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2026-02-01 Sterling Capital Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zj4yPJ10SjX9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks maximum long-term total return, by investing primarily in equity securities of large companies. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zXGGkWYsg6ki" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_90A_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_zzWuaP1Yq4b9">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0575 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0045 0.0045 0.0025 0.0100 0.0035 0.0035 0.0105 0.0180 Example <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zGtZG8K43Ns7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 676 890 1121 1784 281 661 1065 2195 <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zTG5J01axaU7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 676 890 1121 1784 281 661 1065 2195 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zUi8mlOFaCZ2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 108.16% of the average value of its portfolio. 1.0816 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zJns6mT4JHgc" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in the equity securities of large companies. Large companies are defined as companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies in the Bloomberg 500® Index at the time of purchase. As of December 31, 2025, the smallest company in the Bloomberg 500® Index had a market capitalization of $7.7 billion and the largest company had a market capitalization of $4.5 trillion. Under normal market conditions, the Fund primarily invests in U.S. traded equity securities. The term “U.S. traded equity securities” refers to domestically traded U.S. common stocks (including securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)) and U.S. traded equity stocks of foreign companies. The Fund may invest in securities of middle capitalization companies. Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”) applies “behavioral finance” principles in the construction of the Fund’s portfolio. Behavioral finance theorizes that investment decisions are often influenced by biases, heuristics (i.e., experienced-based techniques for decision making) and emotion, and that investors can be predictable (and, at times, irrational) in their decision making. These emotionally charged investment decisions can lead to stock price anomalies that create opportunities in the marketplace. Sterling Capital seeks to capitalize on these behaviorally driven market anomalies by employing a disciplined investment process. In implementing behavioral finance principles, Sterling Capital ranks companies in the Fund’s investment universe based on a number of factors that it believes can be indicators of under- or over-valuation of a security by the market, such as valuation (e.g., seeking to invest in companies that Sterling Capital believes are undervalued), price momentum (e.g., identifying securities that Sterling Capital believes will experience sustained positive price momentum) and earnings revisions (e.g., identifying and capitalizing on what Sterling Capital believes are under-reactions by the market to positive earnings revisions). Sterling Capital also takes into account such factors as market capitalization, country exposure, and sector exposure to construct a diversified portfolio. Sterling Capital considers selling a security when the security’s ranking becomes less attractive and/or in light of liquidity, sector exposure, country exposure or diversification considerations. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline, or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that a market segment on which this Fund focuses — large cap stocks, value stocks and momentum stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. A stock owned primarily for its momentum characteristics may start to underperform abruptly. In addition, the Fund’s focus on behavioral finance principles may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not employ a behavioral finance strategy. There can be no guarantee that the factors that the Fund’s investment adviser considers in selecting stocks, and the weight that the adviser puts on each factor, will be effective in identifying and capitalizing on stock price anomalies. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. ETF Risk: The risks associated with investing in ETFs include the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF is designed to track. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in the ETF being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. When the Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. As a result, it may be more costly to own an ETF than owning the underlying portfolio of securities directly. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zI2ewOzbTJm6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_z4Um10UuYpZk">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. <span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_zKGpl5vDOLD8">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_90E_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_zO41DfUBOGPa">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.1041 0.1846 -0.1051 0.1988 -0.0182 0.3078 -0.0572 0.1221 0.2064 0.2323 <div id="xdx_A8D_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zY1M6B22b7x8"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009820Member_zIgCIcQhDzob">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009820Member_zEKLkdjaF0jb">14.68%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009820Member_zBtl2a9g0lX1">3/31/2021</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009820Member_zfz1JA67OWJ8">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009820Member_zNO2s61KS0h3">-26.66%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009820Member_znaF1DLtjXO3">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1468 2021-03-31 Worst quarter: -0.2666 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.1615 0.1416 0.1032 0.1576 0.1379 0.0952 0.0980 0.1130 0.0820 0.2227 0.1465 0.1015 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.1653 0.1266 0.1107 <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zWULAqE0CIv9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_zmY9dTic5oq4">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_zlEhf71l1U9f">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_z6Kp3PjjuDla" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks maximum long-term total return, by investing primarily in equity securities of small capitalization companies. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zXPg5Zyzd5Xe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_903_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_z3DrzykRqtW3">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0575 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0060 0.0060 0.0025 0.0100 0.0024 0.0024 0.0109 0.0184 Example <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zGNq8HUel8qa" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 680 902 1141 1827 285 673 1141 2237 <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_z2NwxUOMpw21" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 680 902 1141 1827 285 673 1141 2237 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zKZGaHJv2BDk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 89.59% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.8959 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zfN68hy6WIrj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in the equity securities of small capitalization companies. Small capitalization companies are defined as companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index at the time of purchase. As of December 31, 2025, the smallest company in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index had a market capitalization of $1.2 million and the largest company had a market capitalization of $15.1 billion. The Fund invests primarily in U.S. traded equity securities of small capitalization companies. The term “U.S. traded equity securities” refers to domestically traded U.S. common stocks (including securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and U.S. traded equity stocks of foreign companies. The Fund may invest in securities of middle and large capitalization companies. Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”) applies “behavioral finance” principles in the construction of the Fund’s portfolio. Behavioral finance theorizes that investment decisions are often influenced by biases, heuristics (i.e., experienced-based techniques for decision making) and emotion, and that investors can be predictable (and, at times, irrational) in their decision making. These emotionally charged investment decisions can lead to stock price anomalies that create opportunities in the marketplace. Sterling Capital seeks to capitalize on these behaviorally driven market anomalies by employing a disciplined investment process. In implementing behavioral finance principles, Sterling Capital ranks companies in the Fund’s investment universe based on a number of factors that it believes can be indicators of under- or over-valuation of a security by the market, such as valuation (e.g., seeking to invest in companies that Sterling Capital believes are undervalued), price momentum (e.g., identifying securities that Sterling Capital believes will experience sustained positive price momentum) and earnings revisions (e.g., identifying and capitalizing on what Sterling Capital believes are under-reactions by the market to positive earnings revisions). Sterling Capital also takes into account such factors as market capitalization, country exposure, and sector exposure to construct a diversified portfolio. Sterling Capital considers selling a security when the security’s ranking becomes less attractive and/or in light of liquidity, sector exposure, country exposure or diversification considerations. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline, or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that a market segment on which this Fund focuses — small company stocks, value stocks and momentum stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. A stock owned primarily for its momentum characteristics may start to underperform abruptly. In addition, the Fund’s focus on behavioral finance principles may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not employ a behavioral finance strategy. There can be no guarantee that the factors that the Fund’s investment adviser considers in selecting stocks, and the weight that the adviser puts on each factor, will be effective in identifying and capitalizing on stock price anomalies. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. ETF Risk: The risks associated with investing in ETFs include the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF is designed to track. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in the ETF being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. When the Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. As a result, it may be more costly to own an ETF than owning the underlying portfolio of securities directly. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zHpMVAqy1kP7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_zzPZV1DY8Gcl">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. <span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_zTfkWQPlZT8k">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_90F_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_zirwIg0jnbig">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.2373 0.0863 -0.1747 0.2157 -0.0601 0.4312 -0.1131 0.1907 0.0979 0.0818 <div id="xdx_A8F_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zaWpLwhkLiMj"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000084353Member_z3Zi7EWt2857">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000084353Member_zbbvjltb5Lve">25.10%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000084353Member_zmQczGCkhIJ7">3/31/2021</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000084353Member_zefWvaxqdAwb">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000084353Member_zDj4HlVenvl5">-38.86%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000084353Member_zZf4T5BwNz87">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.2510 2021-03-31 Worst quarter: -0.3886 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0196 0.1109 0.0655 -0.0039 0.0941 0.0655 0.0289 0.0865 0.0615 0.0742 0.1159 0.0775 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.0896 0.1022 0.0991 <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zfIdtJoRProf" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_zVcVI0sp5ro3">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_zhCiYBHpe7hl">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Special Opportunities Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zzZQnVPlBAtj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zblrM3HuP1p7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_90A_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_zyefEo5xwuEf">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0575 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0060 0.0060 0.0025 0.0100 0.0026 0.0026 0.0111 0.0186 The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets in the Fund’s Financial Highlights because of a reduction in the Fund’s annual contractual management fees from 0.65% to 0.60% effective February 1, 2025. Example <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zpGi7xaijCqi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 684 913 1161 1871 289 685 1106 2279 <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zOgMYZT1KQH8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 684 913 1161 1871 289 685 1106 2279 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_z5IENQYmWP5j" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 38.82% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.3882 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_z9h84AGKVqI5" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in equity securities. The securities may include common stock, preferred stock, warrants, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), or debt instruments that are convertible to common stock. The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in domestically traded U.S. common stocks and U.S. traded equity stocks of foreign companies, including ADRs. The Fund uses a multi-style approach, meaning that it not only invests across different capitalization levels but may target both value- and growth-oriented companies. The portfolio manager looks for companies experiencing above-average revenue and profit growth as well as out-of-favor stocks that may be depressed due to what the portfolio manager believes to be temporary economic circumstances. In choosing individual stocks, the portfolio manager then performs a fundamental analysis to examine the valuation, growth and momentum characteristics of a particular issuer. The portfolio manager may consider selling a stock owned by the Fund for a variety of reasons including but not limited to: when the factors that induced the portfolio manager to buy the stock have changed, the company faces earnings growth risk or has issued substantial new debt, or to reduce the Fund’s position in a particular stock if the stock represents a disproportionately large position within the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, the Fund may engage in writing covered call options on securities to generate income from premiums received in connection with the option. A call option gives the buyer the right to buy, and obligates the option seller to sell a security at a specified price. Generally, a written call option is covered if a fund owns the security or instrument underlying the call or has an absolute right to acquire that security or instrument without additional cash consideration. When the Fund writes a covered call option on a security, the Fund limits its opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the security above the exercise price of the option. The Fund will not write a covered call option if, as a result, the aggregate fair value of all portfolio securities covering call options exceeds 50% of the fair value of its net assets. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline, or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund is primarily invested in, whether growth or value; large-, mid- or small-cap; could underperform other kinds of investments or market averages that include style-focused investments. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Options Risk: There are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing an options transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option at a particular time; as a result, it may be costly to liquidate options. There is also no assurance that a liquid market will exist for any particular option contract on an exchange. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zeRjO2Qtz4wj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_zOli9aDDrhhj">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. <span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_zlzBUdDyMbyj">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_903_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_z2e15UqFTGn9">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0513 0.1933 -0.0487 0.2819 0.1317 0.2744 -0.2020 0.2435 0.2048 0.1290 <div id="xdx_A89_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zMUpynMbUs6h"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009844Member_zuj6n56gInm4">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009844Member_zF8XPCxwPhKa">21.42%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009844Member_zVt56INm8Tr6">6/30/2020</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009844Member_zAFjWxkM8QTa">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009844Member_zAT9fn6f6eZf">-27.26%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009844Member_zppRfsuBB5N">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.2142 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.2726 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0639 0.1015 0.1087 0.0191 0.0650 0.0847 0.0706 0.0756 0.0847 0.1203 0.1062 0.1069 0.1179 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zt2pTb6aDpX2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_zNt4kswZhFTk">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_znGoEgwGDeW3">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Equity Income Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_z2xboMl9jU5j" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks capital growth and current income. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zaHGN7O7VUN4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_909_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_zmncH0mYXFIi">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0575 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0055 0.0055 0.0025 0.0100 0.0027 0.0027 0.0107 0.0182 Example <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zTKEuyuN5y07" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 678 896 1131 1806 283 667 1075 2216 <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zE32s7QsQNN5" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 678 896 1131 1806 283 667 1075 2216 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zJA1Y1g3WzU" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 50.76% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.5076 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zqINi8GtyoSj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in equity securities. The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in dividend-paying equity securities, in particular common stocks of companies with a history of increasing dividends. The Fund may also invest in U.S. traded common stocks of foreign companies, including American Depositary Receipts. Because yield is a consideration in selecting securities, the Fund may purchase stocks of companies that are out of favor in the financial community and, therefore, are selling below what the portfolio manager believes to be their long-term investment value. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers of any capitalization range. The portfolio manager may consider selling a stock owned by the Fund when the factors that induced the portfolio manager to buy the stock have changed, the portfolio manager anticipates a negative change in the company’s dividend policy, or to reduce the Fund’s position in a particular stock if the stock represents a disproportionately large position within the Fund’s portfolio. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline, or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund focuses — income-producing equities — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Dividend Risk: Companies that issue dividend-yielding securities are not required to continue to pay dividends on such securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that such companies could reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends in the future. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_za5OC9K8Y4dg" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_z8yaPU5FQ2A6">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. <span id="xdx_906_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_zVrhHybUV0tk">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_90A_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_zhdRAaCjARs1">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.1539 0.2065 -0.0092 0.2504 0.0835 0.2771 -0.0338 0.1211 0.0475 0.0129 <div id="xdx_A8B_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zeA6Nefixtm3"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009884Member_zOq3cmRIQuUh">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009884Member_znfBvcsnwo1d">18.92%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009884Member_zxtkgq3S7b66">6/30/2020</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009884Member_zqESl6WjsZ9b">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009884Member_zySs8EZUYFkh">-25.32%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009884Member_zpizooOoA61">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1892 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.2532 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 -0.0456 0.0670 0.0996 -0.0950 0.0350 0.0756 0.0083 0.0515 0.0787 0.0055 0.0717 0.0979 0.1179 0.1114 0.1089 0.1715 0.1315 0.1307 0.1179 0.1114 0.1089 <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zkktlNfAI0C9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_ztqt3evG6q5f">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90F_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_zUe2d5YYMq31">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Mid Cap Relative Value Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zc15KC7lvBvh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zXgTZF6JEYWd" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_90B_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_z0Lact4FMt08">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0575 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0060 0.0060 0.0025 0.0100 0.0032 0.0032 0.0117 0.0192 Example <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zJCGVi1FjEvg" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 687 925 1182 1914 293 697 1126 2321 <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zH3VlZyPALS9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 687 925 1182 1914 293 697 1126 2321 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zv7dsXImcrpc" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 40.39% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.4039 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_z4T9RaVBOYxi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in a diversified portfolio of common stock and securities convertible into common stock of mid capitalization (“mid cap”) companies. Mid cap stocks are defined as those companies with public stock market capitalizations within the range of the market capitalization of companies constituting the Bloomberg US Mid Cap® Index at the time of investment. As of December 31, 2025, the capitalization range of the Bloomberg US Mid Cap® Index was between $1.03 billion and $75.9 billion. The market capitalization of the companies in the Fund’s portfolio and the Bloomberg US Mid Cap® Index changes over time; the Fund will not automatically sell or cease to purchase stock of a company it already owns solely because the company’s market capitalization grows or falls outside these ranges. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), including mortgage REITs, and other real estate-related securities. Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”) believes that undervalued companies with good earnings prospects have superior appreciation potential with reasonable levels of risk. Quantitatively, Sterling Capital focuses on a stock’s fundamental valuation relative to its peers. Sterling Capital considers additional quantitative measures, such as earnings momentum and relative price strength. Qualitatively, Sterling Capital seeks to identify business catalysts which will serve to drive future earnings growth, increase investor interest and expand valuation. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline, or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund focuses — mid cap value stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zpu4PSGDYNff" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_zo3zx5XTW8Ec">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. <span id="xdx_90F_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_zFTm1I8Fngw9">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_902_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_zazgCW4fSyq">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.1134 0.2146 -0.1453 0.2936 0.0348 0.2315 -0.1117 0.1383 0.0915 0.0500 <div id="xdx_A80_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zUPhVbr1TiYa"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156996Member_zW5BjFzz3ifj">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156996Member_zMzlzadozQt5">18.29%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156996Member_z81Zlx7pmTki">12/31/2020</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156996Member_zlTpRNczwHwk">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156996Member_z2hYLPJMNRci">-29.13%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156996Member_zapLa7K6Rqxj">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1829 2020-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.2913 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 -0.0104 0.0611 0.0760 -0.0318 0.0331 0.0577 0.0094 0.0454 0.0592 0.0423 0.0666 0.0750 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.1179 0.1114 0.1089 <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zMX23CKm7pYf" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_zH2fv1OH3fd8">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90B_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_zMg5nWCib6oe">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Real Estate Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zaVbn9KL05W3" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks total return through investment in real estate securities. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zWmqd2BgCH3i" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_90E_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_zWgGoUti94Ld">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0575 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0058 0.0058 0.0025 0.0100 0.0031 0.0031 0.0114 0.0189 Example <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_z33maex0GJAf" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 685 916 1167 1881 290 688 1111 2289 <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zQsPTWYcpqJh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 685 916 1167 1881 290 688 1111 2289 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zSz2DoaoQhZ" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 7.62% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.0762 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_z0fAkH3CaWz9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in securities of real estate and real estate-related companies, or in companies which own significant real estate assets at the time of purchase (“real estate companies”) including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). A real estate company derives at least 50% of its revenue from the ownership, construction, financing, management or sale of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate, or has at least 50% of its assets in such real estate. REITs are companies that own interests in real estate or in real estate related loans or other interests, and their revenue primarily consists of rent derived from owned, income producing real estate properties and capital gains from the sale of such properties. The Fund will invest more than 25% of its assets in REITs, including mortgage REITs and other real estate-related securities. The Fund may invest in equity securities including, without limitation, preferred stocks, convertible securities, limited liability companies and similar enterprises. The Fund may also invest in securities of foreign issuers which meet the same criteria for investment as domestic companies, or sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts for such securities. In pursuing total return, the Fund will emphasize both capital appreciation and current income. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Concentration Risk: The risk that the Fund’s concentration in REITs and other real estate-related securities may produce a greater risk of loss than a more diversified mutual fund. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zQNPA6U7bEx" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_z0wfqiT2UKGk">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of two broad measures of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. <span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_z12acsN1mxLb">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_90B_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_zKaAp37nYklg">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of two broad measures of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.0798 0.0754 -0.0304 0.2654 -0.0084 0.3814 -0.2634 0.1275 0.0595 0.0109 <div id="xdx_A8B_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zfRLVg834b3l"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156999Member_z7tGmAdUzKhi">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156999Member_zZT9QgtBJcYf">17.00%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156999Member_zWtL8g7f8xme">12/31/2023</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156999Member_zbkW6S46U5nk">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156999Member_z85BsPflFpeh">-20.89%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156999Member_zpefH06INPW6">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1700 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.2089 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 -0.0471 0.0298 0.0505 -0.0627 0.0101 0.0320 -0.0213 0.0196 0.0351 0.0032 0.0343 0.0489 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.0223 0.0474 0.0576 <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_z6kRck5XWRh8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_z0o0D699AY93">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_z7nLcbcjGBBi">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Small Cap Value Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zIid0rhhuWs6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zAj6pWNoQqKe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_90E_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_zL019sn1KBXl">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0575 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0075 0.0075 0.0025 0.0100 0.0028 0.0028 0.0128 0.0203 Example <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zo9bSH15APhh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 698 958 1237 2031 304 730 1182 2435 <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zdIhlfg9IMij" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 698 958 1237 2031 304 730 1182 2435 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_z0GZOy8aQwcl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 6.19% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.0619 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zNixHaChQ6Y4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in common stock and securities convertible into common stock of small capitalization companies. Small cap companies include companies with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, that are below the market capitalization of the largest company in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index. As of December 31, 2025, the market capitalization of the largest company in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index was $15.1 billion. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), including mortgage REITs, and other real estate-related securities. Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”) believes that undervalued companies with good earnings prospects have superior appreciation potential with reasonable levels of risk. Quantitatively, Sterling Capital focuses on a stock’s fundamental valuation relative to its peers. Sterling Capital considers additional quantitative measures, such as earnings momentum and relative price strength. Qualitatively, Sterling Capital seeks to identify business catalysts which will serve to drive future earnings growth, increase investor interest and expand valuation. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund focuses — small cap value stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_z6lwQHglSBi5" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_zECjeCm3Hw1g">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. <span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_z95sIbUfA0Re">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_902_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_zxyZxcSYUOG8">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.2497 0.1290 -0.1466 0.2420 0.0291 0.3129 -0.1466 0.1741 0.1327 0.1122 <div id="xdx_A87_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_z9Q4iCYJRIda"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157002Member_ziCtM8N27PS7">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157002Member_zQfqXQg1FV0h">27.53%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157002Member_zYZhnYFoQbuf">12/31/2020</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157002Member_zTTWD9hhzOLb">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157002Member_zN6ngQ22xpy8">-32.44%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157002Member_z9n95g5T05md">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.2753 2020-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.3244 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0483 0.0933 0.0917 0.0062 0.0387 0.0535 0.0600 0.0668 0.0678 0.1038 0.0980 0.0900 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.0896 0.1022 0.0991 <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_z2GBbC3K3Y1g" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_zWRnlVzdDFXl">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90B_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_zo4aKZuUvXP3">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Ultra Short Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zZJxap2wSdba" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks to provide current income and competitive total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zQr5v2UG3wPh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_90E_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member_zHmXqLtDJPwh">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).] You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0020 0.0025 0.0039 0.0084 0.0015 0.0069 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zoegeg6lZtO" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 71 255 454 1029 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zdPWnBPdAfYi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 62.06% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.6206 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zwwe84kehfhb" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in fixed income securities (bonds). The Fund invests primarily in the following types of fixed income securities: (i) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities, some of which may be subject to repurchase agreements; (ii) corporate debt securities, including bonds, notes and debentures, issued by U.S. companies that are investment grade (i.e., rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality); (iii) investment grade asset-backed securities; (iv) investment grade mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations; (v) municipal securities; (vi) U.S. dollar-denominated foreign and emerging market securities; (vii) variable and floating rate instruments; and (viii) collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). Additionally, the Fund will invest in convertible securities, including convertible bonds and preferred stocks, and cash equivalents. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in bonds that are below investment grade, which are commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds. The Fund will maintain an average duration of 18 months or less. The Fund is generally structured to target a dollar-weighted average maturity of between zero and 24 months, although the Fund may invest in individual securities of any weighted average maturity. Duration is the expected life of a fixed-income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors, and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis. Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio managers finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. High-Yield/High-Risk Debt Securities: High-yield/high-risk debt securities are securities that are rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies. These securities are considered speculative and involve greater risk of loss than investment grade debt securities. Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk: Collateralized loan obligations are structured investment vehicles typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Collateralized loan obligations are subject to the risks of substantial losses, including losses due to actual defaults by borrowers of the loans underlying the collateralized loan obligations, which will be greater during periods of economic or financial stress. Collateralized loan obligations may also lose value due to collateral defaults and impairment of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to collateralized loan obligation securities as a class. The Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations that hold loans of uncreditworthy borrowers, which may absorb losses from underlying borrower defaults before senior tranches. Investments in such collateralized loan obligations present a greater risk of loss. In addition, collateralized loan obligations are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment/call risk and fixed income market risk. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Variable and Floating Rate Instrument Risk: Variable and floating rate instruments are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than other fixed rate instruments; however, the value of floating rate instruments may decline if their interest rates do not rise as quickly, or as much, as general interest rates. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zKAes9QD7OX9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member_zDcIcUUBdmT9">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. <span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member_zAGT7CXqAq72">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member_zRbAeLxJPujc">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0108 0.0112 0.0141 0.0290 0.0203 -0.0004 0.0017 0.0559 0.0558 0.0464 <div id="xdx_A8A_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zgjKTAk1OgMe"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119973Member_zgVj431AUUub">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119973Member_z6HS0g59FbX9">2.51%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119973Member_zvMDQUaECWh8">6/30/2020</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119973Member_zYJKl3kjNkfk">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119973Member_zAMRNVHjRjQf">-1.35%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119973Member_zw6cVp3pOFWl">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0251 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.0135 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0465 0.0316 0.0243 0.0294 0.0190 0.0145 0.0273 0.0187 0.0143 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 0.0472 0.0311 0.0226 <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zbZoB0lLioPl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member_zTp4xb0olmbb">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member_zwTNq5pgfkY9">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Short Duration Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zzxPAh372GWb" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks to provide current income and competitive total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zut6EWRmgmPk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_90E_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_zJEJ2CCNzdO8">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0200 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0020 0.0020 0.0025 0.0100 0.0035 0.0035 0.0080 0.0155 Example <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zCAexlmtAOC9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 280 450 635 1170 158 490 845 1845 <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zCtTtfops241" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 280 450 635 1170 158 490 845 1845 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zisg7OxubIW7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 66.22% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.6622 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_z2ttpz3CC9Gb" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investment grade fixed income securities (bonds). The Fund primarily invests in the following types of fixed income securities: (i) corporate debt securities, including bonds, notes, and debentures, issued by U.S. companies that are investment grade (i.e., rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality); (ii) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities, some of which may be subject to repurchase agreements; (iii) investment grade mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations; (iv) investment grade asset-backed securities; (v) U.S. dollar-denominated foreign and emerging market securities; and (vi) investment grade collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). Additionally, the Fund will invest in municipal securities, convertible securities, including convertible bonds and preferred stocks, and cash equivalents. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in bonds that are below investment grade, which are commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds, and non-dollar denominated foreign and emerging market securities. The Fund will maintain an average duration between 1 and 3 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price changes to changes in interest rates. Duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps and interest rate swaps to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors, and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis. Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio managers finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. High-Yield/High-Risk Debt Securities: High-yield/high-risk debt securities are securities that are rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies. These securities are considered speculative and involve greater risk of loss than investment grade debt securities. Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk: Collateralized loan obligations are structured investment vehicles typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Collateralized loan obligations are subject to the risks of substantial losses, including losses due to actual defaults by borrowers of the loans underlying the collateralized loan obligations, which will be greater during periods of economic or financial stress. Collateralized loan obligations may also lose value due to collateral defaults and impairment of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to collateralized loan obligation securities as a class. The Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations that hold loans of uncreditworthy borrowers, which may absorb losses from underlying borrower defaults before senior tranches. Investments in such collateralized loan obligations present a greater risk of loss. In addition, collateralized loan obligations are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment/call risk and fixed income market risk. Foreign Currency Transaction Risk: Funds that invest directly in foreign currencies and in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will fluctuate in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. When the Fund uses credit default swaps to gain indirect long exposure to an issuer or a fixed income security by selling credit protection on such issuer or security, the Fund is exposed to the risk that it will be required to pay the full notional value of the swap contract in the event of a default. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zYBlEj0BPynf" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_zeMHtUVD1rLd">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. <span id="xdx_90C_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_zaCFIYtbfV96">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_zbBruFyRRb2b">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0167 0.0151 0.0108 0.0445 0.0397 -0.0025 -0.0341 0.0532 0.0529 0.0540 <div id="xdx_A8B_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zV0IQCw8YGZf"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009858Member_zCZzOZnYLB5i">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009858Member_zye01QQ3INH2">3.89%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009858Member_zO2vKsTpIiyl">6/30/2020</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009858Member_zrCNYZmITFGh">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009858Member_zI00KoSzkcKg">-2.32%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009858Member_zOtGimlPOc61">3/31/2022</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0389 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.0232 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0329 0.0199 0.0226 0.0145 0.0065 0.0106 0.0192 0.0093 0.0119 0.0462 0.0166 0.0170 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 0.0534 0.0200 0.0211 <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zjIp9GktZNde" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_z3fBNOeehO11">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_zczb1Qtg9yUf">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Intermediate U.S. Government Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zMZpNlvlbVA1" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks current income consistent with the preservation of capital. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zYEBAPAIBPI9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_90E_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member_zTvspSSAAnh">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0200 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0032 0.0032 0.0025 0.0100 0.0045 0.0045 0.0102 0.0177 0.0021 0.0021 0.0081 0.0156 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zHZcaY8NUEIh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 283 500 734 1406 161 539 942 2068 <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_z5ZOw8c9Mcef" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 283 500 734 1406 161 539 942 2068 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_znX61okcA5A9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 27.66% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.2766 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zmyPMQHmnXMk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in bonds issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (“U.S. government securities”). In addition, under normal circumstances, at least 90% of the value of the Fund’s investments in securities will consist of U.S. government securities. Bonds for this purpose include Treasury bills (maturities of less than one year), bonds (maturities of ten years or more) and notes (maturities of one to ten years) of the U.S. government. The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, in U.S. government securities, some of which may be subject to repurchase agreements, or in “high grade” (rated at the time of purchase in one of the three highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality) mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations. The Fund will also invest in short-term obligations, asset-backed securities, corporate bonds, municipal securities and the shares of other investment companies. The Fund may also invest in Yankee bonds, which are U.S.-dollar denominated bonds and notes issued by foreign corporations or governments. The Fund will maintain an average duration between 2.5 and 7 years. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity is expected to be more than 3 years but less than 10 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on duration, yield curve structure and sector allocation based upon economic outlook and market expectations. The portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to manage the Fund’s price sensitivity, to reposition the Fund to a more favorable portion of the yield curve, or to purchase securities that the portfolio manager believes offer greater total return potential than existing holdings. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Yankee Bond Risk: Yankee bonds are subject to the same risks as other debt issues, notably credit risk, market risk, currency and liquidity risk. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments; the extent and quality of government regulations of financial markets and institutions; the imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes; and the expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zUHQXqMpua9l" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member_zgHzxibDDmRi">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. <span id="xdx_90A_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member_znWiuKGW1LJl">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_90C_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member_zJymRwTvd2Qa">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0045 0.0124 0.0042 0.0515 0.0496 -0.0203 -0.0961 0.0436 0.0202 0.0684 <div id="xdx_A8E_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zwrB9MHqY3Ve"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009891Member_zhjDTEutB5w3">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009891Member_zepDXg77sCAe">5.04%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009891Member_zvfRSn78Ywna">12/31/2023</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009891Member_zAEIOFs2397e">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009891Member_zUeGmhgFYzJ4">-4.68%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009891Member_zF02ME7AQgx6">3/31/2022</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0504 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0468 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0464 -0.0026 0.0107 0.0358 -0.0131 0.0006 0.0273 -0.0065 0.0037 0.0605 -0.0060 0.0052 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 0.0243 0.0064 0.0176 <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zlkXENU40R1f" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member_zyDkmPBCUOs5">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_900_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member_z1vjYqzwPRLe">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Total Return Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_z9HTVxWG58pe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks a high level of current income and a competitive total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zSFwrxfA2H8b" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_901_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_zKfUzRxDTT1j">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0200 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0025 0.0025 0.0025 0.0100 0.0024 0.0024 0.0074 0.0149 0.0004 0.0004 0.0070 0.0145 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_z9ip7WZcHIv" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 270 428 599 1096 148 467 809 1776 <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zaFkwrjTsjUl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 270 428 599 1096 148 467 809 1776 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_z3SnNugQotji" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 78.95% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.7895 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zo3OI4OUYqv7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks above-average total return through any combination of current income and capital appreciation. To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in a diversified portfolio of bonds, including: securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, Mortgage-backed securities, including commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), municipal securities, and convertible securities. All securities will be U.S. dollar-denominated although the Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign and emerging market securities. The Fund will invest in securities that are investment grade (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rate risk, allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis (a comparison of current and historical valuation relationships between various sectors). Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio manager finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps and interest rate swaps to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Foreign Currency Transaction Risk: Funds that invest directly in foreign currencies and in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will fluctuate in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk: Collateralized loan obligations are structured investment vehicles typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Collateralized loan obligations are subject to the risks of substantial losses, including losses due to actual defaults by borrowers of the loans underlying the collateralized loan obligations, which will be greater during periods of economic or financial stress. Collateralized loan obligations may also lose value due to collateral defaults and impairment of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to collateralized loan obligation securities as a class. The Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations that hold loans of uncreditworthy borrowers, which may absorb losses from underlying borrower defaults before senior tranches. Investments in such collateralized loan obligations present a greater risk of loss. In addition, collateralized loan obligations are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment/call risk and fixed income market risk. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zlLCgw0MC899" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_zFx2CPStT6Ve">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. <span id="xdx_90A_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_zFYvD1JKSVM8">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_901_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_zxQKx7wF8o2c">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0349 0.0417 -0.0070 0.0910 0.0887 -0.0138 -0.1356 0.0571 0.0190 0.0665 <div id="xdx_A8D_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_z4Stq6LQv2b8"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009864Member_zLXsAjo20KUj">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009864Member_zSodbup0iLve">6.73%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009864Member_zpFtKVfm8gc9">12/31/2023</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009864Member_zNwfGe1InPTe">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009864Member_zl891M22M4">-6.23%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009864Member_zK7E5OoLA4l6">3/31/2022</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0673 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0623 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0449 -0.0081 0.0202 0.0286 -0.0210 0.0071 0.0263 -0.0115 0.0098 0.0586 -0.0117 0.0145 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_z5T3lMJACBE6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_zVf80RPIoHKf">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_903_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_zhgcA0OZZsEh">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zsQn1kLAnZCk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks to maximize total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zVB08TdQQFAj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_902_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_zEBG6WDcYdd7">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0200 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0025 0.0025 0.0025 0.0100 0.0032 0.0032 0.0082 0.0157 0.0012 0.0012 0.0070 0.0145 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_z40Is2u2HsM6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 270 445 634 1182 148 484 844 1857 <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zuk3LMEQ0lD3" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 270 445 634 1182 148 484 844 1857 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_z9IUzjnhc0t9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 52.57% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.5257 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zehmM0EcbRA5" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in a diversified portfolio of corporate debt securities, including corporate bonds, notes and debentures. The Fund may invest in (i) bonds issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities; (ii) preferred stock; (iii) debt securities that are sold in private placement transactions between their issuers and their purchasers and that are neither listed on an exchange or traded over the counter; and (iv) Yankee bonds, which are U.S.-dollar denominated bonds and notes issued by foreign corporations or governments. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in bonds that are below investment grade, which are commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in securities denominated in foreign currencies. The remainder of the Fund’s corporate debt securities will typically be denominated in U.S. dollars and be investment grade (i.e., rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rate risk, allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors, and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis (a comparison of current and historical valuation relationships between various sectors). Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The Fund’s average duration is expected to be between 10 and 20 years. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio managers finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps and interest rate swaps to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. High-Yield/High-Risk Debt Securities: High-yield/high-risk debt securities are securities that are rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies. These securities are considered speculative and involve greater risk of loss than investment grade debt securities. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Private Placement Risk: Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not publicly traded, and may be less liquid than those that are publicly traded. Accordingly, the Fund may not be able to redeem or resell its interests in a privately issued security at an advantageous time or at an advantageous price which may result in a loss to the Fund. Yankee Bond Risk: Yankee bonds are subject to the same risks as other debt issues, notably credit risk, market risk, currency and liquidity risk. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments; the extent and quality of government regulations of financial markets and institutions; the imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes; and the expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zPBYhOjAgXmg" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_zEQxDFq0eQWg">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. <span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_zssS6SRPZu9k">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_900_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_zNnVnyn8A6Tb">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0410 0.0406 -0.0131 0.1050 0.0787 -0.0027 -0.2373 0.0975 -0.0193 0.0609 <div id="xdx_A80_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zw1XyNTpbKR1"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123268Member_z7B8CPPZZ0wf">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123268Member_zgaNjIMWMu4c">13.68%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123268Member_z2x6nBQNZ6Ak">12/31/2023</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123268Member_zg3HavYjxOTe">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123268Member_zjZq0VXDZgv1">-12.42%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123268Member_zlhIaGn4bbP4">6/30/2022</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1368 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.1242 2022-06-30 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0395 -0.0318 0.0082 0.0196 -0.0517 -0.0091 0.0231 -0.0296 0.0006 0.0512 -0.0352 0.0028 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 0.0744 -0.0298 0.0342 <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zngBwMrosaGh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_zyPovbWfMjF1">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_zoB88afw7Iye">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Quality Income Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zm8SN3z53kFe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks to maximize total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zIl9l5DzXn38" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_90D_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zT2LOxyn1da5">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0200 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0035 0.0035 0.0025 0.0100 0.0031 0.0031 0.0091 0.0166 0.0006 0.0006 0.0085 0.0160 Example <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zbNrnzFgNtig" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 286 479 689 1293 164 519 897 1961 <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zGRKgZTYlnd" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 286 479 689 1293 164 519 897 1961 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zlPiOXxUmiPj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 35.06% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.3506 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zdyq4c171ebc" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in a diversified portfolio of securitized obligations of any kind (including asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs)). The Fund will invest in securities that are investment grade (i.e., rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). As part of its investment strategy, the Fund may engage in mortgage dollar roll transactions, under which the Fund sells a mortgage-backed security to a dealer and simultaneously contracts to repurchase a security that is substantially similar in type, coupon and maturity, on a specified future date. Such investments will not exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets. Mortgage dollar roll transactions may create investment leverage. The Fund also will invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as, for example, the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)); corporate debt securities, including corporate bonds, notes and debentures; preferred stock; and debt securities that are sold in private placement transactions between their issuers and their purchasers and that are neither listed on an exchange or traded over the counter. In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rate risk, allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors, and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis (a comparison of current and historical valuation relationships between various sectors). Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The Fund’s average duration is expected to be within 1.5 years of the duration of the Bloomberg U.S. Mortgage Backed Securities Index. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio managers finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps, interest rate swaps, inverse floater securities, and interest-only and principal-only securities to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk: Collateralized loan obligations are structured investment vehicles typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Collateralized loan obligations are subject to the risks of substantial losses, including losses due to actual defaults by borrowers of the loans underlying the collateralized loan obligations, which will be greater during periods of economic or financial stress. Collateralized loan obligations may also lose value due to collateral defaults and impairment of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to collateralized loan obligation securities as a class. The Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations that hold loans of uncreditworthy borrowers, which may absorb losses from underlying borrower defaults before senior tranches. Investments in such collateralized loan obligations present a greater risk of loss. In addition, collateralized loan obligations are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment/call risk and fixed income market risk. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Private Placement Risk: Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not publicly traded, and may be less liquid than those that are publicly traded. Accordingly, the Fund may not be able to redeem or resell its interests in a privately issued security at an advantageous time or at an advantageous price which may result in a loss to the Fund. Mortgage Dollar Roll Risk: The use of mortgage dollar rolls is a speculative technique involving leverage, and can have an economic effect similar to borrowing money for investment purposes. Mortgage dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is required to purchase may decline below the agreed upon repurchase price of those securities. If the broker/dealer to whom the Fund sells securities becomes insolvent, the Fund’s right to purchase or repurchase securities may be restricted. Successful use of mortgage dollar rolls may depend upon the ability to correctly predict interest rates and prepayments. These transactions may increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zSQueHCm6Apk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zOA5asCcJ9U3">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_900_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_z0X8SB6qwUHi">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0240 0.0284 0.0113 0.0597 0.0443 -0.0130 -0.0926 0.0481 0.0214 0.0722 <div id="xdx_A81_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zNYIr5oXbGLi"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123271Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zj1UGUeIryEk">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123271Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_z14yzVZDXiIa">5.74%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123271Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zRxJUEgjN0s6">12/31/2023</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123271Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_z8J9RwSLf164">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123271Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zcbi1rgyij4f">-4.05%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123271Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zPHevzBIpzYd">3/31/2022</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0574 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0405 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0508 0.0014 0.0173 0.0353 -0.0097 0.0062 0.0298 -0.0038 0.0083 0.0657 -0.0010 0.0123 0.0730 -0.0063 0.0201 0.0858 0.0015 0.0159 <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zYDVDjCiBCrl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zwVG7CDZtyTc">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_903_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zGLmDn6hZ9n3">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital North Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_z8ASFgLbDQXi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks current income exempt from federal and North Carolina income taxes consistent with preservation of capital. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zsrd61tsSKf9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_90C_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zz5ky0gojOy9">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0200 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0035 0.0035 0.0025 0.0100 0.0023 0.0023 0.0083 0.0158 Example <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zaMkn8U6RNS4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 283 460 651 1205 161 499 460 1878 <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zDAvmtsOvHD4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 283 460 651 1205 161 499 460 1878 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zJydWUkSizL1" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 29.62% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.2962 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_z5NXHetnfsI8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which is exempt from federal income tax, alternative minimum tax, and North Carolina personal income tax (“North Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations”). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in municipal securities of the State of North Carolina and its political subdivisions that provide income exempt from both federal personal income tax and North Carolina personal income tax. Municipal securities in which the Fund will invest include municipal notes and bonds, general obligation bonds, special revenue bonds, private activity bonds, lease obligations, certificates of participation, variable rate demand notes, and tax-exempt commercial paper. The Fund invests in North Carolina municipal securities only if they are “investment grade” (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). The Fund will maintain an average duration of 3.5 to 8 years. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity is expected to be more than 3 years but less than 10 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rates and credit quality. The portfolio manager sets, and continually adjusts, a target for the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio based on expectations about interest rate movements. The portfolio manager then selects securities consistent with this target based on their individual characteristics. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reposition the Fund along the yield curve, to adjust the Fund’s average maturity or duration, to replace a security with one that the portfolio manager believes offers greater total return potential, or to exit a security whose credit fundamentals are deteriorating. The Fund is non-diversified and, therefore, may invest in a limited number of issuers. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. State-Specific Risk: By concentrating its investments in securities issued by North Carolina and its political subdivisions, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in North Carolina (e.g., adverse changes in North Carolina economic conditions, government policies or tax revenues and expenditures) than funds that are more geographically diversified. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Tax Risk: The risk that the issuer of the securities will fail to comply with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, which would cause adverse tax consequences. Changes or proposed changes in federal or state tax laws may cause the prices of tax-exempt securities to fall and/or may affect the tax-exempt status of the securities in which the Fund invests. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Non-Diversified Risk: Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer compared with other funds. Accordingly, the Fund’s portfolio may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer or industry. Prepayment/Call Risk: When obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_ziQdNdDVprpi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zym8RCuZ4f5">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. <span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zRZFsDmpez09">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_90F_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zbdCIhCxnmA9">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A Shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 -0.0066 0.0301 0.0047 0.0563 0.0415 -0.0048 -0.0610 0.0361 -0.0005 0.0400 <div id="xdx_A87_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zvIjYyYdPZHe"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009838Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zECIUgthZgX6">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009838Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zEpXAO40Y752">6.03%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009838Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zFhQ1vdEFUIc">12/31/2023</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009838Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zA1xmlyHozvi">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009838Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zDkpgyepTjtf">-5.13%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009838Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zlJvqVL2FT8h">3/31/2022</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0603 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0513 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0197 -0.0028 0.0110 0.0195 -0.0029 0.0109 0.0213 0.0022 0.0129 0.0332 -0.0060 0.0056 0.0425 0.0080 0.0234 0.0517 0.0114 0.0231 <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zSB4RlNMq4t9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zZw07efqPKY6">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90E_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zQ0DFK6f9Gk1">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital South Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zBQVRcB8low4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks current income exempt from federal and South Carolina income taxes consistent with preservation of capital. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_z0vaDw4Yy5Il" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_909_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zm7te1PPsgF4">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0200 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0035 0.0035 0.0025 0.0100 0.0031 0.0031 0.0091 0.0166 Example <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zMR0h6RG8Ba6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 291 484 694 1297 169 523 902 1965 <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_z2Sdfu6p9pbj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 291 484 694 1297 169 523 902 1965 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_z9ANP7FSgfr1" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16.00% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.1600 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zwKIeNpTtW53" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which is exempt from federal income tax, alternative minimum tax, and South Carolina personal income tax (“South Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations”). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in municipal securities of the State of South Carolina (“South Carolina” or the “State”) and its political subdivisions that provide income exempt from both federal personal income tax and South Carolina personal income tax. Municipal securities in which the Fund will invest include municipal notes and bonds, general obligation bonds, special revenue bonds, private activity bonds, lease obligations, certificates of participation, variable rate demand notes, and tax-exempt commercial paper. The Fund invests in South Carolina municipal securities only if they are “investment grade” (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). The Fund will maintain an average duration of 3.5 to 8 years. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity is expected to be more than 3 years but less than 10 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rates and credit quality. The portfolio manager sets, and continually adjusts, a target for the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio based on expectations about interest rate movements. The portfolio manager then selects securities consistent with this target based on their individual characteristics. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reposition the Fund along the yield curve, to adjust the Fund’s average maturity or duration, to replace a security with one that the portfolio manager believes offers greater total return potential, or to exit a security whose credit fundamentals are deteriorating. The Fund is non-diversified and, therefore, may invest in a limited number of issuers. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. State-Specific Risk: By concentrating its investments in securities issued by South Carolina and its political subdivisions, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in South Carolina (e.g., adverse changes in South Carolina economic conditions, government policies or tax revenues and expenditures) than funds that are more geographically diversified. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Tax Risk: The risk that the issuer of the securities will fail to comply with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, which would cause adverse tax consequences. Changes or proposed changes in federal or state tax laws may cause the prices of tax-exempt securities to fall and/or may affect the tax-exempt status of the securities in which the Fund invests. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Non-Diversified Risk: Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer compared with other funds. Accordingly, the Fund’s portfolio may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer or industry. Prepayment/Call Risk: When obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_z2LPGjY63r1" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zlzC6C1MFIs5">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. <span id="xdx_900_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zcM21QnIkk15">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_902_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_z6aWlnGXrHg7">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 -0.0060 0.0313 0.0061 0.0533 0.0405 0.0031 -0.0620 0.0375 0.0030 0.0382 <div id="xdx_A8A_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zVe185bb4YCb"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009852Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zjPHCfRbYE0f">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009852Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zcqGgxfVHcBe">5.63%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009852Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zw3i7VJceli3">12/31/2023</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009852Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zlr0ScgO2n82">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009852Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zHOTshS0mqI5">-5.13%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009852Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_z83uRicwhYWg">3/31/2022</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0563 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0513 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0177 -0.0009 0.0119 0.0174 -0.0010 0.0118 0.0203 0.0038 0.0134 0.0304 -0.0044 0.0063 0.0425 0.0080 0.0234 0.0517 0.0114 0.0231 <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zMaI1HyIgQhj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zUOTDsZX3nff">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zjwlyRXdmKB1">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zzTT6gRqnIbi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks current income exempt from federal and Virginia income taxes consistent with preservation of capital. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zGCFGIE2tDoe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_903_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zmEtc71H67Gb">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0200 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0035 0.0035 0.0025 0.0100 0.0027 0.0027 0.0087 0.0162 Example <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zZlQg5haSbNi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 287 472 673 1251 165 511 881 1922 <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zFfpnq0SS0Ka" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 287 472 673 1251 165 511 881 1922 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_znniDaOK2EEc" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 17.40% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.1740 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_z8tACFY6wAh8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which is exempt from federal income tax, alternative minimum tax, and Virginia personal income tax (“Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations”). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in municipal securities of the Commonwealth of Virginia and its political subdivisions that provide income exempt from both federal personal income tax and Virginia personal income tax. Municipal securities in which the Fund will invest include municipal notes and bonds, general obligation bonds, special revenue bonds, private activity bonds, lease obligations, certificates of participation, variable rate demand notes, and tax-exempt commercial paper. The Fund invests in Virginia municipal securities only if they are “investment grade” (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). The Fund will maintain an average duration of 3.5 to 8 years. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity is expected to be more than 3 years but less than 10 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rates and credit quality. The portfolio manager sets, and continually adjusts, a target for the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio based on expectations about interest rate movements. The portfolio manager then selects securities consistent with this target based on their individual characteristics. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reposition the Fund along the yield curve, to adjust the Fund’s average maturity or duration, to replace a security with one that the portfolio manager believes offers greater total return potential, or to exit a security whose credit fundamentals are deteriorating. The Fund is non-diversified and, therefore, may invest in a limited number of issuers. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. State-Specific Risk: By concentrating its investments in securities issued by Virginia and its political subdivisions, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in Virginia (e.g., adverse changes in Virginia economic conditions, government policies or tax revenues and expenditures) than funds that are more geographically diversified. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Tax Risk: The risk that the issuer of the securities will fail to comply with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, which would cause adverse tax consequences. Changes or proposed changes in federal or state tax laws may cause the prices of tax-exempt securities to fall and/or may affect the tax-exempt status of the securities in which the Fund invests. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Non-Diversified Risk: Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer compared with other funds. Accordingly, the Fund’s portfolio may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer or industry. Prepayment/Call Risk: When obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zMIYfOMMHk16" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zUDeJaObm691">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. <span id="xdx_901_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zsR4kd7YS3Y3">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_901_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zw1a1sCLt9a">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 -0.0085 0.0302 0.0053 0.0587 0.0402 -0.0085 -0.0575 0.0345 -0.0016 0.0354 <div id="xdx_A85_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zvyAvM6r10Th"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009872Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zqJ0iXdrkyUl">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009872Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zsv3rsgmHBgk">5.87%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009872Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zPiS4wdGwxX4">12/31/2023</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009872Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zupm6lKExvph">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009872Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zt713hazGOyb">-5.14%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009872Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zZCM30efFyQl">3/31/2022</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0587 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0514 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0151 -0.0042 0.0103 0.0149 -0.0043 0.0100 0.0181 0.0008 0.0120 0.0249 -0.0074 0.0049 0.0425 0.0080 0.0234 0.0517 0.0114 0.0231 <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zaqiB659sRG5" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zxJgRkDXTKZe">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zdfdcmjJQoZe">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital West Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_z5tnQ4KPZcjg" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks current income exempt from federal and West Virginia income taxes consistent with preservation of capital. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zY6kNMj7A8Fl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $<span id="xdx_901_eoef--ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_z5CD8xByLAed">50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. More information about these and other sales charge discounts and waivers is available from your financial intermediary, in “Distribution Arrangements/Sales Charges” on page 132 of the Fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”) and in “Sales Charges” on page [53] of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). You may qualify for sales charge discounts or waivers if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Sterling Capital Funds. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0200 0 0 0.0100 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0035 0.0035 0.0025 0.0100 0.0026 0.0026 0.0086 0.0161 Example <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zaI1PcY3dke1" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 286 469 667 1240 164 508 876 1911 <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionNarrativeTextBlock_zxI4ymVx0Eec" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: 286 469 667 1240 164 508 876 1911 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zTelF7g558f5" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 15.61% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.1561 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zoBRIKtjLG44" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which is exempt from federal income tax, alternative minimum tax, and West Virginia personal income tax (“West Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations”). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in municipal securities of West Virginia and its political subdivisions that provide income exempt from both federal personal income tax and West Virginia personal income tax. Municipal securities in which the Fund will invest include municipal notes and bonds, general obligation bonds, special revenue bonds, private activity bonds, lease obligations, certificates of participation, variable rate demand notes, and tax-exempt commercial paper. The Fund invests in West Virginia municipal securities only if they are “investment grade” (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). The Fund will maintain an average duration of 3.5 to 8 years. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity is expected to be more than 3 years but less than 10 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rates and credit quality. The portfolio manager sets, and continually adjusts, a target for the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio based on expectations about interest rate movements. The portfolio manager then selects securities consistent with this target based on their individual characteristics. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reposition the Fund along the yield curve, to adjust the Fund’s average maturity or duration, to replace a security with one that the portfolio manager believes offers greater total return potential, or to exit a security whose credit fundamentals are deteriorating. The Fund is non-diversified and, therefore, may invest in a limited number of issuers. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. State-Specific Risk: By concentrating its investments in securities issued by West Virginia and its political subdivisions, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in West Virginia (e.g., adverse changes in West Virginia economic conditions, government policies or tax revenues and expenditures) than funds that are more geographically diversified. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Tax Risk: The risk that the issuer of the securities will fail to comply with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, which would cause adverse tax consequences. Changes or proposed changes in federal or state tax laws may cause the prices of tax-exempt securities to fall and/or may affect the tax-exempt status of the securities in which the Fund invests. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Non-Diversified Risk: Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer compared with other funds. Accordingly, the Fund’s portfolio may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer or industry. Prepayment/Call Risk: When obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zHarB2EoHBL2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zFTMn3yIAPG">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. <span id="xdx_902_eoef--PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zuEpQH0Cwje2">The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting <span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zbYceo03gsw6">www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown. Class A Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 -0.0001 0.0317 0.0041 0.0559 0.0423 0.0014 -0.0615 0.0415 0.0078 0.0407 <div id="xdx_A8D_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zBPltSBEY75c"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009874Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zm8w8TucuuM3">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009874Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zxPPARcOxNT9">5.70%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009874Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zxqq89gaocF6">12/31/2023</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009874Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zdHZbsbgFoh6">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009874Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zPDLXcsqKuii">-4.57%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009874Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zsuiZ3EU6ud5">3/31/2022</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0570 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0457 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0201 0.0012 0.0138 0.0199 0.0011 0.0135 0.0223 0.0056 0.0152 0.0351 -0.0011 0.0089 0.0425 0.0080 0.0234 0.0517 0.0114 0.0231 <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_z1gjteDU37i4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_zxvoFTpwmZq2">After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_907_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--AandCSharesMember_z1gjteDU37i4">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares and are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zTYY9YquPZUk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks maximum long-term total return, by investing primarily in equity securities of large companies. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zKXPkehytda" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0045 0.0000 0.0035 0.0080 Example <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zXiZLYitey8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 82 255 444 990 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zsaLdSgBdE7e" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 108.16% of the average value of its portfolio. 1.0816 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zqc0fLEKix37" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in the equity securities of large companies. Large companies are defined as companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies in the Bloomberg 500® Index at the time of purchase. As of December 31, 2025, the smallest company in the Bloomberg 500® Index had a market capitalization of $7.7 billion and the largest company had a market capitalization of $4.5 trillion. Under normal market conditions, the Fund primarily invests in U.S. traded equity securities. The term “U.S. traded equity securities” refers to domestically traded U.S. common stocks (including securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)) and U.S. traded equity stocks of foreign companies. The Fund may invest in securities of middle capitalization companies. Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”) applies “behavioral finance” principles in the construction of the Fund’s portfolio. Behavioral finance theorizes that investment decisions are often influenced by biases, heuristics (i.e., experienced-based techniques for decision making) and emotion, and that investors can be predictable (and, at times, irrational) in their decision making. These emotionally charged investment decisions can lead to stock price anomalies that create opportunities in the marketplace. Sterling Capital seeks to capitalize on these behaviorally driven market anomalies by employing a disciplined investment process. In implementing behavioral finance principles, Sterling Capital ranks companies in the Fund’s investment universe based on a number of factors that it believes can be indicators of under- or over-valuation of a security by the market, such as valuation (e.g., seeking to invest in companies that Sterling Capital believes are undervalued), price momentum (e.g., identifying securities that Sterling Capital believes will experience sustained positive price momentum) and earnings revisions (e.g., identifying and capitalizing on what Sterling Capital believes are under-reactions by the market to positive earnings revisions). Sterling Capital also takes into account such factors as market capitalization, country exposure, and sector exposure to construct a diversified portfolio. Sterling Capital considers selling a security when the security’s ranking becomes less attractive and/or in light of liquidity, sector exposure, country exposure or diversification considerations. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that a market segment on which this Fund focuses — large cap stocks, value stocks and momentum stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. A stock owned primarily for its momentum characteristics may start to underperform abruptly. In addition, the Fund’s focus on behavioral finance principles may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not employ a behavioral finance strategy. There can be no guarantee that the factors that the Fund’s investment adviser considers in selecting stocks, and the weight that the adviser puts on each factor, will be effective in identifying and capitalizing on stock price anomalies. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. ETF Risk: The risks associated with investing in ETFs include the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF is designed to track. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in the ETF being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. When the Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. As a result, it may be more costly to own an ETF than owning the underlying portfolio of securities directly. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zpIfPNOZqOId" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_zYRmY4rmj3g3">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.1069 0.1882 -0.1031 0.2017 -0.0159 0.3107 -0.0548 0.1248 0.2093 0.2355 <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 36%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009819Member_zEkNRog8vaE9">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009819Member_zFk5Ir22uaU7">14.78%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009819Member_z88hbEmUngUj">3/31/2021</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 36%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009819Member_zLeQyVcyhUF">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009819Member_zcmhliI06Kn7">-26.64%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009819Member_zktZ7xeFkAzf">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1478 2021-03-31 Worst quarter: -0.2664 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.2355 0.1580 0.1125 0.2306 0.1536 0.1040 0.1423 0.1267 0.0900 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.1653 0.1314 0.1107 <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zp7GnlZDb9Kb" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_zT7YwlvRkls1">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90B_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_zzWe1Kqp6bA5">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zJqtWoYKLwe8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks maximum long-term total return, by investing primarily in equity securities of large companies. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zHnALMFtyPG8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0045 0.0000 0.0035 0.0080 0.0011 0.0069 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zUbe5sCIBDk2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 68 242 431 978 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zIQGA4Czjd72" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 108.16% of the average value of its portfolio. 1.0816 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zdk7WQtwpfT2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in the equity securities of large companies. Large companies are defined as companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies in the Bloomberg 500® Index at the time of purchase. As of December 31, 2025, the smallest company in the Bloomberg 500® Index had a market capitalization of $7.7 billion and the largest company had a market capitalization of $4.5 trillion. Under normal market conditions, the Fund primarily invests in U.S. traded equity securities. The term “U.S. traded equity securities” refers to domestically traded U.S. common stocks (including securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)) and U.S. traded equity stocks of foreign companies. The Fund may invest in securities of middle capitalization companies. Sterling Capital applies “behavioral finance” principles in the construction of the Fund’s portfolio. Behavioral finance theorizes that investment decisions are often influenced by biases, heuristics (i.e., experienced-based techniques for decision making) and emotion, and that investors can be predictable (and, at times, irrational) in their decision making. These emotionally charged investment decisions can lead to stock price anomalies that create opportunities in the marketplace. Sterling Capital seeks to capitalize on these behaviorally driven market anomalies by employing a disciplined investment process. In implementing behavioral finance principles, Sterling Capital ranks companies in the Fund’s investment universe based on a number of factors that it believes can be indicators of under- or over-valuation of a security by the market, such as valuation (e.g., seeking to invest in companies that Sterling Capital believes are undervalued), price momentum (e.g., identifying securities that Sterling Capital believes will experience sustained positive price momentum) and earnings revisions (e.g., identifying and capitalizing on what Sterling Capital believes are under-reactions by the market to positive earnings revisions). Sterling Capital also takes into account such factors as market capitalization, country exposure, and sector exposure to construct a diversified portfolio. Sterling Capital considers selling a security when the security’s ranking becomes less attractive and/or in light of liquidity, sector exposure, country exposure or diversification considerations. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that a market segment on which this Fund focuses — large cap stocks, value stocks and momentum stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. A stock owned primarily for its momentum characteristics may start to underperform abruptly. In addition, the Fund’s focus on behavioral finance principles may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not employ a behavioral finance strategy. There can be no guarantee that the factors that the Fund’s investment adviser considers in selecting stocks, and the weight that the adviser puts on each factor, will be effective in identifying and capitalizing on stock price anomalies. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. ETF Risk: The risks associated with investing in ETFs include the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF is designed to track. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in the ETF being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. When the Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. As a result, it may be more costly to own an ETF than owning the underlying portfolio of securities directly. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zDNToz5nLpne" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_zWDcKDlKUKL8">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Class R6 Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.2030 -0.0163 0.3121 -0.0531 0.1254 0.2101 0.2377 <div id="xdx_A8C_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zXmytdVEax01"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199529Member_zvDEG3ZXMv2i">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199529Member_zQ4VCNlER9Sk">14.77%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199529Member_zGzXZmbdeXy6">3/31/2021</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199529Member_z9PPZY0ijx9k">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199529Member_zWxCONNpuLK">-26.62%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199529Member_zOvsUEXZCsl">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1477 2021-03-31 Worst quarter: -0.2662 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.2377 0.1593 0.1133 0.2320 0.1548 0.1047 0.1441 0.1278 0.0907 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.1653 0.1266 0.1107 <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zEaRUbMFfkx6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_906_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003536Member_zzPgYHDU0xz5">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_ziOrWNvSuvth" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks maximum long-term total return, by investing primarily in equity securities of small capitalization companies. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zi9h0HdMbnR2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0060 0.0000 0.0024 0.0084 Example <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zR7JlHFTvPB3" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 86 268 466 1037 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zOp09jl4XH6f" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 89.59% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.8959 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_ztxP8Gw5Dx8d" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in the equity securities of small capitalization companies. Small capitalization companies are defined as companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index at the time of purchase. As of December 31, 2025, the smallest company in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index had a market capitalization of $1.2 million and the largest company had a market capitalization of $15.1 billion. The Fund invests primarily in U.S. traded equity securities of small capitalization companies. The term “U.S. traded equity securities” refers to domestically traded U.S. common stocks (including securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and U.S. traded equity stocks of foreign companies. The Fund may invest in securities of middle and large capitalization companies. Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”) applies “behavioral finance” principles in the construction of the Fund’s portfolio. Behavioral finance theorizes that investment decisions are often influenced by biases, heuristics (i.e., experienced-based techniques for decision making) and emotion, and that investors can be predictable (and, at times, irrational) in their decision making. These emotionally charged investment decisions can lead to stock price anomalies that create opportunities in the marketplace. Sterling Capital seeks to capitalize on these behaviorally driven market anomalies by employing a disciplined investment process. In implementing behavioral finance principles, Sterling Capital ranks companies in the Fund’s investment universe based on a number of factors that it believes can be indicators of under- or over-valuation of a security by the market, such as valuation (e.g., seeking to invest in companies that Sterling Capital believes are undervalued), price momentum (e.g., identifying securities that Sterling Capital believes will experience sustained positive price momentum) and earnings revisions (e.g., identifying and capitalizing on what Sterling Capital believes are under-reactions by the market to positive earnings revisions). Sterling Capital also takes into account such factors as market capitalization, country exposure, and sector exposure to construct a diversified portfolio. Sterling Capital considers selling a security when the security’s ranking becomes less attractive and/or in light of liquidity, sector exposure, country exposure or diversification considerations. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that a market segment on which this Fund focuses — small company stocks, value stocks and momentum stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. A stock owned primarily for its momentum characteristics may start to underperform abruptly. In addition, the Fund’s focus on behavioral finance principles may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not employ a behavioral finance strategy. There can be no guarantee that the factors that the Fund’s investment adviser considers in selecting stocks, and the weight that the adviser puts on each factor, will be effective in identifying and capitalizing on stock price anomalies. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. ETF Risk: The risks associated with investing in ETFs include the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF is designed to track. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in the ETF being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. When the Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. As a result, it may be more costly to own an ETF than owning the underlying portfolio of securities directly. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zgP1aILgJnU" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_z3l3p43kufXd">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.2408 0.0889 -0.1734 0.2195 -0.0581 0.4351 -0.1108 0.1935 0.1003 0.0846 <div id="xdx_A89_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zBKPopfeMwj3"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000034900Member_zSYE0DoTERYe">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000034900Member_zErqJ84dhsu">25.24%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000034900Member_zvTIyr1TDYPh">3/31/2021</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000034900Member_zCVkND3ARa8h">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000034900Member_zNiHVP3tSmui">-38.86%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000034900Member_zSxmDbwuAQnk">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.2524 2021-03-31 Worst quarter: -0.3886 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0846 0.1269 0.0884 0.0597 0.1095 0.0740 0.0685 0.0996 0.0690 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.0896 0.1022 0.0991 <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zFswMJ1dRemk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_zTQnxRoDGiJd">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_zHHchYtNJnUe">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zw4DmVXwTVF" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks maximum long-term total return, by investing primarily in equity securities of small capitalization companies. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_z2Ni2mizcS2i" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0060 0.0000 0.0024 0.0084 0.0006 0.0078 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zHFgjni6tNj7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 80 262 460 1032 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_z7zXyppRBmwe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 89.59% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.8959 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zj4wlh7Vrz62" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in the equity securities of small capitalization companies. Small capitalization companies are defined as companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index at the time of purchase. As of December 31, 2025, the smallest company in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index had a market capitalization of $1.2 million and the largest company had a market capitalization of $15.1 billion. The Fund invests primarily in U.S. traded equity securities of small capitalization companies. The term “U.S. traded equity securities” refers to domestically traded U.S. common stocks (including securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and U.S. traded equity stocks of foreign companies. The Fund may invest in securities of middle and large capitalization companies. Sterling Capital applies “behavioral finance” principles in the construction of the Fund’s portfolio. Behavioral finance theorizes that investment decisions are often influenced by biases, heuristics (i.e., experienced-based techniques for decision making) and emotion, and that investors can be predictable (and, at times, irrational) in their decision making. These emotionally charged investment decisions can lead to stock price anomalies that create opportunities in the marketplace. Sterling Capital seeks to capitalize on these behaviorally driven market anomalies by employing a disciplined investment process. In implementing behavioral finance principles, Sterling Capital ranks companies in the Fund’s investment universe based on a number of factors that it believes can be indicators of under- or over-valuation of a security by the market, such as valuation (e.g., seeking to invest in companies that Sterling Capital believes are undervalued), price momentum (e.g., identifying securities that Sterling Capital believes will experience sustained positive price momentum) and earnings revisions (e.g., identifying and capitalizing on what Sterling Capital believes are under-reactions by the market to positive earnings revisions). Sterling Capital also takes into account such factors as market capitalization, country exposure, and sector exposure to construct a diversified portfolio. Sterling Capital considers selling a security when the security’s ranking becomes less attractive and/or in light of liquidity, sector exposure, country exposure or diversification considerations. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that a market segment on which this Fund focuses — small company stocks, value stocks and momentum stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. A stock owned primarily for its momentum characteristics may start to underperform abruptly. In addition, the Fund’s focus on behavioral finance principles may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not employ a behavioral finance strategy. There can be no guarantee that the factors that the Fund’s investment adviser considers in selecting stocks, and the weight that the adviser puts on each factor, will be effective in identifying and capitalizing on stock price anomalies. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. ETF Risk: The risks associated with investing in ETFs include the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF is designed to track. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in the ETF being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. When the Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. As a result, it may be more costly to own an ETF than owning the underlying portfolio of securities directly. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Performance <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zAAqycWzG848" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_zgS71Rq2B9Xe">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Class R6 Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.2199 -0.0568 0.4354 -0.1104 0.1947 0.1010 0.0851 <div id="xdx_A8F_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zCeqKBuhRxN1"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199534Member_zdhr4siQ27f4">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199534Member_zYeUoRWg8JXg">25.20% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199534Member_za1dta8gRoG9">3/31/2021</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199534Member_zwlrxtJtIs71">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199534Member_zINN21rqadZ8">-38.83%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199534Member_zB83OGGrkwHh">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.2520 2021-03-31 Worst quarter: -0.3883 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0851 0.1275 0.0889 0.0602 0.1100 0.0745 0.0687 0.1001 0.0694 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.0896 0.1022 0.0991 <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zZePaWcc9IP6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000012930Member_zKUzk9ds23i8">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Special Opportunities Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zyfyM7rl8NH3" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zgag4SoAVXuj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0060 0.0000 0.0026 0.0086 Example <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zZG9JNUyPWhh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 88 275 478 1064 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zFCcxS7Ul1kd" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 38.82% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.3882 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zFgTlf6sUErk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in equity securities. The securities may include common stock, preferred stock, warrants, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), or debt instruments that are convertible to common stock. The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in domestically traded U.S. common stocks and U.S. traded equity stocks of foreign companies, including ADRs. The Fund uses a multi-style approach, meaning that it not only invests across different capitalization levels but may target both value- and growth-oriented companies. The portfolio manager looks for companies experiencing above-average revenue and profit growth as well as out-of-favor stocks that may be depressed due to what the portfolio manager believes to be temporary economic circumstances. In choosing individual stocks, the portfolio manager then performs a fundamental analysis to examine the valuation, growth and momentum characteristics of a particular issuer. The portfolio manager may consider selling a stock owned by the Fund for a variety of reasons including but not limited to: when the factors that induced the portfolio manager to buy the stock have changed, the company faces earnings growth risk or has issued substantial new debt, or to reduce the Fund’s position in a particular stock if the stock represents a disproportionately large position within the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, the Fund may engage in writing covered call options on securities to generate income from premiums received in connection with the option. A call option gives the buyer the right to buy, and obligates the option seller to sell a security at a specified price. Generally, a written call option is covered if a fund owns the security or instrument underlying the call or has an absolute right to acquire that security or instrument without additional cash consideration. When the Fund writes a covered call option on a security, the Fund limits its opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the security above the exercise price of the option. The Fund will not write a covered call option if, as a result, the aggregate fair value of all portfolio securities covering call options exceeds 50% of the fair value of its net assets. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund is primarily invested in, whether growth or value; large-, mid- or small-cap; could underperform other kinds of investments or market averages that include style-focused investments. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Options Risk: There are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing an options transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option at a particular time; as a result, it may be costly to liquidate options. There is also no assurance that a liquid market will exist for any particular option contract on an exchange. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zvB4I66WKBWj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_zedPSPQfYGPc">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0536 0.1966 -0.0461 0.2847 0.1346 0.2773 -0.2003 0.2472 0.2075 0.1317 <div id="xdx_A8D_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zjA6z7tpuTTh"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009843Member_zZvtHN5rUyL4">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009843Member_z4tMKqtzAXUi">21.48%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009843Member_zT8PQKQZQK2f">6/30/2020</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009843Member_zvSnLJIipYVc">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009843Member_zVSK6QRbIU3b">-27.20%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009843Member_zad1k8HCh97a">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.2148 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.2720 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.1317 0.1173 0.1181 0.0894 0.0835 0.0949 0.1089 0.0888 0.0930 0.1179 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zeLtJtKvRCRb" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_z3TYQAzpIPGe">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90E_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_zeGFjNKoAPH6">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Special Opportunities Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zEhmakW0U5Vb" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_z24IfbteKqBi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0060 0.0000 0.0026 0.0086 0.0009 0.0077 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zmc8heBNk0Mh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 79 270 477 1074 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zROTmIaAncy4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 38.82% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.3882 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_z2u54mME4TI7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in equity securities. The securities may include common stock, preferred stock, warrants, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), or debt instruments that are convertible to common stock. The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in domestically traded U.S. common stocks and U.S. traded equity stocks of foreign companies, including ADRs. The Fund uses a multi-style approach, meaning that it not only invests across different capitalization levels but may target both value- and growth-oriented companies. The portfolio manager looks for companies experiencing above-average revenue and profit growth as well as out-of-favor stocks that may be depressed due to what the portfolio manager believes to be temporary economic circumstances. In choosing individual stocks, the portfolio manager then performs a fundamental analysis to examine the valuation, growth and momentum characteristics of a particular issuer. The portfolio manager may consider selling a stock owned by the Fund for a variety of reasons including but not limited to: when the factors that induced the portfolio manager to buy the stock have changed, the company faces earnings growth risk or has issued substantial new debt, or to reduce the Fund’s position in a particular stock if the stock represents a disproportionately large position within the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, the Fund may engage in writing covered call options on securities to generate income from premiums received in connection with the option. A call option gives the buyer the right to buy, and obligates the option seller to sell a security at a specified price. Generally, a written call option is covered if a fund owns the security or instrument underlying the call or has an absolute right to acquire that security or instrument without additional cash consideration. When the Fund writes a covered call option on a security, the Fund limits its opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the security above the exercise price of the option. The Fund will not write a covered call option if, as a result, the aggregate fair value of all portfolio securities covering call options exceeds 50% of the fair value of its net assets. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund is primarily invested in, whether growth or value; large-, mid- or small-cap; could underperform other kinds of investments or market averages that include style-focused investments. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Options Risk: There are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing an options transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option at a particular time; as a result, it may be costly to liquidate options. There is also no assurance that a liquid market will exist for any particular option contract on an exchange. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zAezBpbsasf6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_z1vLJtIL8bfd">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Class R6 Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.2866 0.1352 0.2784 -0.1995 0.2479 0.2088 0.1328 <div id="xdx_A82_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_z9zsKcUdULj8"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199531Member_z43cj5ZvGnqb">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199531Member_zckS2uZveDji">21.52%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199531Member_zCrTDKUywrN5">6/30/2020</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199531Member_ztntl5W3yFuc">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199531Member_zWXA4zBYamNe">-27.22%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199531Member_zoDYrB7k5Nvg">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.2152 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.2722 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.1328 0.1183 0.1188 0.0904 0.0845 0.0955 0.1095 0.0896 0.0936 0.1179 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zKmYp3f3Nou7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003543Member_zrxe3Xch4tc3">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Equity Income Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zxkY8BLD3eU6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks capital growth and current income. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zdL0z5fJalpk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0055 0.0000 0.0027 0.0082 Example <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_z2IW9Up2Xm4h" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 84 262 455 1014 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zxzCLR6Fkxq" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 50.76% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.5076 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zHHHakni96Nf" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in equity securities. The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in dividend-paying equity securities, in particular common stocks of companies with a history of increasing dividends. The Fund may also invest in U.S. traded common stocks of foreign companies, including American Depositary Receipts. Because yield is a consideration in selecting securities, the Fund may purchase stocks of companies that are out of favor in the financial community and, therefore, are selling below what the portfolio manager believes to be their long-term investment value. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers of any capitalization range. The portfolio manager may consider selling a stock owned by the Fund when the factors that induced the portfolio manager to buy the stock have changed, the portfolio manager anticipates a negative change in the company’s dividend policy, or to reduce the Fund’s position in a particular stock if the stock represents a disproportionately large position within the Fund’s portfolio. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund focuses — income-producing equities — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Dividend Risk: Companies that issue dividend-yielding securities are not required to continue to pay dividends on such securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that such companies could reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends in the future. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_z7CCPg3pC1J6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_z6XRmxIWRIp4">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.1564 0.2096 -0.0067 0.2538 0.0860 0.2806 -0.0316 0.1237 0.0501 0.0159 <div id="xdx_A8B_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_za4p5lsQ1HW8"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009883Member_z74HLetRcwpa">Best quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009883Member_zxKBsAsTUz5l">19.00%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009883Member_zVHgO6iuXfWh">6/30/2020</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009883Member_zoYhIKEcgPWb">Worst quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009883Member_zCOS6nU0hMil">-25.28%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009883Member_zLb93zH6Fnbk">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1900 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.2528 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0159 0.0825 0.1089 -0.0370 0.0496 0.0841 0.0471 0.0639 0.0866 0.1179 0.1114 0.1089 0.1715 0.1315 0.1307 0.1653 0.1266 0.1107 <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zdMqOtjW21e4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_zfgLXxrkOyvd">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90E_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_zkgyyQMeHENh">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Equity Income Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zwhV6TMeJuK8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks capital growth and current income. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_z0Ym4dakLUZg" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0055 0.0000 0.0027 0.0082 0.0012 0.0070 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zR9wvpTqDJn1" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 72 250 443 1002 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zfph0QVg1ZEh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 50.76% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.5076 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zZc1h5c6g6u6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in equity securities. The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in dividend-paying equity securities, in particular common stocks of companies with a history of increasing dividends. The Fund may also invest in U.S. traded common stocks of foreign companies, including American Depositary Receipts. Because yield is a consideration in selecting securities, the Fund may purchase stocks of companies that are out of favor in the financial community and, therefore, are selling below what the portfolio manager believes to be their long-term investment value. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers of any capitalization range. The portfolio manager may consider selling a stock owned by the Fund when the factors that induced the portfolio manager to buy the stock have changed, the portfolio manager anticipates a negative change in the company’s dividend policy, or to reduce the Fund’s position in a particular stock if the stock represents a disproportionately large position within the Fund’s portfolio. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund focuses — income-producing equities — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Dividend Risk: Companies that issue dividend-yielding securities are not required to continue to pay dividends on such securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that such companies could reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends in the future. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Performance <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zNB39fJedcJ5" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_zI55e8RboCQe">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Class R6 Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.2544 0.0872 0.2819 -0.0307 0.1252 0.0513 0.0168 <div id="xdx_A87_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zjy7ioDWIF29"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199533Member_zybXtxCNGH2c">Best quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199533Member_zhiNnrSBfZe1">19.02%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199533Member_zxq7Nx0VvEcl">6/30/2020</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199533Member_zgv11SHSJAE5">Worst quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199533Member_z34ryHgRr3ob">-25.21%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199533Member_zGdy67iy7S05">3/31/2020</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1902 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.2521 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0168 0.0837 0.1099 -0.0364 0.0506 0.0848 0.0478 0.0648 0.0873 0.1721 0.2224 0.1305 0.1715 0.1309 0.1427 0.1653 0.1266 0.1107 <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zBHrXmCQank1" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_907_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003555Member_zce55aMHkd23">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Mid Cap Relative Value Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_z6NN0OqYhOll" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zpQTsxuUAXPj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0060 0.0000 0.0032 0.0092 Example <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_ztf2UPy9VF4i" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 92 293 509 1131 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zRl7j7DTMOb6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 40.39% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.4039 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zGWRL0FuA1L5" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in a diversified portfolio of common stock and securities convertible into common stock of mid capitalization (“mid cap”) companies. Mid cap stocks are defined as those companies with public stock market capitalizations within the range of the market capitalization of companies constituting the Bloomberg U.S. Mid Cap® Index at the time of investment. As of December 31, 2025, the capitalization range of the Bloomberg U.S. Mid Cap® Index was between $1.03 billion and $75.9 billion. The market capitalization of the companies in the Fund’s portfolio and the Bloomberg U.S. Mid Cap® Index changes over time; the Fund will not automatically sell or cease to purchase stock of a company it already owns solely because the company’s market capitalization grows or falls outside these ranges. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), including mortgage REITs, and other real estate-related securities. Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”) believes that undervalued companies with good earnings prospects have superior appreciation potential with reasonable levels of risk. Quantitatively, Sterling Capital focuses on a stock’s fundamental valuation relative to its peers. Sterling Capital considers additional quantitative measures, such as earnings momentum and relative price strength. Qualitatively, Sterling Capital seeks to identify business catalysts which will serve to drive future earnings growth, increase investor interest and expand valuation. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund focuses — mid cap value stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zL1nIY3gZWV9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_zmjxqf7sUiRj">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.1161 0.2176 -0.1432 0.2969 0.0374 0.2346 -0.1095 0.1411 0.0943 0.0526 <div id="xdx_A80_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zBn6wrvAR8Gj"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156998Member_zRiDw9kRfh9f">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156998Member_zXdwKJBiU7l3">18.39% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156998Member_zzgo08p0sYyl">12/31/2020 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156998Member_zHShqrQiUZF5">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156998Member_zRJs0p7C8xv8">-29.09% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000156998Member_zGDHTwiLPcnc">3/31/2020 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1839 2020-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.2909 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0526 0.0764 0.0851 0.0298 0.0476 0.0662 0.0476 0.0575 0.0668 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zTESuaW3vk9e" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_zUBA7w5JuU8j">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_903_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_zwKm11t9vaDf">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Mid Cap Relative Value Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zBgzKzZ0CGx2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zsZ02SVU5TKe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerages and commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0060 0.0000 0.0032 0.0092 0.0011 0.0081 “Other Expenses” have been estimated for the first year of operations of the Fund’s Class R6 shares based on amounts incurred by the Fund during its last fiscal year. January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zTx3NZ8Ys1n1" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 81 274 483 1087 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zSZ4nSY8jfCl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turn over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Mid Cap Relative Value Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 40.39% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.4039 Strategy, Risk and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zzYnUdQxAfY7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in a diversified portfolio of common stock and securities convertible into common stock of mid capitalization (“mid cap”) companies. Mid cap stocks are defined as those companies with public stock market capitalizations within the range of the market capitalization of companies constituting the Bloomberg U.S. Mid Cap® Index at the time of investment. As of December 31, 2025, the capitalization range of the Bloomberg U.S. Mid Cap® Index was between 1.03 billion and $75.9 billion. The market capitalization of the companies in the Fund’s portfolio and the Bloomberg U.S. Mid Cap® Index changes over time; the Fund will not automatically sell or cease to purchase stock of a company it already owns solely because the company’s market capitalization grows or falls outside these ranges. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), including mortgage REITs, and other real estate-related securities. Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”) believes that undervalued companies with good earnings prospects have superior appreciation potential with reasonable levels of risk. Quantitatively, Sterling Capital focuses on a stock’s fundamental valuation relative to its peers. Sterling Capital considers additional quantitative measures, such as earnings momentum and relative price strength. Qualitatively, Sterling Capital seeks to identify business catalysts which will serve to drive future earnings growth, increase investor interest and expand valuation. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Mid Capitalization Company Risk: Investments in middle capitalization companies may be riskier, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund focuses — mid cap value stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zMMUTzQ2slp8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_zF4rIOdOD0wb">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Class R6 Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.0459 <div id="xdx_A89_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zzOzqR5iJbe3"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 27%"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000260431Member_zGU6nYGFEae5">Best quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000260431Member_ztzjP35Iepgd">6.26%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000260431Member_zSHq7UAdvAWe">9/30/2025</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000260431Member_zRVZfiG1oYP3">Worst quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000260431Member_zpXM0fOjez4a">-3.14%</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000260431Member_zAM8hLNdkRY9">12/31/2025</td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0626 2025-09-30 Worst quarter: -0.0314 2025-12-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0533 0.0766 0.0852 0.0306 0.0478 0.0663 0.0408 0.0576 0.0669 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.1179 0.1114 0.1089 <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zIQGiH7K0VX3" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049655Member_zDJFGIziCabe">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Real Estate Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_ze394EL6Iw06" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks total return through investment in real estate securities. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zAyYbqQ7xz4d" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0058 0.0000 0.0031 0.0089 Example <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zvKlazG9oiP8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 91 284 493 1096 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zT5LYxsdJtwe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 7.62% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.0762 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zXvTh7OKsN28" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in securities of real estate and real estate-related companies, or in companies which own significant real estate assets at the time of purchase (“real estate companies”) including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). A real estate company derives at least 50% of its revenue from the ownership, construction, financing, management or sale of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate, or has at least 50% of its assets in such real estate. REITs are companies that own interests in real estate or in real estate related loans or other interests, and their revenue primarily consists of rent derived from owned, income producing real estate properties and capital gains from the sale of such properties. The Fund will invest more than 25% of its assets in REITs, including mortgage REITs and other real estate-related securities. The Fund may invest in equity securities including, without limitation, preferred stocks, convertible securities, limited liability companies and similar enterprises. The Fund may also invest in securities of foreign issuers which meet the same criteria for investment as domestic companies, or sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts for such securities. In pursuing total return, the Fund will emphasize both capital appreciation and current income. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Concentration Risk: The risk that the Fund’s concentration in REITs and other real estate-related securities may produce a greater risk of loss than a more diversified mutual fund. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_z5DfgdPvsePi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_zf5uP5HPcjd5">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.0822 0.0781 -0.0278 0.2687 -0.0057 0.3848 -0.2616 0.1300 0.0624 0.0134 <div id="xdx_A84_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_z9Ksfg6dcZTg"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157001Member_z7i7VVgFLspk">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157001Member_zk5va7x3r9ci">16.94% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157001Member_z8eWEkH5lt9k">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157001Member_zndZpcbjbBE2">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157001Member_zSu8GGt5mu13">-20.92% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157001Member_zoXX93a1G0A8">3/31/2020 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1694 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.2092 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0134 0.0446 0.0594 -0.0040 0.0238 0.0398 0.0152 0.0308 0.0419 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.0223 0.0474 0.0576 <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zaHIMuq4bVM8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_zOPSajDDkFlk">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_zWQzBYSS1RT5">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Real Estate Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_ztfdEzJuSVR4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks total return through investment in real estate securities. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zY2ivzjJm1Th" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0058 0.0000 0.0031 0.0089 0.0010 0.0079 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_z2OXRJ74Pbw4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 80 273 482 1086 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zwIt0S4nrYyl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 7.62% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.0762 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zvZy1pPOnTzj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in securities of real estate and real estate-related companies, or in companies which own significant real estate assets at the time of purchase (“real estate companies”) including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). A real estate company derives at least 50% of its revenue from the ownership, construction, financing, management or sale of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate, or has at least 50% of its assets in such real estate. REITs are companies that own interests in real estate or in real estate related loans or other interests, and their revenue primarily consists of rent derived from owned, income producing real estate properties and capital gains from the sale of such properties. The Fund will invest more than 25% of its assets in REITs, including mortgage REITs and other real estate-related securities. The Fund may invest in equity securities including, without limitation, preferred stocks, convertible securities, limited liability companies and similar enterprises. The Fund may also invest in securities of foreign issuers which meet the same criteria for investment as domestic companies, or sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts for such securities. In pursuing total return, the Fund will emphasize both capital appreciation and current income. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Concentration Risk: The risk that the Fund’s concentration in REITs and other real estate-related securities may produce a greater risk of loss than a more diversified mutual fund. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zZLTGM9VRn4b" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_zzMbAWfJuI9e">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 R6 Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.3862 -0.2607 0.1308 0.0630 0.0147 <div id="xdx_A84_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zPl63DNjQpT6"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217819Member_z9HSygWIgkvd">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217819Member_zMJuDw9ghwU8">17.00% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217819Member_z4m96q1rggH3">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217819Member_zwHkZEeWZyVb">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217819Member_zS1Dc4TFF527">-20.89% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217819Member_zl5ysGgY4OQ">3/31/2020 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1700 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.2089 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0147 0.0456 0.0601 -0.0029 0.0246 0.0405 0.0159 0.0315 0.0424 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.0223 0.0474 0.0576 <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zTdwIFqUkTsa" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049656Member_zls5WHKAQLkb">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Small Cap Value Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zuHqn7x4nBgh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zMWJOKzvFVFk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0075 0.0000 0.0028 0.0103 Example <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zaaRjokYdpo4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 105 328 569 1259 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zDAILMRdCPH1" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 6.19% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.0619 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zrAJmXg8zDIc" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in common stock and securities convertible into common stock of small capitalization companies. Small cap companies include companies with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, that are below the market capitalization of the largest company in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index. As of December 31, 2025, the market capitalization of the largest company in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index was $15.1 billion. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), including mortgage REITs, and other real estate-related securities. Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”) believes that undervalued companies with good earnings prospects have superior appreciation potential with reasonable levels of risk. Quantitatively, Sterling Capital focuses on a stock’s fundamental valuation relative to its peers. Sterling Capital considers additional quantitative measures, such as earnings momentum and relative price strength. Qualitatively, Sterling Capital seeks to identify business catalysts which will serve to drive future earnings growth, increase investor interest and expand valuation. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund focuses — small cap value stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_znRzge3Q0TD9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_zwA8nLpRdlQ8">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.2525 0.1320 -0.1446 0.2451 0.0319 0.3161 -0.1446 0.1770 0.1357 0.1149 <div id="xdx_A82_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zprBsuH4ajg8"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157004Member_zyYDluqHayWb">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157004Member_z9aMWwe2Dz0l">27.59% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157004Member_ztpe7sTBcPa2">12/31/2020 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157004Member_zYE3kpMFSsBi">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157004Member_zSh1EBnOq353">-32.38% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000157004Member_ziXox4reopt3">3/31/2020 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.2759 2020-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.3238 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.1149 0.1090 0.1009 0.0709 0.0540 0.0623 0.1008 0.0795 0.0755 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.0896 0.1022 0.0991 <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zmJcRKAQWhgl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_zlYiUYyMbGI5">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90B_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_zCR6bbA4WxVj">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Small Cap Value Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zJhtucDR0mfi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zG9UrbtYtcy4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0075 0.0000 0.0028 0.0103 0.0011 0.0092 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zl7gyowOdCjd" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 92 315 556 1248 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zz4QA1p02jKk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 6.19% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.0619 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_z2EHL9g1tEp2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in common stock and securities convertible into common stock of small capitalization companies. Small cap companies include companies with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, that are below the market capitalization of the largest company in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index. As of December 31, 2025, the market capitalization of the largest company in the Bloomberg U.S. 2000® Index was $15.1 billion. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), including mortgage REITs, and other real estate-related securities. Sterling Capital believes that undervalued companies with good earnings prospects have superior appreciation potential with reasonable levels of risk. Quantitatively, Sterling Capital focuses on a stock’s fundamental valuation relative to its peers. Sterling Capital considers additional quantitative measures, such as earnings momentum and relative price strength. Qualitatively, Sterling Capital seeks to identify business catalysts which will serve to drive future earnings growth, increase investor interest and expand valuation. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Market Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s stock holdings will decline in price because of a stock market decline or other domestic, regional, or global events. Markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of falling prices. The value of your investment will tend to increase or decrease in response to these movements. Small Capitalization Company Risk: Investing in smaller, lesser-known companies involves greater risk than investing in those that are more established. A small company’s financial well-being may, for example, depend heavily on just a few products or services. In addition, small company stocks tend to trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than those of larger firms. Investment Style Risk: The possibility that the market segment on which this Fund focuses — small cap value stocks — will underperform other kinds of investments or market averages. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the portfolio manager if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the portfolio manager believes will cause the stock price to increase do not occur. Real Estate-Related Investment and REIT Risk: Real estate-related investments may decline in value as a result of factors affecting the real estate industry. Risks associated with investments in securities of companies in the real estate industry include decline in the value of the underlying real estate, default, prepayment, changes in value resulting from changes in interest rates and demand for real and rental property, and the management skill and creditworthiness of REIT issuers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which the Fund invests. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Company-Specific Risk: The possibility that a particular stock may lose value due to factors specific to the company itself, including deterioration of its fundamental characteristics, an occurrence of adverse events at the company, or a downturn in its business prospects. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zw9qAhaqv5al" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_zNYTbT2Aonq9">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Class R6 Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.3174 -0.1436 0.1780 0.1374 0.1164 <div id="xdx_A80_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zmcwUGf9FJfg"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217820Member_zxNyWjeZNjsb">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217820Member_zZfdmNhNg5p5">27.67% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217820Member_zzsoXRKeICs">12/31/2020 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217820Member_z5JLs1vdfJAk">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217820Member_zYMQwOVkEDK9">-32.36% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000217820Member_zOmJy5aywbF8">3/31/2020 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.2767 2020-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.3236 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.1164 0.1103 0.1016 0.0726 0.0553 0.0630 0.1015 0.0804 0.0760 0.1721 0.1309 0.1427 0.1715 0.1315 0.1429 0.0896 0.1022 0.0991 <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zh6bkQMeDO9d" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000049657Member_z1AUlunjJen7">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Ultra Short Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zXHVHYjYZrql" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks to provide current income and competitive total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_z4EXmcbefNc8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0020 0.0000 0.0039 0.0059 0.0015 0.0044 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zDj2RY4VBWm9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 45 175 317 729 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zAxiDaeNZF29" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 62.06% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.6206 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zI5ZRDwD4fBi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in fixed income securities (bonds). The Fund invests primarily in the following types of fixed income securities: (i) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities, some of which may be subject to repurchase agreements; (ii) corporate debt securities, including bonds, notes and debentures, issued by U.S. companies that are investment grade (i.e., rated at the time of purchase in one of four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality); (iii) investment grade asset-backed securities; (iv) investment grade mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations; (v) municipal securities; (vi) U.S. dollar-denominated foreign and emerging market securities; (vii) variable and floating rate instruments; and (viii) collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). Additionally, the Fund will invest in convertible securities, including convertible bonds and preferred stocks, and cash equivalents. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in bonds that are below investment grade, which are commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds. The Fund will maintain an average duration of 18 months or less. The Fund is generally structured to target a dollar-weighted average maturity of between zero and 24 months, although the Fund may invest in individual securities of any weighted average maturity. Duration is the expected life of a fixed-income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors, and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis. Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio managers finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. High-Yield/High-Risk Debt Securities: High-yield/high-risk debt securities are securities that are rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies. These securities are considered speculative and involve greater risk of loss than investment grade debt securities. Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk: Collateralized loan obligations are structured investment vehicles typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Collateralized loan obligations are subject to the risks of substantial losses, including losses due to actual defaults by borrowers of the loans underlying the collateralized loan obligations, which will be greater during periods of economic or financial stress. Collateralized loan obligations may also lose value due to collateral defaults and impairment of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to collateralized loan obligation securities as a class. The Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations that hold loans of uncreditworthy borrowers, which may absorb losses from underlying borrower defaults before senior tranches. Investments in such collateralized loan obligations present a greater risk of loss. In addition, collateralized loan obligations are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment/call risk and fixed income market risk. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Variable and Floating Rate Instrument Risk: Variable and floating rate instruments are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than other fixed rate instruments; however, the value of floating rate instruments may decline if their interest rates do not rise as quickly, or as much, as general interest rates. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zw10YN0ZKq2g" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member_zyXhRv5qfhcf">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0133 0.0137 0.0166 0.0327 0.0216 0.0031 0.0032 0.0585 0.0585 0.0491 <div id="xdx_A82_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zloZ6ckODBy6"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119975Member_z4wa4nI8yr6k">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119975Member_zxLOt5opu4Rh">2.37% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119975Member_zi9YKvoOZuhk">6/30/2020 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119975Member_zN3XB5pzCPLl">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119975Member_zDfN21cPvma4">-1.30% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000119975Member_zbrFFqiqKrG6">3/31/2020 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0237 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.0130 2020-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0491 0.0342 0.0268 0.0309 0.0205 0.0159 0.0288 0.0202 0.0158 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 0.0472 0.0311 0.0226 <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zP1K0BBuo9Il" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member_zb4EBLC9Ea21">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000039047Member_ziRx0uglrKxf">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Short Duration Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zty5sJLq5UT" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks to provide current income and competitive total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zpzmVv5E4tFk" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0020 0.0000 0.0035 0.0055 Example <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_z7Nmc3EcaXAg" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 56 176 307 689 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zgy9qbDOczSl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 66.22% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.6622 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zPKDX3evK38j" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investment grade fixed income securities (bonds). The Fund invests in the following types of fixed income securities: (i) corporate debt securities, including bonds, notes, and debentures, issued by U.S. companies that are investment grade (i.e., rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality); (ii) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities, some of which may be subject to repurchase agreements; (iii) investment grade mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations; (iv) investment grade asset-backed securities; (v) U.S. dollar-denominated foreign and emerging market securities; and (vi) investment grade collateralized load obligations (CLOs). Additionally, the Fund will invest in municipal securities, convertible securities, including convertible bonds and preferred stocks, and cash equivalents. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in bonds that are below investment grade, which are commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds, and non-dollar denominated foreign and emerging market securities. The Fund will maintain an average duration between 1 and 3 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price changes to changes in interest rates. Duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps and interest rate swaps to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors, and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis. Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio managers finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. High-Yield/High-Risk Debt Securities: High-yield/high-risk debt securities are securities that are rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies. These securities are considered speculative and involve greater risk of loss than investment grade debt securities. Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk: Collateralized loan obligations are structured investment vehicles typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Collateralized loan obligations are subject to the risks of substantial losses, including losses due to actual defaults by borrowers of the loans underlying the collateralized loan obligations, which will be greater during periods of economic or financial stress. Collateralized loan obligations may also lose value due to collateral defaults and impairment of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to collateralized loan obligation securities as a class. The Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations that hold loans of uncreditworthy borrowers, which may absorb losses from underlying borrower defaults before senior tranches. Investments in such collateralized loan obligations present a greater risk of loss. In addition, collateralized loan obligations are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment/call risk and fixed income market risk. Foreign Currency Transaction Risk: Funds that invest directly in foreign currencies and in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will fluctuate in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. When the Fund uses credit default swaps to gain indirect long exposure to an issuer or a fixed income security by selling credit protection on such issuer or security, the Fund is exposed to the risk that it will be required to pay the full notional value of the swap contract in the event of a default. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zJ9dObRzhMAh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_zHHzRxImDSfk">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 Year Return 2016 1.92% 2017 1.76% 2018 1.38% 2019 4.71% 2020 4.23% 2021 -0.12% 2022 -3.18% 2023 5.71% 2024 5.55% 2025 5.66% 0.0192 0.0176 0.0138 0.0471 0.0423 -0.0012 -0.0318 0.0571 0.0555 0.0566 <div id="xdx_A8B_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zuANxaxruSyi"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009857Member_zINMaQfyiBCb">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009857Member_zuQtEZvLVj5l">3.95% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009857Member_z4UmdFI6ngvl">6/30/2020 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009857Member_ztlJMjhEKjx4">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009857Member_z1isVPGOkkL4">-2.26% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009857Member_zLEgrgYxvjC3">3/31/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0395 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.0226 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0566 0.0266 0.0272 0.0367 0.0121 0.0142 0.0332 0.0140 0.0150 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 0.0534 0.0200 0.0211 <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zOzfXQbX2Dl2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_z4ix3JTwT4d1">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_zFy2xyiTrIcg">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Short Duration Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zHSAeVF1QqMj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks to provide current income and competitive total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_z93KexqS5h8f" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0020 0.0000 0.0035 0.0055 0.0011 0.0044 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zxbbh4qNc40l" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 45 165 296 679 Portfolio Turnover The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 66.22% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.6622 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy To pursue its investment objective, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investment grade fixed income securities (bonds). The Fund invests in the following types of fixed income securities: (i) corporate debt securities, including bonds, notes, and debentures, issued by U.S. companies that are investment grade (i.e., rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality); (ii) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities, some of which may be subject to repurchase agreements; (iii) investment grade mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations; (iv) investment grade asset-backed securities; (v) U.S. dollar-denominated foreign and emerging market securities; and (vi) investment grade collateralized load obligations (CLOs). Additionally, the Fund will invest in municipal securities, convertible securities, including convertible bonds and preferred stocks, and cash equivalents. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in bonds that are below investment grade, which are commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds, and non-dollar denominated foreign and emerging market securities. The Fund will maintain an average duration between 1 and 3 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price changes to changes in interest rates. Duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps and interest rate swaps to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors, and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis. Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio managers finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. High-Yield/High-Risk Debt Securities: High-yield/high-risk debt securities are securities that are rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies. These securities are considered speculative and involve greater risk of loss than investment grade debt securities. Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk: Collateralized loan obligations are structured investment vehicles typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Collateralized loan obligations are subject to the risks of substantial losses, including losses due to actual defaults by borrowers of the loans underlying the collateralized loan obligations, which will be greater during periods of economic or financial stress. Collateralized loan obligations may also lose value due to collateral defaults and impairment of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to collateralized loan obligation securities as a class. The Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations that hold loans of uncreditworthy borrowers, which may absorb losses from underlying borrower defaults before senior tranches. Investments in such collateralized loan obligations present a greater risk of loss. In addition, collateralized loan obligations are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment/call risk and fixed income market risk. Foreign Currency Transaction Risk: Funds that invest directly in foreign currencies and in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will fluctuate in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. When the Fund uses credit default swaps to gain indirect long exposure to an issuer or a fixed income security by selling credit protection on such issuer or security, the Fund is exposed to the risk that it will be required to pay the full notional value of the swap contract in the event of a default. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zmRcGEYIGOXi" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_zmd5touKZaD9">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 R6 Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) -0.0308 0.0567 0.0566 0.0577 <div id="xdx_A89_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zkKASitiJIp7"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000225245Member_zO7A6uyFGMW4">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000225245Member_zZgsbfguhQf7">3.89% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000225245Member_zwB4xkhOHWa8">6/30/2020 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000225245Member_zdEsmpdazvCf">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000225245Member_znh4E2Vo53Sh">-2.24% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000225245Member_zAzRC6RXNTkg">3/31/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0389 2020-06-30 Worst quarter: -0.0224 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0577 0.0276 0.0264 0.0374 0.0127 0.0137 0.0339 0.0146 0.0146 0.0730 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0534 0.0200 0.0211 <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zGpVRbyRIaql" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_900_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003547Member_zByYwEIVZ2s2">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Intermediate U.S. Government Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_z1ru1cvkrEK6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks current income consistent with the preservation of capital. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zb7LrdzTUu5g" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0032 0.0000 0.0045 0.0077 0.0021 0.0056 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zvmq95icfSje" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 59 227 409 936 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zlxFLQoEy2mf" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 27.66% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.2766 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zzlykLGD0jj7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in bonds issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (“U.S. government securities”). In addition, under normal circumstances, at least 90% of the value of the Fund’s investments in securities will consist of U.S. government securities. Bonds for this purpose include Treasury bills (maturities of less than one year), bonds (maturities of ten years or more) and notes (maturities of one to ten years) of the U.S. government. The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, in U.S. government securities, some of which may be subject to repurchase agreements, or in “high grade” (rated at the time of purchase in one of the three highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality) mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations. The Fund will also invest in short-term obligations, asset-backed securities, corporate bonds, municipal securities and the shares of other investment companies. The Fund may also invest in Yankee bonds, which are U.S.-dollar denominated bonds and notes issued by foreign corporations or governments. The Fund will maintain an average duration between 2.5 and 7 years. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity is expected to be more than 3 years but less than 10 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on duration, yield curve structure and sector allocation based upon economic outlook and market expectations. The portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to manage the Fund’s price sensitivity, to reposition the Fund to a more favorable portion of the yield curve, or to purchase securities that the portfolio manager believes offer greater total return potential than existing holdings. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Yankee Bond Risk: Yankee bonds are subject to the same risks as other debt issues, notably credit risk, market risk, currency and liquidity risk. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments; the extent and quality of government regulations of financial markets and institutions; the imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes; and the expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zKFEUWjOfAD4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member_zYtdhDygQzWk">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0070 0.0150 0.0067 0.0541 0.0512 -0.0178 -0.0938 0.0462 0.0228 0.0710 <div id="xdx_A89_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zzZFKhCuyiDc"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009890Member_z0X5DmeuHk1j">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009890Member_ztr6S2u0OPu1">4.98% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009890Member_zdCKGmNle9mi">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009890Member_zdONiFSF6sT3">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009890Member_zf4onUs7X594">-4.52% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009890Member_zpf2HqtFhrwl">3/31/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0498 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0452 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0710 0.0040 0.0152 0.0591 -0.0076 0.0040 0.0419 -0.0020 0.0067 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 0.0243 0.0064 0.0176 <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zKGkGcqc7uWl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member_zd1ADHzhAVui">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003557Member_zLj31BJ7448f">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Total Return Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zy4XvvtoXW37" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks a high level of current income and a competitive total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zQcYuFR4huo7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0025 0.0000 0.0024 0.0049 0.0004 0.0045 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zBsnxykUvmdd" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 46 153 270 612 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zrbUkvVaolMh" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 78.95% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.7895 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_z33LTqcDoxGc" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks above-average total return through any combination of current income and capital appreciation. To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in a diversified portfolio of bonds, including: securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, including commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), municipal securities, and convertible securities. All securities will be U.S. dollar-denominated although the Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign and emerging market securities. The Fund will invest in securities that are investment grade (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rate risk, allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis (a comparison of current and historical valuation relationships between various sectors). Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio manager finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps and interest rate swaps to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Foreign Currency Transaction Risk: Funds that invest directly in foreign currencies and in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will fluctuate in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk: Collateralized loan obligations are structured investment vehicles typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Collateralized loan obligations are subject to the risks of substantial losses, including losses due to actual defaults by borrowers of the loans underlying the collateralized loan obligations, which will be greater during periods of economic or financial stress. Collateralized loan obligations may also lose value due to collateral defaults and impairment of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to collateralized loan obligation securities as a class. The Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations that hold loans of uncreditworthy borrowers, which may absorb losses from underlying borrower defaults before senior tranches. Investments in such collateralized loan obligations present a greater risk of loss. In addition, collateralized loan obligations are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment/call risk and fixed income market risk. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. For more information about the Fund’s risks, please see the “Additional Investment Strategies and Risks” section in this Prospectus. Performance <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_z0Aaha079GD8" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_z5tYYLloZXja">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0375 0.0434 -0.0035 0.0926 0.0924 -0.0122 -0.1324 0.0586 0.0215 0.0692 <div id="xdx_A8C_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zj9ne6Bc0eOk"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009863Member_zMbADCXldYT3">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009863Member_ze79VGqPYdId">6.67% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009863Member_zuLkJzTfcr83">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009863Member_zwuW5rGELwh3">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009863Member_zZ0fS2eOvnz4">-6.08% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009863Member_zE6FbuA6yG6h">3/31/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0667 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0608 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0692 -0.0018 0.0246 0.0514 -0.0157 0.0105 0.0407 -0.0073 0.0128 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zt6Slq5SEpmb" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_zUY1AQabAYRf">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90C_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_zilzTkUakGO1">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Total Return Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zgnPxzSLQVk6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks a high level of current income and a competitive total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zhlqRuj839e2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0025 0.0000 0.0024 0.0049 0.0014 0.0035 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zzIRce3Zgj55" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 36 143 260 602 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zJx7Q1GpqVtb" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 78.95% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.7895 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zEA6mvEZRy34" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks above-average total return through any combination of current income and capital appreciation. To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in a diversified portfolio of bonds, including: securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, including commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), municipal securities, and convertible securities. All securities will be U.S. dollar-denominated although the Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign and emerging market securities. The Fund will invest in securities that are investment grade (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rate risk, allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis (a comparison of current and historical valuation relationships between various sectors). Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio manager finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps and interest rate swaps to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Foreign Currency Transaction Risk: Funds that invest directly in foreign currencies and in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will fluctuate in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Emerging Markets Risk: The risks associated with foreign investments (see “Foreign Investment Risk” above) are particularly pronounced in connection with investments in emerging markets. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk: Collateralized loan obligations are structured investment vehicles typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Collateralized loan obligations are subject to the risks of substantial losses, including losses due to actual defaults by borrowers of the loans underlying the collateralized loan obligations, which will be greater during periods of economic or financial stress. Collateralized loan obligations may also lose value due to collateral defaults and impairment of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to collateralized loan obligation securities as a class. The Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations that hold loans of uncreditworthy borrowers, which may absorb losses from underlying borrower defaults before senior tranches. Investments in such collateralized loan obligations present a greater risk of loss. In addition, collateralized loan obligations are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment/call risk and fixed income market risk. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are securities that may be converted or exchanged into shares of an underlying stock or other asset at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and may be affected by changes in the price of the underlying security. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zOQylMdpwoj3" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_zpHc80g4nn0a">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Class R6 Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.0937 0.0935 -0.0112 -0.1315 0.0597 0.0226 0.0702 <div id="xdx_A83_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zggwwYyeXteh"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199532Member_zpNlJUponAHh">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199532Member_zOSkw9gUsyXj">6.70% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199532Member_z6hfnxegWwB6">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199532Member_zHUEcTTMq7o2">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199532Member_z8AbMT1IzKJk">-6.15% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000199532Member_z4hXwD1foYb7">3/31/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0670 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0615 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0702 -0.0008 0.0255 0.0520 -0.0152 0.0109 0.0413 -0.0067 0.0133 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zW34Fm2AjHFd" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90A_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003549Member_zRjkzkjq1hV9">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8C_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zBGY8LugOyT1" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks to maximize total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zNSOPKzKHpq7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0025 0.0000 0.0032 0.0057 0.0012 0.0045 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zCvCrnQkEzfa" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 46 171 306 702 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zKKEA4sSnaI3" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 52.57% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.5257 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zk8VcX1NqKlc" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rate risk, allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors, and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis (a comparison of current and historical valuation relationships between various sectors). Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The Fund’s average duration is expected to be between 10 and 20 years. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio managers finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps and interest rate swaps to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. High-Yield/High-Risk Debt Securities: High-yield/high-risk debt securities are securities that are rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies. These securities are considered speculative and involve greater risk of loss than investment grade debt securities. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Private Placement Risk: Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not publicly traded, and may be less liquid than those that are publicly traded. Accordingly, the Fund may not be able to redeem or resell its interests in a privately issued security at an advantageous time or at an advantageous price which may result in a loss to the Fund. Yankee Bond Risk: Yankee bonds are subject to the same risks as other debt issues, notably credit risk, market risk, currency and liquidity risk. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments; the extent and quality of government regulations of financial markets and institutions; the imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes; and the expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_z1y5xxy8gwE4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_zQnfPm8me2gd">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.0446 0.0422 -0.0096 0.1077 0.0814 -0.0001 -0.2365 0.1003 -0.0170 0.0636 <div id="xdx_A8A_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_z0pva6ADhoh5"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123270Member_z8zwQaf1hXxb">Best quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123270Member_zk6bW2qZnvIl">13.59% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123270Member_z5eYJiqXpaa6">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123270Member_z43A8dG1voDh">Worst quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123270Member_zFe62BM4FAjb">-12.37% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123270Member_zob90t1vqeF2">6/30/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1359 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.1237 2022-06-30 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0636 -0.0257 0.0127 0.0422 -0.0467 -0.0057 0.0373 -0.0256 0.0036 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 0.0744 -0.0298 0.0342 <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zya0abWOoKyl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_znTz8YkqBEva">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_zjKUM7HdSrPf">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zGJqBnj5hC39" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks to maximize total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8E_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_z2NxgHIYwod5" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0025 0.0000 0.0032 0.0057 0.0019 0.0038 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zzF5dJkZv17g" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 39 163 299 695 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zhbwSuboSbo4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 52.57% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.5257 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zaUKe8KPhtMa" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in a diversified portfolio of corporate debt securities, including corporate bonds, notes and debentures. The Fund may invest in (i) bonds issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities; (ii) preferred stock; (iii) debt securities that are sold in private placement transactions between their issuers and their purchasers and that are neither listed on an exchange or traded over the counter; and (iv) Yankee bonds, which are U.S.-dollar denominated bonds and notes issued by foreign corporations or governments. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in bonds that are below investment grade, which are commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in securities denominated in foreign currencies. The remainder of the Fund’s corporate debt securities will typically be denominated in U.S. dollars and be investment grade (i.e., rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rate risk, allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors, and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis (a comparison of current and historical valuation relationships between various sectors). Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The Fund’s average duration is expected to be between 10 and 20 years. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio managers finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps and interest rate swaps to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. High-Yield/High-Risk Debt Securities: High-yield/high-risk debt securities are securities that are rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies. These securities are considered speculative and involve greater risk of loss than investment grade debt securities. Foreign Currency Transaction Risk: Funds that invest directly in foreign currencies and in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will fluctuate in value relative to the U.S. dollar. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. These risks are particularly pronounced for emerging markets. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Private Placement Risk: Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not publicly traded, and may be less liquid than those that are publicly traded. Accordingly, the Fund may not be able to redeem or resell its interests in a privately issued security at an advantageous time or at an advantageous price which may result in a loss to the Fund. Yankee Bond Risk: Yankee bonds are subject to the same risks as other debt issues, notably credit risk, market risk, currency and liquidity risk. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments; the extent and quality of government regulations of financial markets and institutions; the imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes; and the expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers. Active Trading Risk: The Fund may trade securities actively, which could increase its transaction costs (thereby lowering its performance) and may increase the amount of taxes that a shareholder pays, by increasing the amount of the Fund’s realized capital gains and increasing the portion of the Fund’s realized capital gains that are short-term capital gains. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in asset classes, countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zi4zz09EUzCg" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_ziWtc4Ztq1M">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 R6 Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31(1) 0.0997 -0.0145 0.0643 <div id="xdx_A82_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_ziMVvTzPDBa6"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 27%"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000234127Member_zdXx7cRHOwr4">Best quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000234127Member_ztoQZiAMrze3">13.62% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000234127Member_zL2nGIRucTja">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000234127Member_z1WK64BVhCkl">Worst quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000234127Member_z4GDixn2AOXe">-12.35% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000234127Member_zYccy8VkF5Zf">6/30/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.1362 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.1235 2022-06-30 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0643 -0.0247 0.0132 0.0426 -0.0461 -0.0054 0.0378 -0.0251 0.0098 0.0730 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0744 -0.0298 0.0342 <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_z6ZtPKYv9yz3" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_909_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--R6SharesMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033166Member_zXA7Es6UwiN6">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Quality Income Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zTsoS8Srr0j6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks to maximize total return. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_znb3upFrI762" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0035 0.0000 0.0031 0.0066 0.0006 0.0060 January 31, 2027 Example <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zCM24MsyFLoa" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except for the expiration of the current contractual expense limitation on January 31, 2027. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 62 206 363 818 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zYAYuWYwKmC9" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 35.06% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.3506 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zyOAjNTJiaRl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">To pursue its investment objective, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in a diversified portfolio of securitized obligations of any kind (including asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs)). The Fund will invest in securities that are investment grade (i.e., rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). As part of its investment strategy, the Fund may engage in mortgage dollar roll transactions, under which the Fund sells a mortgage-backed security to a dealer and simultaneously contracts to repurchase a security that is substantially similar in type, coupon and maturity, on a specified future date. Such investments will not exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets. Mortgage dollar roll transactions may create investment leverage. The Fund also will invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as, for example, the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)); corporate debt securities, including corporate bonds, notes and debentures; preferred stock; and debt securities that are sold in private placement transactions between their issuers and their purchasers and that are neither listed on an exchange or traded over the counter. In managing the portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rate risk, allocation among sectors, credit risk, and individual securities selection. The portfolio manager focuses on macro trends in the economy to establish a duration target that reflects the outlook for the future direction of interest rates. For yield curve management, in addition to the trend in interest rates, other factors such as future inflation expectations, supply factors, and future interest rate expectations are considered. Sector weightings are driven by a combination of the portfolio manager’s macro view on interest rates and volatility as well as relative spread analysis (a comparison of current and historical valuation relationships between various sectors). Utilizing fundamental analysis the portfolio manager then selects individual securities consistent with the target by looking for the best relative values within particular sectors. The analysis includes an attempt to understand the structure and embedded features of potential securities. Features that are analyzed include puts, calls, sinking fund requirements (scheduled early retirements of the specific debt instrument), prepayment and extension risk, and individual company financial data for potential corporate holdings. Scenario analysis is the primary tool employed for these assessments. The Fund’s average duration is expected to be within 1.5 years of the duration of the Bloomberg U.S. Mortgage Backed Securities Index. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reduce exposure to a particular sector, if the portfolio manager sees a deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of an issuer or if the actions of the issuer violate the investment thesis of owning the security (or, in another words, the original reasoning for purchasing the security), when the portfolio managers finds other attractive securities that the portfolio manager believes are less expensive and offer relatively greater income or growth potential, and in response to macro level adjustments to duration and yield curve contributions (which are changes made to portfolio duration or yield curve positioning due to changes in the portfolio manager’s macroeconomic outlook). The Fund may invest in certain types of derivative instruments for hedging and investment purposes. Although the Fund may invest in derivatives of any kind, the Fund currently expects to invest in futures contracts to gain efficient investment exposures as an alternative to cash investments or to hedge against portfolio exposures, and credit default swaps, interest rate swaps, inverse floater securities, and interest-only and principal-only securities to gain indirect exposure to interest rates, issuers, currencies, or market sectors, or to hedge against portfolio exposures. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Liquidity Risk: The possibility that certain securities or derivatives may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that would normally prevail in the market. The seller may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Prepayment/Call Risk: When mortgages and other obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Foreign Investment Risk: Foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign securities may be adversely affected by various factors, including currency fluctuations and social, economic or political instability. Derivatives Risk: The possibility that the Fund will suffer a loss from its use of derivatives. The primary risk with many derivatives is that they can amplify a gain or loss, potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of the derivative instrument. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund’s use of derivatives such as futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is heightened for over-the-counter swaps and other derivatives as compared to centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk: Collateralized loan obligations are structured investment vehicles typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Collateralized loan obligations are subject to the risks of substantial losses, including losses due to actual defaults by borrowers of the loans underlying the collateralized loan obligations, which will be greater during periods of economic or financial stress. Collateralized loan obligations may also lose value due to collateral defaults and impairment of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to collateralized loan obligation securities as a class. The Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations that hold loans of uncreditworthy borrowers, which may absorb losses from underlying borrower defaults before senior tranches. Investments in such collateralized loan obligations present a greater risk of loss. In addition, collateralized loan obligations are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment/call risk and fixed income market risk. Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer. Private Placement Risk: Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not publicly traded, and may be less liquid than those that are publicly traded. Accordingly, the Fund may not be able to redeem or resell its interests in a privately issued security at an advantageous time or at an advantageous price which may result in a loss to the Fund. Mortgage Dollar Roll Risk: The use of mortgage dollar rolls is a speculative technique involving leverage, and can have an economic effect similar to borrowing money for investment purposes. Mortgage dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is required to purchase may decline below the agreed upon repurchase price of those securities. If the broker/dealer to whom the Fund sells securities becomes insolvent, the Fund’s right to purchase or repurchase securities may be restricted. Successful use of mortgage dollar rolls may depend upon the ability to correctly predict interest rates and prepayments. These transactions may increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A85_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zntaVIXzcvRe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member_zHQu9lKKCAC7">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0276 0.0309 0.0148 0.0622 0.0458 -0.0105 0.0903 0.0507 0.0240 0.0760 <div id="xdx_A89_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_ztGVNd4O8He4"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123273Member_z9qNSPIj8uFb">Best quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123273Member_zkZ84Zhroxx6">5.80% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90A_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123273Member_zgfMs5MsArC">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123273Member_z2XK9EnjHyCl">Worst quarter: </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123273Member_zhy4nfX0CLBi">-3.99% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000123273Member_zkuYYO7jFThl">3/31/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0580 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0399 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0760 0.0083 0.0221 0.0590 -0.0039 0.0099 0.0447 0.0010 0.0116 0.0730 -0.0036 0.0201 0.0858 0.0015 0.0159 <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zYjwvUTvMcc4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member_z7mmK3y6BSxl">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000033167Member_zH08ALtmdvQ5">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital North Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zQv4iybhpBBe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks current income exempt from federal and North Carolina income taxes consistent with preservation of capital. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zKZk3bMUcsFl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0035 0.0000 0.0023 0.0058 Example <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zuDG1DkkOOud" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 59 186 324 726 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zkl7bmOQdtof" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 29.62% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.2962 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A86_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zH5OH2acDmqe" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which is exempt from federal income tax, alternative minimum tax, and North Carolina personal income tax (“North Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations”). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in municipal securities of the State of North Carolina and its political subdivisions that provide income exempt from both federal personal income tax and North Carolina personal income tax. Municipal securities in which the Fund will invest include municipal notes and bonds, general obligation bonds, special revenue bonds, private activity bonds, lease obligations, certificates of participation, variable rate demand notes, and tax-exempt commercial paper. The Fund invests in North Carolina municipal securities only if they are “investment grade” (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). The Fund will maintain an average duration of 3.5 to 8 years. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity is expected to be more than 3 years but less than 10 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rates and credit quality. The portfolio manager sets, and continually adjusts, a target for the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio based on expectations about interest rate movements. The portfolio manager then selects securities consistent with this target based on their individual characteristics. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reposition the Fund along the yield curve, to adjust the Fund’s average maturity or duration, to replace a security with one that the portfolio manager believes offers greater total return potential, or to exit a security whose credit fundamentals are deteriorating. The Fund is non-diversified and, therefore, may invest in a limited number of issuers. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. State-Specific Risk: By concentrating its investments in securities issued by North Carolina and its political subdivisions, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in North Carolina (e.g., adverse changes in North Carolina economic conditions, government policies or tax revenues and expenditures) than funds that are more geographically diversified. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Tax Risk: The risk that the issuer of the securities will fail to comply with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, which would cause adverse tax consequences. Changes or proposed changes in federal or state tax laws may cause the prices of tax-exempt securities to fall and/or may affect the tax-exempt status of the securities in which the Fund invests. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Non-Diversified Risk: Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer compared with other funds. Accordingly, the Fund’s portfolio may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer or industry. Prepayment/Call Risk: When obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zuxqwlrDsYnb" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member_ztdfuh5B2Iea">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 -0.0041 0.0327 0.0072 0.0590 0.0441 -0.0023 -0.0586 0.0387 0.0020 0.0426 <div id="xdx_A8D_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_z3N3Itvrj9p3"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009837Member_zDKMouIfbiH7">Best quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009837Member_z12No8xJEKQ4">6.09% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009837Member_zWtUHI1VQBm5">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009837Member_zaGZ0xCN36Ei">Worst quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009837Member_z6pNwdpUx8gc">-5.07% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009837Member_z4QXtTjbESx5">3/31/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0609 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0507 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0426 0.0038 0.0156 0.0423 0.0037 0.0154 0.0361 0.0078 0.0170 0.0425 0.0080 0.0234 0.0517 0.0114 0.0231 <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zAJGin1Gak88" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member_zNE4tO4zddZ2">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003541Member_ztjGnYglThS7">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital South Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zZ8OdS0e0JC4" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks current income exempt from federal and South Carolina income taxes consistent with preservation of capital. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zzC8H4vbQ0Hj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0035 0.0000 0.0031 0.0066 Example <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zS5b2JvMdmf6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 67 211 368 822 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zw6Rl3RWmiHg" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16.00% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.1600 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zFrkSmTRGLma" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which is exempt from federal income tax, alternative minimum tax, and South Carolina personal income tax (“South Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations”). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in municipal securities of the State of South Carolina (“South Carolina” or the “State”) and its political subdivisions that provide income exempt from both federal personal income tax and South Carolina personal income tax. Municipal securities in which the Fund will invest include municipal notes and bonds, general obligation bonds, special revenue bonds, private activity bonds, lease obligations, certificates of participation, variable rate demand notes, and tax-exempt commercial paper. The Fund invests in South Carolina municipal securities only if they are “investment grade” (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). The Fund will maintain an average duration of 3.5 to 8 years. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity is expected to be more than 3 years but less than 10 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rates and credit quality. The portfolio manager sets, and continually adjusts, a target for the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio based on expectations about interest rate movements. The portfolio manager then selects securities consistent with this target based on their individual characteristics. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reposition the Fund along the yield curve, to adjust the Fund’s average maturity or duration, to replace a security with one that the portfolio manager believes offers greater total return potential, or to exit a security whose credit fundamentals are deteriorating. The Fund is non-diversified and, therefore, may invest in a limited number of issuers. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. State-Specific Risk: By concentrating its investments in securities issued by South Carolina and its political subdivisions, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in South Carolina (e.g., adverse changes in South Carolina economic conditions, government policies or tax revenues and expenditures) than funds that are more geographically diversified. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Tax Risk: The risk that the issuer of the securities will fail to comply with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, which would cause adverse tax consequences. Changes or proposed changes in federal or state tax laws may cause the prices of tax-exempt securities to fall and/or may affect the tax-exempt status of the securities in which the Fund invests. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Non-Diversified Risk: Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer compared with other funds. Accordingly, the Fund’s portfolio may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer or industry. Prepayment/Call Risk: When obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8B_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_znRemzKQ12Ag" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zmTdh2thp8ga">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 -0.0036 0.0339 0.0075 0.0572 0.0432 0.0055 -0.0601 0.0392 0.0063 0.0408 <div id="xdx_A85_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zzemwQ3y7Dh2"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009851Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zImeJgkB9Kji">Best quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_901_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009851Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zBHGJV84J4Y7">5.63% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009851Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zlJYIYkGMUW3">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_900_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009851Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zBKWeQXgSt9g">Worst quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90E_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009851Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zNF0eIU5EF1j">-5.13% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009851Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zpjhwyCzZpmh">3/31/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0563 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0513 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0408 0.0057 0.0165 0.0405 0.0055 0.0164 0.0353 0.0093 0.0176 0.0425 0.0080 0.0234 0.0517 0.0114 0.0231 <p id="xdx_A8A_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zwEBaIXGCq11" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_z5MDGbga9y59">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003545Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_z2i1oQddMRZ4">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_z9usr9hfWSZ2" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks current income exempt from federal and Virginia income taxes consistent with preservation of capital. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zroNYs6BFE2l" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0035 0.0000 0.0027 0.0062 Example <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zvyf2gYXfXci" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 63 199 346 774 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A89_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zv7emdslV5Sg" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 17.40% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.1740 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A88_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_zHxzmTeK7aIb" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which is exempt from federal income tax, alternative minimum tax, and Virginia personal income tax (“Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations”). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in municipal securities of the Commonwealth of Virginia and its political subdivisions that provide income exempt from both federal personal income tax and Virginia personal income tax. Municipal securities in which the Fund will invest include municipal notes and bonds, general obligation bonds, special revenue bonds, private activity bonds, lease obligations, certificates of participation, variable rate demand notes, and tax-exempt commercial paper. The Fund invests in Virginia municipal securities only if they are “investment grade” (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). The Fund will maintain an average duration of 3.5 to 8 years. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity is expected to be more than 3 years but less than 10 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rates and credit quality. The portfolio manager sets, and continually adjusts, a target for the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio based on expectations about interest rate movements. The portfolio manager then selects securities consistent with this target based on their individual characteristics. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reposition the Fund along the yield curve, to adjust the Fund’s average maturity or duration, to replace a security with one that the portfolio manager believes offers greater total return potential, or to exit a security whose credit fundamentals are deteriorating. The Fund is non-diversified and, therefore, may invest in a limited number of issuers. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. State-Specific Risk: By concentrating its investments in securities issued by Virginia and its political subdivisions, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in Virginia (e.g., adverse changes in Virginia economic conditions, government policies or tax revenues and expenditures) than funds that are more geographically diversified. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Tax Risk: The risk that the issuer of the securities will fail to comply with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, which would cause adverse tax consequences. Changes or proposed changes in federal or state tax laws may cause the prices of tax-exempt securities to fall and/or may affect the tax-exempt status of the securities in which the Fund invests. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Non-Diversified Risk: Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer compared with other funds. Accordingly, the Fund’s portfolio may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer or industry. Prepayment/Call Risk: When obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A8D_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_z6ccpK5NKzhl" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zQqY0Tmxncc8">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 -0.0053 0.0328 0.0078 0.0613 0.0428 -0.0060 -0.0560 0.0380 0.0009 0.0380 <div id="xdx_A86_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zP1ii2KpVTqh"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009871Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_z2kNvRsW7Bc5">Best quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009871Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zilKqIksSpG">5.94% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009871Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zFvGiOtqoHi6">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_905_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009871Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zSn5wY4pYtHb">Worst quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_902_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009871Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zT51j9nBYPA7">-5.08% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90F_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009871Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zFFUtvhAgT6c">3/31/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0594 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0508 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0380 0.0024 0.0149 0.0377 0.0022 0.0146 0.0328 0.0064 0.0162 0.0425 0.0080 0.0234 0.0517 0.0114 0.0231 <p id="xdx_A81_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_zKtC7hNWSvz6" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_903_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zYFqISlH9QAk">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_900_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003551Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_z2clilL0dkOl">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Sterling Capital West Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Investment Objective <p id="xdx_A82_eoef--ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock_zLqOWFa2Er52" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund seeks current income exempt from federal and West Virginia income taxes consistent with preservation of capital. Fee Table <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock_zlg2HY5zE3M5" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0035 0.0000 0.0026 0.0061 Example <p id="xdx_A87_eoef--ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock_zIKIS8BPLf53" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 62 195 340 762 Portfolio Turnover <p id="xdx_A8F_eoef--PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock_zUL9SlyS1Jvj" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 15.61% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.1561 Strategy, Risks and Performance Principal Strategy <p id="xdx_A80_eoef--StrategyNarrativeTextBlock_z6xCycZQVGq7" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt">As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which is exempt from federal income tax, alternative minimum tax, and West Virginia personal income tax (“West Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations”). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in municipal securities of West Virginia and its political subdivisions that provide income exempt from both federal personal income tax and West Virginia personal income tax. Municipal securities in which the Fund will invest include municipal notes and bonds, general obligation bonds, special revenue bonds, private activity bonds, lease obligations, certificates of participation, variable rate demand notes, and tax-exempt commercial paper. The Fund invests in West Virginia municipal securities only if they are “investment grade” (rated at the time of purchase in one of the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality). The Fund will maintain an average duration of 3.5 to 8 years. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity is expected to be more than 3 years but less than 10 years. Duration is the expected life of a fixed income security and is used to determine the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates. Maturity merely measures the time until final payment is due. Unlike maturity, duration accounts for the time until all payments of interest and principal on a security are expected to be made, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the portfolio manager uses a “top down” investment management approach focusing on interest rates and credit quality. The portfolio manager sets, and continually adjusts, a target for the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio based on expectations about interest rate movements. The portfolio manager then selects securities consistent with this target based on their individual characteristics. The portfolio manager may consider selling a security owned by the Fund to reposition the Fund along the yield curve, to adjust the Fund’s average maturity or duration, to replace a security with one that the portfolio manager believes offers greater total return potential, or to exit a security whose credit fundamentals are deteriorating. The Fund is non-diversified and, therefore, may invest in a limited number of issuers. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit or obligation of any bank, is not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Interest Rate Risk: The possibility that the value of the Fund’s investments will decline due to an increase in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally higher for longer-term debt instruments and lower for shorter-term debt instruments. State-Specific Risk: By concentrating its investments in securities issued by West Virginia and its political subdivisions, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in West Virginia (e.g., adverse changes in West Virginia economic conditions, government policies or tax revenues and expenditures) than funds that are more geographically diversified. Credit Risk: The possibility that an issuer cannot make timely interest and principal payments on its debt securities such as bonds. The lower a security’s rating, the greater its credit risk. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness may occur quickly. Tax Risk: The risk that the issuer of the securities will fail to comply with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, which would cause adverse tax consequences. Changes or proposed changes in federal or state tax laws may cause the prices of tax-exempt securities to fall and/or may affect the tax-exempt status of the securities in which the Fund invests. Municipal Securities Risk: Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal obligations are subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The ability of municipalities to meet their obligations will depend on the availability of tax and other revenues, economic, political and other conditions within the state and municipality, and the underlying fiscal condition of the state and municipality. As with other fixed income securities, municipal securities also expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. Non-Diversified Risk: Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer compared with other funds. Accordingly, the Fund’s portfolio may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer or industry. Prepayment/Call Risk: When obligations are prepaid and when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield or fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Call risk is the possibility that, during periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer will “call” — or repay — higher-yielding bonds before their stated maturity date. In both cases, investors receive their principal back and are typically forced to reinvest it in bonds that pay lower interest rates. Estimated Maturity Risk: The possibility that an underlying security holder will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier or later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise or fall in interest rates. These events may shorten or lengthen the duration (i.e., interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities. Income Risk: The possibility that the Fund’s income will decline due to a decrease in interest rates. Income risk is generally higher for shorter-term bonds and lower for longer-term bonds. Fixed Income Market Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Counterparty Risk: The possibility that a counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Operational and Technology Risk: Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect the Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by the Fund may adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the Fund or impairing Fund operations. Management Risk: The risk that an investment technique used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result. Performance <p id="xdx_A83_eoef--PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock_zwgbxtGRzNRc" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_90D_eoef--PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zr8q6xQCQiq5">The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-228-1872. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compared with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index that reflects the principal investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com 1-800-228-1872 Institutional Shares Annual Total Returns for years ended 12/31 0.0024 0.0342 0.0067 0.0585 0.0449 0.0039 -0.0591 0.0441 0.0092 0.0444 <div id="xdx_A87_eoef--BarChartClosingTextBlock_zNySdJMCzFH8"></div> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 72%; margin-left: 27%; border-collapse: collapse"> <tr style="background-color: Gainsboro"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_907_eoef--HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009873Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zZYvrQsKPbFh">Best quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_90B_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009873Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_znyaAJEuUNZj">5.65% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009873Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zCCmA8A6S0E3">12/31/2023 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: White"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 32%"><span id="xdx_90C_eoef--LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009873Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zi2Paw9z8UJe">Worst quarter:</td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 39%"><span id="xdx_906_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009873Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zViQ0STBdGCk">-4.40% </td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 29%"><span id="xdx_909_eoef--BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__oef--ClassAxis__custom--C000009873Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zuuMGTOGxi76">3/31/2022 </td> </tr> </table> Best quarter: 0.0565 2023-12-31 Worst quarter: -0.0440 2022-03-31 Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2025 0.0444 0.0078 0.0184 0.0442 0.0076 0.0181 0.0379 0.0112 0.0194 0.0425 0.0080 0.0234 0.0517 0.0114 0.0231 <p id="xdx_A84_eoef--PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock_z0Sor10NR439" style="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; padding-left: 27.27%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt"><span id="xdx_904_eoef--PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zbYp9h1k5Wga">After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. <span id="xdx_908_eoef--PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred_c20260201__20260201__dei--LegalEntityAxis__custom--S000003552Member__dei--DocumentInformationDocumentAxis__custom--InstClassMember_zQTPlV1Huuej">After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000® Index is the Fund’s new regulatory benchmark. Previously, the Fund’s regulatory benchmark was the Russell 3000® Index. The new regulatory benchmark represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements The Bloomberg U.S. 1000 Value® Index is the strategy index for the Fund. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000® Index is the Fund’s new regulatory benchmark. Previously, the Fund’s regulatory benchmark was the Russell 3000® Index. The new regulatory benchmark represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The Bloomberg U.S. 2000 Value® Index is the strategy index for the Fund. Management Fees have been restated to reflect current annual contractual management fees of 0.60%. The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets in the Fund’s Financial Highlights because of a reduction in the Fund’s annual contractual management fees from 0.65% to 0.60% effective February 1, 2025. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000® Index is the Fund’s new regulatory benchmark. Previously, the Fund’s regulatory benchmark was the Russell 3000® Index. The new regulatory benchmark represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000® Index is the Fund’s new regulatory benchmark. Previously, the Fund’s regulatory benchmark was the Russell 3000® Index. The new regulatory benchmark represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The Bloomberg U.S. 1000 Value® Index is the strategy index for the Fund. Performance for Class A Shares and Class C Shares for periods prior to inception on November 16, 2015 is based on the performance of the shares of the Fund’s predecessor, the Stratton Mid Cap Value Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), which transferred all of its assets and liabilities to the Fund pursuant to a reorganization. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000® Index is the Fund’s new regulatory benchmark. Previously, the Fund’s regulatory benchmark was the Russell 3000® Index. The new regulatory benchmark represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements The Bloomberg U.S. Mid Cap Value® Index is the strategy index for the Fund. Performance for Class A Shares and Class C Shares for periods prior to inception on November 16, 2015 is based on the performance of the shares of the Fund’s predecessor, the Stratton Real Estate Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), which transferred all of its assets and liabilities to the Fund pursuant to a reorganization. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000® Index is the Fund’s new regulatory benchmark. Previously the Fund’s regulatory benchmark was the Russell 3000® Index. The new regulatory benchmark represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000 REIT Index is the Fund’s strategy index. Performance for Class A Shares and Class C Shares for periods prior to inception on November 16, 2015 is based on the performance of the shares of the Fund’s predecessor, the Stratton Small Cap Value Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), which transferred all of its assets and liabilities to the Fund pursuant to a reorganization. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000® Index is the Fund’s new regulatory benchmark. Previously, the Fund’s regulatory benchmark was the Russell 3000® Index. The new regulatory benchmark represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The Bloomberg U.S. 2000 Value® Index is the Fund’s strategy Index. The Fund’s adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees, pay Fund operating expenses, and/or reimburse the Fund to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) for the Fund’s Class A Shares, exceed 0.69% of the Class A Shares’ average daily net assets for the period from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. This contractual limitation may be terminated during this period only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and will automatically terminate upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”). The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is the Fund’s regulatory benchmark, which represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The ICE BofA 0-1 Year U.S. Treasury Index is the strategy index for the Fund. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is the Fund’s regulatory benchmark, which represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The ICE BofA 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate Government Index is the strategy index for the Fund. The Fund’s adviser has contractually agreed to limit the management fees paid by the Fund to 0.11% for the period from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. This contractual limitation may be terminated during this period only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and will automatically terminate upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”). The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is the Fund’s regulatory benchmark, which represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government Index is the strategy index for the The Fund’s adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees, pay Fund operating expenses, and/or reimburse the Fund to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) for the Fund’s Class A Shares, exceed 0.70% of the Class A Shares’ average daily net assets and, for the Fund’s Class C Shares, exceed 1.45% of the Class C Shares’ average daily net assets for the period from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. This contractual limitation may be terminated during this period only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and will automatically terminate upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”). The Fund’s adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees, pay Fund operating expenses, and/or reimburse the Fund to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) for the Fund’s Class A Shares, exceed 0.70% of the Class A Shares’ average daily net assets and, for the Fund’s Class C Shares, exceed 1.45% of the Class C Shares’ average daily net assets for the period from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. This contractual limitation may be terminated during this period only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and will automatically terminate upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”). The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is the Fund’s regulatory benchmark, which represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The Bloomberg U.S. Long Corporate Index is the strategy index for the Fund. The Fund’s adviser has contractually agreed to limit the management fees paid by the Fund to 0.29% for the period from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. This contractual limitation may be terminated during this period only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and will automatically terminate upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”). The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is the Fund’s regulatory benchmark, which represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The Bloomberg U.S. Mortgage Backed Securities Index is the strategy index for the Fund. The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is the Fund’s regulatory benchmark, which represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The ICE BofA 2-17 Year Municipal Bond Index is the strategy index for the Fund The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is the Fund’s regulatory benchmark which represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The ICE BofA 2-17 Year Municipal Bond Index is the strategy index for the Fund The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is the Fund’s regulatory benchmark, which represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The ICE BofA 2-17 Year Municipal Bond Index is the strategy index for the Fund. The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is the Fund’s regulatory benchmark, which represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The ICE BofA 2-17 Year Municipal Bond Index is the strategy index for the Fund. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000® Index is the Fund’s new regulatory benchmark. Previously, the Fund’s regulatory benchmark was the Russell 3000® Index. The new regulatory benchmark represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements The Bloomberg U.S. 1000 Value® Index is the strategy index for the Fund. The Fund’s administrator, Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital”), has contractually agreed to waive its administrative fees, pay Fund operating expenses, and/or reimburse the Fund 0.11% of the Class R6 Shares’ average daily net assets for the period from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. This contractual waiver may be terminated during this period only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and will automatically terminate upon termination of the Administration Agreement between the Fund and Sterling Capital. Performance for Class R6 Shares for periods prior to inception on February 1, 2018 is based on the performance of the Institutional Shares of the Fund. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000® Index is the Fund’s new regulatory benchmark. Previously, the Fund’s regulatory benchmark was the Russell 3000® Index. The new regulatory benchmark represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements. The Bloomberg U.S. 1000 Value® Index is the strategy index for the Fund. The Bloomberg U.S. 3000® Index is the Fund’s new regulatory benchmark. Previously, the Fund’s regulatory benchmark was the Russell 3000® Index. The new regulatory benchmark represents a broad measure of market performance and is included to comply with regulatory requirements.