Correspondence 0001213900-25-065734 from Investment Managers Series Trust II (CIK 0001587982)
Investment Managers Series Trust II (CIK 0001587982)
Date: July 18, 2025 · CIK: 0001587982 · Accession: 0001213900-25-065734
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File numbers found in text: 333-287935
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CORRESP 1 filename1.htm INVESTMENT MANAGERS SERIES TRUST II 235 W. Galena Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212 VIA EDGAR July 18, 2025 Ms. Mindy Rotter, Esq., CPA Ms. Soo Im-Tang U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, NE Washington, DC 20549 Attention: Division of Investment Management Re: Investment Managers Series Trust II (the "Registrant") Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-287935) Dear Ms. Rotter and Ms. Im-Tang: This letter summarizes the comments provided to me by Ms. Rotter of the staff (the "Staff") of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by telephone on July 1, 2025, and by Ms. Im-Tang of the Staff of the Commission by telephone on July 8, 2025 on the Registrant's registration statement filed on Form N-14 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the proposed reorganization of the LeaderShares ® Activist Leaders ® ETF, LeaderShares ® AlphaFactor ® Tactical Focused ETF, LeaderShares ® AlphaFactor ® US Core Equity ETF, LeaderShares ® Equity Skew ETF and LeaderShares ® Dynamic Yield ETF (each, a "Target Fund" and together, the "Target Funds"), each a series of Two Roads Shared Trust, into the LeaderShares ® Activist Leaders ® ETF, LeaderShares ® AlphaFactor ® Tactical Focused ETF, LeaderShares ® AlphaFactor ® US Core Equity ETF, LeaderShares ® Equity Skew ETF and LeaderShares ® Dynamic Yield ETF (each, an "Acquiring Fund" and together, the "Acquiring Funds"), respectively, each a new series of the Registrant. This combined proxy statement/prospectus is referred to below as the "Proxy Statement." The Target Funds and the Acquiring Funds are collectively referred to herein as the "Funds." Responses to all of the comments are included below and, as appropriate, will be incorporated into a pre-effective amendment to the Registration Statement (the "Amendment"), which will be filed separately. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this letter have the meanings assigned to them in the Registration Statement. Accounting Comments 1. Please confirm in correspondence that the semi-annual financial information will be updated in the Amendment and all applicable sections and hyperlinks will be updated. In addition, please confirm that an updated auditor consent will be provided. Response : The Registrant confirms that the semi-annual financial information and all applicable sections and hyperlinks will be updated in the Amendment. In addition, the Registrant confirms that the Amendment will contain an updated auditor consent. 2. Please update the fees to represent current fees in accordance with Item 3 in Form N-14. Response : The Registrant has updated the fees and expenses tables to reflect information as of April 30, 2025. The Registrant believes that the fees presented in the fee tables represent current fees, as required by Item 3(a) of Form N-14. Please see the revised fee tables in Appendix A attached hereto. 3. Please consider updating the capitalization table to reflect data from within 30 days of the filing of the Amendment or alternatively, confirm in correspondence that there have been no material changes to the capitalization table since the date reflected in the table. Response : The Registrant has updated the capitalization tables to reflect data as of June 30, 2025, and confirms that the updated capitalization tables will be included in the Amendment. Please see the revised capitalization tables in Appendix B attached hereto. Legal Comments 4. In the Dear Shareholder letter included in the Proxy Statement, it states "[t]he Reorganizations are not expected to result in any increases in shareholder fees or expenses." Please clarify in the disclosure if there will be any increase and if so, explain the increase. Response : The Registrant has added the following disclosure: Both the Target Funds and the Acquiring Funds operate under a unitary fee contract structure whereby each Fund pays Redwood a management fee and Redwood has agreed to pay all operating expenses incurred by the Fund, except for the management fee and certain other expenses. The management fee for each Target Fund and the corresponding Acquiring Fund are the same. Following the Reorganizations, the overall operating expenses incurred by each Acquiring Fund and paid by Redwood are expected to be lower than the current operating expenses incurred by the corresponding Target Fund and paid by Redwood. 5. In the Dear Shareholder letter included in the Proxy Statement, it states "[after careful consideration, for the reasons discussed in the attached Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and based on the recommendation of the Target Funds' investment adviser, Redwood, as well as in reliance upon certain representations and commitments made by Redwood to the Board, the Board has approved the Reorganizations and the solicitation of the Target Funds' shareholders with respect to the Reorganization Agreement." Please add the Board unanimously approved the Reorganizations to be consistent with disclosure contained in the Proxy Statement. Response : The Registrant has revised the disclosure as follows: After careful consideration, for the reasons discussed in the attached Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and based on the recommendation of the Target Funds' investment adviser, Redwood, as well as in reliance upon certain representations and commitments made by Redwood to the Board, the Board has unanimously approved the Reorganizations and the solicitation of the Target Funds' shareholders with respect to the Reorganization Agreement. 2 6. Please add disclosure to the Dear Shareholder letter to indicate that the Board, including the independent trustees, unanimously recommends that shareholder of each Target Fund approve the Reorganization Agreement and the Reorganization. Response : The Registrant acknowledges the Staff's comment and respectfully declines to add the requested disclosure. The Registrant believes that the current disclosure is appropriate. 7. In the Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders, please define June 16, 2025, as the "Record Date." Response : The Registrant has revised the disclosure as follows: Only shareholders of record of the Target Funds at the close of business on June 16, 2025 (the "Record Date") , the record date for this Special Meeting, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting or any postponements or continuations after an adjournment thereof. 8. In the Question and Answer regarding " How will each Reorganization work? ", please clarify that immediately after the Reorganization each shareholder of the Target Fund will hold a number of full shares of the Acquiring Fund equal in aggregate net asset value at the time of the exchange to the aggregate net asset value of such shareholder's shares of the Target Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization. Response : The Registrant has revised the disclosure as follows: Shareholders of the Target Fund will become shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, and immediately after the Reorganization each such shareholder will hold a number of shares of the Acquiring Fund equal in aggregate net asset value at the time of the exchange to the aggregate net asset value of such shareholder's shares of the Target Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization. 9. In the Question and Answer regarding " Who is paying for expenses related to the Special Meeting and the Reorganizations? " please add disclosure that Redwood or any affiliate will bear the costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Reorganizations whether or not the Reorganizations are consummated. Additionally, please disclose the estimated direct expenses to be incurred by Redwood. Response : The Registrant confirms that the estimated direct expenses to be incurred by Redwood will be included in the definitive Proxy Statement. 10. In the Question and Answer regarding " How do I cast my vote? " please add disclosure that a proxy solicitor is to be used, as well as their contract and their costs. Response : The Registrant has added the following disclosure: Redwood has engaged Sodali & Co. to provide shareholder meeting services, including the distribution of this Proxy Statement and related materials to shareholders as well as assist the Target Funds in soliciting proxies for the Special Meeting at an anticipated cost of approximately $29,494 . 3 11. Under "Comparison of Investment Restrictions" please specify which fundamental investment policy applies to which Fund or make clear that the policies apply to all Funds. Response : The Registrant has revised the disclosure as follows: The fundamental and non-fundamental investment limitations for each Target Fund of the Target Funds and for each the Acquiring Fund s are set forth in the following table. 12. In the table of the comparison of non-fundamental investment restrictions please specify which non-fundamental investment policy apply to which Fund or make clear that the policies apply to all Funds. Response : The Registrant has revised the disclosure as follows: The Funds observe the following non-fundamental investment restrictions applicable to each Target Fund and each Acquiring Fund are set forth in the following table . 13. Under "Background and Trustees' Considerations Relating to the Proposed Reorganization", please clarify why the Board considered the Reorganization in the first place (i.e., were the Funds losing assets or were there other issues?). Did the Board consider the Funds' performance? If so, please add disclosure to the discussion. Response : The Registrant confirms that the Board initially considered the Reorganization due to a proposal from Redwood, the adviser of each Target Fund and proposed adviser of each Acquiring Fund, that the Target Funds be reconstituted as series of IMST II. The Registrant notes this is disclosed in the first sentence of the section, "Background and Trustees' Considerations Relating to the Proposed Reorganization" and considers the current disclosure to be sufficient as it also includes a discussion of the Adviser's rationale for the Reorganizations. The Registrant also notes that the current disclosure states that the Board considered the historical performance of each Target Fund in determining whether to approve the Reorganization. 14. In the sentence which reads, "[i]n reaching its decision to approve the Reorganizations, the Board concluded, in reliance upon the representations and commitments by Redwood to the Board, including with respect to actions taken or to be taken by Redwood, that the participation of the Target Funds in the Reorganizations is in the best interests of each Target Fund and that the interests of existing shareholders of each Target Fund would not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization", please consider whether it would be appropriate to disclose such representations and commitments here. Response : The Registrant has revised the disclosure as follows: In reaching its decision to approve the Reorganizations, the Board concluded, in reliance upon the representations and commitments by Redwood to the Board, including with respect to actions taken or to be taken by Redwood, which include but were not limited to certain changes and enhancements to Redwood's compliance program, that the participation of the Target Funds in the Reorganizations is in the best interests of each Target Fund and that the interests of existing shareholders of each Target Fund would not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization. 4 15. In the disclosure regarding certain matters considered by the Board, please consider adding disclosure regarding any potential drawbacks or risks associated with the Reorganization to balance the disclosure regarding the expected benefits of the Reorganization. Response : The Registrant has considered the Staff's comment and has determined that the current disclosure is appropriate. 16. In the disclosure regarding certain matters considered by the Board, it states that the Board considered possible alternatives to the Reorganization, including liquidation. Please clarify why the Board considered liquidation should the Reorganizations not be approved. Response : The Registrant confirms that the Board considered liquidation, among other possible alternatives, in the normal course of business of considering the Reorganization. 17. In the capitalization table, please confirm that the information is consistent with the most current pro forma financial statements. Please ensure that any adjustments are reflected in a footnote to the capitalization table. Response : The Registrant has updated the capitalization tables and confirms that the information is consistent with the most current pro forma financial statements. The Registrant further confirms that the adjustments are reflected in a footnote to the capitalization table. Please see the revised capitalization tables in Appendix B attached hereto. 18. IMST II has six trustees, two of whom are considered "interested persons" as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. Please explain how the IMST II board satisfies the conditions of Section 15(f). Response : The Registrant confirms the IMST II board currently satisfies the relevant provision of Section 15(f). In particular, Section 15(f) requires that, during the three-year period following the transaction, at least 75% of the Fund's board of trustees must not be "interested persons" of the investment adviser or predecessor investment adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. None of the IMST II trustees are "interested persons" of Redwood, the Funds' investment adviser. 19. Under "Effect of Abstentions and Broker ‘Non-Votes'", please revise the disclosure to describe that broker non-votes will not be counted as votes present or as votes cast at the meeting. Response : The Registrant has revised the disclosure as follows: For purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for transacting business at the Special Meeting, all proxies voted, including abstentions, will be counted toward establishing a quorum. Because the proposal is expected to "affect substantially" a shareholder's rights or privileges, a broker may not vote shares if the broker has not received instructions from beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote, even if the broker has discretionary voting power (i.e., the proposal is non-discretionary). Because the proposal is non-discretionary, the Trust does not expect to receive broker non-votes. Any broker non-votes received, however, will not be counted as votes present at the Special Meeting for purposes of determining quorum or as votes cast at the Special Meeting. Assuming the presence of a quorum, abstentions and broker "non-votes" will have the effect of votes against the proposal. Abstentions will have no effect on the outcome of a vote on adjournment. * * * * * 5 The Registrant believes that it has fully responded to each comment. If, however, you have any further questions or required further clarification of any response, please contact me at (626) 385-5777. The Registrant intends to file the Amendment on July 18, 2025 and seek acceleration of the Amendment to July 21, 2025. /s/ Diane J. Drake Diane J. Drake Secretary 6 Appendix A The following shows the fees and expenses for each Target Fund as of April 30, 2025. Only pro forma information is provided for each Acquiring Fund because each Acquiring Fund will not commence operations until the applicable Reorganization is completed, and the pro forma information is based on the average net assets of the corresponding Target Fund as of April 30, 2025. Each Acquiring Fund and Target Fund operates under a unitary fee contract structure. In a unitary fee contract structure, each Fund pays the adv