Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Global investment management fund specializing in emerging markets debt
Investment Objective
Investment Management
Investment Manager
Liberty Street Advisors
Investment Sub-Advisor
Portfolio Managers
Gramercy Leadership
Investment Commentary
Investment Focus
The Gramercy Emerging Market Debt Fund is geared towards identifying investment opportunities in fixed income securities economically tied to, or the performance of which is linked to, emerging markets countries. The Fund’s fixed income securities include bonds, convertible bonds (including contingent convertible securities (“CoCos”) and additional tier 1 (“AT1”) capital securities), corporate bonds, sovereign and quasi-sovereign bonds (i.e., bonds issued by quasi-sovereign entities that are wholly-owned or 100% guaranteed by a national government), bank deposits, and other types of debt securities.
The Fund’s sub-adviser, Gramercy Funds Management LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) uses an active management investment approach to researching, identifying and selecting investments for the Fund’s portfolio. The Sub-Adviser’s research process is driven by applying its thematic top-down view with its proprietary fundamental, bottom-up analysis. The Sub-Adviser seeks to identify those securities that it believes are likely to provide the greatest performance, taking
account of the material risks of an investment across a spectrum of considerations, including financial metrics, regional and national conditions, industry specific factors, liquidity, and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) risks.
Fund Facts
Inception date
4/1/2024
Morningstar asset category
Emerging Markets Bond
Benchmark
JPMorgan EM Equal Weight TR Index
Investment minimum
$2,500
Distributions
Monthly
Tickers
Class A
GFEAX
Class I
GFEMX
Fund Performance
Fund Disclosure
Performance data quoted represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Total return figures include the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than original cost. For the most recent month end performance, please call (800) 207-7108. Returns showing less than one year are cumulative. The gross operating expense ratio for the Class A and Institutional Shares are 1.51 and 1.26%, respectively. The net operating expense ratio for the Class A and Institutional Shares are 1.10% and 0.85%, respectively. The contractual agreement between the Fund and the Advisor for fee waiver and/or paying for operating expenses is in effect until April 30, 2025. Without the contractual agreement, performance would have been lower. Performance results with load reflect the deduction for Class A Shares of the 4.25% maximum front-end sales charge. Class C Shares are not available for purchase. Performance represented without the load would be lower if this charge was reflected.
JPMorgan EM Equal Weight TR Index is comprised of 1/3rd EMBI Global Diversified, 1/3rd CEMBI Broad Diversified and 1/3rd GBI-EM Global Diversified.
The JPM Emerging Market Bond Index Global Diversified (EMBI Global Diversified) is a uniquely weighted USD-denominated emerging markets sovereign index. It has a diversified allocation scheme which allows a more even distribution of weights among the countries in the index.
The JPM Corporate Emerging Market Bond Index (CEMBI) Broad Diversified is a comprehensive USD-denominated corporate emerging markets bond index, with broad issuer coverage (including small and short-dated bonds) and a diversified weighting scheme.
The JPMGBI-EM Global Diversified version is a comprehensive global emerging markets index of local government bond debt offering a diversified weighting scheme and broad country coverage.
One cannot invest directly in an index.
Share Class Information
| As of 4/1/2024 | Class A Shares | Class I Shares |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | GFEAX | GFEMX |
| Minimum Investment | $2,500 | $1,000,000 |
| Maximum Sales Charge | 4.25% | None |
| 12b-1 Fees | 0.25% | None |
| Gross Expense Ratio | 1.51% | 1.26% |
| Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement | -0.41% | -0.41% |
| Net Expense Ratio* | 1.10% | 0.85% |
*Net expenses based on the Advisor’s contractual agreement to waive its fees and/or pay operating expenses until 4/30/25. The net expense ratio is applicable to investors.
Top Holdings
| % of Net Assets (Excluding Cash) | |
|---|---|
| - | - |
Schedule of Distributions
| Distribution Date | GFEAX | GFEMX |
|---|---|---|
| 4/29/2024 | $0.0331 | $0.0351 |
Important Risks and Disclosures:
Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information about the Fund is in the prospectus and summary prospectus, a copy of which may be obtained by calling 800-207-7108 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.libertystreetfunds.com. Please read the Fund’s prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.
An investment in the Fund is subject to risk, including the possible loss of principal amount invested and including, but not limited to, the following risks, which are more fully described in the prospectus:
Market Risk: The market price of a security may decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular issuer, company, or asset class. Local, regional or global events such as the spread of infectious illness or other events could have a significant impact on a security or instrument.
Fixed Income Securities Risk/Interest Rate Risk: The prices of fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to changes in an issuer’s credit rating or market perceptions about the creditworthiness of an issuer. Generally fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, and longer-term and lower rated securities are more volatile than shorter-term and higher rated securities.
Foreign Investment Risk. The prices of foreign securities may be more volatile than the prices of securities of U.S. issuers because of economic and social conditions abroad, political developments, and changes in the regulatory environments of foreign countries. Changes in exchange rates and interest rates, and the imposition of sanctions, confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and/or other governments may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s foreign investments. Foreign companies are generally subject to different legal and accounting standards than U.S. companies, and foreign financial intermediaries may be subject to less supervision and regulation than U.S. financial firms.
Emerging Markets Risk. Many of the risks with respect to foreign investments are more pronounced for investments in issuers in developing or emerging market countries. Emerging market countries tend to have more government exchange controls, more volatile interest and currency exchange rates, less market regulation, and less developed and less stable economic, political and legal systems than those of more developed countries. There may be less publicly available and reliable information about issuers in emerging markets than is available about issuers in more developed markets. In addition, emerging market countries may experience high levels of inflation and may have less liquid securities markets and less efficient trading and settlement systems.
High Yield (“Junk”) Bond Risk: Junk bonds are speculative investments which involve greater risk of default, downgrade, or price declines, can be more volatile and tend to be less liquid than investment-grade securities.
Credit Risk. If an issuer or guarantor of a debt security held by the Fund or a counterparty to a financial contract with the Fund defaults or is downgraded or is perceived to be less creditworthy, or if the value of the assets underlying a security declines, the value of the Fund’s portfolio will typically decline. Subordinated securities are more likely to suffer a credit loss than non-subordinated securities of the same issuer and will be disproportionately affected by a default, downgrade or perceived decline in creditworthiness.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to market and interest rate risk and credit risk. When the market price of the equity security underlying a convertible security decreases the convertible security tends to trade on the basis of its yield and other fixed income characteristics, and is more susceptible to credit and interest rate risks. When the market price of such equity security rises, the convertible security tends to trade on the basis of its equity conversion features and be more exposed to market risk. Convertible securities are typically issued by smaller capitalized companies with stock prices that may be more volatile than those of other companies.
Contingent Convertible Securities Risk. Investments in CoCos subject the Fund to the risk of a triggering event occurring which, depending on the underlying circumstances, may result in the issuer converting the security to an equity interest, cancelling interest payments, or writing down the principal value of such securities (either partially or in full). CoCos are subject to the risks associated with bonds and equities and to the risks specific to convertible securities in general. In addition, CoCos are inherently risky because of the difficulty of predicting triggering events that would require the debt to convert to equity.
Foreign Sovereign Debt Risk. Foreign governments rely on taxes and other revenue sources to pay interest and principal on their debt obligations. The payment of principal and interest on these obligations may be adversely affected by a variety of factors, including economic results within the foreign country, changes in interest and exchange rates, changes in debt ratings, changing political sentiments, legislation, policy changes, a limited tax base or limited revenue sources, natural disasters, or other economic or credit problems.
Currency Risk. The values of investments in securities denominated in foreign currencies increase or decrease as the rates of exchange between those currencies and the U.S. dollar change. Currency conversion costs and currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and are affected by factors such as general economic conditions, the actions of the United States and foreign governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation.
Prepayment or Call Risk. Many issuers have a right to prepay their securities. If interest rates fall, an issuer may exercise this right. If this happens, the Fund will not benefit from the rise in market price that normally accompanies a decline in interest rates, and will be forced to reinvest prepayment proceeds at a time when yields on securities available in the market are lower than the yield on the prepaid security. The Fund may also lose any premium it paid on the security.
ESG Criteria Risk. While the Sub-Adviser believes that the integration of ESG criteria as part of the investment process contributes to its risk management approach, the Fund’s consideration of ESG criteria in making its investment decisions may affect the Fund’s exposure to risks associated with certain issuers, industries and sectors, which may impact the Fund’s investment performance. In addition, because the Fund’s ESG criteria can result in excluding securities of certain issuers, the Fund may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use these criteria. There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to have positive or negative ESG characteristics. Furthermore, ESG information from third-party data providers may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which could cause the Sub-Adviser to incorrectly assess a company’s ESG characteristics.
Inflation Risk. There is risk that the real value (i.e., nominal price of the asset adjusted for inflation) of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the purchasing power and value of money (i.e., as inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s assets can decline). This risk is greater for fixed-income instruments with longer maturities.
Derivatives Risk: Using derivatives exposes the Fund to additional or heightened risks, including leverage risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk.
Liquidity Risk: The Fund may not be able to sell some or all of the investments that it holds due to a lack of demand in the marketplace or other factors such as market turmoil, or it may only be able to sell those investments at a loss. Liquid investments may become illiquid or less liquid after purchase by the Fund, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Illiquid and relatively less liquid investments may be harder to value, especially in changing markets.
Valuation Risk. The sales price the Fund could receive for any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued by the Adviser using a fair value methodology. This may affect purchase price or redemption proceeds for investors who purchase or redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is pricing or holding fair-valued securities. The value of foreign securities, certain fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected by events after the close of the market on which they are valued but before the Fund determines its net asset value.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. Active and frequent trading of the Fund’s portfolio securities may lead to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions than would otherwise be the case, which could negatively affect the Fund’s performance. A high rate of portfolio turnover is 100% or more.
No Operating History. The Fund is recently organized and has no operating history. As a result, prospective investors have no track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.
Management and Strategy Risk. The value of your investment depends on the judgment of the Fund’s adviser about the quality, relative yield, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry, sector or region, which may prove to be incorrect.
Recent Market Events. Periods of market volatility may occur in response to market events and other economic, political, and global macro factors. For example, in recent years the COVID-19 pandemic, the large expansion of government deficits and debt as a result of government actions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the rise of inflation have resulted in extreme volatility in the global economy and in global financial markets. These and other similar events could be prolonged and could adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments, impair the Fund’s ability to satisfy redemption requests, and negatively impact the Fund’s performance.