STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FS MULTI-STRATEGY ALTERNATIVES FUND

Class A: FSMMX

Class I: FSMSX

 

FS CHIRON REAL DEVELOPMENT FUND

(Formerly, FS Chiron Real Asset Fund)

Class A: FARLX

Class I: FSRLX

 

FS MANAGED FUTURES FUND

Class A: FMFFX

Class I: FMGFX

 

each, a series of

THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND III

 

May 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

FS FUND ADVISOR, LLC

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III (the “Trust”) and the FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund (the “Multi-Strategy Fund”), the FS Chiron Real Development Fund (the “Real Development Fund”) and the FS Managed Futures Fund (the “Managed Futures Fund” and, together with the Multi-Strategy Fund and Real Development Fund, the “Funds” and each, a “Fund”). This SAI is incorporated by reference into and should be read in conjunction with the Funds’ prospectus dated May 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus. The most recent annual report for the Funds, which includes the Funds’ audited financial statements dated December 31, 2023, is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Prospectus or the Funds’ annual or semi-annual report free of charge by writing to the Funds at FS Funds P.O. Box 219484, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: FS Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or calling the Funds at 877-9-CHIRON (877-924-4766).

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE TRUST S-1
HISTORY OF THE FUNDS S-2
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-2
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS S-62
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES S-65
THE INVESTMENT MANAGERS S-65
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT S-69
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-72
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-73
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES S-74
THE TRANSFER AGENT S-76
THE CUSTODIAN S-76
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-76
LEGAL COUNSEL S-76
SECURITIES LENDING S-76
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-77
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES S-87
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-90
TAXES S-91
FUND TRANSACTIONS S-104
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS S-108
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-110
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY S-110
PROXY VOTING S-110
CODES OF ETHICS S-111
MASTER/FEEDER OPTION S-111
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS S-112
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1

May 1, 2024 CHI-SX-004-0500

 

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THE TRUST

 

General. Each Fund is a separate series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under Delaware law as a Delaware statutory trust under a Declaration of Trust dated December 4, 2013, as amended September 10, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund or exchange traded fund (“ETF”), and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund, and all assets of such fund, belong solely to that fund and would be subject to any liabilities related thereto. Each fund of the Trust pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate statements of additional information.

 

Description of Multiple Classes of Shares. The Trust is authorized to offer shares of the Funds in Class A shares and Class I shares. The different classes provide for variations in sales charges, distribution and shareholder servicing fees and minimum investment requirements. Investor eligibility is described in the Prospectus. The Trust reserves the right to create and issue additional classes of shares. For more information on shareholder servicing expenses, see the “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” section in this SAI.

 

Voting Rights. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. Each Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Delaware statutory trust, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of members of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (each, a “Trustee” and collectively, the “Trustees” or the “Board”) under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate each Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if any Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

 

Any series of the Trust may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. In addition, such reorganization or merger may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, without the approval of shareholders of any series.

 

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HISTORY OF THE FUNDS

 

The Multi-Strategy Fund is the successor to the FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund (the “Predecessor Multi-Strategy Fund”), the Real Development Fund is the successor to the FS Chiron Real Asset Fund (the “Predecessor Real Asset Fund”) and the Managed Futures Fund is the successor to the FS Managed Futures Fund (the “Predecessor Managed Futures Fund” and, together with the Predecessor Multi-Strategy Fund and Predecessor Real Asset Fund, the “Predecessor Funds”). The Predecessor Funds were managed by FS Fund Advisor, LLC (the “Adviser”) prior to their reorganizations into the Funds on April 11, 2022 (each, a “Reorganization” and together, the “Reorganizations”), and the Funds are managed by the Adviser. Each Predecessor Fund had substantially similar investment objectives, investment strategies, policies and restrictions as those of its corresponding Fund.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

Each Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus. The following are descriptions of the permitted investments and investment practices of the Funds and the associated risk factors. The Funds may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by a Fund’s stated investment policies, including those stated below, or the Adviser’s internal investment guidelines.

 

Each of the Real Development Fund and Managed Futures Fund employs a multi-strategy approach under which the Adviser typically allocates the assets of the Fund among one or more “Alternative Beta Strategies” that offer the Fund synthetic exposure to alternative investment portfolios. The Multi-Strategy Fund employs a multi-strategy approach under which the Adviser typically allocates the assets of the Fund among a number of (i) asset managers (the “Underlying Managers”) that directly manage a portion of Fund assets in alternative investment strategies, and (ii) Alternative Beta Strategies. The Underlying Managers are sub-advisers to the Multi-Strategy Fund. The strategies employed by the Underlying Managers and the Alternative Beta Strategies are collectively referred to in this SAI as “Alternative Investment Strategies.”

 

The Multi-Strategy Fund has a primary sub-adviser, Wilshire Advisors LLC (“Wilshire”), which evaluates and recommends strategies, Underlying Managers, and Alternative Beta Strategies to the Adviser for use by the Fund, and provides risk management, monitoring and reporting to the Adviser regarding the Fund, the Underlying Managers, Alternative Beta Strategies and Alternative Investment Strategies.

 

Unless indicated otherwise, references to the investment exposure or risks of a Fund should be understood to refer to the Fund’s direct investment exposure, as well as indirect exposure to certain assets that may be obtained through investments in a Subsidiary, investments in Alternative Beta Strategies and investments in other investment companies and other such instruments.

 

Adjustable Rate Securities

 

Adjustable rate securities are securities that have interest rates that reset at periodic intervals, usually by reference to an interest rate index or market interest rate. Adjustable rate securities include U.S. government securities and securities of other issuers. Some adjustable rate securities are backed by pools of mortgage loans. Although the rate adjustment feature may act as a buffer to reduce sharp changes in the value of adjustable rate securities, changes in market interest rates or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness may still affect their value. Because the interest rate is reset only periodically, changes in the interest rates on adjustable rate securities may lag changes in prevailing market interest rates. Also, some adjustable rate securities (or, in the case of securities backed by mortgage loans, the underlying mortgages) are subject to caps or floors that limit the maximum change in interest rate during a specified period or over the life of the security. Because of the rate adjustments, adjustable rate securities are less likely than non-adjustable rate securities of comparable quality and maturity to increase significantly in value when market interest rates fall.

 

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Arbitrage Transactions

 

Merger Arbitrage. A Fund may engage in merger arbitrage transactions, where the Fund will purchase securities at prices below a manager’s anticipated value of the cash, securities or other consideration to be paid or exchanged for such securities in a proposed merger, exchange offer, tender offer or other similar transaction. Such purchase price may be substantially in excess of the market price of the securities prior to the announcement of the merger, exchange offer, tender offer or other similar transaction. If the proposed merger, exchange offer, tender offer or other similar transaction later appears likely not to be consummated or in fact is not consummated or is delayed, the market price of the security purchased by a Fund may decline sharply and result in losses to the Fund if such securities are sold, transferred or exchanged for securities or cash, the value of which is less than the purchase price. Although a Fund will attempt to identify merger arbitrage opportunities with attractive risk-reward profiles, the losses that can occur in the event of deal break-ups can far exceed the gains to be had if deals close successfully. Mark-to-market losses can occur intra-month even if a particular deal is not breaking-up and such losses may or may not be recouped upon successful consummation of such deal. Further, the consummation of mergers, tender offers and exchange offers can be prevented or delayed by a variety of factors, including: (i) regulatory and antitrust restrictions; (ii) political motivations; (iii) industry weakness; (iv) stock specific events; (v) failed financings; and (vi) general market declines. Also, in certain transactions, a Fund may not hedge against market fluctuations. This can result in losses even if the proposed transaction is consummated. In addition, a security to be issued in a merger or exchange offer may be sold short by a Fund in the expectation that the short position will be covered by delivery of such security when issued. If the merger or exchange offer is not consummated, a Fund may be forced to cover its short position at a higher price than its short sale price, resulting in a loss.

 

Merger arbitrage strategies also depend for success on the overall volume of merger activity, which has historically been cyclical in nature. During periods when merger activity is low, it may be difficult or impossible to identify opportunities for profit or to identify a sufficient number of such opportunities to provide diversification among potential merger transactions.

 

Capital Structure Arbitrage. Capital structure arbitrage involves establishing long and short positions in securities (or their derivatives) at different tiers within an issuer’s capital structure in ratios designed to maintain a generally neutral overall exposure to the issuer while exploiting a pricing inefficiency.

 

Some issuers may also have more than one class of shares or an equivalent vehicle that trades in a different market (e.g., European equities and their American Depositary Receipt counterparts). This strategy profits from the disparity in prices between the various related securities in anticipation that over time all tiers and classes will become more efficiently priced relative to one another.

 

Convertible Bond Arbitrage. Convertible bond arbitrage is a strategy that seeks to profit from mispricings between a firm’s convertible securities and the underlying equity securities. A common convertible arbitrage approach matches a long position in a convertible security with a short position in the underlying common stock when an investor believes the convertible security is undervalued relative to the value of the underlying equity security. A Fund may seek to hedge the equity exposure of the position by selling short the equity or other related security in a ratio it believes is appropriate for the current convertible bond valuation and may seek to hedge the debt exposure of the position by selling short a related fixed income security. A convertible bond arbitrage strategy is constructed to achieve stable, absolute returns with low correlation to equity or debt market movements.

 

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Arbitrage strategies are subject to the risk of overall market movements. To the extent that a general increase or decline in market values affects the securities involved in an arbitrage position differently, the position may be exposed to loss. At any given time, arbitrageurs can become improperly hedged by accident or in an effort to maximize risk-adjusted returns. This can lead to inadvertent market-related losses.

 

Asset-Backed and Related Securities

 

An asset-backed security is a fixed income security that predominantly derives its creditworthiness from cash flows relating to a pool of assets. There are a number of different types of asset-backed and related securities, including mortgage-backed securities, securities backed by other pools of collateral (such as automobile loans, student loans, sub-prime mortgages, and credit-card receivables), collateralized mortgage obligations, and collateralized debt obligations, each of which is described in more detail below. Investments in asset-backed securities are subject to all of the market risks for fixed-income securities described elsewhere in this SAI.

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. A Fund may invest in commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”), which represent interests in pools of mortgage loans secured by commercial properties. Mortgage loans on commercial properties often are structured so that a substantial portion of the loan principal is not amortized over the loan term but is payable at maturity (as a “balloon payment”), and repayment of a significant portion of loan principal thus often depends upon the future availability of real estate financing (to refinance the loan) and/or upon the value and saleability of the real estate at the relevant time. Therefore, the unavailability of real estate financing may lead to default on the mortgage loan. Most commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS are effectively nonrecourse obligations of the applicable borrowers, meaning that there is no recourse against a borrower’s assets other than the specific property encumbered as security. If borrowers are not able or willing to refinance or dispose of the encumbered property to pay the principal and interest owed on such mortgage loans, payments on the related CMBS (particularly subordinated classes of CMBS) will likely be adversely affected. The ultimate extent of the loss, if any, to the classes of CMBS may only be determined after a negotiated discounted settlement, restructuring or sale of the mortgage note, or the foreclosure (or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure) of the mortgage encumbering the property and subsequent liquidation of the property. Foreclosure can be costly and delayed by litigation and/or bankruptcy. Factors such as the property’s location, the legal status of title to the property, its physical condition and financial performance, environmental risks and governmental disclosure requirements with respect to the condition of the property may make a third-party unwilling to purchase the property at a foreclosure sale or to pay a price sufficient to satisfy the obligations with respect to the related CMBS. Revenues from the assets underlying a commercial mortgage loan and related CMBS may be retained by the borrower and/or used to make payments to others, maintain insurance coverage, pay taxes or pay maintenance costs. Such diverted revenues generally are not recoverable without a court-appointed receiver to control cash flow from the collateral. The holder of CMBS does not have a contractual relationship with the borrowers of the underlying commercial mortgage loans and typically has no right directly to enforce compliance by the borrowers with the terms of the loan agreements, nor any rights of set-off against the borrowers, nor will it have the right to object to certain changes to the underlying loan agreements, nor to move directly against the collateral supporting the related loans.

 

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A Fund may invest in subordinated classes of CMBS, which involve greater credit risk, tend to be less liquid and may be more difficult to value than senior classes of CMBS. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may substantially decrease the liquidity and value of subordinated CMBS, especially in a thinly traded market. Subordinated classes of CMBS may include lower-rated or unrated securities that are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest in accordance with their terms.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities. Mortgage-backed securities are asset-backed securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages, which may include sub-prime mortgages. Mortgage-backed securities may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government (including those whose securities are neither guaranteed nor insured by the U.S. government, such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), and Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLB”), foreign governments (or their agencies or instrumentalities), or non-governmental issuers. Interest and principal payments (including prepayments) on the mortgage loans underlying mortgage-backed securities pass through to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Prepayments occur when the mortgagor on an individual mortgage loan prepays the remaining principal before the loan’s scheduled maturity date. Unscheduled prepayments of the underlying mortgage loans may result in early payment of the applicable mortgage-backed securities held by a Fund. A Fund may be unable to invest prepayments in an investment that provides as high a yield as the mortgage-backed securities. Consequently, early payment associated with mortgage-backed securities may cause these securities to experience significantly greater price and yield volatility than traditional fixed income securities. Many factors affect the rate of mortgage loan prepayments, including changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, further deterioration of worldwide economic and liquidity conditions, the location of the property underlying the mortgage, the age of the mortgage loan, governmental action, including legal impairment of underlying home loans, changes in demand for products financed by those loans, the inability of borrowers to refinance existing loans (e.g., sub-prime mortgages), and social and demographic conditions. During periods of falling interest rates, the rate of mortgage loan prepayments usually increases, which tends to decrease the life of mortgage-backed securities. During periods of rising interest rates, the rate of mortgage loan prepayments usually decreases, which tends to increase the life of mortgage-backed securities.

 

Mortgage-backed securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, depending on whether they are issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government (including those whose securities are neither guaranteed nor insured by the U.S. government) or by non-governmental issuers. Additionally, credit risk transfer mortgaged-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae (called Connecticut Avenue Securities) and Freddie Mac (called Structured Agency Credit Risk debt notes) carry no guarantee whatsoever from the issuing agency and the risk of default associated with these securities would be borne by a Fund. Securities issued by private organizations may not be readily marketable, and since the deterioration of worldwide economic and liquidity conditions that became acute in 2008, mortgage-backed securities have been subject to greater liquidity risk. The economic recession that commenced in the United States in 2008 introduced a period of heightened levels of default on receivables and loans underlying residential mortgage-backed securities than were historically experienced. A future economic downturn could increase the risk that such assets underlying residential mortgage-backed securities purchased by the Fund will also suffer greater levels of default than were historically experienced. Also, government actions and proposals affecting the terms of underlying home loans, changes in demand for products (e.g., automobiles) financed by those loans, and the inability of borrowers to refinance existing loans (e.g., subprime mortgages), have had, and may continue to have, adverse valuation and liquidity effects on mortgage-backed securities. Although liquidity of mortgage-backed securities has improved, there can be no assurance that in the future the market for mortgage-backed securities will continue to improve and become more liquid. In addition, mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk of loss of principal if the obligors of the underlying obligations default in their payment obligations, and to certain other risks described in “Other Asset-Backed Securities” below. The risk of defaults associated with mortgage-backed securities is generally higher in the case of mortgage-backed investments that include sub-prime mortgages. Mortgage-backed securities may include Adjustable Rate Securities as such term is defined in “Adjustable Rate Securities” above.

 

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Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities. Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (“RMBS”) represent interests in pools of residential mortgage loans secured by one to four family residential mortgage loans. Such loans may be prepaid at any time. Prepayments could reduce the yield received on the related issue of RMBS. RMBS are particularly susceptible to prepayment risks, as they generally do not contain prepayment penalties and a reduction in interest rates will increase the prepayments on the RMBS, resulting in a reduction in yield to maturity for holders of such securities.

 

Residential mortgage loans are obligations of the borrowers thereunder only and are not typically insured or guaranteed by any other person or entity, although such loans may be securitized by government agencies and the securities issued are guaranteed. The rate of defaults and losses on residential mortgage loans will be affected by a number of factors, including general economic conditions and those in the geographic area where the mortgaged property is located, the terms of the mortgage loan, the borrower’s equity in the mortgaged property, and the financial circumstances of the borrower. Certain mortgage loans may be of sub-prime credit quality (i.e., do not meet the customary credit standards of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). Delinquencies and liquidation proceedings are more likely with sub-prime mortgage loans than with mortgage loans that satisfy customary credit standards. If a residential mortgage loan is in default, foreclosure of such residential mortgage loan may be lengthy and difficult process, and may involve significant expenses. Furthermore, the market for defaulted residential mortgage loans or foreclosed properties may be very limited.

 

At any one time, a portfolio of RMBS may be backed by residential mortgage loans with disproportionately large aggregate principal amounts secured by properties in only a few states or regions in the United States. As a result, the residential mortgage loans may be more susceptible to geographic risks relating to such areas, such as adverse economic conditions, adverse events affecting industries located in such areas and natural hazards affecting such areas, than would be the case for a pool of mortgage loans having more diverse property locations.

 

Residential mortgage loans in an issue of RMBS may be subject to various U.S. federal and state laws, public policies and principles of equity that protect consumers which, among other things, may regulate interest rates and other fees, require certain disclosures, require licensing of originators, prohibit discriminatory lending practices, regulate the use of consumer credit information, and regulate debt collection practices. In addition, a number of legislative proposals have been introduced in the United States at both the federal, state, and municipal level that are designed to discourage predatory lending practices. Violation of such laws, public policies, and principles may limit the servicer’s ability to collect all or part of the principal or interest on a residential mortgage loan, entitle the borrower to a refund of amounts previously paid by it, or subject the servicer to damages and administrative enforcement. Any such violation could also result in cash flow delays and losses on the related issue of RMBS.

 

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It is not expected that RMBS will be guaranteed or insured by any U.S. governmental agency or instrumentality or by any other person. Distributions on RMBS will depend solely upon the amount and timing of payments and other collections on the related underlying mortgage loans.

 

Other Asset-Backed Securities. Similar to mortgage-backed securities, other types of asset-backed securities may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government (including those whose securities are neither guaranteed nor insured by the U.S. government), foreign governments (or their agencies or instrumentalities), or non-governmental issuers. These securities include securities backed by pools of automobile loans, educational loans, home equity loans, and credit-card receivables. The underlying pools of assets are securitized through the use of trusts and special purpose entities. These securities may be subject to risks associated with changes in interest rates and prepayment of underlying obligations similar to the risks of investment in mortgage-backed securities described immediately above. Additionally, following the deterioration of worldwide economic and liquidity conditions that became acute in 2008, the markets for asset-backed securities became fractured, and uncertainty about the creditworthiness of those securities (and underlying assets) caused credit spreads (the difference between yields on asset-backed securities and U.S. government securities) to widen dramatically. Concurrently, systemic risks of the type evidenced by the insolvency of Lehman Brothers and subsequent market disruptions reduced the ability of financial institutions to make markets in many fixed income securities. These events reduced liquidity and contributed to substantial declines in the market prices of asset-backed and other fixed income securities. These conditions may occur again. Also, government actions and proposals affecting the terms of underlying home and consumer loans, changes in demand for products (e.g., automobiles) financed by those loans, and the inability of borrowers to refinance existing loans (e.g., subprime mortgages), have had, and may continue to have, adverse valuation and liquidity effects on asset-backed securities. Although liquidity of asset-backed securities has improved, there can be no assurance that in the future the market for asset-backed securities will continue to improve and become more liquid. The risk of investing in asset-backed securities has increased because performance of the various sectors in which the assets underlying asset-backed securities are concentrated (e.g., auto loans, student loans, sub-prime mortgages, and credit-card receivables) has become more highly correlated since the deterioration in worldwide economic and liquidity conditions referred to above.

 

Payment of interest on asset-backed securities and repayment of principal largely depends on the cash flows generated by the underlying assets backing the securities and, in certain cases, may be supported by letters of credit, surety bonds, or other credit enhancements. The amount of market risk associated with asset-backed securities depends on many factors, including the deal structure (i.e., determination as to the amount of underlying assets or other support needed to produce the cash flow necessary to service interest and make principal payments), the quality of the underlying assets, the level of credit support, if any, provided for the securities, and the credit quality of the credit-support provider, if any. Asset-backed securities involve risk of loss of principal if obligors of the underlying obligations default in payment of the obligations and the defaulted obligations exceed the securities’ credit support. The obligations of issuers (and obligors of underlying assets) also are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. In addition, the existence of insurance on an asset-backed security does not guarantee that principal and/or interest will be paid because the insurer could default on its obligations. In recent years, a significant number of asset-backed security insurers have defaulted on their obligations.

 

The market value of an asset-backed security may be affected by the factors described above and other factors, such as the availability of information concerning the pool and its structure, the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the underlying assets, or the entities providing the credit enhancement. The market value of asset-backed securities also can depend on the ability of their servicers to service the underlying collateral and is, therefore, subject to risks associated with servicers’ performance. In some circumstances, a servicer’s or originator’s mishandling of documentation related to the underlying collateral (e.g., failure to properly document a security interest in the underlying collateral) may affect the rights of the security holders in and to the underlying collateral. In addition, the insolvency of entities that generate receivables or that utilize the underlying assets may result in a decline in the value of the underlying assets as well as costs and delays.

 

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Certain types of asset-backed securities present additional risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. In particular, certain types of asset-backed securities may not have the benefit of a security interest in the related assets. For example, many securities backed by credit-card receivables are unsecured. In addition, a Fund may invest in securities backed by pools of corporate or sovereign bonds, bank loans made to corporations, or a combination of these bonds and loans, many of which may be unsecured (commonly referred to as “collateralized debt obligations” or “collateralized loan obligations”) (see “Collateralized Debt Obligations” below). Even when security interests are present, the ability of an issuer of certain types of asset-backed securities to enforce those interests may be more limited than that of an issuer of mortgage-backed securities. For instance, automobile receivables generally are secured, but by automobiles rather than by real property. Most issuers of automobile receivables permit loan servicers to retain possession of the underlying assets. In addition, because of the large number of underlying vehicles involved in a typical issue of asset-backed securities and technical requirements under state law, the trustee for the holders of the automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in all of the automobiles. Therefore, recoveries on repossessed automobiles may not be available to support payments on these securities. In addition, certain types of asset-backed securities may experience losses on the underlying assets as a result of certain rights provided to consumer debtors under federal and state law. In the case of certain consumer debt, such as credit-card debt, debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors the right to set off certain amounts owed on their credit-cards (or other debt), thereby reducing their balances due. For instance, a debtor may be able to offset certain damages for which a court has determined that the creditor is liable to the debtor against amounts owed to the creditor by the debtor on his or her credit-card.

 

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations; Strips and Residuals. A collateralized mortgage obligation (“CMO”) is a debt obligation backed by a portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities held under an indenture. The issuer of a CMO generally pays interest and prepaid principal on a monthly basis. These payments are secured by the underlying portfolio, which typically includes mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, or the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) and their income streams, and which also may include whole mortgage loans and private mortgage bonds.

 

CMOs are issued in multiple classes, often referred to as “tranches.” Each class has a different maturity and is entitled to a different schedule for payments of principal and interest, including pre-payments. In a typical CMO transaction, the issuer of the CMO bonds uses proceeds from the CMO offering to buy mortgages or mortgage pass-through certificates (the “Collateral”). The issuer then pledges the Collateral to a third party trustee as security for the CMOs. The issuer uses principal and interest payments from the Collateral to pay principal on the CMOs, paying the tranche with the earliest maturity first. Thus, the issuer pays no principal on a tranche until all other tranches with earlier maturities are paid in full. The early retirement of a particular class or series has the same effect as the prepayment of mortgage loans underlying a mortgage-backed pass-through security. CMOs may be less liquid and may exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or other asset-backed securities.

 

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A Fund also may invest in CMO residuals, which are issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government or by private lenders of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, and investment banks. A CMO residual represents excess cash flow generated by the Collateral after the issuer of the CMO makes all required principal and interest payments and after the issuer’s management fees and administrative expenses have been paid. Thus, CMO residuals have value only to the extent income from the Collateral exceeds the amount necessary to satisfy the issuer’s debt obligations on all other outstanding CMOs. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characterization of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses, and the pre-payment experience on the mortgage assets.

 

CMOs also include certificates representing undivided interests in payments of interest-only or principal-only (“IO/PO Strips”) on the underlying mortgages. IO/PO Strips and CMO residuals tend to be more volatile than other types of securities. If the underlying securities are prepaid, holders of IO/PO Strips and CMO residuals may lose a substantial portion or the entire value of their investment. In addition, if a CMO pays interest at an adjustable rate, the cash flows on the related CMO residual will be extremely sensitive to rate adjustments.

 

Collateralized Debt Obligations. A Fund may invest in collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), which include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), and other similarly structured securities. CBOs and CLOs are asset-backed securities. A CBO is an obligation of a trust or other special purpose vehicle backed by a pool of fixed income securities. A CLO is an obligation of a trust or other special purpose vehicle typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include domestic and foreign senior secured and unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade, or equivalent unrated loans. For both CBOs and CLOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, which vary in risk and yield. The riskier portions are the residual, equity, and subordinate tranches, which bear some or all of the risk of default by the bonds or loans in the trust, and therefore protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CBO trust or CLO trust typically has higher ratings and lower yields than its underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the riskier tranches, senior CBO or CLO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults (including collateral default), the total loss of the riskier tranches due to losses in the collateral, market anticipation of defaults, fraud by the trust, and the illiquidity of CBO or CLO securities.

 

The risks of an investment in a CDO largely depend on the type of underlying collateral securities and the tranche in which a Fund invests. A Fund may invest in any tranche of a CBO or CLO. Typically, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, a Fund may characterize its investments in CDOs as illiquid, unless an active dealer market for a particular CDO allows the CDO to be purchased and sold in Rule 144A transactions. CDOs are subject to the typical risks associated with debt instruments discussed elsewhere in this SAI and the Prospectus, including interest rate risk (which may be exacerbated if the interest rate payable on a structured financing changes based on multiples of changes in interest rates or inversely to changes in interest rates), default risk, prepayment risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, market risk, structural risk, and legal risk. Additional risks of CDOs include: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will be insufficient to make interest or other payments, (ii) the possibility that the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default, due to factors such as the availability of any credit enhancement, the level and timing of payments and recoveries on and the characteristics of the underlying receivables, loans or other assets that are being securitized, remoteness of those assets from the originator or transferor, the adequacy of and ability to realize upon any related collateral and the capability of the servicer of the securitized assets, (iii) market and liquidity risks affecting the price of a structured finance investment, if required to be sold, at the time of sale, and (iv) if the particular structured product is invested in a security in which a Fund is also invested, this would tend to increase a Fund’s overall exposure to the credit of the issuer of such securities, at least on an absolute, if not on a relative basis. In addition, due to the complex nature of a CDO, an investment in a CDO may not perform as expected. An investment in a CDO also is subject to the risk that the issuer and the investors may interpret the terms of the instrument differently, giving rise to disputes.

 

S-9

 

 

Auction Rate Securities

 

Auction rate securities consist of auction rate municipal securities and auction rate preferred securities sold through an auction process issued by closed-end investment companies, municipalities and governmental agencies. Provided that the auction mechanism is successful, auction rate securities usually permit the holder to sell the securities in an auction at par value at specified intervals. The dividend is reset by “Dutch” auction in which bids are made by broker-dealers and other institutions for a certain amount of securities at a specified minimum yield. The dividend rate set by the auction is the lowest interest or dividend rate that covers all securities offered for sale. While this process is designed to permit auction rate securities to be traded at par value, there is the risk that an auction will fail due to insufficient demand for the securities.

 

Below Investment Grade Securities

 

A Fund may invest some or all of their assets in securities or instruments rated below investment grade (that is, rated below Baa3/P-2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or below BBB-/A-2 by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) for a particular security/commercial paper, or securities unrated by Moody’s or S&P that are determined by a manager to be of comparable quality to securities so rated) at the time of purchase, including securities in the lowest rating categories and comparable unrated securities (“Below Investment Grade Securities”) (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). In addition, a Fund may hold securities that are downgraded to below-investment-grade status after the time of purchase by a Fund. Many issuers of high yield debt are highly leveraged, and their relatively high debt-to-equity ratios create increased risks that their operations might not generate sufficient cash flow to service their debt obligations. In addition, many issuers of high yield debt may be (i) in poor financial condition, (ii) experiencing poor operating results, (iii) having substantial capital needs or negative net worth or (iv) facing special competitive or product obsolescence problems, and may include companies involved in bankruptcy or other reorganizations or liquidation proceedings. Compared to higher quality fixed income securities, Below Investment Grade Securities offer the potential for higher investment returns but subject holders to greater credit and market risk. The ability of an issuer of Below Investment Grade Securities to meet principal and interest payments is considered speculative. Certain of these securities may not be publicly traded, and therefore it may be difficult to obtain information as to the true condition of the issuers. The market for Below Investment Grade Securities may be more severely affected than other financial markets by economic recession or substantial interest rate increases, changing public perceptions, or legislation that limits the ability of certain categories of financial institutions to invest in Below Investment Grade Securities. In addition, the market may be less liquid for Below Investment Grade Securities than for other types of securities. Reduced liquidity can affect the values of Below Investment Grade Securities, make their valuation and sale more difficult, and result in greater volatility. Because Below Investment Grade Securities are difficult to value and are more likely to be fair valued (see “How the Funds Calculate NAV” in the Prospectus and “Determination of Net Asset Value” in this SAI), particularly during erratic markets, the values realized on their sale may differ from the values at which they are carried on the books of a Fund. Some Below Investment Grade Securities in which a Fund invests may be in poor standing or in default.

 

S-10

 

 

Bitcoin

 

The Multi-Strategy Fund and Real Development Fund may gain indirect exposure to bitcoin by investing in bitcoin futures contracts and ETFs that invest in bitcoin and may invest in other cryptocurrency-related investments such as bitcoin trading platforms, bitcoin miners, bitcoin custodians, digital wallet providers, companies that facilitate payments in bitcoin, and companies that provide other technology, equipment or services to companies operating in the bitcoin ecosystem. Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that enables instant transfers to anyone, anywhere in the world. Managing transactions in bitcoins occurs via an open source, cryptographic protocol central authority. The Funds will not invest directly in Bitcoin or directly or indirectly in other digital assets. The Bitcoin Network is an online, end-user-to-end-user network that hosts the public transaction ledger, known as the Blockchain, and the source code that comprises the basis for the cryptographic and algorithmic protocols governing the Bitcoin Network. No single entity owns or operates the Bitcoin Network, the infrastructure of which is collectively maintained by a decentralized user base. As the Bitcoin Network is decentralized, it does not rely on either governmental authorities or financial institutions to create, transmit or determine the value of bitcoins. Rather, the value of bitcoins is determined by the supply of and demand for bitcoins in the global bitcoin exchange market for the trading of bitcoins, which consists of transactions on electronic bitcoin exchanges (“Bitcoin Exchanges”). The price of bitcoins is set in transfers by mutual agreement or barter as well as the number of merchants that accept bitcoins. Because bitcoins are digital files that can be transferred without the involvement of intermediaries or third parties, there are little or no transaction costs in direct end-user-to-end-user transactions. Bitcoins can be used to pay for goods and services or can be converted to fiat currencies, such as the U.S. dollar, at rates determined by the Bitcoin Exchanges. Additionally, third party service providers such as Bitcoin Exchanges are also used for transfers but they may charge significant fees for processing transactions.

 

The SEC has not asserted regulatory authority over Bitcoin or trading or ownership of Bitcoin and has not expressed the view that Bitcoin should be classified or treated as a security for purposes of U.S. federal securities laws. In fact, senior members of the staff of the SEC have expressed the view that Bitcoin is not a security under the federal securities laws. However, the SEC has commented on Bitcoin and Bitcoin-related market developments and has taken action against investment schemes involving Bitcoin. For example, in the SEC’s recent review of proposed rule changes to list and trade shares of certain Bitcoin-related investment vehicles on public markets, they have stated that the Bitcoin markets are not properly regulated. The SEC asserts that this results in the public markets’ inability to enter into surveillance-sharing agreements that help address concerns regarding fraudulent or manipulative acts and practices. If the SEC were to determine that Bitcoin is a security, the Funds and the Adviser would be subject to additional regulatory and compliance requirements under U.S. federal securities laws.

 

The CFTC treats Bitcoin and other digital currencies as “commodities” under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”), thereby asserting jurisdiction over futures, swaps, and other CFTC-regulated derivatives that reference digital currencies. The CFTC has not, to date, taken the view that Bitcoin is a “commodity interest,” which is defined under the CEA to include futures, swaps, and other derivatives based on commodities. Commodity interests are subject to CFTC regulation and thus, if Bitcoin were to be deemed a commodity interest by the CFTC, the Funds and the Adviser would be subject to additional regulatory and compliance requirements under the CEA and CFTC regulations.

 

S-11

 

 

Various foreign jurisdictions may, in the near future, adopt laws, regulations or directives that affect the Bitcoin Network, the Bitcoin Exchange Market and their users, particularly Bitcoin Exchanges and service providers that fall within such jurisdictions’ regulatory scope. Such laws, regulations or directives may conflict with those of the United States and may negatively impact the acceptance of Bitcoins by users, merchants and service providers outside the United States and may therefore impede the growth or sustainability of the Bitcoin economy in the EU, China, Japan, Russia and the United States and globally, or otherwise negatively affect the value of Bitcoins.

 

Additionally, U.S. state and Federal, and foreign regulators and legislatures have taken action against virtual currency businesses or enacted restrictive regimes in response to adverse publicity arising from hacks, consumer harm, or criminal activity stemming from virtual currency activity. The value of Bitcoins could thus be impacted by such adverse publicity.

 

In the future, the Funds may seek to gain additional indirect exposure to Bitcoin through other investment vehicles that may not produce qualifying income for the Funds under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), if held directly.

 

The Funds and their Subsidiaries (as defined below) may invest in other pooled investment vehicles that provide exposure to Bitcoin. The Funds will invest in their Subsidiaries within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to regulated investment companies (“RICs”) under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. Unlike the Funds, the Subsidiaries do not, and will not, seek to qualify as RICs.

 

Brady Bonds

 

Brady bonds are securities created through the restructuring of commercial bank loans to public and private entities under a debt restructuring plan introduced by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas F. Brady (the “Brady Plan”). Brady Plan debt restructurings have been implemented in Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Argentina, Nigeria, the Philippines, and other emerging market countries.

 

Brady bonds may be collateralized, are issued in various currencies (but primarily the U.S. dollar), and are actively traded in over-the-counter (“OTC”) secondary markets. U.S. dollar-denominated, collateralized Brady bonds, which may be fixed-rate bonds or floating-rate bonds, are generally collateralized in full as to principal by U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds having the same maturity as the bonds.

 

The valuation of a Brady bond typically depends on an evaluation of: (i) any collateralized repayments of principal at final maturity; (ii) any collateralized interest payments; (iii) the uncollateralized interest payments; and (iv) any uncollateralized repayments of principal at maturity (the uncollateralized amounts constitute the “residual risk”). In light of the residual risk of Brady bonds and the history of prior defaults by the issuers of Brady bonds, investments in Brady bonds may be viewed as speculative.

 

Cash and Other High Quality Investments

 

A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in cash or cash items pending other investments, for portfolio management purposes or to maintain liquid assets required in connection with some of the Fund’s investments. These cash items and other high quality debt securities may include money market instruments, such as securities issued by the United States Government and its agencies, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper, bank certificates of deposit, and money market funds. If a custodian holds cash on behalf of a Fund, the Fund may be an unsecured creditor in the event of the insolvency of the custodian. In addition, a Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to such a custodian, which may be heightened to the extent the Fund takes a temporary defensive position.

 

S-12

 

 

Money market mutual funds in which a Fund may invest are subject to Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and invest in a variety of short-term, high quality, dollar-denominated money market instruments. Money market funds are not designed to offer capital appreciation. Amendments to money market fund regulations could affect a money market fund’s operations and possibly negatively affect its return. Certain money market funds may impose a fee upon the sale of shares or may temporarily suspend the ability of investors to redeem shares if such fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums, which may adversely affect a Fund’s returns or liquidity.

 

Cash Position

 

As discussed in the Prospectus, each Fund’s cash position may temporarily increase under various circumstances. Securities that a Fund may invest in as a means of receiving a return on idle cash include domestic or foreign currency denominated commercial paper, certificates of deposit, repurchase agreements, or other short-term debt obligations. These securities may include U.S. and foreign short-term cash instruments. A Fund may also invest in affiliated or non-affiliated money market funds. (See “Investments in Investment Companies or Other Pooled Investments.”)

 

Commodity-Related Investments

 

A Fund may invest in a range of markets, including the commodity markets, which include a range of assets with tangible properties, such as oil, natural gas, agricultural products (e.g., wheat, corn, and livestock), precious metals (e.g., gold and silver), industrial metals (e.g., copper), and softs (e.g., cocoa, coffee, and sugar). A Fund may obtain such exposure by investing, directly or through its wholly-owned Subsidiary, in commodity-related derivatives (as defined below).

 

Commodity prices can be extremely volatile and may be directly or indirectly affected by many factors, including changes in overall market movements, real or perceived inflationary trends, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates, population growth and changing

 

demographics, and factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, or other weather conditions, disease (including pandemic), embargoes or other trade barriers, acts of war or terrorism, competition from substitute products, transportation bottlenecks or shortages, fluctuations in supply and demand, tariffs, and international regulatory, political, and economic developments (e.g., regime changes and changes in economic activity levels). In addition, some commodities are subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors, and others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of prices for certain raw materials and the instability of supplies of other materials.

 

Actions of and changes in governments, and political and economic instability, in commodity-producing and commodity-exporting countries may affect the production and marketing of commodities. In addition, commodity-related industries throughout the world are subject to greater political, environmental, and other governmental regulation than many other industries. Changes in government policies and the need for regulatory approvals may adversely affect the products and services of companies in the commodities industries. For example, the exploration, development, and distribution of coal, oil, and gas in the United States are subject to significant federal and state regulation, which may affect rates of return on coal, oil, and gas and the kinds of services that the federal and state governments may offer to companies in those industries. In addition, compliance with environmental and other safety regulations has caused many companies in commodity-related industries to incur production delays and significant costs. Government regulation may also impede the development of new technologies. The effect of future regulations affecting commodity-related industries cannot be predicted.

 

S-13

 

 

A Fund may invest in derivatives whose values are based on the value of a commodity, commodity index, or other readily-measurable economic variables dependent upon changes in the value of commodities or the commodities markets (“commodity-related derivatives”). The value of commodity-related derivatives fluctuates based on changes in the values of the underlying commodity, commodity index, futures contract, or other economic variable to which they are related. Additionally, economic leverage will increase the volatility of these instruments as they may increase or decrease in value more quickly than the underlying commodity or other relevant economic variable.

 

A Fund’s ability to engage in commodity-related investments may be limited by tax considerations. See “Taxes” for more information.

 

The Adviser has registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator under the CEA with respect to each Fund and is a member of the National Futures Association. The Adviser expects to operate each Fund in accordance with the exemptions set forth in CFTC Regulation 4.12(c)(3).

 

Convertible Securities

 

A convertible security is a security (a bond or preferred stock) that may be converted at a stated price within a specified period into a specified number of shares of common stock of the same or a different issuer. Some convertible securities are “mandatory,” meaning that they must be converted into common stock of the issuer on or before a certain date. Convertible securities are senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to senior debt obligations of the issuer. Convertible securities provide holders, through their conversion feature, an opportunity to participate in increases in the market price of their underlying securities. The price of a convertible security is influenced by the market price of the underlying security, and tends to increase as the market price rises and decrease as the market price declines.

 

The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value. The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, as in the case of “broken” or “busted” convertibles, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security. Generally, the amount of the premium decreases as the convertible security approaches maturity.

 

S-14

 

 

A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third-party.

 

Cybersecurity

 

Each Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Funds to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting the Funds or the Adviser, Wilshire, Underlying Managers, Alternative Beta Strategies, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Funds. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact a Fund’s ability to calculate its NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Funds to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Funds may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Funds may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause a Fund’s investment in such companies to lose value. While a Fund and its service providers have established IT and data security programs and have in place business continuity plans and other systems designed to prevent losses and mitigate cyber security risk, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified or that cyber-attacks may be highly sophisticated. Furthermore, the Funds have limited ability to prevent or mitigate cyber security incidents affecting third-party service providers, and such third-party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Funds or their investment adviser.

 

Debt and Other Fixed Income Securities

 

Debt and other fixed income securities include fixed and floating rate securities of any maturity. Fixed rate securities pay a specified rate of interest or dividends. Floating rate securities pay a rate that is adjusted periodically by reference to a specified index or market rate. Fixed and floating rate securities include securities issued by federal, state, local, and foreign governments and related agencies, and by a wide range of private issuers, and generally are referred to in this SAI as “fixed income securities.” Indexed bonds are a type of fixed income security whose principal value and/or interest rate is adjusted periodically according to a specified instrument, index or other statistic (e.g., another security, inflation index, currency, or commodity). See “Adjustable Rate Securities” and “Indexed Investments.” In addition, a Fund may create “synthetic” bonds which approximate desired risk and return profiles. This may be done where a “non-synthetic” security having the desired risk/return profile either is unavailable (e.g., short-term securities of certain foreign governments) or possesses undesirable characteristics (e.g., interest payments on the security would be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes). See, for example, “Options and Futures — Inflation-Linked Futures” below.

 

S-15

 

 

Holders of fixed income securities are exposed to both interest rate and credit risk. Interest rate risk relates to changes in a security’s value as a result of changes in interest rates. In general, the values of fixed income securities increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. This risk will be greater for long-term securities than for short-term securities. Generally, the higher a debt security’s duration, the greater its price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. For example, the value of an investment held by a fund with a duration of five years decreases by approximately 5% for every 1% increase in interest rates, while the value of an investment with a duration of six years increases by approximately 6% with every 1% decrease in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, securities may exhibit additional volatility and may lose value. Steps to curtain or “taper” interest rates and other actions by central banks or regulators (such as intervention in foreign currency markets or currency controls) may have adverse effects on investments, volatility, and illiquidity in debt markets and may, in turn, have a material adverse effect on funds holding fixed income securities. In response to government intervention, economic or market developments, or other factors, fixed income markets may experience periods of high volatility, reduced liquidity, or both. During those periods, a Fund could have unusually high shareholder redemptions, requiring it to generate cash by selling securities when it would otherwise not do so, including at unfavorable prices. Fixed income investments may be difficult to value during such periods.

 

Credit risk relates to the ability of an issuer to make payments of principal and interest. Obligations of issuers are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws that affect the rights and remedies of creditors. Fixed income securities denominated in foreign currencies also are subject to the risk of a decline in the value of the denominating currency.

 

Because interest rates vary, the future income for a Fund from investments in floating rate fixed income securities cannot be predicted with certainty. The future income for a Fund from investments in indexed securities also will be affected by changes in those securities’ indices over time (e.g., changes in inflation rates, currency rates, or commodity prices).

 

A Fund may invest in a wide range of debt and fixed income instruments, including, but not limited to, Brady bonds, Euro bonds and zero coupon securities, described below. Some of these investments may be treated as having been issued originally at a discount or as having “market discount” or “acquisition discount.” See “Taxes.” In effect, a Fund may be subject to heightened credit risk as a result of the effective deferral of payments on these instruments. A Fund may potentially not ultimately receive cash equal to the income recognized by the Fund as a result of the obligor’s default. Such instruments may also prove challenging to value in the event that judgments about the collectability of deferred payments must be made.

 

The fixed-income securities market has been and may continue to be negatively affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. As with other serious economic disruptions, governmental authorities and regulators are responding to this crisis with significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including considerably lowering interest rates, which, in some cases could result in negative interest rates. These actions, including their possible unexpected or sudden reversal or potential ineffectiveness, could further increase volatility in securities and other financial markets and reduce market liquidity. To the extent a Fund has a bank deposit or holds a debt instrument with a negative interest rate to maturity, the Fund would generate a negative return on that investment. Similarly, negative rates on investments by money market funds and similar cash management products could lead to losses on investments, including on investments of the Fund’s uninvested cash.

 

S-16

 

 

Depositary Receipts

 

A Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) or other similar securities representing ownership of foreign securities (collectively, “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary Receipts generally evidence an ownership interest in a corresponding foreign security on deposit with a financial institution. Transactions in Depositary Receipts usually do not settle in the same currency as the underlying foreign securities are denominated or traded. Generally, ADRs are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets and EDRs are designed for use in European securities markets. GDRs may be traded in any public or private securities market and may represent securities held by institutions located anywhere in the world. GDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies, although they may be issued by U.S. financial institutions, and evidence ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by either a foreign or a domestic corporation.

 

Because the value of a Depositary Receipt is dependent upon the market price of an underlying foreign security, Depositary Receipts are subject to most of the risks associated with investing in foreign securities directly. Depositary Receipts may be issued as sponsored or unsponsored programs. See “Foreign Investment Risk.” Depositary Receipts also may be subject to liquidity risk.

 

Derivatives and Derivative Strategies

 

A Fund’s use of derivative instruments involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing in more traditional investments.

 

Derivatives are subject to a number of risks such as credit risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, correlation risk and index risk as described below:

 

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act — Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”) provides a comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Derivatives Rule permits a registered investment company, subject to various conditions described below, to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Funds, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).

 

Registered investment companies that don’t qualify as “limited derivatives users” as defined below, are required by the Derivatives Rule to, among other things, (i) adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and new testing requirements; (ii) comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”); and (iii) comply with new requirements related to Board and SEC reporting. The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.

 

The Derivatives Rule provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements for a registered investment company that limits its “derivatives exposure” to no more than 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with the Derivatives Rule) (a “limited derivatives user”), provided that the registered investment company establishes appropriate policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage derivatives risks, including the risk of exceeding the 10% “derivatives exposure” threshold.

 

The requirements of the Derivatives Rule may limit a Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of a Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and/or the performance of the Fund. The rule also may not be effective to limit a Fund’s risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in a Fund’s derivatives or other investments. There may be additional regulation of the use of derivatives transactions by registered investment companies, which could significantly affect their use. The ultimate impact of the regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives transactions may make them more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.

 

S-17

 

 

Credit Risk — the risk that the counterparty in a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation to a Fund, or the risk that the reference entity in a derivative will not be able to honor its financial obligations. In particular, derivatives traded in OTC markets often are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing corporation and often do not require payment of margin, and to the extent that a Fund has unrealized gains in such instruments or has deposited collateral with its counterparties, a Fund is at risk that its counterparties will become bankrupt or otherwise fail to honor their obligations. A counterparty’s default on its payment obligations to a Fund will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. The Fund could also be delayed or hindered in its enforcement of rights against an issuer, guarantor, or counterparty.

 

Currency Risk — the risk that changes in the exchange rate between two currencies will adversely affect the value (in U.S. dollar terms) of an investment dominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies. The liquidity and trading value of foreign currencies could be affected by global economic factors, such as inflation, interest rate levels, and trade balances among countries, as well as the actions of sovereign governments and central banks. Adverse changes in currency exchange rates (relative to the U.S. dollar) may erode or reverse any potential gains from a Fund’s investments in securities denominated in a foreign currency or may widen existing losses.

 

Leverage Risk — the risk associated with certain types of investments or trading strategies (such as, for example, borrowing money to increase the amount of investments) that relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of an investment. Certain transactions in derivatives (such as futures transactions or sales of put options) involve substantial leverage risk and may expose a Fund to potential losses that exceed the amount originally invested by a Fund.

 

Liquidity Risk — the risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time that a Fund would like or at the price that a Fund as seller believes the security is currently worth. There can be no assurances that, at any specific time, either a liquid secondary market will exist for a derivative or a Fund will otherwise be able to sell such instrument at an acceptable price. It may, therefore, not be possible to close a position in a derivative without incurring substantial losses, if at all. The absence of liquidity may also make it more difficult for a Fund to ascertain a market value for such instruments. Although both OTC and exchange-traded derivatives markets may experience a lack of liquidity, certain derivatives traded in OTC markets, including indexed securities, swaps and OTC options, involve substantial liquidity risk. The illiquidity of the derivatives markets may be due to various factors, including congestion, disorderly markets, limitations on deliverable supplies, the participation of speculators, government regulation and intervention, and technical and operational or system failures. In addition, the liquidity of a secondary market in an exchange-traded derivative contract may be adversely affected by “daily price fluctuation limits” established by the exchanges which limit the amount of fluctuation in an exchange-traded contract price during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in the contract, no trades may be entered into at a price beyond the limit, thus preventing the liquidation of open positions. Prices have in the past moved beyond the daily limit on a number of consecutive trading days. If it is not possible to close an open derivative position entered into by a Fund, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin in the event of adverse price movements. In such a situation, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

 

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Correlation Risk — the risk that changes in the value of a derivative will not match the changes in the value of the portfolio holdings that are being hedged or of the particular market or security to which a Fund seeks exposure through the use of the derivative. There are a number of factors which may prevent a derivative instrument from achieving the desired correlation (or inverse correlation) with an underlying asset, rate or index, such as the impact of fees, expenses and transaction costs, the timing of pricing, and disruptions or illiquidity in the markets for such derivative instrument.

 

Index Risk — If the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, a Fund could receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below the price that the Fund paid for such derivative. Certain indexed securities, including inverse securities (which move in an opposite direction to the index), may create leverage, to the extent that they increase or decrease in value at a rate that is a multiple of the changes in the applicable index.

 

Volatility Risk — the risk that a Fund’s use of derivatives may reduce income or gain and/or increase volatility. Volatility is defined as the characteristic of a security, an index or a market to fluctuate significantly in price over a defined time period. A Fund could suffer losses related to its derivative positions as a result of unanticipated market movements, which losses are potentially unlimited.

 

When a derivative is used as a hedge against a position that a Fund holds, any loss generated by the derivative generally should be substantially offset by gains on the hedged investment, and vice versa. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect matching between the derivative and the underlying security, and there can be no assurances that a Fund’s hedging transactions will be effective. A Fund could also suffer losses related to its derivative positions as a result of unanticipated market movements, which losses are potentially unlimited. In addition, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than other securities. The possible lack of a liquid secondary market for derivatives and the resulting inability of a Fund to sell or otherwise close a derivatives position could expose a Fund to losses and could make derivatives more difficult for the Fund to value accurately.

 

When engaging in a hedging transaction, a Fund may determine not to seek to establish a perfect correlation between the hedging instruments utilized and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such an imperfect correlation may prevent a Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose a Fund to a risk of loss. A Fund may also determine not to hedge against a particular risk because they do not regard the probability of the risk occurring to be sufficiently high as to justify the cost of the hedge or because they do not foresee the occurrence of the risk. It may not be possible for a Fund to hedge against a change or event at attractive prices or at a price sufficient to protect the assets of the Fund from the decline in value of the portfolio positions anticipated as a result of such change. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge at all against certain risks.

 

If a Fund invests in a derivative instrument it could lose more than the principal amount invested. Moreover, derivatives raise certain tax, legal, regulatory and accounting issues that may not be presented by investments in securities, and there is some risk that certain issues could be resolved in a manner that could adversely impact the performance of a Fund.

 

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A Fund is not required to use derivatives or other portfolio strategies to seek to increase return or to seek to hedge its portfolio and may choose not to do so. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurances that a Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when that would be beneficial.

 

Failure of Futures Commission Merchants and Clearing Organizations — A Fund may deposit funds required to margin open positions in the derivative instruments subject to CEA with a clearing broker registered as a “futures commission merchant” (“FCM”). The CEA requires an FCM to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of U.S. domestic futures contracts and cleared swaps from the FCM’s proprietary assets. Similarly, the CEA requires each FCM to hold in a separate secure account all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of foreign futures contracts and segregate any such funds from the funds received with respect to domestic futures contracts. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account and may be invested by the clearing broker in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulation. There is a risk that assets deposited by a Fund with any swaps or futures clearing broker as margin for futures contracts may, in certain circumstances, be used to satisfy losses of other clients of a Fund’s clearing broker. In addition, the assets of a Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the clearing broker’s bankruptcy, as the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s combined domestic customer accounts.

 

Similarly, the CEA requires a clearing organization approved by the CFTC as a derivatives clearing organization to segregate all funds and other property received from a clearing member’s clients in connection with domestic futures, swaps and options contracts from any funds held at the clearing organization to support the clearing member’s proprietary trading. Nevertheless, with respect to futures and options contracts, a clearing organization may use assets of a non-defaulting customer held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing organization. As a result, in the event of a default or the clearing broker’s other clients or the clearing broker’s failure to extend own funds in connection with any such default, a Fund would not be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited by the clearing broker on its behalf with the clearing organization.

 

General Limitations on Futures and Options Transactions — Various exchanges and regulatory authorities have undertaken reviews of options and futures trading in light of market volatility. Among the possible actions that have been presented are proposals to adopt new or more stringent daily price fluctuation limits for futures and options transactions and proposals to increase the margin requirements for various types of futures transactions.

 

OTC Trading Risk — The derivative instruments that may be purchased or sold by a Fund may include instruments not traded on an exchange. The risk of nonperformance by the counterparty to an instrument may be greater than, and the ease with which a Fund can dispose of or enter into closing transactions with respect to an instrument may be less than, the risk associated with an exchange traded instrument. In addition, significant disparities may exist between “bid” and “asked” prices for derivative instruments that are not traded on an exchange. The absence of liquidity may make it difficult or impossible for a Fund to sell such instruments promptly at an acceptable price. Derivative instruments not traded on exchanges also are not subject to the same type of government regulation as exchange traded instruments, and many of the protections afforded to participants in a regulated environment may not be available in connection with the transactions. Because derivatives traded in OTC markets generally are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing corporation and generally do not require payment of margin, to the extent that a Fund has unrealized gains in such instruments or has deposited collateral with its counterparties, the Fund is at risk that its counterparties will become bankrupt or otherwise fail to honor its obligations.

 

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Dodd-Frank Act Risk — Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act and Title VII thereof (the “Derivatives Title”) imposes a regulatory structure on derivatives markets, with particular emphasis on swaps and security-based swaps (collectively “swaps”). This regulatory framework covers a broad range of swap market participants, including banks, non-banks, credit unions, insurance companies, broker-dealers and investment advisers. The SEC, other U.S. regulators, and to a lesser extent the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “Regulators”) still are in the process of adopting regulations to implement the Derivatives Title, though certain aspects of the regulatory structure are substantially complete. Until the Regulators complete their rulemaking efforts, the full extent to which the Derivatives Title and the rules adopted thereunder will impact a Fund is unclear. It is possible that the continued development of this regulatory structure for swaps may jeopardize certain trades and/or trading strategies that may be employed, or at least make them costlier.

 

Regulations have required the mandatory central clearing and mandatory exchange trading of particular types of interest rate swaps and index credit default swaps (together, “Covered Swaps”). Together, these regulatory requirements change a Fund’s trading of Covered Swaps. With respect to mandatory central clearing, a Fund is now required to clear its Covered Swaps through a clearing broker, which requires, among other things, posting initial margin and variation margin to a Fund’s clearing broker in order to enter into and maintain positions in Covered Swaps. With respect to mandatory exchange trading, FS, Wilshire or the Underlying Managers could be required to become a participant of a new type of execution platform called a swap execution facility (“SEF”) or could be required to access the SEF through an intermediary (such as an executing broker) in order to be able to trade Covered Swaps for a Fund.

 

Additionally, the Regulators have implemented regulations that require swap dealers to collect from a Fund initial margin and variation margin for uncleared derivatives transactions. The Regulators also finalized proposed regulations that would impose upon swap dealers new capital requirements. These requirements may make certain types of trades and/or trading strategies costlier or impermissible.

 

On November 30, 2018, the CFTC published a proposed rule restructuring the regulatory framework applicable to SEFs and requiring more types of cleared swap contracts to be traded on SEFs. If implemented, the proposed rule may increase the cost of entering into certain swap contracts or reduce liquidity in those products. The proposed rule will require SEF registration of many non-U.S. swap facilities, which may have a disproportionate impact on certain cross-border swap contracts.

 

There may be market dislocations due to uncertainty during the implementation period of any new regulation and it is uncertain how the derivatives market will adjust to new regulations. Until the Regulators complete the rulemaking process for the Derivatives Title, it is unknown the extent to which such risks may materialize.

 

Legal and Regulatory Risk — At any time after the date hereof, legislation or additional regulations may be enacted that could negatively affect the assets of a Fund. Changing approaches to regulation may have a negative impact on the securities in which a Fund invests. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which a Fund itself is regulated. There can be no assurances that future legislation, regulation or deregulation will not have a material adverse effect on a Fund or will not impair the ability of a Fund to achieve its investment objective. In addition, as new rules and regulations resulting from the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act are implemented and new international capital and liquidity requirements are introduced under the Basel III Accords, the market may not react as expected.

 

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Whether a Fund achieves its investment objective may depend on, among other things, correct forecasting of market reactions and other legislation.

 

Distressed or Defaulted Instruments

 

A Fund may invest in securities, claims and obligations of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers which are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties (including companies involved in bankruptcy or other reorganization and liquidation proceedings). A Fund may purchase distressed securities and instruments of all kinds, subject to tax considerations, including equity and debt instruments and, in particular, loans, loan participations, claims held by trade or other creditors, bonds, notes, non-performing and sub-performing mortgage loans, beneficial interests in liquidating trusts or other similar types of trusts, fee interests and financial interests in real estate, partnership interests and similar financial instruments, executory contracts and participations therein, many of which are not publicly traded and which may involve a substantial degree of risk.

 

Investments in distressed or defaulted instruments generally are considered speculative and may involve substantial risks not normally associated with investments in healthier companies, including adverse business, financial or economic conditions that can lead to defaulted payments and insolvency proceedings. In particular, defaulted obligations might be repaid, if at all, only after lengthy workout or bankruptcy proceedings, during which the issuer might not make any interest or other payments. The amount of any recovery may be adversely affected by the relative priority of a Fund’s investment in the issuer’s capital structure. The ability to enforce obligations may be adversely affected by actions or omissions of predecessors in interest that give rise to counterclaims or defenses, including causes of action for equitable subordination or debt recharacterization. In addition, such investments, collateral securing such investments, and payments made in respect of such investments may be challenged as fraudulent conveyances or to be subject to avoidance as preferences under certain circumstances. Investments in distressed securities inherently have more credit risk than do investments in similar securities and instruments of non-distressed companies, and the degree of risk associated with any particular distressed securities may be difficult or impossible for a manager to determine within reasonable standards of predictability. The level of analytical sophistication, both financial and legal, necessary for successful investment in distressed securities is unusually high. If a manager’s evaluation of the eventual recovery value of a defaulted instrument should prove incorrect, a Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment or it may be required to accept cash or instruments with a value less than a Fund’s original investment. Investments in financially distressed companies domiciled outside the United States involve additional risks. Bankruptcy law and creditor reorganization processes may differ substantially from those in the United States, resulting in greater uncertainty as to the rights of creditors, the enforceability of such rights, reorganization timing and the classification, seniority and treatment of claims. In certain developing countries, although bankruptcy laws have been enacted, the process for reorganization remains highly uncertain. In addition, investments in distressed or defaulted instruments can present special tax issues for a Fund. See “Taxes.”

 

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Diversification

 

Each Fund is classified as “non-diversified” within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Funds are classified as either “diversified” or “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act. Diversification is a way to reduce risk by investing in a broad range of stocks or other securities. To be classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, a fund may not, with respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets in any issuer and may not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer. A fund that is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act is not subject to these restrictions and therefore has the ability to take larger positions in a smaller number of issuers than a fund that is classified as “diversified.” This gives a fund which is classified as non-diversified more flexibility to focus its investments in companies that the managers have identified as the most attractive for the investment objective and strategy of the fund. However, because the appreciation or depreciation of a single security may have a greater effect on the net asset value (“NAV”) of a fund that is classified as non-diversified, its share price can be expected to fluctuate more than a comparable fund which is classified as diversified. This fluctuation, if significant, may affect the performance of a fund.

 

Euro Bonds

 

Euro bonds are securities denominated in a currency not native to the country where the bond is issued. Euro bonds may be issued by government or corporate issuers, and are typically underwritten by banks and brokerage firms in numerous countries. While Euro bonds often pay principal and interest in Eurodollars (i.e., U.S. dollars held in banks outside of the United States), some Euro bonds may pay principal and interest in other currencies. Euro bonds are subject to the same risks as other fixed income securities. See “Debt and Other Fixed Income Securities.”

 

Event-Linked Instruments/Catastrophe Bonds

 

A Fund may obtain event-linked exposure by investing in “event-linked bonds” or “event-linked swaps” or by implementing “event-linked strategies.” Event-linked exposure results in gains or losses that typically are contingent on, or formulaically related to, defined trigger events. Examples of trigger events include hurricanes, earthquakes, weather-related phenomena or statistics relating to such events. Some event-linked bonds are commonly referred to as “catastrophe bonds.” If a trigger event occurs, the principal amount of the bond is reduced (potentially to zero), and a Fund may lose all or a portion of its entire principal invested in the bond or the entire notional amount on a swap. Event-linked exposure often provides for an extension of maturity to process and audit loss claims where a trigger event has, or possibly has, occurred. An extension of maturity may increase volatility. Event-linked exposure also may expose a Fund to certain unanticipated risks including credit risk, counterparty risk, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations and adverse tax consequences. Event-linked exposures also may be subject to liquidity risk.

 

Financial Services Risk

 

Because Alternative Beta Strategies exposure is obtained through financial institutions and to the extent that a Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the financial services sector, a Fund will have more exposure to the risks inherent to the financial services sector. Financial services companies may be adversely affected by changes in regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial services businesses; exposure of a financial institution to a nondiversified or concentrated loan portfolio; exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses; and the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all financial services companies.

 

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Foreign Currency Transactions

 

Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. They generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the currency exchange markets, trade balances, the relative merits of investments in different countries, actual or perceived changes in interest rates, differences in relative values of similar assets in different currencies, long-term opportunities for investment and capital appreciation and other complex factors. Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably as a result of intervention (or the failure to intervene) by the U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational agencies such as the International Monetary Fund, or by currency or exchange controls or political and economic developments in the U.S. or abroad.

 

Currencies in which a Fund’s assets are denominated, or in which the Fund has taken a long position, may be devalued against other currencies, resulting in a loss to the Fund. Similarly, currencies in which a Fund has taken a short position may increase in value relative to other currencies, resulting in a loss to the Fund. In addition, some currencies are illiquid (e.g., emerging country currencies), and a Fund may not be able to covert these currencies into U.S. dollars, in which case a manager may decide to purchase U.S. dollars in a parallel market where the exchange rate is materially and adversely different. Exchange rates for many currencies (e.g., emerging country currencies) are particularly affected by exchange control regulations.

 

A Fund may buy or sell foreign currencies or deal in forward foreign currency contracts, currency futures contracts and related options and options on currencies. A Fund may use such currency instruments for hedging, investment, and/or currency risk management. Currency risk management may include taking overweighted or underweighted currency positions relative to both the securities portfolio of a Fund and the Fund’s performance benchmark or index. A Fund also may purchase forward foreign exchange contracts in conjunction with U.S. dollar-denominated securities in order to create a synthetic foreign currency-denominated security that approximates desired risk and return characteristics when the non-synthetic securities either are not available in foreign markets or possess undesirable characteristics.

 

Forward foreign currency contracts are contracts between two parties to purchase and sell a specified quantity of a particular currency at a specified price, with delivery and settlement to take place on a specified future date. A forward foreign currency contract can reduce a Fund’s exposure to changes in the value of the currency it will deliver and can increase its exposure to changes in the value of the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. The effect on the value of a Fund is similar to the effect of selling securities denominated in one currency and purchasing securities denominated in another currency. Contracts to sell a particular foreign currency would limit any potential gain that might be realized by a Fund if the value of the hedged currency increases. In addition, it is not always possible to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of the securities denominated in foreign currencies because the value of such securities also is likely to fluctuate because of independent factors not related to currency fluctuations. If a forward foreign currency contract is used for hedging, an imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the forward foreign currency contract and the price of the currency or other investment being hedged creates risk.

 

Forward foreign currency contracts involve a number of the same characteristics and risks as currency futures contracts (discussed below) but there also are several differences. Forward foreign currency contracts are not market traded, and are not necessarily marked to market on a daily basis. They settle only at the pre-determined settlement date. This can result in deviations between forward foreign currency prices and currency futures prices, especially in circumstances where interest rates and currency futures prices are positively correlated. Second, in the absence of exchange trading and involvement of clearing houses, there are no standardized terms for forward currency contracts. Accordingly, the parties are free to establish such settlement times and underlying amounts of a currency as desirable, which may vary from the standardized provisions available through any currency futures contract. Finally, forward foreign currency contracts, as two party obligations for which there is no secondary market, involve counterparty risk not present with currency futures contracts, discussed below.

 

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A Fund also may purchase or sell currency futures contracts and related options. Currency futures contracts are contracts to buy or sell a standard quantity of a particular currency at a specified future date and price. However, currency futures can be and often are closed out prior to delivery and settlement. In addition, a Fund may use options on currency futures contracts, which give their holders the right, but not the obligation, to buy (in the case of a call option) or sell (in the case of a put option) a specified currency futures contract at a fixed price during a specified period. (See “Options and Futures — Futures” for more information on futures contracts and options on futures contracts.)

 

A Fund also may purchase or sell options on currencies. These give their holders the right, but not the obligation, to buy (in the case of a call option) or sell (in the case of a put option) a specified quantity of a particular currency at a fixed price during a specified period. Options on currencies possess many of the same characteristics as options on securities and generally operate in a similar manner. They may be traded on an exchange or in the OTC markets. Options on currencies traded on U.S. or other exchanges may be subject to position limits, which may limit the ability of a Fund to reduce foreign currency risk using options. (See “Options and Futures — Currency Options” for more information on currency options.)

 

Indexed Investments

 

A Fund may invest in various transactions and instruments that are designed to track the performance of an index (including, but not limited to, securities indices and credit default indices). Indexed securities are securities the redemption values and/or coupons of which are indexed to a specific instrument, group of instruments, index, or other statistic. Indexed securities typically, but not always, are debt securities or deposits indicators. For example, the maturity value of gold-indexed securities depends on the price of gold and, therefore, their price tends to rise and fall with gold prices.

 

While investments that track the performance of an index may increase the number, and thus the diversity, of the underlying assets to which a Fund is exposed, such investments are subject to many of the same risks of investing in the underlying assets that comprise the index discussed elsewhere in this section, as well as certain additional risks that are not typically associated with investments in such underlying assets. An investment that is designed to track the performance of an index may not replicate and maintain exactly the same composition and relative weightings of the assets in the index. Additionally, the liquidity of the market for such investments may be subject to the same conditions affecting liquidity in the underlying assets and markets and could be relatively less liquid in certain circumstances. The performance of indexed securities depends on the performance of the security, security index, inflation index, currency, or other instrument to which they are indexed. Interest rate changes in the U.S. and abroad also may influence performance. Indexed securities also are subject to the credit risks of the issuer, and their values are adversely affected by declines in the issuer’s creditworthiness.

 

Currency-Indexed Securities. Currency-indexed securities have maturity values or interest rates determined by reference to the values of one or more foreign currencies. Currency-indexed securities also may have maturity values or interest rates that depend on the values of a number of different foreign currencies relative to each other.

 

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Inverse Floating Obligations. Indexed securities in which a Fund may invest include so-called “inverse floating obligations” or “residual interest bonds” on which the interest rates typically decline as the index or reference rates, typically short-term interest rates, increase and increase as index or reference rates decline. An inverse floating obligation may have the effect of investment leverage to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index or reference rate of interest. Generally, leverage will result in greater price volatility.

 

Inflation Indexed Bonds. A Fund may invest in inflation indexed bonds. A Fund may also invest in futures contracts on inflation indexed bonds. See “Options and Futures — Inflation Linked Futures” for a discussion of inflation linked futures. Inflation indexed bonds are fixed income securities whose principal value is adjusted periodically according to the rate of inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) accruals as part of a semiannual coupon. Inflation indexed securities issued by the U.S. Treasury (or “TIPS”) have maturities of approximately five, ten or twenty years (thirty year TIPS are no longer offered), although it is possible that securities that have other maturities will be issued in the future. U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semi-annual basis equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount.

 

For example, if a Fund purchased an inflation indexed bond with a par value of $1,000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and the rate of inflation over the first six months was 1%, the mid-year par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in the whole year’s inflation equaling 3%, the end-of-year par value of the bond would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45 ($1,030 times 1.5%). If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation indexed bonds will be adjusted downward and, consequently, the interest they pay (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. The U.S. government guarantees the repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) in the case of a TIPS, even during a period of deflation, although the inflation-adjusted principal received could be less than the inflation-adjusted principal that had accrued to the bond at the time of purchase. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. A Fund also may invest in other inflation-related bonds which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

 

The value of inflation indexed bonds normally changes when real interest rates change. Real interest rates, in turn, are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates (i.e., stated interest rates) and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if the rate of inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates (i.e., nominal interest rate minus inflation) might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation indexed bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation indexed bonds. There can be no assurance, however, that the value of inflation indexed bonds will change in the same proportion as changes in nominal interest rates, and short term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in their value. Although inflation indexed bonds protect their holders from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may result in a decline in value. In addition, inflation indexed bonds do not protect holders from increases in interest rates due to reasons other than inflation (such as changes in currency exchange rates). The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation indexed bonds is tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation, and energy. Inflation indexed bonds issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect changes in a comparable inflation index calculated by the foreign government. No assurance can be given that the CPI-U or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. In addition, no assurance can be given that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will correlate to the rate of inflation in the United States. Coupon payments received by a Fund from inflation indexed bonds are included in a Fund’s gross income for the period in which they accrue. In addition, any increase in the principal amount of an inflation indexed bond constitutes taxable ordinary income to a Fund, even though principal is not paid until maturity. In each case, a Fund may be required to distribute the accrued income to its shareholders, even though a Fund may not receive a corresponding amount of cash on a current basis. Thus, a Fund may have to sell other investments to obtain cash to make income distributions (including at a time when it may not be advantageous to do so).

 

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Illiquid Investments

 

Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 190 Act (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Trust has implemented a liquidity risk management program and related procedures to identify illiquid investments pursuant to the Liquidity Rule. If the limitation on illiquid investments is exceeded, other than by a change in market values, the condition will be reported to the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board of Trustees”) and, when required by the Liquidity Rule, to the SEC.

 

Pursuant to the Liquidity Rule, a Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments (i.e., investments that are not readily marketable). Investments in Rule 144A Securities could have the effect of increasing the level of a Fund’s illiquidity to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing such securities. Certain investments previously deemed liquid may become illiquid in any subsequent assessment of the foregoing factors or other changes affecting the security. Foreign securities that may be freely traded on or through the facilities of an offshore exchange or other established offshore securities market are not restricted under a Fund’s liquidity procedures if traded in that market. Such securities will be treated as “restricted” if traded in the United States because foreign securities are not registered for sale under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). For liquidity determinations with respect to a Fund’s Subsidiary, the Fund will “look through” the Subsidiary to the Subsidiary’s portfolio holdings for purposes of complying with the Fund’s liquidity requirements. If a Fund determines at any time that it owns illiquid investments in excess of 15% of its net assets, it will cease to undertake new commitments to acquire illiquid investments until its holdings are no longer in excess of 15% of its NAV, and, depending on circumstances, may take additional steps to reduce its holdings of illiquid investments. Because illiquid investments may not be readily marketable, the portfolio managers may not be able to dispose of them in a timely manner. As a result, a Fund may be forced to hold illiquid investments while their price depreciates. Depreciation in the price of illiquid investments may cause the NAV of a Fund to decline.

 

Illiquid Investments, Private Placements, Restricted Securities, and IPOs and Other Limited Opportunities

 

Each Fund may invest in illiquid investments, although such investments in illiquid investments will be limited to a maximum of 15% of each Fund’s net assets.

 

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A manager also may deem certain securities to be illiquid as a result of a manager’s receipt from time to time of material, non-public information about an issuer, which may limit a manager’s ability to trade such securities for the account of any of its clients, including a Fund. In some instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time.

 

Private Placements and Restricted Investments. Illiquid investments include securities of private issuers, securities traded in unregulated or shallow markets, securities issued by entities deemed to be affiliates of a Fund, and securities that are purchased in private placements and are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Because relatively few purchasers of these securities may exist, especially in the event of adverse economic and liquidity conditions or adverse changes in the issuer’s financial condition, a Fund may not be able to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position in such investments at a desirable price. Disposing of illiquid investments may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and selling them promptly at an acceptable price may be difficult or impossible.

 

While private placements may offer attractive opportunities not otherwise available in the open market, the securities purchased are usually “restricted securities” or are “not readily marketable.” Restricted securities cannot be sold without being registered under the 1933 Act, unless they are sold pursuant to an exemption from registration (such as Rules 144 or 144A). Securities that are not readily marketable are subject to other legal or contractual restrictions on resale. A Fund may have to bear the expense of registering restricted securities for resale and the risk of substantial delay in effecting registration. If a Fund sells its securities in a registered offering, it may be deemed to be an “underwriter” for purposes of Section 11 of the 1933 Act. In such event, a Fund may be liable to purchasers of the securities under Section 11 if the registration statement prepared by the issuer, or the prospectus forming a part of it, is materially inaccurate or misleading, although a Fund may have a due diligence defense.

 

At times, the inability to sell illiquid investments can make it more difficult to determine their fair value for purposes of computing a Fund’s net assets. The judgment of a manager normally plays a greater role in valuing these securities than in valuing publicly traded securities.

 

IPOs and Other Limited Opportunities. A Fund may purchase securities of companies that are offered pursuant to an initial public offering (“IPO”) or other similar limited opportunities. Although companies can be any age or size at the time of their IPO, they are often smaller and have a limited operating history, which involves a greater potential for the value of their securities to be impaired following the IPO. The price of a company’s securities may be highly unstable at the time of its IPO and for a period thereafter due to factors such as market psychology prevailing at the time of the IPO, the absence of a prior public market, the small number of shares available, and limited availability of investor information. Securities purchased in IPOs have a tendency to fluctuate in value significantly shortly after the IPO relative to the price at which they were purchased. These fluctuations could impact the NAV and return earned on a Fund’s shares. Investors in IPOs can be adversely affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares, and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders. In addition, all of the factors that affect the performance of an economy or equity markets may have a greater impact on the shares of IPO companies. IPO securities tend to involve greater risk due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history.

 

Investments in Investment Companies or Other Pooled Investments

 

Subject to applicable regulatory requirements (as described below), a Fund may invest in shares of both open- and closed-end investment companies (including money market funds, and ETFs). Investing in another investment company exposes a Fund to all the risks of that investment company and, in general, subjects it to a pro rata portion of the other investment company’s fees and expenses. A Fund also may invest in private investment funds, vehicles, or structures.

 

S-28

 

 

ETFs are hybrid investment companies that are registered as open-end investment companies or unit investment trusts (“UITs”) but possess some of the characteristics of closed-end funds. ETFs in which a Fund may invest typically hold a portfolio of common stocks that is intended to track the price and dividend performance of a particular index. A Fund may also invest in actively-managed ETFs. Common examples of ETFs include S&P Depositary Receipts (“SPDRs”), Vanguard ETFs, and iShares, which may be purchased from the UIT or investment company issuing the securities or in the secondary market (SPDRs, Vanguard ETFs, and iShares are predominantly listed on the NYSE Arca). The market price for ETF shares may be higher or lower than the ETF’s NAV. The sale and redemption prices of ETF shares purchased from the issuer are based on the issuer’s NAV. Additionally, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, acts of terrorism or other events could result in increased premiums or discounts to the ETF’s NAV.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which a Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions. For example, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETF investments.

 

The Funds may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows a Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions, the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund. The Funds may also rely on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4, which became effective on January 19, 2021, permits a Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions specified in the Rule including, among other conditions, that the Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company). In addition, a Fund may be able to rely on certain other rules under the 1940 Act to invest in shares of money market funds or other investment companies beyond the statutory limits noted above, but subject to certain conditions.

 

Lack of Correlation Risk; Hedging

 

There can be no assurance that the short positions that a Fund holds will act as an effective hedge against its long positions. Any decrease in negative correlation or increase in positive correlation between the positions a manager anticipated would be offsetting (such as short and long positions in securities or currencies held by a Fund) and could result in significant losses for a Fund. To the extent the Adviser employs a hedging strategy for a Fund, the success of any such hedging strategy will depend, in part, upon a manager’s ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the investments being hedged.

 

Legal and Regulatory Risk

 

Legal, tax, and regulatory changes could occur that may adversely affect a Fund. New (or revised) laws or regulations may be imposed by the CFTC, the SEC, the U.S. Federal Reserve or other banking regulators, other governmental regulatory authorities, self-regulatory organizations, or non-U.S. regulatory authorities that supervise the financial markets that could adversely affect a Fund. In particular, these agencies are empowered to promulgate a variety of new rules pursuant to financial reform legislation in the United States and the EU. A Fund also may be adversely affected by changes in the enforcement or interpretation of existing statutes and rules by these governmental regulatory authorities or self-regulatory organizations. In addition, the securities and futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations and margin requirements. The CFTC, the SEC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, other regulators and self-regulatory organizations and exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of market emergencies. The regulation of derivatives transactions and funds that engage in such transactions is an evolving area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. The effect of any future regulatory change on a Fund could be substantial and adverse.

 

S-29

 

 

The Adviser may be similarly adversely affected by legal, tax, or regulatory changes and, as a result, may be unable or unwilling to provide advisory services to a Fund or its Subsidiaries. The U.S. government has enacted legislation that provides for new regulation of the derivatives market, including clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements. The EU and certain other countries are implementing similar requirements, which will affect a Fund when it enters into derivatives transactions with a counterparty organized in that country or otherwise subject to that country’s derivatives regulations. Because these requirements are new and evolving (and some of the rules are not yet final), their ultimate impact remains unclear.

 

Certain regulators in the U.S. government and the EU have enacted or proposed mandatory minimum margin requirements for uncleared derivatives. Such requirements could increase the amount of margin required to be provided by a Fund in connection with its derivatives transactions and, therefore, make derivatives transactions more expensive. Additionally, transactions in certain types of swaps (including interest rate swaps and credit default swaps on North American and European indices) are now required to be centrally cleared through a clearing house. This new requirement could also increase the amount of margin required to be provided by a Fund in connection with its derivatives transactions and subject the Fund to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. Likewise, some types of cleared derivatives are now required to be executed on an exchange or on a swap execution facility, which can create additional costs and risks for a Fund.

 

New regulations could, among other things, restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions (for example, by making certain types of derivatives transactions no longer available to a Fund), limit liquidity in the derivatives market, and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions, and a Fund may be unable to execute its investment strategy as a result. It is currently unclear how the regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk.

 

In addition, the SEC adopted the Derivatives Rule on October 28, 2020. Since its compliance date of August 19, 2022, the Derivatives Rule has replaced prior SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for registered funds’ use of derivatives. See “Derivatives and Derivative Strategies– Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act” above for additional information on the requirements imposed on registered funds by the Derivatives Rule. Complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of a Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. Other potentially adverse regulatory obligations can develop suddenly and without notice.

 

The CFTC and certain futures exchanges have established limits, referred to as “position limits,” on the maximum net long or net short positions which any person may hold or control in particular options and futures contracts and have proposed further rules relating to position limits. All positions owned or controlled by the same person or entity, even if in different accounts, may be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the applicable position limits have been exceeded. Thus, even if a Fund does not intend to exceed applicable position limits, it is possible that different clients of the Adviser and its affiliates, as applicable, may be aggregated for this purpose. The trading decisions of the Adviser may have to be modified and positions held by a Fund may have to be liquidated in order to avoid exceeding such limits. The modification of investment decisions or the elimination of open positions, if it occurs, may adversely affect the profitability of a Fund.

 

S-30

 

 

The Adviser may, subject to their fiduciary duties and contractual obligations, elect to cause a Fund to (i) refrain from entering into a transaction to purchase that it may otherwise have caused the Fund to enter into; or (ii) sell an instrument that the Fund presently holds, if such transaction or the continued ownership of such instrument would cause the Fund, the Adviser and/or any of their affiliates to make a governmental or regulatory filing. Any such election may cause a Fund to (a) forego an investment opportunity that the Adviser had determined may otherwise generate a profit for the Fund; and/or (b) incur additional expenses, including without limitation, brokerage and/or legal fees.

 

The SEC has in the past adopted interim rules requiring reporting of all short positions above a certain de minimis threshold and is expected to adopt rules requiring monthly public disclosure in the future. In addition, other non-U.S. jurisdictions where a Fund may trade have adopted reporting requirements. If a Fund’s short positions or its strategy become generally known, it could have a significant effect on a manager’s ability to implement its investment strategy. In particular, it would make it more likely that other investors could cause a “short squeeze” in the securities held short by a Fund forcing the Fund to cover its positions at a loss. Such reporting requirements may also limit a manager’s ability to access management and other personnel at certain companies where a manager seeks to take a short position. In addition, if other investors engage in copycat behavior by taking positions in the same issuers as a Fund, the cost of borrowing securities to sell short could increase drastically and the availability of such securities to a Fund could decrease drastically. Such events could make a Fund unable to execute its investment strategy. In addition, the SEC has imposed certain restrictions on short sales. If the SEC were to adopt additional restrictions regarding short sales, they could restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in short sales in certain circumstances, and a Fund may be unable to execute its investment strategy as a result.

 

The SEC and regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions may adopt (and in certain cases, have adopted) bans on short sales of certain securities in response to market events. Bans on short selling may make it impossible for a Fund to execute certain investment strategies and may have a material adverse effect on a Fund’s ability to generate returns.

 

Rules implementing credit risk retention requirements for asset-backed securities require the sponsor of certain securitization vehicles to retain, and to refrain from transferring, selling, conveying to a third party or hedging 5% of the credit risk in assets transferred, sold or conveyed through the issuance of such vehicle, subject to certain exceptions. These requirements may increase the costs to originators, securitizers and, in certain cases, collateral managers of securitization vehicles in which a Fund may invest, which costs could be passed along to such Fund as an investor in such transactions.

 

There has been extensive rulemaking and regulatory change in connection with the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) that affect the financial industry as a whole. The Dodd-Frank Act has affected and will continue to affect a broad range of market participants with whom a Fund and its Subsidiaries interacts or may interact, including commercial banks, investment banks, other non-bank financial institutions, rating agencies, mortgage brokers, credit unions, insurance companies and broker-dealers. It is difficult to anticipate the impact on the Adviser, the Funds, and the Subsidiaries of such regulatory changes. It may take years to understand the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations on the financial industry as a whole, and therefore, such continued uncertainty may make markets more volatile, and it may be more difficult for the Adviser to execute the investment strategies of a Fund.

 

S-31

 

 

Libor Risk

 

The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. Such instruments may include bank loans, derivatives, floating rate securities, and other assets or liabilities. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.

 

Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Funds may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

Limited Operating History

 

Each Fund is newly formed and thus has a limited operating history upon which its performance may be evaluated. While the Adviser may have experience in investment-related activities and in managing private investment funds, the Adviser may have limited experience as manager of a registered investment company. The past performance of other investment funds managed by affiliates of a manager cannot be relied upon as an indicator of a Fund’s potential success, in part because of the unique nature of each Fund’s investment strategy. An investor in a Fund must rely upon the ability of the Adviser in identifying and implementing investments for the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Adviser will be successful in identifying and implementing investment opportunities for a Fund.

 

Loans (Including Bank Loans), Loan Participations, and Assignments

 

A Fund may invest in direct debt instruments, which are interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental, or other borrower to lenders or lending syndicates (loans, including bank loans, promissory notes, and loan participations), to suppliers of goods or services (trade claims or other receivables), or to other parties. Such instruments may include term loans and revolving loans, may pay interest at a fixed or floating rate and may be senior or subordinated. A Fund may acquire interests in loans either directly (by way of sale or assignment) or indirectly (by way of participation). Purchases of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness, including promissory notes, depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of principal and interest, and adverse changes in the creditworthiness of the borrower may affect its ability to pay principal and interest. Direct debt instruments may not be rated by any rating agency. In the event of non-payment of interest or principal, loans that are secured offer a Fund more protection than comparable unsecured loans. However, no assurance can be given that the collateral for a secured loan can be liquidated or that the proceeds will satisfy the borrower’s obligation.

 

S-32

 

 

Investment in the indebtedness of borrowers with low creditworthiness involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Investments in sovereign debt similarly involve the risk that the governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. The bank loans acquired by a Fund may be below investment-grade.

 

When investing in a loan participation, a Fund typically purchases participation interests in a portion of a lender’s or participant’s interest in a loan but has no direct contractual relationship with the borrower. Participation interests in a portion of a debt obligation typically result in a contractual relationship only with the institution participating in the interest, not with the borrower. A Fund must rely on the seller of the participation interest not only for the enforcement of the Fund’s rights against the borrower but also for the receipt and processing of principal, interest, or other payments due under the loan. This may subject a Fund to greater delays, expenses, and risks than if the Fund could enforce its rights directly against the borrower. In addition, a Fund generally will have no rights of set-off against the borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the debt obligation in which it has purchased the participation. A participation agreement also may limit the rights of a Fund to vote on changes that may be made to the underlying loan agreement, such as waiving a breach of a covenant. In addition, under the terms of a participation agreement, a Fund may be treated as a creditor of the seller of the participation interest (rather than of the borrower), thus exposing a Fund to the credit risk of the seller in addition to the credit risk of the borrower. Additional risks include inadequate perfection of a loan’s security interest, the possible invalidation or compromise of an investment transaction as a fraudulent conveyance or preference under relevant creditors’ rights laws, the validity and seniority of bank claims and guarantees, environmental liabilities that may arise with respect to collateral securing the obligations, and adverse consequences resulting from participating in such instruments through other institutions with lower credit quality.

 

Bank loans and participation interests may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. There can be no assurance that future levels of supply and demand in loan or loan participation trading will provide an adequate degree of liquidity and no assurance that the market will not experience periods of significant illiquidity in the future.

 

A Fund may also invest in loans through novations. In a novation, a Fund typically assumes all of the rights of a lending institution in a loan, including the right to receive payments of principal, interest, and other amounts directly from the borrower and to enforce its rights as a lender directly against the borrower. Investments in loans through direct assignment of a lender’s interests may involve additional risks to a Fund. For example, if a secured loan is foreclosed, a Fund could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, under legal theories of lender liability, a Fund potentially might be held liable as a co-lender.

 

S-33

 

 

A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness a Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, it may have to rely on the agent to enforce its rights against the borrower.

 

A Fund, with respect to its management of investments in certain loans, seeks to remain flexible to purchase and sell other securities in the borrower’s capital structure, by remaining “public.” In such cases, the Adviser may seek to avoid receiving material, non-public information about the borrowers to which a Fund may lend (through assignments, participations or otherwise). A Fund’s decision not to use material, non-public information about borrowers may place it at an information disadvantage relative to other lenders. Also, in instances where lenders are asked to grant amendments, waivers or consents in favor of the borrower, a Fund’s ability to assess the significance of the amendment, waiver or consent or its desirability from a Fund’s point of view may be materially and adversely affected. When the Adviser’s personnel do come into possession of material, non-public information about the issuers of loans that may be held by a Fund or other accounts managed by the Adviser (either intentionally or inadvertently), their ability to trade in other securities of the issuers of these loans for a Fund or other accounts will be limited pursuant to applicable securities laws. Such limitations on a Fund’s ability to trade could have an adverse effect on a Fund. In many instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time. See “Trading Restrictions.”

 

Direct indebtedness purchased by a Fund may include letters of credit, revolving credit facilities, or other standby financing commitments obligating a Fund to pay additional cash on demand. These commitments may have the effect of requiring a Fund to increase its investment in a borrower at a time when it would not otherwise have done so. Loans and certain other forms of direct indebtedness may not be classified as “securities” under the federal securities laws and, therefore, purchasers of such instruments may not be entitled to the protections against fraud and misrepresentation contained in the federal securities laws. In the potential absence of regulatory protections, a Fund relies on its Adviser’s research in an attempt to avoid situations where fraud or misrepresentation could adversely affect a Fund.

 

Investments in loans, loan participations and assignments present the possibility that a Fund could be held liable as a co-lender under emerging legal theories of lender liability. Each Fund anticipates that loans, loan participations and assignments could be sold only to a limited number of institutional investors. If there is no active secondary market for a loan, it may be more difficult to sell the interests in such a loan at a price that is acceptable or to even obtain pricing information. In addition, some loans, loan participations and assignments may not be rated by major rating agencies. Loans held by the Funds might not be considered securities for the purposes of the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and therefore a risk exists that purchasers, such as the Funds may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud provisions of those Acts.

 

Trade Claims. A Fund may purchase trade claims against companies, including companies in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings. Trade claims generally include claims of suppliers for goods delivered and not paid, claims for unpaid services rendered, claims for contract rejection damages and claims related to litigation. An investment in trade claims is very speculative and carries a high degree of risk. Trade claims may be illiquid instruments which generally do not pay interest and there can be no guarantee that the debtor will ever be able to satisfy the obligation on the trade claim. Additionally, there can be restrictions on the purchase, sale, and/or transferability of trade claims during all or part of a bankruptcy proceeding. The markets in trade claims are not regulated by U.S. federal securities laws or the SEC.

 

S-34

 

 

Trade claims are typically unsecured and may be subordinated to other unsecured obligations of a debtor, and generally are subject to defenses of the debtor with respect to the underlying transaction giving rise to the trade claim. Trade claims are subject to risks not generally associated with standardized securities and instruments due to the idiosyncratic nature of the claims purchased. These risks include the risk that the debtor may contest the allowance of the claim due to disputes the debtor has with the original claimant or the inequitable conduct of the original claimant, or due to administrative errors in connection with the transfer of the claim. Recovery on allowed trade claims may also be impaired if the anticipated dividend payable on unsecured claims in the bankruptcy is not realized or if the timing of the bankruptcy distribution is delayed. As a result of the foregoing factors, trade claims are also subject to the risk that if a Fund does receive payment, it may be in an amount less than what the Fund paid for or otherwise expects to receive in respect of the claim.

 

In addition, because they are not negotiable instruments, trade claims are typically less liquid than negotiable instruments. Given these factors, trade claims often trade at a discount to other pari passu instruments.

 

Master Limited Partnerships

 

MLPs are publicly traded partnerships primarily engaged in the transportation, storage, processing, refining, marketing, exploration, production, and mining of minerals and natural resources. Investments in securities (units) of MLPs involve risks that differ from an investment in common stock. Holders of these units have more limited rights to vote on matters affecting the partnership. These units may be subject to cash flow and dilution risks. There are also certain tax risks associated with such an investment. In particular, a Fund’s investment in master limited partnerships can be limited by a Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and can limit a Fund’s ability to so qualify. In addition, conflicts of interest may exist between common unit holders, subordinated unit holders and the general partner of a MLP, including a conflict arising as a result of incentive distribution payments. In addition, there are risks related to the general partner’s right to require unit holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price.

 

MLP Subordinated Units. MLP subordinated units are not typically listed on an exchange or publicly traded, and a Fund may acquire outstanding subordinated units from the holders or directly from the issuer in a private investment in public equity (“PIPE”) transaction. The purpose of the convertible subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there will be available cash to be distributed to common unit holders. Convertible subordinated units generally are not entitled to distributions until holders of common units have received specified minimum quarterly distributions, plus any arrearages, and may receive less in distributions upon liquidation. Convertible subordinated unit holders generally are entitled to a minimum quarterly distribution prior to the payment of incentive distributions to the general partner, but are not entitled to arrearage rights. In the event of liquidation, common units also have preference over subordinated units, but not debt or preferred units, to the remaining assets of the MLP. Therefore, they generally entail greater risk than MLP common units. Most MLP subordinated units are convertible into common units after the passage of a specified period of time or upon the achievement by the MLP of specified financial goals.

 

General Partner and Managing Member Interests. As part of a Fund’s investment strategy, a Fund may invest in MLPs or other entities that hold a general partner or managing member interest and incentive distribution rights in MLPs (a “GP Investor”). General partner and managing member interests are generally not publicly traded, although they may be owned by publicly traded entities such as a GP Investor. A holder of general partner or managing member interests can be liable in certain circumstances for amounts greater than the amount of the holder’s investment. In addition, while a general partner or managing member’s incentive distribution rights can mean that general partners and managing members have higher distribution growth prospects than their underlying MLPs, these incentive distribution payments would decline at a greater rate than the decline rate in quarterly distributions to common or subordinated unit holders in the event of a reduction in the MLP’s quarterly distribution. A general partner or managing member interest can be redeemed by the MLP if the MLP unit holders choose to remove the general partner, typically by a supermajority vote of the limited partners or members, which typically can be very difficult to accomplish.

 

S-35

 

 

MLP Tax Considerations. MLPs are generally intended to be treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To qualify as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an MLP must receive at least 90% of its income from qualifying sources such as interest, dividends, real estate rents, gain from the sale or disposition of real property, income and gain from mineral or natural resources activities, income and gain from the transportation or storage of certain fuels, gain from the sale or disposition of a capital asset held for the production of income described in the foregoing and, in certain circumstances, income and gain from commodities or futures, forwards and options with respect to commodities. Mineral or natural resources activities include exploration, development, production, mining, refining, marketing and transportation (including pipelines), of oil and gas, minerals, geothermal energy, fertilizer, timber or industrial source carbon dioxide. Currently, most MLPs operate in the energy, natural resources or real estate sectors.

 

Due to their partnership structure, MLPs generally do not pay income taxes. Thus, unlike investors in corporate securities, direct MLP investors are generally not subject to double taxation (i.e. corporate level tax and tax on corporate dividends).

 

The benefit a Fund derives from an investment in MLPs is largely dependent on the MLPs being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (i.e., having no U.S. federal income tax liability at the entity level). If, as a result of a change in current law or a change in an MLP’s business, an MLP is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such MLP would be obligated to pay U.S. federal income tax on its income at the corporate tax rate. If an MLP were classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of cash available for distribution would be reduced and distributions received by a Fund would be taxed under U.S. federal income tax laws applicable to corporate distributions (as dividend income, return of capital or capital gain). In addition, taxes, penalties, and interest associated with an audit of a partnership are generally to be assessed and collected at the partnership level.

 

Accordingly, even if an MLP were to remain classified as a partnership, it could be required to pay additional taxes, interest and penalties as a result of an audit adjustment, and we, as a direct or indirect partner of such MLP, could be required to bear the economic burden of those taxes, interest and penalties even though we, as a RIC, may not otherwise have been required to pay additional corporate-level taxes as a result of the related audit adjustment. Treatment of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or payments required to be made by an MLP as a result of an audit adjustment, would result in a reduction in the after-tax return to a Fund, likely causing a reduction in the value of a Fund’s shares. In addition, if a Fund receives a Schedule K-1 from an MLP after having mailed a Form 1099-DIV to shareholders, and a Fund’s estimates with respect to the applicable MLP are determined to have been materially incorrect, a Fund may be required to mail an amended Form 1099-DIV to Shareholders.

 

S-36

 

 

A Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective will depend on the level of taxable income and distributions and dividends it receives from the MLPs and other securities in which a Fund may invest, a factor over which a Fund has no control. As a limited partner in the MLPs in which a Fund seeks to invest, a Fund will, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be allocated its share of income, gains, losses, deductions and credits from those MLPs, regardless of whether a Fund has received any distributions from such MLPs. Historically, a significant portion of income from MLPs has been offset by tax deductions. As a result, this income has generally been significantly lower than cash distributions paid by MLPs. A Fund will be subject to the RIC distribution requirement on its share of an MLP’s income and gains that is not offset by available tax deductions, losses, and credits of the MLP or a Fund. The percentage of an MLP’s income and gains which is offset by tax deductions, losses, and credits will fluctuate over time for various reasons. A significant slowdown in acquisition activity or capital spending by MLPs held in a Fund’s portfolio could result in a reduction of accelerated depreciation generated by new acquisitions, which may result in an increase in a Fund’s investment company taxable income that it is required to distribute to shareholders to maintain its status as a RIC and to eliminate its liability for U.S. federal income and excise taxes. If a Fund’s income from its investments in MLPs exceeds the cash distributions received from such investments, a Fund may need to obtain cash from other sources in order to satisfy a Fund’s annual distribution requirement. If a Fund is unable to obtain cash from other sources, it may fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment or become subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income or excise taxes on undistributed income. A Fund may also recognize gain in excess of cash proceeds upon the sale of an interest in an MLP. Any such gain may need to be distributed in order to avoid liability for corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on such gain.

 

Recently enacted tax legislation generally requires that taxes, penalties, and interest associated with an audit of a partnership be assessed and collected at the partnership level. Accordingly, even if an MLP in which a Fund invests were to remain classified as a partnership, it could be required to pay additional taxes, interest and penalties as a result of an audit adjustment, and a Fund, as a direct or indirect partner of such MLP, could be required to bear the economic burden of those taxes, interest and penalties, which would reduce the value of the shares of a Fund.

 

Municipal Securities

 

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.

 

The two principal classifications of municipal obligations are “notes” and “bonds.” Municipal notes are generally used to provide for short-term capital needs, such as to finance working capital needs of municipalities or to provide various interim or construction financing, and generally have maturities of one year or less. They are generally payable from specific revenues expected to be received at a future date or are issued in anticipation of long-term financing to be obtained in the market to provide for the repayment of the note.

 

Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fixed Income Securities. Short-term tax-exempt fixed income securities are securities that are exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax and mature within three years or less from the date of issuance. Short-term tax-exempt fixed income securities are defined to include, without limitation, the following:

 

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Bond Anticipation Notes (“BANs”) are usually general obligations of state and local governmental issuers which are sold to obtain interim financing for projects that will eventually be funded through the sale of long-term debt obligations or bonds. The ability of an issuer to meet its obligations on its BANs is primarily dependent on the issuer’s access to the long-term municipal bond market and the likelihood that the proceeds of such bond sales will be used to pay the principal and interest on the BANs.

 

Tax Anticipation Notes (“TANs”) are issued by state and local governments to finance the current operations of such governments. Repayment is generally to be derived from specific future tax revenues. TANs are usually general obligations of the issuer. A weakness in an issuer’s capacity to raise taxes due to, among other things, a decline in its tax base or a rise in delinquencies could adversely affect the issuer’s ability to meet its obligations on outstanding TANs.

 

Revenue Anticipation Notes (“RANs”) are issued by governments or governmental bodies with the expectation that future revenues from a designated source will be used to repay the notes. In general, they also constitute general obligations of the issuer. A decline in the receipt of projected revenues, such as anticipated revenues from another level of government, could adversely affect an issuer’s ability to meet its obligations on outstanding RANs. In addition, the possibility that the revenues would, when received, be used to meet other obligations could affect the ability of the issuer to pay the principal and interest on RANs.

 

Construction loan notes are issued to provide construction financing for specific projects. Frequently, these notes are redeemed with funds obtained from the Federal Housing Administration.

 

Bank notes are notes issued by local government bodies and agencies as those described above to commercial banks as evidence of borrowings. The purposes for which the notes are issued are varied but they are frequently issued to meet short-term working capital or capital-project needs. These notes may have risks similar to the risks associated with TANs and RANs.

 

Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper (“municipal paper”) represents very short-term unsecured, negotiable promissory notes, issued by states, municipalities and their agencies. Payment of principal and interest on issues of municipal paper may be made from various sources, to the extent the funds are available therefrom. Maturities on municipal paper generally will be shorter than the maturities of TANs, BANs or RANs. There is a limited secondary market for issues of municipal paper.

 

Certain municipal securities may carry variable or floating rates of interest whereby the rate of interest is not fixed but varies with changes in specified market rates or indices, such as a bank prime rate or tax-exempt money market indices.

 

While the various types of notes described above as a group represent the major portion of the tax-exempt note market, other types of notes are available in the marketplace and a Fund may invest in such other types of notes to the extent permitted under its investment objective, policies and limitations. Such notes may be issued for different purposes and may be secured differently from those mentioned above.

 

Municipal bonds, which meet longer-term capital needs and generally have maturities of more than one year when issued, have two principal classifications: “general obligation” bonds and “revenue” bonds. Issuers of general obligation bonds, the proceeds of which are used to fund a wide range of public projects including the construction or improvement of schools, highways and roads, water and sewer systems and a variety of other public purposes, include states, counties, cities, towns and regional districts. The basic security behind general obligation bonds is the issuer’s pledge of its full faith, credit, and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest.

 

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Revenue bonds have been issued to fund a wide variety of capital projects including: electric, gas, water and sewer systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and universities; and hospitals. The principal security for a revenue bond is generally the net revenues derived from a particular facility or group of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Although the principal security behind these bonds varies widely, many provide additional security in the form of a debt service reserve fund whose monies may also be used to make principal and interest payments on the issuer’s obligations. In addition to a debt service reserve fund, some authorities provide further security in the form of a state’s ability (without obligation) to make up deficiencies in the debt reserve fund. Revenue bonds can be adversely affected by the negative economic viability of the facility or revenue source. Securities purchased for a Fund may include variable/floating rate instruments, variable mode instruments, put bonds, and other obligations that have a specified maturity date but also are payable before maturity after notice by the holder. There are, in addition, a variety of hybrid and special types of municipal obligations as well as numerous differences in the security of municipal obligations both within and between the two principal classifications (i.e., notes and bonds). A Fund may also invest in credit default swaps on municipal securities. See “Swap Contracts and Other Two-Party Contracts — Swap Contracts.”

 

Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather Conditions

 

Certain areas of the world have historically been prone to and economically sensitive to environmental events such as, but not limited to, hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons, flooding, tidal waves, tsunamis, erupting volcanoes, wildfires or droughts, tornadoes, mudslides or other weather-related phenomena. Such disasters, and the resulting physical or economic damage, could have a severe and negative impact on a Fund’s investment portfolio and, in the longer term, could impair the ability of issuers in which a Fund invests to conduct their businesses as they would under normal conditions. Adverse weather conditions may also have a particularly significant negative effect on issuers in the agricultural sector and on insurance companies that insure against the impact of natural disasters.

 

Non-Cash Income

 

Certain investments made by a Fund may give rise to taxable income in excess of the cash received by the Fund from those investments. In order to make distributions of its income to its investors, it is possible that a Fund will dispose of certain of its investments, including when it is not otherwise advantageous to do so. See “Taxes” for more information.

 

Options and Futures

 

The Funds may use options and futures for various purposes, including for investment purposes and as a means to hedge other investments. The use of options contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts involves risk. Thus, while a Fund may benefit from the use of options, futures, and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices, currency exchange rates or other underlying assets or reference rates may adversely affect a Fund’s performance.

 

Options on Securities and Indices. The Funds may purchase and sell put and call options on equity, fixed income, or other securities or indices in standardized exchange-traded contracts. An option on a security or index is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right (but not the obligation) to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the security underlying the option (or the cash value of the index underlying the option) at a specified price. Upon exercise, the writer of an option on a security has the obligation to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security. Upon exercise, the writer of an option on an index is required to pay the difference between the cash value of the index and the exercise price multiplied by the specified multiplier for the index option.

 

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Purchasing Options on Securities and Indices. Among other reasons, a Fund may purchase a put option to hedge against a decline in the value of a portfolio security. If such a decline occurs, the put option will permit a Fund to sell the security at the higher exercise price or to close out the option at a profit. By using put options in this manner, a Fund will reduce any profit it might otherwise have realized in the underlying security by the amount of the premium paid for the put option and by its transaction costs. In order for a put option purchased by a Fund to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must decline sufficiently below the exercise price to cover the premium paid by a Fund and transaction costs. Among other reasons, a Fund may purchase call options to hedge against an increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing in the future. If such a price increase occurs, a call option will permit a Fund to purchase the securities at the exercise price or to close out the option at a profit. The premium paid for the call option, plus any transaction costs, will reduce the benefit, if any, that a Fund realizes upon exercise of the option and, unless the price of the underlying security rises sufficiently, the option may expire worthless to the Fund. Thus, for a call option purchased by a Fund to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must rise sufficiently above the exercise price to cover the premium paid by the Fund to the writer and transaction costs. In the case of both call and put options, the purchaser of an option risks losing the premium paid for the option plus related transaction costs if the option expires worthless.

 

OTC Options. A Fund may also invest in American style (options that may be exercised at any time before the expiration date) and European style (options that may be exercised only on the expiration date) OTC (“OTC”) options. OTC options differ from exchange-traded options in that they are two-party contracts, with price and other terms negotiated between the buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-traded options. The staff of the SEC has taken the position, generally, that purchased OTC options and the assets used to cover written OTC options are considered illiquid. However, to the extent a Fund invests in OTC options, certain purchased OTC options and assets used to cover written OTC options may be considered liquid (for example, OTC options purchased from a creditworthy counterparty under which a Fund has the contractual right to terminate the option within seven days).

 

Closing Options Transactions. The holder of an option may terminate its position in a put or call option it has purchased by allowing it to expire or by exercising the option. In addition, a holder of an option may terminate its obligation prior to the option’s expiration by effecting an offsetting closing transaction. In the case of exchange-traded options, a Fund, as a holder of an option, may effect an offsetting closing sale transaction by selling an option of the same series as the option previously purchased. A Fund realizes a loss from a closing sale transaction if the premium received from the sale of the option is less than the premium paid to purchase the option (plus transaction costs). Similarly, if a Fund has written an option, it may effect an offsetting closing purchase transaction by buying an option of the same series as the option previously written. A Fund realizes a loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing purchase transaction (option premium plus transaction costs) is greater than the premium received from writing the option. If a Fund desires to sell a security on which it has written a call option, it will effect a closing purchase prior to or concurrently with the sale of the security. There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale can be effected when a Fund desires to do so.

 

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An OTC option may be closed only with the counterparty, although either party may engage in an offsetting transaction that puts that party in the same economic position as if it had closed out the option with the counterparty. No guarantee exists that a Fund will be able to effect a closing purchase or an offsetting closing sale with respect to a specific option at any particular time.

 

Risk Factors in Options Transactions. There are various risks associated with transactions in exchange-traded and OTC options. The value of options will be affected by many factors, including changes in the value of underlying securities or indices, changes in the dividend rates of underlying securities (or in the case of indices, the securities comprising such indices), changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market and underlying securities and the remaining time to an option’s expiration. The value of an option also may be adversely affected if the market for the option is reduced or becomes less liquid. In addition, since an American style option allows the holder to exercise its rights any time prior to expiration of the option, the writer of an American style option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligations as a writer of the option. This risk is not present when writing a European style option since the holder may only exercise the option on its expiration date.

 

A Fund’s ability to use options as part of its investment program depends on the liquidity of the markets in those instruments. In addition, there can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when a Fund seeks to close out an option position. If the Fund was unable to close out an option that it had purchased on a security, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless.

 

An exchange-traded option may be closed out by means of an offsetting transaction only on a national securities exchange (“Exchange”), which provides a secondary market for an option of the same series. If a liquid secondary market for an exchange-traded option does not exist, a Fund might not be able to effect an offsetting closing transaction for a particular option. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an Exchange include the following: (i) insufficient trading interest in some options; (ii) restrictions by an Exchange on opening or closing transactions, or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions, or other restrictions on particular classes or series of options or underlying securities; (iv) unusual or unforeseen interruptions in normal operations on an Exchange; (v) inability to handle current trading volume; or (vi) discontinuance of options trading (or trading in a particular class or series of options) (although outstanding options on an Exchange that were issued by the Options Clearing Corporation should continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms). In addition, the hours of trading for options on an Exchange may not conform to the hours during which the securities held by a Fund are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that may not be reflected in the options markets.

 

The Exchanges generally have established limits on the maximum number of options an investor or group of investors acting in concert may write. The Funds, the Adviser and other clients of the Adviser may constitute such a group. These limits could restrict a Fund’s ability to purchase or sell options on a particular security. An OTC option may be closed only with the counterparty, although either party may engage in an offsetting transaction that puts that party in the same economic position as if it had closed out the option with the counterparty; however, the exposure to counterparty risk may differ. See “Swap Contracts and Other Two-Party Contracts — Risk Factors in Swap Contracts, OTC Options, and Other Two-Party Contracts” for a discussion of counterparty risk and other risks associated with investing in OTC options.

 

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Currency Options. The Funds may purchase and sell options on currencies. Options on currencies possess many of the same characteristics as options on securities and generally operate in a similar manner. (See “Foreign Currency Transactions” for more information on a Fund’s use of currency options.)

 

Futures. The Funds may invest in futures contracts on, among other things, financial instruments (such as a U.S. government security or other fixed income security), individual equity securities (“single stock futures”), securities indices, interest rates, currencies, inflation indices, and commodities or commodities indices. Futures contracts on securities indices are referred to herein as “Index Futures.” The purchase and sale of futures contracts may be used for speculative purposes.

 

Certain futures contracts are physically settled (i.e., involve the making and taking of delivery of a specified amount of an underlying security or other asset). For instance, the sale of futures contracts on foreign currencies or financial instruments creates an obligation of the seller to deliver a specified quantity of an underlying foreign currency or financial instrument called for in the contract for a stated price at a specified time. Conversely, the purchase of such futures contracts creates an obligation of the purchaser to pay for and take delivery of the underlying foreign currency or financial instrument called for in the contract for a stated price at a specified time. In some cases, the specific instruments delivered or taken, respectively, on the settlement date are not determined until on or near that date.

 

That determination is made in accordance with the rules of the exchange on which the sale or purchase was made. Some futures contracts are cash settled (rather than physically settled), which means that the purchase price is subtracted from the current market value of the instrument and the net amount, if positive, is paid to the purchaser by the seller of the futures contract and, if negative, is paid by the purchaser to the seller of the futures contract. In particular, Index Futures are agreements pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of a securities index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index contract was originally written. Although the value of a securities index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, no physical delivery of these securities is made.

 

The purchase or sale of a futures contract differs from the purchase or sale of a security or option in that no price or premium is paid or received. Instead, an amount of cash, U.S. government securities, or other liquid assets equal in value to a percentage of the face amount of the futures contract must be deposited with the broker. This amount is known as initial margin. The amount of the initial margin is generally set by the market on which the contract is traded (margin requirements on foreign exchanges may be different than those on U.S. exchanges). Subsequent payments to and from the broker, known as variation margin, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying futures contract fluctuates, making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.” Prior to the settlement date of the futures contract, the position may be closed by taking an opposite position. A final determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid to or released by the broker, and the purchaser realizes a loss or gain. In addition, a commission is paid to the broker on each completed purchase and sale.

 

Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying securities, currencies, commodities, or other underlying instrument, in most cases, futures contracts are closed before the settlement date without the making or taking of delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (i.e., with the same exchange, underlying financial instrument, currency, commodity, or index, and delivery month). If the price of the initial sale exceeds the price of the offsetting purchase, the seller is paid the difference and realizes a gain. Conversely, if the price of the offsetting purchase exceeds the price of the initial sale, the seller realizes a loss. Similarly, a purchase of a futures contract is closed out by selling a corresponding futures contract. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the original purchase price, the purchaser realizes a gain, and, if the original purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price, the purchaser realizes a loss. Any transaction costs must also be included in these calculations.

 

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In the United States, futures contracts are traded only on commodity exchanges or boards of trade — known as “contract markets” — approved by the CFTC, and must be executed through a futures commission merchant or brokerage firm that is a member of the relevant market. The Funds may also purchase futures contracts on foreign exchanges or similar entities, which are not regulated by the CFTC and may not be subject to the same degree of regulation as the U.S. contract markets. (See “Additional Risks of Options on Securities, Futures Contracts, and Options on Futures Contracts Traded on Foreign Exchanges”).

 

Index Futures. The Funds may close open positions on an exchange on which Index Futures are traded at any time up to and including the expiration day. In general, all positions that remain open at the close of business on that day must be settled on the next business day (based on the value of the relevant index on the expiration day). Additional or different margin requirements as well as settlement procedures may apply to foreign stock Index Futures.

 

Interest Rate Futures. The Funds may engage in transactions involving the use of futures on interest rates. These transactions may be in connection with investments in U.S. government securities and other fixed income securities.

 

Inflation Linked Futures. The Funds may engage in transactions involving inflation linked futures, including CPI futures, which are exchange-traded futures contracts that represent the inflation on a notional value of $1,000,000 for a period of three months, as implied by the CPI. Inflation linked futures may be used by the Funds to hedge the inflation risk in nominal bonds (i.e., non-inflation indexed bonds) thereby creating “synthetic” inflation indexed bonds. The Funds also may combine inflation linked futures with U.S. Treasury futures contracts to create “synthetic” inflation indexed bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury. See “Indexed Investments — Inflation Indexed Bonds” for a discussion of inflation indexed bonds.

 

Currency Futures. The Funds may buy and sell futures contracts on currencies. (See “Foreign Currency Transactions” for a description of a Fund’s use of currency futures.)

 

Options on Futures Contracts. Options on futures contracts give the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a long position (in the case of a call option) or a short position (in the case of a put option) in a futures contract at the option exercise price at any time during the period of the option (in the case of an American style option) or on the expiration date (in the case of European style option). Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the holder acquires a short position and the writer is assigned the opposite long position in the futures contract. Accordingly, in the event that an option is exercised, the parties will be subject to all the risks associated with the trading of futures contracts, such as payment of initial and variation margin deposits.

 

The Funds may use options on futures contracts in lieu of writing or buying options directly on the underlying securities or purchasing and selling the underlying futures contracts. For example, to hedge against a possible decrease in the value of its portfolio securities, a Fund may purchase put options or write call options on futures contracts rather than selling futures contracts. Similarly, a Fund may hedge against a possible increase in the price of securities a Fund expects to purchase by purchasing call options or writing put options on futures contracts rather than purchasing futures contracts. In addition, a Fund may purchase and sell interest rate options on U.S. Treasury or Eurodollar futures to take a long or short position on interest rate fluctuations. Options on futures contracts generally operate in the same manner as options purchased or written directly on the underlying investments. (See “Foreign Currency Transactions” for a description of a Fund’s use of options on currency futures).

 

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A Fund also typically will be required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it. Such margin deposits may vary depending on the nature of the underlying futures contract (and the related initial margin requirements), the current market value of the option, and other futures positions held by a Fund.

 

A position in an option on a futures contract may be terminated by the purchaser or seller prior to expiration by effecting a closing purchase or sale transaction, subject to the availability of a liquid secondary market, which is the purchase or sale of an option of the same type (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents a Fund’s profit or loss on the transaction.

 

Commodity Futures and Options on Commodity Futures. A Fund may have exposure to futures contracts on various commodities or commodities indices (“commodity futures”) and options on commodity futures. A futures contract on a commodity is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to purchase a commodity, such as an energy, agricultural, or metal commodity, from the other party at a later date at a price and quantity agreed upon when the contract is made. Futures contracts on commodities indices operate in a manner similar to Index Futures.

 

Risk Factors in Futures and Futures Options Transactions. Investment in futures contracts involves risk. A purchase or sale of futures contracts may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the futures contract. If a futures contract is used for hedging, an imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures contract and the price of the security, currency, or other investment being hedged creates risk. Correlation is higher when the investment being hedged underlies the futures contract. Correlation is lower when the investment being hedged is different than the security, currency, or other investment underlying the futures contract, such as when a futures contract on an index of securities or commodities is used to hedge a single security or commodity, a futures contract on one security (e.g., U.S. Treasury bonds) or commodity (e.g., gold) is used to hedge a different security (e.g., a mortgage-backed security) or commodity (e.g., copper), or when a futures contract in one currency is used to hedge a security denominated in another currency. In the case of Index Futures and futures on commodity indices, changes in the price of those futures contracts may not correlate perfectly with price movements in the relevant index due to market distortions. In the event of an imperfect correlation between a futures position and the portfolio position (or anticipated position) intended to be hedged, a Fund may realize a loss on the futures contract at the same time a Fund is realizing a loss on the portfolio position intended to be hedged. To compensate for imperfect correlations, a Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts in a greater amount than the hedged investments if the volatility of the price of the hedged investments is historically greater than the volatility of the futures contracts. Conversely, a Fund may purchase or sell fewer futures contracts if the volatility of the price of the hedged investments is historically less than that of the futures contract. The successful use of transactions in futures and related options for hedging also depends on the direction and extent of exchange rate, interest rate and asset price movements within a given time frame. For example, to the extent equity prices remain stable during the period in which a futures contract or option is held by a Fund investing in equity securities (or such prices move in a direction opposite to that anticipated), a Fund may realize a loss on the futures transaction, which is not fully or partially offset by an increase in the value of its portfolio securities. As a result, a Fund’s total return for such period may be less than if it had not engaged in the hedging transaction.

 

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All participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Instead of meeting margin calls, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort normal correlations. The margin deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, allowing for more speculators who may cause temporary price distortions. Trading hours for foreign stock Index Futures may not correspond perfectly to the trading hours of the foreign exchange to which a particular foreign stock Index Future relates. As a result, the lack of continuous arbitrage may cause a disparity between the price of foreign stock Index Futures and the value of the relevant index.

 

A Fund may purchase futures contracts (or options on them) as an anticipatory hedge against a possible increase in the price of a currency in which securities a Fund anticipates purchasing is denominated. In such instances, the currency may instead decline. If a Fund does not then invest in those securities, the Fund may realize a loss on the futures contract that is not offset by a reduction in the price of the securities purchased.

 

A Fund’s ability to engage in the futures and options on futures strategies described above depends on the liquidity of the markets in those instruments. Trading interest in various types of futures and options on futures cannot be predicted.

 

Therefore, no assurance can be given that a Fund will be able to use these instruments at all or that their use will be effective. In addition, there can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when a Fund seeks to close out a futures or option on a futures contract position, and a Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. The liquidity of a secondary market in a futures contract may be adversely affected by “daily price fluctuation limits” established by commodity exchanges to limit the amount of fluctuation in a futures contract price during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached, no trades of the contract may be entered at a price beyond the limit, thus preventing the liquidation of open futures positions. In the past, prices have exceeded the daily limit on several consecutive trading days. Short (and long) positions in Index Futures or futures on commodities indices may be closed only by purchasing (or selling) a futures contract on the exchange on which the Index Futures or commodity futures, as applicable, are traded.

 

As discussed above, if a Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, it is only required to deposit initial and variation margin as required by relevant CFTC regulations and the rules of the contract market. A Fund’s net assets will generally fluctuate with the value of the security or other instrument underlying a futures contract as if it were already in a Fund’s portfolio. Futures transactions can have the effect of investment leverage. Furthermore, if a Fund combines short and long positions, in addition to possible declines in the values of its investment securities, a Fund will incur losses if the index underlying the long futures position underperforms the index underlying the short futures position.

 

In addition, if a Fund’s futures brokers become bankrupt or insolvent, or otherwise default on their obligations to a Fund, the Fund may not receive all amounts owing to it in respect of its trading, despite the futures clearinghouse fully discharging all of its obligations. Furthermore, in the event of the bankruptcy of a futures broker, a Fund could be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the futures broker’s combined customer accounts, even though certain property specifically traceable to a Fund was held by the futures broker.

 

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A Fund’s ability to engage in futures and options on futures transactions may be limited by tax considerations.

 

Additional Risk Associated with Commodity Futures Transactions. Several additional risks are associated with transactions in commodity futures contracts:

 

Storage Costs. The price of a commodity futures contract reflects the storage costs of purchasing the underlying commodity, including the time value of money invested in the commodity. To the extent that the storage costs change, the value of the futures contracts may change correspondingly.

 

Reinvestment Risk. In the commodity futures markets, producers of an underlying commodity may sell futures contracts to lock in the price of the commodity at delivery. To induce speculators to purchase the other side (the long side) of the contract, the commodity producer generally must sell the contract at a lower price than the expected futures spot price. Conversely, if most purchasers of the underlying commodity purchase futures contracts to hedge against a rise in commodity prices, then speculators will only sell the contract at a higher price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the commodity markets will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected futures spot price. As a result, when a manager reinvests the proceeds from a maturing contract, it may purchase a new futures contract at a higher or lower price than the expected futures spot prices of the maturing contract or choose to pursue other investments.

 

Additional Economic Factors. The value of the commodities underlying commodity futures contracts may be subject to additional economic and non-economic factors, such as drought, floods or other weather conditions, livestock disease, trade embargoes, competition from substitute products, transportation bottlenecks or shortages, fluctuations in supply and demand, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.

 

See also “Commodity-Related Investments” for more discussion of the special risks of investing in commodity futures, options on commodity futures, and related types of derivatives.

 

Additional Risks of Options on Securities, Futures Contracts, and Options on Futures Contracts Traded on Foreign Exchanges. Options on securities, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and options on currencies may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States (which are regulated by the CFTC) and may be subject to greater risks than trading on domestic exchanges. For example, some foreign exchanges may be principal markets so that no common clearing facility exists and a trader may look only to the broker for performance of the contract. The lack of a common clearing facility creates counterparty risk. If a counterparty defaults, a Fund normally will have contractual remedies against that counterparty, but may be unsuccessful in enforcing those remedies. When seeking to enforce a contractual remedy, a Fund also is subject to the risk that the parties may interpret contractual terms (e.g., the definition of default) differently. Counterparty risk is greater for derivatives with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement. Counterparty risk is also greater when a Fund has concentrated its derivatives with a single or small group of counterparties as it sometimes does as a result of its use of swaps and other OTC derivatives. To the extent a Fund has significant exposure to a single counterparty, this risk will be particularly pronounced for the Fund. If a dispute occurs, the cost and unpredictability of the legal proceedings required for a Fund to enforce its contractual rights may lead the Fund to decide not to pursue its claims against the counterparty. A Fund thus assumes the risk that it may be unable to obtain payments owed under foreign futures contracts or that those payments may be delayed or made only after a Fund has incurred the costs of litigation. In addition, unless a Fund hedges against fluctuations in the exchange rate between the currencies in which trading is done on foreign exchanges and other currencies, any profits that a Fund might realize in trading could be offset (or worse) by adverse changes in the exchange rate. The value of foreign options and futures may also be adversely affected by other factors unique to foreign investing (see “Foreign Investment Risks”).

 

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Preferred Stocks

 

Preferred stocks include convertible and non-convertible preferred and preference stocks that are senior to common stock. Preferred stocks are equity securities that are senior to common stock with respect to the right to receive dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from the issuer’s liquidation. Some preferred stocks also entitle their holders to receive additional liquidation proceeds on the same basis as holders of the issuer’s common stock, and thus represent an ownership interest in the issuer. Depending on the features of the particular security, holders of preferred stock may bear the risks disclosed in the Prospectus or this SAI regarding equity or fixed income securities.

 

Investment in preferred stocks involves certain risks. Preferred stocks often are subject to legal provisions that allow for redemption in the event of certain tax or legal changes or at the issuer’s call. In the event of redemption, a Fund may not be able to reinvest the proceeds at comparable rates of return. Preferred stocks are subordinated to bonds and other debt securities in an issuer’s capital structure in terms of priority for corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt securities. Preferred stocks may trade less frequently and in a more limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than many other securities, such as common stocks, corporate debt securities and U.S. government securities.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts and Other Real Estate-Related Investments

 

A Fund may invest in pooled real estate investment funds (so-called “real estate investment trusts” or “REITs”) and other real estate-related investments such as securities of companies principally engaged in the real estate industry. In addition to REITs, companies in the real estate industry and real estate-related investments may include, for example, entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, real estate developers, and companies with substantial real estate holdings. Each of these types of investments is subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate. Factors affecting real estate values include the supply of real property in particular markets, overbuilding, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, delays in completion of construction, changes in real estate values, changes in operations costs and property taxes, levels of occupancy, adequacy of rent to cover operating expenses, possible environmental liabilities, regulatory limitations on rent, fluctuations in rental income, increased competition and other risks related to local and regional market conditions. The value of real-estate related investments also may be affected by changes in interest rates, macroeconomic developments, and social and economic trends. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, certain mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by those REITs. Some REITs have relatively small market capitalizations, which can tend to increase the volatility of the market price of their securities.

 

REITs are pooled investment funds that invest in real estate or real estate-related companies. A Fund may invest in different types of REITs, including equity REITs, which own real estate directly; mortgage REITs, which make construction, development, or long-term mortgage loans; and hybrid REITs, which share characteristics of equity REITs and mortgage REITs. In general, the value of a REIT’s shares changes in light of factors affecting the real estate industry. REITs are also subject to the risk of fluctuations in income from underlying real estate assets, poor performance by the REIT’s manager and the manager’s inability to manage cash flows generated by the REIT’s assets, prepayments and defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, adverse changes in the tax laws, and, with regard to U.S. REITs, the risk of failing to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Code, and/or to maintain exempt status under the 1940 Act.

 

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By investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, investors will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of REITs. In addition, REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to investors. Investments in REITs are subject to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate.

 

Recent Market Conditions

 

Periods of unusually high financial market volatility and restrictive credit conditions, at times limited to a particular sector or geographic area, have occurred in the past and may be expected to recur in the future. Some countries, including the United States, have adopted or have signaled protectionist trade measures, relaxation of the financial industry regulations that followed the financial crisis, and/or reductions to corporate taxes. The scope of these policy changes is still developing, but the equity and debt markets may react strongly to expectations of change, which could increase volatility, particularly if a resulting policy runs counter to the market’s expectations. The outcome of such changes cannot be foreseen at the present time. In addition, geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks, may add to instability in the world economy and markets generally. As a result of increasingly interconnected global economies and financial markets, the value and liquidity of a Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by events impacting a country or region, regardless of whether the Fund invests in issuers located in or with significant exposure to such country or region.

 

Recent events are impacting the securities markets. The continuing spread of an infectious respiratory illness caused by a novel strain of coronavirus (known as COVID-19) caused volatility, severe market dislocations and liquidity constraints in many markets, including securities the Funds hold, and may adversely affect the Funds’ investments and operations. The outbreak was first detected in December 2019 and subsequently spread globally, and since then, the number of cases fluctuated and new “variants” were confirmed around the world. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread resulted in travel restrictions and disruptions, closed international borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, event and service cancellations or interruptions, disruptions to business operations (including staff reductions), supply chains and consumer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty that negatively affected the economic environment. These disruptions led to instability in the market place, including stock market losses and overall volatility. The impact of COVID-19, and other infectious illness outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics that may arise in the future, could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, the financial performance of individual issuers, borrowers and sectors and the health of the markets generally in potentially significant and unforeseen ways. In addition, the impact of infectious illnesses, such as COVID-19, in emerging market countries may be greater due to generally less established healthcare systems. This crisis or other public health crises may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally.

 

Governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world, such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, have in the past responded to major economic disruptions with changes to fiscal and monetary policy, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions, new monetary programs, and dramatically lower interest rates. Such policy changes may adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of dividend and interest paying securities.

 

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In certain cases, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on either specific securities or even the entire market, which may result in a Fund being, among other things, unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments or to accurately price its investments. Although multiple asset classes may be affected by a market disruption, the duration and effects may not be the same for all types of assets. To the extent a Fund may overweight its investments in certain countries, companies, industries or market sectors, such position will increase the Fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those countries, companies, industries or sectors. These conditions could result in the Fund’s inability to achieve its investment objectives, cause the postponement of reconstitution or rebalance dates for benchmark indices, adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, negatively impact the Fund’s performance, and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

Reinsurance-Related Securities

 

A Fund may invest in reinsurance-related securities, which include event-linked bonds, shares or notes issued in connection with quota shares (“Quota Share Notes”), shares or notes issued in connection with excess-of-loss, stop-loss, or other non-proportional reinsurance (“Excess of Loss Notes”), shares or notes issued in connection with industry loss warrants (“ILW Notes”) and, to a lesser extent, event-linked swaps, equity securities (publicly or privately offered) and the derivatives of equity securities of companies in the reinsurance and insurance industry. Investments in Quota Share Notes provide exposure to a form of proportional reinsurance in which an investor participates in the premiums and losses of a reinsurer’s portfolio according to a pre-defined percentage. Investments in Excess of Loss Notes provide exposure to a form of reinsurance pursuant to which one party (typically an insurer or reinsurer) purchases protection against losses that exceed a specified threshold up to a set limit. Investments in ILW Notes provide exposure to a transaction through which one party (typically, an insurance company or reinsurance company, or a reinsurance-related asset manager) purchases protection based on the total loss arising from a catastrophic event to the entire insurance industry rather than the losses of any particular insurer. These securities are subject to the same risks discussed herein for event-linked instruments/catastrophe bonds. In addition, because Quota Share Notes, Excess of Loss Notes, and ILW Notes represent an interest, either proportional or non-proportional, in one or more underlying reinsurance contracts, a Fund has limited transparency into the individual underlying contract(s) and, therefore, must rely upon the risk assessment and sound underwriting practices of the issuer. Accordingly, it may be more difficult for the Adviser to fully evaluate the underlying risk profile of a Fund’s investment in Quota Share Notes, Excess of Loss Notes and ILW Notes, which will place a Fund’s assets at greater risk of loss than if the Adviser had more complete information. The lack of transparency may also make the valuation of Quota Share Notes, Excess of Loss Notes and ILW Notes more difficult and potentially result in mispricing that could result in losses to a Fund.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

A Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with banks and broker-dealers. A repurchase agreement is a contract under which the Fund acquires a security (usually an obligation of the government in the jurisdiction where the transaction is initiated or in whose currency the agreement is denominated or a security backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, such as a U.S. Treasury bill, bond or note) for a relatively short period (usually less than a week) for cash and subject to the commitment of the seller to repurchase the security for an agreed-upon price on a specified date. The repurchase price exceeds the acquisition price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate unrelated to the coupon rate on the purchased security. Repurchase agreements afford a Fund the opportunity to earn a return on temporarily available cash without market risk, although a Fund bears the risk of a seller’s failure to meet its obligation to pay the repurchase price when it is required to do so. Such a default may subject a Fund to expenses, delays, and risks of loss including: (i) possible declines in the value of the underlying security while a Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto, (ii) possible reduced levels of income and lack of access to income during this period, and (iii) the inability to enforce its rights and the expenses involved in attempted enforcement. Entering into repurchase agreements entails certain risks, which include the risk that the counterparty to the repurchase agreement may not be able to fulfill its obligations, as discussed above, that the parties may disagree as to the meaning or application of contractual terms, or that the instrument may not perform as expected.

 

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Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Dollar Roll Agreements

 

A Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements and dollar roll agreements with banks and brokers to enhance return. Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by a Fund of portfolio securities concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same securities at a later date at a fixed price. During the reverse repurchase agreement period, a Fund continues to receive principal and interest payments on the securities and also has the opportunity to earn a return on the collateral furnished by the counterparty to secure its obligation to redeliver the securities. Dollar rolls are transactions in which a Fund sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type and coupon) securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, a Fund foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities. A Fund is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”) as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. If the buyer in a reverse repurchase agreement or dollar roll agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, a Fund’s use of proceeds from the sale of its securities may be restricted while the other party or its trustee or receiver determines whether to honor a Fund’s right to repurchase the securities. Furthermore, in that situation a Fund may be unable to recover the securities it sold in connection with a reverse repurchase agreement and as a result would realize a loss equal to the difference between the value of the securities and the payment it received for them. This loss would be greater to the extent the buyer paid less than the value of the securities a Fund sold to it (e.g., a buyer may only be willing to pay $95 for a bond with a market value of $100). A Fund’s use of reverse repurchase agreements also subjects the Fund to interest costs based on the difference between the sale and repurchase price of a security involved in such a transaction. Additionally, reverse repurchase agreements entail the same risks as OTC derivatives. These include the risk that the counterparty to the reverse repurchase agreement may not be able to fulfill its obligations, as discussed above, that the parties may disagree as to the meaning or application of contractual terms, or that the instrument may not perform as expected. See “More Information about Risk — Counterparty Risk” in the Prospectus.

 

The Derivatives Rule permits the Funds to enter into reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The Derivatives Rule permits the Funds to elect whether to treat a reverse repurchase agreement as a borrowing, subject to the asset coverage requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act, or as a derivatives transaction under the Derivatives Rule.

 

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Risk of Foreign Investment

 

General. Investment in foreign issuers or securities principally traded outside the United States may involve special risks due to foreign economic, political and legal developments, including favorable or unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations (including currency blockage), expropriation, nationalization or confiscatory taxation of assets, and possible difficulty in obtaining and enforcing judgments against foreign entities. A Fund may be subject to foreign taxation on realized capital gains, dividends or interest payable on foreign securities, on transactions in those securities and on the repatriation of proceeds generated from those securities. Transaction-based charges are generally calculated as a percentage of the transaction amount and are paid upon the sale or transfer of portfolio securities subject to such taxes. Any taxes or other charges paid or incurred by a Fund in respect of its foreign securities will reduce the Funds’ yield. See “Taxes” for more information about these and other special tax considerations applicable to investments in securities of foreign issuers and securities principally traded outside the United States.

 

In addition, the tax laws of some foreign jurisdictions in which a Fund may invest are unclear and interpretations of such laws can change over time. As a result, in order to comply with guidance related to the accounting and disclosure of uncertain tax positions under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), a Fund may be required to accrue for book purposes certain foreign taxes in respect of its foreign securities or other foreign investments that it may or may not ultimately pay. Such tax accruals will reduce a Fund’s NAV at the time accrued, even though, in some cases, a Fund ultimately will not pay the related tax liabilities. Conversely, a Fund’s NAV will be increased by any tax accruals that are ultimately reversed.

 

Issuers of foreign securities are subject to different, often less comprehensive, accounting, custody, reporting, and disclosure requirements than U.S. issuers. The securities of some foreign governments, companies, and securities markets are less liquid, and at times more volatile, than comparable U.S. securities and securities markets. Foreign brokerage commissions and related fees also are generally higher than in the United States. A Fund also may be affected by different custody and/or settlement practices or delayed settlements in some foreign markets. The laws of some foreign countries may limit a Fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers located in those countries. Foreign countries may have reporting requirements with respect to the ownership of securities, and those reporting requirements may be subject to interpretation or change without prior notice to investors. No assurance can be given that a Fund will satisfy applicable foreign reporting requirements at all times.

 

Brexit Risk. A Fund may invest from time to time in European companies and companies that may be affected by the Eurozone economy. In June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom (“UK”) voted to leave the European Union (“EU”) in a popular referendum, commonly referred to as “Brexit,” which sparked depreciation in the value of the British pound and heightened risk of continued worldwide economic volatility. Following a transition period during which the EU and the UK Government engaged in a series of negotiations regarding the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the EU and the UK Government signed an agreement on December 30, 2020 regarding the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets and could have negative long-term impacts on financial markets in the UK and throughout Europe. There is considerable uncertainty about the potential consequences of Brexit, how future negotiations of trade relations will proceed, and how the financial markets will react to all of the preceding. As this process unfolds, markets may be further disrupted. Brexit may also cause additional member states to contemplate departing from the EU, which would likely perpetuate political and economic instability in the region and cause additional market disruption in global financial markets. The UK’s exit from the EU may may cause significant market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, legal uncertainty, a decrease in business confidence, and increased likelihood of a recession in the UK.

 

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Russian-Ukraine Market Risk. Increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated into an armed conflict given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict involving these two countries and the outbreak of hostilities between them may escalate or result in more widespread conflict. Such hostilities, and the threat of wider-spread hostilities, could lead to disruption, instability and volatility in global markets and commodity prices, economies and industries that could negatively impact a Fund’s business, results of operations and financial condition. The conflict has already resulted in significant volatility in certain equity, debt and currency markets, material increases in commodity prices, such as oil and natural gas, and economic uncertainty. In addition, sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other countries, and any sanctions imposed in the future, could have a significant adverse impact on the Russian economy and related markets. The price and liquidity of investments may fluctuate widely as a result of the conflict and related events. How long the armed conflict and related events will last cannot be predicted. These tensions and any related events could have significant impact on a Fund’s performance and the value of an investment in a Fund.

 

Eurozone and Redenomination Risk. A Fund may invest from time to time in European companies and companies that may be affected by the Eurozone economy. Other economic challenges facing Europe include high levels of public debt, significant rates of unemployment, aging populations, mass migrations from the Middle East and Africa and heavy regulation in certain economic sectors. European governments have taken unprecedented steps to respond to the economic crises and to boost growth in the region, which has increased the risk that regulatory uncertainty could negatively affect a Fund’s investments. In addition ongoing concerns regarding the sovereign debt of various Eurozone countries, including the potential for investors to incur substantial write-downs, reductions in the face value of sovereign debt and/or sovereign defaults, as well as the possibility that one or more countries might leave the EU or the Eurozone create risks that could materially and adversely affect a Fund’s investments. Sovereign debt defaults and EU and/or Eurozone exits could have material adverse effects on a Fund’s investments in European companies, including, but not limited to, the availability of credit to support such companies’ financing needs, uncertainty and disruption in relation to financing, increased currency risk in relation to contracts denominated in Euros and wider economic disruption in markets served by those companies, while austerity and/or other measures introduced in order to limit or contain these issues may themselves lead to economic contraction and resulting adverse effects for a Fund. Legal uncertainty about the funding of Euro-denominated obligations following any breakup or exits from the Eurozone, particularly in the case of investments in companies in affected countries, could also have material adverse effects on a Fund. In addition, securities or other investments that are redenominated may be subject to foreign currency risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk to a greater extent than similar investments currently denominated in Euros. To the extent a currency used for redenomination purposes is not specified in respect of certain Eurozone-related investments, or should the Euro cease to be used entirely, the currency in which such investments are denominated may be unclear, making such investments particularly difficult to value or dispose of. A Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek judicial or other clarification of the denomination or value of such securities.

 

Emerging Market Countries. The risks described above apply to an even greater extent to investments in emerging market countries. A Fund considers emerging markets to be those markets in any country other than Canada, Luxembourg, the U.S. and the countries comprising the MSCI EAFE Index (currently, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK). The securities markets of emerging market countries are generally smaller, less developed, less liquid, and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and developed foreign countries, and disclosure and regulatory standards in many respects are less stringent. In addition, the securities markets of emerging market countries are typically subject to a lower level of monitoring and regulation. Government enforcement of existing securities regulations is limited, and any such enforcement may be arbitrary and the results may be difficult to predict. In addition, reporting requirements of emerging market countries with respect to the ownership of securities are more likely to be subject to interpretation or changes without prior notice to investors than more developed countries.

 

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Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have negative effects on such countries’ economies and securities markets.

 

Economies of emerging market countries generally are heavily dependent on international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. Economies of emerging market countries also have been and may continue to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries with which they trade. The economies of emerging market countries may be predominantly based on only a few industries or dependent on revenues from particular commodities. In many cases, governments of emerging market countries continue to exercise significant control over their economies, and government actions relative to the economy, as well as economic developments generally, may affect the capacity of creditors in those countries to make payments on their debt obligations, regardless of their financial condition.

 

Custodial services are often more expensive and other investment-related costs higher in emerging market countries than in developed countries, which could reduce a Fund’s income from investments in securities or debt instruments of emerging country issuers.

 

Emerging market countries are more likely than developed countries to experience political uncertainty and instability, including the risk of war, terrorism, nationalization, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets, or diplomatic developments that affect U.S. investments in these countries. No assurance can be given that adverse political changes will not cause a Fund to suffer a loss of any or all of its investments (or, in the case of fixed-income securities, interest) in emerging market countries.

 

Additionally, there may be difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgments against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors or officers, in foreign jurisdictions. Shareholders of emerging market issuers often have limited rights and few practical remedies in jurisdictions located in emerging markets. Such risks vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and company to company.

 

Investments in China may involve a high risk of currency fluctuations, currency non-convertibility, interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation as a result of internal social unrest or conflicts with other countries. Increasing trade tensions, particularly regarding trading arrangements between the U.S. and China, may result in additional tariffs or other actions that could have an adverse impact on an investment in the China region, including but not limited to restrictions on investments in certain Chinese companies. Accounting, auditing, financial, and other reporting standards, practices and disclosure requirements in China are different, sometimes in fundamental ways, from those in the U.S. and certain western European countries. For example, there is less regulatory oversight of financial reporting by companies domiciled in China than for companies in the U.S.

 

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Royalty Trusts

 

A Fund may invest in U.S. and Canadian royalty trusts. The U.S. royalty trusts in which a Fund may invest are likely to be heavily invested in crude oil and natural gas. Potential growth may be sacrificed because revenue is passed on to a royalty trust’s unitholders (such as the Funds), rather than reinvested in the business. Royalty trusts generally do not guarantee minimum distributions or even return of capital. If the assets underlying a royalty trust do not perform as expected, the royalty trust may reduce or even eliminate distributions. The declaration of such distributions generally depends upon various factors, including the operating performance and financial condition of the royalty trust and general economic conditions.

 

Canadian royalty trusts are generally subject to similar risks as U.S. royalty trusts, as described above. However, unlike U.S. royalty trusts, Canadian royalty trusts may engage in the acquisition, development and production of natural gas and crude oil to replace depleting reserves. They may have employees, issue new shares, borrow money, acquire additional properties, and manage the resources themselves. As a result, Canadian royalty trusts are exposed to commodity risk and production and reserve risk, as well as operating risk.

 

Under amendments to the Income Tax Act (Canada) passed in 2007 (the “SIFT Rules”), certain trusts (defined as “SIFT trusts”) are taxable on certain income and gains on a basis similar to that which applies to a corporation, with the result that tax efficiencies formerly available in respect of an investment in the trust may cease to be available. A royalty trust may be a SIFT trust. A trust that began public trading before November 1, 2006 did not become subject to the SIFT Rules until the first year of the trust that ended in 2011, or earlier if the trust exceeded “normal growth guidelines” incorporated by reference into the Income Tax Act (Canada). In addition, as a result of the SIFT Rules, some trusts may undertake reorganization transactions, the costs of which may affect the return earned on an investment in the trust. After any such conversion, tax efficiencies that were formerly available in respect of an investment in the trust may cease to be available. Accordingly, the SIFT Rules have had, and may continue to have, an effect on the trading price of investments in royalty trusts, and consequently could impact the value of the Shares of a Fund.

 

Securities Lending

 

Under procedures adopted by the Funds’ Board of Trustees, a Fund may seek to earn additional income by lending securities to qualified parties (typically brokers or other financial institutions) who need to borrow securities in order to complete, among other things, certain transactions such as covering short sales, avoiding failures to deliver securities, or completing arbitrage activities. There is the risk of delay in recovering a loaned security or the risk of loss in collateral rights if the borrower fails financially. In addition, FS makes efforts to balance the benefits and risks from granting such loans. A Fund does not have the right to vote on securities while they are being lent; however, a Fund may attempt to call back the loan and vote the proxy if time permits. All loans will be continuously secured by collateral, which may consist of cash, U.S. Government securities, domestic and foreign short-term debt instruments, letters of credit, time deposits, repurchase agreements, money market mutual funds or other money market accounts, or such other collateral as permitted by the SEC. If a Fund is unable to recover a security on loan, the Fund may use the collateral to purchase replacement securities in the market. There is a risk that the value of the collateral could decrease below the cost of the replacement security by the time the replacement investment is made, resulting in a loss to a Fund.

 

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Short Sales

 

A Fund may seek to hedge investments or realize additional gains through short sales. A Fund may make short sales “against the box,” meaning a Fund may make short sales where the Fund owns, or has the right to acquire at no added cost, securities or currencies identical to those sold short. If a Fund makes a short sale against the box, the Fund will not immediately deliver the securities or currencies sold and will not immediately receive the proceeds from the sale. Once a Fund closes out its short position by delivering the securities or currencies sold short, it will receive the proceeds of the sale. A Fund will incur transaction costs, including interest, in connection with opening, maintaining, and closing short sales against the box.

 

A Fund may make short sales of securities or currencies it does not own (i.e., short sales that are not against the box), in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security or currency. To complete such a transaction, a Fund must borrow the security or currency (e.g., shares of an ETF) to make delivery to the buyer. A Fund then is obligated to replace the security or currency borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at or prior to termination of the loan. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security or currency was sold by a Fund, and purchasing such security or currency to close out a short position can itself cause the price of the security or currency to rise further, thereby exacerbating any losses. Until the security or currency is replaced, a Fund is required to repay the lender any dividends or interest which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security or currency, a Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security or currency sold. The net proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out. A Fund also will incur transaction costs in effecting short sales that are not against the box.

 

A Fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security or index or currency increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security or currency. A Fund will realize a gain if the price of the security or currency declines between those dates. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of the premium, dividends or interest a Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale. Short sales that are not against the box involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of a Fund’s loss on such a short sale is theoretically unlimited. Under adverse market conditions, a Fund may have difficulty purchasing securities or currencies to meet its short sale delivery obligations, and may have to sell portfolio securities or currencies to raise the capital necessary to meet its short sale obligations at a time when it would be unfavorable to do so. If a request for return of borrowed securities and/or currencies occurs at a time when other short sellers of the securities and/or currencies are receiving similar requests, a “short squeeze” can occur, and a Fund may be compelled to replace borrowed securities and/or currencies previously sold short with purchases on the open market at the most disadvantageous time, possibly at prices significantly in excess of the proceeds received in originally selling the securities and/or currencies short. In addition, a Fund may have difficulty purchasing securities and/or currencies to meet its delivery obligations in the case of less liquid securities and/or currencies sold short by a Fund such as certain emerging market country securities or securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations. A Fund may also take short positions in securities through various derivative products. These derivative products will typically expose a Fund to economic risks similar to those associated with shorting securities directly.

 

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Structured Notes

 

Similar to indexed securities, structured notes are derivative debt securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by reference to changes in the value of a specific asset, reference rate, or index (the “reference”) or the relative change in two or more references. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may increase or decrease, depending upon changes in the reference. The terms of a structured note may provide that, in certain circumstances, no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, may result in a loss of invested capital. Structured notes may be indexed positively or negatively, so that appreciation of the reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the principal at maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the principal at maturity may be fixed at a specified multiple of the change in the value of the reference, making the value of the note particularly volatile. Structured notes may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the investor bears the risk of the reference. Structured notes also may be more volatile, less liquid, and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities or more traditional debt securities.

 

Subsidiaries

 

The Funds may seek to gain exposure to the commodity markets, in whole or in part, through investments in the Fund’s respective Subsidiary. A Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity index-linked swaps, commodity futures, commodity swaps, commodity-linked notes and other commodity-linked derivative instruments. A Subsidiary may also invest in fixed-income securities and other investments which may serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivatives positions.

 

As discussed above, except as otherwise noted in the Prospectus or this SAI, a Subsidiary is subject to the same investment policies and restrictions, and generally follows the same compliance policies and procedures as the Funds.

 

Swap Contracts and Other Two-Party Contracts

 

A Fund may use swap contracts (or “swaps”) and other two-party contracts for the same or similar purposes as options and futures.

 

Swap Contracts. A Fund may directly or indirectly use various different types of swaps, such as swaps on securities and securities indices, total return swaps, interest rate swaps, currency swaps, credit default swaps, variance swaps, commodity swaps, inflation swaps and other types of available swap agreements. Swap contracts are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to a number of years. Under a typical swap, one party may agree to pay a fixed rate or a floating rate determined by reference to a specified instrument, rate, or index, multiplied in each case by a specified amount (“notional amount”), while the other party agrees to pay an amount equal to a different floating rate multiplied by the same notional amount. On each payment date, the parties’ obligations are netted, with only the net amount paid by one party to the other.

 

Swap contracts are privately negotiated in the OTC market or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange (“centrally cleared swaps”). Swap contracts may be entered into for hedging or non-hedging purposes and therefore may increase or decrease a Fund’s exposure to the underlying instrument, rate, asset or index. Swaps can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names.

 

A Fund may enter into swaps on securities, derivatives, commodities, or indices, or baskets of securities derivatives, commodities, or indices. For example, the parties to a swap contract may agree to exchange returns calculated on a notional amount of a security, basket of securities, or securities index (e.g., S&P 500 Index).

 

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Additionally, a Fund may use total return swaps, which typically involve commitments to pay amounts computed in the same manner as interest in exchange for a market-linked return, both based on notional amounts. A Fund may use such swaps to gain investment exposure to the underlying strategy or instrument where direct ownership is either not legally possible or is economically unattractive. For example, a Fund may engage in a total return swap in which the Fund or a Subsidiary would make payments to a counterparty (at either a fixed or variable rate) in exchange for receiving from the counterparty payments that reflect the return of a “basket” of securities, derivatives, or commodity interests representing a particular index sponsored by a third-party investment manager identified by a manager. The total return swap, and fees and expenses relating to the swap, typically would be based on a notional amount. A Fund may use total return swaps, among other financial instruments, to gain exposure to Alternative Beta Strategies.

 

In addition, a Fund may enter into an interest rate swap in order to protect against declines in the value of fixed income securities held by the Fund. In such an instance, a Fund may agree with a counterparty to pay a fixed rate (multiplied by a notional amount) and the counterparty pay a floating rate multiplied by the same notional amount. If interest rates rise, resulting in a diminution in the value of a Fund’s portfolio, the Fund would receive payments under the swap that would offset, in whole or in part, such diminution in value. A Fund may also enter into swaps to modify its exposure to particular currencies using currency swaps. For instance, a Fund may enter into a currency swap between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen in order to increase or decrease its exposure to each such currency.

 

A Fund may use inflation swaps (including inflation swaps tied to the Consumer Price Index), which involve commitments to pay a regular stream of inflation indexed cash payments in exchange for receiving a stream of nominal interest payments (or vice versa), where both payment streams are based on a notional amount. The nominal interest payments may be based on either a fixed interest rate or variable interest rate, such as LIBOR. Inflation swaps may be used to hedge the inflation risk in nominal bonds (i.e., non-inflation indexed bonds), thereby creating synthetic inflation indexed bonds, or combined with U.S. Treasury futures contracts to create synthetic inflation indexed bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury. See “Indexed Investments — Inflation Indexed Bonds.”

 

In addition, a Fund may directly or indirectly use credit default swaps to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of default by a corporate or sovereign issuer of fixed income securities (including asset-backed securities). In a credit default swap, one party pays, in effect, an insurance premium through a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of default (or similar events) by one or more third parties on their obligations. For example, in purchasing a credit default swap, a Fund may pay a premium in return for the right to put specified bonds or loans to the counterparty, such as a U.S. or foreign issuer or basket of such issuers, upon issuer default (or similar events) at their par (or other agreed-upon) value. A Fund, as the purchaser in a credit default swap, bears the risk that the investment might expire worthless. It also would be subject to counterparty risk — the risk that the counterparty may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to a Fund in the event of a default (or similar event) (see “Risk Factors in Swap Contracts, OTC Options, and Other Two-Party Contracts”). In addition, as a purchaser in a credit default swap, a Fund’s investment would only generate income in the event of an actual default (or similar event) by the issuer of the underlying obligation. A Fund may also invest in credit default indices, which are indices that reflect the performance of a basket of credit default swaps.

 

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A Fund also may use credit default swaps for investment purposes by selling a credit default swap, in which case the Fund will receive a premium from its counterparty in return for the Fund’s taking on the obligation to pay the par (or other agreed-upon) value to the counterparty upon issuer default (or similar events). As the seller in a credit default swap, a Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, a Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. If no event of default (or similar event) occurs, a Fund would keep the premium received from the counterparty and would have no payment obligations. For credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities, an event of default may result from various events, which may include an issuer’s failure to pay interest or principal, a breach of a material representation or covenant, an agreement by the holders of an asset-backed security to a maturity extension or a write-down on the collateral underlying the security. For credit default swap agreements on corporate or sovereign issuers, an event of default may result from such events as the issuer’s bankruptcy, failure to pay interest or principal, repudiation/moratorium or restructuring.

 

A Fund may use variance swap agreements, which involve an agreement by two parties to exchange cash flows based on the measured variance (or square of volatility) of a specified underlying asset. One party agrees to exchange a “fixed rate” or strike price payment for the “floating rate” or realized price variance on the underlying asset with respect to the notional amount. At inception, the strike price chosen is generally fixed at a level such that the fair value of the swap is zero. As a result, no money changes hands at the initiation of the contract. At the expiration date, the amount paid by one party to the other is the difference between the realized price variance of the underlying asset and the strike price multiplied by the notional amount. A receiver of the realized price variance would receive a payment when the realized price variance of the underlying asset is greater than the strike price and would make a payment when that variance is less than the strike price. A payer of the realized price variance would make a payment when the realized price variance of the underlying asset is greater than the strike price and would receive a payment when that variance is less than the strike price. This type of agreement is essentially a forward contract on the future realized price variance of the underlying asset.

 

A Fund may have indirect exposure to commodity swaps on one or more broad-based commodities indices (e.g., the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index), as well as commodity swaps on individual commodities or baskets of commodities. See “Commodity-Related Investments” for more discussion of a Fund’s use of commodity swap contracts and other related types of derivatives.

 

Contracts for Differences. Contracts for differences are swap arrangements in which the parties agree that their return (or loss) will be based on the relative performance of two different groups or baskets of securities. Often, one or both baskets will be an established securities index. A Fund’s return will be based on changes in value of theoretical long futures positions in the securities comprising one basket (with an aggregate face value equal to the notional amount of the contract for differences) and theoretical short futures positions in the securities comprising the other basket. A Fund also may use actual long and short futures positions and achieve similar market exposure by netting the payment obligations of the two contracts. If the short basket outperforms the long basket, a Fund will realize a loss — even in circumstances when the securities in both the long and short baskets appreciate in value. In addition, a Fund may use contracts for differences that are based on the relative performance of two different groups or baskets of commodities. Often, one or both baskets is a commodities index. Contracts for differences on commodities operate in a similar manner to contracts for differences on securities described above. Contracts for difference may also be structured based on the relative performance of individual securities.

 

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Interest Rate Caps, Floors, and Collars. A Fund may use interest rate caps, floors, and collars for the same or similar purposes as they use interest rate futures contracts and related options and, as a result, will be subject to similar risks. See “Options and Futures — Risk Factors in Options Transactions” and “— Risk Factors in Futures and Futures Options Transactions.” Like interest rate swap contracts, interest rate caps, floors and collars are two-party agreements in which the parties agree to pay or receive interest on a notional principal amount and are generally individually negotiated with a specific counterparty. The purchaser of an interest rate cap receives interest payments from the seller to the extent that the return on a specified index exceeds a specified interest rate. The purchaser of an interest rate floor receives interest payments from the seller to the extent that the return on a specified index falls below a specified interest rate. The purchaser of an interest rate collar receives interest payments from the seller to the extent that the return on a specified index falls outside the range of two specified interest rates.

 

Swaptions. An option on a swap agreement, also called a “swaption,” is an OTC option that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a swap on a specified future date in exchange for paying a market-based premium. A receiver swaption gives the owner the right to receive the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index (such as a call option on a bond). A payer swaption gives the owner the right to pay the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index (such as a put option on a bond). Swaptions also include options that allow one of the counterparties to terminate or extend an existing swap.

 

Risk Factors in Swap Contracts, OTC Options, and Other Two-Party Contracts. A Fund may only close out a swap, contract for differences, cap, floor, collar, or OTC option (including swaption) with its particular counterparty, and may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, goes bankrupt, or otherwise experiences a business interruption, a Fund could miss investment opportunities or otherwise hold investments it would prefer to sell, resulting in losses for the Fund. If the counterparty defaults, a Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to meet its contractual obligations or that a Fund will be able to enforce its rights. For example, because the contract for each OTC derivatives transaction is individually negotiated with a specific counterparty, a Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty may interpret contractual terms (e.g., the definition of default) differently than the Fund. The cost and unpredictability of the legal proceedings required for a Fund to enforce its contractual rights may lead it to decide not to pursue its claims against the counterparty. Counterparty risk is greater with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement. Counterparty risk is also greater when a Fund has concentrated its derivatives with a single or small group of counterparties as it sometimes does as a result of its use of swaps and other OTC derivatives. To the extent a Fund has significant exposure to a single counterparty, this risk will be particularly pronounced for the Fund. A Fund, therefore, assumes the risk that it may be unable to obtain payments a manager believes are owed under an OTC derivatives contract or that those payments may be delayed or made only after the Fund has incurred the costs of litigation. In addition, counterparty risk is pronounced during unusually adverse market conditions and is particularly acute in environments in which financial services firms are exposed to systemic risks of the type evidenced by the insolvency of Lehman Brothers in 2008 and subsequent market disruptions.

 

Counterparty risk related to centrally cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade. The credit rating of a counterparty may be adversely affected by greater-than-average volatility in the markets, even if the counterparty’s net market exposure is small relative to its capital. Counterparty risk with respect to OTC derivatives may be further complicated by enacted U.S. financial reform legislation. See “Legal and Regulatory Risk” for more information. A Fund’s transactions in these types of derivatives may bear adversely on the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC.

 

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Additional Risk Factors in OTC Derivatives Transactions. Participants in OTC derivatives markets typically are not subject to the same level of credit evaluation and regulatory oversight as are members of exchange-based markets and, therefore, OTC derivatives generally expose a Fund to greater counterparty risk than exchange-traded derivatives. Among other trading agreements, a Fund may be party to International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Agreements”) or other similar types of agreements with select counterparties that generally govern OTC derivative transactions entered into by the Fund. The ISDA Agreements typically include representations and warranties as well as contractual terms related to collateral, events of default, termination events and other provisions. Termination events may include the decline in the net assets of a Fund below a certain level over a specified period of time and entitle a counterparty to elect to terminate early with respect to some or all the transactions under the ISDA Agreement with that counterparty. Such an election by one or more of the counterparties could have a material adverse impact on a Fund’s operations.

 

Trading Restrictions

 

In the course of their business activities, there is a risk that the Adviser may receive material non-public information. The Adviser may receive such information directly as a result of its investment advisory activities for the benefit of a Fund or some other account, or indirectly as a result of the Adviser’s relationship with an affiliated entity. In such event, the Adviser may be restricted from trading certain securities regardless of whether the activities leading to the receipt of material non-public information were for the benefit of a Fund or otherwise. Such restrictions may have a material impact on the gains and losses of a Fund.

 

U.S. Government Securities and Foreign Government Securities

 

U.S. government securities include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its authorities, agencies, or instrumentalities. Foreign government securities include securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments (including political subdivisions) or their authorities, agencies, or instrumentalities or by supra-national agencies. Different kinds of U.S. government securities and foreign government securities have different kinds of government support. For example, some U.S. government securities (e.g., U.S. Treasury bonds) are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Other U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or government-chartered or -sponsored enterprises but are neither guaranteed nor insured by the U.S. government (e.g., debt securities issued by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and FHLBs). No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to these agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. government securities may greatly exceed their current resources, including any legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. U.S. government obligations that are not backed by the full faith and and credit of the U.S. government are subject to greater risks than those that are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. All U.S. government obligations are subject to interest rate risk.

 

Supra-national agencies are agencies whose member nations make capital contributions to support the agencies’ activities. Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the Asian Development Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank.

 

As with other fixed income securities, U.S. government securities and foreign government securities expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. For example, the value of U.S. government securities or foreign government securities may fall during times of rising interest rates. Yields on U.S. government securities and foreign government securities tend to be lower than those of corporate securities of comparable maturities.

 

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In addition to investing directly in U.S. government securities and foreign government securities, a Fund may purchase certificates of accrual or similar instruments evidencing undivided ownership interests in interest payments and/or principal payments of U.S. government securities and foreign government securities. A Fund may also invest in Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (“STRIPS”), which are interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. Treasury obligations that represent future interest payments, principal payments, or both, are direct obligations of the U.S. government, and are transferable through the federal reserve book-entry system. Certificates of accrual and similar instruments may be more volatile than other government securities.

 

Warrants and Rights

 

A Fund may purchase or otherwise receive warrants or rights. Warrants and rights generally give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise, a security of the issuer at a stated price. A Fund typically uses warrants and rights in a manner similar to their use of options on securities, as described in “Options and Futures” below. Risks associated with the use of warrants and rights are generally similar to risks associated with the use of options. Unlike most options, however, warrants and rights are issued in specific amounts, and warrants generally have longer terms than options. Warrants and rights are not likely to be as liquid as exchange-traded options backed by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the terms of warrants or rights may limit a Fund’s ability to exercise the warrants or rights at such time, or in such quantities, as the Fund would otherwise wish.

 

Non-Standard Warrants. A Fund may use non-standard warrants, including low exercise price warrants or low exercise price options (“LEPOs”) and participatory notes (“P-Notes”), to gain exposure to issuers in certain countries. LEPOs are different from standard warrants in that they do not give their holders the right to receive a security of the issuer upon exercise. Rather, LEPOs pay the holder the difference in price of the underlying security between the date the LEPO was purchased and the date it is sold. P-Notes are a type of equity-linked derivative that generally are traded OTC and constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them. Generally, banks and broker-dealers associated with non-U.S.-based brokerage firms buy securities listed on certain foreign exchanges and then issue P-Notes which are designed to replicate the performance of certain issuers and markets. The performance results of P-Notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the issuers or markets that the notes seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. The return on a P-Note that is linked to a particular underlying security generally is increased to the extent of any dividends paid in connection with the underlying security. However, the holder of a P-Note typically does not receive voting or other rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying security, and P-Notes present similar risks to investing directly in the underlying security. Additionally, LEPOs and P-Notes entail the same risks as other OTC derivatives. These include the risk that the counterparty or issuer of the LEPO or P-Note may not be able to fulfill its obligations, that the holder and counterparty or issuer may disagree as to the meaning or application of contractual terms, or that the instrument may not perform as expected. See “Additional Information About the Funds — Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds — Counterparty Risk” in the Prospectus. Additionally, while LEPOs or P-Notes may be listed on an exchange, there is no guarantee that a liquid market will exist or that the counterparty or issuer of a LEPO or P-Note will be willing to repurchase such instrument when a Fund wishes to sell it.

 

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When-Issued Securities and Firm Commitments

 

A Fund may enter into firm commitments and similar agreements with banks or broker-dealers for the purchase or sale of securities at an agreed-upon price on a specified future date. For example, with respect to a Fund’s investments in fixed-income securities, a Fund may enter into a firm commitment agreement if a manager anticipates a decline in interest rates and believes it is able to obtain a more advantageous future yield by committing currently to purchase securities to be issued later. A Fund generally does not earn income on the securities it has committed to purchase until after delivery. A Fund may take delivery of the securities or, if deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, may sell the securities before the settlement date. When payment is due on when-issued or delayed-delivery securities, a Fund makes payment from then-available cash flow or the sale of securities, or from the sale of the when-issued or delayed-delivery securities themselves (which may have a value greater or less than what a Fund paid for them).

 

The Derivatives Rule permits a Fund to enter into when-issued or delayed delivery basis securities notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, provided that the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date. If a when-issued or delayed delivery basis security entered into by the Fund does not satisfy those requirements, the Fund would need to comply with the Derivatives Rule with respect to its when issued or delayed delivery transactions, which are considered derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule. See "Derivatives and Derivative Strategies– Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act" above

 

Zero Coupon Securities

 

A Fund’s investments in “zero coupon” fixed income securities accrue interest income at a fixed rate based on initial purchase price and length to maturity, but the securities do not pay interest in cash on a current basis. A Fund may be required to distribute the accrued income to its shareholders, even though a Fund is not receiving the income in cash on a current basis. Thus, a Fund may have to sell other investments to obtain cash to make income distributions (including at a time when it may not be advantageous to do so). The market value of zero coupon securities is often more volatile than that of non-zero coupon fixed income securities of comparable quality and maturity. Zero coupon securities include IO/PO Strips and STRIPS.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

Fundamental Policies

 

The following investment limitations are fundamental, which means that a Fund cannot change them without approval by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of a Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less.

 

Each Fund may (except as noted below):

 

1. Borrow money, make loans, or issue senior securities to the fullest extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder, or applicable orders of the SEC, as such statute, rules, regulations, or orders may be amended from time to time.

 

2. Not invest 25% or more of its total assets in a particular industry or group of industries. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities are not considered to represent an industry.

 

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  3. Underwrite securities to the fullest extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder, or applicable orders of the SEC, as such statute, rules, regulations, or orders may be amended from time to time.

 

  4. Purchase or sell commodities, commodities contracts, futures contracts and related options, options, forward contracts, or real estate to the fullest extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder, or applicable orders of the SEC, as such statute, rules, regulations, or orders may be amended from time to time.

 

The fundamental investment limitations set forth above restrict the ability of the Funds to engage in certain practices and purchase securities and other instruments other than as permitted by, or consistent with, the 1940 Act. Relevant limitations of the 1940 Act as they presently exist are described below. These limitations are based either on the 1940 Act itself, the rules or regulations thereunder or applicable orders of the SEC. In addition, interpretations and guidance provided by the SEC staff may be taken into account, where deemed appropriate by the Funds, to determine if a certain practice or the purchase of securities or other instruments is permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder, or applicable orders of the SEC. As a result, the foregoing fundamental investment policies may be interpreted differently over time as the statute, rules, regulations, or orders (or, if applicable, interpretations) that relate to the meaning and effect of these policies change, and no shareholder vote will be required or sought.

 

Fundamental Investment Restriction (1). Under the 1940 Act, a Fund may only borrow up to one-third of the value of its total assets less liabilities (other than liabilities representing senior securities). Borrowing by a Fund allows it to leverage its portfolio, which exposes it to certain risks. Leveraging increases the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of portfolio securities on a Fund’s net asset value, and money borrowed will be subject to interest costs (which may include commitment fees and/or the cost of maintaining minimum average balances) which may or may not exceed the return from the securities purchased with borrowed funds. The Funds may use borrowed money for any purpose permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

The 1940 Act also restricts the ability of any mutual fund to lend. Under the 1940 Act, a Fund may only make loans if expressly permitted to do so by its investment policies, and a Fund may not make loans to persons who control or are under common control with the Fund. Thus, the 1940 Act effectively prohibits a Fund from making loans to certain persons when conflicts of interest or undue influence are most likely present. A Fund may, however, make other loans which, if made, would expose shareholders to additional risks, such as the failure of the other party to repay the loan. The Funds retain the flexibility to make loans to the extent permitted by their investment policies.

 

The ability of a mutual fund to issue senior securities is circumscribed by complex regulatory constraints under the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act generally prohibits mutual funds from issuing senior securities, although the 1940 Act does provide allowances for certain borrowings as described above. In addition, Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act permits a mutual fund to enter into derivatives transactions, notwithstanding the prohibitions and restrictions on the issuance of senior securities under the 1940 Act, provided that the fund complies with the conditions of Rule 18f-4.

 

Under the 1940 Act, a “senior security” does not include (i) any promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness issued in consideration of any loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made by a bank or other person and privately arranged, and not intended to be publicly distributed or (ii) any promissory note or evidence of indebtedness where such loan is for temporary purposes only and in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the total assets of the issuer at the time the loan is made. A loan is presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within sixty days and is not extended or renewed.

 

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Fundamental Investment Restriction (2). If a Fund were to invest 25% or more of its total assets in a particular industry or group of industries, investors would be exposed to greater risks because the performance of the Fund would be largely dependent on the performance of that industry or industries. For purposes of this fundamental investment policy, investments in other investment companies, investments in a Subsidiary and swaps with Alternative Beta Providers as counterparties are not considered part of any industry or group of industries. In addition, the Funds do not consider futures or swaps clearinghouses or securities clearinghouses, where the Funds have exposure to such clearinghouses in the course of making investments in futures and securities, to be part of any industry.

 

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, nothing in Fundamental Investment Restriction (2) will limit the ability of a Fund to invest in another investment company, in a Subsidiary or in a swap position with an Alternative Beta Provider. For purposes of determining compliance with Fundamental Investment Restriction (2), a Fund will consider the concentration policies of the underlying investment companies in which it invests.

 

Fundamental Investment Restriction (3). Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves a Fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly.

 

Fundamental Investment Restriction (4). This restriction permits investment in commodities, commodities contracts (e.g., futures contracts or related options), options, forward contracts or real estate to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act. Commodities, as opposed to commodity futures, represent the actual underlying bulk goods, such as grains, metals and foodstuffs. Real estate-related instruments include real estate investment trusts, commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities, and real estate financings, and such instruments are generally sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values and property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, overbuilding, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all fundamental and non-fundamental limitations applicable to a Fund’s investments (as stated above and elsewhere in this SAI and the Prospectus) apply only at the time a transaction is entered into, with the exception of limitations on borrowing and illiquid investments. A Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During these times, a Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, shares of money market mutual funds, commercial paper, zero coupon bonds, repurchase agreements, and other securities the Adviser believes to be consistent with the Fund’s best interests. During a period in which a Fund takes a temporary defensive position, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

 

Except with respect to a Fund’s policy concerning borrowing, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changes in values or assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. With respect to the limitation on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances causes a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitation within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).

 

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ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES

 

The assets of the Multi-Strategy Fund, Real Development Fund and Managed Futures Fund may be invested in offshore, wholly-owned and controlled subsidiaries of the respective Fund. Each of these three Funds currently has one subsidiary, which is an exempted company with limited liability formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Subsidiary”). Each Subsidiary is advised by the Adviser and has the same investment objectives as its Fund. Each Subsidiary was formed for the purpose of investing, directly or indirectly through the use of derivatives, in securities and commodity interests. Each Fund looks through its Subsidiary for the purposes of compliance with its investment policies and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act relating to the capital structure, affiliated transactions and custody. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. serves as the Subsidiary’s eligible custodian under Section 17 of the 1940 Act.

 

Fund investments in the Subsidiary are subject to certain risks. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and, unless otherwise noted in the Prospectus and this SAI, is not subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act and other U.S. regulations. The Fund intends to limit its investments in the Subsidiary in order to meet the income and diversification requirements for qualification as a RIC under the Code. For example, in order to meet the diversification requirement, the Fund may not invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in the securities (other than those of the U.S. Government or other RICs) of any one issuer. Therefore, the Fund generally may not invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in the Subsidiary. Additionally, in order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its gross income from certain specified sources (“qualifying income”). So-called Subpart F income included in the Fund’s gross income by virtue of its investment in the Subsidiary is qualifying income to the extent that the Subsidiary timely distributes to the Fund an amount at least equal to such Subpart F income. The Subsidiary intends to make such distribution or distributions. If the Subsidiary were to fail to make such a distribution or distributions, such failure could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC. Please see “Taxes” for additional information about certain tax aspects of the Fund’s investment in a Subsidiary.

 

The Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Prospectus and this SAI and could adversely affect the Fund. Operation of the Subsidiary will be subject to certain Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) rules and regulations. Changes to such regulations could potentially limit or restrict the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategies and/or increase the costs of implementing its strategies through the Subsidiary.

 

THE INVESTMENT MANAGERS

 

Investment Adviser

 

FS Fund Advisor, LLC, an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act, serves as the Funds’ investment adviser. FS is an affiliate of FS Investments, a national sponsor of alternative investment funds designed for the individual investor. FS’ principal office is located at 201 Rouse Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112. For more information regarding FS, see “Investment Adviser” in the Prospectus.

 

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The Funds pay the Adviser a management fee (the “Management Fee”) at an annual rate based on a Fund’s average daily net assets. The Management Fee is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears at the annual rates of each Fund’s average daily net assets during such period noted in the table below:

 

Fund Period Fee
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund Quarterly 1.25%
FS Chiron Real Development Fund Quarterly 0.95%
FS Managed Futures Fund Quarterly 1.15%

 

The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with respect to the Funds. After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or, by the Adviser, on not less than thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Trust. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

Consistent with practices used by some funds in the industry, the Advisory Agreement provides that the Trust, on behalf of each Fund severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser and certain of the Adviser’s affiliates for certain losses that arise out of the Adviser’s performance or non-performance of its responsibilities under the Advisory Agreement, unless such losses result from the Adviser’s or the Adviser’s affiliates’ willful misfeasance, fraud, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of the Adviser’s or its affiliates’ duties under the Advisory Agreement (“Adviser Disabling Conduct”). Any such indemnification will require either a majority of the Independent Trustees or independent legal counsel, in a written opinion, to determine that such indemnification is not prohibited by Adviser Disabling Conduct.

 

For the fiscal period from April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization) to December 31, 2022 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds paid the Adviser the following Management Fees:

 

Fund Contractual Management Fees Fees Waived by the Adviser1 Total Fees Paid to the Adviser (After Waivers)
2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $4,600,737 $12,657,145 $0 $353,905 $4,600,737 $12,303,240
FS Chiron Real Development Fund $208,162 $440,535 $208,162 $91,264 $0 $349,271
FS Managed Futures Fund $19,030 $20,903 $19,030 $20,903 $0 $0

 

1 For the fiscal period from April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization) to December 31, 2022, the Adviser additionally reimbursed fees of $326,095, $50,591, and $56,439 for the Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund, Real Development Fund and Managed Futures Fund, respectively, to maintain the stated expense cap under its contractual expense limitation agreement with the Funds. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Adviser additionally reimbursed fees of $66,812 for the Managed Futures Fund to maintain the stated expense cap under its contractual expense limitation agreement with the Fund.

 

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For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, and 2022, the amounts the Adviser accrued in Management Fees and the amounts the Adviser waived in such Management Fees for each of the Predecessor Funds are as follows:

 

Predecessor Fund Management Fees Management Fee Waivers1
2021 20222 2021 20222
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $1,641,448 $699,991 $0 $0
FS Chiron Real Asset Fund $89,548 $67,324 $26,650 $67,324
FS Managed Futures Fund $24,776 $6,612 $24,776 $6,612

 

1 For the fiscal period from January 1, 2022 to April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization), the Adviser additionally reimbursed fees of $439,058, $163,917, and $81,890 for the Predecessor Multi-Strategy Fund, Predecessor Real Asset Fund and Predecessor Managed Futures Fund, respectively, to maintain the stated expense cap under its contractual expense limitation agreement with the Funds.
2 Reflects the fiscal period from January 1, 2022 to April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization).

 

The Adviser determines the allocations of a Fund’s assets and is ultimately responsible for selecting the strategies, retaining Underlying Managers for the Multi-Strategy Fund with expertise in the selected strategies, Alternative Beta Strategies and Alternative Investment Strategies. Subject to the oversight of the Trustees, the Adviser also manages, supervises, and conducts certain other affairs and business of the Trust, furnishes office space and equipment, provides bookkeeping and certain clerical services, and pays all salaries, fees, and expenses of officers and Trustees of the Trust who are affiliated with the Adviser.

 

The SEC granted an exemptive order to FS, which permits FS to use a “manager of managers” approach in providing investment advisory services to its Funds. Pursuant to the terms of the order, FS, subject to the oversight and approval of the Funds’ Board of Trustees, is permitted to hire, terminate and replace investment sub-advisers or make material changes to investment sub-advisory agreements without shareholder approval. When hiring a new sub-adviser, FS would, however, furnish shareholders with information that is equivalent to what would be provided in a proxy statement requesting approval of a new sub-adviser. The order also permits FS and the Funds to disclose to shareholders the aggregate sub-advisory fees paid to sub-advisers, without disclosing the precise amount paid to each sub-adviser.

 

With respect to the Multi-Strategy Fund, the Adviser intends to hire and terminate Underlying Managers or sub-advisers in accordance with the terms of such exemptive order that the Adviser has obtained from the SEC. The Fund will furnish shareholders with information about a new Underlying Manager or sub-adviser within 90 days of hiring the Underlying Manager or sub-adviser.

 

With respect to the Real Development Fund and Managed Futures Fund, FS is not currently using a multi-manager approach in managing such Fund. It may employ such an approach when one of several situations arises. For example, if FS determines that it does not have the expertise in an investment style or sector that it thinks the Fund should track, it may select a sub-adviser that can fulfill this task. Also, if FS or one of the Fund’s sub-advisers reaches capacity on assets managed within the Fund, FS may select another sub-adviser if the Fund needs to add “capacity.” Therefore, even where FS does implement the “manager of managers” approach, not all of the Funds may rely on the approach at any given time.

 

When and if FS determines to use the multi-manager approach, it will provide detailed information about the sub-adviser to the Board and make recommendations regarding the appropriate allocation of assets to each sub-adviser. The sub-adviser, in turn, will make investment decisions for the assets allocated to it and continuously review, supervise and administer the Fund’s investment programs. It is expected that the “manager of managers” approach, when used from time to time by FS and the Funds, will (i) reduce Fund expenses to the extent that a manager of managers Fund will not have to prepare and solicit proxies each time a sub-advisory agreement is entered into or modified; (ii) promote efficient hiring and termination according to the judgment of the Board and FS; and (iii) relieve shareholders of the very responsibility that they are paying FS to assume, that is, the selection, termination and replacement of sub-advisers.

 

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Primary Sub-Adviser – FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund

 

FS has engaged Wilshire to act as the Multi-Strategy Fund’s investment sub-adviser pursuant to the Fund’s Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Wilshire assists FS in identifying investment opportunities and makes investment recommendations for approval by FS. Wilshire, an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), is a privately held Subchapter S corporation with its principal office located at 1299 Ocean Avenue, 7th Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401. For more information regarding Wilshire, see “Investment Adviser — Primary Sub-Adviser – FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund” in the Prospectus.

 

Wilshire also provides certain administrative services, including monitoring and reporting to the Adviser regarding the Multi-Strategy Fund and the Alternative Investment Strategies.

 

Underlying Managers – FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund

 

As of the date of this SAI, the Adviser engages the following Underlying Managers to provide investment management services to the Multi-Strategy Fund:

 

MidOcean Credit Partners

 

Mariner Investment Group, LLC

 

Waterfall Asset Management, LLC

 

For more information regarding these Underlying Managers, see “Investment Adviser — Underlying Manager(s) - Multi-Manager Arrangements FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund” in the Prospectus.

 

Additional information about the Adviser, Wilshire and each Underlying Manager is available on the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov).

 

Investment Co-Adviser – FS Chiron Real Development Fund

 

FS has engaged Chiron Investment Management, LLC (“Chiron”) to act as the Real Development Fund’s investment co-adviser pursuant to the Fund’s Investment Co-Advisory Agreement (the “Co-Advisory Agreement”). Chiron, an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Advisers Act, is a Delaware limited liability company with its principal office located at 10 East 53rd Street, New York, New York 10022. For more information regarding Chiron, see “Investment Adviser — Co-Advisory Arrangement FS Chiron Real Development Fund” in the Prospectus.

 

Chiron also provides certain administrative services, including monitoring and reporting to the Advisor regarding the Real Development Fund.

 

As compensation for its co-advisory services to the Fund, FS pays Chiron a co-advisory fee that is accrued daily and payable quarterly. The co-advisory fee is calculated at an annual rate of 0.475% of the average daily net assets of the portion of the Fund allocated to Chiron.

 

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Expense Limitation Agreement

 

The Adviser has entered into an Expense Limitation Agreement with the Trust pursuant to which it has agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding management fees, distribution or servicing fees, interest, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, dividends and interest paid on short positions, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses incurred in connection with tax reclaim recovery services, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (as determined in the sole discretion of the Adviser) (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each of the Fund’s share classes until April 30, 2025 (the “expense cap”).

 

In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made under the Expense Limitation Agreement or the expense limitation agreement between the Adviser and the applicable Predecessor Fund during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment to the extent that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) at the time of the recoupment are below the lower of (i) the expense cap in effect at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) the expense cap in effect at the time of the recoupment. The Expense Limitation Agreement will terminate automatically upon the termination of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement and may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time; or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on April 30, 2025.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

This section includes information about the Funds’ portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.

 

Compensation. Each portfolio manager’s compensation is comprised primarily of a fixed salary and a discretionary bonus paid by the Adviser, with respect to the Multi-Strategy Fund, by Wilshire and the Underlying Managers, or each respective entity’s affiliates, and not by the Funds. In general, the amount of the bonus will be based on a combination of factors, none of which is necessarily weighted more than any other factor. These factors may include: the overall performance of the Adviser; the profitability to the Adviser derived from the management of the Funds; the absolute performance of the Funds; contributions by the portfolio manager in assisting with managing the assets of the Adviser, and with respect to the Multi-Strategy Fund, of Wilshire and the Underlying Managers; and execution of managerial responsibilities, client interactions and support of colleagues. The bonus is not based on a precise formula, benchmark or other metric. The portfolio managers are also eligible to participate in the equity program of Franklin Square Holdings, L.P., the parent company of the Adviser.

 

Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Managers. The Funds are required to show the dollar amount range of each portfolio manager’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

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Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned1
Michael Kelly $100,001 - $500,000 (Multi-Strategy Fund)
Scott Burr $100,001 - $500,000 (Multi-Strategy Fund)
Ryan Caldwell None
Brian Cho None
Scott Sullivan None

 

1 Valuation date is December 31, 2023.

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned2
Michael Kelly $100,001 - $500,000 (Multi-Strategy Fund)
Scott Burr $100,001 - $500,000 (Multi-Strategy Fund)
Ryan Caldwell $500,001 - $1,000,000 (Real Development Fund)
Brian Cho None
Scott Sullivan None

 

2 Valuation date is April 12, 2024.

 

Other Accounts. In addition to the Funds, the portfolio managers may also be responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as indicated by the following table. None of the accounts included below are subject to a performance-based advisory fee. The information below is provided as of December 31, 2023, unless otherwise specified.

 

Name

Registered

Investment Companies

Other Pooled

Investment Vehicles

Other Accounts
Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Michael Kelly 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
Scott Burr 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
Ryan Caldwell 1 $556.8 0 $0 0 $0
Brian Cho 1 $556.8 0 $0 0 $0
Scott Sullivan 1 $556.8 0 $0 0 $0

 

Potential Conflicts of Interest.

 

The Funds may be subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest. As applicable, references to a “manager” below refer to any one or more of the Adviser, Wilshire and Underlying Managers.

 

General

 

The Adviser and Chiron manage other funds. In addition, as shown in the table above, the Funds’ managers may manage other accounts with investment strategies similar to a Fund, the managers may personally invest in some but not all of these accounts, and certain of these accounts may have a greater effect on their compensation than others. These factors could create conflicts of interest because a manager may have incentives to favor certain accounts over others, resulting in the potential for other accounts outperforming a Fund. A conflict may also exist if a manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be appropriate for more than one account, but a Fund is not able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to the need to allocate that opportunity among multiple accounts. In addition, the manager may execute transactions for another account that may adversely affect the value of securities held by a Fund.

 

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Additionally, managing and providing research to multiple accounts can give rise to potential conflicts of interest if the accounts have different objectives, benchmarks, time horizons and fees, as Wilshire, Chiron and certain Underlying Managers must allocate their time and investment ideas across multiple accounts. Therefore, Wilshire, Chiron and the Underlying Managers will have conflicts of interest which could interfere with their management of the Multi-Strategy Fund’s or Real Development Fund’s assets, as applicable. For example, Wilshire, Chiron and the Underlying Managers (or their affiliates) manage other investment funds and/or accounts and have other clients that are similar to, or overlap with, the investment objective and strategy of the Multi-Strategy Fund or Real Development Fund, as applicable, creating potential conflicts of interest in investment decisions regarding investments that may be appropriate for the Fund and the Adviser’s, Wilshire’s, Chiron’s or the Underlying Managers’ other clients. These conflicts of interest are exacerbated to the extent that Wilshire’s, Chiron’s or the Underlying Managers’ other clients pay them higher fees or performance-based fees. The portfolio compositions and performance results will differ across the Multi-Strategy Fund and Real Development Fund, as applicable, and other such funds and/or accounts. In addition, the activities in which Wilshire, Chiron or the Underlying Managers and their affiliates are involved may limit or preclude the flexibility that the Multi-Strategy Fund and Real Development Fund may otherwise have to participate in certain investments.

 

Selection of Underlying Managers

 

The Adviser compensates the Underlying Managers out of the Management Fee it receives from the Multi-Strategy Fund. This could create an incentive for the Adviser to select Underlying Managers or sub-advisers with lower fee rates. The sub-advisory agreement with the Underlying Managers and Wilshire, and any material change thereto, will be approved by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of Independent Trustees.

 

Allocation of Investment Opportunities

 

If a model, strategy or investment technique (an “Analytic”) is appropriate for a Fund and one or more other clients of a manager, a manager’s decision on how to allocate an Analytic among a Fund and such other clients (including the relative exposure a Fund and such other clients have to an Analytic) may vary for one or more reasons, including (i) the Analytic may have smaller capacity than can be optimally used for one or more of the manager’s clients; (ii) the Analytic involves asset classes outside the investment mandate of one or more of the manager’s clients; (iii) the Analytic is not appropriate for the investment regulatory restrictions applicable to one or more of the manager’s clients; (iv) the Analytic is hedged by taking smaller or larger exposures (as applicable) to certain style factors, sectors or other directional risks than that targeted by one or more of the manager’s clients; and/or (v) the Analytic involves greater liquidity risk than that targeted by one or more of the manager’s clients. The net result(s) could be that one or more of the manager’s clients, including a Fund, would not have access to certain Analytics that produce higher predicted rates of return, lower volatility or shorter trading horizons than those Analytics utilized (in degree and/or manner) by such clients.

 

A manager may have a greater financial interest in the performance of other clients than the performance of the Funds. These interests may give rise to conflicts of interest in allocating Analytics among the Funds and such other clients.

 

A manager may also license an Analytic from an affiliate or third party. A licensor may have complete discretion regarding which of its Analytics (including proprietary strategies and/or models and including newly developed Analytics that may meet the investment objectives of a Fund) its elects to license (and correspondingly withhold from) a manager. An affiliated or third-party licensor may revoke any or all licenses granted to a manager for any reason or no reason at all, including the fact that such a licensor has a greater financial interest in utilizing the full capacity available in an Analytic for itself or its clients.

 

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Financial Interests in Managers

 

The Adviser and its affiliates do, and Wilshire, Chiron and the Underlying Managers may, have financial interests in investment vehicles and asset managers, which may give rise to conflicts of interest between the Funds and such other investment vehicles. The Adviser and its affiliates, Wilshire, Chiron and the applicable Underlying Managers endeavor to manage these potential conflicts in a fair and equitable manner, subject to legal, regulatory, contractual or other applicable considerations.

 

FS Investments Policies and Procedures

 

Specified policies and procedures implemented by the Funds, the Adviser and Chiron to mitigate potential conflicts of interest and address certain regulatory requirements and contractual restrictions may reduce the synergies across FS Investments’ various businesses that the Funds expect to draw on for purposes of pursuing attractive investment opportunities. Because FS Investments has many different asset management and advisory businesses, it is subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest, greater regulatory oversight, and subject to more legal and contractual restrictions than that to which it would otherwise be subject if it had just one line of business. In addressing these conflicts and regulatory, legal, and contractual requirements across its various businesses, FS Investments has implemented certain policies and procedures that may reduce the positive synergies that the Funds expect to utilize for purposes of finding attractive investments.

 

THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

General. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are leading providers of funds evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.

 

Administration Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 16, 2018, as amended (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

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Administration Fees Paid to the Administrator. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Funds, subject to certain minimums.

 

For the fiscal period from April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization) to December 31, 2022 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds paid the following amounts for these services:

 

Fund Administration Fees Paid
2022 2023
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $300,036 $801,502
FS Chiron Real Development Fund $15,526 $41,600
FS Managed Futures Fund $1,181 $1,000

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Predecessor Funds paid the following amounts to the Adviser, which served as the Predecessor Funds’ administrator:

 

Predecessor Fund Administrative Services Expenses
2021 20221
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $660,856 $268,494
FS Chiron Real Asset Fund $287,554 $235,237
FS Managed Futures Fund $105,148 $11,788

 

1       Reflects the fiscal period from January 1, 2022 to April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization).

 

The Predecessor Funds’ administrator did not waive any such fees.

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated February 12, 2014, as amended (the “Distribution Agreement”), whereby the Distributor acts as a principal underwriter for the Trust’s shares. The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the Distributor, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

 

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PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

Distribution Plan. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan with respect to Class A shares (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. Continuance of the Plan must be approved annually by a majority of the Trustees and by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan (“Qualified Trustees”). The Plan requires that quarterly written reports of amounts spent under the Plan and the purposes of such expenditures be furnished to and reviewed by the Trustees. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount that may be spent thereunder without approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. All material amendments of the Plan will require approval by a majority of the Trustees and of the Qualified Trustees.

 

The Plan provides a method of paying for distribution and shareholder services, which may help the Fund grow or maintain asset levels to provide operational efficiencies and economies of scale, provided by the Distributor or other financial intermediaries that enter into agreements with the Distributor. The Fund may make payments to financial intermediaries, such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund “supermarkets” and the Distributor’s affiliates and subsidiaries, as compensation for services, reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance or provision of shareholder services. The Distributor may, at its discretion, retain a portion of such payments to compensate itself for distribution services and distribution related expenses such as the costs of preparation, printing, mailing or otherwise disseminating sales literature, advertising, and prospectuses (other than those furnished to current shareholders of the Fund), promotional and incentive programs, and such other marketing expenses that the Distributor may incur.

 

Under the Plan, the Distributor or financial intermediaries may receive up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares as compensation for distribution and shareholder services. The Plan is characterized as a compensation plan since the distribution fee will be paid to the Distributor without regard to the distribution or shareholder service expenses incurred by the Distributor or the amount of payments made to financial intermediaries. A financial intermediary that receives a 1.00% upfront commission on a purchase of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more will generally become eligible to receive the Rule 12b-1 Fees with respect to such shares beginning in the 13th month following the date of the purchase. The Trust intends to operate the Plan in accordance with its terms and with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules concerning sales charges.

 

For the fiscal period from April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization) to December 31, 2022 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds paid the Distributor the following fees pursuant to the Distribution Plan adopted by the Trust pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act:

 

Fund 12b-1 Fees Paid 12b-1 Fees Retained by the Distributor
2022 2023 2022 2023
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $43,439 $86,547 $3 $0
FS Chiron Real Development Fund $56 $115 $0 $0
FS Managed Futures Fund $52 $59 $0 $0

 

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For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Predecessor Funds paid their distributor the following fees pursuant to the Distribution Plan adopted by the Predecessor Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act:

 

Predecessor Fund 12b-1 Fees Paid
2021 20221
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $19,299 $6,428
FS Chiron Real Asset Fund $0 $20
FS Managed Futures Fund $0 $18

 

1       Reflects the fiscal period from January 1, 2022 to April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization).

 

Payments by the Adviser. In addition to and apart from payments made by the Funds under the Plan, FS and its affiliates also may make payments out of their own assets to selected broker-dealer firms or other financial intermediaries that sell Class A shares of the Funds for distribution, marketing, promotional, or related services. Such payments may be based on gross sales, assets under management, or transactional charges, or on a combination of these factors. Payments based primarily on sales create an incentive to make new sales of shares, while payments based on assets create an incentive to retain previously sold shares. Payments based on transactional charges may include the payment or reimbursement of all or a portion of “ticket charges.” Ticket charges are fees charged to salespersons purchasing through a financial intermediary firm in connection with mutual fund purchases, redemptions, or exchanges. The payment or reimbursement of ticket charges creates an incentive for salespersons of an intermediary to sell shares of a Fund over shares of funds for which there is lesser or no payment or reimbursement of any applicable ticket charge. FS and its affiliates consider a number of factors in making payments to financial intermediaries. Criteria may include, but are not limited to, the distribution capabilities of the intermediary, the overall quality of the relationship, expected gross and/or net sales generated by the relationship, redemption and retention rates of assets held through the intermediary, the willingness to cooperate with FS’ marketing efforts, access to sales personnel, and the anticipated profitability of sales through the institutional relationship. These factors and their weightings may differ from one intermediary to another and may change from time to time. Further, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay a finder’s fee to intermediaries in connection with certain purchases of Class A shares, as described in the Prospectus.

 

In addition, for all share classes, FS, the Distributor, or their affiliates may pay, from their own assets, brokerage firms, banks, financial advisors, retirement plan service providers, and other financial intermediaries’ fees for providing other marketing or distribution-related services, as well as recordkeeping, sub-accounting, transaction processing, and other shareholder or administrative services in connection with investments in the funds of the Trust. These fees are in addition to any fees that may be paid from a Fund’s assets to these financial intermediaries. FS or its affiliates may have numerous agreements to make payments to financial institutions which perform recordkeeping or other administrative services with respect to shareholder accounts. Contact your financial intermediary if you wish to determine whether it receives such payments.

 

FS or its affiliates may also share certain marketing expenses with intermediaries, or pay for, or sponsor informational meetings, seminars, client awareness events, support for marketing materials, sales reporting, or business building programs for such financial intermediaries to raise awareness of a Fund. FS or its affiliates may make payments to participate in intermediary marketing support programs which may provide FS or its affiliates with one or more of the following benefits: attendance at sales conferences, participation in meetings or training sessions, access to or information about intermediary personnel, use of an intermediary’s marketing and communication infrastructure, fund analysis tools, business planning and strategy sessions with intermediary personnel, information on industry- or platform-specific developments, trends and service providers, and other marketing-related services. Such payments may be in addition to, or in lieu of, the payments described above. These payments are intended to promote the sales of the Funds and to reimburse financial intermediaries, directly or indirectly, for the costs that they or their salespersons incur in connection with educational seminars, meetings, and training efforts about the funds of the Trust to enable the intermediaries and their salespersons to make suitable recommendations, provide useful services, and maintain the necessary infrastructure to make the funds of the Trust available to their customers.

 

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The receipt of (or prospect of receiving) payments, reimbursements, and other forms of compensation described above may provide a financial intermediary and its salespersons with an incentive to favor sales of a Fund’s shares over sales of other mutual funds (or non-mutual fund investments) or to favor sales of one class of a Fund’s shares over sales of another, with respect to which the financial intermediary does not receive such payments or receives them in a lower amount. The receipt of these payments may cause certain financial intermediaries to elevate the prominence of a Fund within such financial intermediary’s organization by, for example, placement on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or the provision of preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the funds of the Trust in various ways within such financial intermediary’s organization.

 

From time to time, certain financial intermediaries approach FS to request that FS make contributions to certain charitable organizations. In these cases, FS’ contribution may result in the financial intermediary, or its salespersons, recommending a Fund over other mutual funds (or non-mutual fund investments).

 

The payment arrangements described above will not change the price an investor pays for Class A shares nor the amount that a Fund receives to invest on behalf of the investor. You should consider whether such arrangements exist when evaluating any recommendations from an intermediary to purchase or sell Class A shares and, if applicable, when considering which share class of a Fund is most appropriate for you.

 

THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 333 West 11th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 (the “Transfer Agent”), serves as the Funds’ transfer agent.

 

THE CUSTODIAN

 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 40 Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109-3661 (the “Custodian”), acts as the custodian of the Funds. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Funds as required by the 1940 Act.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Ernst & Young LLP, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2222 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Funds did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

 

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TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Funds described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, Chiron, the Underlying Managers, the Distributor and the Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the funds. The funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the Funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a fund, at which time certain of the fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the fund. Additionally, the fund’s adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the adviser and other service providers, such as the fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the funds may be exposed.

 

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the funds by the adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the advisory agreement with the adviser, the Board meets with the adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the adviser’s adherence to the funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the funds’ investments, including, for example, reports on the adviser’s use of derivatives in managing the funds, if any, as well as reports on the funds’ investments in other investment companies, if any.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and fund and adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

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The Board receives reports from the funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Adviser makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements.

 

From their review of these reports and discussions with the adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the funds’ advisers and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

Members of the Board. There are six members of the Board, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). Mr. Doran, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Hunt, an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute more than three-quarters of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.

  

The Board has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee. The Audit Committee and the Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees. In addition, the Board has a lead independent Trustee.

 

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In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Hunt, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.

 

Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five years (each calendar year a “Waiver Term”) if, and only if, prior to the beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and (c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

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Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Interested Trustee

William M. Doran

(Born: 1940)

Chairman of the Board of Trustees1

(since 2014)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2003. Partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (law firm) from 1976 to 2003. Counsel to the Trust, SEI Investments, SIMC, the Administrator and the Distributor. Secretary of SEI Investments since 1978.

Current Directorships: Trustee of Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund, Symmetry Panoramic Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust and SEI Exchange Traded Funds. Director of SEI Investments, SEI Investments (Europe), Limited, SEI Investments—Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Asia), Limited, SEI Global Nominee Ltd., SEI Investments – Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited and SEI Investments Co. Director of the Distributor.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, The KP Funds and Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company) to 2018. Trustee of Schroder Global Series Trust to 2021. Trustee of Schroder Series Trust to 2022.

 

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Independent Trustees

Jon C. Hunt

(Born: 1951)

Trustee and Lead Independent Trustee

(since 2014)

Retired since 2013. Consultant to Management, Convergent Capital Management, LLC (“CCM”) from 2012 to 2013. Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, CCM from 1998 to 2012.

Current Directorships: Trustee of City National Rochdale Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Symmetry Panoramic Trust. Director of Chiron Capital Allocation Fund Ltd., FS Alternatives Fund (Cayman), FS Managed Futures Fund (Cayman), FS Real Asset Fund (Cayman) and Legal & General Commodity Strategy Fund Offshore Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company) to 2018. Trustee of Schroder Global Series Trust to 2021. Trustee of Schroder Series Trust to 2022.

Thomas P. Lemke

(Born: 1954)

Trustee

(since 2014)

Retired since 2013. Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Legg Mason, Inc. from 2005 to 2013.

Current Directorships: Trustee of Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund, Symmetry Panoramic Trust and J.P. Morgan Funds (171 Portfolios). Director of Chiron Capital Allocation Fund Ltd., FS Alternatives Fund (Cayman), FS Managed Futures Fund (Cayman), FS Real Asset Fund (Cayman) and Legal & General Commodity Strategy Fund Offshore Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company) to 2018. Trustee of Schroder Global Series Trust to 2021. Trustee of Schroder Series Trust to 2022.

 

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Nichelle Maynard-Elliott

(Born: 1968)

Trustee

(since 2021)

Independent Director since 2018. Executive Director, M&A at Praxair Inc. from 2011-2019.

Current Directorships: Trustee of Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Symmetry Panoramic Trust. Director of Chiron Capital Allocation Fund Ltd., FS Alternatives Fund (Cayman), FS Managed Futures Fund (Cayman), FS Real Asset Fund (Cayman), Legal & General Commodity Strategy Fund Offshore Ltd., Element Solutions Inc., Xerox Holdings Corporation and Lucid Group, Inc.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Schroder Global Series Trust to 2021. Trustee of Schroder Series Trust to 2022.

Jay C. Nadel

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2016)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2004. Executive Vice President, Bank of New York Broker Dealer from 2002 to 2004. Partner/Managing Director, Weiss Peck & Greer/Robeco from 1986 to 2001.

Current Directorships: Chairman of the Board of Trustees of City National Rochdale Funds. Trustee of Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Symmetry Panoramic Trust. Director of Chiron Capital Allocation Fund Ltd., FS Alternatives Fund (Cayman), FS Managed Futures Fund (Cayman), FS Real Asset Fund (Cayman) and Legal & General Commodity Strategy Fund Offshore Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company) to 2018. Trustee of Schroder Global Series Trust to 2021. Trustee of Schroder Series Trust to 2022.

 

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Randall S. Yanker

(Born: 1960)

Trustee

(since 2014)

Co-Founder and Senior Partner, Alternative Asset Managers, L.P. since 2004.

Current Directorships: Trustee of Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Symmetry Panoramic Trust. Independent Non-Executive Director of HFA Holdings Limited. Director of Chiron Capital Allocation Fund Ltd., FS Alternatives Fund (Cayman), FS Managed Futures Fund (Cayman), FS Real Asset Fund (Cayman) and Legal & General Commodity Strategy Fund Offshore Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company) to 2018. Director of Navigator Global Investments Limited to 2020. Trustee of Schroder Global Series Trust to 2021. Trustee of Schroder Series Trust to 2022.

 

1 Mr. Doran may be deemed to be an “interested” person of the Funds as that term is defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of his affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications

 

The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Funds provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Funds, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Doran should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as a Partner in the Investment Management and Securities Industry Practice of a large law firm, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving on other mutual fund boards.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Hunt should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different investment management institutions, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained as a board member of open-end, closed-end and private funds investing in a broad range of asset classes, including alternative asset classes.

 

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The Trust has concluded that Mr. Lemke should serve as Trustee because of the extensive experience he gained in the financial services industry, including experience in various senior management positions with financial services firms and multiple years of service with a regulatory agency, his background in controls, including legal, compliance and risk management, and his service as general counsel for several financial services firms.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Maynard-Elliott should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained in a variety of leadership roles at a leading industrial company, the experience she has gained as a board member of several prominent companies, and her legal and financial management expertise.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nadel should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with an audit firm and various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving on other mutual fund and operating company boards.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Yanker should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with the alternative asset management divisions of various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained advising institutions on alternative asset management.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: (i) recommending which firm to engage as each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing each fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; (vii) considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing each fund’s financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Ms. Maynard-Elliott and Messrs. Hunt, Lemke, Nadel and Yanker currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Nadel serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met four (4) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

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Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Governance Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board’s operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees and considering proposals of and making recommendations for “interested” Trustee candidates to the Board; and (iv) reviewing shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust’s office. Ms. Maynard-Elliott and Messrs. Hunt, Lemke, Nadel and Yanker currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Ms. Maynard-Elliott serves as Chair of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met one (1) time during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of each of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

 

Name

Dollar Range of Fund Shares

(Fund)1

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares

(All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies)1,2

Interested Trustee
William M. Doran None None
Independent Trustees
Jon C. Hunt None None
Thomas P. Lemke None None
Nichelle Maynard-Elliott None None
Jay C. Nadel None None
Randall S. Yanker None None

 

1 Valuation date is December 31, 2023.
2 The Funds are the only funds in the family of investment companies.

 

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Board Compensation. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

 

Name Aggregate Compensation from the Trust Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses

Estimated

Annual Benefits Upon Retirement

Total Compensation from the Trust and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustee
William M. Doran $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Independent Trustees
Jon C. Hunt $170,088 N/A N/A $170,088 for service on one (1) board
Thomas P. Lemke $170,088 N/A N/A $170,088 for service on one (1) board
Nichelle Maynard-Elliott $170,088 N/A N/A $170,088 for service on one (1) board
Jay C. Nadel $170,088 N/A N/A $170,088 for service on one (1) board
Randall S. Yanker $170,088 N/A N/A $170,088 for service on one (1) board

 

1       All funds in the Fund Complex are series of the Trust.

 

Trust Officers. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for the officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.

 

Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more mutual funds for which SEI Investments or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years
Michael Beattie
(Born: 1965)

President

(since 2014)

Managing Director, SEI Investments, since 2021. Director of Client Service, SEI Investments, from 2004 to 2021.

James Bernstein

(Born: 1962)

Vice President

(since 2017)

 

Secretary

(since 2020)

Attorney, SEI Investments, since 2017.

 

Prior Positions: Self-employed consultant, 2017. Associate General Counsel & Vice President, Nationwide Funds Group and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, from 2002 to 2016. Assistant General Counsel & Vice President, Market Street Funds and Provident Mutual Insurance Company, from 1999 to 2002.

John Bourgeois
(Born: 1973)

Assistant Treasurer

(since 2017)

Fund Accounting Manager, SEI Investments, since 2000.

 

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Eric C. Griffith

(Born: 1969)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2019. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., from 2012 to 2018.

Matthew M. Maher

(Born: 1975)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2018)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2018. Attorney, Blank Rome LLP, from 2015 to 2018. Assistant Counsel & Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon, from 2013 to 2014. Attorney, Dilworth Paxson LLP, from 2006 to 2013.

Andrew Metzger

(Born: 1980)

Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer

(since 2021)

Director of Fund Accounting, SEI Investments, since 2020. Senior Director, Embark, from 2019 to 2020. Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 2002 to 2019.

Robert Morrow

(Born: 1968)

Vice President

(since 2017)

Account Manager, SEI Investments, since 2007.

Stephen F. Panner

(Born: 1970)

Chief Compliance Officer

(since 2022)

Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund LP, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds since September 2022. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alternative Income Fund since May 2023. Chief Compliance Officer of Symmetry Panoramic Trust since December 2023. Fund Compliance Officer of SEI Investments Company from February 2011 to September 2022. Fund Accounting Director and CFO and Controller for the SEI Funds from July 2005 to February 2011.

Alexander F. Smith

(Born: 1977)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2020. Associate Counsel & Manager, Vanguard, 2012 to 2020. Attorney, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2008 to 2012.

Bridget E. Sudall

(Born: 1980)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer (from 2015 – May 2022; from November 2022 – June 2023; and since April 2024) Senior Associate and AML Officer, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, from 2011 to 2015. Investor Services Team Lead, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, from 2007 to 2011.

 

PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES

 

Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business. Shares of the Funds are offered and redeemed on a continuous basis. Currently, the NYSE is closed for business when the following holidays are observed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

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It is currently the Trust’s policy to pay all redemptions in cash. The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by the Funds in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions.

 

The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation), or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which the disposal or valuation of the Funds’ securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC has by order permitted. The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of the Funds for any period during which the NYSE, FS, Wilshire, Chiron, the Underlying Managers, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent and/or the Custodian are not open for business.

 

Certain accounts or FS affiliates may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of a Fund’s Shares. Redemptions by these accounts of their holdings in a Fund may impact the Fund’s liquidity and NAV. These redemptions may also force a Fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact the Fund’s brokerage costs.

 

Class A shares of a Fund can generally be purchased only through institutional channels such as financial intermediaries and retirement platforms. Class I shares may be purchased directly with a Fund in certain circumstances as provided in the Funds’ Prospectus. Not all financial intermediaries offer all classes. Class A shares of a Fund may be purchased without upfront sales charges by certain retirement plans and clients of investment advisers, but these clients will typically pay asset-based fees for their investment advisers’ advice, which are on top of a Fund’s expenses. Class A shares of a Fund may also be purchased without upfront sales charges or transactional charges by persons who invest through mutual fund “supermarket” programs of certain financial intermediaries that typically do not provide investment recommendations or the assistance of an investment professional. Class I shares are not subject to upfront sales charges. For an analysis of the fees associated with an investment in each share class or other similar funds, please visit www.finra.org/fundanalyzer. Under certain circumstances, a Fund may permit an in-kind purchases.

 

Certain designated organizations are authorized to receive purchase orders on a Fund’s behalf and those organizations are authorized to designate their agents and affiliates as intermediaries to receive purchase orders. Purchase orders are deemed received by a Fund when authorized organizations, their agents, or affiliates receive the order provided that such designated organizations or their agents or affiliates transmit the order to a Fund within contractually specified periods. A Fund is not responsible for the failure of any designated organization or its agents or affiliates to carry out its obligations to its customers. In order to receive a day’s price, your order for any class of Shares must be received in good order by the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE as described above in “Determination of Net Asset Value.” Your financial intermediary may charge you a separate or additional fee for processing purchases of Shares. Your financial intermediary, plan documents, or the Funds’ Prospectus will provide you with detailed information about investing in the Funds.

 

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Class A Shares

 

The price you pay for Class A shares is the public offering price, which is the NAV next determined after a Fund or its agent receives in good order your order plus an initial sales charge, if applicable, based on the amount invested as set forth in the table. A Fund receives the NAV. The sales charge is allocated between your financial intermediary and the Distributor, the Trust’s distributor, except where the Distributor, in its discretion, allocates up to the entire amount to your financial intermediary. Sales charges, as expressed as a percentage of offering price, a percentage of your net investment, and as a percentage of the sales charge reallowed to financial intermediaries, are shown in the table under the heading “Sales Charges” in the “Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares” section of the Prospectus. The dollar amount of your initial sales charge is calculated as the difference between the public offering price and the NAV of those shares. Since the offering price is calculated to two decimal places using standard rounding criteria, the number of shares purchased and the dollar amount of your sales charge as a percentage of the offering price and of your net investment may be higher or lower than the amounts set forth in the table depending on whether there was a downward or upward rounding.

 

The Distributor has entered into a “wholesaling” agreement with FS Solutions, a registered broker-dealer and an affiliate of the Adviser. Pursuant to the terms of the wholesaling agreement, FS Solutions will seek to market and otherwise promote the Funds through various “wholesale” distribution channels, including but not limited to, the independent broker-dealer channel, the registered investment adviser channel and the wirehouse channel. FS Solutions or the Adviser may receive compensation, including Rule 12b-1 Fees, for certain sales, promotional and marketing services provided to the Funds in connection with the distribution of certain classes of the Funds’ shares.

 

For the fiscal period from April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization) to December 31, 2022 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds paid the following aggregate dollar amounts of underwriting commissions to the Distributor:

 

Fund Aggregate Dollar Amount of Underwriting Commissions Paid
2022 2023
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $6,447 $0
FS Chiron Real Development Fund $0 $0
FS Managed Futures Fund $0 $0

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, and 2022, the Predecessor Funds paid the following aggregate dollar amounts of underwriting commissions to their distributor:

 

Predecessor Fund Aggregate Dollar Amount of Underwriting Commissions Paid
2021 20221
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $3,482 $8,859
FS Chiron Real Asset Fund $0 $0
FS Managed Futures Fund $0 $0

 

1       Reflects the fiscal period from January 1, 2022 to April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization).

 

S-89

 

 

Class I Shares

 

Class I shares of a Fund are purchased at the NAV per share as determined at the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE next occurring after a purchase order is received in good order by a Fund or its authorized agent.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

General Policy. The Funds adhere to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-5 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value by the Adviser in good faith, and subject to the oversight of the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Funds’ pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of each Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Foreign Securities. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.

 

Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Funds generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Funds generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Funds will follow the rules regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

S-90

 

 

Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house (“centrally cleared swaps”) are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of the exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Funds calculate net asset value, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which each Fund calculates its net asset value. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value a Fund’s futures or centrally cleared swaps position.

 

Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.

 

If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Services. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for most securities held by the Funds with readily available market quotations are provided by third-party independent pricing agents. The valuations for these securities are reviewed by the Administrator. In accordance with the Adviser’s Valuation Procedures, the Adviser may also use third-party independent pricing agents (reviewed and approved by the Adviser) to fair value certain securities without readily available market quotations (or where market quotations are unreliable).

 

Fair Value Procedures. Securities for which market prices are not “readily available” or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Adviser and implemented through the Adviser’s Valuation Committee. In establishing a fair value for an investment, the Adviser will use valuation methodologies established by the Adviser and may consider inputs and methodologies provided by, among others, third-party independent pricing agents, independent broker dealers and/or the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s own personnel (including investment personnel).

 

Some of the more common reasons that may necessitate a security being valued using Fair Value Procedures include: the security’s trading has been halted or suspended; the security has been de-listed from a national exchange; the security’s primary trading market is temporarily closed at a time when under normal conditions it would be open; the security has not been traded for an extended period of time; the security’s primary pricing source is not able or willing to provide a price; trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; or a significant event with respect to a security has occurred after the close of the market or exchange on which the security principally trades and before the time the Funds calculate net asset value. When a security is valued in accordance with the Fair Value Procedures, the Adviser’s Valuation Committee will determine the value after taking into consideration relevant information reasonably available to the Committee.

 

TAXES

 

The following is only a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and their shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds or their shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. In particular, it does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401k, or other tax advantaged accounts. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.

 

S-91

 

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. Each Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be treated as a RIC. By following such a policy, each Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If a Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that it timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of a Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, each Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income (which, includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of each Fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (the “Qualifying Income Test”); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of each Fund’s taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of each Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of each Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership, and (B) not more than 25% of the value of each Fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that a Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

Although the Funds intend to distribute substantially all of their net investment income and may distribute their capital gains for any taxable year, the Funds will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. A fund therefore is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs described herein. Losses in one Fund do not offset gains in another and the requirements (other than certain organizational requirements) for qualifying RIC status are determined at the Fund level rather than at the Trust level.

 

S-92

 

 

If a Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income or Asset Tests in any taxable year, such Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If a Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, such Fund will be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.

 

A Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

The treatment of capital loss carryovers for the Funds is similar to the rules that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals, which provide that such losses are carried over indefinitely. If a Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if a Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

Federal Excise Tax. Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which generally requires a Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), a Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute, by the end of the calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gains over short- and long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which a Fund paid no federal income tax). For example, a Fund may receive delayed or corrected tax reporting statements from its investments that cause such Fund to accrue additional income and gains after such Fund has already made its excise tax distributions for the year. In such a a situation, a Fund may incur an excise tax liability resulting from such delayed receipt of such tax information statements. In addition, the Funds intend to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. The Funds may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Funds to satisfy the requirement for qualification as RICs.

 

S-93

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders. The Funds receive income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of a Fund, constitutes the Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by a Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

Distributions by the Funds may be eligible for the reduced maximum tax rate to individuals of 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent that the Funds receive qualified dividend income on the securities they hold and the Funds report the distributions as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from each Fund’s assets before it calculates the NAV) with respect to such dividend, (ii) each Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder, (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in a Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that the Funds receive from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC or from a REIT will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying fund or REIT. Certain of the Funds’ investment strategies may limit their ability to make distributions eligible for the reduced rates for qualified dividend income.

 

Distributions by the Funds of their net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of a Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in such Fund.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, Fund distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends-received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by such Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. Certain of the Funds’ investment strategies may limit their ability to make distributions eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

A RIC that receives business interest income may pass through its net business interest income for purposes of the tax rules applicable to the interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of the Code. A RIC’s total “Section 163(j) Interest Dividend” for a tax year is limited to the excess of the RIC’s business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and its other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. A RIC may, in its discretion, designate all or a portion of ordinary dividends as Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, which would allow the recipient shareholder to treat the designated portion of such dividends as interest income for purposes of determining such shareholder’s interest expense deduction limitation under Section 163(j) of the Code. This can potentially increase the amount of a shareholder’s interest expense deductible under Section 163(j) of the Code. In general, to be eligible to treat a Section 163(j) Interest Dividend as interest income, you must have held your shares in a Fund for more than 180 days during the 361-day period beginning on the date that is 180 days before the date on which the share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend. Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, if so designated by a Fund, will be reported to your financial intermediary or otherwise in accordance with the requirements specified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).

 

S-94

 

 

To the extent that a Fund makes a distribution of income received by such Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

If a Fund’s distributions exceed its current and accumulated earnings and profits for the taxable year (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in a Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.

 

A dividend or distribution received shortly after the purchase of shares reduces the NAV of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution and, although in effect a return of capital, will be taxable to the shareholder. If the NAV of shares were reduced below the shareholder’s cost by dividends or distributions representing gains realized on sales of securities, such dividends or distributions would be a return of investment though taxable to the shareholder in the same manner as other dividends or distributions.

 

The Funds (or their administrative agent) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held Fund shares for a full year, the Funds may report and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Funds.

 

Dividends declared to shareholders of record in October, November or December and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Under this rule, therefore, a shareholder may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.

 

Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions. Sales and redemptions of Fund shares may be taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund by a shareholder who holds a Fund’s shares as capital assets will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a long-term capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the long-term capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale.

 

S-95

 

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of a Fund).

 

The Funds (or their administrative agent) must report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for purchases of Fund shares. In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, a Fund is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, a Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, a Fund will use the average cost basis method as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by a Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review the cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. The Funds may invest in complex securities and these investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect a Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Funds are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, cause the Funds to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, accelerate the recognition of income to the Funds and/or defer the Funds’ ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject the Funds to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of their foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Funds and may require the Funds to sell securities at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so to mitigate the effect of these rules to prevent disqualification of each Fund as a RIC.

 

Certain derivative investments by the Funds, such as investments in exchange-traded products and over-the-counter derivatives, may not produce qualifying income for purposes of the “Qualifying Income Test” described above, which must be met in order for each Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Code. In addition, the determination of the value and the identity of the issuer of such derivative investments are often unclear for purposes of the “Asset Test” described above. Each Fund intends to carefully monitor such investments to ensure that any non-qualifying income does not exceed permissible limits and to ensure that it is adequately diversified under the Asset Test. The Funds, however, may not be able to accurately predict the non-qualifying income from these investments and there are no assurances that the IRS will agree with each Fund’s determination of the “Asset Test” with respect to such derivatives.

 

Each Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts subject to section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. A Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require the Funds to mark-to-market certain types of positions in their portfolios (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause a Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, a Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

S-96

 

 

With respect to investments in STRIPS, treasury receipts, and other zero coupon securities which are sold at original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, each Fund will be required to include as part of its current income the imputed interest on such obligations even though the Fund has not received any interest payments on such obligations during that period. Because each Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income to its shareholders, the Funds may have to sell Fund securities to distribute such imputed income which may occur at a time when the Adviser would not have chosen to sell such securities and which may result in taxable gain or loss.

 

Any market discount recognized on a bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by a Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund’s disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.

 

In general, for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test described above, income derived from a partnership (or an entity otherwise treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by a Fund. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (generally, a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, (ii) that derives at least 90% of its income from the passive income sources specified in Section 7704(d) of the Code, and (iii) that generally derives less than 90% of its income from the same sources as described in the Qualifying Income Test) will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

 

The Funds intend to invest in certain MLPs which may be treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”). Income from QPTPs is qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test, but a Fund’s investment in one or more of such QPTPs is limited under the Asset Test to no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets. The Funds will monitor their investments in such QPTPs in order to ensure compliance with the Qualifying Income and Asset Tests.

 

Investments in QPTPs may require the Funds to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, a Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. A Fund’s investments in QPTPs may at other times result in the Fund’s receipt of nontaxable cash distributions from a QPTP and if the Fund then distributes these nontaxable distributions to Fund shareholders, it could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Any cash distributions received by a Fund from a QPTP in excess of the Fund’s tax basis therein generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the Fund’s QPTP shares.

 

S-97

 

 

MLPs and other partnerships that a Fund may invest in will deliver Schedules K-1 to a Fund to report its share of income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the MLP or other partnership. These Schedules K-1 may be delayed and may not be received until after the time that a Fund issues its tax reporting statements. As a result, a Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues you your tax reporting statement. When such reclassification is necessary, the Funds (or their administrative agent) will send you a corrected, final Form 1099-DIV to reflect the reclassified information. If you receive a corrected Form 1099-DIV, use the information on this corrected form, and not the information on the previously issued tax reporting statement, in completing your tax returns.

 

“Qualified publicly traded partnership income” within the meaning of Section 199A(e)(5) of the Code is eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. Qualified publicly traded partnership income is generally income of a “publicly traded partnership” that is not treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is effectively connected with such entity’s trade or business, but does not include certain investment income. A “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of this deduction is not necessarily the same as a “qualified publicly traded partnership,” as defined above. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). The Code does not contain a provision permitting a RIC, such as a Fund, to pass the special character of this income through to its shareholders. Direct investors in entities that generate “qualified publicly traded partnership income” will enjoy the lower rate, but investors in RICs that invest in such entities will not. Unless later extended or made permanent, this 20% deduction will no longer be available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

 

A Fund may invest in U.S. REITs. Investments in REIT equity securities may require a Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, such Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. The Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to the Fund’s shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends paid by a REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as calculated for federal income tax purposes). Capital gain dividends paid by a REIT to the Fund will be treated as long-term capital gains by the Fund and, in turn, may be distributed by the Fund to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income or qualify for the dividends-received deduction. If a REIT is operated in a manner such that it fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the REIT would be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as calculated for federal income tax purposes).

 

“Qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income eligible for capital gain tax rates) are eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). Distributions by a Fund to its shareholders that are attributable to qualified REIT dividends received by the Fund and which the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” are treated as “qualified REIT dividends” in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. A Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible but is not required to do so. Unless later extended or made permanent, this 20% deduction will no longer be available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

 

S-98

 

 

REITs in which a Fund invests often do not provide complete and final tax information to the Funds until after the time that the Funds issue a tax reporting statement. As a result, a Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues your tax reporting statement. When such reclassification is necessary, a Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a corrected, final Form 1099-DIV to reflect the reclassified information. If you receive a corrected Form 1099-DIV, use the information on this corrected form, and not the information on the previously issued tax reporting statement, in completing your tax returns.

 

If a Fund owns shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to as “passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs,” the Fund will generally be subject to one of the following special tax regimes: (i) the Fund may be liable for U.S. federal income tax, and an additional interest charge, on a portion of any “excess distribution” from such foreign entity or any gain from the disposition of such shares, even if the entire distribution or gain is paid out by the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders; (ii) if the Fund were able and elected to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” or “QEF,” the Fund would be required each year to include in income, and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above, the Fund’s pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the PFIC, whether or not such earnings or gains are distributed to the Fund; or (iii) the Fund may be entitled to mark-to-market annually shares of the PFIC, whether or not any distributions are made to the Fund, and in such event would be required to distribute to shareholders any such mark-to-market gains in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above. Such Fund intends to make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effect of these rules. Amounts included in income each year by a Fund arising from a QEF election will be “qualifying income” under the Qualifying Income Test (as described above) even if not distributed to the Fund, if the Fund derives such income from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.

 

Each of the Funds may gain most of its exposure to the commodities markets through its investment in its Subsidiary, which invests directly in commodities and in equity-linked securities and commodity-linked derivative instruments. A Fund’s investment in its Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a RIC. The “Subpart F” income (defined in Section 951 of the Code to include passive income, including from commodity-linked derivatives) of a Fund attributable to its investment in its Subsidiary is “qualifying income” to the Fund to the extent that such income is derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies. Global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) generally includes the active operating profits of a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”), reduced by a deemed return on the tax basis of the CFC’s depreciable tangible assets. A Fund expects its Subsidiary to be a CFC and “Subpart F” income and GILTI attributable to its investment in its Subsidiary to be derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies. Accordingly, each Fund expects its “Subpart F” income and GILTI attributable to its investment in the Subsidiary to be treated as “qualifying income.” The Adviser will carefully monitor each Fund’s investments in its Subsidiary to ensure that no more than 25% of a Fund’s assets are invested in the Subsidiary.

 

S-99

 

 

In addition, certain of the Funds’ investments, such as commodity-related investments, when made directly, may not produce qualifying income to the Funds. To the extent a Fund invests in commodity-related investments directly, the Fund will seek to restrict its income from such instruments that do not generate qualifying income to a maximum of 10% of its gross income (when combined with its other investments that produce non-qualifying income).

 

Many significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax treatment of investments in bitcoin are uncertain and the Multi-Strategy Fund’s and Real Development Fund’s indirect exposure to Bitcoin may produce income that is not treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Test applicable to the Funds.

 

Controlled Foreign Corporation. A U.S. person that owns (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or 10% or more of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of a foreign corporation is a “U.S. Shareholder” for purposes of the Subpart F and GILTI provisions of the Code. A foreign corporation is a CFC within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code if, on any day of its taxable year, more than 50% of the voting power or value of its stock is owned (directly, indirectly or constructively) by “U.S. Shareholders.” If a Fund is a “U.S. Shareholder” of a CFC, the Fund will be required to include in its gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes the CFCs “subpart F income” and GILTI, whether or not such income is distributed by the CFC. “Subpart F income” generally includes interest, original issue discount, dividends, net gains from the disposition of stocks or securities, receipts with respect to securities loans and net payments received with respect to equity swaps and similar derivatives. “Subpart F income” also includes the excess of gains over losses from transactions (including futures, forward and similar transactions) in any commodities. A Fund’s recognition of “Subpart F income” will increase the Fund’s tax basis in the CFC. GILTI generally includes the active operating profits of the CFC, reduced by a deemed return on the tax basis of the CFC’s depreciable tangible assets. Distributions by a CFC to a Fund will be tax-free, to the extent of its previously undistributed “Subpart F income” and GILTI and will correspondingly reduce the Fund’s tax basis in the CFC. “Subpart F income” and GILTI are generally treated as ordinary income, regardless of the character of the CFC’s underlying income. It is expected that each Subsidiary will be treated as a CFC, and that each of the FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund and FS Chiron Real Development Fund will be treated as a “U.S. Shareholder” in its Subsidiary.

 

Certain Foreign Currency Tax Issues. A Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and forward foreign currency contracts will generally be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirements and for avoiding the excise tax described above. The Funds intend to monitor their transactions, intend to make the appropriate tax elections, and intend to make the appropriate entries in their books and records when they acquire any foreign currency or forward foreign currency contract in order to mitigate the effect of these rules so as to prevent disqualification of a Fund as a RIC and minimize the imposition of income and excise taxes. Accordingly, a Fund may be required to liquidate its investment at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

S-100

 

 

The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from the Qualifying Income Test described above if such gains are not directly related to the Fund’s business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of the Fund’s non-U.S. currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby potentially jeopardizing the Fund’s status as a RIC for all years to which the regulations are applicable.

 

Foreign Taxes. Dividends and interest received by a Fund may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on the Fund’s stocks or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments by foreign investors.

 

If more than 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, such Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be entitled to use against the shareholders’ federal income tax. If a Fund makes the election, such Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. If a Fund does not hold sufficient foreign securities to meet the above threshold, then shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or further deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

 

A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by a Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in a shareholder not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if a Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in a Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through IRAs or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Funds.

 

Foreign tax credits, if any, received by a Fund as a result of an investment in another fund taxable as a RIC will not be passed through to you unless the Fund qualifies as a “qualified fund-of-funds” under the Code. If a Fund is a “qualified fund-of-funds” it will be eligible to file an election with the IRS that will enable the Fund to pass along these foreign tax credits to its shareholders. A Fund will be treated as a “qualified fund-of-funds” under the Code if at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year) is represented by interests in other funds taxable as RICs.

 

S-101

 

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Funds generally serve to block UBTI from being realized by their tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in a Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC, or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

A Fund's shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Funds.

 

Backup Withholding. A Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold at a 24% withholding rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury the amount withheld on amounts payable to any shareholder who: (i) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; (iii) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a resident alien). Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Any non-U.S. investors in the Funds may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and may be subject to additional reporting obligations and therefore are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Funds.

 

Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. A Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from a Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

S-102

 

 

Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Funds are required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends they pay to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by a Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Funds or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

 

A non-U.S. entity that invests in a Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Funds should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as a Fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by a Fund to its shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that a Fund will not be liable for any excise, income or franchise tax in Delaware if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by a Fund. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in a Fund.

 

S-103

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

FS

 

FS has a policy of seeking to obtain the “best execution” of all portfolio transactions (the best net prices under the circumstances based upon a number of factors including and subject to the factors discussed below) provided that FS may occasionally pay higher commissions for research services as described below. A Fund may trade foreign securities in foreign countries because the best available market for these securities is often on foreign exchanges. In transactions on foreign stock exchanges, brokers’ commissions are frequently fixed and are often higher than in the United States, where commissions are negotiated.

 

FS considers a number of factors in seeking best execution in selecting brokers and dealers and in negotiating commissions on agency transactions. Those factors include, but are not limited to: FS’ knowledge of currently available negotiated commission rates or prices of securities currently available and other current transaction costs; the nature of the security being traded; the size and type of the transaction; the nature and character of the markets for the security to be purchased or sold; the desired timing of the trade; the activity existing and expected in the market for the particular security; confidentiality, including trade anonymity; liquidity; the quality of the execution, clearance, and settlement services; financial stability of the broker or dealer; the existence of actual or apparent operational problems of any broker or dealer; rebates of commissions by a broker to a Fund or to a third party service provider to a Fund to pay Fund expenses; and the value of research products or services provided by brokers. In recognition of the value of the foregoing factors, and as permitted by Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act, FS may place portfolio transactions with a broker or dealer with whom it has negotiated a commission that is in excess of the commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if FS determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in light of the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or of the overall responsibilities of FS. To constitute eligible “research services,” such services must qualify as “advice,” “analyses,” or “reports.” To determine that a service constitutes a research service, FS must conclude that it reflects the “expression of reasoning or knowledge” relating to the value of securities, advisability of effecting transactions in securities or analyses, or reports concerning issuers, securities, economic factors, investment strategies, or the performance of accounts. To constitute eligible “brokerage services,” such services must effect securities transactions and functions incidental thereto, and include clearance, settlement, and the related custody services. Additionally, brokerage services have been interpreted to include services relating to the execution of securities transactions. Research received from brokers or dealers is supplemental to FS’ own research efforts. Because FS receives a benefit from research it receives from broker-dealers, FS may have an incentive to continue to use those broker-dealers to effect transactions. FS does not consider a broker-dealer’s sale of Fund shares when choosing a broker-dealer to effect transactions.

 

FS may also use step-out transactions in order to receive research products and related services. In a step-out transaction, FS directs trades to a broker-dealer with the instruction that the broker-dealer execute the transaction, but “step-out” all or a portion of the transaction or commission in favor of another broker-dealer that provides such products and/or services. The second broker-dealer may clear and settle and receive commissions for the stepped-in portion. In a new issue designation, FS directs purchase orders to a broker-dealer that is a selling group member or underwriter of an equity or fixed-income new issue offering. FS directs that broker-dealer to designate a portion of the broker-dealer’s commission on the new issue purchase to a second broker-dealer(s) that provides such products and/or services. Given FS’ receipt of such products and services in connection with step-out transactions and new issue designations, FS has an incentive to continue to engage in such transactions; however, FS only intends to use step-out transactions and new issue designations when it believes that doing so would not hinder best execution efforts.

 

S-104

 

 

When a Fund purchases or sells a security in the over-the-counter market, the transaction takes place directly with a principal market-maker, without the use of a broker, except in those circumstances where, in the opinion of FS, better prices and executions will be achieved through the use of a broker.

 

For the fiscal period from April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization) to December 31, 2022 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds paid the following commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research services to Chilton Investment Company, Inc., (for the April 11, 2022 to December 31, 2022 time period) and Electron Capital Partners, LLC (for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), which served as a sub-advisers to the FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund during such periods, and Chiron with respect to the FS Chiron Real Development Fund:

 

Fund

Total Dollar Amount of

Brokerage Commissions

for Research Services

Total Dollar Amount of

Transactions Involving

Brokerage Commissions

for Research Services

2022 2023 2022 2023
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $59,721 $12,855 $244,248,772 $26,806,131
FS Chiron Real Development Fund $8,847 $11,500 $13,131,515 $17,267,262
FS Managed Futures Fund $0 $0 $0 $0

 

For the fiscal period from January 1, 2022 to April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization), the Funds paid the following commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research services to Chilton Investment Company, Inc., which served as a sub-adviser to the FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund during such period, and Chiron with respect to the FS Chiron Real Development Fund:

 

Predecessor Fund

Total Dollar Amount of

Brokerage Commissions

for Research Services

Total Dollar Amount of

Transactions Involving

Brokerage Commissions

for Research Services

FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $19,552 $208,502,699
FS Chiron Real Asset Fund $11,938 $10,155,933
FS Managed Futures Fund $0 $0

 

For the fiscal period from April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization) to December 31, 2022 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

 

Fund Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
2022 2023
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $131,390 $363,182
FS Chiron Real Development Fund $45,116 $43,775
FS Managed Futures Fund $0 $0

 

S-105

 

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, and 2022, the Predecessor Funds paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

 

Predecessor Fund Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
2021 20221
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund $82,599 $59,649
FS Chiron Real Asset Fund $37,506 $111,570
FS Managed Futures Fund $0 $0

 

1       Reflects the fiscal period from January 1, 2022 to April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization).

 

Brokerage commissions paid by a Fund may vary significantly from year to year because of portfolio turnover rates, shareholder, broker-dealer, or other financial intermediary purchase/redemption activity, varying market conditions, changes to investment strategies or processes, and other factors.

 

Underlying Managers

 

The sub-advisory agreements between the Multi-Strategy Fund and the Underlying Managers provide that each Underlying Manager places orders for the purchase and sale of securities that are held in the Fund or the Subsidiary’s portfolio. In executing portfolio transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, each Underlying Manager is contractually obligated to use reasonable best efforts to seek to obtain best execution in accordance with its respective best execution policy. In executing transactions, each Underlying Manager may consider, without limitation, the financial responsibility, research and investment information, and other services provided by broker-dealers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or to other transactions to which other clients of the Underlying Manager may be a party. The fees of the Underlying Managers are not reduced by reason of their receipt of brokerage and research services. Generally, an Underlying Manager does not provide any services to the Multi-Strategy Fund or its Subsidiary except portfolio investment management and related record-keeping services. The research services provided by brokers through which an Underlying Manager executes transactions on behalf of the Multi-Strategy Fund may be used by the Underlying Manager in servicing all of its accounts and not all of these services will necessarily be used by the Underlying Manager in connection with the Fund.

 

When an Underlying Manager deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Multi-Strategy Fund as well as other clients of the Underlying Manager, the Underlying Manager may aggregate the securities to be purchased or sold with other orders for other clients in order to obtain best execution, subject to applicable law and the Underlying Manager’s internal policies. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as of the fees and expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Underlying Manager in the manner it considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Multi-Strategy Fund and to such other clients over time.

 

Co-Adviser

 

The co-advisory agreement among the Real Development Fund, Chiron and the Trust provides that Chiron places orders for the purchase and sale of securities that are held in the Fund or the Subsidiary’s portfolio. In executing portfolio transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, Chiron is contractually obligated to use reasonable best efforts to seek to obtain best execution in accordance with its respective best execution policy. In executing transactions, Chiron may consider, without limitation, the financial responsibility, research and investment information, and other services provided by broker-dealers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or to other transactions to which other clients of Chiron may be a party. The fees of Chiron are not reduced by reason of their receipt of brokerage and research services. Generally, Chiron does not provide any services to the Real Development Fund or its Subsidiary except portfolio investment management and related record-keeping services. The research services provided by brokers through which Chiron executes transactions on behalf of the Real Development Fund may be used by Chiron in servicing all of its accounts and not all of these services will necessarily be used by Chiron in connection with the Fund.

 

S-106

 

 

When Chiron deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Real Development Fund as well as other clients of Chiron, Chiron may aggregate the securities to be purchased or sold with other orders for other clients in order to obtain best execution, subject to applicable law and Chiron’s internal policies. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as of the fees and expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by Chiron in the manner it considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Real Development Fund and to such other clients over time.

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Funds may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Funds, the Adviser, Wilshire or Underlying Managers for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Funds for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Funds, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

For the fiscal period from April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization) to December 31, 2022 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Funds did not pay any brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and the fiscal period from January 1, 2022 to April 11, 2022 (date of each Reorganization), the Predecessor Funds did not pay any brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Funds are required to identify any securities of their “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that each Fund held during its most recent fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund held securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” as shown in the table below. The FS Chiron Real Development Fund and FS Managed Futures Fund did not hold any securities of their “regular brokers and dealers” during this fiscal period.

 

Fund Name of Broker/Dealer Type of Security Held Dollar Amount at FYE
(in thousands)
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund Barclays Debt $70,134
JP Morgan Debt $5,038
Wells Fargo Debt $4,053
Citigroup Debt $3,224
Morgan Stanley Debt $3,163
Goldman Sachs Debt $2,204
UBS Debt $199

 

S-107

 

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of total purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. Excluded from both the numerator and denominator are amounts relating to securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. Instruments excluded from the calculation of portfolio turnover generally would include the futures contracts in which the Funds may invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one year. The Funds may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover.

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023, the Funds’ portfolio turnover rates were as follows:

 

Fund Portfolio Turnover Rates
2022 2023
FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund 216% 768%2
FS Chiron Real Development Fund 996%1 188%3
FS Managed Futures Fund 0% 0%

 

1 Effective September 1, 2021, Chiron Investment Management, LLC was named a co-investment adviser to the FS Chiron Real Development Fund; the turnover rate reported for this Fund is an effect of the continued restructuring of the Fund’s holdings.
2 The material increase in portfolio turnover for the Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund is due to the Fund’s investments in to-be-announced (“TBA”) securities as well as the removal of an Underlying Manager and the addition of two Underlying Managers.
3 The material decrease in portfolio turnover for the Real Development Fund is due to changes in portfolio management along with a realignment of the strategy to the revised Fund name and benchmark, which has led to longer holding periods and more thematic investing based on time horizons.

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Board has approved policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the Funds’ portfolio securities is in the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of the Funds’ shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Adviser, Wilshire, Chiron, principal underwriter or any affiliated person of the Funds, the Adviser, Wilshire, Chiron or the principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer (the “Authorized Person”) to authorize the release of the Funds’ portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Authorized Person, either directly or through reports by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, reports quarterly to the Board regarding the operation and administration of such policies and procedures.

 

Pursuant to applicable law, the Funds are required to disclose their complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31). Each Fund discloses a complete schedule of investments in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports which are distributed to Fund shareholders. Each Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the first and third fiscal quarters will be available in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC as exhibits to Form N-PORT, and each Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the second and fourth fiscal quarters will be available in shareholder reports filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR.

 

S-108

 

 

Complete schedules of investments filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR and as exhibits to Form N-PORT are not distributed to Fund shareholders but are available, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

A complete list of a Fund’s portfolio holdings as of the close of each calendar quarter will be made publicly available on the 15th day of the following calendar quarter, or such other date as the Trust may determine for a Fund on the Funds’ website. A complete list of portfolio holdings is also included in the reports the Trust files with the SEC after the end of each quarter. A Fund may disclose its top ten holdings or an incomplete list of its holdings, provided that the top ten holdings or other incomplete list has been made publicly available on the Funds’ website at least one day prior to disclosure of such information or has been included in an SEC filing that is required to include the information. A discussion of one or more portfolio holdings also may be made available, provided that the substance of such discussion has been made publicly available on a Fund’s website at least one day prior to disclosure of such information or is otherwise publicly available. Any such list of holdings or discussion of one or more portfolio holdings will remain available on the Funds’ website at least until the date on which a Fund files a report with the SEC that includes a list of portfolio holdings and is for the period that includes the date as of which such information is current.

 

In addition to information provided to shareholders and the general public, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed as frequently as daily to certain service providers, such as the Funds’ Adviser, sub-advisers, Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, financial printer, pricing vendors, liquidity analytics vendors, class action reclaim vendors and foreign tax reclaim vendors and other vendors that provide the Adviser or sub-advisers with various middle office, back office, client reporting and portfolio analytics services in connection with its services to the Funds. From time to time rating and ranking organizations, such as S&P, Lipper and Morningstar, Inc., may request non-public portfolio holdings information in connection with rating the Funds. Similarly, institutional investors, financial planners, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants or other third-parties may request portfolio holdings information in order to assess the risks of the Funds’ portfolios along with related performance attribution statistics. The lag time for such disclosures will vary. The Funds believe that these third parties have legitimate objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information.

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures provide that the Authorized Person may authorize disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information to such parties at differing times and/or with different lag times. Prior to making any disclosure to a third party, the Authorized Person must determine that such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose, is in the best interests of a Fund’s shareholders and that to the extent conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and those of the Adviser, the sub-advisers, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund exist, such conflicts are addressed. Portfolio holdings information may be disclosed no more frequently than monthly to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals or individuals. The disclosures will not be made sooner than three days after the date of the information. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will regularly review these arrangements and will make periodic reports to the Board regarding disclosure pursuant to such arrangements.

 

With the exception of disclosures to rating and ranking organizations as described above, the Funds require any third party receiving non-public holdings information to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the Adviser. The confidentiality agreement provides, among other things, that non-public portfolio holdings information will be kept confidential and that the recipient has a duty not to trade on the non-public information and will use such information solely to analyze and rank the Funds, or to perform due diligence and asset allocation analysis or for such other legitimate business purpose, depending on the recipient of the information.

 

S-109

 

 

The Trust’s policies and procedures prohibit any compensation or other consideration from being paid to or received by any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Funds, the Adviser, Wilshire, Chiron and the Underlying Managers and their affiliates or recipients of the Funds’ portfolio holdings information.

 

The Adviser, Wilshire, Chiron and the Underlying Managers may manage other accounts that are not subject to these policies and procedures with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to those of a Fund. Because the portfolio holdings of such accounts may be substantially similar, and in some cases nearly identical, to those of a Fund, an investor in such an account may be able to infer the portfolio holdings of a Fund from the portfolio holdings of the account.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund, each of which represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any additional fund and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Funds’ shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust shall indemnify each person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, and any person who is serving or has served at the Trust’s request as a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise to the extent and in the manner provided in the By-Laws. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated the responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Funds to the Adviser. The proxy voting policies and procedures of the Adviser are set forth below. The guidelines are reviewed periodically by the Adviser and, accordingly, are subject to change.

 

S-110

 

 

Solely with respect to Multi-Strategy Fund, the Adviser has delegated proxy voting responsibility to the Fund’s Underlying Managers, and solely with respect to the Real Development Fund, the Adviser has delegated proxy voting responsibility to Chiron with respect to the portion of the Fund’s portfolio that is allocated to Chiron from time to time. As investment advisers registered under the Advisers Act, each of the Underlying Managers and Chiron have a fiduciary duty to act solely in the best interests of their clients. As part of this duty, each Underlying Manager and Chiron recognizes that it must vote client securities in a timely manner free of conflicts of interest and in the best interests of its clients.

 

These policies and procedures for voting proxies for the investment advisory clients of the Adviser, Chiron and the Underlying Managers are intended to comply with Section 206 of, and Rule 206(4)-6 promulgated under, the Advisers Act. The Adviser, Chiron and the Underlying Managers will vote proxies relating to securities in the best interest of its clients’ shareholders. It will review on a case-by-case basis each proposal submitted for a Shareholder vote to determine its impact on the portfolio securities held by its clients. Although the Adviser, Chiron and each Underlying Manager will generally vote against proposals that may have a negative impact on its clients’ portfolio securities, it may vote for such a proposal if there exist compelling long-term reasons to do so.

 

The proxy voting decisions of the Adviser, Chiron and each Underlying Manager are made by the senior officers who are responsible for monitoring each of its clients’ investments. To ensure that its vote is not the product of a conflict of interest, it will require that: (a) anyone involved in the decision-making process disclose to its chief compliance officer any potential conflict that he or she is aware of and any contact that he or she has had with any interested party regarding a proxy vote; and (b) employees involved in the decision making process or vote administration are prohibited from revealing how the Adviser, Chiron and such Underlying Manager intends to vote on a proposal in order to reduce any attempted influence from interested parties.

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Funds’ complete proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-838-0191; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, Wilshire, Chiron, the Underlying Managers, the Administrator and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“Access Persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by Access Persons. Under each Code of Ethics, Access Persons are permitted to invest in securities, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. In addition, certain Access Persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements or are prohibited from making such investments. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

  

MASTER/FEEDER OPTION

 

The Trust may in the future seek to achieve a Fund’s objective by investing all of that Fund’s assets in another investment company having the same investment objective and substantially the same investment policies and restrictions as those applicable to that Fund. Unless otherwise required by law, this policy may be implemented by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

S-111

 

 

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS

 

As of April 3, 2024, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of any class of the shares of the Funds. The Trust believes that most of the shares referred to below were held by the below persons in accounts for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Persons beneficially owning more than 25% of a Fund’s outstanding shares may be deemed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling the Fund may have a significant impact on any shareholder vote of the Fund.

 

FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901

Class A 67.62%

LPL FINANCIAL

FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

PO BOX 509046

SAN DIEGO CA 92150-9046

Class A 7.95%

LPL FINANCIAL

FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

PO BOX 509046

SAN DIEGO CA 92150-9046

Class I 19.87%

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF ITS CU

1 NEW YORK PLAZA FL 12

NEW YORK, NY 10004-1965

Class I 19.64%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901

Class I 15.31%

PERSHING LLC

PO BOX 2052

JERSEY CITY NJ 07303-2052

Class I 8.47%

 

FS Chiron Real Development Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

FS REAL ASSET SCV FEEDER I LLC

201 ROUSE BLVD

PHILADELPHIA PA 19112-1902

Class A 56.18%

PERSHING LLC

PO BOX 2052

JERSEY CITY NJ 07303-2052

Class A 33.59%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901

Class A 10.23%

FS REAL ASSET SCV FEEDER I LLC

201 ROUSE BLVD

PHILADELPHIA PA 19112-1902

Class I 43.61%

 

FS Managed Futures Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

FS MANAGED FUTURES SCV FEEDER I LLC

201 ROUSE BLVD

PHILADELPHIA PA 19112-1902

Class A 100%

FS MANAGED FUTURES SCV FEEDER I LLC

201 ROUSE BLVD

PHILADELPHIA PA 19112-1902

Class I 100%

 

S-112

 

 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

Description of Ratings

 

The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Ratings

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Long-Term Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

A-1

 

 

Hybrid Indicator (hyb)

 

The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Short-Term Ratings

 

P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Description of Moody’s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, the MIG scale is used to rate bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

Moody’s U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:

 

MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

A-2

 

 

Description of Moody’s Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term counterparty risk assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”.

 

Moody’s demand obligation ratings are as follows:

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

 

Description of S&P’s Issue Credit Ratings

 

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

A-3

 

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

• The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

• The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

 

• The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

NR indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

Description of S&P’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

A-4

 

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

* Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

Description of S&P’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

A-1 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

A-2 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

A-3 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

C A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

D A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

A-5

 

 

Description of S&P’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

• Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

• Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

S&P’s municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

D ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Description of Fitch’s Credit Ratings

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are forward looking opinions on the relative ability of an entity or obligation to meet financial commitments. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance.

 

Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative grade categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

 

A-6

 

 

Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its web page.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of payments linked to performance of an index).

 

Credit ratings are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).

 

Description of Fitch’s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Ratings

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘CCC’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

A-7

 

 

Description of Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings are as follows:

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

A-8