to
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
average net assets
|
1.04
|
%4
|
1.04
|
%
|
1.04
|
%
|
1.04
|
%
|
1.05
|
%
|
1.05
|
%
|
||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
income (loss) to
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
average net assets
|
(0.19
|
)%4
|
0.03
|
%
|
(0.46
|
)%
|
(0.06
|
)%
|
(0.30
|
)%
|
(0.15
|
)%
|
1
|
Calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
|
2
|
Does not round to $0.01 or $(0.01), as applicable.
|
3
|
Not annualized.
|
4
|
Annualized.
|
5
|
Portfolio turnover rate excludes the impact of in-kind transactions.
|
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a capital share outstanding
throughout each period
|
|
Period
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ending
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
January 31,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2024
|
Year Ended July 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(Unaudited)
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
|
2020
|
2019
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
of period/year
|
$
|
56.29
|
$
|
57.11
|
$
|
66.42
|
$
|
52.19
|
$
|
45.16
|
$
|
37.03
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
income (loss) 1
|
(0.03
|
)
|
0.05
|
(0.23
|
)
|
0.02
|
(0.09
|
)
|
(0.02
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
Net realized and
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
unrealized gain (loss)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
on investments
|
6.72
|
2.25
|
(6.74
|
)
|
14.21
|
8.45
|
8.34
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total from
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
investment operations
|
6.69
|
2.30
|
(6.97
|
)
|
14.23
|
8.36
|
8.32
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
From net realized gain
|
(2.04
|
)
|
(3.12
|
)
|
(2.34
|
)
|
—
|
(1.33
|
)
|
(0.19
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Total distributions
|
(2.04
|
)
|
(3.12
|
)
|
(2.34
|
)
|
—
|
(1.33
|
)
|
(0.19
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Proceeds from
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
redemption fees
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
0.00
|
2
|
—
|
|||||||||||||
Net asset value,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
end of period/year
|
$
|
61.76
|
$
|
56.29
|
$
|
57.11
|
$
|
66.42
|
$
|
52.19
|
$
|
45.16
|
||||||||||||
Total return
|
13.59
|
%3
|
4.82
|
%
|
(10.97
|
)%
|
27.27
|
%
|
18.96
|
%
|
22.60
|
%
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
period/year (millions)
|
$
|
1,096.1
|
$
|
1,066.5
|
$
|
1,195.5
|
$
|
1,375.9
|
$
|
1,039.2
|
$
|
851.6
|
||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate
|
1
|
%3,5
|
2
|
%
|
1
|
%
|
10
|
%
|
4
|
%
|
3
|
%
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
RATIOS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses to
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
average net assets
|
0.97
|
%4
|
0.96
|
%
|
0.96
|
%
|
0.95
|
%
|
0.95
|
%
|
0.95
|
%
|
||||||||||||
Net investment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
income (loss) to
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
average net assets
|
(0.11
|
)%4
|
0.10
|
%
|
(0.38
|
)%
|
0.03
|
%
|
(0.19
|
)%
|
(0.05
|
)%
|
1
|
Calculated using the average shares outstanding method.
|
2
|
Does not round to $0.01 or $(0.01), as applicable.
|
3
|
Not annualized.
|
4
|
Annualized.
|
5
|
Portfolio turnover rate excludes the impact of in-kind transactions.
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 31, 2024
(Unaudited)
|
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION
|
NOTE 2 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
|
A.
|
Security Valuation. All equity securities, which may include Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”), Business Development Companies (“BDCs”), and Master
Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”), that are traded on U.S. or foreign national securities exchanges are valued either at the last reported sale price on the exchange on which the security is principally traded or the exchange’s official closing
price, if applicable. If, on a particular day, an exchange-traded security does not trade, then the mean between the most recent quoted bid and asked prices will be used. All equity securities, which may include REITs, BDCs, and MLPs, that
are not traded on a listed exchange are valued at the last sale price in the over-the-counter market. If a non-exchange traded security does not trade on a particular day, then the mean between the last quoted closing bid and asked price will
be used.
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 31, 2024
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Debt securities are valued by using the evaluated mean price supplied by an approved independent pricing service. The independent pricing service may use various valuation methodologies
including, matrix pricing and other analytical pricing models as well as market transactions and dealer quotations. These models generally consider such factors as yields or prices of bonds of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon,
maturity, ratings and general market conditions.
|
||
Exchange traded options are valued at the composite price, using the National Best Bid and Offer quotes (“NBBO”). NBBO consists of the highest bid price and lowest ask price across any of the
exchanges on which an option is quoted, thus providing a view across the entire U.S. options marketplace. Composite option pricing calculates the mean of the highest bid price and lowest ask price across the exchanges where the option is
traded.
|
||
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their respective fair values as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees (the
“Board”). Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board has designated Akre Capital Management, LLC (the “Advisor”) as valuation designee to perform fair value determinations relating to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the
Board’s oversight. Fair value pricing is an inherently subjective process, and no single standard exists for determining fair value. Different funds could reasonably arrive at different values for the same security. The use of fair value
pricing by a fund may cause the net asset value of its shares to differ significantly from the net asset value that would be calculated without regard to such considerations.
|
||
As described above, the Fund utilizes various methods to measure the fair value of its investments on a recurring basis. U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation
methods. The three levels of inputs are:
|
Level 1 –
|
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.
|
|
Level 2 –
|
Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the
identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates, and similar data.
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 31, 2024
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Level 3 –
|
Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available; representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant
would use in valuing the asset or liability; and would be based on the best information available.
|
The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new
and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the
determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.
|
||
The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the
fair value measurements fall in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
|
||
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of January 31, 2024. See the Schedule of Investments for an industry breakout.
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||
Common Stocks
|
$
|
11,370,219,471
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
11,370,219,471
|
|||||||||
Real Estate
|
|||||||||||||||||
Investment
|
|||||||||||||||||
Trusts
|
1,169,336,108
|
—
|
—
|
1,169,336,108
|
|||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bill
|
—
|
202,724,055
|
—
|
202,724,055
|
|||||||||||||
Warrants
|
—
|
—
|
0
|
0
|
|||||||||||||
Money Market
|
|||||||||||||||||
Funds
|
195,000
|
—
|
—
|
195,000
|
|||||||||||||
Total Investments
|
|||||||||||||||||
in Securities
|
$
|
12,539,750,579
|
$
|
202,724,055
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
12,742,474,634
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 31, 2024
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
The following is a reconciliation of the Fund’s Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:
|
Warrants
|
|||||
Balance as of July 31, 2023
|
$
|
—
|
|||
Acquisitions
|
—
|
||||
Dispositions
|
—
|
||||
Accrued discounts/premiums
|
—
|
||||
Realized gain (loss)
|
—
|
||||
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation
|
—
|
||||
Transfer in and/or out of Level 3
|
—
|
||||
Balance as of January 31, 2024
|
$
|
—
|
|||
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation
|
|||||
for Level 3 investments held at January 31, 2024
|
$
|
—
|
Fair Value at
|
Valuation
|
Unobservable
|
Input
|
||
Type of Security
|
January 31, 2024
|
Techniques
|
Input
|
Value(s)
|
|
Intrinsic
|
|||||
Warrants
|
$ —
|
Value
|
N/A
|
0.00%
|
Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation would result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement.
|
||
B.
|
Foreign Currency. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts at the
date of valuation. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts on the respective dates of such transactions.
|
|
The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of
securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net unrealized and realized gain or loss from investments.
|
||
The Fund does not isolate net realized foreign exchange gains or losses that arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on
securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Such fluctuations are
included with the net realized gain or loss from investments. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair values of assets and liabilities, other than
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 31, 2024
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
investments in securities at fiscal period end, resulting from changes in exchange rates.
|
||
C.
|
Federal Income Taxes. The Fund has elected to be taxed as a “regulated investment company” and intends to distribute substantially all taxable income to
its shareholders and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes or excise taxes has been made.
|
|
In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, the Fund intends to declare dividends in each calendar year for at least 98.0% of its net investment
income (earned during the calendar year) and at least 98.2% of its net realized capital gains (earned during the twelve months ended October 31) plus undistributed amounts, if any, from prior years.
|
||
Net capital losses incurred after October 31, and within the taxable year, are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Fund’s next taxable year. As of the most recent fiscal year ended
July 31, 2023, the Fund deferred, on a tax basis, no late-year losses. The Fund did not defer any post-October losses or have any capital loss carry-forwards.
|
||
As of January 31, 2024, the Fund did not have any tax positions that did not meet the “more likely than not” threshold of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Generally, tax
authorities can examine all the tax returns filed for the last three years. The Fund identifies its major tax jurisdictions as U.S. Federal and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As of January 31, 2024, the Fund is not aware of any tax
positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially.
|
||
D.
|
Security Transactions and Investment Income. Investment securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains and losses realized on sales
of securities are determined on a specific identification basis. Discounts/premiums on debt securities purchased are accreted/amortized over the life of the respective securities using the effective interest method. Dividend income is
recorded on the ex- dividend date. Dividends received from REITs generally are comprised of ordinary income, capital gains, and may include return of capital. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Other non-cash dividends are
recognized as investment income at the fair value of the property received. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and interest have been provided for in accordance with the Trust’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and
rates.
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 31, 2024
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
E.
|
Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains on securities for the Fund normally are
declared and paid on an annual basis. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
|
|
F.
|
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
|
|
G.
|
Share Valuation. The net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the Fund is calculated by dividing the sum of the value of the securities held by the Fund,
plus cash and other assets, minus all liabilities (including estimated accrued expenses) by the total number of shares outstanding for the Fund, rounded to the nearest cent. The Fund’s shares will not be priced on the days on which the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for trading. The offering and redemption price per share for the Fund is equal to the Fund’s NAV per share. The Fund charges a 1.00% redemption fee on shares held less than 30 days. This fee is deducted from the
redemption proceeds otherwise payable to the shareholder. The Fund retains the fee charged as paid-in capital and such fees become part of the Fund’s daily NAV calculation.
|
|
H.
|
Guarantees and Indemnifications. In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with service providers that contain general
indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk
of loss to be remote.
|
|
I.
|
Illiquid Securities. Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, the Fund has adopted a Board approved liquidity risk management program (the “program”)
that requires, among other things, that the Fund limit its illiquid investments that are assets to no more than 15% of net assets. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in
current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.
|
|
J.
|
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In June 2022, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2022-03, which amends Fair Value Measurement (Topic
820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions (“ASU 2022-03”).
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 31, 2024
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
ASU 2022-03 clarifies guidance for fair value measurement of an equity security subject to a contractual sale restriction and establishes new disclosure requirements for such equity securities.
ASU 2022-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of these amendments on the financial
statements.
|
||
In October 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted rule and form amendments that are designed to require funds to transmit concise and visually engaging shareholder
reports that highlight key information. The amendments became effective January 24, 2023 and have a compliance date of July 24, 2024.
|
||
K.
|
Subsequent Events. In preparing these financial statements, the Fund has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure
through the date the financial statements were issued. The Fund has determined that there were no subsequent events that would need to be disclosed in the Fund’s financial statements.
|
NOTE 3 – COMMITMENTS AND OTHER RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 31, 2024
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
NOTE 4 – SECURITIES LENDING
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 31, 2024
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Market Value of
|
Payable on
|
||
Securities on Loan
|
Collateral Received
|
||
Akre Focus Fund
|
$185,068
|
$195,000
|
NOTE 5 – PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES
|
1
|
$1,255,879,408 of this figure relates to in-kind transactions.
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 31, 2024
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
NOTE 6 – DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
|
January 31, 2024
|
July 31, 2023
|
||
Distributions paid from:
|
|||
Long-term capital gain1
|
$444,552,173
|
$764,127,767
|
1
|
Designated as long-term capital gain dividend, pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 852(b) (3).
|
Cost of investments
|
$
|
4,249,943,748
|
|||
Gross tax unrealized appreciation
|
8,468,690,965
|
||||
Gross tax unrealized depreciation
|
(1,645
|
)
|
|||
Net tax unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
|
8,468,689,320
|
||||
Undistributed ordinary income
|
—
|
||||
Undistributed long-term capital gains
|
246,272,763
|
||||
Total distributable earnings
|
246,272,763
|
||||
Other distributable (accumulated) earnings (losses)
|
—
|
||||
Total distributable (accumulated) earnings (losses)
|
$
|
8,714,962,083
|
2
|
The difference between book basis and tax basis unrealized appreciation was attributable to wash sales.
|
NOTE 7 – CREDIT FACILITY
|
Maximum available credit
|
$400,000,000
|
Largest amount outstanding on an individual day
|
—
|
Average daily loan outstanding when in use
|
—
|
Credit facility outstanding as of January 31, 2024
|
—
|
Average interest rate when in use
|
—
|
APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (Unaudited)
|
1.
|
The nature, extent and quality of the services provided and to be provided by the Advisor under the Advisory Agreement. The Trustees considered the
nature, extent and quality of the Advisor’s overall services provided to the Fund as well as its specific responsibilities in all aspects of day-to-day investment management of the Fund. The Board considered the qualifications, experience and
responsibilities of the portfolio managers, as well as the responsibilities of other key personnel of the Advisor involved in the day-to-day activities of the Fund. The Board noted the actions taken by the Advisor over the past year to
involve the Fund in the ReFlow redemption program to assist the Fund in managing its purchase and redemption activity and reduce the capital gain to shareholders resulting from such activity. The Board also considered the resources and
compliance structure of the Advisor, including information regarding its compliance program, its chief compliance officer and the Advisor’s compliance record, as well as the Advisor’s cybersecurity program, business continuity plan, and risk
management process. The Board also considered the prior relationship between the Advisor and the Trust, as well as the Board’s knowledge of the Advisor’s operations, and noted that during the course of the prior year they had met with certain
personnel of the Advisor to discuss fund performance and investment outlook, as well as various marketing and compliance topics. The Board concluded that the Advisor had the quality and depth of personnel, resources, investment processes and
compliance policies and procedures essential to performing its duties under the Advisory Agreement and that they were satisfied with the nature, overall quality and extent of such management services.
|
APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (Unaudited)
(Continued)
|
2.
|
The Fund’s historical performance and the overall performance of the Advisor. In assessing the quality of the portfolio management delivered by the
Advisor, the Board reviewed the short-term and long-term performance of the Fund on both an absolute basis, and in comparison to its peer funds utilizing Morningstar classifications, appropriate securities market benchmarks and the Advisor’s
similarly managed accounts, all for periods ended March 31, 2023. The Board also considered performance against a smaller group of peers selected by an independent third-party consultant engaged by the Board to assist it in its 15(c) review
(the “Cohort”). While the Board considered both short-term and long-term performance, it placed greater emphasis on longer term performance. When reviewing performance against the comparative peer group universe, the Board took into account
that the investment objective and strategies of the Fund, as well as its level of risk tolerance, may differ significantly from funds in the peer universe. When reviewing the Fund’s performance against broad market benchmarks, the Board took
into account the differences in portfolio construction between the Fund and such benchmarks as well as other differences between actively managed funds and passive benchmarks, such as objectives and risks. In assessing periods of relative
underperformance or outperformance, the Board took into account that relative performance can be significantly impacted by performance measurement periods and that some periods of underperformance may be transitory in nature while others may
reflect more significant underlying issues.
|
|
The Board noted that the Fund outperformed its Morningstar peer group average for the one-year, five-year and ten-year periods and underperformed for the three-year period . The Board noted that
the Fund outperformed its Cohort average for the one-year, five-year and ten-year periods and underperformed for the three-year period.
|
||
The Board also considered the performance of the Fund against its broad-based securities market benchmark, noting that the Fund underperformed the benchmark for the one-, three-, and five-year
periods and outperformed for the ten-year period.
|
||
The Board also considered the Fund’s outperformance compared to the Advisor’s similarly managed separate account composite for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods.
|
APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (Unaudited)
(Continued)
|
3.
|
The costs of the services provided by the Advisor and the structure of the Advisor’s fees under the Advisory Agreement. In considering the advisory fee
and total fees and expenses of the Fund, the Board reviewed comparisons to the peer funds and similarly managed separate accounts for other types of clients advised by the Advisor. When reviewing fees charged to other similarly managed
accounts, the Board took into consideration the type of account and the differences in the management of that account that might be germane to the difference, if any, in the fees charged to such accounts.
|
|
The Board noted that the Advisor had contractually agreed to maintain an annual expense ratio of 1.14% for the Fund, excluding certain operating expenses and class-level expenses (the “Expense
Cap”) and noted that the Fund was currently operating below this level. The Board noted that the Fund’s net expense ratio (less Rule 12b-1 fees) was higher than that of its Morningstar peer group average. The Board also considered that the
Fund’s advisory fee and net expense ratio (less Rule 12b-1 fees) were higher than those of its Cohort average. The Board also took into consideration the services the Advisor provided to its similarly managed separate account clients and
private funds, comparing the fees charged for those management services to the fees charged to the Fund. The Board found that the fees charged to the Fund were below the fees charged by the Advisor to its similarly managed separate account
clients and private funds. The Board concluded that the fees paid to the Advisor were fair and reasonable particularly in light of the strong longer term comparative performance of the Fund against benchmarks and peers.
|
||
4.
|
Economies of Scale. The Board also considered whether economies of scale were being realized by the Advisor as the assets of the Fund had grown
materially in recent years. The Board noted that the Advisor has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees or reimburse Fund expenses so that the Fund does not exceed its specified Expense Cap, noting that the total expense ratio has
been below that of the Expense Cap for some time. The Board also considered that economies of scale have been shared with shareholders through increased investments by the Advisor in technology and resources, including investments in
personnel related to the investment process to help maintain the Fund’s performance. In addition, the Board considered the out-of-pocket fees paid by the Advisor to support shareholder services as well as the additional resources employed,
and costs incurred, in the
|
APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (Unaudited)
(Continued)
|
adoption of the ReFlow redemption program to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. The Board concluded that it would continue to revisit this issue in the future as circumstances changed.
|
||
5.
|
The profits to be realized by the Advisor and its affiliates from its relationship with the Fund. The Board reviewed the Advisor’s financial information
and took into account both the direct benefits and the indirect benefits to the Advisor from advising the Fund. The Board considered the profitability to the Advisor from its relationship with the Fund and considered any additional material
benefits derived by the Advisor from its relationship with the Fund, particularly benefits received in exchange for “soft dollars” and the Rule 12b-1 fees paid to the Advisor. In assessing profitability, the Board took into account that a
significant portion of allocated Fund expenses was comprised of a distribution to the Fund’s portfolio management team, as their compensation. After such review, the Board determined that the profitability to the Advisor with respect to the
Advisory Agreement was not excessive and was consistent with the profitability in previous years. The Board determined that the Advisor had maintained adequate financial resources to support the services it provides to the Fund.
|
EXPENSE EXAMPLES For the Six Months Ended January 31,
2024 (Unaudited)
|
EXPENSE EXAMPLES For the Six Months Ended January 31,
2024 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses Paid
|
|
Account Value
|
Account Value
|
During the Period
|
|
8/1/2023
|
1/31/2024
|
8/1/2023 – 1/31/20241
|
|
Retail Class Actual
|
$1,000.00
|
$1,134.10
|
$7.03
|
Hypothetical (5% return
|
|||
before expenses)
|
1,000.00
|
1,018.55
|
6.65
|
Institutional Class Actual
|
1,000.00
|
1,135.60
|
5.58
|
Hypothetical (5% return
|
|||
before expenses)
|
1,000.00
|
1,019.91
|
5.28
|
Supra Institutional
|
|||
Class Actual
|
1,000.00
|
1,135.90
|
5.21
|
Hypothetical (5% return
|
|||
before expenses)
|
1,000.00
|
1,020.26
|
4.93
|
1
|
For the Fund’s Retail, Institutional, and Supra Institutional Class shares, expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the most recent six-month period of 1.31%, 1.04%, and 0.97%,
respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).
|
INFORMATION ABOUT PROXY VOTING (Unaudited)
|
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS (Unaudited)
|
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S TRUSTEES (Unaudited)
|
INFORMATION ABOUT HOUSEHOLDING (Unaudited)
|
PRIVACY NOTICE (Unaudited)
|
Ticker
|
CUSIP
|
|||
Retail Class
|
AKREX
|
742935117
|
||
Institutional Class
|
AKRIX
|
742935125
|
||
Supra Institutional Class
|
AKRSX
|
74316P751
|
(a)
|
The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have reviewed the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as of a
date within 90 days of the filing of this report, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d‑15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on their review, such officers have concluded that the
disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported and made known to them by others within the Registrant and
by the Registrant’s service provider.
|
(b)
|
There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably
likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
|
(a)
|
(1) Any code of ethics or amendment thereto, that is subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit.
Incorporated by reference to previous Form N-CSR filing.
|