UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number | 811-07685 |
|
Frontier Funds, Inc. |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
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400 Skokie Blvd. Suite 500 Northbrook, IL | | 60062 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip code) |
|
William D. Forsyth III 400 Skokie Blvd., Suite 500 Northbrook, Illinois 60062 |
(Name and address of agent for service) |
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | (847) 509-9860 | |
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Date of fiscal year end: | June 30 | |
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Date of reporting period: | December 31, 2018 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund
Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund
Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund
Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund
Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund
Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund
Frontegra Asset Management, Inc.
December 31, 2018
Beginning in February 2021 for the Funds, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Funds' shareholder reports like this one will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Funds or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications electronically from the Funds by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank). If you invest directly with the Funds, you will receive shareholder reports electronically beginning in February 2021.
You may elect to receive all future shareholder reports in paper free of charge. You can request to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by contacting your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly with a Fund, calling 1-888-825-2100 to let the Fund know of your request. Your election to receive shareholder reports in paper will apply to all funds held with Frontier Funds, Inc.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Shareholder Letter | | | 1 | | |
Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund and Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund | |
Report from MFG Asset Management | | | 4 | | |
Investment Highlights | | | 6 | | |
Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund and Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund | |
Report from MFG Asset Management | | | 10 | | |
Investment Highlights | | | 12 | | |
Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund | |
Report from Timpani Capital Management LLC | | | 16 | | |
Investment Highlights | | | 18 | | |
Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund | |
Report from Phocas Financial Corporation | | | 20 | | |
Investment Highlights | | | 22 | | |
Expense Example | | | 23 | | |
Schedules of Investments | |
Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund | | | 26 | | |
Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund | | | 27 | | |
Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund | | | 28 | | |
Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund | | | 31 | | |
Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund | | | 33 | | |
Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund | | | 35 | | |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities | | | 38 | | |
Statements of Operations | | | 40 | | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets | | | 42 | | |
Financial Highlights | | | 45 | | |
Notes to Financial Statements | | | 56 | | |
Board of Directors' Approval of Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements | | | 66 | | |
Voting Results of Special Meeting of Shareholders | | | 70 | | |
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the above-listed Funds. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless accompanied or preceded by an effective Prospectus for the applicable Fund. The Prospectuses may be obtained by calling 1-888-825-2100. Each Prospectus includes more complete information about management fees and expenses, investment objectives, risks and operating policies of the applicable Fund. Please read the applicable Prospectus carefully.
Frontier Funds, Inc. are distributed by Frontegra Strategies, LLC, 400 Skokie Blvd., Suite 500, Northbrook, IL 60062. Frontegra Strategies, LLC, member of FINRA and SIPC, is an affiliate of Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. and Timpani Capital Management LLC, the Funds' investment advisers.
DEAR FELLOW SHAREHOLDERS:
We are pleased to report on the progress of the Frontier Funds over the past six months ending December 31, 2018. The S&P 500 Index was down 6.85% and small capitalization stocks were down, with the Russell 2000® Index returning -17.35%. International stocks, as measured by the MSCI EAFE Index, returned -11.35% over the six-month period.
Fund Results
For the six months ended December 31, 2018, the Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund, managed by MFG Asset Management ("MFG"), returned -2.85% (net), while the Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund, Institutional Class, also managed by MFG, returned -2.71% (net). The Funds' benchmark, the MSCI World Index (Net), returned -9.10% over the same time period. The Global Plus Fund's Service Class shares returned -2.84% (net).
The Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund, Institutional Class, managed by MFG, returned -3.12% (net) versus the S&P Global Infrastructure Index return of -6.64%, for the six-month period ending December 31, 2018. The Service Class shares returned -3.16% (net) over the same time period.
For the period from July 2, 2018, (inception), through December 31, 2018, the Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund, also managed by MFG, returned -4.25% (net) compared to the S&P Global Infrastructure Index return of -6.30%.
The Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund, Institutional Class, managed by Timpani Capital Management, returned -15.62% (net) versus the Russell 2000® Growth Index return of -17.33% for the six-month period ending December 31, 2018. The Class Y shares returned -15.74% (net) and the Service Class shares returned -15.63% (net) over the same time period.
The Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund, managed by Phocas Financial, returned -20.39% (net) versus the Russell 2000 Value Index return of -17.36% for the six-month period ending December 31, 2018. The Service Class shares returned -20.35% (net) over the same time period.
Outlook
In late 2018, stock markets dropped dramatically amid rising concerns over the U.S.-China trade war and moderating global growth. Computerized trading strategies only exacerbated the selloff. This latest rise in volatility capped off an extraordinary year in global equities. The year started with optimism over "synchronized" global growth, which subsequently disappeared in the spring as the U.S. economy — fueled by tax cuts and fiscal stimulus — performed well while the rest of the world struggled. Equity volatility remained relatively low until early October, when it roared back due to the anticipation of U.S. monetary tightening and higher U.S. interest rates, along with fears that a trade war and overseas slowdown would eventually take its toll on U.S. growth and corporate earnings.
We live in uncertain times. Therefore, we will continue to oversee the investment management of the Frontier Funds with the skill and agility that have served our shareholders well in the past. As always, we appreciate your investment and continued confidence in the Frontier Funds.
Best regards,
William D. Forsyth, CFA
President
Frontier Funds, Inc.
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FRONTIER
MFG GLOBAL EQUITY FUND
AND
FRONTIER
MFG GLOBAL PLUS FUND
REPORT FROM MFG ASSET MANAGEMENT
Dear Fellow Shareholders:
The investment objective of the Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund and the Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund is capital appreciation. The objective is measured against the MSCI World Index (Net).
Performance Review
The Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund returned -2.85%, net of fees, for the six-month period ending December 31, 2018, while the Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund (Institutional Class) returned -2.71%, net of fees, for the same time period. Both Funds outperformed the -9.10% return of their benchmark, the MSCI World Index (Net).
Global stocks fell in the six months to December after tighter U.S. monetary policy, tensions between China and the U.S., key resignations from the U.S. administration, and political uncertainty in Europe fanned doubts about the global economic outlook.
The Funds recorded a negative return for the period in U.S. dollars. The stocks that struggled most included the investments in Facebook, Kraft Heinz and Apple. Facebook's biggest slide occurred in July after management said slower revenue growth and higher costs would reduce profit margins from about 45% to about 35%. The decline persisted for the rest of the period as media reports attacked how top executives handled fake news, privacy issues and other incidents. Kraft Heinz's biggest tumble occurred in November when it said it had delayed cost cutting to support better sales growth during the third quarter. Apple tumbled over the last three months on concerns about the strength of sales of its latest devices.
Stocks that performed best included the investments in Starbucks, Yum! Brands and HCA Healthcare. Starbucks's biggest surge occurred in November on news that faster-than-expected sales growth of 4% in the Americas and 3% globally for the third quarter beat expectations, and the coffee chain said it would cut about 5% of the workers based in its headquarters in Seattle to reduce costs. Yum! Brands rose from July after revenue and profit for the second quarter outdid expectations, as they did for the third quarter. HCA rallied from July after the U.S. hospital chain reported higher-than-expected profits and revenue for the second quarter. It repeated the outperformance for the third quarter and raised guidance for the full year due to higher patient numbers and an increase in higher-paying procedures.
Fund Outlook and Strategy
While equity prices have fallen recently, we remain cautious because there are still many forces that could drive them lower still.
The pre-eminent worry for global stocks is that global monetary policy has further to tighten. The U.S. Federal Reserve is reducing the size of its balance sheet and has signalled another two rate increases in 2019, while the European Central Bank stopped expanding its balance sheet at the end of 2018. These reductions in central bank bond purchases present a risk to bond prices, which could flow through to equity prices.
This monetary tightening is occurring at a time when global economic growth has slowed and become less synchronised across the major economies. As well as tighter monetary policy, this slowing has been driven by heightened political uncertainties. In the U.S., the Republican Party's loss of control of the House of Representatives in the mid-term elections reduces President Donald Trump's control of Congress and might cause his actions to become more unpredictable at a time when the U.S.-China confrontation, international trade tensions and North Korea denuclearisation talks are ongoing. In Europe, many voters remain concerned about immigration and sluggish economic growth, resulting in elevated political risk.
Due to these risks, we held the cash position in the Funds at approximately 18% over the December quarter.
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The Funds
Notwithstanding the uncertainty surrounding stock markets, we are confident about the long-term outlook for the investments selected for our portfolios and the portfolios' risk profile. Many of the stocks in the portfolio benefit from the following durable investment trends:
• Consumer technology platforms: Leading digital platforms are well positioned to monetise new services and products even when they are not the originators of these items. Due to high switching costs and formidable barriers to entry, their entrenched positions are unlikely to be challenged in the foreseeable future.
• Enterprise software: Established enterprise software vendors are capitalising on their incumbency. They typically operate in concentrated markets that have high barriers to entry, enjoy network effects and have loyal customers due to the high cost of switching out of their services. The shift to cloud computing creates an opportunity for them to expand their capabilities and win a greater share of business spending.
• Healthcare and the dynamics of ageing populations: The healthcare sector enjoys favourable growth prospects due to rising patient numbers as developed populations age, higher expenditure in Western countries as more treatments are cultivated and the prospect that rising wealth in the emerging world will allow providers to target unmet healthcare needs in these countries.
• The cashless society: Spending is shifting to cashless forms of payments such as credit cards, debit cards, electronic funds transfer and mobile payments. The explosion of smart and internet-connected devices will accelerate this shift the world over.
We retain confidence in the quality and long-term outlook for our investments and are comfortable with the Funds' overall risk profile and construction.
Yours sincerely,
Hamish Douglass
Portfolio Manager
MFG Asset Management
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INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Growth of a $1,000,000 Investment (Unaudited)
* 12/28/11 commencement of operations.
Portfolio Total Return**
FOR PERIODS ENDED 12/31/18 | | FUND | | INDEX | |
SIX MONTHS | | | (2.85 | )% | | | (9.10 | )% | |
ONE YEAR | | | (0.05 | )% | | | (8.71 | )% | |
FIVE YEAR AVERAGE ANNUAL | | | 7.28 | % | | | 4.56 | % | |
AVERAGE ANNUAL SINCE INCEPTION | | | 11.86 | % | | | 9.23 | % | |
Fund Expenses | |
GROSS EXPENSE RATIO | | | 0.87 | % | |
NET EXPENSE RATIO | | | 0.82 | % | |
This chart assumes an initial gross investment of $1,000,000 made on 12/28/11 (commencement of operations). Returns shown include the reinvestment of all distributions. Past performance is not predictive of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. In the absence of existing fee waivers, total return would be reduced. To receive current to the most recent month-end performance, please call 1-888-825-2100.
The MSCI World Index (Net) represents large and mid cap equities across 23 Developed Markets countries. The index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in each country. The index does not reflect investment management fees, brokerage commissions and other expenses associated with investing in equity securities. A direct investment in the index is not possible.
Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. has contractually agreed through October 31, 2020, to waive its management fee and/or reimburse the Fund's operating expenses to the extent necessary to ensure that the Fund's total operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.80% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The expense ratios presented are based on the annualized expense ratios as reported in the Fund's current prospectus, which may differ from the expense ratios presented in the Fund's financial highlights.
** The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
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INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Growth of a $1,000,000 Investment (Unaudited)
* 3/23/15 commencement of operations.
Portfolio Total Return**
FOR PERIODS ENDED 12/31/18 | | FUND | | INDEX | |
SIX MONTHS | | | (2.71 | )% | | | (9.10 | )% | |
ONE YEAR | | | (0.12 | )% | | | (8.71 | )% | |
AVERAGE ANNUAL SINCE INCEPTION | | | 6.61 | % | | | 3.55 | % | |
Institutional Class Expenses | |
GROSS EXPENSE RATIO | | | 0.90 | % | |
NET EXPENSE RATIO | | | 0.82 | % | |
This chart assumes an initial gross investment of $1,000,000 made on 3/23/15 (commencement of operations). Returns shown include the reinvestment of all distributions. Past performance is not predictive of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. In the absence of existing fee waivers, total return would be reduced. To receive current to the most recent month-end performance, please call 1-888-825-2100.
The MSCI World Index (Net) represents large and mid cap equities across 23 Developed Markets countries. The index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in each country. The index does not reflect investment management fees, brokerage commissions and other expenses associated with investing in equity securities. A direct investment in the index is not possible.
Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. has contractually agreed through October 31, 2020, to waive its management fee and/or reimburse the Fund's operating expenses to the extent necessary to ensure that the Fund's total operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.80% of the Fund's average daily net assets for the Institutional Class. The expense ratios presented are based on the annualized expense ratios as reported in the Fund's current prospectus, which may differ from the expense ratios presented in the Fund's financial highlights.
** The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The above graph relates to Institutional Class shares of the Fund. Performance for Service Class shares will vary from the performance of the Institutional Class shares shown above due to differences in expenses.
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FRONTIER
MFG CORE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
AND
FRONTIER
MFG SELECT INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
REPORT FROM MFG ASSET MANAGEMENT
Dear Fellow Shareholders:
The investment objective of the Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund is long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of the Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund is to seek attractive risk-adjusted returns over the medium- to long-term, while reducing the risk of permanent capital loss. The objectives for both Funds are measured against the S&P Global Infrastructure Index.
Infrastructure assets offer investors protection from the impacts of inflation because their earnings generally have some direct linkage to inflation. Over time, the stable, reliable earnings of infrastructure assets are expected to lead to a combination of income and capital growth for investors.
The types of companies purchased in the Funds are generally natural monopolies that provide essential services to the community. The universe of infrastructure assets held in both Funds is made up of two main sectors:
• Utilities: Utilities includes both regulated energy utilities and regulated water utilities. Utilities are typically subject to economic regulation. The terms of regulation typically require a utility to efficiently provide an essential service to the community and, in return, permit the utility to earn a fair rate of return on the capital it has invested in its operations. As a utility provides a basic necessity, such as energy or water, there is minimal fluctuation in demanded volumes in response to the economic cycle, while the price charged for the utility service can be adjusted with limited impact upon demanded volumes. As a result, the earnings of regulated utilities have been, and are expected to continue to be, stable irrespective of economic conditions.
• Infrastructure: This includes airports, ports, toll roads and broadcast communications infrastructure. Regulation of infrastructure companies is generally less intensive than regulation of utilities and this allows companies to accrue the benefits of volume growth (i.e. the returns of infrastructure companies are linked to growth in passengers, vehicles or containers). As economies develop, grow and become more inter-dependent, we expect the underlying level of aviation, shipping and vehicle traffic to increase. As a result, the revenues and earnings derived by infrastructure assets are expected to grow.
If a company isn't either a regulated utility or an infrastructure asset per se, we require at least 75% of its earnings to be consistently derived from either regulated assets or infrastructure assets before it can be included in the Funds.
Performance Review
The Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund, Institutional Class, returned -3.12%, net of fees, for the six-month period ending December 31, 2018. The Fund's return outperformed the -6.64% return of its benchmark, the S&P Global Infrastructure Index. For the year, the Fund returned -6.61%, net of fees, compared to the benchmark's return of -9.50%.
The Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund, Institutional Class, returned -4.25%, net of fees, since the Fund's inception on July 2, 2018, through December 31, 2018. The Fund's return outperformed the -6.30% return of its benchmark, the S&P Global Infrastructure Index for the same time period.
Global stocks fell in the six months to December after tighter U.S. monetary policy, tensions between China and the U.S., key resignations from the U.S. administration, and political uncertainty in Europe fanned doubts about the global economic outlook.
Both Funds recorded a negative return for the period. The biggest detractor was Atlantia, the share price of which fell 28% in the Core Infrastructure Fund over the six months ending December 31, 2018, and 30% since the inception of the Select Infrastructure Fund, following the August collapse of a bridge on a tolled road in Genoa. The bridge that collapsed was a tolled section of the A10 motorway that was operated under a concession contract by Autostrade per l'Italia, an 88% owned subsidiary of Atlantia of Italy. The newly formed
page 10
left-right populist Italian government blamed Atlantia for being derelict in its duties to maintain the bridge. The government appears to have commenced a process that could lead to it revoking the single concession that governs Autostrade per l'Italia's toll-road network in Italy. We removed Atlantia from the portfolios following internal analysis, including meetings with Italian legal and political experts, that led us to conclude that the range of financial outcomes that Atlantia faces is wide. Thus, we no longer believe the financial returns to shareholders are as reliable and predictable as we require of stocks held in the strategy given our central tenet of capital preservation. Aeroports de Paris shed 14% in the Core Infrastructure Fund and 16% in the Select Infrastructure Fund after the French government said the law to sell its controlling interest in the Paris airport operator wouldn't be ready until the end of the northern winter and it was considering selling its ownership on a piecemeal basis rather than to a strategic buyer.
American Tower contributed significantly to both Funds, jumping more than 10% after the owner of wireless communications towers raised guidance for fiscal 2018 and reported higher-than-expected earnings and sales figures for the third quarter.
Specific to the Core Infrastructure Fund, PG&E lost 8.4% on concerns that its electrical utility subsidiary might be liable for starting deadly bushfires in California. Duke Energy added 11% after third-quarter earnings beat expectations after heat across the southern U.S. boosted demand for energy to help people cool down.
In the Select Infrastructure Fund, the Aena share price fell 11% as Spain's new Socialist government suspended the release of the company's "master plan", creating uncertainty over the company's dividend-payout ratio post 2020. In addition, the company said it expected only a 2% increase in passenger traffic in Spain next year, the smallest increase since 2013, due to concerns that uncertainty over Brexit would reduce arrivals of UK tourists who represented over 17% of total passengers through Spain's airports. Stocks that contributed significantly included U.S. investments in Eversource Energy and Crown Castle International. Eversource gained 11% after the power utility announced operating revenue for the third quarter that beat estimates and management indicated that it would increase capital expenditure guidance for the full-year result. Crown Castle rose 2.0% after the U.S. cell-tower operator reported higher-than-expected second-quarter earnings, due largely to site growth, and boosted full-year guidance.
Movements in stocks are in local currency.
Portfolio Outlook and Strategy
The strategies seek to provide investors with attractive risk-adjusted returns from the infrastructure asset class by investing in a portfolio of listed infrastructure companies that meet our strict definition of infrastructure. We believe that infrastructure assets, with requisite earnings reliability and a linkage of earnings to inflation, offer attractive, long-term investment propositions. Furthermore, given the predictable nature of earnings and the structural linkage of those earnings to inflation, investment returns generated by infrastructure assets are different from standard asset classes and offer investors valuable diversification when included in an investment portfolio. In the current uncertain economic and investment climate, the reliable financial performance of infrastructure investments makes them particularly attractive and an investment in listed infrastructure can be expected to reward patient investors with a three- to five-year time frame.
Sincerely,
Gerald Stack
Portfolio Manager
MFG Asset Management
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INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Growth of a $100,000 Investment (Unaudited)
* 1/18/12 commencement of operations.
Portfolio Total Return**
FOR PERIODS ENDED 12/31/18 | | FUND | | MSCI INDEX | | S&P GLOBAL INDEX | |
SIX MONTHS | | | (3.12 | )% | | | (9.10 | )% | | | (6.64 | )% | |
ONE YEAR | | | (6.61 | )% | | | (8.71 | )% | | | (9.50 | )% | |
FIVE YEAR AVERAGE | | | 6.60 | % | | | 4.56 | % | | | 4.10 | % | |
AVERAGE ANNUAL SINCE INCEPTION | | | 8.72 | % | | | 8.59 | % | | | 6.62 | % | |
Institutional Class Expenses | |
GROSS EXPENSE RATIO | | | 0.83 | % | |
NET EXPENSE RATIO | | | 0.72 | % | |
This chart assumes an initial gross investment of $100,000 made on 1/18/12 (commencement of operations). Returns shown include the reinvestment of all distributions. Past performance is not predictive of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. In the absence of existing fee waivers, total return would be reduced. To receive current to the most recent month-end performance, please call 1-888-825-2100.
The MSCI World Index (Net) represents large and mid cap equities across 23 Developed Markets countries and covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in each country. The S&P Global Infrastructure Index is a global developed markets infrastructure and utilities benchmark. Neither index reflects investment management fees, brokerage commissions or other expenses associated with investing in equity securities. A direct investment in an index is not possible.
Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. has contractually agreed through October 31, 2020, to waive its management fee and/or reimburse the Fund's operating expenses to the extent necessary to ensure that the Fund's total operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.70% of the Fund's average daily net assets for the Institutional Class. The expense ratios presented are based on the annualized expense ratios as reported in the Fund's current prospectus, which may differ from the expense ratios presented in the Fund's financial highlights.
** The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The above graph relates to Institutional Class shares of the Fund. Performance for Service Class shares will vary from the performance of the Institutional Class shares shown above due to differences in expenses.
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INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Growth of a $1,000,000 Investment (Unaudited)
* 7/2/18 commencement of operations.
Portfolio Total Return**
FOR PERIOD ENDED 12/31/18 | | FUND | | MSCI INDEX | | S&P GLOBAL INDEX | |
SINCE INCEPTION | | | (4.25 | )% | | | (8.79 | )% | | | (6.30 | )% | |
Fund Expenses | |
GROSS EXPENSE RATIO | | | 1.09 | % | |
NET EXPENSE RATIO | | | 0.80 | % | |
This chart assumes an initial gross investment of $1,000,000 made on 7/2/18 (commencement of operations). Returns shown include the reinvestment of all distributions. Past performance is not predictive of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. In the absence of existing fee waivers, total return would be reduced. To receive current to the most recent month-end performance, please call 1-888-825-2100.
The MSCI World Index (Net) represents large and mid cap equities across 23 Developed Markets countries and covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in each country. The S&P Global Infrastructure Index is a global developed markets infrastructure and utilities benchmark. Neither index reflects investment management fees, brokerage commissions or other expenses associated with investing in equity securities. A direct investment in an index is not possible.
Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. has contractually agreed through October 31, 2020, to waive its management fee and/or reimburse the Fund's operating expenses to the extent necessary to ensure that the Fund's total operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.80% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The expense ratios presented are based on the annualized expense ratios as reported in the Fund's current prospectus, which may differ from the expense ratios presented in the Fund's financial highlights.
** The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
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FRONTIER
TIMPANI SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
REPORT FROM TIMPANI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
Dear Fellow Shareholders:
The Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund strives to achieve capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of growth companies with small market capitalizations. Timpani seeks to:
• Invest in companies where growth is robust, sustainable and underestimated by the market.
• Conduct fundamental research that provides unique insights into the growth gap that exists between market expectations and a company's true growth rate.
• Manage risk by continuously evaluating the size of the growth gap relative to market expectations and monitoring market sentiment.
• Act on new relevant incremental data points, both positive and negative, in an effort to exploit investor biases.
For the six months ended December 31, 2018, the Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund, Institutional Class, outperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2000® Growth Index, returning -15.62%, net of fees, compared to -17.33% for the benchmark. For the year, the Fund returned -0.08%, net of fees, compared to -9.31% for the benchmark.
Performance Review
During the period, the Fund posted negative returns but outperformed its benchmark. It was definitely a tale of two quarters. The third quarter recorded strong returns and fundamental momentum was rewarded, however, the fourth quarter was the opposite — valuations compressed across the board regardless of fundamental performance. Investors are most concerned with the U.S. economic outlook. To the extent economic growth fears materialize, the market will increasingly appreciate companies that are less dependent on macroeconomic growth including many of the secular growers in the Timpani portfolio. Thus, we continue to be optimistic about our positioning.
Detailed attribution analysis of the portfolio suggests stock selection drove most of the upside while sector allocation was a modest positive during the period. Health Care and Materials & Processing stock selection were the biggest contributors to the upside while Consumer Discretionary stock selection was the largest detractor.
The top two individual contributors came from two different sectors. Leading the way was Health Care holding, Vericel Corporation. Its regenerative tissue repair technology is gaining momentum with severe burn victims and patients with knee injuries. This momentum is showing up in the numbers. For instance, the September quarter results showed 58% organic year-over-year revenue growth, a figure that exceeded consensus expectations by 24%. Another winner was Technology stock, Five9. Its cloud-based call center communication software is being embraced in the marketplace, especially at the enterprise level. Company execution has been consistently strong for several quarters including the September quarter where organic year-over-year revenue growth was 30%, exceeding consensus expectations by 6%. Technology stock, USA Technologies, was the weakest performer. In September, it negatively surprised investors by announcing it was delaying the filing of its Form 10-K due to an internal investigation of its accounting practices. While the fundamental momentum here appears strong, this incremental news was alarming, and the position size was reduced as a result. Technology stock, Varonis Systems, was another laggard. Early in the period, it reported an uncharacteristically weak earnings report. The position size was reduced as a result.
Regarding sector positioning, we ended the period with notable overweights in Technology and Health Care and underweights in Financial Services and Producer Durables. The portfolio remains tilted toward secular growth stocks that are less dependent on the growth of the overall economy. We believe this is especially prudent now given the macroeconomic murkiness that exists.
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Investing Environment and Outlook
During the period, the whole stock market was weak, however, small cap stocks were hit especially hard. Whether it be driven by monetary policy at the Federal Reserve, tariffs, U.S. government in-fighting, or international economic sluggishness, investors are worried about U.S. economic growth. These fears have caused valuation multiples to contract across the board.
Despite these fears, we like the set-up for the overall stock market from current levels. We think macro fundamentals are fragile but will prove better than feared and that most of the damage to stocks has already been done. We believe we are likely several quarters away from a recession, thus, this recent compression in valuation multiples is premature. For the next few quarters, we believe the most likely scenario is a low-growth, non-recessionary economic environment. Because of the scarcity of growth, this backdrop should enhance valuations for secular growth stocks overall, including those in Timpani's portfolio.
In summary, we are optimistic about Timpani's prospects and remain committed to our long-term approach of investing in companies with fundamental momentum. We seek companies with a sustained, underestimated growth profile and overlay that approach with an unemotional, value-added sell discipline. We believe this process creates the most value for our clients and mutual fund shareholders over time.
Thank you for your continued interest, support, and trust.
Sincerely,
Brandon Nelson, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
Timpani Capital Management LLC
page 17
INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Growth of a $100,000 Investment (Unaudited)
* 3/23/11 commencement of operations.
Portfolio Total Return**
FOR PERIODS ENDED 12/31/18 | | FUND | | INDEX | |
SIX MONTHS | | | (15.62 | )% | | | (17.33 | )% | |
ONE YEAR | | | (0.08 | )% | | | (9.31 | )% | |
FIVE YEAR AVERAGE ANNUAL | | | 5.43 | % | | | 5.13 | % | |
AVERAGE ANNUAL SINCE INCEPTION | | | 10.64 | % | | | 9.06 | % | |
Institutional Class Expenses | |
GROSS EXPENSE RATIO | | | 1.36 | % | |
NET EXPENSE RATIO | | | 1.10 | % | |
This chart assumes an initial gross investment of $100,000 made on 3/23/11. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all distributions. Past performance is not predictive of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. In the absence of fee waivers, total return would be reduced. To receive current to the most recent month-end performance, please call 1-888-825-2100.
The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of the small-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. The index does not reflect investment management fees, brokerage commissions and other expenses associated with investing in equity securities. A direct investment in the index is not possible.
Timpani Capital Management LLC has contractually agreed through October 31, 2020, to waive its management fee and/or reimburse the Fund's operating expenses to the extent necessary to ensure that the Fund's total operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.10% of the Fund's average daily net assets of the Institutional Class. The expense ratios presented are based on the annualized expense ratios as reported in the Fund's current prospectus, which may differ from the expense ratios presented in the Fund's financial highlights.
** The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The above graph relates to Institutional Class shares of the Fund. Performance for Service Class and Class Y shares will vary from the performance of the Institutional Class shares shown above due to differences in expenses.
page 18
FRONTIER
PHOCAS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
REPORT FROM PHOCAS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Dear Fellow Shareholders:
The Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund strives to achieve capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of companies with small market capitalizations. The Fund's performance is measured against the Russell 2000® Value Index.
Performance Review
During the six-month period ended December 31, 2018, the Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund, Institutional Class, returned -20.39%, net of fees, compared to the -17.36% return of the benchmark, the Russell 2000® Value Index (the "Benchmark" or the "Index"). For the calendar year, the Fund's Institutional Class shares returned -17.52%, net of fees, compared to -12.86% for the Index.
Portfolio Review and Strategy
The most significant underperforming sectors for the six-month period were Financials, Industrials, and Consumer Discretionary. The Financials sector was impacted largely by the community banks group. The Fund's holdings in bank stocks are over-weighted in the stronger regions of the country including Virginia, Texas, California, and the Southeast. While demand for loans is quite strong in these areas, banks here often must pay more for deposits, and a flattening yield curve could pressure their net interest margins. Interestingly, despite their much stronger profitability and growth prospects, many banks in these areas now trade at significant discounts to banks in far less attractive regions of the country. Also, worth noting is that the smallest, most illiquid banks in the Benchmark significantly outperformed the others. Banks of this size are too small for the Fund to establish a significant investment position.
Within Industrials, Wesco Aircraft Holdings, an industrial parts supplier to aircraft manufacturers, experienced weak stock performance in the period due to recent profit margin decline and their announcement that in 2019 they will be putting money into initiatives to increase efficiencies and to grow their business. ASGN Inc., provider of professional and information technology employee staffing, was also an underperformer during this period despite strong business trends that surpassed analysts' expectations. We believe this company's stock got caught up, unjustifiably so, in the wave of selling that decimated many small cap stocks.
The Consumer Discretionary sector was impacted by poor performance from TopBuild, provider of insulation and insulation services to the residential and commercial construction industry. TopBuild's stock seems to be a victim of investors shooting first and asking questions later. While revenues are growing nicely and profit margins are expanding, investors became worried that the higher interest rates impacting residential housing would result in a slowdown in demand for insulation. Management has strategies to grow profits if demand slows but investors didn't seem to believe them or much care in 2018.
Real Estate was a notable outperformer for the six-month period. Jernigan Capital's stock rose in a down market thanks to investors seeking out defensive self-storage facility operators, but also because Jernigan is doing well financing others who are building self-storage facilities. Facilitating the stock's boost has been the company's seasoned management spending time educating investors about this small, relatively new publicly traded REIT. The Health Care sector performed well versus the Benchmark mostly due to strong stock performance from biohazard vaccine provider, Emergent BioSolutions. The company is growing quickly partly due to acquisition, but it is also seeing strong demand from the U.S. government for its Biothrax vaccine. Further, its other products are becoming in greater demand from European nations aiming to defend their citizens from potentially new bioweapons. Cash was also additive to performance for the six-month period.
During the fourth quarter selloff, we took the opportunity to strengthen the Fund's bank holdings by initiating new positions in top notch Pacific Premier Bancorp (Los Angeles) and Pinnacle Financial Partners (Tennessee and Carolinas). We also added to Eagle Bancorp (Washington DC) and F.N.B. (Pennsylvania and Carolinas). We sold six banks to fund these purchases. In Real Estate, we sold our lodging holdings Hudson Pacific Properties and Chatham Lodging and purchased Dallas-based office property owner Tier REIT. We also
page 20
replaced data center provider CoreSite Realty with its peer, QTS Realty Trust. In Technology, we started new positions in MAXIMUS (technology consulting company to the U.S. government) and electronics distributor SYNNEX, while selling Conduent. Consumer Discretionary received two new companies, Ruth's Hospitality Group and Hilton Grand Vacations, which replaced SeaWorld Entertainment where we took significant profits. We reduced our exposure to services in the Energy sector, selling both US Silica Holdings and Superior Energy Services, replacing them with Colorado-based exploration and production company Jagged Peak Energy.
Thank you for your continued support.
William Schaff, CFA | | Steve Block, CFA | |
Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager | | Portfolio Manager | |
Phocas Financial Corporation | | Phocas Financial Corporation | |
page 21
INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Growth of a $100,000 Investment (Unaudited)
Portfolio Total Return*
FOR PERIODS ENDED 12/31/18 | | FUND | | INDEX | |
SIX MONTHS | | | (20.39 | )% | | | (17.36 | )% | |
ONE YEAR | | | (17.52 | )% | | | (12.86 | )% | |
FIVE YEAR AVERAGE ANNUAL | | | 2.44 | % | | | 3.61 | % | |
TEN YEAR AVERAGE ANNUAL | | | 10.59 | % | | | 10.40 | % | |
Institutional Class Expenses | |
GROSS EXPENSE RATIO | | | 1.38 | % | |
NET EXPENSE RATIO | | | 0.95 | % | |
This chart assumes an initial gross investment of $100,000 made on 12/31/08. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all distributions. Past performance is not predictive of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. In the absence of fee waivers, total return would be reduced. Effective October 8, 2010, Phocas Financial Corp. ("Phocas") became subadviser to the Fund and Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. became adviser to the Fund. Prior to October 8, 2010, Phocas served as adviser to the Fund. To receive current to the most recent month-end performance, please call 1-888-825-2100.
The Russell 2000® Value Index measures the performance of those Russell 2000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The index does not reflect investment management fees, brokerage commissions and other expenses associated with investing in equity securities. A direct investment in the index is not possible.
Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. has contractually agreed through October 31, 2020, to waive its management fee and/or reimburse the Fund's operating expenses to the extent necessary to ensure that the Fund's total operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.95% of the Fund's average daily net assets of the Institutional Class. The expense ratios presented are based on the annualized expense ratios as reported in the Fund's current prospectus, which may differ from the expense ratios presented in the Fund's financial highlights.
* The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The above graph relates to Institutional Class shares of the Fund. Performance for Service Class shares will vary from the performance of the Institutional Class shares shown above due to differences in expenses.
page 22
Frontier Funds
EXPENSE EXAMPLE
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
As a shareholder of a mutual fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including redemption fees, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other fund expenses. Although the Funds charge no sales loads, you will be assessed fees for outgoing wire transfers, returned checks and stop payment orders at prevailing rates charged by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the Funds' transfer agent. If you request that a redemption be made by wire transfer, currently the Funds' transfer agent charges a $15.00 fee. A redemption fee of 2.00% of the then current value of the shares redeemed may be imposed on certain redemptions of shares made within 30 days of purchase for the Frontier MFG Global Equity, Frontier MFG Global Plus, Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure and Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Funds.
This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (7/1/18 – 12/31/18).
Actual Expenses
The first line of the table on the following page for each Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. The Example includes management fees, registration fees, fee waivers/reimbursements and other expenses. However, the Example does not include portfolio trading commissions and related expenses and other extraordinary expenses as determined under generally accepted accounting principles. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During the Period" to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of the table for each Fund provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each of the Fund's actual expense ratios and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in each of the Funds and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs could have been higher.
page 23
Frontier Funds
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
| | Beginning Account Value 7/1/2018 | | Ending Account Value 12/31/2018 | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | | Expenses Paid During the Period* | |
MFG Global Equity Fund | |
Actual Fund Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 971.50 | | | | 0.80 | % | | $ | 3.98 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.17 | | | | 0.80 | % | | $ | 4.08 | | |
MFG Global Plus Fund – Institutional Class | |
Actual Fund Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 972.90 | | | | 0.80 | % | | $ | 3.98 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.17 | | | | 0.80 | % | | $ | 4.08 | | |
MFG Global Plus Fund – Service Class | |
Actual Fund Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 971.60 | | | | 0.88 | % | | $ | 4.35 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,020.79 | | | | 0.88 | % | | $ | 4.46 | | |
MFG Core Infrastructure Fund – Institutional Class | |
Actual Fund Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 968.80 | | | | 0.70 | % | | $ | 3.47 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.68 | | | | 0.70 | % | | $ | 3.57 | | |
MFG Core Infrastructure Fund – Service Class | |
Actual Fund Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 968.40 | | | | 0.80 | % | | $ | 3.97 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.17 | | | | 0.80 | % | | $ | 4.08 | | |
Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund – Institutional Class | |
Actual Fund Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 843.80 | | | | 1.10 | % | | $ | 5.11 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,019.66 | | | | 1.10 | % | | $ | 5.60 | | |
Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund – Service Class | |
Actual Fund Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 843.70 | | | | 1.20 | % | | $ | 5.58 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,019.16 | | | | 1.20 | % | | $ | 6.11 | | |
Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund – Class Y | |
Actual Fund Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 842.60 | | | | 1.50 | % | | $ | 6.97 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,017.64 | | | | 1.50 | % | | $ | 7.63 | | |
* Expenses are equal to each Fund's annualized expense ratio indicated above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
page 24
Frontier Funds
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
| | Beginning Account Value 7/1/2018 | | Ending Account Value 12/31/2018 | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | | Expenses Paid During the Period* | |
Phocas Small Cap Value Fund – Institutional Class | |
Actual Fund Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 796.10 | | | | 0.95 | % | | $ | 4.30 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,020.42 | | | | 0.95 | % | | $ | 4.84 | | |
Phocas Small Cap Value Fund – Service Class | |
Actual Fund Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 796.50 | | | | 0.95 | % | | $ | 4.30 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,020.42 | | | | 0.95 | % | | $ | 4.84 | | |
| | Beginning Account Value | | Ending Account Value 12/31/2018 | | Annualized Expense Ratio | | Expenses Paid During the Period | |
MFG Select Infrastructure Fund | |
Actual Fund Return** | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 957.50 | | | | 0.80 | % | | $ | 3.93 | | |
Hypothetical 5% Return*** | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.17 | | | | 0.80 | % | | $ | 4.08 | | |
* Expenses are equal to each Fund's annualized expense ratio indicated above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
** Actual expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 0.80% multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the most recent fiscal period end since the MFG Select Infrastructure Fund commenced operations on July 2, 2018.
*** Hypothetical expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 0.80% multiplied by the average account value over the period commencing July 1, 2018, multiplied by 184/365 to reflect information had the MFG Select Infrastructure Fund been in operation for the entire fiscal half year.
page 25
Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 79.7% | | | |
| | Germany 2.8% | |
| 274,718 | | | SAP SE | | $ | 27,265,701 | | |
| | Switzerland 6.5% | |
| 383,409 | | | Nestle SA | | | 31,118,543 | | |
| 371,183 | | | Novartis AG | | | 31,789,696 | | |
| | | 62,908,239 | | |
| | United Kingdom 2.3% | |
| 284,621 | | | Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC | | | 21,795,230 | | |
| | United States 68.1% | |
| 7,055 | | | Alphabet, Inc. - Class A (a) | | | 7,372,193 | | |
| 52,341 | | | Alphabet, Inc. - Class C (a) | | | 54,204,874 | | |
| 303,711 | | | Apple, Inc. | | | 47,907,373 | | |
| 119,988 | | | Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class B (a) | | | 24,499,150 | | |
| 271,138 | | | Crown Castle International Corp. | | | 29,453,721 | | |
| 590,537 | | | eBay, Inc. (a) | | | 16,576,373 | | |
| 391,026 | | | Facebook, Inc. - Class A (a) | | | 51,259,598 | | |
| 319,543 | | | HCA Healthcare, Inc. | | | 39,767,126 | | |
| 358,888 | | | Lowe's Companies, Inc. | | | 33,146,896 | | |
| 186,289 | | | Mastercard, Inc. - Class A | | | 35,143,420 | | |
| 151,204 | | | McDonald's Corp. | | | 26,849,294 | | |
| 497,280 | | | Microsoft Corp. | | | 50,508,730 | | |
| 788,711 | | | Oracle Corp. | | | 35,610,302 | | |
| 778,229 | | | Starbucks Corp. | | | 50,117,948 | | |
| 840,790 | | | The Kraft Heinz Co. | | | 36,187,602 | | |
| 380,644 | | | Visa, Inc. - Class A | | | 50,222,169 | | |
| 591,589 | | | Wells Fargo & Co. | | | 27,260,421 | | |
| 402,003 | | | Yum! Brands, Inc. | | | 36,952,116 | | |
| | | 653,039,306 | | |
| | Total Common Stocks | |
| | | | (Cost $556,829,800) | | | 765,008,476 | | |
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 19.5% | |
| | Investment Company 19.5% | |
| 186,871,575 | | | Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Government Portfolio - Institutional Class, 2.39% | | $ | 186,871,575 | | |
| | Total Short-Term Investments | |
| | (Cost $186,871,575) | | | 186,871,575 | | |
| | Total Investments 99.2% | |
| | (Cost $743,701,375) | | | 951,880,051 | | |
| | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities 0.8% | | | 7,628,845 | | |
| | TOTAL NET ASSETS 100.0% | | $ | 959,508,896 | | |
(a) Non-Income Producing.
PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION
Sectors | | Percentage | |
Information Technology | | | 25.7 | % | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 17.0 | | |
Communication Services | | | 11.8 | | |
Consumer Staples | | | 9.3 | | |
Health Care | | | 7.4 | | |
Financials | | | 5.4 | | |
Real Estate | | | 3.1 | | |
Total Common Stocks | | | 79.7 | | |
Total Short-Term Investments | | | 19.5 | | |
Total Investments | | | 99.2 | | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities | | | 0.8 | | |
Total Net Assets | | | 100.0 | % | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 26
Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 80.7% | | | |
| | Germany 2.9% | |
| 84,723 | | | SAP SE | | $ | 8,408,739 | | |
| | Switzerland 6.6% | |
| 118,455 | | | Nestle SA | | | 9,614,138 | | |
| 114,454 | | | Novartis AG | | | 9,802,329 | | |
| | | 19,416,467 | | |
| | United Kingdom 2.3% | |
| 87,765 | | | Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC | | | 6,720,721 | | |
| | United States 68.9% | |
| 2,197 | | | Alphabet, Inc. - Class A (a) | | | 2,295,777 | | |
| 16,163 | | | Alphabet, Inc. - Class C (a) | | | 16,738,565 | | |
| 93,309 | | | Apple, Inc. | | | 14,718,562 | | |
| 37,034 | | | Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class B (a) | | | 7,561,602 | | |
| 83,710 | | | Crown Castle International Corp. | | | 9,093,417 | | |
| 182,699 | | | eBay, Inc. (a) | | | 5,128,361 | | |
| 120,678 | | | Facebook, Inc. - Class A (a) | | | 15,819,679 | | |
| 98,687 | | | HCA Healthcare, Inc. | | | 12,281,597 | | |
| 110,627 | | | Lowe's Companies, Inc. | | | 10,217,510 | | |
| 57,437 | | | MasterCard, Inc. - Class A | | | 10,835,490 | | |
| 46,589 | | | McDonald's Corp. | | | 8,272,809 | | |
| 152,639 | | | Microsoft Corp. | | | 15,503,543 | | |
| 243,260 | | | Oracle Corp. | | | 10,983,189 | | |
| 238,892 | | | Starbucks Corp. | | | 15,384,645 | | |
| 259,628 | | | The Kraft Heinz Co. | | | 11,174,389 | | |
| 117,527 | | | Visa, Inc. - Class A | | | 15,506,512 | | |
| 182,520 | | | Wells Fargo & Co. | | | 8,410,522 | | |
| 124,118 | | | Yum! Brands, Inc. | | | 11,408,926 | | |
| | | 201,335,095 | | |
| | Total Common Stocks | |
| | | | (Cost $198,892,518) | | | 235,881,022 | | |
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 18.5% | |
| | Investment Company 18.5% | |
| 54,185,332 | | | Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Government Portfolio - Institutional Class, 2.39% | | $ | 54,185,332 | | |
| | Total Short-Term Investments | |
| | (Cost $54,185,332) | | | 54,185,332 | | |
| | Total Investments 99.2% | |
| | (Cost $253,077,850) | | | 290,066,354 | | |
| | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities 0.8% | | | 2,182,276 | | |
| | TOTAL NET ASSETS 100.0% | | $ | 292,248,630 | | |
(a) Non-Income Producing.
PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION
Sectors | | Percentage | |
Information Technology | | | 26.0 | % | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 17.2 | | |
Communication Services | | | 11.9 | | |
Consumer Staples | | | 9.4 | | |
Health Care | | | 7.6 | | |
Financials | | | 5.5 | | |
Real Estate | | | 3.1 | | |
Total Common Stocks | | | 80.7 | | |
Total Short-Term Investments | | | 18.5 | | |
Total Investments | | | 99.2 | | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities | | | 0.8 | | |
Total Net Assets | | | 100.0 | % | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 27
Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 90.3% | | | |
| | Australia 8.1% | |
| 839,780 | | | APA Group | | $ | 5,030,401 | | |
| 490,617 | | | Atlas Arteria Ltd. | | | 2,164,154 | | |
| 2,567,283 | | | AusNet Services | | | 2,813,534 | | |
| 1,194,678 | | | Spark Infrastructure Group | | | 1,861,228 | | |
| 1,660,351 | | | Sydney Airport | | | 7,873,096 | | |
| 1,371,702 | | | Transurban Group | | | 11,258,279 | | |
| | | 31,000,692 | | |
| | Canada 11.7% | |
| 132,831 | | | Canadian Utilities Ltd. - Class A | | | 3,047,368 | | |
| 162,261 | | | Emera, Inc. | | | 5,195,157 | | |
| 332,096 | | | Enbridge, Inc. | | | 10,316,577 | | |
| 299,196 | | | Fortis, Inc. | | | 9,973,931 | | |
| 424,569 | | | Hydro One Ltd. | | | 6,297,628 | | |
| 268,301 | | | TransCanada Corp. | | | 9,580,775 | | |
| 27,732 | | | Valener, Inc. | | | 392,863 | | |
| | | 44,804,299 | | |
| | Chile 0.6% | |
| 4,012,951 | | | Aguas Andinas SA - Class A | | | 2,207,239 | | |
| | France 3.9% | |
| 52,422 | | | Aeroports de Paris | | | 9,940,649 | | |
| 366,770 | | | Getlink SE | | | 4,928,422 | | |
| | | 14,869,071 | | |
| | Germany 1.2% | |
| 64,490 | | | Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide | | | 4,615,428 | | |
| | Hong Kong 2.9% | |
| 1,567,573 | | | Power Assets Holdings Ltd. | | | 10,890,558 | | |
| | Italy 6.8% | |
| 391,445 | | | Enav SpA | | | 1,905,223 | | |
| 574,228 | | | Italgas SpA | | | 3,292,931 | | |
| 2,432,656 | | | Snam SpA | | | 10,651,064 | | |
| 161,474 | | | Societa Iniziative Autostradali e Servizi SpA | | | 2,235,906 | | |
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
| | Italy 6.8% (continued) | |
| 1,410,638 | | | Terna Rete Elettrica Nazionale SpA | | $ | 8,011,222 | | |
| | | 26,096,346 | | |
| | Mexico 1.7% | |
| 244,076 | | | Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB de CV | | | 1,164,878 | | |
| 318,005 | | | Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV - Class B | | | 2,591,389 | | |
| 184,761 | | | Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV - Class B | | | 2,786,869 | | |
| | | 6,543,136 | | |
| | Netherlands 1.0% | |
| 85,248 | | | Koninklijke Vopak NV | | | 3,865,860 | | |
| | New Zealand 1.5% | |
| 848,640 | | | Auckland International Airport Ltd. | | | 4,095,911 | | |
| 705,124 | | | Vector Ltd. | | | 1,577,703 | | |
| | | 5,673,614 | | |
| | Portugal 0.3% | |
| 472,604 | | | REN - Redes Energeticas Nacionais SGPS SA | | | 1,320,176 | | |
| | Spain 7.2% | |
| 67,903 | | | Aena SME SA | | | 10,550,214 | | |
| 162,765 | | | Cellnex Telecom SA | | | 4,162,474 | | |
| 159,201 | | | Enagas SA | | | 4,303,531 | | |
| 373,880 | | | Red Electrica Corp SA | | | 8,337,617 | | |
| | | 27,353,836 | | |
| | Switzerland 0.9% | |
| 20,475 | | | Flughafen Zuerich AG | | | 3,388,278 | | |
| | United Kingdom 5.4% | |
| 1,018,614 | | | National Grid PLC | | | 9,965,430 | | |
| 297,736 | | | Pennon Group PLC | | | 2,631,973 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 28
Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 90.3% (continued) | | | |
| | United Kingdom 5.4% (continued) | |
| 158,103 | | | Severn Trent PLC | | $ | 3,664,934 | | |
| 454,729 | | | United Utilities Group PLC | | | 4,275,590 | | |
| | | 20,537,927 | | |
| | United States 37.1% | |
| 12,942 | | | ALLETE, Inc. | | | 986,439 | | |
| 67,011 | | | Alliant Energy Corp. | | | 2,831,215 | | |
| 66,956 | | | Ameren Corp. | | | 4,367,540 | | |
| 96,837 | | | American Electric Power Co., Inc. | | | 7,237,597 | | |
| 8,439 | | | American States Water Co. | | | 565,751 | | |
| 46,690 | | | American Tower Corp. | | | 7,385,891 | | |
| 49,212 | | | American Water Works Co., Inc. | | | 4,466,973 | | |
| 48,444 | | | Aqua America, Inc. | | | 1,656,300 | | |
| 32,157 | | | Atmos Energy Corp. | | | 2,981,597 | | |
| 16,581 | | | Avista Corp. | | | 704,361 | | |
| 13,546 | | | Black Hills Corp. | | | 850,418 | | |
| 15,095 | | | California Water Service Group | | | 719,428 | | |
| 77,718 | | | CMS Energy Corp. | | | 3,858,699 | | |
| 88,591 | | | Consolidated Edison, Inc. | | | 6,773,668 | | |
| 67,569 | | | Crown Castle International Corp. | | | 7,340,020 | | |
| 99,466 | | | Dominion Energy Corp. | | | 7,107,840 | | |
| 49,574 | | | DTE Energy Co. | | | 5,468,012 | | |
| 85,972 | | | Duke Energy Corp. | | | 7,419,384 | | |
| 10,195 | | | El Paso Electric Co. | | | 511,075 | | |
| 73,975 | | | Evergy, Inc. | | | 4,199,561 | | |
| 86,349 | | | Eversource Energy | | | 5,616,139 | | |
| 139,325 | | | FirstEnergy Corp. | | | 5,231,654 | | |
| 14,643 | | | IDACORP, Inc. | | | 1,362,678 | | |
| 7,850 | | | InfraREIT, Inc. | | | 165,007 | | |
| 97,707 | | | NiSource, Inc. | | | 2,476,872 | | |
| 8,284 | | | Northwest Natural Holding Company | | | 500,851 | | |
| 14,241 | | | NorthWestern Corp. | | | 846,485 | | |
| 13,226 | | | ONE Gas, Inc. | | | 1,052,790 | | |
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
| | United States 37.1% (continued) | |
| 32,121 | | | Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | | $ | 2,736,709 | | |
| 23,128 | | | PNM Resources, Inc. | | | 950,330 | | |
| 27,603 | | | Portland General Electric Co. | | | 1,265,598 | | |
| 196,114 | | | PPL Corp. | | | 5,555,910 | | |
| 31,269 | | | SBA Communications Corp. (a) | | | 5,062,138 | | |
| 41,381 | | | SCANA Corp. | | | 1,977,184 | | |
| 65,049 | | | Sempra Energy | | | 7,037,651 | | |
| 4,152 | | | SJW Group | | | 230,934 | �� | |
| 14,911 | | | Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. | | | 1,140,691 | | |
| 14,958 | | | Spire, Inc. | | | 1,108,089 | | |
| 157,759 | | | The Southern Co. | | | 6,928,775 | | |
| 85,978 | | | WEC Energy Group, Inc. | | | 5,954,836 | | |
| 140,067 | | | Xcel Energy, Inc. | | | 6,901,101 | | |
| | | 141,534,191 | | |
| | Total Common Stocks | |
| | | | (Cost $327,328,712) | | | 344,700,651 | | |
CLOSED-END FUNDS 1.2% | | | |
| | United Kingdom 1.2% | |
| 1,269,047 | | | HICL Infrastructure Co. Ltd. | | | 2,550,825 | | |
| 977,516 | | | International Public Partnerships Ltd. | | | 1,908,898 | | |
| | | 4,459,723 | | |
| | Total Closed-End Funds | |
| | | | (Cost $4,619,958) | | | 4,459,723 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 29
Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 7.9% | |
| | Investment Company 7.9% | |
| 30,337,799 | | | Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Government Portfolio - Institutional Class, 2.39% | | $ | 30,337,799 | | |
| | Total Short-Term Investments | |
| | (Cost $30,337,799) | | | 30,337,799 | | |
| | Total Investments 99.4% | |
| | (Cost $362,286,469) | | | 379,498,173 | | |
| | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities 0.6% | | | 2,219,919 | | |
| | TOTAL NET ASSETS 100.0% | | $ | 381,718,092 | | |
(a) Non-Income Producing.
PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION
Sectors | | Percentage | |
Integrated Power | | | 27.1 | % | |
Transmission & Distribution | | | 17.3 | | |
Airports | | | 12.8 | | |
Gas Utilities | | | 8.5 | | |
Energy Infrastructure | | | 7.5 | | |
Communications | | | 6.3 | | |
Toll Roads | | | 5.4 | | |
Water Utilities | | | 5.4 | | |
Total Common Stocks | | | 90.3 | | |
Social | | | 1.2 | | |
Total Closed-End Funds | | | 1.2 | | |
Total Short-Term Investments | | | 7.9 | | |
Total Investments | | | 99.4 | | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities | | | 0.6 | | |
Total Net Assets | | | 100.0 | % | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 30
Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 90.6% | | | |
| | Australia 21.5% | |
| 135,377 | | | APA Group | | $ | 810,927 | | |
| 307,120 | | | Atlas Arteria Ltd. | | | 1,354,733 | | |
| 615,921 | | | Spark Infrastructure Group | | | 959,564 | | |
| 221,760 | | | Sydney Airport | | | 1,051,547 | | |
| 322,189 | | | Transurban Group | | | 2,644,374 | | |
| | | 6,821,145 | | |
| | Canada 7.3% | |
| 4,806 | | | Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. | | | 852,773 | | |
| 47,333 | | | Enbridge, Inc. | | | 1,470,402 | | |
| | | 2,323,175 | | |
| | Chile 1.6% | |
| 945,623 | | | Aguas Andinas SA - Class A | | | 520,120 | | |
| | France 5.9% | |
| 6,542 | | | Aeroports de Paris | | | 1,240,543 | | |
| 47,868 | | | Getlink SE | | | 643,220 | | |
| | | 1,883,763 | | |
| | Germany 1.9% | |
| 8,589 | | | Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide | | | 614,699 | | |
| | Italy 4.3% | |
| 107,752 | | | Snam SpA | | | 471,778 | | |
| 39,817 | | | Societa Iniziative Autostradali e Servizi SpA | | | 551,340 | | |
| 57,876 | | | Terna Rete Elettrica Nazionale SpA | | | 328,686 | | |
| | | 1,351,804 | | |
| | Netherlands 3.0% | |
| 20,598 | | | Koninklijke Vopak NV | | | 934,086 | | |
| | New Zealand 2.6% | |
| 167,176 | | | Auckland International Airport Ltd. | | | 806,865 | | |
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
| | Spain 4.0% | |
| 8,156 | | | Aena SME SA | | $ | 1,267,212 | | |
| | Switzerland 1.5% | |
| 2,948 | | | Flughafen Zuerich AG | | | 487,846 | | |
| | United Kingdom 1.4% | |
| 44,856 | | | National Grid PLC | | | 438,841 | | |
| | United States 35.6% | |
| 8,689 | | | American Tower Corp. | | | 1,374,513 | | |
| 11,188 | | | American Water Works Co., Inc. | | | 1,015,535 | | |
| 20,741 | | | Atmos Energy Corp. | | | 1,923,105 | | |
| 17,355 | | | Crown Castle International Corp. | | | 1,885,274 | | |
| 20,184 | | | Eversource Energy | | | 1,312,768 | | |
| 13,318 | | | Sempra Energy | | | 1,440,874 | | |
| 1,965 | | | Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. | | | 150,323 | | |
| 6,326 | | | Union Pacific Corp. | | | 874,443 | | |
| 4,365 | | | WEC Energy Group, Inc. | | | 302,320 | | |
| 20,583 | | | Xcel Energy, Inc. | | | 1,014,124 | | |
| | | 11,293,279 | | |
| | Total Common Stocks | |
| | | | (Cost $29,952,831) | | | 28,742,835 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 31
Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 9.1% | |
| | Investment Company 9.1% | |
| 2,883,965 | | | Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Government Portfolio - Institutional Class, 2.39% | | $ | 2,883,965 | | |
| | Total Short-Term Investments | |
| | (Cost $2,883,965) | | | 2,883,965 | | |
| | Total Investments 99.7% | |
| | (Cost $32,836,796) | | | 31,626,800 | | |
| | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities 0.3% | | | 88,705 | | |
| | TOTAL NET ASSETS 100.0% | | $ | 31,715,505 | | |
PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION
Sectors | | Percentage | |
Airports | | | 17.2 | % | |
Toll Roads | | | 16.4 | | |
Gas Utilities | | | 12.6 | | |
Communications | | | 10.3 | | |
Energy Infrastructure | | | 10.1 | | |
Integrated Power | | | 8.3 | | |
Rail | | | 5.5 | | |
Transmission & Distribution | | | 5.4 | | |
Water Utilities | | | 4.8 | | |
Total Common Stocks | | | 90.6 | | |
Total Short-Term Investments | | | 9.1 | | |
Total Investments | | | 99.7 | | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities | | | 0.3 | | |
Total Net Assets | | | 100.0 | % | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 32
Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 97.7% | | | |
| | Consumer Discretionary 19.8% | |
| 17,206 | | | 2U, Inc. (a) | | $ | 855,482 | | |
| 16,925 | | | Aspen Group, Inc. (a) | | | 92,749 | | |
| 5,934 | | | At Home Group, Inc. (a) | | | 110,728 | | |
| 6,912 | | | BJ's Restaurants, Inc. | | | 349,540 | | |
| 39,906 | | | BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (a) | | | 884,317 | | |
| 15,775 | | | Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (a) | | | 268,648 | | |
| 19,461 | | | Canada Goose Holdings, Inc. (a) | | | 850,835 | | |
| 61,131 | | | Chegg, Inc. (a) | | | 1,737,343 | | |
| 10,411 | | | Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (a) | | | 1,000,914 | | |
| 19,707 | | | National Vision Holdings, Inc. (a) | | | 555,146 | | |
| 117,017 | | | Noodles & Co. (a) | | | 817,949 | | |
| 11,388 | | | Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (a) | | | 757,416 | | |
| 25,109 | | | Planet Fitness, Inc. - Class A (a) | | | 1,346,345 | | |
| 17,563 | | | Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. | | | 399,207 | | |
| 3,684 | | | SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. (a) | | | 203,615 | | |
| 13,584 | | | Strategic Education, Inc. | | | 1,540,697 | | |
| 4,219 | | | The Children's Place, Inc. | | | 380,090 | | |
| 17,001 | | | The Lovesac Co. (a) | | | 390,003 | | |
| | | 12,541,024 | | |
| | Consumer Staples 2.8% | |
| 15,217 | | | Central Garden & Pet Co. (a) | | | 524,226 | | |
| 20,100 | | | Primo Water Corp. (a) | | | 281,601 | | |
| 38,429 | | | The Simply Good Foods Co. (a) | | | 726,308 | | |
| 4,978 | | | TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (a) | | | 252,434 | | |
| | | 1,784,569 | | |
| | Energy 1.2% | |
| 30,611 | | | TPI Composites, Inc. (a) | | | 752,418 | | |
| | Financial Services 5.2% | |
| 6,645 | | | Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (a) | | | 680,315 | | |
| 29,289 | | | Green Dot Corp. - Class A (a) | | | 2,329,061 | | |
| 5,282 | | | LPL Financial Holdings, Inc. | | | 322,625 | | |
| | | 3,332,001 | | |
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
| | Health Care 29.9% | |
| 17,040 | | | Addus HomeCare Corp. (a) | | $ | 1,156,675 | | |
| 3,296 | | | Amedisys, Inc. (a) | | | 385,995 | | |
| 42,762 | | | CareDx, Inc. (a) | | | 1,075,037 | | |
| 2,615 | | | ICON PLC (a) | | | 337,884 | | |
| 7,435 | | | Inogen, Inc. (a) | | | 923,204 | | |
| 8,754 | | | Insulet Corp. (a) | | | 694,367 | | |
| 14,395 | | | iRadimed Corp. (a) | | | 352,102 | | |
| 3,565 | | | Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (a) | | | 441,917 | | |
| 18,390 | | | LHC Group, Inc. (a) | | | 1,726,453 | | |
| 9,331 | | | Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | | | 1,266,217 | | |
| 38,191 | | | Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (a) | | | 2,131,440 | | |
| 13,613 | | | Omnicell, Inc. (a) | | | 833,660 | | |
| 19,242 | | | Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | | | 827,791 | | |
| 7,770 | | | Penumbra, Inc. (a) | | | 949,494 | | |
| 19,472 | | | PetIQ, Inc. (a) | | | 457,008 | | |
| 55,237 | | | R1 RCM, Inc. (a) | | | 439,134 | | |
| 7,288 | | | Tabula Rasa HealthCare, Inc. (a) | | | 464,683 | | |
| 19,194 | | | Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. (a) | | | 874,287 | | |
| 19,975 | | | Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. (a) | | | 758,451 | | |
| 6,531 | | | Teladoc Health, Inc. (a) | | | 323,742 | | |
| 26,535 | | | Veracyte, Inc. (a) | | | 333,810 | | |
| 85,600 | | | Vericel Corp. (a) | | | 1,489,440 | | |
| 27,102 | | | Wright Medical Group (a) | | | 737,716 | | |
| | | 18,980,507 | | |
| | Materials & Processing 4.4% | |
| 2,361 | | | Cabot Microelectronics Corp. | | | 225,160 | | |
| 22,799 | | | Ingevity Corp. (a) | | | 1,908,048 | | |
| 43,257 | | | PGT Innovations, Inc. (a) | | | 685,623 | | |
| | | 2,818,831 | | |
| | Producer Durables 10.6% | |
| 12,387 | | | Allied Motion Technologies, Inc. | | | 553,575 | | |
| 22,299 | | | BG Staffing, Inc. | | | 460,474 | | |
| 7,851 | | | EnerSys | | | 609,316 | | |
| 7,572 | | | Exponent, Inc. | | | 383,976 | | |
| 14,965 | | | FLIR Systems, Inc. | | | 651,576 | | |
| 24,140 | | | Generac Holdings, Inc. (a) | | | 1,199,758 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 33
Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 97.7% (continued) | | | |
| | Producer Durables 10.6% (continued) | |
| 13,573 | | | HEICO Corp. | | $ | 1,051,636 | | |
| 8,666 | | | NV5 Global, Inc. (a) | | | 524,726 | | |
| 6,685 | | | Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | | | 825,531 | | |
| 12,998 | | | Willdan Group, Inc. (a) | | | 454,670 | | |
| | | 6,715,238 | | |
| | Technology 23.3% | |
| 12,035 | | | Blucora, Inc. (a) | | | 320,612 | | |
| 12,141 | | | Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc. (a) | | | 582,768 | | |
| 5,015 | | | Coupa Software, Inc. (a) | | | 315,243 | | |
| 10,016 | | | Everbridge, Inc. (a) | | | 568,508 | | |
| 41,413 | | | Five9, Inc. (a) | | | 1,810,576 | | |
| 7,130 | | | GDS Holdings Ltd. - ADR (a) | | | 164,632 | | |
| 53,503 | | | Glu Mobile, Inc. (a) | | | 431,769 | | |
| 16,886 | | | Lantronix, Inc. (a) | | | 49,645 | | |
| 20,186 | | | Mercury Systems, Inc. (a) | | | 954,596 | | |
| 5,561 | | | Mimecast Ltd. (a) | | | 187,017 | | |
| 3,297 | | | Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | | | 383,276 | | |
| 6,828 | | | NICE Ltd. - ADR (a) | | | 738,858 | | |
| 37,818 | | | OptimizeRx Corp. (a) | | | 414,863 | | |
| 23,983 | | | PlayAGS, Inc. (a) | | | 551,609 | | |
| 19,211 | | | Radware Ltd. (a) | | | 436,282 | | |
| 22,074 | | | RealPage, Inc. (a) | | | 1,063,746 | | |
| 20,119 | | | RingCentral, Inc. - Class A (a) | | | 1,658,610 | | |
| 34,256 | | | ShotSpotter, Inc. (a) | | | 1,068,102 | | |
| 46,411 | | | The Meet Group, Inc. (a) | | | 214,883 | | |
| 6,999 | | | Twilio, Inc. - Class A (a) | | | 625,011 | | |
| 35,504 | | | USA Technologies, Inc. (a) | | | 138,111 | | |
| 19,406 | | | Varonis Systems, Inc. (a) | | | 1,026,577 | | |
| 27,085 | | | WNS (Holdings) Ltd. - ADR (a) | | | 1,117,527 | | |
| | | 14,822,821 | | |
| | Utilities 0.5% | |
| 14,654 | | | Boingo Wireless, Inc. (a) | | | 301,433 | | |
| | Total Common Stocks | |
| | | | (Cost $50,143,775) | | | 62,048,842 | | |
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 2.1% | |
| | Investment Company 2.1% | |
| 1,338,280 | | | Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Government Portfolio - Institutional Class, 2.39% | | $ | 1,338,280 | | |
| | Total Short-Term Investments | |
| | (Cost $1,338,280) | | | 1,338,280 | | |
| | Total Investments 99.8% | |
| | (Cost $51,482,055) | | | 63,387,122 | | |
| | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities 0.2% | | | 120,503 | | |
| | TOTAL NET ASSETS 100.0% | | $ | 63,507,625 | | |
(a) Non-Income Producing.
ADR - American Depositary Receipt
PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION
Sectors | | Percentage | |
Health Care | | | 29.9 | % | |
Technology | | | 23.3 | | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 19.8 | | |
Producer Durables | | | 10.6 | | |
Financial Services | | | 5.2 | | |
Materials & Processing | | | 4.4 | | |
Consumer Staples | | | 2.8 | | |
Energy | | | 1.2 | | |
Utilities | | | 0.5 | | |
Total Common Stocks | | | 97.7 | | |
Total Short-Term Investments | | | 2.1 | | |
Total Investments | | | 99.8 | | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities | | | 0.2 | | |
Total Net Assets | | | 100.0 | % | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 34
Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 94.3% | | | |
| | Communication Services 2.2% | |
| 15,404 | | | Entercom Communications Corp. - Class A | | $ | 87,957 | | |
| 6,482 | | | Nexstar Media Group, Inc. - Class A | | | 509,744 | | |
| | | 597,701 | | |
| | Consumer Discretionary 9.0% | |
| 13,655 | | | American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | | | 263,951 | | |
| 9,885 | | | G-III Apparel Group Ltd. (a) | | | 275,693 | | |
| 9,481 | | | Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc. (a) | | | 250,204 | | |
| 14,936 | | | Modine Manufacturing Co. (a) | | | 161,458 | | |
| 6,304 | | | Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | | | 254,177 | | |
| 5,952 | | | Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. | | | 135,289 | | |
| 3,148 | | | The Cheesecake Factory, Inc. | | | 136,970 | | |
| 7,289 | | | TopBuild Corp. (a) | | | 328,005 | | |
| 6,481 | | | Tower International, Inc. | | | 154,248 | | |
| 2,922 | | | Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | | | 147,415 | | |
| 9,383 | | | Wolverine World Wide, Inc. | | | 299,224 | | |
| | | 2,406,634 | | |
| | Consumer Staples 1.5% | |
| 9,174 | | | B&G Foods, Inc. | | | 265,220 | | |
| 11,795 | | | Hostess Brands, Inc. (a) | | | 129,037 | | |
| | | 394,257 | | |
| | Energy 4.4% | |
| 6,971 | | | C&J Energy Services, Inc. (a) | | | 94,108 | | |
| 49,126 | | | Callon Petroleum Co. (a) | | | 318,828 | | |
| 5,510 | | | Delek US Holdings, Inc. | | | 179,130 | | |
| 18,184 | | | Jagged Peak Energy, Inc. (a) | | | 165,838 | | |
| 16,481 | | | McDermott International, Inc. (a) | | | 107,786 | | |
| 2,725 | | | PDC Energy, Inc. (a) | | | 81,096 | | |
| 43,858 | | | Ring Energy, Inc. (a) | | | 222,799 | | |
| | | 1,169,585 | | |
| | Financials 27.0% | |
| 5,645 | | | Banner Corp. | | | 301,894 | | |
| 7,096 | | | Cadence BanCorp | | | 119,071 | | |
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
| | Financials 27.0% (continued) | |
| 18,851 | | | CenterState Bank Corp. | | $ | 396,625 | | |
| 4,258 | | | Chemical Financial Corp. | | | 155,885 | | |
| 8,018 | | | CNO Financial Group, Inc. | | | 119,308 | | |
| 8,389 | | | Eagle Bancorp, Inc. (a) | | | 408,628 | | |
| 6,771 | | | Enterprise Financial Services Corp. | | | 254,793 | | |
| 39,305 | | | F.N.B. Corp. | | | 386,761 | | |
| 7,727 | | | First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. - Class A | | | 282,499 | | |
| 4,960 | | | Guaranty Bancorp | | | 102,920 | | |
| 2,979 | | | Heartland Financial USA, Inc. | | | 130,927 | | |
| 673 | | | Heritage Commerce Corp. | | | 7,632 | | |
| 27,751 | | | Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. | | | 408,495 | | |
| 6,199 | | | IBERIABANK Corp. | | | 398,472 | | |
| 9,348 | | | LegacyTexas Financial Group, Inc. | | | 299,977 | | |
| 4,443 | | | Meta Financial Group, Inc. | | | 86,150 | | |
| 10,361 | | | OneMain Holdings, Inc. (a) | | | 251,669 | | |
| 9,680 | | | Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. (a) | | | 247,034 | | |
| 5,467 | | | Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. | | | 252,029 | | |
| 5,124 | | | Preferred Bank | | | 222,125 | | |
| 2,614 | | | Primerica, Inc. | | | 255,414 | | |
| 6,187 | | | Selective Insurance Group, Inc. | | | 377,036 | | |
| 5,394 | | | Simmons First National Corp. - Class A | | | 130,157 | | |
| 12,695 | | | State Bank Financial Corp. | | | 274,085 | | |
| 4,976 | | | Stifel Financial Corp. | | | 206,106 | | |
| 9,544 | | | Triumph Bancorp, Inc. (a) | | | 283,457 | | |
| 15,046 | | | Umpqua Holdings Corp. | | | 239,231 | | |
| 14,099 | | | Union Bankshares Corp. | | | 398,015 | | |
| 3,467 | | | Wintrust Financial Corp. | | | 230,521 | | |
| | | 7,226,916 | | |
| | Health Care 5.0% | |
| 4,155 | | | ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | | | 187,058 | | |
| 6,387 | | | Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. (a) | | | 378,621 | | |
| 3,107 | | | NuVasive, Inc. (a) | | | 153,983 | | |
| 7,540 | | | Patterson Companies, Inc. | | | 148,236 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 35
Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 94.3% (continued) | | | |
| | Health Care 5.0% (continued) | |
| 52,959 | | | Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | | $ | 222,428 | | |
| 6,654 | | | Syneos Health, Inc. (a) | | | 261,835 | | |
| | | 1,352,161 | | |
| | Industrials 13.6% | |
| 3,174 | | | ASGN, Inc. (a) | | | 172,983 | | |
| 12,721 | | | Atkore International Group, Inc. (a) | | | 252,385 | | |
| 5,212 | | | Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (a) | | | 219,894 | | |
| 25,416 | | | CBIZ, Inc. (a) | | | 500,695 | | |
| 7,914 | | | Columbus McKinnon Corp. | | | 238,528 | | |
| 3,542 | | | EMCOR Group, Inc. | | | 211,422 | | |
| 4,689 | | | Gibraltar Industries, Inc. (a) | | | 166,882 | | |
| 16,802 | | | Heartland Express, Inc. | | | 307,477 | | |
| 4,600 | | | Kadant, Inc. | | | 374,716 | | |
| 5,865 | | | MYR Group, Inc. (a) | | | 165,217 | | |
| 9,000 | | | Quanta Services, Inc. | | | 270,900 | | |
| 7,859 | | | SkyWest, Inc. | | | 349,490 | | |
| 2,769 | | | Tetra Tech, Inc. | | | 143,351 | | |
| 3,176 | | | The Timken Company | | | 118,528 | | |
| 17,884 | | | Wesco Aircraft Holdings, Inc. (a) | | | 141,283 | | |
| | | 3,633,751 | | |
| | Information Technology 10.7% | |
| 18,855 | | | AVX Corp. | | | 287,539 | | |
| 2,384 | | | Belden, Inc. | | | 99,580 | | |
| 475 | | | Cabot Microelectronics Corp. | | | 45,329 | | |
| 2,067 | | | CACI International, Inc. - Class A (a) | | | 297,710 | | |
| 28,118 | | | Cypress Semiconductor Corp. | | | 357,661 | | |
| 7,989 | | | Finisar Corp. (a) | | | 172,562 | | |
| 2,329 | | | MAXIMUS, Inc. | | | 151,595 | | |
| 2,662 | | | MKS Instruments, Inc. | | | 171,992 | | |
| 12,460 | | | Photronics, Inc. (a) | | | 120,613 | | |
| 2,700 | | | Plexus Corp. (a) | | | 137,916 | | |
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
| | Information Technology 10.7% (continued) | |
| 5,144 | | | Progress Software Corp. | | $ | 182,560 | | |
| 3,307 | | | SYNNEX Corp. | | | 267,338 | | |
| 1,881 | | | Tech Data Corp. (a) | | | 153,885 | | |
| 17,099 | | | Unisys Corp. (a) | | | 198,861 | | |
| 5,550 | | | Verint Systems, Inc. (a) | | | 234,820 | | |
| | | 2,879,961 | | |
| | Materials 4.5% | |
| 17,133 | | | Ferro Corp. (a) | | | 268,645 | | |
| 4,244 | | | HB Fuller Co. | | | 181,092 | | |
| 2,356 | | | Kaiser Aluminum Corp. | | | 210,367 | | |
| 6,741 | | | Koppers Holdings, Inc. (a) | | | 114,867 | | |
| 7,500 | | | Materion Corp. | | | 337,425 | | |
| 10,215 | | | TimkenSteel Corp. (a) | | | 89,279 | | |
| | | 1,201,675 | | |
| | Real Estate 10.8% | |
| 14,853 | | | Acadia Realty Trust | | | 352,907 | | |
| 39,585 | | | Independence Realty Trust, Inc. | | | 363,390 | | |
| 20,020 | | | Jernigan Capital, Inc. | | | 396,796 | | |
| 11,850 | | | National Storage Affiliates Trust | | | 313,551 | | |
| 11,193 | | | NorthStar Realty Europe Corp. | | | 162,746 | | |
| 10,972 | | | Pebblebrook Hotel Trust | | | 310,617 | | |
| 8,459 | | | QTS Realty Trust, Inc. - Class A | | | 313,406 | | |
| 13,803 | | | Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc. | | | 406,775 | | |
| 9,099 | | | Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. | | | 149,952 | | |
| 6,550 | | | Tier REIT, Inc. | | | 135,126 | | |
| | | 2,905,266 | | |
| | Utilities 5.6% | |
| 3,035 | | | Black Hills Corp. | | | 190,537 | | |
| 3,408 | | | IDACORP, Inc. | | | 317,149 | | |
| 3,986 | | | New Jersey Resources Corp. | | | 182,041 | | |
| 4,385 | | | Portland General Electric Co. | | | 201,052 | | |
| 7,516 | | | South Jersey Industries, Inc. | | | 208,945 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 36
Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Number of Shares | | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 94.3% (continued) | | | |
| | Utilities 5.6% (continued) | |
| 3,195 | | | Spire, Inc. | | $ | 236,686 | | |
| 14,261 | | | TerraForm Power, Inc. - Class A | | | 160,008 | | |
| | | 1,496,418 | | |
| | Total Common Stocks | |
| | | | (Cost $24,680,976) | | | 25,264,325 | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 4.5% | | | |
| | Investment Company 4.5% | |
| 1,200,766 | | | Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Government Portfolio - Institutional Class, 2.39% | | | 1,200,766 | | |
| | Total Short-Term Investments | |
| | | | (Cost $1,200,766) | | | 1,200,766 | | |
| | Total Investments 98.8% | |
| | | | (Cost $25,881,742) | | | 26,465,091 | | |
| | | | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities 1.2% | | | 322,203 | | |
| | | | TOTAL NET ASSETS 100.0% | | $ | 26,787,294 | | |
(a) Non-Income Producing.
PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION
Sectors | | Percentage | |
Financials | | | 27.0 | % | |
Industrials | | | 13.6 | | |
Real Estate | | | 10.8 | | |
Information Technology | | | 10.7 | | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 9.0 | | |
Utilities | | | 5.6 | | |
Health Care | | | 5.0 | | |
Materials | | | 4.5 | | |
Energy | | | 4.4 | | |
Communication Services | | | 2.2 | | |
Consumer Staples | | | 1.5 | | |
Total Common Stocks | | | 94.3 | | |
Total Short-Term Investments | | | 4.5 | | |
Total Investments | | | 98.8 | | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities | | | 1.2 | | |
Total Net Assets | | | 100.0 | % | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 37
Frontier Funds
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
| | MFG Global Equity Fund | | MFG Global Plus Fund | | MFG Core Infrastructure Fund | |
ASSETS: | |
Investments at cost | | $ | 743,701,375 | | | $ | 253,077,850 | | | $ | 362,286,469 | | |
Foreign currency at cost | | $ | 46,581 | | | $ | 40,057 | | | $ | 446,586 | | |
Investments at value | | $ | 951,880,051 | | | $ | 290,066,354 | | | $ | 379,498,173 | | |
Foreign currency at value | | | 45,966 | | | | 39,852 | | | | 437,291 | | |
Receivable for Fund shares sold | | | 6,153,377 | | | | 2,890,000 | | | | 3,974,505 | | |
Interest and dividends receivable | | | 2,083,356 | | | | 484,816 | | | | 1,581,344 | | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | | 33,402 | | | | 24,260 | | | | 23,839 | | |
Total assets | | | 960,196,152 | | | | 293,505,282 | | | | 385,515,152 | | |
LIABILITIES: | |
Payable for investments purchased | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,443,453 | | |
Payable for Fund shares redeemed | | | 117 | | | | 1,038,408 | | | | 2,129,667 | | |
Payable to Adviser | | | 612,971 | | | | 175,317 | | | | 173,222 | | |
Accrued shareholder servicing fees | | | — | | | | 5,978 | | | | 2,284 | | |
Accrued expenses | | | 74,168 | | | | 36,949 | | | | 48,434 | | |
Total liabilities | | | 687,256 | | | | 1,256,652 | | | | 3,797,060 | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 959,508,896 | | | $ | 292,248,630 | | | $ | 381,718,092 | | |
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF: | |
Paid in capital | | $ | 736,182,852 | | | $ | 249,216,434 | | | $ | 375,898,954 | | |
Total distributable earnings | | | 223,326,044 | | | | 43,032,196 | | | | 5,819,138 | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 959,508,896 | | | $ | 292,248,630 | | | $ | 381,718,092 | | |
CAPITAL STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE | | | | Institutional Class | | Institutional Class | |
Net Assets | | $ | 959,508,896 | | | $ | 169,918,122 | | | $ | 338,562,395 | | |
Authorized | | | 100,000,000 | | | | 100,000,000 | | | | 50,000,000 | | |
Issued and Outstanding | | | 57,639,421 | | | | 15,439,401 | | | | 22,986,856 | | |
Net Asset Value, Redemption Price and Offering Price Per Share | | $ | 16.65 | | | $ | 11.01 | | | $ | 14.73 | | |
CAPITAL STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE | | | | Service Class | | Service Class | |
Net Assets | | | | $ | 122,330,508 | | | $ | 43,155,697 | | |
Authorized | | | | | 50,000,000 | | | | 50,000,000 | | |
Issued and Outstanding | | | | | 11,118,757 | | | | 2,923,760 | | |
Net Asset Value, Redemption Price and Offering Price Per Share | | | | $ | 11.00 | | | $ | 14.76 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 38
Frontier Funds
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
| | MFG Select Infrastructure Fund | | Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund | | Phocas Small Cap Value Fund | |
ASSETS: | |
Investments at cost | | $ | 32,836,796 | | | $ | 51,482,055 | | | $ | 25,881,742 | | |
Foreign currency at cost | | $ | 35,598 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | |
Investments at value | | $ | 31,626,800 | | | $ | 63,387,122 | | | $ | 26,465,091 | | |
Foreign currency at value | | | 34,981 | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Receivable for investments sold | | | — | | | | — | | | | 7,755 | | |
Receivable for Fund shares sold | | | — | | | | 158,445 | | | | 276,017 | | |
Interest and dividends receivable | | | 151,869 | | | | 6,039 | | | | 55,442 | | |
Receivable from Adviser | | | — | | | | — | | | | 6,794 | | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | | 15,605 | | | | 28,033 | | | | 20,319 | | |
Total assets | | | 31,829,255 | | | | 63,579,639 | | | | 26,831,418 | | |
LIABILITIES: | |
Payable for investments purchased | | | 72,604 | | | | — | | | | 6,683 | | |
Payable for Fund shares redeemed | | | — | | | | 11,571 | | | | 14,865 | | |
Payable to Directors | | | 3,872 | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Payable to Adviser | | | 2,717 | | | | 32,634 | | | | — | | |
Accrued distribution and shareholder servicing fees | | | — | | | | 2,120 | | | | — | | |
Accrued expenses | | | 34,557 | | | | 25,689 | | | | 22,576 | | |
Total liabilities | | | 113,750 | | | | 72,014 | | | | 44,124 | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 31,715,505 | | | $ | 63,507,625 | | | $ | 26,787,294 | | |
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF: | |
Paid in capital | | $ | 33,285,768 | | | $ | 52,525,029 | | | $ | 25,152,442 | | |
Total distributable earnings (accumulated losses) | | | (1,570,263 | ) | | | 10,982,596 | | | | 1,634,852 | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 31,715,505 | | | $ | 63,507,625 | | | $ | 26,787,294 | | |
CAPITAL STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE | | | | Institutional Class | | Institutional Class | |
Net Assets | | $ | 31,715,505 | | | $ | 58,692,635 | | | $ | 26,787,192 | | |
Authorized | | | 100,000,000 | | | | 50,000,000 | | | | 100,000,000 | | |
Issued and Outstanding | | | 3,334,709 | | | | 2,923,890 | | | | 1,011,555 | | |
Net Asset Value, Redemption Price and Offering Price Per Share | | $ | 9.51 | | | $ | 20.07 | | | $ | 26.48 | | |
CAPITAL STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE | | | | Service Class | | Service Class | |
Net Assets | | | | $ | 234,775 | | | $ | 102 | | |
Authorized | | | | | 50,000,000 | | | | 50,000,000 | | |
Issued and Outstanding | | | | | 11,712 | | | | 4 | | |
Net Asset Value, Redemption Price and Offering Price Per Share | | | | $ | 20.05 | | | $ | 26.41 | (1) | |
CAPITAL STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE | | | | Class Y | | | |
Net Assets | | | | $ | 4,580,215 | | | | | | |
Authorized | | | | | 50,000,000 | | | | | | |
Issued and Outstanding | | | | | 232,983 | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Redemption Price and Offering Price Per Share | | | | $ | 19.66 | | | | |
(1) Net Asset Value is calculated using unrounded net assets and shares outstanding.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 39
Frontier Funds
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
| | MFG Global Equity Fund | | MFG Global Plus Fund | | MFG Core Infrastructure Fund | |
INVESTMENT INCOME: | |
Dividend income | | $ | 6,247,434 | | | $ | 2,165,348 | | | $ | 5,450,670 | (1) | |
Interest income | | | 1,902,339 | | | | 663,063 | | | | 91,435 | | |
Total investment income | | | 8,149,773 | | | | 2,828,411 | | | | 5,542,105 | | |
EXPENSES: | |
Investment advisory fees | | | 4,359,222 | | | | 1,514,697 | | | | 1,353,637 | | |
Fund administration and accounting fees | | | 124,931 | | | | 49,606 | | | | 55,383 | | |
Custody fees | | | 40,908 | | | | 16,523 | | | | 43,087 | | |
Legal fees | | | 16,675 | | | | 16,942 | | | | 16,655 | | |
Directors' fees and related expenses | | | 15,869 | | | | 15,826 | | | | 15,826 | | |
Transfer agent fees | | | 14,514 | | | | 11,020 | | | | 11,500 | | |
Reports to shareholders | | | 14,463 | | | | 10,072 | | | | 10,792 | | |
Federal and state registration fees | | | 13,152 | | | | 19,503 | | | | 20,249 | | |
Audit fees | | | 8,949 | | | | 8,958 | | | | 8,954 | | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | | — | | | | 40,430 | | | | 6,959 | | |
Other | | | 22,151 | | | | 11,494 | | | | 7,060 | | |
Total expenses before waiver | | | 4,630,834 | | | | 1,715,071 | | | | 1,550,102 | | |
Waiver of expenses by Adviser | | | (271,612 | ) | | | (159,943 | ) | | | (189,505 | ) | |
Net expenses | | | 4,359,222 | | | | 1,555,128 | | | | 1,360,597 | | |
Net Investment Income | | | 3,790,551 | | | | 1,273,283 | | | | 4,181,508 | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS: | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investments | | | 47,127,027 | | | | 21,836,329 | | | | (9,030,713 | ) | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 13,476 | | | | 11,240 | | | | (12,143 | ) | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on: | |
Investments | | | (74,597,086 | ) | | | (23,890,617 | ) | | | (7,076,448 | ) | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 5,671 | | | | 32 | | | | (11,324 | ) | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments | | | (27,450,912 | ) | | | (2,043,016 | ) | | | (16,130,628 | ) | |
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | (23,660,361 | ) | | $ | (769,733 | ) | | $ | (11,949,120 | ) | |
(1) Net of $339,314 in foreign withholding taxes.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 40
Frontier Funds
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)
For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
| | MFG Select Infrastructure Fund(1) | | Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund | | Phocas Small Cap Value Fund | |
INVESTMENT INCOME: | |
Dividend income | | $ | 332,166 | (2) | | $ | 53,081 | | | $ | 293,170 | | |
Interest income | | | 27,736 | | | | 16,578 | | | | 10,267 | | |
Total investment income | | | 359,902 | | | | 69,659 | | | | 303,437 | | |
EXPENSES: | |
Investment advisory fees | | | 104,440 | | | | 384,731 | | | | 153,154 | | |
Custody fees | | | 39,377 | | | | 12,442 | | | | 7,711 | | |
Fund administration and accounting fees | | | 15,139 | | | | 22,415 | | | | 18,586 | | |
Federal and state registration fees | | | 12,434 | | | | 19,659 | | | | 16,698 | | |
Directors' fees and related expenses | | | 11,372 | | | | 15,827 | | | | 15,875 | | |
Legal fees | | | 10,009 | | | | 17,147 | | | | 18,049 | | |
Audit fees | | | 8,896 | | | | 7,941 | | | | 7,941 | | |
Reports to shareholders | | | 8,112 | | | | 11,656 | | | | 12,391 | | |
Transfer agent fees | | | 5,857 | | | | 17,961 | | | | 9,330 | | |
Distribution and shareholder servicing fees | | | — | | | | 11,595 | | | | — | | |
Other | | | 5,204 | | | | 4,250 | | | | 3,914 | | |
Total expenses before waiver | | | 220,840 | | | | 525,624 | | | | 263,649 | | |
Waiver of expenses by Adviser | | | (116,399 | ) | | | (90,824 | ) | | | (92,478 | ) | |
Net expenses | | | 104,441 | | | | 434,800 | | | | 171,171 | | |
Net Investment Income (Loss) | | | 255,461 | | | | (365,141 | ) | | | 132,266 | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS: | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investments | | | (412,642 | ) | | | 151,903 | | | | 1,094,229 | | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 9,514 | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Change in net unrealized depreciation on: | |
Investments | | | (1,209,996 | ) | | | (11,940,949 | ) | | | (8,427,772 | ) | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | (583 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments | | | (1,613,707 | ) | | | (11,789,046 | ) | | | (7,333,543 | ) | |
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | (1,358,246 | ) | | $ | (12,154,187 | ) | | $ | (7,201,277 | ) | |
(1) Commenced operations on July 2, 2018.
(2) Net of $29,058 in foreign withholding taxes.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 41
Frontier Funds
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | MFG Global Equity Fund | | MFG Global Plus Fund | |
| | For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | For the Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | For the Year Ended June 30, 2018 | |
OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income | | $ | 3,790,551 | | | $ | 7,917,759 | | | $ | 1,273,283 | | | $ | 3,358,016 | | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investments | | | 47,127,027 | | | | 91,508,887 | | | | 21,836,329 | | | | 20,626,161 | | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 13,476 | | | | (87,745 | ) | | | 11,240 | | | | (26,823 | ) | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on: | |
Investments | | | (74,597,086 | ) | | | 50,612,177 | | | | (23,890,617 | ) | | | 28,125,679 | | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 5,671 | | | | (48,651 | ) | | | 32 | | | | (10,070 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | (23,660,361 | ) | | | 149,902,427 | | | | (769,733 | ) | | | 52,072,963 | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | |
Institutional Class | | | (90,489,457 | ) | | | (46,044,434 | ) | | | (19,324,487 | ) | | | (7,459,420 | ) | |
Service Class | | | | | | | (13,371,301 | ) | | | (1,624,323 | ) | |
Net decrease in net assets resulting from distributions paid | | | (90,489,457 | ) | | | (46,044,434 | )(1) | | | (32,695,788 | ) | | | (9,083,743 | )(2) | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | |
Shares sold: | |
Institutional Class | | | 22,145,406 | | | | 47,464,279 | | | | 11,254,000 | | | | 127,903,475 | | |
Service Class | | | | | | | 76,428,172 | | | | 10,267,372 | | |
Shares issued to holders in reinvestment of distributions: | |
Institutional Class | | | 74,009,184 | | | | 43,073,263 | | | | 18,788,999 | | | | 7,446,694 | | |
Service Class | | | | | | | 13,158,079 | | | | 1,525,665 | | |
Shares redeemed: | |
Institutional Class | | | (126,017,841 | ) | | | (224,973,653 | ) | | | (187,017,527 | ) | | | (132,197,976 | ) | |
Service Class | | | | | | | (22,034,698 | ) | | | (26,695,882 | ) | |
Redemption fees: | |
Institutional Class | | | 1,374 | | | | 1,103 | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions | | | (29,861,877 | ) | | | (134,435,008 | ) | | | (89,422,975 | ) | | | (11,750,652 | ) | |
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | | (144,011,695 | ) | | | (30,577,015 | ) | | | (122,888,496 | ) | | | 31,238,568 | | |
NET ASSETS: | |
Beginning of Period | | | 1,103,520,591 | | | | 1,134,097,606 | | | | 415,137,126 | | | | 383,898,558 | | |
End of Period | | $ | 959,508,896 | | | $ | 1,103,520,591 | (3) | | $ | 292,248,630 | | | $ | 415,137,126 | (4) | |
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES: | |
Shares sold: | |
Institutional Class | | | 1,284,154 | | | | 2,558,520 | | | | 853,311 | | | | 10,288,566 | | |
Service Class | | | | | | | 5,835,579 | | | | 837,958 | | |
Shares issued to holders in reinvestment of distributions: | |
Institutional Class | | | 4,387,029 | | | | 2,325,770 | | | | 1,683,602 | | | | 595,736 | | |
Service Class | | | | | | | 1,180,097 | | | | 122,053 | | |
Shares redeemed: | |
Institutional Class | | | (6,454,986 | ) | | | (12,204,242 | ) | | | (13,847,702 | ) | | | (10,471,305 | ) | |
Service Class | | | | | | | (1,790,020 | ) | | | (2,132,206 | ) | |
Net decrease in shares outstanding | | | (783,803 | ) | | | (7,319,952 | ) | | | (6,085,133 | ) | | | (759,198 | ) | |
(1) Includes distributions from net investment income of $9,290,907 and distributions from net realized gains on investments of $36,753,527.
(2) Includes distributions from net investment income for Institutional Class and Service Class of $2,143,460 and $412,974, and distributions from net realized gains on investments of $5,315,960 and $1,211,349, respectively.
(3) Includes undistributed net investment income of $5,196,032.
(4) Includes undistributed net investment income of $2,438,924.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 42
Frontier Funds
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (continued)
| | MFG Core Infrastructure Fund | | MFG Select Infrastructure Fund | |
| | For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | For the Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | For the Period July 2, 2018(1) through December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | |
OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income | | $ | 4,181,508 | | | $ | 11,315,506 | | | $ | 255,461 | | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investments | | | (9,030,713 | ) | | | (1,311,785 | ) | | | (412,642 | ) | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | (12,143 | ) | | | (101,134 | ) | | | 9,514 | | |
Change in net unrealized depreciation on: | |
Investments | | | (7,076,448 | ) | | | (6,402,938 | ) | | | (1,209,996 | ) | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | (11,324 | ) | | | (15,320 | ) | | | (583 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | (11,949,120 | ) | | | 3,484,329 | | | | (1,358,246 | ) | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | |
Institutional Class | | | (4,628,523 | ) | | | (10,869,241 | ) | | | (212,017 | ) | |
Service Class | | | (202,137 | ) | | | (348,342 | ) | | | | | |
Net decrease in net assets resulting from distributions paid | | | (4,830,660 | ) | | | (11,217,583 | )(2) | | | (212,017 | ) | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | |
Shares sold: | |
Institutional Class | | | 10,523,639 | | | | 179,185,572 | | | | 33,813,748 | | |
Service Class | | | 42,147,855 | | | | 50,605,851 | | | | | | |
Shares issued to holders in reinvestment of distributions: | |
Institutional Class | | | 4,243,481 | | | | 9,719,865 | | | | 104,857 | | |
Service Class | | | 101,944 | | | | 157,769 | | | | | | |
Shares redeemed: | |
Institutional Class | | | (41,977,879 | ) | | | (50,370,221 | ) | | | (632,837 | ) | |
Service Class | | | (7,352,575 | ) | | | (44,897,280 | ) | | | | | |
Redemption fees: | |
Service Class | | | 8,801 | | | | 3,746 | | | | | | |
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions | | | 7,695,266 | | | | 144,405,302 | | | | 33,285,768 | | |
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | | (9,084,514 | ) | | | 136,672,048 | | | | 31,715,505 | | |
NET ASSETS: | |
Beginning of Period | | | 390,802,606 | | | | 254,130,558 | | | | — | | |
End of Period | | $ | 381,718,092 | | | $ | 390,802,606 | (3) | | $ | 31,715,505 | | |
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES: | |
Shares sold: | |
Institutional Class | | | 686,246 | | | | 11,546,967 | | | | 3,388,075 | | |
Service Class | | | 2,818,229 | | | | 3,280,891 | | | | | | |
Shares issued to holders in reinvestment of distributions: | |
Institutional Class | | | 281,502 | | | | 621,680 | | | | 10,779 | | |
Service Class | | | 6,762 | | | | 10,079 | | | | | | |
Shares redeemed: | |
Institutional Class | | | (2,766,078 | ) | | | (3,235,069 | ) | | | (64,145 | ) | |
Service Class | | | (487,826 | ) | | | (2,892,546 | ) | | | | | |
Net increase in shares outstanding | | | 538,835 | | | | 9,332,002 | | | | 3,334,709 | | |
(1) Commencement of operations.
(2) Includes distributions from net investment income for Institutional Class and Service Class of $10,827,533 and $347,439, and distributions from net realized gains on investments of $41,708 and $903, respectively.
(3) Includes undistributed net investment income of $976,524.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 43
Frontier Funds
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (continued)
| | Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund | | Phocas Small Cap Value Fund | |
| | For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | For the Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | For the Year Ended June 30, 2018 | |
OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income (loss) | | $ | (365,141 | ) | | $ | (556,536 | ) | | $ | 132,266 | | | $ | 123,736 | | |
Net realized gain on investments | | | 151,903 | | | | 6,591,334 | | | | 1,094,229 | | | | 6,034,290 | | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments | | | (11,940,949 | ) | | | 11,921,485 | | | | (8,427,772 | ) | | | (1,218,847 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | (12,154,187 | ) | | | 17,956,283 | | | | (7,201,277 | ) | | | 4,939,179 | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | |
Institutional Class | | | (3,931,667 | ) | | | — | | | | (4,734,516 | ) | | | (3,244,664 | ) | |
Service Class | | | (15,669 | ) | | | — | | | | (19 | ) | | | (11 | ) | |
Class Y | | | (313,214 | ) | | | — | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease in net assets resulting from distributions paid | | | (4,260,550 | ) | | | — | | | | (4,734,535 | ) | | | (3,244,675 | )(1) | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | |
Shares issued in the Reorganization: | |
Institutional Class(2) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 25,882,024 | | |
Shares sold: | |
Institutional Class | | | 9,220,511 | | | | 19,540,583 | | | | 1,896,324 | | | | 3,896,170 | | |
Service Class | | | 849,292 | | | | 215,521 | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Class Y | | | 491,410 | | | | 1,462,983 | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares issued to holders in reinvestment of distributions: | |
Institutional Class | | | 3,586,195 | | | | — | | | | 4,734,008 | | | | 3,244,640 | | |
Service Class | | | 14,220 | | | | — | | | | 18 | | | | 11 | | |
Class Y | | | 286,931 | | | | — | | | | | | |
Shares redeemed: | |
Institutional Class | | | (8,099,856 | ) | | | (10,819,013 | ) | | | (6,642,512 | ) | | | (30,488,173 | ) | |
Service Class | | | (766,303 | ) | | | (10,748 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | |
Class Y | | | (894,961 | ) | | | (897,610 | ) | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital share transactions | | | 4,687,439 | | | | 9,491,716 | | | | (12,162 | ) | | | 2,534,672 | | |
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | | (11,727,298 | ) | | | 27,447,999 | | | | (11,947,974 | ) | | | 4,229,176 | | |
NET ASSETS: | |
Beginning of Period | | | 75,234,923 | | | | 47,786,924 | | | | 38,735,268 | | | | 34,506,092 | | |
End of Period | | $ | 63,507,625 | | | $ | 75,234,923 | (3) | | $ | 26,787,294 | | | $ | 38,735,268 | (4) | |
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES: | |
Shares issued in the Reorganization: | |
Institutional Class(9) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 692,998 | | |
Shares sold: | |
Institutional Class | | | 372,703 | | | | 880,142 | | | | 58,708 | | | | 98,800 | | |
Service Class | | | 32,393 | | | | 10,341 | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Class Y | | | 18,758 | | | | 65,597 | | | | | | | | |
Shares issued to holders in reinvestment of distributions: | |
Institutional Class | | | 178,506 | | | | — | | | | 174,108 | | | | 88,444 | | |
Service Class | | | 709 | | | | — | | | | 1 | | | | — | (5) | |
Class Y | | | 14,580 | | | | — | | | | | | | | |
Shares redeemed: | |
Institutional Class | | | (340,623 | ) | | | (498,921 | ) | | | (184,844 | ) | | | (791,437 | ) | |
Service Class | | | (31,220 | ) | | | (517 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | |
Class Y | | | (35,723 | ) | | | (43,464 | ) | | | | | | | |
Net increase in shares outstanding | | | 210,083 | | | | 413,178 | | | | 47,973 | | | | 88,805 | | |
(1) Includes distributions from net investment income for Institutional Class and Service Class of $130,243 and less than $1, and distributions from net realized gains on investments of $3,114,421 and $11, respectively.
(2) See Note 2(f) in Notes to Financial Statements.
(3) Includes undistributed net investment loss of $(295,069).
(4) Includes undistributed net investment income of $45,360.
(5) Less than one share.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 44
Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | Year Ended June 30, 2017 | | Year Ended June 30, 2016 | | Year Ended June 30, 2015 | | Year Ended June 30, 2014 | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 18.89 | | | $ | 17.25 | | | $ | 15.05 | | | $ | 15.99 | | | $ | 15.33 | | | $ | 13.43 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income | | | 0.08 | | | | 0.13 | | | | 0.15 | | | | 0.14 | | | | 0.10 | (1) | | | 0.19 | (1) | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | | | (0.60 | ) | | | 2.22 | | | | 2.77 | | | | (0.48 | ) | | | 0.91 | | | | 1.91 | | |
Total Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (0.52 | ) | | | 2.35 | | | | 2.92 | | | | (0.34 | ) | | | 1.01 | | | | 2.10 | | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net investment income | | | (0.17 | ) | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (0.12 | ) | | | (0.12 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | |
From net realized gain on investments | | | (1.55 | ) | | | (0.57 | ) | | | (0.58 | ) | | | (0.48 | ) | | | (0.23 | ) | | | (0.12 | | |
Total Distributions | | | (1.72 | ) | | | (0.71 | ) | | | (0.72 | ) | | | (0.60 | ) | | | (0.35 | ) | | | (0.20 | ) | |
Redemption fees retained(2) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 16.65 | | | $ | 18.89 | | | $ | 17.25 | | | $ | 15.05 | | | $ | 15.99 | | | $ | 15.33 | | |
Total Return | | | (2.85 | )%(3) | | | 13.75 | % | | | 19.96 | % | | | (2.19 | )% | | | 6.72 | % | | | 15.76 | % | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 959,509 | | | $ | 1,103,521 | | | $ | 1,134,098 | | | $ | 1,073,308 | | | $ | 1,106,525 | | | $ | 791,043 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.85 | %(4) | | | 0.85 | % | | | 0.85 | % | | | 0.85 | % | | | 0.86 | % | | | 0.89 | % | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.80 | %(4) | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | % | |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.65 | %(4) | | | 0.64 | % | | | 0.85 | % | | | 0.85 | % | | | 0.56 | % | | | 1.18 | % | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.70 | %(4) | | | 0.69 | % | | | 0.90 | % | | | 0.90 | % | | | 0.62 | % | | | 1.27 | % | |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 8 | %(3) | | | 28 | % | | | 30 | % | | | 38 | % | | | 69 | % | | | 20 | % | |
(1) Per share net investment income has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(2) Less than one cent per share.
(3) Not annualized.
(4) Annualized.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 45
Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Institutional Class | |
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | Year Ended June 30, 2017 | | Year Ended June 30, 2016 | | Period Ended June 30, 2015(1) | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 12.72 | | | $ | 11.49 | | | $ | 9.59 | | | $ | 9.91 | | | $ | 10.00 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income | | | 0.05 | (2) | | | 0.10 | | | | 0.13 | (2) | | | 0.09 | (2) | | | 0.03 | | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | | | (0.38 | ) | | | 1.40 | | | | 1.79 | | | | (0.36 | ) | | | (0.12 | ) | |
Total Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (0.33 | ) | | | 1.50 | | | | 1.92 | | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.09 | ) | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net investment income | | | (0.16 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | (0.05 | ) | | | — | | |
From net realized gain on investments | | | (1.22 | ) | | | (0.19 | ) | | | — | (3) | | | — | | | | — | | |
Total Distributions | | | (1.38 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | (0.05 | ) | | | — | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 11.01 | | | $ | 12.72 | | | $ | 11.49 | | | $ | 9.59 | | | $ | 9.91 | | |
Total Return | | | (2.71 | )%(4) | | | 13.12 | % | | | 20.06 | % | | | (2.77 | )% | | | (0.90 | )%(4) | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 169,918 | | | $ | 340,204 | | | $ | 302,726 | | | $ | 21,547 | | | $ | 5,859 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.88 | %(5) | | | 0.88 | % | | | 0.95 | % | | | 2.03 | % | | | 4.96 | %(5) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.80 | %(5) | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | %(5) | |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.63 | %(5) | | | 0.71 | % | | | 1.02 | % | | | (0.29 | )% | | | (3.16 | )%(5) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.71 | %(5) | | | 0.79 | % | | | 1.17 | % | | | 0.94 | % | | | 1.00 | %(5) | |
Portfolio turnover rate(6) | | | 25 | %(4) | | | 59 | % | | | 31 | % | | | 30 | % | | | 7 | %(4) | |
(1) Commenced operations on March 23, 2015.
(2) Per share net investment income has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(3) Less than one cent per share.
(4) Not annualized.
(5) Annualized.
(6) Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between the classes of shares issued.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 46
Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Service Class | |
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | Year Ended June 30, 2017 | | Period Ended June 30, 2016(1) | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 12.72 | | | $ | 11.49 | | | $ | 9.60 | | | $ | 9.73 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income | | | 0.04 | (2) | | | 0.10 | | | | 0.11 | (2) | | | — | (3) | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | | | (0.39 | ) | | | 1.39 | | | | 1.80 | | | | (0.13 | ) | |
Total Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (0.35 | ) | | | 1.49 | | | | 1.91 | | | | (0.13 | ) | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net investment income | | | (0.15 | ) | | | (0.07 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | — | | |
From net realized gain on investments | | | (1.22 | ) | | | (0.19 | ) | | | — | (3) | | | — | | |
Total Distributions | | | (1.37 | ) | | | (0.26 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | — | | |
Redemption fees retained | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | (3) | | | — | (3) | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 11.00 | | | $ | 12.72 | | | $ | 11.49 | | | $ | 9.60 | | |
Total Return | | | (2.84 | )%(4) | | | 13.01 | % | | | 19.92 | % | | | (1.34 | )%(4) | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 122,331 | | | $ | 74,933 | | | $ | 81,173 | | | $ | 10,727 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.97 | %(5) | | | 0.95 | % | | | 1.09 | % | | | 1.38 | %(5) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.88 | %(5) | | | 0.88 | % | | | 0.89 | % | | | 0.80 | %(5) | |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.49 | %(5) | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.80 | % | | | (0.70 | )%(5) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.58 | %(5) | | | 0.67 | % | | | 1.00 | % | | | (0.12 | )%(5) | |
Portfolio turnover rate(6) | | | 25 | %(4) | | | 59 | % | | | 31 | % | | | 30 | % | |
(1) Commenced operations on May 9, 2016.
(2) Per share net investment income has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(3) Less than one cent per share.
(4) Not annualized.
(5) Annualized.
(6) Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between the classes of shares issued.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 47
Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Institutional Class | |
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | Year Ended June 30, 2017 | | Year Ended June 30, 2016 | | Year Ended June 30, 2015 | | Year Ended June 30, 2014 | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 15.40 | | | $ | 15.84 | | | $ | 15.27 | | | $ | 13.09 | | | $ | 14.13 | | | $ | 11.54 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income | | | 0.17 | | | | 0.58 | (1) | | | 0.50 | (1) | | | 0.37 | | | | 0.42 | (1) | | | 0.55 | (1) | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | | | (0.64 | ) | | | (0.48 | ) | | | 0.52 | | | | 2.21 | | | | (0.96 | ) | | | 2.22 | | |
Total Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (0.47 | ) | | | 0.10 | | | | 1.02 | | | | 2.58 | | | | (0.54 | ) | | | 2.77 | | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net investment income | | | (0.18 | ) | | | (0.54 | ) | | | (0.42 | ) | | | (0.36 | ) | | | (0.47 | ) | | | (0.18 | ) | |
From net realized gain on investments | | | (0.02 | ) | | | — | (2) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | — | | |
Total Distributions | | | (0.20 | ) | | | (0.54 | ) | | | (0.45 | ) | | | (0.40 | ) | | | (0.50 | ) | | | (0.18 | ) | |
Redemption fees retained | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | (2) | | | — | (2) | | | — | (2) | | | — | (2) | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 14.73 | | | $ | 15.40 | | | $ | 15.84 | | | $ | 15.27 | | | $ | 13.09 | | | $ | 14.13 | | |
Total Return | | | (3.12 | )%(3) | | | 0.60 | % | | | 6.83 | % | | | 20.00 | % | | | (4.03 | )% | | | 24.22 | % | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 338,562 | | | $ | 381,749 | | | $ | 251,149 | | | $ | 207,985 | | | $ | 161,722 | | | $ | 65,666 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.80 | %(4) | | | 0.81 | % | | | 0.83 | % | | | 0.83 | % | | | 0.93 | % | | | 1.45 | % | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.70 | %(4) | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.70 | % | |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 2.04 | %(4) | | | 3.57 | % | | | 3.18 | % | | | 2.62 | % | | | 2.77 | % | | | 3.47 | % | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 2.14 | %(4) | | | 3.68 | % | | | 3.31 | % | | | 2.75 | % | | | 3.00 | % | | | 4.22 | % | |
Portfolio turnover rate(5) | | | 11 | %(3) | | | 19 | % | | | 39 | % | | | 15 | % | | | 17 | % | | | 16 | % | |
(1) Per share net investment income has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(2) Less than one cent per share.
(3) Not annualized.
(4) Annualized.
(5) Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between the classes of shares issued.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 48
Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Service Class | |
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | Period Ended June 30, 2017(1) | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 15.43 | | | $ | 15.85 | | | $ | 15.23 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income(2) | | | 0.22 | | | | 0.53 | | | | 0.90 | | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | | | (0.70 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | 0.16 | | |
Total Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (0.48 | ) | | | 0.10 | | | | 1.06 | | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net investment income | | | (0.17 | ) | | | (0.52 | ) | | | (0.41 | ) | |
From net realized gain on investments | | | (0.02 | ) | | | — | (3) | | | (0.03 | ) | |
Total Distributions | | | (0.19 | ) | | | (0.52 | ) | | | (0.44 | ) | |
Redemption fees retained | | | — | (3) | | | — | (3) | | | — | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 14.76 | | | $ | 15.43 | | | $ | 15.85 | | |
Total Return | | | (3.16 | )%(4) | | | 0.60 | % | | | 7.14 | %(4) | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 43,156 | | | $ | 9,054 | | | $ | 2,982 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.92 | %(5) | | | 0.91 | % | | | 5.15 | %(5) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.80 | %(5) | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | %(5) | |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 2.78 | %(5) | | | 3.30 | % | | | 1.68 | %(5) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 2.90 | %(5) | | | 3.41 | % | | | 6.03 | %(5) | |
Portfolio turnover rate(6) | | | 11 | %(4) | | | 19 | % | | | 39 | % | |
(1) Commenced operations on July 15, 2016.
(2) Per share net investment income has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(3) Less than one cent per share.
(4) Not annualized.
(5) Annualized.
(6) Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between the classes of shares issued.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 49
Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Period Ended December 31, 2018(1) (Unaudited) | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 10.00 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income | | | 0.08 | | |
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments | | | (0.50 | ) | |
Total Loss from Investment Operations | | | (0.42 | ) | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net investment income | | | (0.07 | ) | |
Total Distributions | | | (0.07 | ) | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 9.51 | | |
Total Return | | | (4.25 | )%(2) | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 31,716 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | | | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.69 | %(3) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.80 | %(3) | |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.07 | %(3) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.96 | %(3) | |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 10 | %(2) | |
(1) Commenced operations on July 2, 2018.
(2) Not annualized.
(3) Annualized.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 50
Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Institutional Class | |
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | Year Ended June 30, 2017 | | Year Ended June 30, 2016 | | Year Ended June 30, 2015 | | Year Ended June 30, 2014 | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 25.47 | | | $ | 18.80 | | | $ | 14.77 | | | $ | 18.58 | | | $ | 16.06 | | | $ | 13.22 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment loss | | | (0.11 | ) | | | (0.20 | )(1) | | | (0.10 | )(1) | | | (0.12 | )(1) | | | (0.16 | )(1) | | | (0.14 | )(1) | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | | | (3.87 | ) | | | 6.87 | | | | 4.13 | | | | (3.69 | ) | | | 2.68 | | | | 3.32 | | |
Total Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (3.98 | ) | | | 6.67 | | | | 4.03 | | | | (3.81 | ) | | | 2.52 | | | | 3.18 | | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net realized gain on investments | | | (1.42 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (0.34 | ) | |
Total Distributions | | | (1.42 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (0.34 | ) | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 20.07 | | | $ | 25.47 | | | $ | 18.80 | | | $ | 14.77 | | | $ | 18.58 | | | $ | 16.06 | | |
Total Return | | | (15.62 | )%(2) | | | 35.48 | % | | | 27.29 | % | | | (20.51 | )% | | | 15.62 | % | | | 24.16 | % | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 58,693 | | | $ | 69,095 | | | $ | 43,833 | | | $ | 52,595 | | | $ | 47,455 | | | $ | 13,478 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.34 | %(3) | | | 1.36 | % | | | 1.36 | % | | | 1.32 | % | | | 1.52 | % | | | 2.46 | % | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.10 | %(3) | | | 1.10 | % | | | 1.10 | % | | | 1.10 | % | | | 1.10 | % | | | 1.10 | % | |
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | (1.16 | )%(3) | | | (1.18 | )% | | | (0.90 | )% | | | (0.99 | )% | | | (1.37 | )% | | | (2.26 | )% | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | (0.92 | )%(3) | | | (0.92 | )% | | | (0.64 | )% | | | (0.77 | )% | | | (0.95 | )% | | | (0.90 | )% | |
Portfolio turnover rate(4) | | | 56 | %(2) | | | 126 | % | | | 179 | % | | | 156 | % | | | 124 | % | | | 173 | % | |
(1) Per share net investment loss has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(2) Not annualized.
(3) Annualized.
(4) Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between the classes of shares issued.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 51
Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Service Class | |
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | Period Ended June 30, 2017(1) | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 25.45 | | | $ | 18.80 | | | $ | 15.42 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment loss | | | (0.15 | ) | | | (0.23 | )(2) | | | (0.12 | )(2) | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | | | (3.83 | ) | | | 6.88 | | | | 3.50 | | |
Total Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (3.98 | ) | | | 6.65 | | | | 3.38 | | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net realized gain on investments | | | (1.42 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | |
Total Distributions | | | (1.42 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 20.05 | | | $ | 25.45 | | | $ | 18.80 | | |
Total Return | | | (15.63 | )%(3) | | | 35.37 | % | | | 21.92 | %(3) | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in hundreds) | | $ | 2,348 | | | $ | 2,502 | | | $ | 1 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.44 | %(4) | | | 1.42 | % | | | 292.37 | %(4) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.20 | %(4) | | | 1.20 | % | | | 1.10 | %(4) | |
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | (1.28 | )%(4) | | | (1.20 | )% | | | (292.04 | )%(4) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | (1.04 | )%(4) | | | (0.98 | )% | | | (0.77 | )%(4) | |
Portfolio turnover rate(5) | | | 56 | %(3) | | | 126 | % | | | 179 | % | |
(1) Commenced operations on July 15, 2016.
(2) Per share net investment loss has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(3) Not annualized.
(4) Annualized.
(5) Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between the classes of shares issued.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 52
Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Class Y | |
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | Year Ended June 30, 2017 | | Year Ended June 30, 2016 | | Year Ended June 30, 2015 | | Period Ended June 30, 2014(1) | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 25.02 | | | $ | 18.54 | | | $ | 14.62 | | | $ | 18.48 | | | $ | 16.04 | | | $ | 16.35 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment loss | | | (0.17 | ) | | | (0.28 | )(2) | | | (0.18 | )(2) | | | (0.18 | )(2) | | | (0.23 | )(2) | | | (0.08 | )(2) | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | | | (3.77 | ) | | | 6.76 | | | | 4.10 | | | | (3.68 | ) | | | 2.67 | | | | (0.23 | )(3) | |
Total Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (3.94 | ) | | | 6.48 | | | | 3.92 | | | | (3.86 | ) | | | 2.44 | | | | (0.31 | ) | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net realized gain on investments | | | (1.42 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Total Distributions | | | (1.42 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 19.66 | | | $ | 25.02 | | | $ | 18.54 | | | $ | 14.62 | | | $ | 18.48 | | | $ | 16.04 | | |
Total Return | | | (15.74 | )%(4) | | | 34.95 | % | | | 26.81 | % | | | (20.84 | )% | | | 15.15 | % | | | (1.90 | )%(4) | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 4,580 | | | $ | 5,890 | | | $ | 3,954 | | | $ | 3,369 | | | $ | 2,262 | | | $ | 1,215 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.72 | %(5) | | | 1.74 | % | | | 1.75 | % | | | 1.70 | % | | | 1.95 | % | | | 2.73 | %(5) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.50 | %(5) | | | 1.50 | % | | | 1.50 | % | | | 1.50 | % | | | 1.50 | % | | | 1.50 | %(5) | |
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | (1.54 | )%(5) | | | (1.57 | )% | | | (1.35 | )% | | | (1.36 | )% | | | (1.82 | )% | | | (2.36 | )%(5) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | (1.32 | )%(5) | | | (1.33 | )% | | | (1.10 | )% | | | (1.16 | )% | | | (1.37 | )% | | | (1.13 | )%(5) | |
Portfolio turnover rate(6) | | | 56 | %(4) | | | 126 | % | | | 179 | % | | | 156 | % | | | 124 | % | | | 173 | % | |
(1) Commenced operations on January 6, 2014.
(2) Per share net investment loss has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(3) Net realized and unrealized loss on investments does not reconcile with net realized and unrealized gain on investments in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of the Class Y inception.
(4) Not annualized.
(5) Annualized.
(6) Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between the classes of shares issued.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 53
Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Institutional Class | |
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | Year Ended June 30, 2017 | | Year Ended June 30, 2016 | | Year Ended June 30, 2015 | | Year Ended June 30, 2014 | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 40.20 | | | $ | 39.45 | | | $ | 33.45 | | | $ | 34.33 | | | $ | 35.96 | | | $ | 28.72 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.16 | | | | 0.14 | | | | 0.12 | | | | 0.15 | | | | 0.19 | | | | (0.05 | )(1) | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | | | (8.21 | ) | | | 4.43 | | | | 6.04 | | | | (0.62 | ) | | | 0.08 | | | | 9.25 | | |
Total Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (8.05 | ) | | | 4.57 | | | | 6.16 | | | | (0.47 | ) | | | 0.27 | | | | 9.20 | | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net investment income | | | (0.17 | ) | | | (0.15 | ) | | | (0.16 | ) | | | (0.22 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.05 | ) | |
From net realized gain on investments | | | (5.50 | ) | | | (3.67 | ) | | | — | | | | (0.19 | ) | | | (1.87 | ) | | | (1.91 | ) | |
Total Distributions | | | (5.67 | ) | | | (3.82 | ) | | | (0.16 | ) | | | (0.41 | ) | | | (1.90 | ) | | | (1.96 | ) | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 26.48 | | | $ | 40.20 | | | $ | 39.45 | | | $ | 33.45 | | | $ | 34.33 | | | $ | 35.96 | | |
Total Return | | | (20.39 | )%(2) | | | 12.52 | % | | | 18.40 | % | | | (1.29 | )% | | | 0.84 | % | | | 32.72 | % | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 26,787 | | | $ | 38,735 | | | $ | 34,506 | | | $ | 31,946 | | | $ | 28,686 | | | $ | 24,152 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.46 | %(3) | | | 1.48 | % | | | 1.45 | % | | | 1.49 | % | | | 1.54 | % | | | 1.97 | % | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.95 | %(3) | | | 0.95 | % | | | 1.10 | % | | | 1.10 | % | | | 1.10 | % | | | 1.10 | % | |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.22 | %(3) | | | (0.21 | )% | | | (0.03 | )% | | | 0.06 | % | | | 0.16 | % | | | (1.00 | )% | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.73 | %(3) | | | 0.32 | % | | | 0.32 | % | | | 0.45 | % | | | 0.60 | % | | | (0.13 | )% | |
Portfolio turnover rate(4) | | | 23 | %(2) | | | 68 | % | | | 53 | % | | | 49 | % | | | 52 | % | | | 53 | % | |
(1) Per share net investment loss has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(2) Not annualized.
(3) Annualized.
(4) Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between the classes of shares issued.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 54
Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| | Service Class | |
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | | Period Ended June 30, 2017(1) | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 40.10 | | | $ | 39.40 | | | $ | 34.66 | | |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |
Net investment income | | | 0.14 | (2) | | | 0.10 | (2) | | | 0.12 | | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | | | (8.15 | ) | | | 4.43 | | | | 4.78 | | |
Total Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (8.01 | ) | | | 4.53 | | | | 4.90 | | |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |
From net investment income | | | (0.18 | ) | | | (0.16 | ) | | | (0.16 | ) | |
From net realized gain on investments | | | (5.50 | ) | | | (3.67 | ) | | | — | | |
Total Distributions | | | (5.68 | ) | | | (3.83 | ) | | | (0.16 | ) | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 26.41 | | | $ | 40.10 | | | $ | 39.40 | | |
Total Return | | | (20.35 | )%(3) | | | 12.42 | % | | | 14.13 | %(3) | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |
Net assets, end of period (in hundreds) | | $ | 1 | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | 1 | | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 1.03 | %(4) | | | 492.96 | % | | | 285.93 | %(4) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.95 | %(4) | | | 0.95 | % | | | 1.10 | %(4) | |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | |
Before waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.68 | %(4) | | | (491.76 | )% | | | (284.49 | )%(4) | |
Net of waivers and reimbursements | | | 0.76 | %(4) | | | 0.25 | % | | | 0.34 | %(4) | |
Portfolio turnover rate(5) | | | 23 | %(3) | | | 68 | % | | | 53 | % | |
(1) Commenced operations on July 15, 2016.
(2) Per share net investment income has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(3) Not annualized.
(4) Annualized.
(5) Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between the classes of shares issued.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
page 55
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
(1) ORGANIZATION
Frontier Funds, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated on May 24, 1996, as a Maryland corporation and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end investment company issuing shares in series (each, a "Fund," or collectively, the "Funds"), each series representing a distinct portfolio with its own investment objectives and policies. The investment objective of each of the Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund (the "Global Equity Fund"), Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund (the "Global Plus Fund") and Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund (the "Timpani Fund") is capital appreciation. The investment objective of the Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund (the "Core Fund") is long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of the Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund (the "Select Fund") is to seek attractive risk-adjusted returns over the medium- to long-term, while reducing the risk of permanent capital loss. The investment objective of the Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund (the "Phocas Fund") is long-term total investment return through capital appreciation. Each Fund is a diversified fund, except the Global Equity, Global Plus and Select Funds, which are non-diversified.
A summary of each Fund's investment adviser, subadviser and capital structure is as follows:
Fund | | Investment Adviser | | Subadviser | | Capital Structure | | Commencement of Operations | |
Global Equity Fund (a) | | Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. ("Frontegra") | | MFG Asset Management ("MFG") | | Multi-Class • Institutional • Service Class (b) | | Dec. 28, 2011 | |
Global Plus Fund (a) | | Frontegra | | MFG | | Multi-Class • Institutional • Service Class • Class Y (c) | | Mar. 23, 2015 | |
Core Fund (a) | | Frontegra | | MFG | | Multi-Class • Institutional • Service Class | | Jan. 18, 2012 | |
Select Fund (a) | | Frontegra | | MFG | | Multi-Class • Institutional • Service Class (b) | | July 2, 2018 | |
Timpani Fund | | Timpani Capital Management LLC ("Timpani") (d) | | None | | Multi-Class • Institutional • Service Class • Class Y | | Mar. 23, 2011 | |
Phocas Fund | | Frontegra | | Phocas Financial Corp. ("Phocas") | | Multi-Class • Institutional • Service Class | | Sep. 29, 2006 | |
(a) A redemption fee of 2.00% will be charged on shares of the Fund redeemed 30 days or less from their date of purchase.
(b) As of December 31, 2018, the Service Class shares of the Global Equity and Select Funds had not commenced operations.
(c) As of December 31, 2018, the Class Y shares of the Global Plus Fund had not commenced operations.
(d) Timpani is an affiliate of Frontegra.
page 56
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
(2) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Each Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services — Investment Companies.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements.
(a) Investment Valuation
Equity securities that are traded on a national securities exchange, except for those traded on NASDAQ Global Market, NASDAQ Global Select Market and NASDAQ Capital Market exchanges (together, "NASDAQ"), for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sale price on the national securities exchange on which such securities are principally traded. Equity securities that are traded on NASDAQ are valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price ("NOCP"). Equity securities for which there were no transactions on a given day or securities not listed on a national securities exchange are valued at the most recent quoted bid price. Debt securities are valued at the bid price provided by an independent pricing service, which uses valuation methods such as matrix pricing and other analytical pricing models, as well as market transactions and other market inputs. Shares of underlying mutual funds are valued at their respective Net Asset Value ("NAV"). Exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds are valued at the last reported sale price on the exchange on which the security is principally traded. Securities that are primarily traded on foreign exchanges generally are valued at the last sale price of such securities on their respective exchange. In the case of foreign securities, the occurrence of events after the close of the foreign markets, but prior to the time a Fund's NAV is calculated, will result in a systematic fair value adjustment to the trading prices of foreign securities provided that there is a movement in the markets that exceeds a threshold established by the Board of Directors (the "Board") and provided the fair value prices exceed a pre-established confidence level. The Funds will also value foreign securities at fair value using fair valuation procedures approved by the Board in the case of other significant events relating to a particular foreign issuer or market. In such cases, use of fair valuation can reduce an investor's ability to seek to profit by estimating the Fund's NAV in advance of the time the NAV is calculated. The Board has retained an independent fair value pricing service to assist in valuing foreign securities held by the Global Equity, Global Plus, Core and Select Funds. In valuing assets, prices denominated in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollar equivalents at the current exchange rate, which approximates fair value. Any securities or other assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the advisers or subadvisers pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. The Board has appointed a Valuation Committee to assist the Board in its oversight of the Funds' valuation procedures.
The Funds follow a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and the Funds' own market assumptions (unobservable inputs). These inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund's investments and are summarized in the following fair value hierarchy:
Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Funds have the ability to access
Level 2 — Evaluated prices based on other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, foreign security indices, foreign exchange rates, fair value estimates for foreign securities and changes in benchmark securities indices)
Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions in determining fair value of investments)
page 57
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
The following is a summary of inputs used to value the Funds' securities as of December 31, 2018:
Global Equity Fund
Description | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total | |
Equity (a) | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 653,039,306 | | | $ | 111,969,170 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 765,008,476 | | |
Total Equity | | | 653,039,306 | | | | 111,969,170 | | | | — | | | | 765,008,476 | | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 186,871,575 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 186,871,575 | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | $ | 839,910,881 | | | $ | 111,969,170 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 951,880,051 | | |
Global Plus Fund
Description | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total | |
Equity (a) | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 201,335,095 | | | $ | 34,545,927 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 235,881,022 | | |
Total Equity | | | 201,335,095 | | | | 34,545,927 | | | | — | | | | 235,881,022 | | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 54,185,332 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 54,185,332 | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | $ | 255,520,427 | | | $ | 34,545,927 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 290,066,354 | | |
Core Fund
Description | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total | |
Equity (a) | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 195,088,865 | | | $ | 149,611,786 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 344,700,651 | | |
Closed-End Funds | | | — | | | | 4,459,723 | | | | — | | | | 4,459,723 | | |
Total Equity | | | 195,088,865 | | | | 154,071,509 | | | | — | | | | 349,160,374 | | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 30,337,799 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 30,337,799 | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | $ | 225,426,664 | | | $ | 154,071,509 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 379,498,173 | | |
Select Fund
Description | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total | |
Equity (a) | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 14,136,574 | | | $ | 14,606,261 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 28,742,835 | | |
Total Equity | | | 14,136,574 | | | | 14,606,261 | | | | — | | | | 28,742,835 | | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 2,883,965 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,883,965 | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | $ | 17,020,539 | | | $ | 14,606,261 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 31,626,800 | | |
Timpani Fund
Description | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total | |
Equity (a) | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 62,048,842 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 62,048,842 | | |
Total Equity | | | 62,048,842 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 62,048,842 | | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 1,338,280 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,338,280 | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | $ | 63,387,122 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 63,387,122 | | |
page 58
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Phocas Fund
Description | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total | |
Equity (a) | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 25,264,325 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 25,264,325 | | |
Total Equity | | | 25,264,325 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 25,264,325 | | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 1,200,766 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,200,766 | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | $ | 26,465,091 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 26,465,091 | | |
(a) See each Fund's Schedule of Investments for sector or country classifications.
(b) Federal Income Taxes
Each Fund intends to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, necessary to qualify as a regulated investment company and to make the requisite distributions of income and capital gains to its shareholders sufficient to relieve it from all or substantially all federal income taxes. Therefore, no federal income tax provision has been provided.
The Funds have adopted financial reporting rules regarding recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. The Funds recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense on the Statements of Operations. During the period, the Funds did not incur any interest or penalties. The Funds have reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there is no effect to any of the Fund's financial positions or results of operations and no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits relating to uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. The Funds have no examinations in progress.
(c) Distributions to Shareholders
With the exception of the Core and Select Funds, dividends from net investment income are usually declared and paid annually. The Core and Select Funds usually declare and pay dividends quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually for all Funds. All short-term capital gains are included in ordinary income for tax purposes. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
The tax character of distributions paid during the six months ended December 31, 2018, and the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, were as follows:
| | Six Months Ended December 31, 2018 | | Year Ended June 30, 2018 | |
| | Ordinary Income | | Long-Term Capital Gains | | Total Distributions | | Ordinary Income | | Long-Term Capital Gains | | Total Distributions | |
Global Equity Fund | | $ | 17,986,260 | | | $ | 72,503,197 | | | $ | 90,489,457 | | | $ | 11,470,292 | | | $ | 34,574,142 | | | $ | 46,044,434 | | |
Global Plus Fund | | | 15,831,630 | | | | 16,864,158 | | | | 32,695,788 | | | | 8,238,519 | | | | 845,224 | | | | 9,083,743 | | |
Core Fund | | | 4,830,660 | | | | — | | | | 4,830,660 | | | | 11,183,377 | | | | 34,206 | | | | 11,217,583 | | |
Select Fund | | | 212,017 | | | | — | | | | 212,017 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Timpani Fund | | | — | | | | 4,260,550 | | | | 4,260,550 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Phocas Fund | | | 2,041,053 | | | | 2,693,482 | | | | 4,734,535 | | | | 130,243 | | | | 3,114,432 | | | | 3,244,675 | | |
page 59
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
At June 30, 2018, the Funds' most recent fiscal year end, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:
| | Global Equity Fund | | Global Plus Fund | | Core Fund | | Timpani Fund | | Phocas Fund | |
Cost of investments | | $ | 822,939,923 | | | $ | 356,380,638 | | | $ | 374,570,329 | | | $ | 54,097,561 | | | $ | 30,178,180 | | |
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 303,657,569 | | | $ | 67,628,002 | | | $ | 38,501,787 | | | $ | 24,302,776 | | | $ | 9,647,477 | | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (24,896,111 | ) | | | (9,111,555 | ) | | | (17,281,703 | ) | | | (591,753 | ) | | | (909,624 | ) | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | | 278,761,458 | | | | 58,516,447 | | | | 21,220,084 | | | | 23,711,023 | | | | 8,737,853 | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | | 14,214,372 | | | | 11,688,260 | | | | 1,378,242 | | | | — | | | | 1,853,423 | | |
Undistributed long-term capital gain | | | 44,543,040 | | | | 6,318,710 | | | | — | | | | 3,981,485 | | | | 2,979,388 | | |
Other accumulated gains (losses) | | | (43,008 | ) | | | (25,700 | ) | | | 592 | | | | (295,175 | ) | | | — | | |
Total distributable earnings | | $ | 337,475,862 | | | $ | 76,497,717 | | | $ | 22,598,918 | | | $ | 27,397,333 | | | $ | 13,570,664 | | |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and mark-to-market on passive foreign investment companies.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Global Plus Fund and the Timpani Fund utilized capital loss carryforwards of $312,481 and $2,523,110, respectively.
In order to meet certain excise tax requirements, the Funds are required to measure and distribute annually, net capital gains realized during the twelve month period ending October 31. In connection with this requirement, the Funds are permitted, for tax purposes, to defer into their next fiscal year any net capital losses incurred from November 1 through the end of the fiscal year. As of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, the Timpani Fund deferred, on a tax basis, an ordinary late-year loss of $295,069.
(d) Foreign Currency Translation
Values of investments denominated in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars using a spot market rate of exchange each day. Purchases and sales of investments and dividend and interest income are translated to U.S. dollars using a spot market rate of exchange prevailing on the dates of such transactions. The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates and currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions from the fluctuations arising from changes in fair value of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments. Each Fund separately reports net realized foreign exchange gains and losses that arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund's books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair values of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities at fiscal period end, resulting from changes in exchange rates.
Each Fund, respectively, bears the risk of changes in the foreign currency exchange rates and their impact on the value of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency. Each Fund also bears the risk of a counterparty failing to fulfill its obligation under a foreign currency contract.
Investing in foreign companies involves risks not generally associated with investment in the securities of U.S. companies, including risks relating to political, social and economic developments abroad and differences between U.S. and foreign regulatory
page 60
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
requirements and market practices, including fluctuations in foreign currencies. The risks of foreign investments are typically greater in emerging and less developed markets.
(e) Indemnifications
Under the Funds' organizational documents, their officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Funds. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications to other parties. The Funds' maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have not yet occurred. However, the Funds have not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expect the risk of loss to be remote.
(f) Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
On November 14, 2017, shareholders of the Frontier Netols Small Cap Value Fund — Institutional Class and Class Y ("Netols Fund — Institutional Class" and "Netols Fund — Class Y" and together, the "Netols Fund") approved the reorganization of the Netols Fund with and into the Phocas Fund — Institutional Class. The purpose of the reorganization was to combine two funds within the Company with similar investment objectives and strategies. The reorganization provided for the transfer of assets of the Netols Fund to the Phocas Fund and the assumption of the liabilities of the Netols Fund by the Phocas Fund. The reorganization was effective as of the close of business on November 17, 2017. For each share of the Netols Fund — Institutional Class and Netols Fund — Class Y, shareholders received 0.0988 share and 0.0825 share, respectively, of the Phocas Fund — Institutional Class. The following tables illustrate the specifics of the reorganization:
Netols Fund Net Assets | | Shares Issued to Shareholders of Netols Fund | | Phocas Fund Net Assets | | Combined Net Assets | | Tax Status of Transfer | |
$ | 25,882,024 | (1) | | | 692,998 | | | $ | 34,717,866 | | | $ | 60,599,890 | | | Non-taxable | |
(1) Includes accumulated net realized gain and net unrealized appreciation on investments in the amounts of $9,571,855 and $2,222,159, respectively.
For financial reporting purposes, assets received and shares issued by the Phocas Fund were recorded at fair value; however, the cost basis of the investments received from the Netols Fund was carried forward to align ongoing reporting of the Phocas Fund's realized and unrealized gains and losses with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes.
Assuming the reorganization had been completed on July 1, 2017, the beginning of the reporting period, the pro forma results of operations for the year ended June 30, 2018, would have been as follows:
Net investment income | | $ | 179,970 | | |
Net realized gain on investments | | | 20,712,322 | | |
Change in net unrealized depreciation on investments | | | (15,076,133 | ) | |
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | | $ | 5,816,159 | | |
Because the Phocas Fund has been managed as a single integrated portfolio since the reorganization was completed, it is not practicable to separate the amounts of revenue and earnings of the Netols and Phocas Funds that have been included in the Phocas Fund's Statement of Operations since November 17, 2017.
page 61
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
(g) Subsequent Events
On February 26, 2019, the Board, on behalf of the Timpani Fund, approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan") pursuant to which the Timpani Fund would be reorganized with and into a newly-created series (the "Acquiring Fund") of Calamos Investment Trust (the "Reorganization"). The Acquiring Fund is expected to have the same investment objective and substantially similar investment strategies as the Timpani Fund. Calamos Advisors LLC expects to acquire a 100% interest in Timpani, the adviser to the Timpani Fund, and will become the investment adviser to the Acquiring Fund following the Reorganization. The gross total expense ratio for each class of shares of the Acquiring Fund is expected to be lower than the corresponding class of shares of the Timpani Fund.
Under the terms of the Plan, the Timpani Fund will transfer all of its assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for Class I shares and Class A shares of the Acquiring Fund (the "Acquiring Fund Shares") issued to the Timpani Fund, and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all of the liabilities of the Fund. The Timpani Fund will then distribute, pro rata, to the applicable shareholders of record, all of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by the Timpani Fund in complete liquidation and termination of the Timpani Fund as a series of the Company.
As a result of the Reorganization, each shareholder of the Timpani Fund will become a shareholder of the applicable class of the Acquiring Fund and will receive Acquiring Fund Shares having an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate net asset value of the shareholder's shares of the Timpani Fund as of the valuation date, as described in the Plan. It is expected that the Reorganization will be treated as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes. Shareholders of the Timpani Fund may wish to consult their tax advisers regarding possible tax consequences of the Reorganization, including possible state and local tax consequences.
The Reorganization is expected to close in May 2019, subject to approval of shareholders of the Timpani Fund at a special meeting to be held in the second quarter of 2019.
(h) Other
Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. The Funds determine the gain or loss realized from investment transactions by comparing the original cost of the specifically identified security lot sold with the net sale proceeds. Dividend income, less foreign taxes withheld, is recognized on the ex-dividend date, except that certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the information becomes available to the Funds. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. All discounts/premiums are accreted/amortized using the effective interest method and are included in interest income. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with the Funds' understanding of the applicable country's tax codes and regulations.
Income, expenses (other than expenses attributable to a specific class) and realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments attributable to the Funds are generally allocated to each respective class in proportion to the relative net assets of each class. Expenses incurred that do not specifically relate to an individual Fund are allocated among all Funds in the Company in proportion to each Fund's relative net assets or by other equitable means.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
page 62
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
Net investment income and realized gains and losses for federal income tax purposes may differ from that reported on the financial statements because of permanent book-to-tax differences. GAAP requires that permanent differences in net investment income and realized gains and losses due to differences between financial reporting and tax reporting be reclassified between various components of net assets. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, the following table shows the reclassifications made:
| | Global Equity Fund | | Global Plus Fund | | Core Fund | | Timpani Fund | | Phocas Fund | |
Paid in capital | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | (486,749 | ) | | $ | 50,032 | | |
Undistributed net investment income (loss) | | | (87,745 | ) | | | (26,823 | ) | | | (101,134 | ) | | | 486,749 | | | | — | | |
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain (loss) | | | 87,745 | | | | 26,823 | | | | 101,134 | | | | — | | | | (50,032 | ) | |
The permanent differences primarily relate to foreign currency and net operating losses.
(3) INVESTMENT ADVISER AND RELATED PARTIES
The Company, on behalf of the Global Equity, Global Plus, Core, Select and Phocas Funds, has entered into an agreement with Frontegra, with whom certain officers and a director of the Company are affiliated, to furnish investment advisory services to such Funds. Frontegra is a wholly owned subsidiary of Frontier North America Holdings Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Magellan Financial Group Limited and affiliate of MFG. Timpani, an affiliate of Frontegra, is the investment adviser to the Timpani Fund. William D. Forsyth III, the President and a director of the Company, is a control person of Frontegra and Timpani. Fees are calculated daily and payable monthly, at annual rates set forth in the following table (expressed as a percentage of each Fund's average daily net assets). Pursuant to expense cap agreements, Frontegra and Timpani have agreed to waive their respective management fees and/or reimburse each Fund's operating expenses (exclusive of brokerage, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to ensure that each Fund's operating expenses do not exceed the expense limitation listed below. Expenses waived are netted with advisory fees payable on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. On a monthly basis, these accounts are settled by each Fund making payment to the respective adviser or the respective adviser reimbursing the Fund if the reimbursement amount exceeds the advisory fee. If the amount of fees waived exceeds the advisory fee earned, this is shown on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as a receivable from the respective adviser. The expense cap agreements will continue in effect until October 31, 2020, with successive renewal terms of one year unless terminated by an adviser or a Fund prior to any such renewal.
Frontier Fund | | Annual Advisory Fees | | Expense Limitation | |
Global Equity Fund | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | % | |
Global Plus Fund - Institutional Class | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | % | |
Global Plus Fund - Service Class | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.95 | % | |
Core Fund - Institutional Class | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.70 | % | |
Core Fund - Service Class | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.85 | % | |
Select Fund | | | 0.80 | % | | | 0.80 | % | |
Timpani Fund - Institutional Class | | | 1.00 | % | | | 1.10 | % | |
Timpani Fund - Service Class | | | 1.00 | % | | | 1.25 | % | |
Timpani Fund - Class Y | | | 1.00 | % | | | 1.50 | % | |
Phocas Fund - Institutional Class | | | 0.85 | % | | | 0.95 | % | |
Phocas Fund - Service Class | | | 0.85 | % | | | 1.10 | % | |
page 63
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
An adviser is entitled to recoup the fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed within a three-year period from the time the expenses were incurred to the extent of the expense limitations described above and in place at the time of the recoupment. Expenses attributable to a specific class may only be recouped with respect to that class.
The following table shows the waived or reimbursed expenses subject to potential recovery expiring on:
| | June 30, | |
| | 2019 | | 2020 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | Total | |
Global Equity Fund | | $ | 270,970 | | | $ | 520,095 | | | $ | 549,935 | | | $ | 271,612 | | | $ | 1,612,612 | | |
Global Plus Fund | | | 88,030 | | | | 258,029 | | | | 331,218 | | | | 159,943 | | | | 837,220 | | |
Core Fund | | | 117,071 | | | | 272,224 | | | | 325,570 | | | | 189,505 | | | | 904,370 | | |
Select Fund | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 116,399 | * | | | 116,399 | | |
Timpani Fund | | | 55,779 | | | | 129,977 | | | | 150,722 | | | | 90,824 | | | | 427,302 | | |
Phocas Fund | | | 54,264 | | | | 122,491 | | | | 205,354 | | | | 92,478 | | | | 474,587 | | |
* Expenses waived/reimbursed were for the period July 2, 2018 through December 31, 2018.
Frontegra has entered into a subadvisory agreement under which MFG serves as the subadviser to the Global Equity, Global Plus, Core and Select Funds, and subject to Frontegra's supervision, manages each Fund's portfolio assets. Under the agreement, MFG is paid the net advisory fee received by Frontegra with respect to each Fund subadvised by MFG less an annual flat fee retained by Frontegra; provided however, if the net advisory fee is less than such flat fee, Frontegra shall retain the entire net advisory fee and no subadvisory fee will be payable to MFG.
Frontegra has also entered into a subadvisory agreement under which Phocas serves as the subadviser to the Phocas Fund, and subject to Frontegra's supervision, manages the Fund's portfolio assets. Under the agreement, Phocas is compensated by Frontegra for its investment advisory services at the annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets when the Fund has net assets of $75,000,000 or less, after giving effect to any fee waiver or reimbursement by Frontegra pursuant to the expense cap agreement discussed above. When the Phocas Fund's net assets exceed $75,000,000, Frontegra will compensate Phocas at 50% of the net advisory fee received by Frontegra from the Fund after giving effect to any fee waiver or reimbursement by Frontegra pursuant to the expense cap agreement.
The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of a Fund's voting securities creates a presumption of control. As of December 31, 2018, all of the Funds had individual shareholder accounts and/or omnibus shareholder accounts (comprised of a group of individual shareholders), which amounted to more than 25% of the total shares outstanding of the respective Fund. Shareholders with a controlling interest could affect the outcome of proxy voting or direction of management of a Fund.
(4) INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
The aggregate purchases and sales of securities, excluding short-term investments, for the Funds for the six months ended December 31, 2018, are summarized below:
| | Global Equity Fund | | Global Plus Fund | | Core Fund | | Select Fund | | Timpani Fund | | Phocas Fund | |
Purchases | | $ | 70,030,852 | | | $ | 73,557,273 | | | $ | 42,253,122 | | | $ | 33,098,223 | | | $ | 42,022,987 | | | $ | 7,778,107 | | |
Sales | | $ | 180,721,644 | | | $ | 174,650,555 | | | $ | 60,848,280 | | | $ | 2,700,377 | | | $ | 42,073,034 | | | $ | 12,857,104 | | |
There were no purchases or sales of U.S. Government securities for the Funds.
page 64
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2018 (Unaudited)
(5) DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING FEE
The Company, on behalf of the Global Plus and Timpani Funds, has adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for each Fund's Class Y shares (the "12b-1 Plan"). Pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan, the Class Y shares of each Fund pay an annual fee of up to 0.25% to Frontegra Strategies, LLC (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of Frontegra and MFG, for payments to brokers, dealers and other financial intermediaries who perform activities or incur expenses intended to result in the sale of Class Y shares of the Funds. As of December 31, 2018, the Class Y shares of the Global Plus Fund had not commenced operations. For the six months ended December 31, 2018, the Timpani Fund incurred $7,141 under the 12b-1 Plan.
The Company has adopted a shareholder servicing plan (the "Service Plan") on behalf of the Class Y and Service Class shares offered by certain Funds. Pursuant to the Service Plan, the Service Class and Class Y shares of the applicable Funds pay an annual shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.15% per year to the Distributor for payments to brokers, dealers, and other financial intermediaries who provide on-going account services to shareholders. Those services include establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts, mailing prospectuses, account statements and other Fund documents to shareholders, processing shareholder transactions, and providing other recordkeeping and administrative services. As of December 31, 2018, the Class Y shares of the Global Plus Fund, the Service Class shares of the Global Equity Fund and the Service Class shares of the Select Fund had not commenced operations. For the six months ended December 31, 2018, the Service Plan expenses were as follows:
| | Service Plan Expenses | |
Global Plus Fund - Service Class | | $ | 40,430 | | |
Core Fund - Service Class | | $ | 6,959 | | |
Timpani Fund - Service Class | | $ | 169 | | |
Timpani Fund - Class Y | | $ | 4,285 | | |
Phocas Fund - Service Class | | $ | — | | |
(6) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT
In August 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued Final Rule Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification, which in part amends certain disclosure requirements of Regulation S-X that have become redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded, in light of other disclosure requirements, GAAP, or changes in the information environment. The amendments are intended to facilitate the disclosure of information to investors and simplify compliance without significantly altering the total mix of information provided to investors. The effective date for these amendments is for any reports filed with the SEC subsequent to November 5, 2018.
In August 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement ("ASU 2018-13"). The primary focus of ASU 2018-13 is to improve the effectiveness of the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The changes affect all companies that are required to include fair value measurement disclosures. In general, the amendments in ASU 2018-13 are effective for all entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. An entity is permitted to early adopt the removed or modified disclosures upon the issuance of ASU 2018-13 and may delay adoption of the additional disclosures, which are required for public companies only, until their effective date. Management has evaluated the ASU 2018-13 and has adopted the framework.
page 65
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AND
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The Board of Directors (the "Board") of Frontier Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), including the directors who are not "interested persons" as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (the "Independent Directors"), met on May 22, 2018, to consider the approval of an advisory agreement (the "Initial Advisory Agreement") between Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. ("Frontegra") and the Company and a subadvisory agreement (the "Initial Subadvisory Agreement") between Frontegra and Magellan Asset Management Limited doing business as MFG Asset Management ("MFG Asset Management") with respect to two new series of the Company, the Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund (the "Select Fund") and the Frontier MFG Global Sustainable Fund (the "Sustainable Fund" and together with the Select Fund, the "Funds").
As discussed in more detail in the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the SEC on July 23, 2018, the Initial Advisory Agreement and Initial Subadvisory Agreement were expected to terminate later in 2018 for one or both Funds, to the extent they had commenced operations, due to the change of control of Frontegra. Effective October 1, 2018, Frontegra North America Holdings Inc. ("FNAH"), a majority-owned subsidiary of Magellan Financial Group Limited ("MFG") and affiliate of MFG Asset Management, acquired 100% of the equity interests of Frontegra in accordance with the terms of certain purchase and sale agreements relating to Frontegra and affiliated companies owned or previously owned by William D. Forsyth III (the "Transaction"). The purchase of Frontegra constituted an "assignment" of the Initial Advisory Agreement and Initial Subadvisory Agreement within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The new agreements became effective on or after October 1, 2018.
On May 22, 2018, in light of the Transaction and in order to avoid disruption to the Funds' investment programs, the Board, including a majority of Independent Directors, also considered the approval of: (a) a proposed investment advisory agreement to be effective upon the change of control of Frontegra between Frontegra and the Company on behalf of the Funds (the "Post-Transaction Advisory Agreement"); and (b) a new subadvisory agreement for the Funds to be effective upon the change of control of Frontegra (the "Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreement").
Initial and Post-Transaction Advisory Agreements
In connection with its review of the advisory agreements, the Board was provided materials relevant to its consideration of such agreements, such as information regarding Frontegra's compliance program, Frontegra's personnel and financial condition, the Form ADV of Frontegra, summary data and risk management reports provided by Fund management and a memorandum prepared by the Company's legal counsel regarding the Board's duties in approving the advisory agreements. The Board also reviewed the advisory fee payable by each Fund under both the Initial and Post-Transaction Advisory Agreements, the expense cap agreement between the Company and Frontegra on behalf of each Fund and comparative fee and expense information provided by an independent service. The Board noted that the Post-Transaction Advisory Agreement contains similar terms with respect to the investment advisory services provided by Frontegra and an identical fee structure as the Initial Advisory Agreement. The Directors noted that the Post-Transaction Advisory Agreement would continue the relationship between the Company and Frontegra while adding more specificity about the advisory and administrative services provided by Frontegra under such agreement. The Board was also provided with Frontegra's response to the Section 15(c) request submitted by the Company's legal counsel on behalf of the Directors, as well as a response provided by MFG Asset Management that provided additional details about the Transaction.
The Directors also met with representatives of MFG via teleconference at the May 22, 2018, meeting who provided additional information about the Transaction, MFG's and FNAH's financial arrangements with Frontegra and its affiliates and other relevant information. The Board also referred to a memorandum from Frontegra's legal counsel that contained a detailed discussion regarding the Transaction and was previously reviewed by the Board at its February 27, 2018, Board meeting.
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In reaching its decision to approve the Initial and Post-Transaction Advisory Agreements, the Board considered their legal responsibilities with regard to all factors deemed to be relevant to its consideration of each agreement, as applicable, including but not limited to the following: (1) their cumulative experience in working with Frontegra for many years and the quality of the services provided to the other portfolios of the Company since Frontegra first became investment adviser to the Company in 1996; (2) the fact that the Transaction is not expected to affect the manner in which each Fund will be advised and MFG and Frontegra's assurances that no diminution in services provided by Frontegra will occur; (3) the fact that the Company's key management personnel are not expected to change following the Transaction; (4) the fee structure under the Initial Advisory Agreement would be identical to the fee structure under the Post-Transaction Advisory Agreement; (5) the fact that Frontegra and FNAH have no present intention to increase the advisory fee rate or alter the expense waivers; (6) MFG's and Frontegra's representations about Frontegra's financial resources notwithstanding the restructuring of, and increase to, MFG Asset Management's subadvisory fee and the anticipated financial support to be available to Frontegra through FNAH; (7) the changes to terms in the Post-Transaction Advisory Agreement from the Initial Advisory Agreement are generally to conform to current regulatory requirements and industry best practices and to specify the additional advisory and administrative services Frontegra will provide as investment adviser to the Funds; and (8) other factors deemed relevant. The Board noted that if the Transaction was not consummated, the Initial Advisory Agreement would remain in effect through the current term of the agreement.
The Board also considered that the Transaction was structured in compliance with Section 15(f) of the 1940 Act, which contains provisions intended to protect the interests of Fund shareholders.
The Independent Directors met in executive session to discuss Frontegra's 15(c) response and the Initial and Post-Transaction Advisory Agreements. During the executive session, the Independent Directors discussed the responsibilities and duties of the Board of Directors in considering the approval of the agreements with the Company's legal counsel. The Independent Directors also met in executive session with the Company's Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance matters.
With respect to both the Initial and Post-Transaction Advisory Agreements, the Board considered whether such agreements would be in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders and the overall fairness of the agreements. In considering the Initial and Post-Transaction Advisory Agreements, the Board reviewed and analyzed various factors with respect to each Fund that it determined were relevant, including the factors below, and made the following conclusions with respect to each Fund.
Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services to be Provided. The Board considered the services Frontegra would provide to the Funds under the Initial and Post-Transaction Advisory Agreements. The Board noted that Frontegra serves as a manager of managers and had selected MFG Asset Management to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Funds. The Board considered that Frontegra has 22 years of experience in hiring and supervising subadvisers to portfolios in the Frontier family of funds. The Board discussed Frontegra's responsibilities for overseeing MFG Asset Management and supervising the management of the Funds' investments. The Board also considered the quality of other services provided by Frontegra, including performance oversight, risk management oversight, oversight and coordination of service providers, oversight of financial reporting, administration of the Funds' compliance program and the shareholder servicing and administrative services provided by Frontegra to the Funds. The Board concluded that the range of services to be provided by Frontegra was appropriate and that Frontegra was qualified to provide such services.
Proposed Advisory Fees. The Board compared each Fund's contractual advisory fee and total expense ratio to the industry data with respect to other mutual funds in Morningstar's Infrastructure category for the Select Fund and the Large Blend category for the Sustainable Fund. The Board noted that Morningstar did not have a sustainable or low carbon category and the Large Blend was the most comparable category for the Sustainable Fund. With respect to the Select Fund, the Board also considered the advisory fee in relation to another infrastructure portfolio of the Company and determined the fee was appropriate in light of the differences in strategy. It noted that the Select Fund's proposed advisory fee was below the industry average for the Infrastructure category. It also noted that the net expense ratio for each of the Institutional and Service Class shares of the Select Fund was below the industry average for the Infrastructure category. With respect to the Sustainable Fund, the Board noted the proposed advisory fee was higher than the industry average for the Large
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Blend category, which was not necessarily a directly comparable peer group for a sustainable fund. The Board also noted the net expense ratio for each of the Institutional and Service Class shares of the Sustainable Fund was below the industry average for the Large Blend category. The Board also considered the fact that Frontegra will enter into an expense cap agreement on behalf of each Fund and contractually agree to waive its management fee and/or reimburse each of the Funds. The Board concluded that the proposed advisory fee to be paid by each of the Funds to Frontegra was reasonable in light of the nature and quality of services to be provided.
Costs and Profitability. Frontegra did not provide any specific information regarding the costs of services to be provided or the profits it might realize because neither Fund has commenced operations.
Economies of Scale. Because the Funds have not commenced operations, the Board did not consider whether any alternative fee structures, such as breakpoint fees, would be appropriate to reflect any economies of scale that may result from increases in the Fund's assets.
Benefits to Frontegra. The Board considered information presented regarding any benefits to Frontegra or its affiliates from serving as adviser to the Funds (in addition to the advisory fees). The Board noted that Frontier Partners, Inc. ("Frontier"), an affiliate of Frontegra, provides consulting services to, and is compensated by, MFG Asset Management for new client relationships introduced to MFG Asset Management, and Frontegra Strategies, LLC, the Company's distributor (the "Distributor"), will receive solicitation fees from MFG Asset Management for referrals of new shareholders to the Funds. However, the Board determined that Frontegra's proposed services to the Funds would not be compromised by this potential conflict of interest. The Board also considered financial arrangements, stock ownership and other benefits to Mr. Forsyth under the purchase and sale agreements and the employment agreement with FNAH, as well as the parties' undertaking to comply with the Section 15(f) safe harbor with respect to payments in connection with the transfer of advisory arrangements.
On the basis of its review of the foregoing information, the Board found that the terms of the Initial Advisory Agreement and the Post-Transaction Advisory Agreement were fair and reasonable and in the best interests of each Fund's shareholders.
Initial and Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreements
In connection with the Board's consideration of the Initial and Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreements at the May 22, 2018, meeting, the Board was provided materials relevant to its consideration of both agreements, such as composite performance of accounts that are comparable to each of the Funds, MFG Asset Management's Form ADV, information regarding MFG Asset Management's compliance program, personnel and financial condition, summary data and a risk management report provided by Fund management and a memorandum prepared by the Company's legal counsel. The Board was also provided with MFG Asset Management's responses to the Section 15(c) request submitted by the Company's legal counsel on behalf of the Directors. The Directors discussed the Transaction and the 15(c) response with two representatives of MFG who participated in the meeting telephonically, including the nature, extent and quality of the subadvisory and other services to be provided to the Funds by MFG Asset Management.
The Independent Directors met in executive session to discuss MFG Asset Management's 15(c) response and the proposed approval of the Initial and Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreements. During the executive session, the Independent Directors discussed the responsibilities and duties of the Board of Directors in considering the approval of the Initial and Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreements with the Company's legal counsel. The Independent Directors also met in executive session with the Company's Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance matters.
In considering the Initial and Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreements, the Board reviewed and analyzed various factors with respect to each of the Funds that it determined were relevant, including the factors below, and made the following conclusions with respect to each Fund.
Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services to be Provided. The Board reviewed and considered MFG Asset Management's investment strategy for each Fund and experience as a global equity and infrastructure manager, key personnel involved in providing investment management
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services to the Funds and financial condition, including the financial condition of MFG, MFG Asset Management's parent company. The Board also considered services to be provided by MFG Asset Management under each of the Initial and Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreements, including the management of each Fund's investments, the selection of broker-dealers for execution of portfolio transactions, monitoring adherence to each Fund's investment restrictions and assisting with the Funds' compliance program. The Board considered certain additional responsibilities MFG Asset Management had agreed to perform under the Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreement. The Board considered the Company's experience with Magellan since the three existing series of the Company subadvised by MFG Asset Management were launched, as well as Magellan's expertise in global equity and infrastructure investing. The Board noted the proposed manager of the Select Fund also serves as portfolio manager to the Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund and has served in such capacity since the Fund was launched in 2012. The Board noted that, although MFG Asset Management's sustainable investment strategy was relatively new, the global component of the strategy has been in place since 2007. The Board determined that the Funds were likely to benefit from MFG Asset Management's subadvisory services.
Investment Performance. The Board reviewed composite performance of accounts that are comparable to each of the Funds. The Board did not consider MFG Asset Management's historical performance to be a material factor in its consideration of the subadvisory agreements.
Proposed Subadvisory Fee. The Board reviewed and considered the subadvisory fee payable by Frontegra to MFG Asset Management under the Initial and Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreement, noting that the subadvisory fee structure was negotiated at arm's length between Frontegra and MFG Asset Management, which was an unaffiliated third party at the time the fee schedule was negotiated. The Board noted the subadvisory fee was same for these Funds under both the Initial and Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreements. The Board also observed that the subadvisory fee was consistent with the proposed post-Transaction subadvisory fees payable to MFG Asset Management with respect to the other series of the Company subadvised by MFG Asset Management. The Board noted that under both subadvisory agreements as they relate to these Funds, MFG Asset Management agreed to pay for or reimburse Frontegra for, as applicable, organizational expenses of the Funds, any expense reimbursements made by Frontegra pursuant to the expense cap agreement, and all sub-transfer agent fees. The Board determined that the subadvisory fee payable with respect to the Funds was appropriate in light of these financial obligations of MFG Asset Management. In evaluating the subadvisory fee, the Board noted that such amounts to be paid by Frontegra and that therefore the overall advisory fee to be paid by the Funds is not directly affected by the subadvisory fee.
Costs and Profitability. The Board did not consider the cost of services provided by MFG Asset Management or the profitability to MFG Asset Management from its relationship with the Funds to be material factors because the subadvisory fee is paid by Frontegra.
Economies of Scale. Because the subadvisory fee is not paid by the Funds, the Board did not consider whether the fee should reflect any potential economies of scale that might be realized as the Funds' assets may increase.
Benefits to MFG Asset Management. The Board considered information presented regarding any benefits to MFG Asset Management from serving as subadviser to the Funds (in addition to the subadvisory fee). The Board believed that MFG Asset Management will generally benefit from its association with the Funds. The Board also noted that Frontier provides consulting and marketing services to MFG Asset Management under a solicitation agreement pursuant to which MFG Asset Management pays solicitation fees to Frontier or the Distributor. The Board concluded that the benefits to be realized by MFG Asset Management from its relationship to the Funds were appropriate.
On the basis of its review of the foregoing information, the Board found that the terms of the Initial and Post-Transaction Subadvisory Agreements were fair and reasonable and in the best interests of the Funds.
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VOTING RESULTS OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
A special meeting of shareholders (the "Special Meeting") of Frontier Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), was held on August 30, 2018. At the Special Meeting, shareholders voted on proposals to elect four current directors to serve on the Board of Directors and to approve a new investment advisory agreement between the Company, on behalf of the Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund, Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund, Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund, Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund and Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund (together, the "Funds"), and Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") and new subadvisory agreements between the Adviser and each subadviser as described below. Further details regarding each proposal and the Special Meeting are contained in a definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 23, 2018.
At the Special Meeting, the following actions were taken:
(1) The following individuals were elected to serve on the Board of Directors by the shareholders of the Funds and of Frontier Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund, a series of the Company, voting together in the aggregate:
Name of Director | | For | | Withhold | |
David L. Heald | | | 81,169,787 | | | | 594,217 | | |
Steven K. Norgaard | | | 81,141,677 | | | | 622,327 | | |
James M. Snyder | | | 81,157,028 | | | | 606,976 | | |
William D. Forsyth III | | | 81,344,894 | | | | 419,110 | | |
(2) A new investment advisory agreement between the Company, on behalf of each of the Funds, and the Adviser was approved by the shareholders of each Fund (each voting separately) as follows:
Fund | | Votes For | | Votes Against | | Abstained | | Broker Non-Votes | |
Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund | | | 29,806,260 | | | | 10,556 | | | | 106 | | | | 8,473,832 | | |
Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund | | | 20,233,774 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 2,652,573 | | |
Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund | | | 14,992,445 | | | | 19,395 | | | | 2,113 | | | | 2,406,284 | | |
Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund | | | 10,000 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | |
Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund | | | 513,751 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 129,781 | | |
(3) A new subadvisory agreement between Magellan Asset Management Limited doing business as MFG Asset Management and the Adviser was approved by the shareholders of each of the Frontier MFG Global Equity, Frontier MFG Global Plus, Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure and Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Funds (each voting separately):
Fund | | Votes For | | Votes Against | | Abstained | | Broker Non-Votes | |
Frontier MFG Global Equity Fund | | | 29,806,260 | | | | 10,556 | | | | 106 | | | | 8,473,832 | | |
Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund | | | 20,233,774 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 2,652,573 | | |
Frontier MFG Core Infrastructure Fund | | | 14,992,445 | | | | 19,395 | | | | 2,113 | | | | 2,406,284 | | |
Frontier MFG Select Infrastructure Fund | | | 10,000 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | |
(4) A new subadvisory agreement between Phocas Financial Corp. and the Adviser was approved by the shareholders of the Frontier Phocas Small Cap Value Fund as follows:
Votes For | | Votes Against | | Abstained | | Broker Non-Votes | |
| 513,751 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 129,781 | | |
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A NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report includes forward-looking statements such as adviser, subadviser and/or portfolio manager predictions, opinions, assessments, analyses or outlooks for individual securities, industries, market sectors and/or markets. These statements involve risks and uncertainties. In addition to the general risks described for the Funds in the current Prospectuses, other factors bearing on these statements include the accuracy of the advisers', subadvisers' or portfolio managers' forecasts and predictions, and the appropriateness of the investment programs designed by an adviser, subadviser or portfolio manager to implement their strategies efficiently and effectively. Any one or more of these factors, as well as other risks affecting the securities markets and investment instruments generally, could cause the actual results of the Funds to differ materially as compared to benchmarks associated with the Funds.
In addition, portfolio composition will change due to ongoing management of the Funds. Specific securities named in this report may not currently be owned by the applicable Fund, or the Fund's position in the securities may have changed.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Frontier Funds has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures that delegate to Frontegra Asset Management, Inc. ("Frontegra") and Timpani Capital Management LLC the authority to vote proxies. The proxy voting policies permit Frontegra to delegate its authority to vote proxies to a Fund's subadviser. A description of the Frontier Funds' proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling the Funds toll free at 1-888-825-2100. A description of these policies and procedures is also included in the Funds' Statement of Additional Information, which is available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and the Funds' website at www.frontiermutualfunds.com or by calling the Funds toll free at 1-888-825-2100.
The actual voting records relating to each Fund's portfolio securities during the most recent twelve months ended June 30 are available without charge by calling the Funds toll free at 1-888-825-2100 or by accessing the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
Each Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings for its first and third fiscal quarters with the SEC on Form N-Q or Part F of Form N-PORT (beginning with filings after March 31, 2019). The Form N-Q or Part F of Form N-PORT is available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Form N-Q or Part F of Form N-PORT may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-SEC-0330.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable to registrants who are not listed issuers (as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
Item 6. Investments.
(a) Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
(b) Not Applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable to open-end investment companies.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable to open-end investment companies.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable to open-end investment companies.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not Applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) Based on an evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Form N-CSR, the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
(b) There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable to open-end investment companies.
Item 13. Exhibits.
(a) (1) Any code of ethics or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit. Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form N-CSR filed September 4, 2018.
(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.
(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons. Not applicable to open-end investment companies.
(4) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountant. Not Applicable.
(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Furnished herewith.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Frontier Funds, Inc. | |
| |
By: | /s/ William D. Forsyth III | |
| William D. Forsyth III, President and Secretary | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| |
Date: | 2/26/2019 | |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: | /s/ William D. Forsyth III | |
| William D. Forsyth III, President and Secretary | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| | |
Date: | 2/26/2019 | |
| |
By: | /s/ Elyce D. Dilworth | |
| Elyce D. Dilworth, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary | |
| (Principal Financial Officer) | |
| | |
Date: | 2/25/2019 | |
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