Correspondence 0001580642-24-002218 from Exchange Place Advisors Trust (CIK 0001750821)
Exchange Place Advisors Trust (CIK 0001750821)
Date: April 22, 2024 · CIK: 0001750821 · Accession: 0001580642-24-002218
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File numbers found in text: 333-226989, 811-23373
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Seward
& Kissel LLP
901 K Street, N.W.
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: (202) 737-8833
Facsimile: (202) 737-5184
April 22, 2024
VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE
Ms. Kim McManus, Esq., Senior Counsel
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Investment Management
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: North Square Investments Trust (the “Trust”
or the “Registrant”)
File Nos. 333-226989; 811-23373
Dear Ms. McManus,
On February 13, 2024, the Trust, on behalf of its
series, Fort Pitt Capital Total Return Fund (the “Fund”), filed Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the Trust’s Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (the “Amendment”). The Amendment was filed pursuant to Rule 485(a)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (“Securities Act”), to register shares of the Fund. On March 27, 2024, you provided comments to the Amendment,
delivered by telephone to Robert M. Kurucza, Esq. and Karen Jacoppo-Wood, Esq.
Set forth below are your comments, as we understand
them, followed by responses to those comments, which the Trust has authorized me to make on its behalf. Where applicable, revisions indicated
in response to your comments will be reflected in an amendment to the Registrant’s Registration Statement to be filed subsequently
to or concurrently with this letter. All capitalized terms not defined herein have the meaning given to them in the Amendment.
GENERAL
Comment 1. We remind you that the Trust
and its management are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure notwithstanding any review, comment, action, or absence
of action by staff (the “Staff”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).
Response. The Registrant acknowledges
the responsibility described above.
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COVER
Comment 2. Please revise the outside
front cover of the Prospectus to include the Commission legend pursuant to Rule 481(b)(1) under the Securities Act.
Response. The Registrant has included
the legend as follows:
The United States Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy
of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
Comment 3. Please confirm that Acquired
Fund Fees and Expenses (“AFFE”) for the Fund are expected to not exceed 0.01% of the average net assets of the Fund and that
is why there is no caption for AFFE in the Fund’s fee table.
Response. The Registrant confirms
that AFFE for the Fund are not expected to exceed 0.01% of the average net assets of the Fund and, accordingly, that is why there is no
caption for AFFE in the Fund’s fee table.
Comment 4. Please revise footnote (2)
to the fee table to clarify that only the Board of Trustees may amend or terminate the Fund’s expense limitation agreement. Please
also revise footnote (2) to clarify that the Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees if the reimbursement will not cause
the Fund to exceed the lesser of the expense limitation in place at the time of the management fee reduction and expense payment
or the expense limitation in place at the time of the reimbursement.
Response. The Registrant has revised
the disclosure as follows:
(2) Fort Pitt Capital Group, LLC (the “Advisor”),
has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fees and reimburse Fund expenses to ensure that Total Annual Fund
Operating Expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses (“AFFE”), extraordinary
expenses, Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder servicing fees or any other class-specific expenses) do not exceed [ ]% of the Fund’s average
daily net assets (“Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [ ], and may be amended or terminated
only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Fund, subject
to certain limitations, of fees waived, payments made or expenses reimbursed to the Fund for a period ending 36 months after the date
of the waiver, payment or reimbursement. This reimbursement may be requested from the Fund if the
reimbursement will not cause the Fund’s annual expense ratio to exceed the lesser of (a) the expense limitation amount in effect
at the time such fees were waived, payments made or expenses
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reimbursed, or (b) the expense limitation
amount in effect at the time of the reimbursement.
Comment 5. The Predecessor Fund has
previously waived fees and paid expenses that are subject to recoupment by the Advisor under certain conditions. Please disclose if the
Advisor’s right to recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Predecessor Fund will survive the Reorganization.
Response. The Registrant confirms
that the Advisor’s right to recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Predecessor Fund will not survive the
Reorganization.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Comment 6. With respect to fixed income
investments, please expand the disclosure to clarify whether fixed income investments may include corporate, mortgage backed securities
and foreign government securities.
Response. The Registrant confirms
that the Fund will not invest in corporate, mortgage backed securities or foreign government securities and therefore has not revised
the disclosure.
Comment 7. The Fund may invest in ADRs.
If the Fund expects that foreign investments will include emerging markets securities, please disclose this and provide a corresponding
description of the risks associated with investments in the securities of emerging markets. If applicable, please disclose the how the
Advisor defines an emerging market country.
Response. The Registrant confirms
that the Fund’s foreign investments will not include emerging markets securities and therefore has not revised the disclosure.
PERFORMANCE
Comment 7. Please supplementally explain
the business purpose of the Reorganization.
Response. The Advisor requested
that the Advisors Series Trust Board consider the Reorganization because the Advisor believes that the Predecessor Fund and its shareholders
would benefit by becoming a series of the Trust. Specifically, the Advisor stated its belief that the services and fee arrangements offered
to the Predecessor Fund through the Reorganization would be in the best interests of shareholders given that, among other benefits, the
overall fees and expenses are anticipated to be no greater than those of the Predecessor Fund. The Advisor believes the Reorganization
will also result in greater distribution opportunities from access to additional intermediary platforms and enhanced marketing services
to be provided by the distributor of the Fund, Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC.
Comment 8. Please disclose, if true,
that, following the Reorganization, the Predecessor Fund will be the accounting survivor.
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Response. Following the Reorganization,
the Predecessor Fund will be the accounting survivor. The Registrant has revised the disclosure as follows:
The Fund is a continuation of the Predecessor
Fund, and assumed the performance and accounting history of the Predecessor Fund on the date of the Reorganization. Therefore, the performance
information includes the performance of the Predecessor Fund.
Comment 9. Please supplementally explain
plans for filings related to the Reorganization.
Response. Shareholder approval
of the Reorganization will be solicited through Form N-14, notwithstanding the Registrant’s belief that the use of Schedule 14A
in lieu of Form N-14 in these circumstances is fully consistent with the Staff’s no-action guidance relating to Rule 145(a)(2) under
the Securities Act and long-standing accepted industry practice.
Comment 10. The disclosure in the Amendment
contemplates that the Reorganization has taken place. Please confirm to the Staff that the Fund will not engage in a public offering of
its shares under the Securities Act until the proposed Reorganization of the Predecessor Fund with and into the Fund is complete.
Response. The Registrant confirms
to the Staff that the Fund will not engage in a public offering of its shares under the Securities Act until the proposed Reorganization
of the Predecessor Fund with and into the Fund is complete. The Fund was newly created specifically for such Reorganization and the Reorganization
is contingent upon the approval of the Reorganization by the Predecessor Fund’s shareholders.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Comment 11. Under Fundamental Investment
Policies and Restrictions, please include the phrase “or group of industries” in the Fund’s policy on concentration,
per Item 16 of Form N-1A.
Response. The Registrant has revised
the disclosure as follows:
(1) Concentration: The Fund may not concentrate
(invest 25% or more of its total assets) in securities of issuers in a particular industry or group of industries (other than securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities). With respect to the Fund’s fundamental
investment policies and restrictions adopted by the Trust, “concentration” involves the Fund investing 25% or more of its
total assets in securities of issuers in a particular industry or group of industries.
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If you have any questions or need
further information, please call me at 202-737-8833.
Sincerely,
/s/ Robert M. Kurucza
Robert M. Kurucza
cc: K. Jacoppo-Wood, Esq.
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