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 811-22923
Infinity Core Alternative Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc.
235 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Victor Fontana
14 Wall Street, Suite 3A
New York, NY 10005
(Name and address of agent for service)
registrant's telephone number, including area code: (646) 532-4649
Date of fiscal year end: March 31
Date of reporting period: September 30, 2015
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.
The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.
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INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Semi-Annual Report
For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2015
(Unaudited)
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2015
(Unaudited)
Table of Contents
Schedule of Investments | 1 |
Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | 2 |
Statement of Operations | 3 |
Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity | 4 |
Statement of Cash Flows | 5 |
Financial Highlights | 6 |
Notes to Financial Statements | 7-13 |
Other Information | 14-15 |
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2015 (Unaudited)
| | Redemptions | | Redemption | | Investment | | | | | | |
Investment Funds (95.84%) | | Permitted | | Notice Period | | Strategy | | Cost | | | Fair Value | |
Partnership Interests | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Anchorage Capital Partners, L.P., Class C a,b | | Annually d | | 90 Days | | Multi-strategy | | $ | 9,500,000 | | | $ | 9,459,649 | |
Atlas Enhanced Fund, L.P. a,b | | Monthly | | 45 Days | | Multi-strategy | | | 9,600,000 | | | | 10,143,169 | |
Caxton Global Investments (USA) LLC, Class T a,b | | Quarterly | | 45 Days | | Multi-strategy | | | 9,100,000 | | | | 9,398,744 | |
Citadel Wellington LLC a,b | | Quarterly | | 45 Days | | Multi-strategy | | | 10,500,000 | | | | 12,402,508 | |
D.E. Shaw Composite International Fund, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collective Liquidity Class a,b | | Quarterly | | 75 Days | | Multi-strategy | | | 2,152,221 | | | | 2,616,842 | |
Elliott Associates, L.P., Class B a,b | | Semi-annually c,d | | 60 Days | | Multi-strategy | | | 3,165,000 | | | | 3,471,748 | |
Eton Park Fund, L.P., Class E a,b | | Quarterly c | | 65 Days | | Multi-strategy | | | 8,600,000 | | | | 9,144,159 | |
King Street Capital, L.P. a,b | | Quarterly c | | 65 Days | | Global long/short credit and event-driven | | | 3,000,000 | | | | 3,192,248 | |
Millennium USA LP, Class EE a,b | | Quarterly c | | 90 Days | | Multi-strategy | | | 9,000,000 | | | | 10,361,721 | |
Moore Macro Managers Fund, Ltd., Class A a,b | | Quarterly | | 60 Days | | Multi-strategy | | | 8,000,000 | | | | 7,832,296 | |
Perry Partners, L.P., Class C a,b | | Quarterly d | | 90 Days | | Opportunistic and event-driven | | | 5,300,000 | | | | 4,648,841 | |
Total Partnership Interests (cost $77,917,221) (95.84%) | | | | | | | | | | | | | 82,671,925 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments (cost $77,917,221) (95.84%) | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 82,671,925 | |
Other assets less liabilities (4.16%) | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,589,822 | |
Shareholders' Equity - 100.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 86,261,747 | |
| b | Investment Funds are issued in private placement transactions and as such are restricted as to resale. |
| c | The Investment Fund can institute a gate provision on redemptions at the investor level of 25% of the fair value of the investment in the Investment Fund. |
| d | The Investment Fund can institute a gate provision on redemptions at the fund level of 10 - 20% of the fair value of the investment in the Investment Fund. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Financial Statements.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
September 30, 2015 (Unaudited)
Assets | | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $77,917,221) | | $ | 82,671,925 | |
Cash | | | 1,112,435 | |
Investments in Investment Funds paid in advance | | | 4,600,000 | |
Interest receivable | | | 3 | |
Other assets | | | 38,396 | |
Total Assets | | | 88,422,759 | |
| | | | |
Liabilities | | | | |
Sale of shares received in advance | | | 2,072,032 | |
Due to Investment Manager | | | 34,939 | |
Professional fees payable | | | 18,304 | |
Accounting and administration fees payable | | | 22,785 | |
Custody fees payable | | | 1,252 | |
Line of credit fees payable | | | 11,700 | |
Total Liabilities | | | 2,161,012 | |
| | | | |
Shareholders' Equity | | $ | 86,261,747 | |
| | | | |
Shareholders' Equity consists of: | | | | |
Shareholders' Equity paid-in | | $ | 83,623,860 | |
Distributions in excess of net investment income | | | (2,129,804 | ) |
Accumulated net realized gain on investments | | | 12,987 | |
Accumulated net unrealized appreciation on investments | | | 4,754,704 | |
| | | | |
Total Shareholders' Equity | | $ | 86,261,747 | |
| | | | |
Number of Shares Outstanding | | | 809,803.825 | |
| | | | |
Shareholders' Equity per Share | | $ | 106.52 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Financial Statements.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2015 (Unaudited)
Income | | | | |
Interest | | $ | 55 | |
| | | | |
Expenses | | | | |
Investment management fee | | | 400,621 | |
Accounting and administration fees | | | 100,162 | |
Professional fees | | | 56,268 | |
Platform Manager fee | | | 22,093 | |
Line of credit fees | | | 21,394 | |
Insurance fees | | | 21,009 | |
Blue sky fees | | | 12,500 | |
Chief Compliance Officer fees | | | 12,500 | |
Trustees' fees | | | 12,000 | |
Custody fees | | | 10,000 | |
Interest expense | | | 5,881 | |
Other expenses | | | 19,383 | |
Total Operating Expenses | | | 693,811 | |
| | | | |
Expense Waivers | | | (224,110 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Expenses | | | 469,701 | |
| | | | |
Net Investment Loss | | | (469,646 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments | | | | |
| | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments | | | 467,741 | |
| | | | |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments | | | 467,741 | |
| | | | |
Net Decrease in Shareholders' Equity from Operations | | $ | (1,905 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Financial Statements.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
| | For the | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended | | | | |
| | September 30, 2015 | | | Year Ended | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | March 31, 2015 | |
| | | | | | |
Operations | | | | | | | | |
Net investment loss | | $ | (469,646 | ) | | $ | (499,398 | ) |
Net realized gain on investments | | | - | | | | 152,221 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments | | | 467,741 | | | | 3,048,676 | |
Net change in shareholders' equity from operations | | | (1,905 | ) | | | 2,701,499 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Distributions to Shareholders | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | | | - | | | | (1,299,994 | ) |
Net change in shareholders' equity from distributions to shareholders | | | - | | | | (1,299,994 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Capital Share Transactions | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sale of shares | | | 41,453,871 | | | | 19,075,273 | |
Reinvested distributions | | | - | | | | 1,246,527 | |
Payments for shares repurchased | | | (54,490 | ) | | | (687,727 | ) |
Net change in shareholders' equity from capital transactions | | | 41,399,381 | | | | 19,634,073 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Increase | | | 41,397,476 | | | | 21,035,578 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shareholders' Equity | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 44,864,271 | | | | 23,828,693 | |
End of period (including distributions in excess of net investment income of ($2,129,804) and ($1,660,158), respectively) | | $ | 86,261,747 | | | $ | 44,864,271 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Financial Statements.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Statement of Cash Flows
For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2015 (Unaudited)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | | | | |
Net Decrease in Shareholders' Equity from Operations | | $ | (1,905 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile Net Decrease in Shareholders' Equity from | | | | |
Operations to net cash used in operating activities: | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments | | | (467,741 | ) |
Purchases of Investment Funds | | | (37,365,000 | ) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | |
Increase in investments in Investment Funds paid in advance | | | (1,100,000 | ) |
Decrease in due from Investment Manager | | | 17,626 | |
Decrease in interest receivable | | | 2 | |
Increase in other assets | | | (38,396 | ) |
Increase in due to Investment Manager | | | 34,939 | |
Decrease in professional fees payable | | | (19,156 | ) |
Increase in accounting and administration fees payable | | | 11,913 | |
Decrease in custody fees payable | | | (2,506 | ) |
Decrease in Platform Manager fee payable | | | (7,209 | ) |
Decrease in Chief Compliance Officer fees payable | | | (12,083 | ) |
Decrease in insurance fees payable | | | (7,753 | ) |
Increase in line of credit fees payable | | | 2,103 | |
Decrease in blue sky fees payable | | | (1,327 | ) |
Decrease in interest expense payable | | | (202 | ) |
Decrease in other fees payable | | | (270 | ) |
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities | | | (38,956,965 | ) |
| | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | | |
Proceeds from sale of shares, including sale of shares received in advance | | | 40,967,903 | |
Proceeds from withdrawals | | | (742,217 | ) |
Drawdown on line of credit | | | (1,500,000 | ) |
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities | | | 38,725,686 | |
| | | | |
Net change in cash | | | (231,279 | ) |
| | | | |
Cash at beginning of period | | | 1,343,714 | |
| | | | |
Cash at End of period | | $ | 1,112,435 | |
| | | | |
Supplemental disclosure of interest expense paid | | $ | 6,083 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Financial Statements.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Financial Highlights
| | | | | | | | Period from | |
| | For the | | | | | | October 1, 2013 | |
| | Six Months Ended | | | | | | (Commencement | |
| | September 30, 2015 | | | Year Ended | | | of Operations) | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | March 31, 2015 | | | to March 31, 2014 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Shareholders' Equity, Beginning of Period | | $ | 105.74 | | | $ | 101.54 | | | | $ 96.55 | (1) (2) |
Income from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss) | | | 1.28 | | | | (0.38 | ) | | | (0.69 | )(2) |
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments | | | (0.50 | ) | | | 8.44 | | | | 5.68 | (2) |
Total from investment operations: | | | 0.78 | | | | 8.06 | | | | 4.99 | (2) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributions to shareholders | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net change in shareholders' equity due to distributions to shareholders | | | - | | | | (3.86 | ) | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shareholders' Equity, End of Period | | $ | 106.52 | | | $ | 105.74 | | | $ | 101.54 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return (3) | | | 0.74 | %(4) | | | 8.06 | % | | | 5.17 | %(4) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shareholders' Equity, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 86,261 | | | $ | 44,864 | | | $ | 23,829 | |
Net investment loss to average shareholders' equity | | | (1.53 | )%(5) | | | (1.58 | )% | | | (1.50 | )%(5) |
Ratio of gross expenses to average shareholders' equity (6) | | | 2.26 | %(5) | | | 3.25 | % | | | 2.43 | %(5) (7) |
Ratio of expense waiver to average shareholders' equity | | | (0.73 | )%(5) | | | (1.67 | )% | | | (0.93 | )%(5) (7) |
Ratio of net expenses to average shareholders' equity | | | 1.53 | %(5) (8) | | | 1.58 | %(8) | | | 1.50 | %(5) |
Portfolio Turnover | | | 0.00 | %(4) | | | 6.96 | % | | | 0.00 | %(4) |
| (1) | The shareholders' equity as of the beginning of the period, October 1, 2013 (Commencement of Operations), represents the initial restated shareholders' equity per share of $96.55. |
| (2) | Converted shares using a 1 for 96.55, approximately, ratio effective January 1, 2014. |
| (3) | Total Return based on shareholders' equity is the combination of changes in shareholders' equity and reinvested dividend income at shareholders' equity, if any. |
| (6) | Represents the ratio of expenses to average shareholders' equity absent fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement by the Advisers. |
| (7) | The Organizational Expenses are not annualized for the ratio calculation. |
| (8) | The Fund's operating expenses include interest expense associated with the Line of Credit, which is excluded from the Expense Limitation calculation. If the interest expense associated with the Line of Credit was excluded from operating expenses, the net expense ratio would be 1.50%. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Financial Statements.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Notes to Financial Statements – September 30, 2015 (unaudited)
Infinity Core Alternative Fund (the “Fund”) is a Maryland statutory trust that operates under an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 15, 2013 and commenced operations on October 1, 2013. Effective December 20, 2013, the Fund registered with Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. Effective April 18, 2014, the Fund also registered under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, as amended. Vivaldi Asset Management, LLC serves as the investment adviser (the “Investment Manager”) of the Fund. Infinity Capital Advisors, LLC serves as sub-adviser to the Fund (the “Sub-Adviser” and, together with the Investment Manager, the “Advisers”). Each of the Advisers is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital growth. The Fund invests primarily in general or limited partnerships, funds, corporations, trusts or other investment vehicles (collectively, “Investment Funds”) based primarily in the United States that invest or trade in a wide range of securities, and, to a lesser extent, other property and currency interests. The Fund may also make investments outside of Investment Funds to hedge exposures deemed too risky or outside the strategies employed by the Fund’s Investment Funds. Such investments could also be used to hedge a position in an Investment Fund that is locked up or difficult to sell. Direct investments could include U.S. and foreign equity securities, debt securities, exchange-traded funds and derivatives related to such instruments, including futures and options thereon.
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of the business operations of the Fund.
| 2. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The Fund is an investment company and follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946.
a. Valuation of Investments
The Board has established a Valuation Committee to oversee the valuation of the Fund’s investments on behalf of the Fund. The Board has approved valuation procedures for the Fund (the “Valuation Procedures”). The Valuation Procedures provide that the Fund will value its investments in direct investments and Investment Funds at fair value.
The valuations of investments in Investment Funds are supported by information received from the Investment Funds such as monthly net asset values, investor reports, and audited financial statements, when available.
In accordance with the Valuation Procedures, fair value as of each month-end or other applicable accounting periods, as applicable, ordinarily will be the value determined as of such date by each Investment Fund in accordance with the Investment Fund’s valuation policies and reported at the time of the Fund’s valuation. As a general matter, the fair value of the Fund’s interest in an Investment Fund will represent the amount that the Fund could reasonably expect to receive from the Investment Fund if the Fund’s interest was redeemed at the time of valuation, based on information reasonably available at the time the valuation is made and that the Fund believes to be reliable. In the event that the Investment Fund does not report a month-end value to the Fund on a timely basis, the Fund will determine the fair value of such Investment Fund based on the most recent final or estimated value reported by the Investment Fund, as well as any other relevant information available at the time the Fund values its portfolio. Using the nomenclature of the hedge fund industry, any values reported as “estimated” or “final” are expected to reasonably reflect fair market values of securities when available or fair value as of the Fund’s valuation date. A substantial amount of time may elapse between the occurrence of an event necessitating the pricing of the Fund’s assets and the receipt of valuation information from the underlying manager of an Investment Fund.
If it is probable that the Fund will sell an investment at an amount different from the net asset valuation or in other situations where the month-end valuation of the Investment Fund is not available, or when the Fund believes alternative valuation techniques are more appropriate, the Advisers and the Valuation Committee may consider other
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Notes to Financial Statements – September 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)
| 2. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) |
a. Valuation of Investments (continued)
factors, including subscription and redemption rights, expected discounted cash flows, transactions in the secondary market, bids received from potential buyers, and overall market conditions in determining fair value.
The Fund classifies its assets and liabilities into three levels based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Estimated values may differ from the values that would have been used if a ready market existed or if the investments were liquidated at the valuation date.
The three-tier hierarchy distinguishes between (1) inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and (2) inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs) and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. The inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
| · | Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities |
| · | Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, ability to redeem in the near term, generally within the next calendar quarter for Investment Funds, etc.) |
| · | Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) or investments that cannot be fully redeemed at the net asset value in the “near term”, these are investments that generally have one or more of the following characteristics: gated redemptions, suspended redemptions, or have lock-up periods greater than 90 days. |
In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-7, “Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)”, modifying Accounting Standards Codification 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies. Under the modifications, investments in affiliated and private investment funds valued at the net asset value as practical expedient are no longer included in the fair value hierarchy. The Fund elected to early adopt and retroactively apply ASU 2015-7. As a result of adopting ASU 2015-7, investments in Investment Funds with a fair value of $82,671,925 are excluded from the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2015.
As of September 30, 2015, the Fund does not hold any investments that have to be included in the fair value hierarchy.
The Advisers generally categorize the investment strategies of the Investment Funds into investment strategy categories. The investment objective of multi-strategy hedge funds is to deliver consistently positive returns regardless of the directional movement in equity, interest rates or currency markets by engaging in a variety of investment strategies. The investment objective of global long/short credit investing involves investing in instruments around the world related to any level of an issuer’s capital structure. On the long side, this strategy focuses on companies, assets and instruments that are perceived to be trading below their inherent value. On the short side, the strategy involves securities of companies that are believed to have their credit quality deteriorate due to operating or financial challenges, become subject to a leveraging event or have a negative event in the future. Opportunistic investing involves deploying capital where it is needed most, predominantly in complex, deep value situations that are misunderstood by the markets. Event-driven investing involves the purchase or sale of securities of companies which are undergoing substantial changes.
The Investment Funds compensate their respective Investment Fund managers through management fees currently ranging from 0.0% to 2.6% annually of average net asset value of the Fund’s investment and incentive allocations typically ranging between 20.0% and 27.5% of profits, subject to loss carryforward provisions, as defined in the respective Investment Funds’ agreements.
As of September 30, 2015 the Fund did not have any outstanding investment commitments to Investment Funds.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Notes to Financial Statements – September 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)
| 2. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) |
b. Investment Income
Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.
c. Fund Expenses
The Fund will pay all of its expenses, or reimburse the Advisers or their affiliates to the extent they have previously paid such expenses on behalf of the Fund. The expenses of the Fund include, but are not limited to, any fees and expenses in connection with the offering and issuance of shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) of the Fund; all fees and expenses directly related to portfolio transactions and positions for the Fund’s account such as direct and indirect expenses associated with the Fund’s investments, and enforcing the Fund’s rights in respect of such investments; all fees and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the operation of the Fund, such as investment management fee, platform manager fee, legal fees, auditing fees, accounting, administration, and tax preparation fees, custodial fees, fees for data and software providers, costs of insurance, registration expenses, trustees’ fees, and expenses of meetings of the Board.
d. Income Tax Information & Distributions to Shareholders
The Fund's policy is to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that are applicable to regulated investment companies (“RICs”) and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and any net realized gains to its shareholders (“Shareholders”). Therefore, no provision is made for federal income or excise taxes. Due to the timing of dividend distributions and the differences in accounting for income and realized gains and losses for financial statement and federal income tax purposes, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the income and realized gains and losses are recorded by the Fund.
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (the “Income Tax Statement”) requires an evaluation of tax positions taken (or expected to be taken) in the course of preparing Fund’s tax returns to determine whether these positions meet a “more-likely-than-not” standard that, based on the technical merits, have a more than fifty percent likelihood of being sustained by a taxing authority upon examination. A tax position that meets the “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations.
The Income Tax Statement requires management of the Fund to analyze tax positions expected to be taken in the Fund’s tax returns, as defined by Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) statute of limitations for all major jurisdictions, including federal tax authorities and certain state tax authorities. During the six months ended September 31, 2015, the Fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. At September 30, 2015, the tax years ended December 31, 2013 and October 31, 2014 remain open to examination by the IRS. The Fund has no examination in progress and is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
The Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the "Act") was signed into law on December 22, 2010. The Act makes changes to a number of the federal income and excise tax provisions impacting RICs, including simplification provisions on asset diversification and qualifying income tests, provisions aimed at preserving the character of the distributions made by the RIC and coordination of the income and excise tax distribution requirements, and provisions for allowing unlimited years carryforward for capital losses.
The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gain may differ from the characterization for federal income tax purposes due to differences in the recognition of income, expense and gain/(loss) items for financial statement and tax purposes. Where appropriate, reclassifications between net asset accounts are made for such differences that are permanent in nature.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Notes to Financial Statements – September 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)
| 2. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) |
d. Income Tax Information & Distributions to Shareholders (continued)
Additionally, U.S. GAAP requires certain components of net assets relating to permanent differences be reclassified between financial and tax reporting. Permanent differences between book and tax basis are attributable to partnerships and passive foreign investment companies adjustments. These reclassifications have no effect on Shareholders’ Equity or Shareholders’ Equity per Share. For the period ended October 31, 2014, the following amounts were reclassified:
Shareholders’ Equity paid-in | | $ | - | |
Accumulated net investment income (loss) | | | 139,234 | |
Accumulated net realized gains (losses) on investments | | | (139,234 | ) |
At March 31, 2015, the federal tax cost of investment securities and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as of the year-end were as follows:
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 4,393,369 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (241,712 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | $ | 4,151,657 | |
Cost of investments | | $ | 40,687,527 | |
The difference between cost amounts for financial statement and federal income tax purposes is due primarily to timing differences in recognizing certain gains and losses in security transactions.
As of October 31, 2014, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 8,448 | |
Undistributed long-term capital gains | | | 4,539 | |
Tax accumulated earnings | | | 12,987 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | - | |
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | | | 1,711,981 | |
Other differences | | | - | |
Distributable net earnings (deficit) | | $ | 1,724,968 | |
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 was as follows:
Distributions paid from: | | | 2015 | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 1,299,994 | |
Net long-term capital gains | | | - | |
Total taxable distributions | | | 1,299,994 | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 1,299,994 | |
e. Cash
Cash, if any, includes amounts held in interest bearing money market accounts. Such deposits, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Fund has not experienced any losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on such accounts.
f. Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Fund’s 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 Shareholders’ Equity from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Notes to Financial Statements – September 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)
| 3. | INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER AGREEMENTS |
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a management fee (“Investment Management Fee”) at an annual rate of 1.25%, payable monthly in arrears, based upon the Fund’s Shareholders’ Equity as of month-end. The Investment Management Fee is paid to the Investment Manager before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date, and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders. The Investment Manager pays the Sub-Adviser 50% of the Investment Management Fee it receives from the Fund.
The Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser have entered into an expense limitation and reimbursement agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser have jointly agreed to waive fees that they would otherwise have received, and/or to assume expenses of the Fund (a “Waiver”), if required to ensure the Total Annual Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, certain transaction-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, and any acquired fund fees and expenses) do not exceed 1.50% on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limit”).
For a period not to exceed three years from the date on which a Waiver is made, the Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser may recoup amounts waived or assumed, provided they are able to effect such recoupment and remain in compliance with the Expense Limit. The Expense Limitation Agreement has an initial three-year term, beginning as of the commencement of operations of the Fund. Neither the Fund, the Investment Manager nor the Sub-Adviser may terminate the Expense Limitation Agreement during the initial three-year term. For the six months ended September 30, 2015, the Advisers waived fees and reimbursed expenses of $224,110. For the six months ended September 30, 2015, the Advisers are due from the Fund an Investment Management Fee net of a Waiver of $34,939 as disclosed in the Due to Advisers balance on the Statement of Asset, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity. At September 30, 2015, $120,842 is subject for recoupment through March 31, 2017, $527,326 is subject for recoupment through March 31, 2018, and $224,110 is subject for recoupment through March 31, 2019.
Registered Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Platform Manager”), a Delaware limited liability company, acts as the Fund’s Platform Manager pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and the Platform Manager. The Platform Manager receives a monthly fee of 0.10% per annum of the Fund’s Shareholders’ Equity as of each month-end, subject to an annual minimum of $35,000.
Foreside Fund Services, LLC acts as distributor to the Fund.
Cipperman & Co. provides Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) services to the Fund. The Fund’s allocated fees incurred for CCO services for the six months ended September 30, 2015 were $12,500.
4. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
At September 30, 2015, Shareholders who are affiliated with the Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser owned approximately $5,159,018 (or 5.98% of Shareholders’ Equity) of the Fund.
5. ADMINISTRATION AND CUSTODY AGREEMENT
UMB Fund Services, Inc., serves as administrator (the “Administrator”) to the Fund and provides certain accounting, administrative, record keeping and investor related services. The Fund pays a monthly fee to the Administrator based upon average Shareholders’ Equity, subject to certain minimums.
UMB Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”), an affiliate of the Administrator, serves as the primary custodian of the assets of the Fund, and may maintain custody of such assets with U.S. and non-U.S. sub-custodians, securities depositories and clearing agencies.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Notes to Financial Statements – September 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)
6. CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
Shares are generally offered for purchase as of the first day of each calendar month at the Fund’s then-current Shareholders’ Equity per Share (determined as of the close of the preceding month), except that Shares may be offered more or less frequently as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. Transactions in Shares were as follows:
Shares outstanding, March 31, 2014 | | | 234,668.786 | |
Shares issued | | | 183,958.819 | |
Shares reinvested | | | 12,169.558 | |
Shares redeemed | | | (6,503.945 | ) |
Shares outstanding, March 31, 2015 | | | 424,293.218 | |
Shares issued | | | 386,020.238 | |
Shares redeemed | | | (509.631 | ) |
Shares outstanding, September 30, 2015 | | | 809,803.825 | |
7. REPURCHASE OF SHARES
At the discretion of the Board and provided that it is in the best interests of the Fund and Shareholders to do so, the Fund intends to provide a limited degree of liquidity to the Shareholders by conducting repurchase offers generally quarterly with a Valuation Date (as defined below) on or about March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. In each repurchase offer, the Fund may offer to repurchase its Shares at their NAV as determined as of approximately March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, of each year, as applicable. Each repurchase offer ordinarily will be limited to the repurchase of approximately 25% of the Shares outstanding, but if the value of Shares tendered for repurchase exceeds the value the Fund intended to repurchase, the Fund may determine to repurchase less than the full number of Shares tendered. In such event, Shareholders will have their Shares repurchased on a pro rata basis, and tendering Shareholders will not have all of their tendered Shares repurchased by the Fund. Shareholders tendering Shares for repurchase will be asked to give written notice of their intent to do so by the date specified in the notice describing the terms of the applicable repurchase offer, which date will be approximately 95 days prior to the date of repurchase by the Fund.
8. CREDIT FACILITY
The Fund maintains a credit facility (the “Facility”) with a maximum borrowing amount of $5,000,000 and a maturity date of June 1, 2016, which is secured by certain interests in Investment Funds. A fee of 100 basis points per annum is payable monthly in arrears on the unused portion of the Facility, while the interest rate charged on borrowings is the 3-month London Interbank Offer Rate plus a spread of 225 basis points. Collateral for the Facility is held by the Custodian. Interest and fees incurred for the six months ended September 30, 2015 are disclosed in the accompanying Statement of Operations. At September 30, 2015, the Fund had $11,700 payable on the unused portion of the Facility. For the six months ended September 30, 2015, the average interest rate, the average daily loan balance and the maximum balance outstanding for the 62 days the Fund had outstanding borrowings under the Facility was 2.47%, $1,359,677 and $3,000,000, respectively. The Fund is subject to certain loan covenants, the most restrictive covenant being the maintenance of a loan to value ratio.
9. INDEMNIFICATION
In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund, and therefore cannot be established; however, the Fund expects the risk of loss from such claims to be remote.
10. RISK FACTORS
The Fund is subject to substantial risks — including market risks, strategy risks and Investment Fund manager risks. Investment Funds generally will not be registered as investment companies under the Investment Company Act and, therefore, the Fund will not be entitled to the various protections afforded by the Investment Company Act with respect to its investments in Investment Funds. While the Advisers will attempt to moderate any risks of securities activities of the Investment Fund managers, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment activities will be successful or that the Shareholders will not suffer losses. The Advisers will not have any control over the Investment Fund managers, thus there can be no assurances that an Investment Fund managers will manage its Investment Funds in a manner consistent with the Fund’s investment objective.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Notes to Financial Statements – September 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)
11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were the following subsequent events. Effective October 1, 2015 and November 1, 2015, there were capital contributions to the Fund in the amounts of $4,428,032 and $6,343,758, respectively.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Notes to Financial Statements – September 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)
Proxy Voting
The Fund is required to file Form N-PX, with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31. The Fund’s Form N-PX filing is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-877-779-1999 or (ii) by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Availability of Quarterly Portfolio Schedules
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Form N-Q is available, without charge and upon request, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
Approval of Investment Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements
At the meeting of the Board held on May 21, 2015, by a unanimous vote, the Board, including a majority of Trustees who are not “interested persons” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), approved the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund and the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Investment Manager, the Sub-Adviser and the Fund (collectively, the “Agreements”).
In advance of the May 21, 2015 meeting, the Independent Trustees requested and received materials from the Advisers to assist them in considering the approval of the Agreements. The Independent Trustees reviewed reports from third parties and management about the following factors. The Board did not consider any single factor as controlling in determining whether or not to approve the Agreements. Nor are the items described herein all encompassing of the matters considered by the Board.
The Board engaged in a detailed discussion of the materials with management of the Advisers. The Independent Trustees then met separately with independent counsel to the Independent Trustees for a full review of the materials. Following this session, the full Board reconvened and after further discussion determined that the information presented provided a sufficient basis upon which to approve the Agreements.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services
The Board reviewed and considered the nature and extent of the investment advisory services provided by the Investment Manager to the Fund under the Investment Management Agreement and by the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, including the selection of Fund investments. The Board also reviewed and considered the nature and extent of the non-advisory, administrative services provided by the Advisers, including, among other things, providing office facilities, equipment, and personnel. The Board also reviewed and considered the qualifications of the portfolio managers, and other key personnel of the Advisers who provide the investment advisory and administrative services to the Fund. The Board determined that the Investment Manager’s and/or Sub-Adviser's portfolio managers and key personnel are well qualified by education and/or training and experience to perform the services in an efficient and professional manner. The Board also took into account the Advisers’ compliance policies and procedures, including the procedures used to determine the value of the Fund's investments. The Board concluded that the overall quality of the advisory and administrative services was satisfactory.
Performance
The Board considered the investment experience of the Advisers. The Board considered the performance of the Fund since the Fund’s inception, noting that the Fund had outperformed the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index and the Morningstar Multi Alternative Index for the one-year and since inception periods ended March 31, 2015.
INFINITY CORE ALTERNATIVE FUND
(a Maryland Statutory Trust)
Notes to Financial Statements – September 30, 2015 (unaudited) (continued)
Fees and Expenses Relative to Comparable Funds Managed by Other Investment Managers
The Board reviewed the advisory fee rate and total expense ratio of the Fund. The Board compared the advisory fee and total expense ratio for the Fund with various comparative data, including reports on the expenses of other comparable funds and other funds managed by the Investment Manager. The Board noted that the advisory fees were comparable to the fees payable by other funds managed by the Investment Manager. In addition, the Board noted that the Advisers have contractually agreed to limit total annual operating expenses until assets support the expenses of the Fund. The Board concluded that the advisory fees paid by the Fund, the sub-advisory fees and total expense ratio were reasonable and satisfactory in light of the services provided.
Breakpoints and Economies of Scale
The Board reviewed the structure of the Fund's investment management under the Agreements. The Board considered the Fund's advisory and sub-advisory fees and concluded that the fees were reasonable and satisfactory in light of the services provided. The Board also determined that, given the Fund’s current size, economies of scale were not present at this time.
Profitability of Advisers and Affiliates
The Board considered and reviewed information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by the Advisers from their relationship with the Fund. The Board also considered information concerning the Investment Manager’s overall profits.
Ancillary Benefits and Other Factors
The Board also discussed other benefits to be received by the Advisers from their management of the Fund, including, without limitation, the ability to market their advisory services for similar products in the future. The Board concluded that the advisory and sub-advisory fees were reasonable in light of the fall-out benefits.
General Conclusion
Based on its consideration of all factors that it deemed material, and assisted by the advice of its counsel, the Board concluded it would be in the best interest of the Fund and its Shareholders to approve the continuance of the Agreements.
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
Not applicable to semi-annual reports.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
Not applicable to semi-annual reports.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
Not applicable to semi-annual reports.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to semi-annual reports.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to semi-annual reports.
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant's board of trustees, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17CFR 229.407), or this Item.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) The registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).
(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant's 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. EXHIBITS.
(a)(1) Not applicable to semi-annual reports.
(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(b) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.
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.
(registrant) | Infinity Core Alternative Fund | |
| | |
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Michael Peck | |
| Michael Peck, President | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| | |
Date | December 7, 2015 | |
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 (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Michael Peck | |
| Michael Peck, President | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| | |
Date | December 7, 2015 | |
| | |
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Randal Golden | |
| Randal Golden, Treasurer | |
| (Principal Financial Officer) | |
| | |
Date | December 7, 2015 | |
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.