SUMMARY PROSPECTUS | November 1, 2024 |
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EMERALD GROWTH FUND
Class A: HSPGX | Class C: HSPCX | Institutional Class: FGROX | Investor Class: FFGRX |
Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s prospectus and other information about the Fund online at https://www.emeraldmutualfunds.com/emerald-growth-fund. You can also get this information at no cost by calling 1.855.828.9909, by sending an e-mail request to emeraldmutualfunds@sscinc.com, or by contacting your financial intermediary. The Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, each dated October 30, 2024, along with the Fund’s most recent annual report dated April 30, 2024 are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus and may be obtained, free of charge, at the website, phone number or e-mail address noted above.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund seeks long-term growth through capital appreciation.
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. You may qualify for certain sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in the section “BUYING, EXCHANGING AND REDEEMING SHARES” at page 11 of the prospectus and the section “PURCHASE, EXCHANGE & REDEMPTION OF SHARES” at page 50 of the Fund’s statement of additional information. In addition, please see Appendix A – Intermediary Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts.
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Class A |
Class C |
Institutional |
Investor |
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
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|
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Maximum sales charge (load) on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) |
4.75% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
Maximum deferred sales charge (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or redemption proceeds) |
0.00% |
1.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
|
|
|
|
Management Fees |
0.61% |
0.61% |
0.61% |
0.61% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
0.35% |
0.75% |
0.00% |
0.25% |
Total Other Expenses |
0.14% |
0.40% |
0.18% |
0.28% |
Other Fund Expenses |
0.14% |
0.15% |
0.13% |
0.13% |
Shareholder Services Fees |
0.00% |
0.25% |
0.05% |
0.15% |
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses |
0.03% |
0.03% |
0.03% |
0.03% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(1) |
1.13% |
1.79% |
0.82% |
1.17% |
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(2) |
(0.03)% |
(0.03)% |
(0.03)% |
(0.03)% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement |
1.10% |
1.76% |
0.79% |
1.14% |
(1) |
The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial statements (or the financial highlights in its prospectus) because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund, not the indirect costs of investing in the acquired funds. |
(2) |
Pursuant to a written agreement (the “AFFE Agreement”), Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust (“Emerald” or the “Adviser”) has agreed to waive and/or reimburse the Fund’s Class A, Class C, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares for any acquired fund fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the Fund’s investment in any exchange-traded funds advised or sub-advised by the Adviser. The amount of such waived fees shall not be subject to recapture by the Adviser. The AFFE Agreement has no termination date. Prior to August 31, 2026, and thereafter, this waiver may not be modified or discontinued without the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. |
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. This example reflects the expense waiver under the AFFE Agreement, which has no termination date. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: |
1 YEAR |
3 YEARS |
5 YEARS |
10 YEARS |
Class A Shares |
$582 |
$801 |
$1,038 |
$1,714 |
Class C Shares |
$279 |
$547 |
$940 |
$2,034 |
Institutional Class Shares |
$81 |
$245 |
$425 |
$941 |
Investor Class Shares |
$116 |
$355 |
$613 |
$1,349 |
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your Shares: |
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|
|
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Class A Shares |
$582 |
$801 |
$1,038 |
$1,714 |
Class C Shares |
$179 |
$547 |
$940 |
$2,034 |
Institutional Class Shares |
$81 |
$245 |
$425 |
$941 |
Investor Class Shares |
$116 |
$355 |
$613 |
$1,349 |
The Example does not reflect sales charges (loads) on dividends reinvested and other distributions. If these sales charges (loads) were included, your costs would be higher.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). For U.S. federal income tax purposes, 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 portfolio 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 51% of the average value of its portfolio.
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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF THE FUND
Under normal conditions, the Fund invests in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies, principally common stocks and preferred stocks.
The Fund utilizes a fundamental approach to choosing securities: the research staff of Emerald conducts company-specific research analysis, taking into account a company’s revenue and earnings growth rates and the financial, operating, and market characteristics that distinguish a company from other companies.
The Fund can invest in companies from a wide range of industries and of market capitalizations. The Fund may emphasize investments in smaller companies, which are defined by the Adviser as those having a market capitalization equal to or less than that of the largest companies in the Russell 2000 Index. As of September 30, 2024, the Russell 2000 Index included securities issued by companies that ranged in size between $9 million and $15.9 billion.
The Fund may also invest in the other investment companies, principally money market funds, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), unit investment trusts, closed-end funds, and business development companies. The Fund intends to invest a portion of these assets in the securities of affiliated ETFs advised or sub-advised by the Adviser (each, an “Underlying ETF”). The Fund does not have a policy with respect to investing a certain portion of its assets in any particular sector, but may emphasize investments in the healthcare, technology, and industrial sectors.
While the Fund may directly invest in the securities of companies within the healthcare sector, the Adviser intends for the Fund to gain exposure to the healthcare sector in part through the use of such Underlying ETFs, primarily the F/m Emerald Life Sciences Innovation ETF (the “Life Sciences ETF”). The Fund does not have a policy with respect to the amount of the Fund’s portfolio that will be allocated to the Life Sciences ETF, but generally the Adviser expects approximately 5% of the Fund’s portfolio to be allocated to the Life Sciences ETF, calculated at the time of investment.
The Fund invests in foreign companies directly and through American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”).
The Fund generally sells investments when the Adviser concludes that better investment opportunities exist in other securities, the security is fully valued, or the issuer’s circumstances or the political or economic outlook have changed.
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUND
Any of the investments made by the Fund can result in an investment loss, which may be significant. Investments in the Fund are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its net asset value and total return, are:
Market Risk: Securities markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to issuer, political, market, and economic developments including interest rate levels, political events, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues. Historically, markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. The Fund’s portfolio securities can be affected by events that affect the securities markets generally or particular segments of the market in which the Fund has invested. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is a principal risk of investing in the Fund.
Equity Securities Risk: The risks associated with investing in equity securities of companies include the financial risk of selecting individual companies that do not perform as anticipated, the risk that the stock markets in which the Fund invests may experience periods of turbulence and instability, and the general risk that domestic and global economies may go through periods of decline and cyclical change. The price of equity securities can decline significantly in response to issuer, political, market, and economic developments including interest rate levels, political events, natural disasters and the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues.
Managed Portfolio Risk: The Adviser’s investment strategies or choice of specific securities may be unsuccessful and may cause the Fund to incur losses.
Growth Stocks Risk: Growth-oriented stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than other stocks. The market prices of companies believed to have good prospects for revenues and earnings growth tend to reflect those expectations. When it appears those expectations will not be met, the prices of these securities typically fall. In addition, if the market does not come to share the Adviser’s assessment of an investment’s long-term growth, the Fund may underperform other mutual funds or stock indexes.
Small, Medium, and Large Capitalization Stocks Risk: Investment in securities of medium- and smaller-sized companies presents greater investment risks than investing in the securities of larger companies. These risks include greater price volatility, greater sensitivity to changing economic conditions, and less liquidity than the securities of larger, more mature companies. Investments in larger capitalization companies, like those with small market capitalizations, can be negatively impacted by poor overall market and economic conditions. Companies with large market capitalizations may also have less growth potential than smaller companies and may be able to react less quickly to changes in the marketplace.
Foreign Securities Risk: To the extent the Fund invests in securities of foreign (non-U.S.) companies, the Fund may experience more rapid and extreme changes in value than a fund that invests exclusively in securities of U.S. companies, due to less liquid markets and adverse economic, political, diplomatic, financial, and regulatory factors. Foreign governments also may impose limits on investment and repatriation and impose taxes. Any of these events could cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline. The Fund’s investments in ADRs are subject to risks similar to those associated with direct investment in foreign securities.
Health Care Sector Risk: Factors such as extensive government regulation, restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products, services and facilities, pricing pressure, an increased emphasis on outpatient services, limited number of products, industry innovation, costs
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EMERALD GROWTH FUND |
associated with obtaining and protecting patents, product liability and other claims, changes in technologies and other market developments can affect companies in the health care sector.
Technology Sector Risk: To the extent the Fund invests in technology companies, the Fund is particularly vulnerable to factors affecting the technology sector, such as dependency on consumer and business acceptance as new technology evolves, large and rapid price movements resulting from competition, rapid obsolescence of products and services and short product cycles. Many technology companies are small and at an earlier stage of development and, therefore, may be subject to risks such as those arising out of limited product lines, markets and financial and managerial resources.
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.
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is financial risk due to uncertain liquidity. An institution might lose liquidity if its credit rating falls, it experiences sudden unexpected cash outflows, or some other event causes counterparties to avoid trading with or lending to the institution. A firm is also exposed to liquidity risk if markets on which it depends are subject to loss of liquidity. Derivative based securities and privately issued mortgage-related securities and other asset-backed securities, which do not have a government or government-sponsored guarantee, that are subject to substantial market and credit risk may have greater liquidity risk. Less liquid securities may trade infrequently, trade at a smaller volume, and be quite volatile. This means that they may be harder to purchase or sell at a fair price or quickly enough to prevent or minimize loss.
Affiliated ETF Risk. The Adviser receives advisory fees from an Underlying ETF for which the Adviser serves as adviser that are payable to it pursuant to the advisory agreement of such Underlying ETF. It is possible that a conflict of interest among the Fund and the Underlying ETF could affect how the Adviser fulfills its fiduciary duties to the Fund and the Underlying ETF. The Adviser may have an incentive to take into account the effect on the Underlying ETF in which the Fund may invest in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in such Underlying ETF.
ETF Investment Risk. Each Underlying ETF in which the Fund invests will be subject to its own principal risks, depending on the investment objective, investment strategy, and other characteristics of such Underlying ETFs. Those Underlying ETF risks may in turn become principal risks of an investment in the Fund. To the extent the Fund invests in other ETFs, including Underlying ETFs, the Fund’s shareholders will indirectly incur certain fees and expenses of that ETF, including investment advisory fees. The return on such investments will be reduced by the operating expenses, including investment advisory and administration fees, of such ETFs, and will be further reduced by the Fund’s own expenses, including the Fund’s administrative fees. The Fund could lose money by investing in an ETF, including if the value of the ETF’s investments go down. In addition, the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value, meaning that the Fund could pay more to purchase shares of an ETF, or receive less in a sale of shares of an ETF, than the net asset value of the ETF. ETFs are also subject to potential liquidity risk because an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained, trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted from time to time, or the shares may be de-listed from the exchange.
Securities Issued By Other Investment Companies Risk: The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, including other mutual funds, money market funds, ETFs, unit investment trusts, and closed-end funds, to gain exposure to a particular portion of the market rather than purchase securities directly. Investing in another investment company exposes the Fund to all the risks of that investment company, and, in general, subjects it to a pro rata portion of the other investment company’s fees and expenses.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing how the Fund’s performance has varied over time.
The bar chart depicts the change in performance from year to year during the periods indicated. The bar chart figures do not include any applicable sales charges that an investor may pay when they buy or sell Shares of the Fund. If sales charges were included, the returns would be lower. The table compares the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods indicated to a broad-based securities market index. The index is not actively managed and is not available for direct investment. The bar charts and performance tables assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website at www.emeraldmutualfunds.com or by calling 1-855-828-9909.
Calendar Year Annual Returns — Class A
Best Quarter — June 30, 2020 |
32.13% |
Worst Quarter — March 31, 2020 |
-24.26% |
The Fund’s Class A share year-to-date return as of September 30, 2024 was 16.13%.
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Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended December 31, 2023)
Emerald Growth |
1 Year |
5 Years |
10 Years |
Class A (Inception Date of 10/01/92) |
|
|
|
Returns Before Taxes |
13.05% |
9.41% |
7.72% |
Returns After Taxes on Distributions* |
11.36% |
7.18% |
6.07% |
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares |
8.87% |
7.32% |
5.98% |
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)*** |
25.96% |
15.16% |
11.48% |
Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) **** |
18.66% |
9.22% |
7.16% |
Class C (Inception Date of 07/01/00)** |
|
|
|
Returns Before Taxes |
16.93% |
9.75% |
7.54% |
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)*** |
25.96% |
15.16% |
11.48% |
Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) **** |
18.66% |
9.22% |
7.16% |
Institutional Class (Inception Date of 10/21/08)** |
|
|
|
Returns Before Taxes |
19.06% |
10.82% |
8.58% |
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)*** |
25.96% |
15.16% |
11.48% |
Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) **** |
18.66% |
9.22% |
7.16% |
Investor Class (Inception Date of 5/2/2011)** |
|
|
|
Returns Before Taxes |
18.59% |
10.43% |
8.20% |
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)*** |
25.96% |
15.16% |
11.48% |
Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) **** |
18.66% |
9.22% |
7.16% |
* |
After-tax returns are calculated by using the highest historical individual U.S. federal marginal income tax rates (i.e., maximum rates) and do not include state or local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-qualified accounts (i.e., retirement plans or Individual Retirement Accounts). |
** |
After-tax returns are only shown for Class A shares of the Fund. After-tax returns for Class C, Institutional Class and Investor Class shares will vary from those shown for Class A shares due to varying expenses among the classes. The returns do not include any applicable sales charges that an investor may pay to a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary when they buy or sell shares of the Fund. |
*** |
Broad-based securities market index. |
**** |
Additional index. |
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Emerald is the investment adviser to the Fund.
EMERALD’S PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
The members of the team are: Kenneth G. Mertz II, CFA, President, Stacey L. Sears, Portfolio Manager, and Joseph W. Garner, Portfolio Manager and Director of Research for Emerald and its affiliates. Mr. Mertz, Ms. Sears and Mr. Garner are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, and each has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since inception in March 2012. Mr. Mertz had served as a portfolio manager of the Forward Growth Fund, the predecessor to the Fund, since its inception, Ms. Sears since 2002 and Mr. Garner since 2006.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
The minimum initial investment in Class A, Class C and Investor Class shares is $2,000 for non-qualified accounts and $1,000 for qualified accounts. The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1,000,000. The minimum subsequent investment is $100 for Class A, Class C and Investor Class shares. There is no minimum subsequent investment for Institutional Class shares. Investors may meet the minimum investment amount by aggregating multiple accounts within the Fund.
Purchases, exchanges and redemptions may be made directly or through institutional channels, such as financial intermediaries and retirement platforms. You should contact your financial intermediary or refer to your plan documents for information on how to invest in the Fund. Investor Class shareholders should call 1-855-828-9909 for more information on how to invest.
TAX INFORMATION
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income or Section 199A dividends, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-qualified investment plan. Withdrawals from a tax-qualified investment plan are subject to special tax rules.
PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s Web site for more information.
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