497K 1 fp0083028-9_497k.htm

 

 

May 1, 2023

 

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 www.gafunds.com/fundinfo. You may also obtain this information at no cost by calling 1-800-915-6566 or by sending an e-mail request to mail@gafunds.com. The Fund’s Statutory Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, both dated May 1, 2023, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus.

 

Investment Objective

The Renminbi Yuan & Bond Fund seeks total return. Total return means the combination of capital appreciation and investment income, which includes changes in the value of the Renminbi, the currency of China of which the Yuan is the unit.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Renminbi Yuan & Bond Fund:

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)(1)

   

Redemption/Exchange Fee for shares held less than 30 days from purchase (as a percentage of amount redeemed) (plus a $15 wire fee, if applicable):

 

2.00%

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investments)

   

Management Fees:

 

0.55%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees:

 

None

Other Expenses:

 

2.15%

Shareholder Servicing Plan Fees

0.04%

   

All Other Expenses

2.11%

   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses:

 

2.70%

Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement(2):

 

-1.80%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement(2):

0.90%

 

(1)

The Fund charges a $15 fee for each payment of redemption proceeds by wire transfer.

(2)

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reimburse expenses (excluding Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, interest, taxes, dividends on short positions and extraordinary expenses) in order to limit the Fund’s Total Annual Operating Expenses to 0.90% through June 30, 2026. To the extent that the Adviser absorbs expenses to satisfy this cap, it may recoup a portion or all of such amounts absorbed at any time within three fiscal years after the fiscal year in which such amounts were absorbed, subject to the expense cap in place at the time recoupment is sought, which cannot exceed the expense cap at the time of the waiver. The expense limitation agreement may be terminated by the Board of the Fund at any time without penalty upon 60 days’ notice.

 

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Renminbi Yuan & Bond Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$92

$287

$910

$2,598

 

 

1

 

 

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 and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 3.78% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

The Renminbi Yuan & Bond Fund normally will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a combination of Renminbi Yuan-denominated bonds that are issued by corporations and by the Chinese government (including its agencies or instrumentalities, quasi-governmental issuers (policy banks), and municipalities) and traded (i) over the counter in London, Hong Kong or on Euroclear or (ii) in other developing markets, including the China Interbank Bond Market (“CIBM”), and in cash and cash equivalents, bank deposits, certificates of deposit and short-term commercial paper denominated in Renminbi or Yuan. Renminbi (or “RMB”) is the official currency of China, with the principal unit being the Yuan. The Fund may, when desirable, invest up to 20% of its net assets in convertible securities of companies connected to the China region. The Fund also may invest in commercial paper, convertible securities and equity-linked notes, denominated in RMB or Yuan or other currencies. The Fund expects that it may hold a significant portion of its assets in cash and cash equivalents denominated in Renminbi or Yuan.

 

The market for Renminbi Yuan denominated securities is centered in Hong Kong, while foreign exchange can be traded in Hong Kong, London and New York. The Adviser expects that the Fund’s investments will be in sovereign, supranational and corporate issuers which may or may not be connected to the China region but which will be denominated in Renminbi Yuan. These instruments are often traded over the counter in Hong Kong and Europe, and may also be included on the CIBM. The bond market is heavily weighted toward China sovereign and corporate financial issuers (both Chinese and non-Chinese). The Adviser therefore expects the portfolio to have sector concentration in both sovereign and financial issues. The Fund is non-diversified and because its investment strategy is focused on RMB-denominated issuers, the Fund may hold a relatively small number of security positions compared to other diversified funds that hold securities in a broader range of companies.

 

The Fund’s concentration may vary depending on changing market conditions (including but not limited to, liquidity, volatility, and the number of issuers and terms of bond issues). The degree of concentration of the portfolio will vary over time, and under normal market conditions, the Fund may have fewer holdings than a fund that is not concentrated. The Fund may hold securities of all market capitalization companies, including companies in emerging markets. The Fund may invest in securities having short, medium or long-term maturities. The Fund may invest in securities that are considered “investment grade” or “high yield.” Additional information on Principal Investment Strategies can be found in the prospectus. Also see Additional Investment Strategies and Risks in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

For temporary defensive purposes, any portion of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in cash and cash equivalents, including money market funds, to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. While the Fund is applying this temporary defensive strategy, it may be unable to achieve its investment objective.

 

The Fund is designed for investors who seek a moderate level of current income and investments in dividend paying companies that have the ability to increase their dividends consistently over time.

 

Principal Risks

You can lose money investing in shares of the Global Innovators Fund and investing in shares of this Fund may be more risky than investing in a fund that only invests in U.S. securities due to increased volatility of foreign markets. Risks associated with investing in the Fund can increase during times of market volatility. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) or its ability to meet its investment objective. These risks are also described in the Principal Risks of Investing in our Fund section of this Prospectus and in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. You can lose money by investing in this Fund.

 

China Risk. Political, social, currency-rate fluctuations or economic instability within China, or a decline or volatility of investor interest in China could cause the Fund’s investments to decline in value. The Fund could become adversely affected by restrictions or changes in restrictions on foreign ownership or currency exchange controls.

 

China. China’s government exercises significant control over its capital markets and currency markets, including its securities markets. China is also an emerging market. The Fund’s investments may be affected by currency and exchange rate fluctuations, price volatility, illiquidity and trading restrictions, which can differ between China’s stock exchanges and stock exchanges that list securities of companies economically tied to China. Changes in the regulatory, monetary or socioeconomic policies in China, and limitations on access to China issuers (including limitations on access through variable interest entities (VIEs)), could adversely affect the Fund’s investments in China. Foreign investors, such as the Fund, may face different risks than domestic investors when investing in companies in China, especially with respect to lack of transparency, fraud, volatility, corporate incentives, macro-economic shocks, national security and changes in US-China policy. China’s policies can also impact securities of companies economically tied to Hong Kong and Taiwan. See “Additional Risks of Investing in our Funds” for specific risks of investing in companies economically tied to China.

 

2

 

 

China Debt Risk. Investments in debt issued by Chinese companies can also be impacted by currency and exchange rate fluctuations, in addition to price volatility, illiquidity and changes in China’s regulatory, monetary and socioeconomic policies, and limitations on access to Chinese issuers or markets.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate fluctuations or adverse news about an issuer may cause the Fund’s investments to decline in value. An increase in interest rates could cause the Fund’s investments to decline in value, and a change in interest rates could have a greater effect on the Fund’s longer term investments.

 

Debt Securities Risk. Numerous factors can negatively impact the value of debt securities, including economic factors, such as the ability of issuers to pay principal and interest as the debt becomes due, interest rate fluctuations and inflation rates, as well as non-economic factors such as foreign government regulation and political events. The Fund may invest in securities of any maturity and quality and may invest without limit in securities that are rated below “investment grade” or the unrated equivalent. Many of the Renminbi Yuan bonds in which the Fund invests will not have a credit rating issued by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (“NRSRO”), and the Adviser will conduct its own determination of creditworthiness of the issuer.

 

Credit Risk. There is a risk that issuers of the Fund’s securities do not make interest or principal payments when due, or “pre-pay” or “extend” their obligations, or that the Fund invests in an unsecured debt instrument and the issuer defaults, any of which could cause the Fund’s investments to decline in value.

 

Currency Risk. The Fund’s currency is US Dollars, while its investments are denominated in the Renminbi (“RMB”) and Yuan (traded as “CNH” in Hong Kong and “CNY” in mainland China). The Fund’s investments could decline in value if these currencies diverge from each other, or if Chinese currencies decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar.

 

Currency Exchange Risks. RMB, CNH and CNY fluctuate against the US Dollar and can be more volatile, especially during times of economic stress, and China may limit trading or repatriation of currencies. The Fund’s NAV could be affected by a change in foreign currency exchange rates. The Fund may incur costs associated with exchanging dollars into foreign currencies, and vice versa, for investing in foreign securities.

 

RMB Risk. The Renminbi (RMB) may be traded offshore (primarily in Hong Kong, at present) or in mainland China. At present, the Fund can buy Renminbi only at the offshore exchange rate. The offshore and the onshore Renminbi exchange rates may diverge in value, which could decrease the value of the Fund’s investments if the currency is more desirable in one market than in another. The Fund will have to acquire RMB to make investments, and convert RMB to US dollars to pay redemptions. There is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to obtain access to the relatively more desirable currency, for investment purposes, and the Fund’s ability to convert RMB to U.S. dollars may be limited.

 

China Currency Risk. China’s currencies are subject to economic objectives of China’s government including devaluation. China has only comparatively recently moved from a pegged currency to a managed float. China’s currency, the Renminbi Yuan, is not completely freely tradable and may not at all times reflect economic fundamentals of China’s economy. The value of the Renminbi Yuan is subject to changes based on the economic objectives of the Chinese government, including devaluation in order to improve the competitiveness of Chinese goods in an effort to improve the Chinese balance of trade.

 

Concentration Risk. The Fund’s investments are concentrated in sovereign debt of China, and weighted in issuers in the banking and finance industries. The Fund’s investments could decline if these investment sectors decline in value. The Fund could face difficulty in selling its Renminbi Yuan bond holdings due to low liquidity or high volatility, and this risk would be enhanced due to its concentration in China investments. Offshore Renminbi Yuan-denominated bond issues are growing in number and issue with new supply but are still smaller compared to dollar-denominated issues and more developed markets which can result in less liquidity and greater price volatility. The number of new issues may vary and supply of new issues may be constrained.

 

Market Risk. General market conditions can affect the value of the Fund’s securities holdings. Market risk applies to individual securities, a particular sector or the entire economy. Recently, global financial markets have experienced a period of extreme stress which has resulted in unusual and extreme volatility in the equity markets and in the prices of individual securities. In some cases, the prices of securities issued by individual companies have been negatively impacted even though there may be little or no apparent degradation in the financial conditions or prospects of that company. Global events, financial market shocks or interest rate events could cause equity securities generally to decline in value, including if fixed income securities become more favorable. These market conditions add significantly to the risk of short term volatility of the Fund.

 

Investing in Non US Companies. Investing in companies outside the U.S., including in countries in Europe and Asia, involves different and additional political, social, economic, legal, and regulatory and other risks, based on the size of their securities markets, competition for investments, interest rates, and global or foreign trade activities (restrictions and tariffs, or threats of changes to restrictions or tariffs), and changes in the global economy , such as “Brexit”, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU). Impacts of Brexit are likely to be higher on companies with significant contacts with the United Kingdom, including companies in Europe. Non-US companies, whether in developed or emerging markets, may be more sensitive to these factors, which can increase volatility, reduce liquidity and negatively affect economic growth. The Fund’s ability to access foreign securities markets can be limited, which can affect availability, liquidity and pricing of foreign securities.

 

3

 

 

Sensitivity to global events. Non US securities may be more sensitive to changes in global economy activity, including interest rates as well as trading activity, including trade restrictions, tariffs, or threats of changes to restrictions or tariffs. These companies may be more sensitive to global economic transitions and stresses, such as Brexit, central bank or government interventions (commonly involving interest rates but also stimulus and sanctions). Investing in non-US securities can also expose the Fund to risks associated with the potential imposition of economic or other sanctions against a particular country, or businesses or industries, including trade restrictions or tariffs (or threats thereof).

 

Legal, Accounting, Audit and Disclosure may vary. Foreign countries have different legal, accounting, auditing and financial disclosure systems, which may make information about companies more difficult to understand, and less information may be available. Under foreign legal systems, different standards may apply for foreign governments to take over assets, restrict the ability to exchange currency or restrict the delivery of securities. Some foreign companies may be subject to special restrictions in U.S. markets due to non-compliance with U.S. audit inspection standards.

 

Foreign Securities Market Risks. Foreign securities markets generally have lower trading volumes than US markets, which means it may be more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell foreign securities. Additionally, trading on foreign securities markets may involve longer settlement periods and higher transaction costs. Some foreign securities markets are closed to trading for extended periods (foreseeable and unplanned), which could make the Fund’s holdings in those markets illiquid or hard to value. Government oversight of foreign stock exchanges and brokerage industries may be less stringent than in the United States. Some foreign securities markets restrict access by non-domestic investors. The Fund’s investments in securities traded on foreign markets could make this Fund more risky than a fund that only invests in securities traded on US exchanges.

 

Emerging Markets Risks. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities are heightened by investing in emerging markets. The Fund invests in companies in China, which remains designated as an emerging markets economy although it is the second largest economy in the world. The Fund’s investments in issuers connected to China involve risks and considerations not typically associated with investments in more developed economies or markets. Emerging market countries may have less established economies and may face greater social, economic, regulatory and political risks, and may have smaller or more limited capital markets, which could contribute to increased volatility or more difficulty in determining the value or liquidity of holdings. Securities issued by companies in emerging markets are subject to a greater risk of market interventions, inflationary or deflationary forces, and potentially more monetary policy influences which can affect a security’s value. Some emerging markets such as Taiwan and Hong Kong may face more risks due to changes in policies or political positions of China.

 

Economies of developing or emerging market countries may be more dependent on relatively few industries and may be more responsive to local and global changes. Governments of developing and emerging market countries may be more unstable as compared to more developed countries. Developing and emerging market countries may have less developed securities markets or exchanges, and legal and accounting systems. It may be more difficult to sell securities at acceptable prices and security prices may be more volatile than in countries with more mature markets. Currency values may fluctuate more in developing or emerging markets. Developing or emerging market countries may be more likely to impose government restrictions, including confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies and restrictions on withdrawing assets from the country. Investments in companies in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative.

 

Diversification Risk. The Renminbi Yuan & Bond Fund is non-diversified. It may hold larger positions in a relatively small number of fixed income securities and may be exposed to fewer issuers. This may make the Fund’s performance more volatile than would be the case if it had a diversified investment portfolio. The Fund’s focus on a smaller number of issues or issuers including foreign companies and sovereign debt of exposes the Fund to great market risk and potential monetary losses than if the Fund’s assets were invested only in U.S. stocks.

 

Risk of Large Shareholder Redemptions. Certain entities, accounts, individuals may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these entities, accounts or individuals of their holdings in the Fund may impact the Fund’s liquidity and NAV. These redemptions may also force the Fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact the Fund’s brokerage and tax costs.

 

Other Principal Risks

 

Management Risk. The Fund’s strategy may not achieve its investment objective; portfolio manager judgments about securities may be incorrect or the Adviser might not properly implement the strategy.

 

Capitalization Risk. The Fund invests in companies with a range of capitalizations, including small cap (under US$1 billion), medium cap (under US$5 billion) and large cap. Small cap and medium cap companies may be more susceptible to financial downturns, have limited product lines, may be illiquid or experience volatility and may have limited financial resources. Large cap companies may have frequent price changes based on general economic conditions and may be adversely affected by declines among lines of business, and may be less agile in responding to market and product challenges. Investing in small cap and medium cap companies may make the Fund more risky than a fund that only invests in securities of larger capitalization companies.

 

4

 

 

Small Companies. The Fund’s investments in securities issued by small companies may be more volatile in price than those of larger companies and involve substantial risks. Small issuers may be more sensitive to economic conditions, have more variable growth prospects, lack management experience and may have less capital for growth and development and limited product lines and markets; and may be more sensitive to interest rate increases, because it may be more difficult for these issuers to borrow money to invest in their businesses, and it may be more difficult for these issuers to repay loans.

 

Liquidity Risk. The Fund invests in securities, which may become illiquid, and there is liquidity risk associated with each Fund’s own shares. Securities in which a Fund invests could become illiquid, which means that the securities cannot be sold with seven days under current market conditions without significantly affecting the price at which the investment is carried on the Fund’s books. Investments that become illiquid may be more difficult to value. The Fund may be more sensitive to this risk because it invests in non-US securities. Some of the foreign markets in which the Fund invests may be closed for national holidays or other reasons, which may cause some holdings to be illiquid. Illiquidity in portfolio securities could cause the Fund’s shares to trade at a premium or discount. The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program to manage liquidity risk of its underlying portfolio.

 

Fund Cybersecurity Risk. Cybersecurity risk applies to the Fund, its service providers and the companies in which the Fund invests. Cybersecurity risk includes breaches, intentional or unintended, that may impact a company’s ability to operate, and could include data corruption, theft or loss, improper access to proprietary information, or interference with technology operations. Companies could suffer losses due to cybersecurity events, including fines, penalties, reputational injuries, as well as financial losses and legal and compliance expenses. Cybersecurity risks of the Fund include risks applicable to the Fund’s service providers. While the Fund and its service providers have established cybersecurity defenses, there is no guarantee that these defenses will be effective.

 

For more information on the risks of investing in this Fund, please see the Principal Risks and Risks of Investing in Our Funds in the prospectus. You may also refer to the section Risk Factors and Special Considerations in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Performance

The annual returns bar chart demonstrates the risks of investing in the Renminbi Yuan & Bond Fund by showing how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table also demonstrates these risks by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad-based securities market index, as well as two indices of currency performance. Unlike the Fund’s returns, the index returns do not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. For additional information on these indices, please see Index Descriptions in the prospectus. Past performance, before or after taxes, is not indicative of future performance. Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website www.gafunds.com.

 

The year-to-date return for the Fund as of March 31, 2023, was 2.04%.

 

During the period shown in the bar chart, the best performance for a quarter was 5.78% (for the quarter ended September 30, 2022). The worst performance was -5.00% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2016).

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/22

One Year

Five Years

Ten Years

Renminbi Yuan & Bond Fund:

     

Return Before Taxes

-9.20%

0.66%

0.92%

Return After Taxes on Distributions(1)

-9.56%

0.04%

0.18%

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares(1)

-6.62%

0.13%

0.19%

RMB Cash Offshore (CNH)*

-8.16%

-1.21%

-1.06%

RMB Cash Onshore (CNY)*

-7.86%

-1.16%

-1.01%

Hang Seng Markit iBoxx Offshore RMB Overall Index

-6.58%

2.44%

2.61%

 

(1)

After-tax returns 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, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. In certain cases, the figure representing “Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares” may be higher than the other return figures for the same period. A higher after-tax return results when a capital loss occurs upon redemption and provides an assumed tax deduction that benefits the investor.

*

Net change in exchange rate versus the U.S. Dollar

 

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Investment Adviser

Guinness AtkinsonTM Asset Management, Inc. serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. For more information on the Investment Adviser, please see Management of the Fund in the prospectus and The Investment Adviser in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Portfolio Manager

Edmund Harriss has been the Fund’s portfolio manager since June 2011, and is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. For additional information, please see Portfolio Management in the prospectus and Portfolio Managers in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any business day by written request, wire transfer, or telephone. You may conduct transactions by mail (Guinness AtkinsonTM Funds, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701), or by telephone at 1-800-915-6566. (Redemptions by telephone are only permitted upon previously receiving appropriate authorization.) Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly. The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below, although we may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases. The minimum initial investment is waived for broker-dealers who have entered into an agreement with the Funds’ distributor and hold shares in an omnibus account.

 

Type of Account

Minimum Initial
Investments

Subsequent
Investments

Regular (new shareholder to the Guinness AtkinsonTM Fund family)

$10,000

$1,000

Regular (current shareholder of another Guinness AtkinsonTM Fund)

$5,000

$1,000

Retirement

$5,000

$1,000

Gift (UGMA/UTMA)

$5,000

$1,000

 

Account minimums at broker-dealer firms may be lower for omnibus account investments. For additional information, please see How to Purchase, Exchange and Redeem Shares in the prospectus and Additional Purchase and Redemption Information in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Withdrawals of monies from such tax deferred arrangements may be taxable. For additional information, please see Distributions and Taxes in the prospectus and Tax Matters in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

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. Also see Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans in the prospectus and Distribution Agreement, Distribution Plan and Shareholder Servicing Plan and Additional Marketing and Support Payments in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

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