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Correspondence 0000894189-24-004234 from BUFFALO FUNDS (CIK 0001135300)

BUFFALO FUNDS (CIK 0001135300)
Date: July 24, 2024 · CIK: 0001135300 · Accession: 0000894189-24-004234

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

File numbers found in text: 333-56018, 811-10303

Referenced dates: June 21, 2019

Date
July 24, 2024
Author
/s/ Kristen A. Irgens
Form
CORRESP
Company
BUFFALO FUNDS (CIK 0001135300)

Letter

VIA EDGAR Division of Investment Management– Disclosure Review and Accounting Office 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Re:Buffalo Funds (Registration Nos. 333-56018; 811-10303) Registration Statement on Form N-1A (Post-Effective Amendment No. 68)

Dear Mr. Greenspan:

The purpose of this letter is to respond to your oral comments from July 11, 2024 with respect to Post

Effective Amendment (“PEA”) No. 68 to the registration statement on Form N-1A (the “Registration Statement”)

filed by Buffalo Funds (the “Trust”) pursuant to Rule 485(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the

“1933 Act”), on May 24, 2024.

The purpose of PEA No. 68 was to notify shareholders of changes to: (i) the name of Buffalo Discovery

Fund to “Buffalo Mid Cap Discovery Fund,” Buffalo Dividend Focus Fund to “Buffalo Growth & Income Fund,”

Buffalo Flexible Income Fund to “Buffalo Flexible Allocation Fund,” Buffalo Large Cap Fund to “Buffalo Blue

Chip Growth Fund,” Buffalo Mid Cap Fund to “Buffalo Mid Cap Growth Fund” and Buffalo Small Cap Fund to

“Buffalo Small Cap Growth Fund;” (ii) the principal investment strategies of the Funds listed in (i) and the

Buffalo Early Stage Growth Fund, Buffalo Growth Fund and Buffalo High Yield Fund; and (iii) the 80%

investment policies of the Funds listed in (ii).

Set forth below are numbered paragraphs identifying the SEC Staff’s (the “Staff”) comments and the

Trust’s responses. Any capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the same meanings assigned to them in

the Registration Statement. On or before the Registration Statement’s effective date of July 29, 2024 (the

“Effective Date”), the Trust is filing PEA No. 69 to its Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the

1933 Act for the purpose of responding to Staff comments, adding the audited financial statements and certain

financial information for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 for the Buffalo Funds and to make other

permissible changes under Rule 485(b).

Comment 1. The Staff notes that the Registration Statement provides that a Fund will not change its: (1)

investment objective without providing 60 days’ advance written notice of the change to shareholders and (2)

investment policy of investing at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets in investments suggested by such Fund’s

name without first providing shareholders with at least 60 days’ prior written notice.

With respect to the proposed changes to principal investment strategies and 80% investment policies for

the above-listed Funds, please supplementally explain how the applicable Funds complied with the Registration

Statement’s shareholder notice provisions.

Response. The Trust supplementally responds by stating that prospectus and Statement of Additional

Information supplements were filed with the SEC on May 30, 2024 on behalf of, and mailed to shareholders on

the same date with respect to, the Blue Chip Growth, Early Stage Growth, Flexible Allocation, Growth, Growth &

Income, High Yield, Mid Cap Discovery, Mid Cap Growth and Small Cap Growth Funds. The Trust endeavors to

file PEA No. 69 on or before the Effective Date. As such, the applicable Funds provided their shareholders with at

least 60 days’ prior written notice of their name and/or investment policy changes.

Comment 2. Please supplementally provide the approximate percentage of each Fund’s portfolio that is

expected to change as a result of the above-described name, investment strategy and/or investment policy

changes. If a Fund’s portfolio was materially repositioned, please explain what material changes were made as a

result of the Fund’s name, investment strategy and/or investment policy changes. If a Fund’s portfolio was not

materially repositioned, please respond that such Fund’s portfolio was not materially repositioned as a result of

the Fund’s name, investment strategy and/or investment policy changes.

Response. The Trust supplementally responds that the portfolios of the Blue Chip Growth, Early Stage

Growth, Flexible Allocation, Growth, Growth & Income, High Yield, Mid Cap Discovery, Mid Cap Growth and

Small Cap Growth Funds will not be materially repositioned as a result of the name, investment strategy and/or

investment policy changes.

Comment 3. With respect to the Growth & Income Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund’s

prospectus states that the Fund will invest “in a mix of growth equity securities and income producing securities,

with no minimum or maximum investment requirements specified for either category” (emphasis added by the

Trust). Please explain how the “no minimum” investment requirement for “either category” is consistent with the

Growth & Income Fund’s name.

The Staff supplementally notes that it is the Staff’s expectation that a significant amount of the Fund’s

portfolio be invested in both growth and income-producing stocks given the 80% investment policy, and, as such,

the Staff believes the lack of a minimum investment requirement for growth and income-producing stocks may

not be appropriate. If the Trust believes that the “no minimum” requirement for either category of the Fund’s

name remains appropriate, please explain why.

Response. The Trust supplementally responds by noting that the Growth & Income Fund’s principal

investment strategy was curated in light of guidance from the SEC’s Final Rule Release (the “Release”), and that

the Fund’s name includes terms suggesting an investment focus that has multiple elements (i.e., the elements of

“growth” and “income”). Page 48 of the Release provides that, in such an instance, “the fund’s 80% investment

policy must address all of the elements in the name (as all of the elements would be reflected in the investment

focus that the fund’s name suggests).” The Release also provides the following example: “a fund with a name that

references two or more distinct investment focuses (e.g., ‘XYZ Technology and Growth Fund’) could have an

investment policy that provides that each security included in the 80% basket must be in both the technology

sector and meet the fund’s growth criteria. Alternatively, such a fund could instead have an investment policy that

provides that 80% of the value of the fund’s assets will be invested in a mix of technology investments and

growth investments, with some technology investments, some growth investments, and some investments in both

of these categories, with no minimum or maximum investment requirements specified for either

category.” (emphasis added by the Trust)

The Trust notes that, with respect to the Growth & Income Fund, it is taking the approach set forth in the

alternative example, above, where 80% of the value of the Fund’s assets will be invested in a mix of growth

Mr. Greenspan

Securities and Exchange Commission

July 24, 2024

Page 2

stocks and income-producing stocks, with some growth investments, some income-producing investments and

some investments in both of these categories, with no minimum or maximum investment requirements specified

for either the “growth” or “income” category. The Trust agrees with the Staff’s expectation that a significant

amount of the Fund’s portfolio will be invested in a mix of growth and income-producing stocks. For the reasons

set forth above, the Trust believes that the “no minimum” requirement for either category of the Fund’s name

remains appropriate.

Comment 4. The Growth & Income Fund’s prospectus contains a growth-style investing risk as part of

the Fund’s principal risk factors. Please add a corresponding income-producing securities risk or supplementally

explain why this type of risk is not included in the Fund’s prospectus.

Response. The Trust responds by adding the following risk factor (in both Item 4 and Item 9 disclosure

sections):

“Dividend Strategy Risk. Strategies focusing on dividend-paying stocks may fall out of investor favor,

which may negatively affect the performance of stocks that pay dividends regardless of whether the

underlying companies’ business fortunes have changed. The Adviser may incorrectly judge whether a

company will be able to continue paying dividends or the amount of such dividends, which may cause

losses for the Fund.”

Comment 5. The Staff notes that the Trust agreed to make the Staff’s requested revisions with respect to

the micro-cap company risk factor (contained in both Item 4 and Item 9 disclosure sections) disclosed in the

prospectus of the Early Stage Growth Fund (f/k/a the Emerging Opportunities Fund); see Staff Comment #9 in the

Trust’s Comment Response Letter dated June 21, 2019. The Staff notes the requested language was not included

in PEA No. 68. Please either restore this language in PEA No. 69 or explain why such language is no longer

necessary.

Response. The Trust responds by restoring the micro-cap risk factor disclosure (in both Item 4 and Item

9 disclosure sections), as provided below. The Trust supplementally notes that language requested by Staff

Comment #9 in the Trust’s Comment Response Letter dated June 21, 2019 is predominantly addressed by the

micro-cap company risk factor on page 60 of PEA No. 68. Although Item 4 disclosure is intended to be a

summary of Item 9 disclosure, the Trust will replace the existing micro-cap risk with the following:

“Micro-Cap Company Risk. Investing in micro-cap companies may involve greater risk than investing

in companies with larger capitalization due to less management experience, fewer financial resources, less

product diversification and fewer competitive strengths. Therefore, such securities may be more volatile

and less liquid than companies with larger capitalization. In addition, micro-cap companies may be

particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to

continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying any loans. The trading volume of

securities of smaller capitalization companies is normally less than that of larger capitalization companies,

and therefore may disproportionately affect their market price, tending to make them fall more in

response to selling pressure than is the case with larger capitalization companies. These risks are

enhanced for micro-cap securities. Many micro-cap companies tend to be new and have no proven track

record. Some of these companies have no assets or operations, while others have products and services

that are still in development or have yet to be tested in the market. As any size of trade can have a large

percentage impact on the price of a micro-cap stock, the Fund will be more susceptible to sudden and

significant losses. In addition, micro-cap company stocks will also be bought and sold less often than

Mr. Greenspan

Securities and Exchange Commission

July 24, 2024

Page 3

other stocks, making them less liquid than other securities. Because of this, if the Fund wants to sell a

large quantity of a micro-cap company’s stock, it may have to sell at a lower price than the Adviser might

prefer, or it may have to sell in smaller than desired quantities over a period of time. Given these risks, an

investment in the Fund may be more suitable for long-term investors who are willing to bear the risk of

these fluctuations.”

Comment 6. The Staff notes that the Small Cap Growth Fund’s definition of “small cap growth

companies” is a two-prong definition, and that companies included in the Fund’s investment universe must satisfy

both prongs of KCM’s small cap growth company definition:

(i) KCM defines small-cap companies as companies, at the time of purchase, with market capitalizations

within the range of the Russell 2000® Growth Index.

(ii) KCM defines growth companies as companies that, at the time of purchase, are constituents of the

Russell 3000® Growth Index or exhibit growth characteristics (generates positive cash flows or earnings

that increase at faster rates than the overall economy) consistent with inclusion of companies in the

Russell 3000® Growth Index (emphasis added by the Trust).

Please supplementally explain how KCM will ensure the Fund’s compliance with its 80% investment

policy given that companies in the Fund’s investment universe must satisfy both prongs of the “small cap growth

company” definition.

Response. The Trust supplementally confirms that it is able to meet the Fund’s 80% investment policy of

investing in “small cap growth companies” as defined in the Fund’s prospectus.

The Trust notes that the first prong (the “small-cap company” prong) is a quantitative test. Compliance

with this prong of the Fund’s 80% test will be predominantly monitored by the Fund’s administrative agent, with

oversight by KCM.

The Trust further notes that the second “growth companies” prong contains a quantitative element and a

qualitative element, either of which satisfies KCM’s definition of “growth company.” The quantitative element is

“companies that are constituents of the Russell 3000® Growth Index,” and the qualitative element is “companies

that . . . exhibit growth characteristics.” The Trust’s administrative agent will monitor the quantitative element of

the second prong, after which KCM will review and independently determine which stocks in the Fund’s portfolio

fail to meet the quantitative element but do meet the qualitative element of prong two’s definition.

In sum, the Trust notes that KCM, with the assistance of its administrative agent, will track the Fund’s

portfolio (and maintain documentation) so that the Fund will comply with its 80% investment policy by satisfying

prong one, as well as either or both elements of prong two.

* * *

Mr. Greenspan

Securities and Exchange Commission

July 24, 2024

Page 4

Please direct any inquiries on this letter to me at (414) 287-9308 or kirgens@gklaw.com. Thank you.

Very truly yours,
/s/ Kristen A. Irgens

Show Raw Text
CORRESP
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filename1.htm

Buffalo Funds SEC Letter (7.24.24)

July 24, 2024

VIA EDGAR

Mr. Daniel Greenspan

Senior Counsel

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Investment Management– Disclosure Review and Accounting Office

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

Re:Buffalo Funds (Registration Nos. 333-56018; 811-10303)

Registration Statement on Form N-1A (Post-Effective Amendment No. 68)

Dear Mr. Greenspan:

The purpose of this letter is to respond to your oral comments from July 11, 2024 with respect to Post

Effective Amendment (“PEA”) No. 68 to the registration statement on Form N-1A (the “Registration Statement”)

filed by Buffalo Funds (the “Trust”) pursuant to Rule 485(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the

“1933 Act”), on May 24, 2024.

The purpose of PEA No. 68 was to notify shareholders of changes to: (i) the name of Buffalo Discovery

Fund to “Buffalo Mid Cap Discovery Fund,” Buffalo Dividend Focus Fund to “Buffalo Growth & Income Fund,”

Buffalo Flexible Income Fund to “Buffalo Flexible Allocation Fund,” Buffalo Large Cap Fund to “Buffalo Blue

Chip Growth Fund,” Buffalo Mid Cap Fund to “Buffalo Mid Cap Growth Fund” and Buffalo Small Cap Fund to

“Buffalo Small Cap Growth Fund;” (ii) the principal investment strategies of the Funds listed in (i) and the

Buffalo Early Stage Growth Fund, Buffalo Growth Fund and Buffalo High Yield Fund; and (iii) the 80%

investment policies of the Funds listed in (ii).

Set forth below are numbered paragraphs identifying the SEC Staff’s (the “Staff”) comments and the

Trust’s responses.  Any capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the same meanings assigned to them in

the Registration Statement.  On or before the Registration Statement’s effective date of July 29, 2024 (the

“Effective Date”), the Trust is filing PEA No. 69 to its Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the

1933 Act for the purpose of responding to Staff comments, adding the audited financial statements and certain

financial information for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 for the Buffalo Funds and to make other

permissible changes under Rule 485(b).

Comment 1. The Staff notes that the Registration Statement provides that a Fund will not change its: (1)

investment objective without providing 60 days’ advance written notice of the change to shareholders and (2)

investment policy of investing at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets in investments suggested by such Fund’s

name without first providing shareholders with at least 60 days’ prior written notice.

With respect to the proposed changes to principal investment strategies and 80% investment policies for

the above-listed Funds, please supplementally explain how the applicable Funds complied with the Registration

Statement’s shareholder notice provisions.

Response.  The Trust supplementally responds by stating that prospectus and Statement of Additional

Information supplements were filed with the SEC on May 30, 2024 on behalf of, and mailed to shareholders on

the same date with respect to, the Blue Chip Growth, Early Stage Growth, Flexible Allocation, Growth, Growth &

Income, High Yield, Mid Cap Discovery, Mid Cap Growth and Small Cap Growth Funds. The Trust endeavors to

file PEA No. 69 on or before the Effective Date. As such, the applicable Funds provided their shareholders with at

least 60 days’ prior written notice of their name and/or investment policy changes.

Comment 2.  Please supplementally provide the approximate percentage of each Fund’s portfolio that is

expected to change as a result of the above-described name, investment strategy and/or investment policy

changes. If a Fund’s portfolio was materially repositioned, please explain what material changes were made as a

result of the Fund’s name, investment strategy and/or investment policy changes. If a Fund’s portfolio was not

materially repositioned, please respond that such Fund’s portfolio was not materially repositioned as a result of

the Fund’s name, investment strategy and/or investment policy changes.

Response.  The Trust supplementally responds that the portfolios of the Blue Chip Growth, Early Stage

Growth, Flexible Allocation, Growth, Growth & Income, High Yield, Mid Cap Discovery, Mid Cap Growth and

Small Cap Growth Funds will not be materially repositioned as a result of the name, investment strategy and/or

investment policy changes.

Comment 3.  With respect to the Growth & Income Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund’s

prospectus states that the Fund will invest “in a mix of growth equity securities and income producing securities,

with no minimum or maximum investment requirements specified for either category” (emphasis added by the

Trust). Please explain how the “no minimum” investment requirement for “either category” is consistent with the

Growth & Income Fund’s name.

The Staff supplementally notes that it is the Staff’s expectation that a significant amount of the Fund’s

portfolio be invested in both growth and income-producing stocks given the 80% investment policy, and, as such,

the Staff believes the lack of a minimum investment requirement for growth and income-producing stocks may

not be appropriate. If the Trust believes that the “no minimum” requirement for either category of the Fund’s

name remains appropriate, please explain why.

Response.  The Trust supplementally responds by noting that the Growth & Income Fund’s principal

investment strategy was curated in light of guidance from the SEC’s Final Rule Release (the “Release”), and that

the Fund’s name includes terms suggesting an investment focus that has multiple elements (i.e., the elements of

“growth” and “income”). Page 48 of the Release provides that, in such an instance, “the fund’s 80% investment

policy must address all of the elements in the name (as all of the elements would be reflected in the investment

focus that the fund’s name suggests).” The Release also provides the following example: “a fund with a name that

references two or more distinct investment focuses (e.g., ‘XYZ Technology and Growth Fund’) could have an

investment policy that provides that each security included in the 80% basket must be in both the technology

sector and meet the fund’s growth criteria. Alternatively, such a fund could instead have an investment policy that

provides that 80% of the value of the fund’s assets will be invested in a mix of technology investments and

growth investments, with some technology investments, some growth investments, and some investments in both

of these categories, with no minimum or maximum investment requirements specified for either

category.” (emphasis added by the Trust)

The Trust notes that, with respect to the Growth & Income Fund, it is taking the approach set forth in the

alternative example, above, where 80% of the value of the Fund’s assets will be invested in a mix of growth

Mr. Greenspan

Securities and Exchange Commission

July 24, 2024

Page 2

stocks and income-producing stocks, with some growth investments, some income-producing investments and

some investments in both of these categories, with no minimum or maximum investment requirements specified

for either the “growth” or “income” category. The Trust agrees with the Staff’s expectation that a significant

amount of the Fund’s portfolio will be invested in a mix of growth and income-producing stocks. For the reasons

set forth above, the Trust believes that the “no minimum” requirement for either category of the Fund’s name

remains appropriate.

Comment 4.  The Growth & Income Fund’s prospectus contains a growth-style investing risk as part of

the Fund’s principal risk factors. Please add a corresponding income-producing securities risk or supplementally

explain why this type of risk is not included in the Fund’s prospectus.

Response.  The Trust responds by adding the following risk factor (in both Item 4 and Item 9 disclosure

sections):

“Dividend Strategy Risk. Strategies focusing on dividend-paying stocks may fall out of investor favor,

which may negatively affect the performance of stocks that pay dividends regardless of whether the

underlying companies’ business fortunes have changed. The Adviser may incorrectly judge whether a

company will be able to continue paying dividends or the amount of such dividends, which may cause

losses for the Fund.”

Comment 5.  The Staff notes that the Trust agreed to make the Staff’s requested revisions with respect to

the micro-cap company risk factor (contained in both Item 4 and Item 9 disclosure sections) disclosed in the

prospectus of the Early Stage Growth Fund (f/k/a the Emerging Opportunities Fund); see Staff Comment #9 in the

Trust’s Comment Response Letter dated June 21, 2019. The Staff notes the requested language was not included

in PEA No. 68. Please either restore this language in PEA No. 69 or explain why such language is no longer

necessary.

Response.  The Trust responds by restoring the micro-cap risk factor disclosure (in both Item 4 and Item

9 disclosure sections), as provided below. The Trust supplementally notes that language requested by Staff

Comment #9 in the Trust’s Comment Response Letter dated June 21, 2019 is predominantly addressed by the

micro-cap company risk factor on page 60 of PEA No. 68.  Although Item 4 disclosure is intended to be a

summary of Item 9 disclosure, the Trust will replace the existing micro-cap risk with the following:

“Micro-Cap Company Risk. Investing in micro-cap companies may involve greater risk than investing

in companies with larger capitalization due to less management experience, fewer financial resources, less

product diversification and fewer competitive strengths. Therefore, such securities may be more volatile

and less liquid than companies with larger capitalization. In addition, micro-cap companies may be

particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to

continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying any loans. The trading volume of

securities of smaller capitalization companies is normally less than that of larger capitalization companies,

and therefore may disproportionately affect their market price, tending to make them fall more in

response to selling pressure than is the case with larger capitalization companies. These risks are

enhanced for micro-cap securities. Many micro-cap companies tend to be new and have no proven track

record. Some of these companies have no assets or operations, while others have products and services

that are still in development or have yet to be tested in the market. As any size of trade can have a large

percentage impact on the price of a micro-cap stock, the Fund will be more susceptible to sudden and

significant losses. In addition, micro-cap company stocks will also be bought and sold less often than

Mr. Greenspan

Securities and Exchange Commission

July 24, 2024

Page 3

other stocks, making them less liquid than other securities. Because of this, if the Fund wants to sell a

large quantity of a micro-cap company’s stock, it may have to sell at a lower price than the Adviser might

prefer, or it may have to sell in smaller than desired quantities over a period of time. Given these risks, an

investment in the Fund may be more suitable for long-term investors who are willing to bear the risk of

these fluctuations.”

Comment 6.  The Staff notes that the Small Cap Growth Fund’s definition of “small cap growth

companies” is a two-prong definition, and that companies included in the Fund’s investment universe must satisfy

both prongs of KCM’s small cap growth company definition:

(i) KCM defines small-cap companies as companies, at the time of purchase, with market capitalizations

within the range of the Russell 2000® Growth Index.

(ii) KCM defines growth companies as companies that, at the time of purchase, are constituents of the

Russell 3000® Growth Index or exhibit growth characteristics (generates positive cash flows or earnings

that increase at faster rates than the overall economy) consistent with inclusion of companies in the

Russell 3000® Growth Index (emphasis added by the Trust).

 Please supplementally explain how KCM will ensure the Fund’s compliance with its 80% investment

policy given that companies in the Fund’s investment universe must satisfy both prongs of the “small cap growth

company” definition.

Response.  The Trust supplementally confirms that it is able to meet the Fund’s 80% investment policy of

investing in “small cap growth companies” as defined in the Fund’s prospectus.

The Trust notes that the first prong (the “small-cap company” prong) is a quantitative test. Compliance

with this prong of the Fund’s 80% test will be predominantly monitored by the Fund’s administrative agent, with

oversight by KCM.

The Trust further notes that the second “growth companies” prong contains a quantitative element and a

qualitative element, either of which satisfies KCM’s definition of “growth company.” The quantitative element is

“companies that are constituents of the Russell 3000® Growth Index,” and the qualitative element is “companies

that . . . exhibit growth characteristics.” The Trust’s administrative agent will monitor the quantitative element of

the second prong, after which KCM will review and independently determine which stocks in the Fund’s portfolio

fail to meet the quantitative element but do meet the qualitative element of prong two’s definition.

In sum, the Trust notes that KCM, with the assistance of its administrative agent, will track the Fund’s

portfolio (and maintain documentation) so that the Fund will comply with its 80% investment policy by satisfying

prong one, as well as either or both elements of prong two.

* * *

Mr. Greenspan

Securities and Exchange Commission

July 24, 2024

Page 4

Please direct any inquiries on this letter to me at (414) 287-9308 or kirgens@gklaw.com.  Thank you.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Kristen A. Irgens

Kristen A. Irgens

cc:     Laura Symon Browne, Buffalo Funds

         Fred Coats, Buffalo Funds

         Carol A. Gehl, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

         Rachel Spearo, U.S. Bank Global Fund Services

Mr. Greenspan

Securities and Exchange Commission

July 24, 2024

Page 5