485BPOS
VICTORY PORTFOLIOS III
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
JULY 1, 2023
FUND NAME
FUND
SHARES
INSTITUTIONAL
SHARES
CLASS
A
CLASS
C
CLASS
R6
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
USTEX
ULTIX
UTELX
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
USATX
UITIX
UTEIX
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
USSTX
USTIX
UTESX
Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
USEXX
(each a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”)
Each Fund is a series of Victory Portfolios III (the “Trust”)
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and contains information in addition to, and more detailed than, that set forth in each Fund’s prospectus. It is intended to provide you with additional information regarding the activities and operations of the Trust and the Funds and should be read in conjunction with each Fund’s prospectus dated as of the same date of this SAI as set forth above, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time (each, a “Prospectus”). The SAI is incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into each Prospectus. You may obtain a free copy of the Prospectus for each Fund by writing to Victory Portfolios III, PO Box 182593, Columbus, OH 43218-2593, or by calling toll free (800) 235-8396, or at VictoryFunds.com.
The financial statement for each Fund and the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Report thereon for the fiscal period ended February 28, 2023, are included in the respective Fund’s annual report to shareholders of that date and are incorporated herein by reference. The annual report to shareholders is available, without charge, on the Funds’ website or by writing or calling the Trust at the above address or toll-free phone number.

General Information
Victory Capital Management Inc. (“Victory Capital,” “Adviser,” or “Manager”) serves as the adviser of the Funds, and Victory Capital Services, Inc. (“VCS” or “Distributor”) serves as the distributor of the Funds' shares on a continuing, best-efforts basis. Prior to July 1, 2019, USAA Asset Management Company (“AMCO” or “Predecessor Adviser”) served as the adviser of the Funds and USAA Investment Management Company served as the distributor of the Funds' shares.
The Trust, formerly known as USAA Mutual Funds Trust and USAA State Tax-Free Trust, is an open-end management investment company established as a statutory trust under the laws of the state of Delaware pursuant to a Master Trust Agreement dated June 21, 1993, as amended. The Trust is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate portfolios. The Trust currently includes 45 portfolios, four of which are described in this SAI.
For purposes of this SAI, the Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund, Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund, and Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term are referred to as the “Fixed Income Funds.”
Much of the information in this SAI is intended to provide you with additional information regarding the activities and operations of the Trust and the Funds and should be read in conjunction with each Fund’s Prospectus. The Prospectus provides the basic information you should know before investing in a Fund.
Valuation of Securities
A Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share is calculated each day, Monday through Friday, except days on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is closed. The NYSE currently is scheduled to be closed on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when one of these holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively. Each Fund reserves the right to calculate the NAV per share on a business day that the NYSE is closed.
The Adviser, acting as the valuation designee, has established the Pricing and Liquidity Committee (the “Committee”); and subject to the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) oversight, the Committee administers and oversees each Fund’s valuation policies and procedures, which are approved by the Board. Among other things, these policies and procedures allow a Fund to use independent pricing services, quotations from securities dealers, and a wide variety of sources and information to establish and adjust the fair value of securities as events occur and circumstances warrant.
The Committee reports to the Board on a quarterly basis and provides information that assists the Board in satisfying their oversight of the Adviser's services as valuation designee. The Committee presents to the Board material fair value matters that occurred during the preceding quarter.
The Committee meets as often as necessary and makes recommendations on establishing, applying, and testing fair value methodologies. Additionally, the Committee assess and manages risk, evaluates pricing services, and applies fair value determinations in accordance with fair valuation policies and procedures.
The value of securities of each Fund is determined by one or more of the following methods:
Investments of the Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund, Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund, and Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund generally are traded in the over-the-counter market and are valued each business day by a pricing service (the “Service”) approved by the Adviser as valuation designee. The Service uses evaluated bid or the last sale price to price securities when, in the Service’s judgment, these prices are readily available and are representative of the securities’ market values. For many securities, such prices are not readily available. The Service generally prices these securities based on methods that include consideration of yields or prices of securities the interest on which is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes (“tax-exempt securities”) of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from dealers in securities; and general market conditions.
Investments in non-exchange traded open-end investment companies are valued at their NAV at the end of each business day. Futures are valued at the settlement price at the close of market on the principal exchange on which they are traded or, in the absence of any transactions that day, the last sale on the prior trading date. Options are valued at the mean between the last bid and ask prices. Short-term debt securities with original or remaining maturities of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, provided that it is determined that amortized cost represents the fair value of such securities. The Fund has adopted policies and procedures under which the Committee, subject to supervision by the Board, monitors the continued appropriateness of amortized cost valuation for such securities. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost.
In the event that price quotations or valuations are not readily available, are not reflective of market value or a significant event has been recognized in relation to a security or class of securities, the securities are valued in good faith by the Committee in accordance
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with valuation procedures approved by the Board. The effect of fair value pricing is that securities may not be priced on the basis of quotations from the primary market in which they are traded, and the actual price realized from the sale of a security may differ materially from the fair value price. Valuing these securities at fair value is intended to cause the Fund’s NAV to be more reliable than it otherwise would be.
Fair value methods used by the Adviser include, but are not limited to, obtaining market quotations from secondary pricing services, broker-dealers, other pricing services, or widely used quotation systems. General factors considered in determining the fair value of securities include fundamental analytical data, the nature and duration of any restrictions on disposition of the securities, evaluation of credit quality, and an evaluation of the forces that influenced the market in which the securities are purchased and sold.
All securities held in the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund are short-term debt securities, which are valued pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”) Act and the Money Market Funds: Procedures to Stabilize Net Asset Value. This method values a security at its purchase price and, thereafter, assumes a constant amortization to maturity of any premiums or discounts. While this method provides relative certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which the value of an instrument, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price the Fund would receive upon the sale of the instrument.
The valuation of the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund portfolio instruments based upon their amortized cost is subject to the Fund’s adherence to certain procedures and conditions. Consistent with regulatory requirements, the Adviser will only purchase securities with remaining maturities of 397 days or less and will maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of no more than 60 days and a weighted average life of no more than 120 days. The Adviser will invest only in securities that have been determined to present minimal credit risk and that satisfy the quality and diversification requirements of applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
The Board has established procedures designed to stabilize the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund price per share, as computed for the purpose of sales and redemptions, at $1. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund at all times will be able to maintain a constant $1 NAV per share. Such procedures include review of the Fund’s holdings at such intervals as is deemed appropriate to determine whether the Fund’s NAV, calculated by using available market quotations, deviates from $1 per share and, if so, whether such deviation may result in material dilution or is otherwise unfair to existing shareholders. In the event that it is determined that such a deviation exists, the Board will take such corrective action as it regards as necessary and appropriate. Such action may include, among other options, selling portfolio instruments prior to maturity to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten average portfolio maturity, withholding dividends, establishing an NAV per share by using available market quotations, or suspending redemptions to the extent permitted under the SEC rules.
The Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund may use credit ratings from the following designated nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) to determine the credit quality of a security that may be purchased by the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund under applicable securities laws: (1) Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), (2) S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and (3) Fitch Ratings Inc. (“Fitch”).
Conditions of Purchase and Redemption
Nonpayment
If any order to purchase shares directly from the Trust is canceled due to nonpayment or if the Trust does not receive good funds by check or electronic funds transfer, Victory Capital Transfer Agency, Inc. (“Transfer Agent”), formerly known as USAA Transfer Agency Company d/b/a USAA Shareholder Account Services, will treat the cancellation as a redemption of shares purchased, and you may be responsible for any resulting loss incurred by a Fund or the Adviser. If you hold shares in an account with the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent can redeem shares from any of your account(s) with the Transfer Agent as reimbursement for all losses. In addition, you may be prohibited or restricted from making future purchases in other funds sponsored or managed by Victory Capital. A $29 fee is charged for all returned items, including checks and electronic funds transfers.
Limitations on the purchase of shares of the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
The Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund limits sales of its shares to accounts beneficially owned by natural persons. The Board has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to limit investments in the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund to accounts beneficially owned by natural persons. Under those policies and procedures, the Board has delegated to the Adviser the responsibility for determining whether each beneficial owner or prospective beneficial owner of shares of the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund is a natural person. Under those policies and procedures, generally the Adviser or its affiliates will rely on certain information provided in connection with opening an account when making its determination regarding natural persons. For example, where a Social Security number is provided on behalf of the beneficial owner, generally the Adviser or its affiliates will deem the
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beneficial owner to be a natural person eligible to invest in the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund; however, where a taxpayer identification number (also known as an employer identification number) is provided on behalf of the beneficial owner, generally the Adviser or its affiliates will deem the beneficial owner to be a non-natural person ineligible to invest in the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund. The Adviser or its affiliates also may rely on other criteria that it deems reasonable and appropriate for making its determination under the circumstances.
Transfer of Shares
Under certain circumstances, you may transfer Fund shares to another person by sending written instructions to the Transfer Agent. The account must be clearly identified, and you must include the number of shares to be transferred and the signatures of all registered owners. You also need to send written instructions signed by all registered owners and supporting documents to change an account registration due to events such as marriage or death. If a new account needs to be established, you must complete and return an application to the Transfer Agent.
Confirmations and Account Statements
Fund shareholders will receive a confirmation for each purchase, redemption, exchange, or share conversion transacted in their account. However, confirmations will not be sent for all dividend and capital gain distribution reinvestments and purchases through certain automatic investment plans and certain retirement plans, as well as certain automatic exchanges and withdrawals (excluding those in money market funds). These transactions will be confirmed at least quarterly on shareholder account statements.
Additional Information Regarding Redemption of Shares
The value of your investment at the time of redemption of your shares may be more or less than the cost at purchase, depending on the value of the securities held in each Fund’s portfolio. Requests for redemption that are subject to any special conditions or that specify an effective date other than as provided herein cannot be accepted. A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes may be realized on the redemption of shares of a Fund, depending upon their aggregate NAV when redeemed and your basis in those shares for those purposes.
Shares of a Fund may be offered to other investment companies that are structured as funds-of-funds, to institutional investors, to financial intermediaries, and to other large investors (e.g., managed account programs offered by affiliated and unaffiliated investment advisers). These investors may, from time to time, own or control a significant percentage of a Fund’s shares. Accordingly, each Fund is subject to the potential for large-scale inflows and outflows as a result of purchases and redemptions by large investors in the Fund. These inflows and outflows may be frequent and could increase a Fund’s expense ratio, transaction costs, and taxable capital gain distributions (of net gains realized on the liquidation of portfolio securities to meet redemption requests), which could negatively affect the Fund’s performance and could cause shareholders to be subject to higher federal income tax with respect to their investments in the Fund. These inflows and outflows also could limit the Adviser's ability to manage investments of a Fund in an efficient manner, which could adversely impact the Fund's performance and its ability to meet its investment objective. For example, after a large inflow, a Fund may hold a higher level of cash than it might hold under normal circumstances while the Adviser seeks appropriate investment opportunities for the Fund. In addition, large inflows and outflows may limit the ability of a Fund to meet redemption requests and pay redemption proceeds within the time period stated in its prospectus because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons, and could cause a Fund to purchase or sell securities when it would not normally do so, which would be particularly disadvantageous for a Fund if it needs to sell securities at a time of volatility in the markets, when values could be falling.
Shares normally are redeemed in cash, although each Fund reserves the right to redeem some or all of its shares in kind by delivering securities from a Fund’s portfolio of investments, rather than cash, under unusual circumstances or in order to protect the interests of remaining shareholders. Securities distributed in kind would be valued for this purpose using the same method employed in calculating a Fund’s NAV. If a Fund redeems your shares in kind, you may bear transaction costs and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Accounts held with the Transfer Agent with a balance of less than $500 may be subject to automatic redemption, provided that (1) the value of the account has been reduced, below the minimum initial investment in such Fund at the time the account was established, for reasons other than market action, (2) the account has remained below the minimum level for six months, and (3) 30 days’ prior written notice of the proposed redemption has been sent to you. The Trust anticipates closing certain small accounts yearly. Shares will be redeemed at the NAV on the date fixed for redemption. Prompt payment will be made directly to your bank account on file, or if none, by mail to your last known address.
Investments in the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund are limited to natural persons. Accordingly, the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund will redeem shares held by any existing shareholder that it determines is not a natural person. Consistent with guidance
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provided by the SEC, the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund will provide at least 60 days’ written notice to any such shareholder in advance of effecting any such redemption.
The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment (1) for any periods during which the NYSE is closed, (2) when trading in the markets the Trust normally uses is restricted, or an emergency exists as determined by the SEC so that disposal of the Trust’s investments or determination of its NAV is not reasonably practicable, or (3) for such other periods as the SEC by order may permit for protection of the Trust’s shareholders. The Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund may impose liquidity fees or temporarily suspend redemptions (gates) if the Fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds, such as during times of market stress.
For the mutual protection of the investor and the Funds, the Trust may require a signature guarantee. If required, each signature on the account registration must be guaranteed. Signature guarantees are acceptable from FDIC member banks, brokers, dealers, municipal securities dealers, municipal securities brokers, government securities dealers, government securities brokers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies, and savings associations. A signature guarantee for active duty military personnel stationed abroad may be provided by an officer of the United States Embassy or Consulate, a staff officer of the Judge Advocate General, or an individual’s commanding officer.
Funds' Right to Reject Purchase and Exchange Orders and Limit Trading in Accounts
The main safeguard of the Funds and each series of the Trust (together, the “Affiliated Funds”) against excessive short-term trading is their right to reject purchase or exchange orders if in the best interest of the affected Fund. In exercising this discretion to reject purchase and exchange orders, the Affiliated Funds deem that certain excessive short-term trading activities are not in the best interest of the affected Fund because such activities can hamper the efficient management of the Fund. Generally, persons with a history of three short-term transactions within 90 days or less are suspected of market timing and the shareholder’s trading privileges (other than redemption of Fund shares) will be suspended. The Affiliated Funds also reserve the right to restrict future purchases or exchanges if an investor is classified as engaged in other patterns of excessive short-term trading, including after one large disruptive purchase and redemption or exchange. Finally, each Fund reserves the right to reject any other purchase or exchange order in other situations that do not involve excessive short-term trading activities if in the best interest of the Fund. For this purpose, a short-term transaction is a purchase or redemption of a Fund and, as applicable, a subsequent redemption or purchase of the same Fund, or an exchange of all or part of that same Fund.
The following transactions are exempt from the excessive short-term trading activity policies described above:
• Transactions in the money market funds, Victory Short-Term Bond Fund, Victory Ultra Short-Term Bond Fund, and Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund;
• Purchases and sales pursuant to automatic investment or withdrawal plans;
• Purchases and sales made through USAA 529 Education Savings Plan;
• Purchases and sales made in certain separately managed accounts in wrap fee programs;
• Purchases and sales by the Victory Target Retirement Funds, Victory Cornerstone Conservative Fund, and/or Victory Cornerstone Equity Fund; and
• Other transactions that are not motivated by short-term trading considerations if they are approved by Transfer Agent management personnel and are not disruptive to a Fund.
If a person is classified as having engaged in excessive short-term trading, the remedy will depend upon the trading activities of the investor in the account and related accounts and its disruptive effect, and can include warnings to cease such activity and/or restrictions or termination of trading privileges in a particular Affiliated Fund or all of the Affiliated Funds.
The Affiliated Funds rely on the Transfer Agent to review trading activity for excessive short-term trading. There can be no assurance, however, that its monitoring activities will successfully detect or prevent all excessive short-term trading. The Affiliated Funds or the Transfer Agent may exclude transactions below a certain dollar amount from monitoring and may change that dollar amount from time to time.
The Affiliated Funds seek to apply these policies and procedures uniformly to all investors; however, some investors purchase shares of Affiliated Funds through financial intermediaries that establish omnibus accounts to invest in the Affiliated Funds for their clients and submit net orders to purchase or redeem shares after combining their client orders. The Affiliated Funds subject to short-term trading policies generally treat each omnibus account as an individual investor and will apply the short-term trading policies to the net purchases and sales submitted by the omnibus account unless the Affiliated Funds or their Transfer Agent have entered into an
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agreement requiring the omnibus account to submit the underlying trading information for their clients upon our request and/or monitor for excessive trading. For those omnibus accounts for which we have entered into agreements to monitor excessive trading or provide underlying trade information, the financial intermediary or Affiliated Funds will review net activity in these omnibus accounts for activity that indicates potential, excessive short-term trading activity. If we detect suspicious trading activity at the omnibus account level, we will request underlying trading information and review the underlying trading activity to identify individual accounts engaged in excessive short-term trading activity. We will instruct the omnibus account to restrict, limit, or terminate trading privileges in a particular Affiliated Fund for individual accounts identified as engaging in excessive short-term trading through these omnibus accounts.
We also may rely on the financial intermediary to review and identify underlying trading activity for individual accounts engaged in excessive short-term trading activity, and to restrict, limit, or terminate trading privileges if we determine the intermediary’s policies to be at least as stringent as the Affiliated Funds’ policy. For shares purchased through financial intermediaries, there may be additional or more restrictive policies. You may wish to contact your financial intermediary to determine the policies applicable to your account.
Because of the increased costs to review underlying trading information, the Affiliated Funds will not enter into agreements with every financial intermediary that operates an omnibus account. The Affiliated Funds or their Transfer Agent could decide to enter into such contracts with financial intermediaries for all Funds or particular Funds, and can terminate such agreements at any time.
Redemption by Check
Shareholders invested in the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund through an account with the Transfer Agent may request that checks be issued for their accounts. Checks must be written in amounts of at least $250.
Checks issued to shareholders of the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund will be sent only to the person(s) in whose name the account is registered. The checks must be signed by the registered owner(s) exactly as the account is registered. You will continue to earn dividends until the shares are redeemed by the presentation of a check.
When a check is presented to the Transfer Agent for payment, a sufficient number of full and fractional shares from your account will be redeemed to cover the amount of the check. If the account balance is not adequate to cover the amount of a check, the check will be returned unpaid. Because the value of the account in the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund changes as dividends are accrued on a daily basis, checks may not be used to close an account.
The checkwriting privilege is subject to the customary rules and regulations of The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”) governing checking accounts. There is no charge to you for the use of the checks or for subsequent reorders of checks.
The Trust reserves the right to assess a processing fee against your account for any redemption check not honored by a clearing or paying agent. Currently, this fee is $29 and is subject to change at any time. Some examples of such dishonor are improper endorsement, checks written for an amount less than the minimum check amount, and insufficient or uncollectible funds.
The Trust, the Transfer Agent, and BNY Mellon each reserves the right to change or suspend the checkwriting privilege upon 30 days’ written notice to participating shareholders.
You may request that the Transfer Agent stop payment on a check. The Transfer Agent will use its best efforts to execute stop payment instructions but does not guarantee that such efforts will be effective. The Transfer Agent will charge you $20 for each stop payment you request.
Involuntary Redemptions
The Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund will limit investments to accounts beneficially owned by natural persons. Accordingly, the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund may redeem shares held by accounts that it determines are not beneficially owned by natural persons. Consistent with guidance provided by the SEC, the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund will provide at least 60 days’ written notice in advance of effecting any such involuntary redemption. Shares held by these accounts will be sold at their NAV per share calculated on the day that the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund closes the account position and neither the Adviser, its affiliates, nor the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund will be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from an involuntary redemption.
Purchasing Shares
Alternative Sales Arrangements — Class A.
Alternative sales arrangements permit an investor to choose the method of purchasing shares that is more beneficial depending on the amount of the purchase, the length of time the investor expects to hold shares and other relevant circumstances. When comparing the classes of shares, when more than one is offered in the same Fund, investors should understand that the purpose and function of the
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Class C asset-based sales charge are the same as those of the Class A initial sales charge. Any salesperson or other person entitled to receive compensation for selling Fund shares may receive different compensation with respect to one class of shares in comparison to another class of shares. Generally, Class A shares have lower ongoing expenses than Class C shares, but are subject to an initial sales charge. Which class would be advantageous to an investor depends on the number of years the shares will be held. Over very long periods of time, the lower expenses of Class A shares may offset the cost of the Class A initial sales charge. Not all Investment Professionals (as described in each Fund’s Prospectus) will offer all classes of shares.
Each class of shares represents interests in the same portfolio investments of a Fund. However, each class has different shareholder privileges and features. The net income attributable to a particular class and the dividends payable on these shares will be reduced by incremental expenses borne solely by that class, including any asset-based sales charge to which these shares may be subject.
The Fund reserves the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and the investment minimums. The Fund also reserves the right to refuse a purchase order for any reason, including if it believes that doing so would be in the best interest of the Fund and shareholders.
The methodology for calculating the NAV, dividends and distributions of the share classes of the Fund recognizes two types of expenses. General expenses that do not pertain specifically to a class are allocated to the shares of each class, based upon the percentage that the net assets of such class bears to a Fund’s total net assets and then pro rata to each outstanding share within a given class. Such general expenses include (1) management fees, (2) legal, bookkeeping and audit fees, (3) printing and mailing costs of shareholder reports, prospectuses, statements of additional information and other materials for current shareholders, (4) fees to the Trustees who are not affiliated with the Adviser, (5) custodian expenses, (6) share issuance costs, (7) organization and start-up costs, (8) interest, taxes and brokerage commissions, and (9) non-recurring expenses, such as litigation costs. Other expenses that are directly attributable to a class are allocated equally to each outstanding share within that class. Such expenses include (1) Rule 12b-1 distribution fees and shareholder servicing fees, (2) incremental transfer and shareholder servicing agent fees and expenses, (3) registration fees, and (4) shareholder meeting expenses, to the extent that such expenses pertain to a specific class rather than to a Fund as a whole.
Dealer Reallowances. The following table shows the amount of the front-end sales load that is reallowed to dealers as a percentage of the offering price of Class A shares of the Fixed Income Funds.
Amount of Purchase
Initial Sales Charge:
% of Offering Price
Concession to Dealers:
% of Offering Price
Less than $100,000
2.25%
2.00%
$100,000 to $249,999
1.75%
1.50%
Over $250,000*
0.00%
0.00%
* There is no initial sales charge on purchases of $250,000 or more; however, a sales concession and/or advance of a Rule 12b-1 fee may be paid and such purchases are potentially subject to a CDSC, as set forth below.
** Investment Professionals may receive payment on purchases of $250,000 or more of Class A shares that are sold at NAV as follows: 0.75% of the current purchase amount if cumulative prior purchases sold at NAV plus the current purchase is less than $3 million; 0.50% of the current purchase amount if the cumulative prior purchases sold at NAV plus the current purchase is $3 million to $4,999,999; and 0.25% on of the current purchase amount if the cumulative prior purchases sold at NAV plus the current purchase is $5 million or more. In addition, in connection with such purchases, the Distributor or its affiliates may advance Rule 12b-1 fees of 0.25% of the purchase amount to Investment Professionals for providing services to shareholders.
Except as noted in this SAI, a CDSC of up to 0.75% may be imposed on any such shares redeemed within the first 18 months after purchase. CDSCs are based on the lower of the cost of the shares or NAV at the time of redemption. No CDSC is imposed on reinvested distributions.
The Distributor reserves the right to pay the entire commission to dealers. If that occurs, the dealer may be considered an “underwriter” under federal securities laws.
Sample Calculation of Maximum Offering Price
Class A shares of the Fixed Income Funds are sold with a maximum initial sales charge of 2.25%. Set forth below is an example of the method of computing the offering price of the Class A shares of the Funds. The example assumes a purchase of Class A shares aggregating less than $50,000 subject to the schedule of sales charges set forth in the Prospectus at a price based upon the NAV of the Class A shares.
Fixed Income Funds
 
NAV per share
$10.00
Per Share Sales Charge—2.25% of public offering price (2.30% of net asset value per share) for each Fund
$0.23
Per Share Offering Price to the Public
$10.23
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Reinstatement Privilege. Within 90 days of a redemption, a shareholder may reinvest all or part of the redemption proceeds of Class A or Class C shares in the same class of shares of a Fund or any of the other Funds into which shares of the Fund are exchangeable, as described above, at the NAV next computed after receipt by the transfer agent of the reinvestment order. No service charge is currently made for reinvestment in shares of the Funds. Class C share proceeds reinstated do not result in a refund of any CDSC paid by the shareholder, but the reinstated shares will be treated as CDSC exempt upon reinstatement. The shareholder must ask the Distributor for such privilege at the time of reinvestment. Any capital gain that was realized when the shares were redeemed is taxable, even if the proceeds are reinvested. Depending on the timing and amount of a potential reinvestment, some or all of a capital loss from redemption may not be deductible. If the redemption proceeds of Fund shares on which a sales charge was paid are reinvested in shares of the same Fund or another Fund offered by the Trust within 90 days of payment of the sales charge, the shareholder’s basis in the redeemed shares may not include the amount of the sales charge paid. Without the additional basis, the shareholder will have more gain or less loss upon redemption. The Funds may amend, suspend, or cease offering this reinvestment privilege at any time as to shares redeemed after the date of such amendment, suspension, or cessation. The reinstatement must be into an account bearing the same registration.
Investment Plans
Under certain circumstances, the Trust makes available the following investment plans to shareholders of the Funds. At the time you sign up for any of the following investment plans that use the electronic funds transfer service, you will choose the day of the month (the “Effective Date”) on which you would like to regularly purchase shares. When this day falls on a weekend or holiday, the electronic transfer will take place on the last business day prior to the Effective Date. You may terminate your participation in a plan at any time. Please call the Adviser for details and necessary forms or applications or sign up online at vcm.com.
Automatic Purchase of Shares
Automatic Investment Plan – The regular purchase of additional shares through electronic funds transfer from a checking or savings account. You may invest as little as $50 per transaction.
Automatic Transfer Plan – The periodic transfer of funds from a Victory money market fund to purchase shares in another non-money market Victory mutual fund. There is a minimum investment required for this program of $5,000 in the money market fund, with a monthly transaction minimum of $50.
Buy/Sell Service – The intermittent purchase or redemption of shares through electronic funds transfer to or from a checking or savings account. You may initiate a “buy” or “sell” whenever you choose.
Directed Dividends – If you own shares in more than one of the funds in the Victory Funds, you may direct that dividends and/or capital gain distributions received from one fund be used to purchase shares automatically in the same class of another of those funds.
Participation in these automatic purchase plans allows you to engage in dollar-cost averaging.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan
If you own shares in a single investment account (accounts in different Victory Funds cannot be aggregated for this purpose), you may request that enough shares to produce a fixed amount of money be liquidated from the account monthly, quarterly, or annually. The amount of each withdrawal must be at least $50. Using the electronic funds transfer service, you may choose to have withdrawals electronically deposited at your bank or other financial institution. You also may elect to have such withdrawals invested in another Victory Fund.
This plan may be initiated by completing a Systematic Withdrawal Plan application, which may be requested from the Adviser. You may terminate participation in the plan at any time. You are not charged for withdrawals under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan. The Trust will not bear any expenses in administering the plan beyond the regular Transfer Agent and custodian costs of issuing and redeeming shares. The Adviser will bear any additional expenses of administering the plan.
Withdrawals will be made by redeeming full and fractional shares on the date you select at the time the plan is established. Withdrawal payments made under this plan may exceed dividends and other distributions and, to that extent, would reduce the dollar value of your investment and could eventually exhaust the account. Reinvesting dividends and other distributions help replenish the account. Because share values and net investment income can fluctuate, you should not expect withdrawals to be offset by rising income or share value gains. Withdrawals that exceed the value in your account will be processed for the amount available, and the plan will be canceled.
Each redemption of shares of a Fund may result in realization of a gain or loss, which must be reported on your federal income tax return. Therefore, you should keep an accurate record of any gain or loss realized on each withdrawal.
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Investment Objectives, Practices, Policies, and Risks
Investment Objective(s)
The section captioned Additional Fund Information in each Fund's prospectus describes the investment objective(s) and the investment policies applicable to each Fund. There can, of course, be no assurance that each Fund will achieve its investment objective(s). Each Fund’s objective(s) is not a fundamental policy and may be changed upon written notice to, but without the approval of, the Fund's shareholders. If there is a change in the investment objective(s) of a Fund, the Fund’s shareholders should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of then-current needs.
Investment Practices, Policies, and Risks
The following provides additional information about the investment policies, practices, types of instruments, and certain risks that the Funds may be subject to. Unless described as a principal investment policy in a Fund’s prospectus, these represent the non-principal investment policies of the Funds.
Adjustable-Rate Securities
Each Fund may invest in adjustable-rate securities. The interest rate on an adjustable-rate security fluctuates periodically. Generally, the security’s yield is based on a U.S. dollar-based interest rate benchmark such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index Yield. The yields on these securities are reset on a periodic basis (for example, daily, weekly, or quarterly) or upon a change in the benchmark interest rate. The yields are closely correlated to changes in money market interest rates.
Borrowing Money and Issuing Senior Securities
Pursuant to the investment restrictions that have been adopted by the Trust for each Fund, each Fund may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act. “Senior securities” are defined as any bond, debenture, note, or similar obligation or instrument constituting a security and evidencing indebtedness, and any Fund obligations that have a priority over the Fund’s shares with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of Fund assets. The 1940 Act prohibits a Fund from issuing senior securities except that the Fund may borrow money in amounts of up to one-third (33 1/3%) of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings) from banks. Any borrowings that exceed this amount will be reduced within three days (excluding Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 33 1/3% limitation even if it is not advantageous to sell securities at that time. Borrowings may be used for a variety of purposes, including (i) for temporary or emergency purposes, (ii) in anticipation of or in response to adverse market conditions, (iii) for cash management purposes, and (iv) for investment purposes. Borrowed money will cost a Fund interest expense and/or other fees. The costs of borrowing may reduce a Fund’s return. To the extent that a Fund has outstanding borrowings, it will be leveraged. Leveraging generally exaggerates the effect on NAV of any increase or decrease in the market value of a Fund’s securities.
Each Fund, together with other funds of the Trust and Victory Portfolios, Victory Portfolios II, and Victory Variable Insurance Funds, participates in a 364 day committed credit facility and a 364-day uncommitted, demand credit facility with Citibank, N.A. (Citibank). Each such credit facility may be renewed if so agreed by the parties. Under the agreement with Citibank, the Funds may borrow up to $600 million, of which $300 million is committed and $300 million is uncommitted. Of this amount, $40 million committed of the line of credit and $60 million of the uncommitted line of credit are reserved for use by the Victory Floating Rate Fund (a series of Victory Portfolios), with that Fund paying the related commitment fees for that amount. The purpose of each agreement is to meet temporary or emergency cash needs. For the committed credit facility, Citibank receives an annual commitment fee of 0.15%. Each Fund pays a pro-rata portion (adjusted for the amount of credit reserved for the Victory Floating Rate Fund) of these fees and pays the interest on any amount that it borrows.
Calculations of Dollar-Weighted Average Portfolio Maturity
Dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity is derived by multiplying the value of each debt instrument by the number of days remaining to its maturity, adding these calculations, and then dividing the total by the value of a Fund’s debt instruments. An obligation’s maturity typically is determined on a stated final maturity basis, although there are some exceptions to this rule.
With respect to obligations held by the Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund, Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund, and Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund, if it is probable that the issuer of an instrument will take advantage of a maturity-shortening device, such as a call, refunding, or redemption provision, the date on which the instrument will probably be called, refunded, or redeemed may be considered to be its maturity date. Also, the maturities of mortgage-backed securities, some asset-backed securities (“ABS”) and securities subject to sinking fund arrangements are determined on a weighted average life basis, which is the average time for principal to be repaid. For mortgage-backed securities and some ABS, this average time is calculated by assuming prepayment rates of the underlying loans. These prepayment rates can vary depending upon the level and volatility of interest rates. This, in turn, can
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affect the weighted average life of the security. The weighted average lives of these securities will be shorter than their stated final maturities. In addition, for purposes of a Fund’s investment policies, an instrument will be treated as having a maturity earlier than its stated maturity date if the instrument has technical features such as puts or demand features that, in the judgment of the Adviser, will result in the instrument being valued in the market as though it has the earlier maturity.
Finally, for purposes of calculating the dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of these Funds, the maturity of a debt instrument with a periodic interest reset date will be deemed to be the next reset date, rather than the remaining stated maturity of the instrument if, in the judgment of the Adviser, the periodic interest reset features will result in the instrument being valued in the market as though it has the earlier maturity.
The Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund will determine the maturity of an obligation in its portfolio in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.
Cover
Transactions using certain derivative instruments, other than purchased options, expose a Fund to an obligation to another party. A Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless there appears to be a liquid secondary market for such investments; or unless it owns either (1) an offsetting (covered) position in securities, currencies or other options, futures contracts or forward contracts, or (2) cash or liquid assets with a value, marked-to-market daily, sufficient to cover its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1) above.
For more information about these practices, see the “Derivatives” section.
Cybersecurity Risk
Technology, such as the internet, has become more prevalent in the course of business; and as such, each Fund and its service providers are susceptible to operational and information security risk resulting from cyber incidents. Cyber incidents refer to both intentional attacks and unintentional events including: processing errors, human errors, technical errors including computer glitches and system malfunctions, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, market-wide technical-related disruptions, unauthorized access to digital systems (through “hacking” or malicious software coding), computer viruses, and cyber-attacks that shut down, disable, slow or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality (including denial of service attacks). Cyber incidents could adversely impact a Fund and its shareholders and cause the Fund to incur financial loss and expense, as well as face exposure to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures. Cyber incidents may cause a Fund or its service providers to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, lose operational capacity (e.g., the loss of the ability to process transactions, calculate a Fund’s NAV, or allow shareholders to transact business), and/or fail to comply with applicable privacy and other laws. Among other potentially harmful effects, cyber incidents also may result in theft, unauthorized monitoring and failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While the Funds' service providers have established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent, such cyber incidents, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, each Fund cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by its service providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect each Fund or its shareholders. In certain situations, the Funds, the Adviser, or a service provider may be required to comply with law enforcement in responding to a cybersecurity incident, which may prevent each Funds from fully implementing their cybersecurity plans and systems, and (in certain situations) may result in additional information loss or damage. Each Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.
Derivatives
Each Fund (other than the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) may buy and sell certain types of derivatives, such as inverse floating rate securities, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps (each as described below) under circumstances in which such instruments are expected by the Adviser to aid in achieving the Fund’s investment objective. Derivatives also may possess the characteristics of both futures and securities (e.g., debt instruments with interest and principal payments determined by reference to the value of a commodity or a currency at a future time) and which, therefore, possess the risks of both futures and securities investments.
Derivatives, such as futures contracts; options on currencies, securities, and securities indexes; options on futures contracts; and swaps enable a Fund to take both “short” positions (positions that anticipate a decline in the market value of a particular asset or index) and “long” positions (positions that anticipate an increase in the market value of a particular asset or index). Each Fund also may use strategies that involve simultaneous short and long positions in response to specific market conditions, such as where the Adviser anticipates unusually high or low market volatility.
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The Adviser may enter into derivative positions for a Fund for either hedging or non-hedging purposes. The term hedging is applied to defensive strategies designed to protect a Fund from an expected decline in the market value of an asset or group of assets that a Fund owns (in the case of a short hedge) or to protect a Fund from an expected rise in the market value of an asset or group of assets which it intends to acquire in the future (in the case of a long or “anticipatory” hedge). Non-hedging strategies include strategies designed to produce incremental income (such as the option writing strategy) or “speculative” strategies, which are undertaken to equitize the cash or cash equivalent portion of a Fund’s portfolio or to profit from (i) an expected decline in the market value of an asset or group of assets which a Fund does not own or (ii) expected increases in the market value of an asset which it does not plan to acquire.
Rule 18f-4 regulates the use of derivatives for certain funds registered under the Investment Company Act (“Rule 18f-4”). With respect to Funds that qualify as a “Full Compliance Derivatives User” and in compliance with Rule 18f-4, those Funds have adopted and implemented policies and procedures to manage the Funds’ aggregate derivatives risk. In addition, those Funds may trade derivatives and certain other instruments that create future payment or delivery obligations subject to a value-at-risk (“VaR”) based leverage limit, have established and implemented a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and testing requirements, appointed a derivatives risk manager, and has complied with all reporting requirements relating to board and SEC reporting, which include providing additional disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. For Funds that qualify as limited derivatives users, Rule 18f-4 requires those Funds to have policies and procedures to manage its aggregate derivatives risk. These requirements have an impact on the Funds, including a potential increase in cost to enter into derivatives transactions.
Diversification
Each Fund intends to be diversified as defined in the 1940 Act and to satisfy the restrictions against investing too much of its assets in any “issuer” as set forth in the prospectus. In implementing this policy, the identification of the issuer of a municipal security depends on the terms and conditions of the security. When the assets and revenues of an agency, authority, instrumentality, or other political subdivision are separate from those of the government creating it and the security is backed only by the assets and revenues of the subdivision, agency, authority, or instrumentality, the latter would be deemed to be the sole issuer. Similarly, if an industrial development revenue bond is backed only by the assets and revenues of the non-government user, then that user would be deemed to be the sole issuer. However, if in either case the creating government or some other entity guarantees a security, the guarantee would be considered a separate security and would be treated as an issue of that government or other entity.
Futures Contracts
Each Fund (other than the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) may use futures contracts to implement its investment strategy. Futures contracts are publicly traded contracts to buy or sell an underlying asset or group of assets, such as a currency, interest rate, or an index of securities, at a future time at a specified price. Opening a position by buying a contract establishes a long position, while opening a position by selling a contract establishes a short position.
The purchase of a futures contract on a security or an index of securities normally enables a buyer to participate in the market movement of the underlying asset or index after paying a transaction charge and posting margin in an amount equal to a small percentage of the value of the underlying asset or index. A Fund initially will be required to deposit with the Trust’s custodian or the futures commission merchant (“FCM”) effecting the futures transaction an amount of “initial margin” in cash or securities, as permitted under applicable regulatory policies.
Initial margin in futures transactions is different from margin in securities transactions in that the former does not involve the borrowing of funds by the customer to finance the transaction. Rather, the initial margin is like a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract. Subsequent payments (called “maintenance or variation margin”) to and from the broker will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying asset fluctuates. This process is known as “marking to market.” For example, when a Fund has taken a long position in a futures contract and the value of the underlying asset has risen, that position will have increased in value and a Fund will receive from the broker a maintenance margin payment equal to the increase in value of the underlying asset. Conversely, when a Fund has taken a long position in a futures contract and the value of the underlying instrument has declined, the position would be less valuable, and a Fund would be required to make a maintenance margin payment to the broker.
At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, a Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position that will terminate a Fund’s position in the futures contract. A final determination of maintenance margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to a Fund, and a Fund realizes a loss or a gain. While futures contracts with respect to securities do provide for the delivery and acceptance of such securities, such delivery and acceptance seldom are made.
The risk of loss in trading futures contracts can be substantial because of the low margin deposits required and the high degree of leveraging involved in futures pricing. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may cause an immediate and substantial loss or gain. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are: (i) imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the stocks held by a Fund and the prices of futures contracts; and (ii) possible lack of a liquid secondary market
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for a futures contract and the resulting inability to close a futures position prior to its maturity date. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends on circumstances such as variations in speculative market demand for futures on securities, including technical influences in futures trading, and differences between the financial instruments being hedged and the instruments underlying the standard contracts available for trading in such respects as interest rate levels, maturities, and creditworthiness of issuers.
For more information about these practices, see the “Derivatives” section.
Illiquid Securities
The Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term, Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term, and Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Funds may invest up to 15%, and the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund may invest up to 5% of their respective net assets, in securities that are illiquid. Illiquid securities generally are those securities that may not reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions within seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the security. Investments in illiquid securities may impair a Fund’s ability to raise cash for redemptions or other purposes.
Interfund Borrowing and Lending
Each Fund (other than the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) is entitled to rely on an exemptive order from the SEC allowing them to lend money to, and borrow money from, each other pursuant to a master interfund lending agreement (the “Interfund Lending Program”). Under the Interfund Lending Program, the Funds may lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another (an “Interfund Loan”), subject to meeting the conditions of the SEC exemptive order. All Interfund Loans will consist only of uninvested cash reserves that the lending Fund otherwise would invest in short-term repurchase agreements or other short-term instruments.
If a Fund has outstanding bank borrowings, any Interfund Loans to the Fund would: (a) be at an interest rate equal to or lower than that of any outstanding bank borrowing, (b) be secured at least on an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding bank loan that requires collateral, (c) have a maturity no longer than any outstanding bank loan (and in any event not over seven days), and (d) provide that, if an event of default occurs under any agreement evidencing an outstanding bank loan to the Fund, that event of default by the Fund will automatically (without need for action or notice by the lending Fund) constitute an immediate event of default under the master interfund lending agreement, entitling the lending Fund to call the Interfund Loan immediately (and exercise all rights with respect to any collateral), and that such call will be made if the lending bank exercises its right to call its loan under its agreement with the borrowing Fund.
A Fund may borrow on an unsecured basis through the Interfund Lending Program only if its outstanding borrowings from all sources immediately after the interfund borrowing total 10% or less of its total assets, provided that if the borrowing Fund has a secured loan outstanding from any other lender, including but not limited to another Fund, the lending Fund’s Interfund Loan will be secured on at least an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding loan that requires collateral. If a borrowing Fund’s total outstanding borrowings immediately after an Interfund Loan would be greater than 10% of its total assets, the Fund may borrow through the Interfund Lending Program only on a secured basis. A Fund may not borrow under the Interfund Lending Program or from any other source if its total outstanding borrowings immediately after the borrowing would be more than 33 1/3% of its total assets or any lower threshold provided for by the Fund’s fundamental restrictions or non-fundamental policies.
No Fund may lend to another Fund through the Interfund Lending Program if the loan would cause the lending Fund’s aggregate outstanding loans through the Interfund Lending Program to exceed 15% of its current net assets at the time of the loan. A Fund’s Interfund Loans to any one Fund shall not exceed 5% of the lending Fund’s net assets. The duration of Interfund Loans will be limited to the time required to receive payment for securities sold, but in no event more than seven days, and for purposes of this condition, loans effected within seven days of each other will be treated as separate loan transactions. Each Interfund Loan may be called on one business day’s notice by a lending Fund and may be repaid on any day by a borrowing Fund. The limitations detailed above and the other conditions of the SEC exemptive order permitting interfund borrowing and lending are designed to minimize the risks associated with interfund borrowing and lending for both a lending Fund and a borrowing Fund. However, no borrowing or lending activity is without risk. When a Fund borrows money from another Fund, there is a risk that the Interfund Loan could be called on one business day’s notice or not renewed, in which case the Fund may have to borrow from a bank at higher rates if an Interfund Loan is not available from another Fund. Interfund Loans are subject to the risk that a borrowing Fund could be unable to repay the loan when due, and a delay in repayment to a lending Fund or from a borrowing Fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional costs. No Fund may borrow more than the amount permitted by its investment limitations. The Interfund Lending Program is subject to the oversight and periodic review of the Board.
Inverse Floating Rate Securities
Each Fund (other than the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) may invest up to 10% of its net assets in municipal securities whose coupons vary inversely with changes in short-term tax-exempt interest rates and thus are considered a leveraged investment in
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an underlying municipal bond (or securities with similar economic characteristics). In creating such a security, a municipality issues a certain amount of debt and pays a fixed interest rate. A portion of the debt is issued as variable rate short-term obligations, the interest rate of which is reset at short intervals, typically seven days or less. The other portion of the debt is issued as inverse floating rate obligations, the interest rate of which is calculated based on the difference between a multiple of (approximately two times) the interest paid by the issuer and the interest paid on the short-term obligation. These securities present special risks for two reasons: (1) if short-term interest rates rise (fall), the income the Fund earns on the inverse floating rate security will fall (rise); and (2) if long-term interest rates rise (fall) the value of the inverse floating rate security will fall (rise) more than the value of the underlying bond because of the leveraged nature of the investment. The Funds will seek to buy these securities at attractive values and yields that more than compensate the Funds for the securities’ price volatility.
LIBOR Discontinuation Risk
The LIBOR discontinuation may adversely affect the financial markets generally.
LIBOR has been the principal floating rate benchmark in the financial markets, and a large portion of a Fund’s assets are tied to LIBOR. However, LIBOR has been or will be discontinued as a floating rate benchmark. The date of discontinuation depends on the LIBOR currency and tenor. With limited exceptions, no new LIBOR obligations will be entered into going forward. Existing LIBOR obligations have transitioned or will transition to another benchmark, depending on the LIBOR currency and tenor. For some existing LIBOR-based obligations, the contractual consequences of the discontinuation of LIBOR may not be clear.
One week and two month U.S. dollar LIBOR and all tenors of non-U.S. dollar LIBOR were discontinued as of December 31, 2021. The principal tenors of U.S. dollar LIBOR (overnight and one, three, six and 12 months) are expected to be discontinued as of June 30, 2023. However, there is no assurance that such tenors of U.S. dollar LIBOR will continue to be published until that date or in any particular form.
Certain U.S. and non-U.S. regulators have stated that, despite expected publication of U.S. dollar LIBOR through June 30, 2023, no new contracts using U.S. dollar LIBOR should be entered into after December 31, 2021. U.S. and non-U.S. regulatory authorities and legislative bodies have taken other actions related to the LIBOR discontinuation and will continue to do so, and the consequences of such actions cannot be predicted.
With respect to a Fund’s investment that is based on LIBOR, such investment either will mature or be amended before June 30, 2023 or will include fallback provisions that will result in a replacement rate based on SOFR (the Secured Overnight Financing Rate). In any case, replacement rates could adversely affect a Fund’s returns on these investments, depending on the differences between the initial rates and the reset rates.
Following the discontinuation of LIBOR, a Fund’s investments will be based on different floating rates. As discussed below, there are uncertainties regarding such floating rates and a Fund’s related investments and their effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the Fund.
Financial markets, particularly the market for LIBOR-based obligations in which a Fund invests, may be adversely affected by the discontinuation of LIBOR, the remaining uncertainties regarding its discontinuation, the alternative reference rates that will be used as the result of the LIBOR discontinuation, including rates based on SOFR in the case of U.S. dollar LIBOR, and other developments related to LIBOR and its replacement. There is uncertainty as to such development and the effects thereof.
Certain specific risks related to the LIBOR discontinuation are discussed below. The Funds are continuing to evaluate the impact of the LIBOR transition and the establishment of alternative reference rates, and there can be no assurance that the Funds have identified all material potential effects that these events may have on its business, results of operations and financial condition.
LIBOR will be replaced by one or more rates, including SOFR-based rates; there are important differences between LIBOR, on the one hand, and SOFR and other replacement rates, on the other; there is no assurance that SOFR-based rates and other replacement rates will be suitable substitutes for LIBOR, and thus the substitution of such rates for LIBOR could have an adverse effect on the Funds specifically and on the financial markets generally.
Non-LIBOR floating rate obligations, including SOFR-based obligations, may have returns and values that fluctuate more than those of floating rate debt obligations that are based on LIBOR or other rates. Also, because SOFR and some alternative floating rates are relatively new market indexes, markets for certain non-LIBOR obligations may never develop or may not be liquid. Market terms for non-LIBOR floating rate obligations, such as the spread over the index reflected in interest rate provisions, may evolve over time, and prices of non-LIBOR floating rate obligations may be different depending on when they are issued and changing views about correct spread levels.
These and other changes in the financial markets may adversely affect financial markets generally and may also adversely affect a Fund’s operations, finances and investments specifically, particularly as financial markets transition away from LIBOR.
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Floating rates based on SOFR are expected to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR for many purposes. There is no assurance that SOFR-based rates, as modified by applicable spread adjustments, will be the economic equivalent of U.S. dollar LIBOR. SOFR-based rates will differ from U.S. dollar LIBOR, and the differences may be material. Different SOFR-based rates—including SOFR-based term rates—are expected to develop for different financial products.
SOFR is intended to be a broad measure of the cost of borrowing funds overnight in transactions that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. SOFR is calculated and published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“FRBNY”) based on transaction-level repo data collected from various sources. Because SOFR is a financing rate based on overnight secured funding transactions, it differs fundamentally from LIBOR. LIBOR is intended to be an unsecured rate that represents interbank funding costs for different short-term maturities or “tenors.” It is a forward-looking rate reflecting expectations regarding interest rates for those tenors. Thus, LIBOR is intended to be sensitive, in certain respects, to bank credit risk and to short-term interest rate risk. In contrast, SOFR is a secured overnight rate reflecting the credit of U.S. Treasury securities as collateral. Thus, it is intended to be insensitive to credit risk and to risks related to interest rates other than overnight rates. SOFR has been more volatile than other benchmark or market rates, such as three-month LIBOR, during certain periods.
SOFR has a limited history, having been first published in April 2018. The future performance of SOFR, and SOFR-based reference rates, cannot be predicted based on SOFR’s history or otherwise. Future levels of SOFR may bear little or no relation to historical levels of SOFR, LIBOR or other rates.
For these reasons, among others, there is no assurance that SOFR, or rates derived from SOFR, will perform in the same or similar way as LIBOR would have performed at any time, and there is no assurance that SOFR-based rates will be a suitable substitute for LIBOR. As discussed below, different SOFR-based rates are expected to develop in connection with the LIBOR discontinuation.
Various SOFR-based rates, including SOFR-based term rates, are expected to develop in response to the discontinuation of U.S. dollar LIBOR, and their development could have an adverse effect on the Funds specifically and the financial markets generally.
The Alternative Reference Rates Committee (the “ARRC”), which was convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the FRBNY, has recommended that U.S. dollar LIBOR be replaced by rates based on SOFR (plus, in the case of existing LIBOR contracts and obligations, a spread adjustment). The derivatives markets are also expected to use SOFR-based rates to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. For purposes of the following discussion, the term “LIBOR” refers solely to U.S. dollar LIBOR.
It is expected that more than one SOFR-based rate will be used in the financial markets. Like LIBOR, some SOFR-based rates will be forward-looking term rates. Other SOFR-based rates will be intended to resemble rates for term structures through their use of averaging mechanisms applied to rates from overnight transactions, as in the case of “simple average” or “compounded average” SOFR.
Different kinds of SOFR-based rates—whether they are CME Term SOFR Reference Rates (as defined and discussed below) or SOFR average rates (as discussed below)—will result in different interest rates. Mismatches between SOFR-based rates and between SOFR-based rates and other rates may cause economic inefficiencies, particularly if market participants seek to hedge one kind of SOFR-based rate by entering into hedge transactions based on another SOFR-based rate or another rate. Such mismatches could have an adverse effect on a Fund.
The ARRC has recommended SOFR-based term rates (“CME Term SOFR Reference Rates”) published by the CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (“CME”). CME states that CME Term SOFR Reference Rates provide forward-looking measurements of overnight SOFR, based on market expectations implied from derivatives markets. It also states that CME Term SOFR Reference Rates are based on executed transactions and executable bids and offers in SOFR futures traded on the CME Designated Contract Market and that, in certain circumstances, CME Term SOFR Reference Rates may also be based on SOFR overnight indexed swap (OIS) transactions. CME Term SOFR Reference Rates are available for three tenors: one month, three months, six and 12 months.
Thus, CME Term SOFR Reference Rates are term rates based on market inputs from term transactions. CME Term SOFR Reference Rates are different from the “average” or “compounded” SOFR rates described below, which, being based on market inputs from overnight transactions, are in the nature of proxies for term rates.
CME Term SOFR Reference Rates are expected to become replacement rates in existing LIBOR-based obligations that have fallback provisions based on the ARRC’s recommendations for fallbacks. This expectation applies to many of a Fund’s floating rate assets.
The use of CME Term SOFR Reference Rates in new floating rate obligations is expected to be influenced by recommendations of the ARRC regarding best practices for the scope and use of CME Term SOFR Reference Rates:
• The ARRC stated its support for the use of CME Term SOFR Reference Rates (in addition to other forms of SOFR) for new business loan activity, particularly multi-lender facilities, middle market loans, and trade finance loans. The ARRC recognized that (i) CME Term SOFR Reference Rates may also be appropriate for certain securitizations that hold underlying business
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loans or other assets that reference CME Term SOFR Reference Rates and where those assets cannot easily reference other forms of SOFR and (ii) CME Term SOFR Reference Rates may be used for end-user facing derivatives intended to hedge cash products that reference CME Term SOFR Reference Rates.
• However, for other new floating rate contracts, the ARRC recommended, as a “general principle,” that market participants use overnight SOFR and SOFR averages (which are discussed below) rather than CME Term SOFR Reference Rates. The ARRC stated that the following kinds of new transactions should use overnight SOFR and SOFR averages rather than CME Term SOFR Reference Rates: floating rate notes; consumer products (including adjustable rate mortgages and student loans); and most securitizations (exceptions are described in the first bullet point above).
• In addition, the ARRC stated that it did not support the use of CME Term SOFR Reference Rates for the vast majority of the derivatives markets (exceptions are described in the second bullet point above).
SOFR-based rates that are not CME Term SOFR Reference Rates may be based on averages of daily SOFR calculated over periods of time that correspond to the standard tenors for LIBOR. For example, a one-month rate may be determined based on an average of daily SOFR rates during a given one-month interest period. Such rates will achieve a term-like structure without reliance on a traded market for term rates. Such non-term SOFR rates may be calculated as simple averages of daily SOFR over a period of time, or they may be calculated by compounding SOFR rates on a daily basis. In each case, a blended rate for the related period will result.
Rates based on averages of daily SOFR, whether based on simple averaging or compounding, may be calculated before relevant interest periods (i.e., “in advance”) or during relevant interest periods (i.e., “in arrears”). For example (and ignoring conventions and other details relating to, among other things, business days and day counts), a monthly rate calculated “in advance” for interest accrued during a June interest period could be based on daily SOFR rates during May (and would therefore be knowable “in advance” of the beginning of the June interest period), whereas a rate calculated “in arrears” for interest accrued during a June interest period would be based on daily SOFR rates during June (and would therefore not be knowable except “in arrears,” at or near the end of the June interest period).
Market conventions have developed only recently with respect to calculation methodologies for SOFR average rates; such conventions may not be widely adopted and may change. Market precedents for documenting securities that use SOFR average rates vary and can be expected to continue to vary. Accordingly, there may be inconsistencies in calculation methodologies and documentation for obligations that are based on SOFR average rates, and otherwise similar obligations may perform and trade differently.
Various non-SOFR-based rates may also develop in response to the discontinuation of LIBOR. It is not clear how such non-SOFR rates will develop and to what extent they will be used. Concerns about market depth and stability could affect the development of non-SOFR-based term rates, and such rates may create various risks, whether or not similar to the risks relating to SOFR, both for the financial markets generally and for a Fund specifically.
There are non-LIBOR forward-looking floating rates that are not based on SOFR and that may be considered by participants in the financial markets as LIBOR alternatives. Such rates include Ameribor (American Interbank Offered Rate), BSBY (Bloomberg Short-Term Bank Yield Index) and BYI (Bank Yield Index). Unlike forward-looking SOFR-based term rates, such rates reflect a bank credit spread component.
Limitations and Risks of Options and Futures Activity
Each Fund (other than the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) may engage in both hedging and non-hedging strategies. Although effective hedging generally can capture the bulk of a desired risk adjustment, no hedge is completely effective. A Fund’s ability to hedge effectively through transactions in futures and options depends on the degree to which price movements in the hedged asset correlate with price movements of the futures and options.
Non-hedging strategies typically involve special risks. The profitability of a Fund’s non-hedging strategies will depend on the ability of the Adviser to analyze both the applicable derivatives market and the market for the underlying asset or group of assets. Derivatives markets often are more volatile than corresponding securities markets, and a relatively small change in the price of the underlying asset or group of assets can have a magnified effect upon the price of a related derivative instrument.
Derivatives markets also are often less liquid than the market for the underlying asset or group of assets. Some positions in futures and options may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract or option at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close such an option or futures position prior to maturity. The inability to close options and futures positions also could have an adverse impact on a Fund’s ability to effectively carry out its derivative strategies and might, in some cases, require the Fund to deposit cash to meet applicable margin requirements.
Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or an option on a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price; once that limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at
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a price beyond the limit. Daily price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.
If a Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract or an option on a futures position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses. The Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to maintain the position being hedged by the future or option.
Historically, advisers of registered investment companies trading commodity interests (such as futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps), including the Funds, have been excluded from regulation as Commodity Pool Operators (“CPOs”) pursuant to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) Regulation 4.5. In February 2012, the CFTC announced substantial amendments to the permissible exclusions, and to the conditions for reliance on the permissible exclusions, from registration as a CPO. To qualify for an exclusion under these amendments to CFTC Regulation 4.5, if a Fund uses commodity interests (such as futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps) other than for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish these positions, determined at the time the most recent position was established, may not exceed 5% of the Fund’s NAV (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options that are “in-the-money” at the time of purchase are “in-the-money”) or, alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of those positions, determined at the time the most recent position was established, may not exceed 100% of the fund’s NAV (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition, to qualify for an exclusion, a Fund must satisfy a marketing test, which requires, among other things, that a Fund not hold itself out as a vehicle for trading commodity interests. The amendments to CFTC Regulation 4.5 became effective on April 24, 2012.
The Adviser currently claims an exclusion (under CFTC Regulation 4.5) from registration as a CPO with respect to the Funds and, in its management of the Funds, intends to comply with one of the two alternative trading limitations described above and the marketing limitation. Complying with the trading limitations may restrict the Adviser’s ability to use derivatives as part of the Funds' investment strategies. Although the Adviser expects to be able to execute the Funds' investment strategies within the limitations, a Fund’s performance could be adversely affected. In addition, rules under the Dodd-Frank Act may limit the availability of certain derivatives, may make the use of derivatives by portfolios more costly, and may otherwise adversely impact the performance and value of derivatives.
For more information about these practices, see the “Derivatives” section.
Liquidity Determinations
Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Liquidity Rule”) requires the Funds to establish and maintain a liquidity risk management program (“LRMP”). The Liquidity Rule defines “illiquid security” as a security that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the security. Such securities include, but are not limited to, time deposits and repurchase agreements with maturities longer than seven days. Securities that may be resold under Rule 144A, securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or securities otherwise subject to restrictions or limitations on resale under the 1933 Act shall not be deemed illiquid solely by reason of being unregistered. Victory Capital, under oversight of the Board, determines whether a particular security is deemed to be liquid based on the trading markets for the specific security and other factors.
Liquidity Fee and Redemption Gate Risk
The Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund may impose liquidity fees or temporarily suspend redemptions for a period of up to 10 business days in any 90-day period if the weekly liquidity of the Fund’s assets falls below a certain threshold, subject to the determination by the Fund’s Board that such liquidity fee or redemption gate is in the best interest of the Fund. If the weekly liquidity of the Fund’s assets falls below 30% of its total assets, the Fund may either impose a liquidity fee of up to 2% of the value of the shares redeemed or temporarily suspend redemptions. If the weekly liquidity of the Fund’s assets falls below 10% of its total assets, the Fund must impose a minimum 1% liquidity fee on redemptions, unless the Fund’s Board determines that imposing such liquidity fee is not in the best interests of the Fund. The imposition of a liquidity fee would reduce the amount you would receive upon redemption of your shares of the Fund. The imposition of a redemption gate would delay your ability to redeem your investments in the Fund.
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Municipal Lease Obligations (“MLOs”)
Each Fund may invest in MLOs, which are installment purchase contract obligations, and certificates of participation in such obligations (collectively, “lease obligations”). Lease obligations do not constitute general obligations of a municipality for which the municipality’s taxing power is pledged, although a lease obligation is ordinarily backed by a municipality’s covenant to budget for the payments due under the lease obligation.
Certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses, which provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease obligation payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. Although “non-appropriation” lease obligations are secured by the leased property, disposition of the property in the event of foreclosure might prove difficult. In evaluating a potential investment in such a lease obligation, the Adviser will consider: (1) the credit quality of the obligor; (2) whether the underlying property is essential to a governmental function; and (3) whether the lease obligation contains covenants prohibiting the obligor from substituting similar property if the obligor fails to make appropriations for the lease obligation.
Non-Investment-Grade Securities or “Junk Bonds”
Each Fund may invest directly or indirectly in or hold “junk bonds” or non-investment-grade securities. Non-investment grade securities (i.e., BB or lower by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), or Ba or lower by Moody’s Investors Service Inc. (“Moody’s”) or, if unrated, deemed to be of comparable quality by the Adviser) are speculative in nature, involve greater risk of default by the issuing entity, and may be subject to greater market fluctuations than higher rated fixed income securities. Non-investment-grade bonds, sometimes referred to as “junk bonds,” usually are issued by companies without long track records of sales and earnings, or by those companies with questionable credit strength. The retail secondary market for these “junk bonds” may be less liquid than that of higher rated securities and adverse conditions could make it difficult at times to sell certain securities or could result in lower prices than those used in calculating the Fund’s NAV. Also, there may be significant disparities in the prices quoted for “junk bonds” by various dealers. Under such conditions, the Fund may find it difficult to value its “junk bonds” accurately. The Fund’s investments in “junk bonds” also may be subject to greater credit risk because it may invest in debt securities issued in connection with corporate restructuring by highly leveraged issuers or in debt securities not current in the payment of interest or principal or in default. If the issuer of a security is in default with respect to interest or principal payments, the Fund may lose its entire investment. Because of the risks involved in investing in non-investment-grade securities, an investment in a Fund that invests substantially in such securities should be considered speculative. “Junk bonds” may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a declining interest rate market, the Fund would have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in a decreased return. Conversely, a junk bond’s value will decrease in a rising interest rate market, as will the value of the Fund’s assets. The credit rating of a below investment grade security does not necessarily address its market value risk and may not reflect its actual credit risk. Ratings and market value may change from time to time, positively or negatively, to reflect new developments regarding the issuer. If a Fund that invests in “junk bonds” experiences unexpected net redemptions, this may force it to sell its non-investment grade securities, without regard to their investment merits, thereby decreasing the asset base upon which the Fund’s expenses can be spread and possibly reducing the Fund’s rate of return.
Options on Futures Contracts
Each Fund (other than the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) may invest in options on futures contracts to implement its investment strategy. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option.
The trading of options on futures contracts entails the risk that changes in the value of the underlying futures contract will not be fully reflected in the value of the option. The risk of imperfect correlation, however, generally tends to diminish as the maturity date of the futures contract or expiration date of the option approaches. In addition, a Fund utilizing options on futures contracts is subject to the risk of market movements between the time that the option is exercised and the time of performance thereunder. This could increase the extent of any loss suffered by a Fund in connection with such transactions.
For more information about these practices, see the “Derivatives” section.
Periodic Auction Reset Bonds
Each Fund (except the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) may invest in tax-exempt periodic auction reset bonds. Periodic auction reset bonds are bonds whose interest rates are reset periodically through an auction mechanism. For purposes of calculating the portfolio weighted average maturity of each Fund, the maturity of periodic auction reset bonds will be deemed to be the next interest reset date, rather than the remaining stated maturity of the instrument.
Periodic auction reset bonds, similar to short-term debt instruments, are generally subject to less interest rate risk than long-term fixed rate debt instruments because the interest rate will be periodically reset in a market auction. Periodic auction reset bonds with a long
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remaining stated maturity (i.e., 10 years or more), however, could have greater market risk than fixed short-term debt instruments, arising from the possibility of auction failure or insufficient demand at an auction, resulting in greater price volatility of such instruments compared to fixed short-term bonds.
Put Bonds
Each Fund may invest in tax-exempt securities, including securities with variable interest rates, that may be redeemed or sold back (put) to the issuer of the security or a third party prior to stated maturity (put bonds). Such securities will normally trade as if maturity is the earliest put date, even though stated maturity is longer. For the Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund, Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund, and Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund, maturity for put bonds is deemed to be the date on which the put becomes exercisable. Generally, maturity for put bonds for the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund is determined as stated under Variable Rate Demand Notes below.
Recent Market Conditions and Regulatory Developments
Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly and adversely affect the global economy. Outbreaks such as the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, or other similarly infectious diseases may have material adverse impacts on a Fund. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this virus, and other epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise in the future, has negatively affected and may continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Widespread layoffs and job furloughs may negatively affect the value of many mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. The impact of any outbreak may last for an extended period of time. The current pandemic has accelerated trends toward working remotely and shopping online, which may negatively affect the value of office and commercial real estate and companies. The travel, hospitality and public transit industries may suffer long-term negative effects from the pandemic and resulting changes to public behavior.
Governments and central banks have moved to limit these negative economic effects with interventions that are unprecedented in size and scope and may continue to do so, but the ultimate impact of these efforts in many countries is uncertain. Governments’ efforts to limit potential negative economic effects of the pandemic may be altered, delayed, or eliminated at inopportune times for political, policy or other reasons. The impact of infectious diseases may be greater in countries that do not move effectively to control them, which may occur for political reasons or because of a lack of health care or economic resources. Health crises caused by the recent coronavirus outbreak may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries. Although effective vaccines are now available, it may be many months before vaccinations are sufficiently widespread to allow the restoration of full economic activity. The failure to control the coronavirus in less developed countries may impact the economies of more developed countries.
Many municipal issuers may suffer substantial declines in tax revenue because of the business and economic disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Because this situation is relatively new and ongoing, it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing, and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This may result in disruption of municipal programs and services.
High public debt in the United States and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty and there may be a further increase in the amount of debt due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic relief and public health measures. Interest rates have been unusually low in recent years in the United States and abroad. It is difficult to predict the impact on various markets of a significant rate increase or other significant policy changes, whether brought about by U.S. policy makers, perhaps in response to increasing indications of inflation, or by dislocations in world markets. For example, because investors may buy equity securities or other investments with borrowed money, a significant increase in interest rates may cause a decline in the markets for those investments. In addition, ongoing inflation pressures from tight labor markets and supply chain disruptions have led to a Fed policy shift to increase its benchmark interest rate, which could cause a material increase in prevailing interest rates and/or negatively impact companies and the economy in general. Also, regulators have expressed concern that rate increases may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility. Over the longer term, rising interest rates may present a greater risk than has historically been the case due to the current period of relatively low rates and the effect of government fiscal and monetary policy initiatives and potential market reaction to those initiatives, or their alteration or cessation.
Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Following Russia’s actions, various governments, including the United States, have issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia, including, among other actions, a prohibition on doing business with certain Russian companies, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs; the removal by certain countries and the European Union of selected Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial
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Telecommunications (“SWIFT”), the electronic banking network that connects banks globally; and restrictive measures to prevent the Russian Central Bank from undermining the impact of the sanctions. The current events, including sanctions and the potential for future sanctions, including any impacting Russia’s energy sector, and other actions, and Russia’s retaliatory responses to those sanctions and actions, may continue to adversely impact the Russian and Ukrainian economies and may result in the further decline of the value and liquidity of Russian and Ukrainian securities, a continued weakening of the ruble and hryvnia and continued exchange closures, and may have other adverse consequences on the Russian and Ukrainian economies that could impact the value of these investments and impair the ability of a Fund to buy, sell, receive or deliver those securities. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of a Fund’s investments beyond any direct exposure to Russian and Ukrainian issuers. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of a Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
During times of market turmoil, investors tend to look to the safety of securities issued or backed by the Treasury Department, causing the prices of these securities to rise and the yield to decline. Reduced liquidity in fixed income and credit markets may negatively affect many issuers worldwide and make it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms, if at all. Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of market turmoil, disrupting investment programs and potentially causing losses. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted.
National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. A rise in protectionist trade policies, tariff “wars,” changes to some major international trade agreements and the potential for changes to others, and campaigns to “buy American,” could affect international trade and the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Markets have been sensitive to the outlook for resolving the U.S.-China “trade war,” a trend that may continue in the future. China’s economy, which has been sustained in recent years largely through a debt-financed housing boom, may be approaching the limits of that strategy and may experience a significant slowdown as a result of debt that cannot be repaid. Due to the size of China’s economy, such a slowdown could impact a number of other countries.
In December 2020, the United Kingdom (“UK”) and the European Union (“EU”) signed a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (“TCA”) to delineate the terms on which the UK left the EU. The TCA did little to address financial services and products provided by UK entities to customers in the EU, leaving the future of such services uncertain. Also left uncertain was the long-term future of the UK auto industry, which relies heavily on exports to the EU, although the TCA leaves a long period for issues to be resolved. New trading rules have disrupted the cross-border flow of products and supplies for many businesses; it remains to be seen whether these will be smoothed out with the passage of time or cause long-term damage to affected businesses. There is some uncertainty as to whether dislocations in the UK’s economy are mainly the result of COVID-19 (as the government claims) or the result of the country having left the EU.
Over the past several years, the United States has moved away from tighter legislation and industry regulation impacting businesses and the financial services industry. There is a strong potential for materially increased regulation in the future, as well as higher taxes or taxes restructured to incentivize different activities. These changes, should they occur, may impose added costs on the Funds and their service providers and affect the businesses of various portfolio companies, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Unexpected political, regulatory, and diplomatic events within the United States and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Climate Change. There is increasing concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. A rise in sea levels, a change in weather patterns, including an increase in powerful storms and large wildfires, and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding could cause coastal properties to lose value or become unmarketable altogether. Unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties in affected zones may not ever recover their value. The U.S. administration appears concerned about the climate change problem and is focusing regulatory and public works projects around those concerns. Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change could adversely affect the value of certain land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating climate change.
Losses relating to climate change could adversely affect corporate issuers and mortgage lenders, the value of mortgage-backed securities, the bonds of municipalities that depend on tax or other revenues and tourist dollars generated by affected properties, and insurers of the property and/or of corporate, municipal, or mortgage-backed securities. Since property and security values are driven largely by buyers’ perceptions, it is difficult to know the time period over which these market effects might unfold.
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Repurchase Agreements
Each Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which a security is purchased with a simultaneous commitment to sell the security back to the seller (a commercial bank or recognized securities dealer) at an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, usually not more than seven days from the date of purchase. The resale price reflects the purchase price plus an agreed upon market rate of interest which is unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the purchased security. A Fund maintains custody of the underlying obligations prior to their repurchase, either through its regular custodian or through a special “tri-party” custodian that maintains separate accounts for both the Fund and its counterparty. Thus, the obligation to the counterparty to pay the repurchase price on the date agreed to or upon demand is, in effect, secured by the underlying securities. A repurchase agreement involves the obligation of the seller to pay the agreed upon price, which obligation is in effect secured by the value of the underlying security. In these transactions, the securities purchased by a Fund will have a total value equal to or in excess of the amount of the repurchase obligation and will be held by the Fund’s custodian or special “tri-party” custodian until repurchased. If the seller defaults and the value of the underlying security declines, a Fund may incur a loss and may incur expenses in selling the collateral. If the seller seeks relief under the bankruptcy laws, the disposition of the collateral may be delayed or limited. The income from repurchase agreements will not qualify as “exempt-interest dividends” (see “Tax Considerations”) when distributed by a Fund.
Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper and Rule 144A Securities
Each Fund may invest in commercial paper issued in reliance on the “private placement” exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act (“Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper”). Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper is restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws; therefore, any resale of Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper must be effected in a transaction exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper normally is resold to other investors through or with the assistance of the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper, thus providing liquidity.
Each Fund also may purchase restricted securities eligible for resale to “qualified institutional buyers” pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act (“Rule 144A Securities”). Rule 144A provides a non-exclusive safe harbor from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act for resales of certain securities to institutional investors.
However, investing in Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper 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 these securities.
Securities as a Result of Exchanges or Workouts
Each Fund may hold various instruments received in an exchange or workout of a distressed security (i.e., a low-rated debt security that is in default or at risk of becoming in default). Such instruments may include, but are not limited to, equity securities, warrants, rights, participation interests in sales of assets and contingent-interest obligations.
Securities of Other Investment Companies
Each Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies that qualify as “money market funds” under applicable SEC rules. Any such investment would be made in accordance with the Fund’s investment policies and applicable law. In addition, each Fund (except the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) may invest in securities issued by other non-money market investment companies (including ETFs). As a shareholder of another investment company, a Fund would indirectly bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that a Fund bears in connection with its own operations. The Funds may invest in securities issued by other investment companies subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act. Certain exceptions to these limitations are provided by the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying instruments, but the total return on such instruments at the investment company level may be reduced by the operating expenses and fees of such investment companies, including advisory fees.
The SEC has adopted certain regulatory changes and taken other actions related to the ability of an investment company to invest in the securities of another investment company. These changes included, among other things, the rescission of certain SEC exemptive orders permitting investments in excess of the statutory limits, the withdrawal of certain related SEC staff no-action letters, and the adoption of Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4 permits a portfolio to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions.
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Swap Arrangements
Each Fund (other than the Victory Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund) may enter into various forms of swap arrangements with counterparties with respect to interest rates, currency rates or indexes, including purchase of caps, floors and collars as described below. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year.
In an interest rate swap a Fund could agree for a specified period to pay a bank or investment banker the floating rate of interest on a so-called notional principal amount (i.e., an assumed figure selected by the parties for this purpose) in exchange for agreement by the bank or investment banker to pay a Fund a fixed rate of interest on the notional principal amount. In a currency swap a Fund would agree with the other party to exchange cash flows based on the relative differences in values of a notional amount of two (or more) currencies; in an index swap, a Fund would agree to exchange cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the values of the selected indexes. The purchase of a cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments from the seller on a notional amount to the extent that the selected index exceeds an agreed upon interest rate or amount, whereas the purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser to receive such payments to the extent the selected index falls below an agreed upon interest rate or amount. A collar combines buying a cap and selling a floor.
Most swaps entered into by a Fund will be on a net basis. For example, in an interest rate swap, amounts generated by application of the fixed rate and floating rate to the notional principal amount would first offset one another, with the Fund either receiving or paying the difference between such amounts. In order to be in a position to meet any obligations resulting from swaps, a Fund will set up a segregated custodial account to hold liquid assets, including cash. For swaps entered into on a net basis, assets will be segregated having an NAV equal to any excess of a Fund’s accrued obligations over the accrued obligations of the other party; for swaps on other than a net basis, assets will be segregated having a value equal to the total amount of a Fund’s obligations. Collateral is treated as illiquid.
Swap agreements historically have been individually negotiated, and most swap arrangements are currently traded over-the-counter. Certain standardized swaps currently are, and more in the future will be, centrally cleared and traded on either a swap execution facility or a designated contract market. Cleared swaps are transmitted through FCMs that are members of central clearinghouses with the clearinghouse serving as a central counterparty similar to transactions in futures contracts. Central clearing is expected to decrease counterparty risk and increase liquidity compared to uncleared swaps because central clearing interposes the central clearinghouse as the counterparty to each participant's swap. However, central clearing does not eliminate counterparty risk or illiquidity risk entirely. For example, swaps that are centrally cleared are subject to the creditworthiness of the clearing organization involved in the transaction. An investor could lose margin payments it has deposited with its FCM as well as the net amount of gains not yet paid by the clearing organization if the clearing organization becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of the clearing organization, the investor may be entitled to the net amount of gains the investor is entitled to receive plus the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the clearing organization’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the investor. In addition, depending on the size of a portfolio and other factors, the margin required under the rules of a clearinghouse and by a clearing member FCM may be in excess of the collateral required to be posted by a portfolio to support its obligations under a similar uncleared swap. It is expected, however, that regulators will adopt rules imposing certain margin requirements, including minimums, on uncleared swaps in the near future, which could reduce the distinction.
These swap arrangements will be made primarily for hedging purposes to preserve the return on an investment or on a portion of a Fund’s portfolio. However, a Fund may, as noted above, enter into such arrangements for income purposes to the extent permitted by applicable law. In entering into a swap arrangement, a Fund is dependent upon the creditworthiness and good faith of the counterparty. A Fund will attempt to reduce the risk of nonperformance by the counterparty by dealing only with established, reputable institutions. The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation and in some cases transacting in swaps that are centrally cleared and exchange-traded. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid. Certain swap transactions involve more recent innovations for which standardized documentation has not yet been fully developed and generally will not be centrally cleared or traded on an exchange and, accordingly, they are less liquid than traditional swap transactions.
A Fund may enter into interest rate swaps, the use of which is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates, or other applicable factors, the investment performance of a Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these investment techniques were not used. Moreover, even if the Adviser is correct in its forecasts, there is a risk that the swap position may correlate imperfectly with the price of the asset or liability being hedged.
Each Fund may enter into credit default swap (“CDS”) contracts for investment purposes. The Funds also may invest in credit default swap indexes, which are portfolios of credit default swaps with similar characteristics. If a Fund is a seller of a CDS contract, a Fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default by a third party, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, on the debt obligation. In return, a Fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, a Fund
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would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the seller, a Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. As the seller, a Fund also is not required to remain in the CDS contract until default or maturity and could terminate the contract and incur a realized gain or loss.
Each Fund also may purchase CDS contracts in order to hedge against the risk of default of debt securities it holds, in which case a Fund would function as the counterparty referenced above. This would involve the risk that the swap may expire worthless and would only generate income in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation (as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial instability). It also would involve credit risk; the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to a Fund in the event of a default. As the buyer, a Fund is not required to remain in the CDS contract until default or maturity and could terminate the contract and incur a realized gain or loss.
The regulation of the U.S. and non-U.S. swaps markets has undergone substantial change in recent years. Although the CFTC released final rules relating to clearing, reporting, recordkeeping and registration requirements under the Dodd-Frank Act, many of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act are subject to further final rule making or phase-in periods, and thus their ultimate impact remains unclear. New regulations could, among other things, restrict a Fund's ability to engage in swap transactions (for example, by making certain types of swaps no longer available to a Fund) and/or increase the costs of such swap transactions (for example, by increasing margin or capital requirements), and an Underlying Fund might be unable to fully execute its investment strategies as a result. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which a Fund engages in swaps also could prevent a Fund from using these instruments or affect the pricing or other factors relating to these instruments, or may change the availability of certain investment.
Regulations adopted by the CFTC, SEC and banking regulators may require a Fund to post margin on OTC swaps, and exchanges will set minimum margin requirements for exchange-traded and cleared swaps. The prudential regulators issued final rules that will require banks subject to their supervision to exchange variation and initial margin in respect of their obligations arising under OTC swap agreements. The CFTC adopted similar rules that apply to CFTC-registered swap dealers that are not banks. Such rules generally require a Fund to segregate additional assets in order to meet the new variation and initial margin requirements when they enter into OTC swap agreements. The European Supervisory Authorities (“ESA”), various national regulators in Europe, the Australian Securities & Investment Commission, the Japanese Financial Services Agency and the Canadian Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions adopted rules and regulations that are similar to that of the Federal Reserve. The variation margin requirements are now effective and the initial margin requirements are being phased-in through 2022 based on average daily aggregate notional amount of covered swaps between swap dealers and swap entities. Due to these regulations, a Fund could be required to engage in greater documentation and recordkeeping with respect to swap agreements.
Separately, on December 8, 2020, the CFTC adopted regulations allowing investment advisers for registered investment companies and other institutional investors to apply a minimum transfer amount (“MTA”) of variation margin based upon the separately managed investment account or sleeve (“Sleeve”) that the adviser is responsible for, rather than having to calculate the MTA across all accounts of the investor. An investment manager must abide by the following conditions: (1) any such swaps are entered into with the swap dealer by an asset manager on behalf of a Sleeve owned by the legal entity pursuant to authority granted under an investment management agreement; (2) the swaps of such Sleeve are subject to a master netting agreement that does not permit netting of initial or variation margin obligations across Sleeves of the legal entity that have swaps outstanding with the swap dealer; and (3) the swap dealer applies an MTA no greater than $50,000 to the initial and variation margin collection and posting obligations required of such Sleeve. As of the date of this SAI, the banking regulators have not provided similar relief, although swaps dealers subject to a banking regulator are expected to act in a manner consistent with the relief provided by the CFTC.
Regulations adopted by the prudential regulators require certain banks to include in a range of financial contracts, including swap agreements, terms delaying or restricting default, termination and other rights in the event that the bank and/or its affiliates become subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings. The regulations could limit a Fund's ability to exercise a range of cross-default rights if its counterparty, or an affiliate of the counterparty, is subject to bankruptcy or similar proceedings. Such regulations could further negatively impact a Fund’s use of swaps.
Swap agreements can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names including, but not limited to, interest rate swaps, mortgage swaps, total return swaps, inflation swaps, asset swaps (where parties exchange assets, typically a debt security), currency swaps, equity swaps, credit default swaps, commodity-linked swaps, and contracts for differences. Each Fund also may write (sell) and purchase options on swaps (swaptions).
For more information about these practices, see the “Derivatives” section.
Synthetic Instruments
Each Fund may invest in tender option bonds, bond receipts, and similar synthetic municipal instruments. A synthetic instrument is a security created by combining an intermediate or long-term municipal bond with a right to sell the instrument back to the remarketer or liquidity provider for repurchase on short notice. This right to sell is commonly referred to as a tender option. Usually, the tender
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option is backed by a conditional guarantee or letter of credit from a bank or other financial institution. Under its terms, the guarantee may expire if the municipality defaults on payments of interest or principal on the underlying bond, if the credit rating of the municipality is downgraded, or interest on the underlying bond ceases to be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The recent economic downturn and budgetary constraints have made municipal securities more susceptible to downgrade, default, and bankruptcy. Synthetic instruments involve structural risks that could adversely affect the value of the instrument or could result in a Fund’s holding an instrument for a longer period of time than originally anticipated. For example, because of the structure of a synthetic instrument, there is a risk that a Fund will not be able to exercise its tender option.
Tax-Exempt Liquidity Protected Preferred Shares
Each Fund may invest in tax-exempt liquidity protected preferred shares (“LPP shares”) (or similar securities). LPP shares are issued by municipal bond funds (funds that principally invest in tax-exempt securities) and are generally designed to pay “exempt-interest dividends” (see “Tax Considerations”) that reset on or about every seven days in a remarketing process. Under this process, the holder of an LPP share generally may elect to tender the share or hold the share for the next dividend period by notifying the remarketing agent in connection with the remarketing for that dividend period. If the holder does not make an election, the holder will continue to hold the share for the subsequent dividend period at the applicable dividend rate determined in the remarketing process for that period. LPP shares possess an unconditional obligation from a liquidity provider (typically a high-quality bank) to purchase, at a price equal to the par amount of the LPP shares plus accrued dividends, all LPP shares that are subject to sale and not remarketed.
The applicable dividend rate for each dividend period typically will be the dividend rate per year that the remarketing agent determines to be the lowest rate that will enable it to remarket on behalf of the holders thereof the LPP shares in such remarketing and tendered to it on the remarketing date. If the remarketing agent is unable to remarket all LPP shares tendered to it and the liquidity provider is required to purchase the shares, the applicable dividend rate may be different. The maturity of LPP shares will be deemed to be the date on which the underlying principal amount may be recovered or the next dividend rate adjustment date consistent with applicable regulatory requirements. LPP shares generally are issued by registered and unregistered pooled investment vehicles that use the proceeds to purchase medium- and long-term investments to seek higher yields and for other purposes.
LPP shares are subject to certain risks, including the following: since mid-February 2008, existing markets for remarketed and auction preferred securities generally have become illiquid and many investors have not been able to sell their securities through the regular remarketing or auction process. Although LPP shares provide liquidity protection through the liquidity provider, it is uncertain, particularly in the near term, whether there will be a revival of investor interest in purchasing securities sold through remarketings. There is also no assurance that a liquidity provider will be able to fulfill its obligation to purchase LPP shares subject to sell orders in remarketings that are not otherwise purchased because of insufficient clearing bids. If there are insufficient clearing bids in a remarketing and the liquidity provider is unable to meet its obligations to purchase the shares, a Fund may not be able to sell some or all of the LPP shares it holds. In addition, there is no assurance that the issuer of the LPP shares will be able to renew the agreement with the liquidity provider when its term has expired or that it will be able to enter into a comparable agreement with another suitable liquidity provider if such event occurs or if the liquidity agreement between the issuer and the liquidity provider is otherwise terminated.
Because of the nature of the market for LPP shares, a Fund may receive less than the price it paid for the shares if it sells (assuming it is able to do so) them outside of a remarketing, especially during periods when remarketing does not attract sufficient clearing bids or liquidity in remarketings is impaired and/or when market interest rates are rising. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that a secondary market will exist for LPP shares or that a Fund will be able to sell the shares it holds outside of the remarketings conducted by the designated remarketing agent at any given time.
A rating agency could downgrade the ratings of LPP shares held by a Fund or securities issued by a liquidity provider, which could adversely affect the liquidity or value in the secondary market of the LPP shares. It is also possible that an issuer of LPP shares may not earn sufficient income from its investments to pay dividends on the LPP shares. In addition, it is possible that the value of the issuer’s investment portfolio will decline due to, among other things, increases in long-term interest rates, downgrades or defaults on investments it holds and other market events, which would reduce the assets available to meet its obligations to holders of its LPP shares. In this connection, many issuers of LPP shares invest in non-investment grade bonds, also known as “junk bonds.” These securities are predominantly speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. While offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher yields, non-investment grade bonds typically entail greater potential price volatility and may be less liquid than higher-rated securities. Issuers of non-investment grade bonds are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed and such defaults will reduce the value of the securities they issue. The prices of these lower rated obligations are more sensitive to negative developments than higher rated securities. Adverse business conditions, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or an economic downturn, generally lead to a higher non-payment rate. In addition, a security may lose significant value before a default occurs as the market adjusts to expected higher non-payment rates.
In addition, LPP shares are a relatively new type of investment, the terms of which may change in the future in response to regulatory or market developments. LPP shares currently are issued in reliance on guidance provided by the SEC and a notice (which all taxpayers
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may rely on for guidance) and a handful of private letter rulings (which may be relied on as precedent only by the taxpayer(s) to whom they are addressed) issued by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). It is possible that the SEC and/or the IRS could issue new guidance or rules that supersede and nullify all or a portion of the current guidance, which could adversely impact the value and liquidity of a Fund’s investment in LPP shares, the tax treatment of investments in LPP shares, and/or the ability of the Funds to invest in LPP shares.
Temporary Defensive Policy
Each Fund may, on a temporary basis because of market, economic, political, or other conditions, invest up to 100% of its assets in investment-grade, short-term debt instruments. Such securities may consist of obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, and repurchase agreements secured by such instruments; certificates of deposit of domestic banks having capital, surplus, and undivided profits in excess of $100 million; bankers' acceptances of similar banks; commercial paper; and other corporate debt obligations.
Variable-Rate and Floating-Rate Securities
Each Fund may invest in variable-rate and floating-rate securities, which bear interest at rates that are adjusted periodically to market rates. These interest rate adjustments can both raise and lower the income generated by such securities. These changes will have the same effect on the income earned by a Fund depending on the proportion of such securities held. Because the interest rates of variable-rate and floating-rate securities are periodically adjusted to reflect current market rates, the market value of the variable-rate and floating-rate securities is less affected by changes in prevailing interest rates than the market value of securities with fixed interest rates. The market value of variable-rate and floating-rate securities usually tends toward par (100% of face value) at interest rate adjustment time.
Similar to fixed-rate debt instruments, variable- and floating-rate instruments are subject to changes in value based on changes in market interest rates or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. In addition, variable- and floating-rate securities are subject to the risk of loss of principal and income. Although borrowers frequently provide collateral to secure repayment of these obligations they do not always do so and these securities may be unsecured. If borrowers do provide collateral, the value of the collateral may not completely cover the borrower’s obligations at the time of a default. If a borrower files for protection from its creditors under bankruptcy laws, these laws may limit a Fund’s rights to its collateral. In the event of a bankruptcy, the holder of a variable- or floating-rate loan may not recover its principal, may experience a long delay in recovering its investment, and may not receive interest during the delay.
Variable-Rate Demand Notes (“VRDNs”)
Each Fund may invest in VRDNs, which are securities that provide the right to sell the security at face value on either that day or within a rate-reset period. The interest rate is adjusted at a stipulated daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or other specified time interval to a rate that reflects current market conditions. The effective maturity for these instruments is deemed to be less than 397 days in accordance with detailed SEC regulatory requirements. These interest rate adjustments can both raise and lower the income generated by such securities. These changes will have the same effect on the income earned by a Fund depending on the proportion of such securities held. VRDNs are tax-exempt securities.
In the case of the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund only, any variable rate instrument with a demand feature will be deemed to have a maturity equal to either the date on which the underlying principal amount may be recovered through demand or the next rate adjustment date consistent with applicable regulatory requirements.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities
Each Fund may invest in tax-exempt securities offered on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis or for delayed draws on loans; that is, delivery of and payment for the securities take place after the date of the commitment to purchase, normally within 35 days. Securities that require more than 35 days to settle are considered a senior security and subject to Rule 18f-4. The payment obligation and the interest rate that will be received on the securities are each fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment. A Fund receives a commitment fee for delayed draws on loans. A Fund may sell these securities before the settlement date.
Tax-exempt securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis are subject to changes in value in the same way as other debt securities held in the Funds' portfolios; that is, both generally experience appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. The value of such securities also will be affected by the public’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and anticipated changes in the level of interest rates. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis involves a risk that the yields available in the market when the delivery takes place may actually be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself.
On the settlement date of the when-issued or delayed-delivery securities or for delayed draws on loans, a Fund will meet its obligations from then-available cash, sale of other securities, or from sale of the when-issued or delayed-delivery securities themselves (which may have a value greater or less than the Fund’s payment obligations). The availability of liquid assets for this purpose to honor requests
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for redemption, and otherwise to manage its investment portfolio will limit the extent to which the Fund may purchase when-issued and delayed delivery securities. A Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with such transactions.
With the recent implementation of Rule 18f-4, the Funds’ approach to asset segregation and coverage requirements with respect to derivatives may be impacted. For more information about these practices, see the “Derivatives” section.
Zero Coupon Bonds
Each Fund may invest in zero coupon bonds. A zero coupon bond is a security that is sold at a discount from its face value (original issue discount), makes no periodic interest payments, and is redeemed at face value when it matures. The lump sum payment at maturity increases the price volatility of the zero coupon bond in response to changes in interest rates when compared to a bond that distributes a semiannual coupon payment. In calculating its income, a Fund accrues the daily amortization of the original issue discount.
Investment Restrictions
The following investment restrictions have been adopted by the Trust for each Fund. These restrictions may not be changed without approval by the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a meeting of a Fund if more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund are present or represented by proxy or (2) more than 50% of that Fund’s outstanding voting securities. The investment restrictions of one Fund thus may be changed without affecting those of any other Fund.
Each Fund:
(1)may not borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable relief.
(2)may not purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry.
(3)may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.
(4)may not underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent that it may be deemed to act as a statutory underwriter in the distribution of any restricted securities or not readily marketable securities.
(5)may make loans only as permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and any applicable exemptive relief.
(6)may not purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments issued by persons that purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts; but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing, selling, and entering into financial futures contracts (including futures contracts on indices of securities, interest rates, and currencies), options on financial futures contracts (including futures contracts on indices of securities, interest rates, and currencies), warrants, swaps, forward contracts, foreign currency spot and forward contracts, or other derivative instruments that are not related to physical commodities.
(7)may not purchase or sell real estate, but this shall not prevent investments in tax-exempt securities secured by real estate or interests therein.
With respect to each Fund's concentration policy described above, the Fund applies that restriction to investments in a particular industry or group of industries. Additionally, during normal market conditions, at least 80% of each Fund’s annual income will be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes.
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage Commissions
The Adviser, pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, and subject to the general control of the Board, places all orders for the purchase and sale of Fund securities. Purchases of Fund securities are made either directly from the issuer or from dealers who deal in tax-exempt securities. The Adviser may sell Fund securities prior to maturity if circumstances warrant and if it believes such disposition is advisable. In connection with portfolio transactions for the Trust, the Adviser seeks to obtain the best available net price and most favorable execution for its orders.
The Adviser has no agreement or commitment to place transactions with any broker-dealer and no regular formula is used to allocate orders to any broker-dealer. However, the Adviser may place security orders with brokers or dealers who furnish research and brokerage services to the Adviser subject to obtaining the best overall terms available. Payment for such services would be generated through
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underwriting concessions from purchases of new issue fixed-income securities. Such research and brokerage services may include, for example: advice concerning the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or the purchasers or sellers of securities; analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and performance of accounts; and various functions incidental to effecting securities transactions, such as clearance and settlement. These research services may also include access to research on third party databases, such as historical data on companies, financial statements, earnings history and estimates, and corporate releases; real-time quotes and financial news; research on specific fixed-income securities; research on international market news and securities; and rating services on companies and industries. Thus, the Adviser may be able to supplement its own information and to consider the views and information of other research organizations in arriving at its investment decisions. If such information is received and it is in fact useful to the Adviser, it may tend to reduce the Adviser’s costs.
The Adviser continuously reviews the performance of the broker-dealers with whom it places orders for transactions. In evaluating the performance of the brokers and dealers, the Adviser considers whether the broker-dealer has generally provided the Adviser with the best overall terms available, which includes obtaining the best available price and most favorable execution. The receipt of research from broker-dealers that execute transactions on behalf of the Trust may be useful to the Adviser in rendering investment management services to other clients (including affiliates of the Adviser), and conversely, such research provided by broker-dealers that have executed transaction orders on behalf of other clients may be useful to the Adviser in carrying out its obligations to the Trust. While such research is available to and may be used by the Adviser in providing investment advice to all its clients (including affiliates of the Adviser), not all of such research may be used by the Adviser for the benefit of the Trust. Such research and services will be in addition to and not in lieu of research and services provided by the Adviser, and the expenses of the Adviser will not necessarily be reduced by the receipt of such supplemental research. See The Trust’s Adviser and Other Service Providers.
Securities of the same issuer may be purchased, held, or sold at the same time by the Trust for any or all of its Funds, or other accounts or companies for which the Adviser acts as the investment adviser (including affiliates of the Adviser). On occasions when the Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Trust, as well as the Adviser’s other clients, the Adviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may aggregate such securities to be sold or purchased for the Trust with those to be sold or purchased for other customers in order to obtain best execution and lower brokerage commissions, if any. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Adviser in the manner it considers to be most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to all such customers, including the Trust. In some instances, this procedure may affect the price and size of the position obtainable for the Trust. The tax-exempt securities market is typically a “dealer” market in which investment dealers buy and sell bonds for their own accounts, rather than for customers, and although the price may reflect a dealer’s mark-up or mark-down, the Trust pays no brokerage commissions as such. In addition, some securities may be purchased directly from issuers.
Brokerage Commissions
During the fiscal period ended February 28, 2023, and the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, the Funds paid the following aggregate brokerage fees:
Fund
2023
2022
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
$-
$2,698
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
$-
$11,120
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
$-
$1,853
Portfolio Turnover Rates
The portfolio turnover rate is computed by dividing the dollar amount of securities purchased or sold (whichever is smaller) by the average value of securities owned during the year.
The rate of portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor when the Adviser deems changes in the Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund's, Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund's, and Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund’s portfolio appropriate in view of each Fund's investment objective. For example, securities may be sold in anticipation of a rise in interest rates (market decline) or purchased in anticipation of a decline in interest rates (market rise) and later sold. In addition, a security may be sold and another security of comparable quality may be purchased at approximately the same time in order to take advantage of what the Fund believes to be a temporary disparity in the normal yield relationship between the two securities. These yield disparities may occur for reasons not directly related to the investment quality of particular issues or the general movement of interest rates, such as changes in the overall demand for or supply of various types of tax-exempt securities. Each of the Funds (except the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) may purchase or sell securities solely to achieve short-term trading profits. These activities may increase the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund, which may result in the Fund incurring higher brokerage costs and realizing more taxable gains than would otherwise be the case in the absence of such activities.
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For the fiscal period ended February 28, 2023, and the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, the Funds’ portfolio turnover rates were as follows:
FUND
2023
2022
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
10%
10%
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
11%
13%
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
17%
16%
Fund History and Description of Shares
Under the Master Trust Agreement, the Board is authorized to create new portfolios in addition to those already existing without shareholder approval. The Trust is permitted to offer additional funds or classes of shares. Each class of shares of a Fund is a separate share class of that Fund and is not a separate mutual fund.
The Funds are series of the Trust and are diversified. The Funds formerly were series of Victory Tax Exempt Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation, which began offering shares of the Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund, Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund, and Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund in March 1982 and began offering shares of the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund in February 1984, and were reorganized into the Trust in August 2006. The Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund, Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund, and Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund offer three classes of shares, identified as Fund Shares, Institutional Shares, and Class A (formerly, Adviser Shares).
Each Fund’s assets and all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, subject only to the rights of creditors, are specifically allocated solely to such Fund. They constitute the underlying assets of such Fund, are required to be segregated on the books of account, and are to be charged with the expenses of such Fund. The assets of each Fund are charged with the liabilities and expenses attributable to such Fund, except that liabilities and expenses may be allocated to a particular class. Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular Fund are allocated on the basis of the Funds' relative net assets during the fiscal year or in such other manner as the Trustees determine to be fair and equitable.
Shares of each class of a Fund represent an equal proportionate interest in that Fund with every other share of that class and are entitled to dividends and other distributions out of the net income and realized net capital gains belonging to that Fund when declared by the Board. They generally will have identical voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights, preferences, powers, restrictions, limitations, qualifications and terms and conditions, except that: (a) each has a different designation; (b) each class of shares bears its “Class Expenses”; (c) each has exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to its arrangement; (d) each class has separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class; (e) each class may have separate exchange privileges; and (f) each class may have different conversion features. Expenses currently designated as “Class Expenses” by the Board under the Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act include: legal, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials such as shareholder reports, prospectuses, and proxies to current shareholders of a specific class; blue sky fees incurred by a specific class of shares; transfer agency expenses relating to a specific class of shares; expenses of administrative personnel and services required to support the shareholders of a specific class of shares; litigation expenses or other legal expenses relating to a specific class of shares; shareholder servicing expenses identified as being attributable to a specific class; and such other expenses actually incurred in a different amount by a class or related to a class’s receipt of services of a different kind or to a different degree than another class. In addition, each class of a Fund may pay a different advisory fee to the extent that any difference in amount paid is the result of the application of the same performance fee provisions in the advisory contract with respect to the Fund to the different investment performance of each class of the Fund. Upon liquidation of a Fund, shareholders are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets belonging to such Fund available for distribution. However, due to the differing expenses of the classes, dividends and liquidation proceeds on the different classes of shares will differ.
Under the Trust’s Master Trust Agreement, no annual or regular meeting of shareholders is required. Thus, there ordinarily will be no shareholder meeting unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act. Under certain circumstances, however, shareholders may apply to the Trustees for shareholder information in order to obtain signatures to request a shareholder meeting. The Trust may fill vacancies on the Board or appoint new Trustees if the result is that at least two-thirds of the Trustees have been elected by shareholders. Moreover, pursuant to the Master Trust Agreement, any Trustee may be removed by the vote of two-thirds of the outstanding Trust shares, and holders of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the Trust can require Trustees to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting on the removal of one or more Trustees. The Trust will assist in communicating to other shareholders about the meeting. On any matter submitted to the shareholders, the holder of any share class of the Fund is entitled to one vote per share (with proportionate voting for fractional shares) regardless of the relative NAVs of the Fund’s share classes. However, on matters affecting an individual Fund, a separate vote of the shareholders of that Fund is required. Shareholders of a Fund are not entitled to vote on any matter that does not affect that Fund but which requires a separate vote of another Fund.
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Shares do not have cumulative voting rights, which means that holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trust’s Board, and the holders of less than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees will not be able to elect any person as a Trustee.
Shareholders of a particular Fund might have the power to elect all of the Trustees if that Fund has a majority of the assets of the Trust. When issued, each Fund’s shares are fully paid and nonassessable, have no pre-emptive or subscription rights, and are fully transferable. The Fund's conversion rights are as follows:
Converting from Institutional Shares to Fund Shares: If you no longer meet the eligibility requirements to invest in Institutional Shares of a Fund (e.g., you terminate participation in a discretionary managed account program), we may convert your Institutional Shares of the Fund to Fund Shares. The Fund will notify you before any such conversion to Fund Shares occurs.
Converting from Class A Shares to Fund Shares or Institutional Shares: If you hold Class A shares of a Fund through an account maintained with another financial institution and subsequently transfer your shares into (i) an account established directly with the Fund, (ii) your investment account, or (iii) an eligible advisory program with a financial intermediary, we may convert your Class A shares of the Fund to Fund Shares or Institutional Shares, as applicable.
Other Conversions: The Fund also may provide for other conversion privileges from time to time under which a shareholder of the Fund may convert shares into another class of shares of the same Fund under certain circumstances, subject to approval by the Fund’s officers.
Pricing: When a conversion occurs, you receive shares of one class of a Fund for shares of another class of the same Fund. At the time of conversion, the dollar value of the “new” shares you receive equals the dollar value of the “old” shares that were converted. In other words, the conversion has no effect on the value of your investment in a Fund at the time of the conversion. However, the number of shares you own after the conversion may be greater than or less than the number of shares you owned before the conversion, depending on the NAVs per share of the two share classes. A conversion between share classes of the same Fund is a non-taxable event.
Conversions are not subject to the Funds' restrictions on short-term trading activity discussed under Funds' Right to Reject Purchase and Exchange Orders and Limit Trading in Accounts in this SAI.
Tax Considerations
Taxation of the Funds
Each Fund, which is treated as a separate corporation for federal tax purposes, intends to continue to qualify each taxable year for treatment as a “regulated investment company” (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”). If a Fund so qualifies, it will not be liable for federal income tax on its taxable net investment income and net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) that it distributes to its shareholders.
To continue to qualify for treatment as a RIC, a Fund must, among other things, (1) derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from (a) dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, and or other income (including gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in stock, securities, or such currencies, and (b) net income from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (or “QPTP”) (i.e., a publicly traded partnership that is treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes and derives less than 90% of its gross income from the items described in clause (a)) (a QPTP) (income requirement); (2) distribute at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (generally consisting of net investment income, the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss, and net gains and losses from certain foreign currency transactions) and 90% of its net exempt interest income for the taxable year (“distribution requirement”); and (3) satisfy certain diversification requirements at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year (“diversification requirement”). Furthermore, for a Fund to pay “exempt-interest dividends” (defined in the Funds' prospectus), at least 50% of the value of its total assets at the close of each quarter of its taxable year must consist of obligations the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax under Code section 103(a). Each Fund intends to continue to satisfy these requirements.
If a Fund failed to qualify for RIC treatment for any taxable year either (1) by failing to satisfy the distribution requirement, even if it satisfied the income requirement and diversification requirements (collectively, “Other Qualification Requirements”), or (2) by failing to satisfy any of the Other Qualification Requirements and was unable to, or determined not to, avail itself of Code provisions that enable a RIC to cure a failure to satisfy any of the Other Qualification Requirements as long as the failure “is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect” and the RIC pays a deductible tax calculated in accordance with those provisions and meets certain other requirements, then for federal income tax purposes it would be taxed as an ordinary corporation on the full amount of its taxable income for that year without being able to deduct the distributions it makes to its shareholders. In addition, for those purposes all those distributions, including distributions of exempt-interest dividends and net capital gain, would be taxable to its shareholders as dividends
27

(i.e., ordinary income) to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits. For individual and certain other non-corporate shareholders (each, an “individual shareholder”), those dividends would be taxable as “qualified dividend income” (“QDI”), which is subject to federal income tax at the lower rates for net capital gain (see below). In the case of corporate shareholders that meet certain holding period and other requirements regarding their shares of the Fund, all or part of those dividends would be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Furthermore, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying for RIC treatment.
The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax (“Excise Tax”) on a RIC that fails to distribute during a calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of its ordinary (taxable) income for that year, (2) 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the 12-month period ending on October 31 of that year, plus (3) any prior undistributed taxable income and gains. Each Fund intends to continue to make distributions necessary to avoid imposition of the Excise Tax. However, a Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate portfolio investments to make those distributions, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss.
For federal income tax purposes, debt securities purchased by a Fund, including zero coupon bonds, may be treated as having original issue discount (“OID”) (generally, the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity of a debt obligation over its issue price). OID is treated for those purposes as income earned by a Fund as it accrues, whether or not any payment is actually received, and therefore is subject to the distribution requirements mentioned above. Accrued OID with respect to tax-exempt obligations generally will be excluded from a Fund’s taxable income, although that discount will be included in its gross income for purposes of the income requirement and will be added to the adjusted tax basis in those obligations for purposes of determining gain or loss upon sale or at maturity. Generally, the accrual amount of OID is determined on the basis of a constant yield to maturity, which takes into account the compounding of accrued interest.
A Fund may purchase debt securities at a market discount. A market discount exists when a security is purchased at a price less than its original issue price adjusted for accrued OID, if any. Each Fund intends to defer recognition of accrued market discount on a security until maturity or other disposition of the security. For a security purchased at a market discount, the gain realized on disposition will be treated as taxable ordinary income to the extent of accrued market discount on the security.
A Fund also may purchase debt securities at a premium (i.e., at a purchase price in excess of face amount). The premium on tax-exempt securities must be amortized to the maturity date, but no deduction is allowed for the premium amortization. For taxable securities, the premium may be amortized if a Fund so elects. The amortized premium on taxable securities is first offset against interest received on the securities and then allowed as a deduction and generally must be amortized under an economic accrual method. The amortized bond premium on a security will reduce a Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the security.
The use of hedging strategies, such as writing (selling) and purchasing options and futures contracts, involves complex rules that will determine for federal income tax purposes the amount, character, and timing of recognition of the gains and losses a Fund realizes in connection therewith. Gains from options and futures a Fund derives with respect to its business of investing in securities will be treated as qualifying income under the income requirement.
Certain futures contracts and “non-equity” options (i.e., certain listed options, such as those on a “broad-based” securities index)—excluding any “securities futures contract” that is not a “dealer securities futures contract” (both as defined in the Code) and any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement in which a Fund invests—will be subject to section 1256 of the Code (collectively, “section 1256 contracts”). Any section 1256 contracts a Fund holds at the end of its taxable year generally must be “marked-to-market” (that is, treated as having been sold at that time for their fair market value) for federal income tax purposes, with the result that unrealized gains or losses will be treated as though they were realized. Sixty percent of any net gain or loss recognized on these deemed sales, and 60% of any net realized gain or loss from any actual sales of section 1256 contracts, will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and the balance will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. These rules may operate to increase the amount that a Fund must distribute to satisfy the distribution requirement (i.e., with respect to the portion treated as short-term capital gain), which will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income when distributed to them and to increase the net capital gain a Fund recognizes, without in either case increasing the cash available to it.
Taxation of the Shareholders
Each Fund expects to qualify to pay “exempt-interest dividends,” as defined in the Code. To qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, a Fund must, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, have at least 50% of the value of its total assets invested in municipal securities, the interest on which is excluded from gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code. In purchasing municipal securities, the Funds intend to rely on opinions of nationally recognized bond counsel for each issue as to the excludability of interest on such obligations from gross income for federal income tax purposes. No Fund will undertake independent investigations concerning the tax-exempt status of such obligations, nor does any Fund guarantee or represent that bond counsels’ opinions are correct.
28

If a Fund satisfies the applicable requirements, dividends paid by the fund that are attributable to tax exempt interest on municipal securities and reported in a written statement by the Fund as exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders may be treated by shareholders as items of interest excludable from their gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code. The recipient of tax-exempt income is required to report such income on his federal income tax return. However, a shareholder is advised to consult his tax advisor with respect to whether exempt-interest dividends retain the exclusion under Section 103(a) if such shareholder would be treated as a “substantial user” or “related person” thereof under Section 147(a) with respect to any of the tax-exempt obligations held by a fund. The Code provides that interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry shares of a fund is not deductible to the extent it is deemed related to the fund’s exempt-interest dividends. Pursuant to published guidelines, the IRS may deem indebtedness to have been incurred for the purpose of purchasing or carrying shares of the funds even though the borrowed money may not be directly traceable to the purchase of shares.
Although all or a substantial portion of the dividends paid by a Fund may be excluded by the fund’s shareholders from their gross income for federal income tax purposes, a Fund may purchase specified private activity bonds, the interest from which (including the Fund’s distributions attributable to such interest) may be a preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax on individuals.
Shareholders who are recipients of Social Security or railroad retirement benefits should be aware that exempt-interest dividends received from a Fund are includable in their “modified adjusted gross income” for purposes of determining the amount of those benefits, if any, that are required to be included in their gross income.
If a Fund invests in any instruments that generate taxable income (such as market discount bonds, as described above, options, futures, other derivatives, securities of investment companies that pay distributions other than exempt-interest dividends, or otherwise under the circumstances described in the Funds' prospectus and this SAI) or engages in securities lending, the portion of any dividend that Fund pays that is attributable to the income earned on those instruments or from such lending will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of its earnings and profits (and will not qualify for the 15% and 20% maximum federal income tax rates on certain dividends applicable to individual shareholders), and only the remaining portion will qualify as an exempt-interest dividend. Moreover, if a Fund realizes capital gain as a result of market transactions, any distributions of the gain will be taxable to its individual shareholders at those rates to the extent they are attributable to net capital gain. Interest paid on a bond issued after December 31, 2017, to advance refund another bond is subject to federal income tax.
All distributions of investment income during a year will have the same percentage designated as tax-exempt. This method is called the “average annual method.” Since the Funds invest primarily in tax-exempt securities, the percentage will be substantially the same as the amount actually earned during any particular distribution period.
Taxable distributions generally are included in a shareholder’s gross income for the taxable year in which they are received. However, dividends and other distributions declared in October, November, or December and made payable to shareholders of record in such a month are deemed to have been received on December 31, if they are paid during the following January.
Any gain or loss a shareholder realizes on the redemption or exchange of shares of a Fund, or on receipt of a distribution in complete liquidation of a Fund, generally will be a capital gain or loss, which will be long-term or short-term, depending on the shareholder’s holding period for the shares. Any such gain an individual shareholder recognizes on a redemption or exchange of Fund shares that he or she has held for more than one year will qualify for the 15% or 20% maximum federal income tax rates mentioned above. Any loss realized on a redemption or exchange of Fund shares will be disallowed to the extent the shares are replaced (including shares acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after disposition of the shares; in such a case, the basis in the acquired shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss a shareholder realizes on a disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of net capital gain the shareholder received with respect to such shares.
If a shareholder receives an exempt-interest dividend with respect to any Fund share held for six months or less, any loss on the redemption or exchange of that share will be disallowed to the extent of the amount of that dividend. Similarly, if a shareholder of a Fund receives a distribution of net capital gain and redeems or exchanges that Fund’s shares before he or she has held them for more than six months, any loss on the redemption or exchange (not otherwise disallowed as attributable to an exempt-interest dividend) will be treated as long-term capital loss.
A Fund may invest in private activity bonds (“PABs”). Except as noted in the following sentence, interest on certain PABs is a tax preference item (a “Tax Preference Item”) for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”), although that interest continues to be excludable from federal gross income. Bonds issued during 2009 and 2010, including refunding bonds issued during that period to refund bonds issued after 2003 and before 2009, will not be PABs and the interest thereon thus will not be a Tax Preference Item. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the possible application of the AMT to their tax situation.
29

Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a shareholder to purchase or carry Fund shares is not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Entities or persons who are “substantial users” (or persons related to “substantial users”) of facilities financed by PABs should consult their tax advisers before purchasing Fund shares because, for users of certain of these facilities, the interest on PABs is not exempt from federal income tax. For these purposes, “substantial user” is defined to include a “non-exempt person” who regularly uses in a trade or business a part of a facility financed from the proceeds of PABs.
Opinions relating to the validity of tax-exempt securities and the excludability of interest thereon from gross income for federal income tax purposes are rendered by recognized bond counsel to the issuers. Neither the Adviser’s nor the Funds' counsel makes any review of the basis for such opinions.
In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from redemptions of Fund shares, each Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the IRS the basis information for Fund shares purchased after December 31, 2011, (“Covered Shares”) that are redeemed or exchanged and indicate whether they had a short-term (one year or less) or long-term (more than one year) holding period. In addition, each Fund will indicate whether the lot has been adjusted for a wash sale. The requirement to report only the gross proceeds from a redemption or exchange of Fund shares will continue to apply to all non-Covered Shares.
Distributions of net capital gain, if any, designated as capital gains dividends are taxable to a shareholder as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long the shareholder has held Fund shares. A distribution of an amount in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated by a shareholder as a return of capital, which is applied against and reduces the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares. To the extent that the amount of any such distribution exceeds the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, the excess will be treated by the shareholder as gain from a sale or exchange of the shares. Distributions of gains from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income.
A Fund may elect to retain its net capital gain or a portion thereof for investment and be taxed at corporate rates on the amount retained In such case, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who will be treated as if each received a distribution of his pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will (i) be required to report his pro rata share of such gain on his tax return as long-term capital gain, (ii) receive a refundable tax credit for his pro rata share of tax paid by the Fund on the gain and (iii) increase the tax basis for his shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.
For federal income tax purposes, net capital losses incurred by the Fund in a particular taxable year can be carried forward to offset net capital gains in any subsequent year until such loss carryforwards have been fully used, and such capital losses carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. To the extent subsequent net capital gains are offset by such losses, they would not result in federal income tax liability to the Fund and would not be distributed as such to shareholders.
The following table summarizes the capital loss carryforwards not subject to expiration for the applicable Funds as of February 28, 2023.
Fund
Short-Term
Amount ($000s)
Long-Term
Amount ($000s)
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
$18,488
$97,008
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
$77,289
$94,340
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
$2,587
$27,596
Shareholders will receive information about the source and tax status of all distributions promptly after the close of each calendar year.
State and Local Taxes
The exemption of interest income and exempt-interest dividends for federal income tax purposes does not necessarily result in exemption under the income or other tax laws of any state or local taxing authority. Shareholders of a Fund may be exempt from state and local taxes on distributions of tax-exempt interest income derived from obligations of the state and/or municipalities of the state in which they are resident but generally are subject to tax on distributions of income derived from obligations of other jurisdictions. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the status of distributions from a Fund in their own states and localities.
*  *  *  *  *
The foregoing discussion of certain federal tax considerations affecting each Fund and its shareholders is only a summary and is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Purchasers of Fund shares should consult their own tax advisers as to the tax consequences of investing in shares, including under federal, state, local, and other tax laws. Finally, the foregoing discussion is based on current applicable provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authority, and administrative interpretations published by the date hereof; changes in any applicable authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above, possibly retroactively, and such changes often occur.
30

Management of the Trust
The Board consists of eight Trustees who supervise the business affairs of the Trust. The Board is responsible for the general oversight of the Funds' business and for assuring that the Funds are managed in the best interests of each Fund's respective shareholders. The Board periodically reviews the Funds' investment performance as well as the quality of other services provided to the Funds and their shareholders by each of the Funds' service providers, including Victory Capital and its affiliates.
Board Leadership Structure
The Board is comprised of a super-majority (80% or more) of Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Funds (the “Independent Trustees”) and one Trustee who is an “interested person” of the Funds (the “Interested Trustee”). Prior to July 2, 2021, Mr. Dan McNamara was deemed an “interested person” due to his previous position as Director of AMCO, the former investment adviser of the Funds. Effective July 2, 2021, Mr. Dan McNamara became an Independent Trustee to the Funds. Mr. Brown is deemed an “interested person” due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of Victory Capital, investment adviser to the Funds. Mr. Boyce is the Chairman of the Board and presides at meetings of the Trustees and may call meetings of the Board and any Board committee whenever he deems it necessary. The Chairman participates in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the Board and the identification of information to be presented to the Board with respect to matters to be acted upon by the Board. The Chairman also acts as a liaison with the Funds' management, officers, and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairman may perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. Except for any duties specified in this SAI or pursuant to the Trust’s Master Trust Agreement or By-laws, or as assigned by the Board, the designation of a Trustee as Chairman does not impose on that Trustee any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on any other Trustee, generally. The Chairman may call meetings of the Board and any Board committee whenever he deems it necessary and presides at meetings of the Trustees. The Chairman participates in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the Board and the identification of information to be presented to the Board with respect to matters to be acted upon by the Board. In addition, the Chairman will coordinate activities performed by the Independent Trustees as a group and will serve as the main liaison between the Independent Trustees and the Funds' management and officers between meetings. The Chairman may perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. The Board has designated a number of standing committees as further described below, each of which has a chairman. The Board also may designate working groups or ad hoc committees as it deems appropriate.
The Board believes that this leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over matters under its purview, and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees or working groups of Trustees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight. The Board considers leadership by an Independent Trustee as Chairman to be integral to promoting effective independent oversight of the Funds' operations and meaningful representation of the shareholders’ interests, given the number of funds offered by the Trust and the amount of assets that these funds represent. The Board also believes that having a super-majority of Independent Trustees is appropriate and in the best interest of the Funds' shareholders. Nevertheless, the Board also believes that having an interested person serve on the Board brings corporate and financial viewpoints that are, in the Board’s view, important elements in its decision-making process. In addition, the Board believes that the Interested Trustee provides the Board with the Adviser’s perspective in managing and sponsoring the Funds. The leadership structure of the Board may be changed, at any time and in the discretion of the Board, including in response to changes in circumstances or the characteristics of the Trust.
Board Oversight of Risk Management
As series of a registered investment company, the Funds are subject to a variety of risks, including investment risks (such as, among others, market risk, credit risk, and interest rate risk), financial risks (such as, among others, settlement risk, liquidity risk, and valuation risk), compliance risks, and operational risks. The Trustees play an active role, as a full board and at the committee level, in overseeing risk management for the Funds. The Trustees delegate the day-to-day risk management of the Funds to various groups, including but not limited to, portfolio management, risk management, compliance, legal, fund accounting, and various committees discussed herein. These groups provide the Trustees with regular reports regarding investment, valuation, liquidity, and compliance, as well as the risks associated with each. The Trustees also oversee risk management for the Funds through regular interactions with the Funds' external auditors and periodic presentations from the Adviser.
The Board also participates in the Funds' risk oversight, in part, through the Funds' compliance program, which covers the following broad areas of compliance: portfolio management, trading practices, code of ethics, and protection of non-public information, accuracy of disclosures, safeguarding of fund assets, recordkeeping, marketing, fees, privacy, anti-money laundering, business continuity, valuation and pricing of funds shares, processing of fund shares, affiliated transactions, fund governance, and market timing. The Board also receives periodic updates regarding cybersecurity matters. The program seeks to identify and assess risk through various methods, including through regular interdisciplinary communications between compliance professionals, operational risk management, and business personnel who participate on a daily basis in risk management on behalf of the Funds. The Funds' chief compliance officer provides an annual compliance report and other compliance related briefings to the Board in writing and in person.
31

Victory Capital seeks to identify for the Board the risks that it believes may affect the Funds and develop processes and controls regarding such risks. However, risk management is a complex and dynamic undertaking and it is not always possible to comprehensively identify and/or mitigate all such risks at all times since risks are at times impacted by external events. In discharging its oversight responsibilities, the Board considers risk management issues throughout the year with the assistance of its various committees as described below. Each committee presents reports to the Board after its meeting, which may prompt further discussion of issues concerning the oversight of the Funds' risk management. The Board as a whole also reviews written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues as needed and may discuss particular risks that are not addressed in the committee process.
Among other committees, the Board has established an Audit and Compliance Committee, which is composed solely of Independent Trustees and oversees management of financial risks and controls. The Audit and Compliance Committee serves as the channel of communication between the independent auditors of the Funds and the Board with respect to financial statements and financial reporting processes, systems of internal control, and the audit process. Although the Audit and Compliance Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of financial risks, the Board is regularly informed of these risks through committee reports.
Trustees and Officers
Set forth below are the Independent Trustees and the Interested Trustee, and each of their respective offices and principal occupations during the last five years, length of time served, information relating to any other directorships held, and the specific roles and experience of each Board member that factor into the determination that the Trustee should serve on the Board. Under the Trust’s organizational documents, each Trustee serves as a Trustee of the Trust during the lifetime of the Trust and until its termination except as such Trustee sooner dies, resigns, retires, or is removed. However, pursuant to a policy adopted by the Board, each elected or appointed Independent Trustee may serve as a Trustee until the Trustee reaches age 75, and the Interested Trustee may serve as a Trustee until the Trustee reaches age 75. The Board may change or grant exceptions from this policy at any time without shareholder approval. A Trustee may resign, or may be removed by a written instrument signed by two-thirds of the number of Trustees before the removal, or may be removed by a vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust, at any time. Vacancies on the Board can be filled by the action of a majority of the Trustees, provided that after filling such vacancy at least two-thirds of the Trustees have been elected by the shareholders. The mailing address of the Trustees is 15935 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78256.
32

Independent Trustees
Name and
Date of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Funds
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
Principal
Occupation(s)
During the Past Five
Years
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
Overseen by Trustee
Other
Directorships
Held During
the Past Five
Years
Jefferson C.
Boyce
(September
1957)
Independent
Chair
January 2021
September 2013
Retired.
45
Westhab, Inc.,
New York
Theological
Seminary,
American
Filtration Corp.
Dawn M.
Hawley
(February 1954)
Trustee
April 2014
Retired.
45
None
Daniel S.
McNamara
(June 1966)
Trustee
January 2012
Trustee, President, and
Vice Chairman of
USAA ETF Trust
(6/17-6/19); President of
Financial Advice &
Solutions Group
(FASG), USAA
(02/13-03/21); Director
of USAA Asset
Management Company
(AMCO), (08/11-06/19);
Chairman of Board of
AMCO (04/13/-06/19);
Director of USAA
Investment Services
Company (ISCO)
(formerly USAA
Investment Management
Company) (09/09-
03/21); Chairman of
Board of ISCO
(04/13-12/20); President
and Director of USAA
Shareholder Account
Services (SAS)
(10/09-06/19); Chairman
of Board of SAS
(04/13/-06/19); Senior
Vice President of USAA
Financial Planning
Services Insurance
Agency, Inc. (FPS)
(04/11-03/21); Director
and Vice Chairman of
FPS (12/13-03/21);
President and Director
of USAA Investment
Corporation (ICORP)
(03/10-03/21); Chairman
of Board of ICORP
(12/13-03/21); Director
of USAA Financial
Advisors, Inc. (FAI)
(12/13-03/21); Chairman
of Board of FAI
(3/15-03/21).
45
None
33

Name and
Date of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Funds
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
Principal
Occupation(s)
During the Past Five
Years
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
Overseen by Trustee
Other
Directorships
Held During
the Past Five
Years
Paul L.
McNamara
(July 1948)
Trustee
January 2012
Retired.
45
None
Richard Y.
Newton, III
(January 1956)
Trustee
March 2017
Director, Elta North
America (01/18-08/19),
which is a global leader
in the design,
manufacture, and
support of innovative
electronic systems in the
ground, maritime,
airborne, and security
domains for the nation’s
warfighters, security
personnel, and first
responders; Managing
Partner, Pioneer
Partnership
Development Group
(12/15-present).
45
Terran Orbital
Corp.,
American Made
Filtration Corp.
Barbara B.
Ostdiek, Ph.D.
(March 1964)
Trustee
January 2008
Senior Associate Dean
of Degree programs at
Jesse H. Jones Graduate
School of Business at
Rice University
(07/13-present);
Associate Professor of
Finance at Jesse H.
Jones Graduate School
of Business at Rice
University (07/01-
07/21); Professor of
Finance at Jesse H.
Jones Graduate School
of Business at Rice
University
(07/21-present).
45
None
John C. Walters
(February 1962)
Trustee
July 2019
Retired.
45
Guardian
Variable
Products Trust
(16 series)
34

Interested Trustee
Name and
Date of Birth
Position(s)
Held with Fund
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
Principal
Occupation(s) Held
During the Past Five
Years
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
Overseen by Trustee
Other
Directorships
Held During
the Past Five
Years
David C. Brown
(May 1972)
Trustee
July 2019
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
(2013-present), Victory
Capital Management
Inc.; Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman
(2013- present), Victory
Capital Holdings, Inc.;
Director, Victory Capital
Services, Inc. (2013-
present); Director,
Victory Capital Transfer
Agency, Inc.
(2019-present).
45 portfolios within the
Trust; 37 portfolios
within the Victory
Portfolios, 26 series
within the Victory
Portfolios II, and 6
series within the Victory
Variable Insurance
Funds
None
Trustee Qualifications
The Board believes that all the Trustees bring to the Board a wealth of executive leadership experience derived from their service as executives, board members, and leaders of diverse companies, academic institutions, and community and other organizations. The Board also believes that the different perspectives, viewpoints, professional experience, education, and individual qualities of each Trustee represent a diversity of experiences and a variety of complementary skills. In determining whether an individual is qualified to serve as a Trustee of the Funds, the Board considers a wide variety of information about the Trustee, and multiple factors contribute to the Board's decision. However, there are no specific required qualifications for Board membership. Each Trustee is determined to have the experience, skills, and attributes necessary to serve the Funds and their shareholders because each Trustee demonstrates an exceptional ability to consider complex business and financial matters, evaluate the relative importance and priority of issues, make decisions, and contribute effectively to the deliberations of the Board. The Board also considers the individual experience of each Trustee and determines that the Trustee’s professional experience, education, and background contribute to the diversity of perspectives on the Board. The business experience and objective thinking of the Trustees are considered invaluable assets for Victory Capital and, ultimately, the Funds' shareholders.
The following summarizes the experience and qualifications of the Trustees.
• Jefferson C. Boyce. Mr. Boyce brings to the Board experience in financial investment management, and, in particular, institutional and retail mutual funds, variable annuity products, broker dealers, and retirement programs, including experience in organizational development, marketing, product development, and money management as well as over eight years’ experience as a Board member of Victory Portfolios III.
• David C. Brown. Mr. Brown brings to the Board extensive business, finance and leadership skills gained and developed through years of experience in the financial services industry, including his tenure overseeing the strategic direction as CEO of Victory Capital. These skills, combined with Mr. Brown's extensive knowledge of the financial services industry and demonstrated success in the development and distribution of investment strategies and products, enable him to provide valuable insights to the Board and strategic direction for the Funds.
• Dawn M. Hawley. Ms. Hawley brings to the Board experience in financial investment management and, in particular, institutional and retail mutual funds, variable annuity products, broker dealers, and retirement programs, including experience in financial planning, budgeting, accounting practices, and asset/liability management functions including major acquisitions and mergers, as well as over eight years’ experience as a Board member of Victory Portfolios III.
• Daniel S. McNamara. Mr. Dan McNamara brings to the Board extensive experience in the financial services industry, including experience as an officer of the Trust, as well as over 10 years’ experience as a Board member of Victory Portfolios III.
• Paul L. McNamara. Mr. McNamara brings to the Board extensive experience with the financial services industry and, in particular, institutional and retail mutual fund markets, including experience with mutual fund marketing, distribution, and risk management, as well as overall experience with compliance and corporate governance issues. Mr. McNamara also has
35

experience serving as a fund director as well as over 10 years’ experience as a Board member of Victory Portfolios III. 
Paul L. McNamara is of no relation to Daniel S. McNamara.
• Richard Y. Newton, III. Lt. Gen. Newton brings to the Board extensive management and military experience, as well as over five years’ experience as a Board member of Victory Portfolios III.
• Barbara B. Ostdiek. Dr. Ostdiek brings to the Board particular experience with financial investment management, education, and research as well as over 14 years’ experience as a Board member of Victory Portfolios III.
• John C. Walters. Mr. Walters brings significant Board experience including active involvement with the board of a Fortune 500 company, and a proven record of leading large, complex financial organizations. He has a demonstrated record of success in distribution, manufacturing, investment brokerage, and investment management in both the retail and institutional investment businesses. He has substantial experience in the investment management business with a demonstrated ability to develop and drive strategy while managing operational, financial, and investment risk as well as over three years’ experience as a Board member of Victory Portfolios III.
Committees of the Board
• The Board typically conducts regular meetings five or six times a year to review the operations of the Funds in Victory Portfolios III. A portion of these meetings is devoted to various committee meetings of the Board, which focus on particular matters. In addition, the Board may hold special meetings by telephone or in person to discuss specific matters that may require action prior to the next regular meeting. The Board has four committees: Audit and Compliance Committee, Product Management and Distribution Committee, Corporate Governance Committee, and Investments Committee. The duties of these four Committees and their membership are as follows:
• Audit and Compliance Committee: The Audit and Compliance Committee of the Board of Trustees reviews the financial information and the independent auditor’s reports and undertakes certain studies and analyses as directed by the Board. The Audit and Compliance Committee has responsibility for the review of the Trust’s compliance program and the performance of the Trust’s chief compliance officer, as well as responsibility for certain additional compliance matters. The Audit and Compliance Committee is comprised of all Independent Trustees, with Ms. Hawley serving as the chair of the Committee.
• Product Management and Distribution Committee: The Product Management and Distribution Committee of the Board reviews the Funds offered by the Trust and the respective investment objectives and policies, as well as the Adviser’s selection of subadvisers; oversees the distribution and marketing of the Funds; and assists the Board in overseeing certain third-party service providers and related matters. The Product Management and Distribution Committee provides oversight with respect to the sale and distribution of shares of the Funds, including payments made by the Funds pursuant to the Trust’s 12b-1 Plan. The Product Management and Distribution Committee is comprised of all Trustees, with Mr. Walters serving as the chair of the Committee.
• Corporate Governance Committee: The Corporate Governance Committee of the Board maintains oversight of the organization, performance, and effectiveness of the Board and the Independent Trustees. The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for maintaining a policy on Board tenure and term limitations for the Independent Trustees, establishing procedures to identify and recruit potential candidates for Board membership, and recommending candidates to fill any vacancy for Independent Trustees on the Board. The Corporate Governance Committee has adopted procedures to consider nominees recommended by shareholders. Shareholders may send recommendations to Mr. Paul McNamara, chair of the Corporate Governance Committee. To be considered by the Board, any recommendations for a nomination submitted by a shareholder must include at least the following information: name; date of birth; contact information; education; business profession and other expertise; affiliations; experience relating to serving on the Board; and references. The Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of all Independent Trustees, with Mr. P. McNamara serving as the chair of the Committee.
• Investments Committee: The Investments Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities overseeing, among other things: the investment programs implemented by Victory Capital and/or, if applicable, the investment subadviser(s) for the Funds; the performance and portfolio composition of the Funds; and the valuation and liquidity of each Fund’s assets. In addition, the Investments Committee coordinates the Board’s consideration of investment advisory and underwriting agreements pursuant to Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act. The Investments Committee is comprised of all Trustees, with Dr. Ostdiek serving as the chair of the Committee.
During the Funds' most recent fiscal period ended February 28, 2023, the Board held meetings five times. The Audit and Compliance Committee held four meetings; the Product Management and Distribution Committee held four meetings; the Corporate Governance Committee held four meetings; and the Investments Committee held four meetings.
There are no family relationships among the Trustees, officers, and managerial level employees of the Trust.
36

Officers of the Trust
The officers of the Trust are elected by the Board to actively supervise the Trust’s day-to-day operations. The officers of the Trust, their date of birth, the length of time served, and their principal occupations during the past five years are detailed in the following table. Each officer serves until the earlier of his or her resignation, removal, retirement, death, or the election of a successor. The mailing address of each officer of the Trust is 15935 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, Texas 78256. The officers of the Trust receive no compensation directly from the Trust for performing the duties of their offices.
Name
and Date
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) Held
During the Past Five Years
James K. De Vries
(April 1969)
President
March 2018*
Head of Fund Administration (5/1/23-present); Vice
President, Victory Capital Transfer Agency, Inc.
(4/20/23-present); Executive Director, the Adviser
(7/1/19-4/30/23); Executive Director, Investment and
Financial Administration, USAA (2012-6/30/19);
Treasurer, USAA Mutual Funds Trust (2018-4/30/23).
Mr. De Vries also serves as the Principal Executive
Officer for the Funds, Victory Portfolio, Victory
Portfolios II, and Victory Variable Insurance Funds
(5/1/23-present).
Scott Stahorsky
(July 1969)
Vice President
July 2019
Director, Third-Party Dealer Services & Reg
Administration, Fund Administration, the Adviser
(5/1/2023-present); Vice President, Victory Capital
Transfer Agency, Inc. (4/20/23-present); Manager, Fund
Administration, the Adviser (2015-4/30/23). Mr.
Stahorsky also serves as Vice President of Victory
Portfolios, Victory Portfolios II, and Victory Variable
Insurance Funds (12/14-present).
Thomas
Dusenberry
(July 1977)
Secretary
June 2022
Director, Fund Administration, the Adviser; Victory
Capital Management Inc. (May 2023-present); Manager,
Fund Administration, the Adviser; Victory Capital
Management Inc. (2022-April 2023); Treasurer and
Principal Financial Officer (2020-2022), Assistant
Treasurer (2019), Salient MF Trust, Salient Midstream,
MLP Fund, and Forward Funds; Principal Financial
Officer (2018-2021) and Treasurer (2020-2021), Salient
Private Access Funds and Endowment PMF Funds;
Senior Vice President of Fund Accounting and
Operations, Salient Partners (2020-2022); Director of
Fund Operations, Salient Partners (2016-2019). Mr.
Dusenberry also serves as Secretary of Victory
Portfolios, Victory Portfolios II, and Victory Variable
Insurance Funds (6/22-present).
Allan Shaer,
(March 1965)
Treasurer
July 2019*
Senior Vice President, Financial Administration, Citi
Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (since 2016). Mr. Shaer also
serves as the Funds’ Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer. Mr. Shaer also serves as Treasurer of Victory
Portfolios, Victory Portfolios II, and Victory Variable
Insurance Funds (5/17-present).
Christopher Ponte,
(March 1984)
Assistant
Treasurer
May 2023
Director, Fund and Broker Dealer Finance, Fund
Administration, (5/1/23-present); Victory Capital
Transfer Agency, Inc. (May 2023-present); Manager,
Fund Administration, the Adviser (2017-2023); Chief
Financial Officer, Victory Capital Services, Inc. (since
2018). Mr. Ponte also serves as Assistant Treasurer of
Victory Portfolios, Victory Portfolios II, and Victory
Variable Insurance Funds (12/17-present).
37

Name
and Date
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) Held
During the Past Five Years
Carol D. Trevino
(October 1965)
Assistant
Treasurer
September 2018
Director, Financial Reporting, Fund Administration
(5/1/23-present); Director, Accounting and Finance, the
Adviser (7/1/19-4/30/23); Accounting/ Financial
Director, USAA (12/13-6/30/19). Ms. Trevino also
serves as Assistant Treasurer of Victory Portfolios,
Victory Portfolios II, and Victory Variable Insurance
Funds (2/28/23-present).
Michael Bryan
(December 1962)
Anti-Money
Laundering
Compliance
Officer and
Identity Theft
Officer
May 2023
Vice President, CCO Compliance Support Services, Citi
Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (2008-present). Mr. Bryan
also serves as the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
Officer and Identity Theft Officer for Victory
Portfolios, Victory Portfolios II, and Victory Variable
Insurance Funds (5/23-present).
Sean Fox
(September 1976)
Chief
Compliance
Officer
June 2022
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer (July 2021-June
2022), Senior Compliance Officer, the Adviser
(2019-present); Compliance Officer, the Adviser
(2015-2019). Mr. Fox also serves as Chief Compliance
Officer for Victory Portfolios, Victory Portfolios II, and
Victory Variable Insurance Funds (6/22-present).
* Effective on May 1, 2023, Mr. De Vries resigned as Treasurer and accepted the position of President, and Mr. Shaer resigned as Assistant Treasurer and accepted the position of Treasurer.
Trustees’ Fund Ownership
The following tables set forth the dollar range of total equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees of the Funds listed in this SAI and in all of the Victory Funds overseen by the Trustees as of the calendar year ended December 31, 2022. As of May 31, 2023, the officers and Trustees of the Trust, as a group, owned beneficially or of record less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.
Independent Trustees
Trustee
Dollar Range of Beneficial
Ownership of Fund Shares
Aggregate Dollar Range of Beneficial Ownership
of Shares of All Series
of the Victory Portfolios III Complex
Jefferson C. Boyce
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term
Fund: $10,001-$50,000
$50,001-$100,000
Dawn M. Hawley
None
Over $100,000
Daniel S. McNamara
Victory Tax Exempt
Intermediate-Term Fund: Over
$100,000
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term
Fund: $0-$10,000
Victory Tax Exempt Money
Market Fund: $50,001-$100,000
Over $100,000
Paul L. McNamara
None
Over $100,000
Richard Y. Newton III
None
$0-$10,000
Barbara B. Ostdiek, Ph.D.
None
$50,001-$100,000
John C. Walters
None
Over $100,000
38

Interested Trustee
Trustee
Dollar Range of Beneficial Ownership
of Fund Shares
Aggregate Dollar Range of Beneficial Ownership
of Shares of All Series
of the Victory Portfolios III Complex
David C. Brown
None
None
Trustees’ Compensation
The following tables set forth information describing the compensation of the current Trustees of the Trust for their services as Trustees for the fiscal period ended February 28, 2023. As of February 28, 2023, the Victory Portfolios III consisted of one registered investment company offering 45 individual funds. The Trust does not maintain a retirement plan for its Trustees.
Independent Trustees
Trustee
Aggregate
Compensation from
Funds Listed in this SAI
Total Compensation
from the Trust
Jefferson C. Boyce
$31,111
$350,000
Dawn M. Hawley
$26,756
$301,000
Daniel S. McNamara
$25,333
$285,000
Paul L. McNamara
$26,400
$297,000
Richard Y. Newton III
$25,333
$285,000
Barbara B. Ostdiek, Ph.D.
$26,400
$297,000
John C. Walters
$26,400
$297,000
Interested Trustee
Trustee
Aggregate
Compensation from
Funds Listed in this SAI
Total Compensation
from the Trust
David C. Brown*
None
None
* David C. Brown is affiliated with the Trust’s investment adviser, Victory Capital. Accordingly, he receives no remuneration from the Trust or any other fund of the Victory Portfolios Complex (“Fund Complex”).
Control Persons and Principal Shareholders
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company, who acknowledges the existence of control, or by whom the Fund acknowledges control. Shareholders with a controlling interest could affect the outcome of voting or the direction of management of a Fund. Since the economic benefit of investing in a Fund is passed through to the underlying investors of the record owners of 25% or more of the Fund shares, these record owners are not considered the beneficial owners of the Fund’s shares or control persons of the Fund.
Control Persons
As of May 31, 2023, there were no control persons of the Funds.
Principal Shareholders
As of May 31, 2023, the following persons were known to own of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the share class and Fund indicated in the table below.
Title of Class
Name and Address of Owner
Percent of Class
Nature of Ownership1
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term
Fund Shares
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105
23.40
%
Record
39

Title of Class
Name and Address of Owner
Percent of Class
Nature of Ownership1
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term
Fund Institutional Shares
CHARLES SCHWAB
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105
52.59
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term
Fund Institutional Shares
TD AMERITRADE
PO BOX 2226
OMAHA, NE 68103-2226
40.60
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term
Fund Class A
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310
70.66
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term
Fund Class A
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH
BARNEY LLC
200 WESTCHESTER AVE LD
PURCHASE, NY 10577-2530
18.45
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term
Fund Class A
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Attn: Compensation Team
4800 Deer Lake Drive E Floor 2
Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484
6.85
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Intermediate-Term Fund
Shares
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105
35.63
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Intermediate-Term Fund
Shares
NATIONAL FINANCIAL
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310
9.41
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Intermediate-Term Fund
Institutional Shares
CHARLES SCHWAB
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105
67.00
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Intermediate-Term Fund
Institutional Shares
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.
12555 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63131-3729
12.34
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Intermediate-Term Fund
Institutional Shares
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH
BARNEY LLC
2000 WESTCHESTER AVE LD
PURCHASE, NY 10577-2530
5.44
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Intermediate-Term Fund
Class A
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310
45.22
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Intermediate-Term Fund
Class A
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.
12555 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63131-3729
32.24
%
Record
40

Title of Class
Name and Address of Owner
Percent of Class
Nature of Ownership1
Victory Tax Exempt
Intermediate-Term Fund
Class A
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Attn: Compensation Team
4800 Deer Lake Drive E Floor 2
Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484
11.53
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Short-Term Fund Shares
CHARLES SCHWAB
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105
22.28
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Short-Term Fund Shares
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310
12.64
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Short-Term Fund Institutional
Shares
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.
12555 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63131-3729
34.64
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Short-Term Fund Institutional
Shares
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Attn: Compensation Team
4800 Deer Lake Drive E Floor 2
Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484
31.21
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Short-Term Fund Institutional
Shares
CHARLES SCHWAB
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105
24.27
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Short-Term Fund Class A
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.
12555 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63131-3729
42.76
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Short-Term Fund Class A
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310
27.03
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Short-Term Fund Class A
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Attn: Compensation Team
4800 Deer Lake Drive E Floor 2
Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484
12.73
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Short-Term Fund Class A
LPL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
75 STATE STREET, 24TH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02109
8.91
%
Record
Victory Tax Exempt
Short-Term Fund Class A
RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL
SERVICES, INC.
880 CARILLON PARKWAY
ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33733-2749
6.23
%
Record
1
“Record” ownership means the shareholder of record, or the exact name of the shareholder on the account, i.e., “ABC Brokerage, Inc.” “Beneficial” ownership refers to the actual pecuniary, or financial, interest in the security, i.e., “Jane Doe Shareholder.”
The Trust’s Adviser and Other Service Providers
Investment Adviser
Victory Capital, a New York corporation registered as an investment adviser with the SEC, serves as investment adviser to the Funds. Victory Capital’s principal business address is 15935 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, Texas 78256. Victory Capital is an indirect
41

wholly-owned subsidiary of Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (“VCH”) a publicly traded Delaware corporation. As of May 31, 2023, Victory Capital managed assets totaling in excess of $154.8 billion for numerous clients including large corporate and public retirement plans, Taft-Hartley plans, foundations and endowments, high net worth individuals and mutual funds. Effective July 1, 2019, VCH acquired AMCO from its parent company and Victory Capital became the adviser to the Funds.
Subject to the authority of the Board, the Adviser is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Funds’ business affairs. Victory Capital is responsible for selecting each Fund’s investments according to the Fund’s investment objective, policies, and restrictions. Victory Capital is a diversified global asset manager comprised of multiple investment teams, referred to as investment franchises, each of which utilizes an independent approach to investing. The Advisory Agreement also authorizes Victory Capital to retain one or more Subadvisers for the management of all or a portion of a Fund’s investment. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is responsible for monitoring the services furnished pursuant to the Subadvisory Agreements and making recommendations to the Board with respect to the retention or replacement of Subadvisers and renewal of Subadvisory Agreements.
Advisory Agreement
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides an investment program, carries out the investment policy, and manages the portfolio assets for each Fund. The Adviser is authorized, subject to the control of the Board of the Trust, to determine the selection, amount, and time to buy or sell securities for each Fund.
For these services under this agreement, each Fund has agreed to pay the Adviser a fee computed as described under Organization and Management of the Fund in the prospectus. Management fees are computed and accrued daily and are payable monthly. The Adviser compensates all personnel, officers, and Trustees of the Trust if such persons are also employees of the Adviser or its affiliates.
The management fees of each Fund (except the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) are based upon two components: (1) a base investment management fee, which is accrued daily and paid monthly, computed at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of the Fund and (2) a performance adjustment that will be added to or subtracted from the base investment management fee depending upon the performance of the Fund relevant to a relevant Lipper Index. Each Fund’s performance will be compared to the Lipper Index as listed below:
Fund
Lipper Index
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
General and Insured Municipal Debt Fund Index
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Index
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
Short Municipal Debt Fund Index
For Funds that offer multiple classes of shares, the performance adjustment is determined on a class-by-class basis. In some circumstances, the Adviser has agreed to waive certain expenses of the Funds, the impact of which may be to increase the performance of those Funds. Any corresponding increase in the performance of a Fund may contribute to a positive performance adjustment.
With respect to the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund, the management fee consists solely of the base investment management fee.
Except for the services and facilities provided by the Adviser, the Funds pay all other expenses incurred in their operations. Expenses for which the Funds are responsible include taxes (if any); brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions (if any); expenses of issuance and redemption of shares; charges of transfer agents, custodians, and dividend disbursing agents; cost of preparing and distributing proxy material and all other expenses incidental to holding meetings of shareholders, including proxy solicitations therefor, unless otherwise required; auditing and legal expenses; certain expenses of registering and qualifying shares for sale; fees of Trustees who are not interested persons (not affiliated) of the Adviser; administrator, custodian, pricing and bookkeeping, registrar and transfer agent fees and expenses; fees and expenses related to the registration and qualification of the Funds’ shares for distribution under state and federal securities laws; expenses of typesetting for printing prospectuses and SAIs and supplements thereto expenses of printing and mailing these sent to existing shareholders; (xi) insurance premiums for fidelity bonds and other coverage to the extent approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees; (xii) association membership dues authorized by the Trust’s Board of Trustees; and (xiii) such non-recurring or extraordinary expenses as may arise, including those relating to actions, suits or proceedings to which the Trust is a party (or to which the Funds’ assets are subject) and any legal obligation for which the Trust may have to provide indemnification to the Trust’s Trustees and officers.
The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Funds in connection with the performance of the services pursuant thereto, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by the Adviser of its duties and obligations thereunder.
42

The Advisory Agreement will remain in effect until June 30, 2024, for each Fund and will continue in effect from year to year thereafter for each Fund as long as it is approved at least annually (i) by a vote of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined by the 1940 Act) or by the Board (on behalf of the Fund), and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Adviser or (otherwise than as Trustees) of the Trust cast, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by either the Trust or Victory Capital on 60 days’ written notice and will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined by the 1940 Act).
For the fiscal period ended February 28, 2023, and the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Funds paid advisory fees to Victory Capital as following amounts:
Fund
2023
2022
2021
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
$4,743,429
$7,222,795
$6,620,552
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
$10,861,896
$16,596,381
$14,810,691
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
$2,081,031
$3,772,527
$3,745,209
Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
$1,243,730
$1,465,250
$2,006,178
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursements
The Adviser has contractually agreed to reimburse expenses so that the total annual operating expenses (excluding certain items such as acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, capitalized expenses, and other extraordinary expenses) do not exceed a certain amount for each Fund through at least June 30, 2024. The Adviser is permitted to recoup any reimbursed expenses for up to three years after the date of the waiver or reimbursement took place, subject to the lesser of any operating expense limits in effect at the time of: (a) the original expense reimbursement; or (b) the recoupment, after giving effect to the recoupment amount. This agreement may only be terminated by the Funds’ Board of Trustees.
From time to time, the Adviser may, without prior notice to shareholders, waive all or any portion of fees or agree to reimburse expenses incurred by a Fund. For the fiscal period ended February 28, 2023, and the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022, and 2021, Victory Capital reimbursed the Funds as follows:
Fund
2023
2022
2021
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
$201,054
$34,887
$85,164
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
$625,297
$1,052,991
$171,995
Victory Tax-Exempt Short-Term Fund
$157,879
$50,312
$106,984
Victory Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund
$146,597
$2,216,063
$1,556,839
For the fiscal period ended February 28, 2023, and fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, Victory Capital recouped management fees previously waived and/or reimbursed in the amounts listed in the table below.
Fund
2023
2022
2021
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
$5,914
$23,405
$-
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
$4,887
$-
$-
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
$-
$39,219
$-
Computing the Performance Adjustment
For any month, the base investment management fee of each Fund will equal the Fund’s average daily net assets for that month multiplied by the annual base investment management fee rate for the Fund, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the month and the denominator of which is 365 (366 in leap years). The Investment Advisory Agreement with Victory Capital permits calculation and application of the performance adjustment (1) on a class-by-class basis or (2) by designating a single share class of a Fund for purposes to calculate the performance adjustment, and then applying the same performance adjustment to each other class of shares of the Fund. The performance adjustment is currently calculated separately for each share class on a monthly basis and is added to or subtracted from the base investment management fee depending upon the performance over the performance period of the respective share class relative to the performance of each Fund's relevant Lipper Index. The methodology for calculating the performance adjustment may change in the future, as approved by the Board of the Trust and consistent with the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement.
The performance period for each Fund consists of the current month plus the previous 35 months (or the number of months since the date of the investment advisory agreement, if shorter). The annual performance adjustment rate is multiplied by the average daily net assets of the Fund over the performance period, which is then multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days
43

in the month and the denominator of which is 365 (366 in leap years). The resulting amount is then added to (in the case of overperformance) or subtracted from (in the case of underperformance) the base investment management fee as referenced in the chart below:
 
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
Over/Under Performance
Relative to Index
(in basis points) 1
Annual Adjustment Rate
(in basis points as a percentage
of a Fund’s average daily net assets)
+/- 20 to 50
+/– 4
+/– 51 to 100
+/– 5
+/– 101 and greater
+/– 6
1 Based on the difference between the average annual performance of the relevant share class of the Fund and its relevant Lipper index, rounded to the nearest basis point. The performance adjustment rate included in the investment advisory fee may differ from the maximum over/under Annual Adjustment Rate due to differences in average net assets for the reporting period and rolling 36-month performance period.
Each Fund measures its investment performance by comparing the beginning and ending redeemable value of an investment in the share class during the measurement period, assuming the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions during the period. Lipper uses this same methodology when it measures the investment performance of the component mutual funds within the respective Lipper Index. Because the adjustment to the base investment management fee is based upon each share class performance compared to the investment record of its respective Lipper Index, the controlling factor as to whether a performance adjustment will be made is not whether the share class performance is up or down per se, but whether it is up or down more or less than the record of its respective Lipper Index. Moreover, the comparative investment performance of each share class is based solely on the relevant performance period without regard to the cumulative performance over a longer or shorter period of time.
Administration, Servicing, and Accounting Agreement
Under a Fund Administration, Servicing, and Accounting Agreement effective July 1, 2019 (“Administration Agreement”), Victory Capital is obligated on a continuous basis to provide such administrative services as the Board reasonably deems necessary for the proper administration of the Funds. Victory Capital may delegate one or more of its responsibilities to others at its expense. Citi Fund Services of Ohio, Inc. (“Citi”) serves as sub-administrator and sub-fund accountant to the Trust pursuant to an agreement with Victory Capital, as disclosed in greater detail under “Sub-Administrator and Sub-Fund Accountant.” As administrator, Victory Capital supervises the Trust’s operations, including the services that Citi provides to the Funds as sub-administrator, but excluding those that Victory Capital provides as investment adviser, all subject to the supervision of the Board.
Victory Capital coordinates the preparation, filing, and distribution of amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A, supplements to prospectuses and SAIs, and proxy materials in connection with shareholder meetings; drafts shareholder communications, including annual and semi annual reports; administers the Trust’s other service provider contracts; monitors compliance with investment restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act, each Fund’s investment objective, defined investment policies, and restrictions, tax diversification, and distribution and income requirements; coordinates the Funds’ service arrangements with financial institutions that make the Funds’ shares available to their customers; assists with regulatory compliance; supplies individuals to serve as Trust officers; prepares Board meeting materials; and annually determines whether the services that it provides (or the services that Citi provides as sub-administrator) are adequate and complete.
Victory Capital also performs fund accounting services for each Fund. In addition, the Funds may reimburse Victory Capital for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing the services and certain other expenses specifically allocated to the Funds under the Administration Agreement.
The Administration Agreement provides that Victory Capital shall not be liable for any action or inaction, except for any action or inaction constituting willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of its duties hereunder or the reckless disregard of such duties.
For these services under the Administration Agreement, the Trust has agreed to pay Victory Capital a fee computed daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate equal to fifteen one-hundredths of one percent (0.15%) for both the Fund Shares and Class A shares and an annual rate equal to one-tenth of one percent (0.10%) for the Institutional Shares for the Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund, Victory
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Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund, and Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund and one-tenth of one percent (0.10%) for the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund of the average daily net assets of the respective Fund.
For the fiscal period ended February 28, 2023, and the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022, and 2021, the Funds paid administration and servicing fees to Victory Capital in the following amounts:
Fund
2023
2022
2021
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund Shares
$2,628,844
$3,590,431
$3,576,457
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund Institutional Shares
$52,538
$9,144
$2,877
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund Class A
$6,198
$5,664
$11,823
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund Shares
$4,419,813
$6,039,524
$7,011,025
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund Institutional Shares
$763,978
$1,088,785
$217,253
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund Class A
$35,056
$42,959
$34,886
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund Shares
$1,165,125
$1,636,803
1,817,585
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund Institutional Shares
$27,791
$41,291
$7,838
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund Class A
$9,409
$20,671
$24,083
Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
$444,190
$523,304
$716,481
Sub-Administrator and Sub-Fund Accountant
Citi serves as sub-administrator and sub-fund accountant to the Funds pursuant to a Sub-Administration and Sub-Fund Accounting Agreement dated October 1, 2015, as amended, by and between Victory Capital and Citi. Citi assists in supervising all operations of the Funds (other than those performed by Victory Capital either as investment adviser or administrator), subject to the supervision of the Board.
Under the Sub-Administration and Sub-Fund Accounting Agreement, for the sub-administration services that Citi renders to the Funds, other series of the Trust, and the series of Victory Portfolios (“VP”), Victory Portfolios II (“VPII”), and Victory Variable Insurance Funds (“VVIF”), Victory Capital pays Citi a fee for providing these services. Citi may periodically waive all or a portion of the amount of its fee that is allocated to any Fund in order to increase the net income of the Funds available for distribution to shareholders. In addition, the Trust, VP, VPII, and VVIF reimburse Victory Capital and Citi for all of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing these services and certain other expenses specifically allocated to the Funds under the Sub-Administration and Sub-Fund Accounting Agreement.
The Sub-Administration and Sub-Fund Accounting Agreement provides that Citi shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from bad faith, willful misfeasance, negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Agreement.
Under the Sub-Administration and Sub-Fund Accounting Agreement, Citi calculates Trust expenses and makes disbursements; calculates capital gain and distribution information; registers the Funds’ shares with the states; prepares shareholder reports and reports to the SEC on Forms N-CEN, N-PORT, N-MFP, and N-CSR; coordinates dividend payments; calculates the Funds’ performance information; files the Trust’s tax returns; supplies individuals to serve as Trust officers; monitors the Funds’ status as regulated investment companies under the Code; assists in developing portfolio compliance procedures; reports to the Board amounts paid under shareholder service agreements; assists with regulatory compliance; obtains, maintains and files fidelity bonds and Trustees’ and officers’/errors and omissions insurance policies for the Trust; and assists in the annual audit of the Funds.
Custodian
Citibank, N.A., 388 Greenwich St., New York, New York 10013, is the custodian for the Funds. The custodian is responsible for, among other things, safeguarding and controlling each Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, processing the pricing of each Fund’s securities, and collecting interest on the Funds’ investments. In addition, assets of the Funds may be held by certain foreign subcustodians and foreign securities depositories as agents of the custodian in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the SEC.
Transfer Agent
Victory Capital Transfer Agency, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”), 15935 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, Texas 78256, an affiliate of the Adviser, performs transfer agent services for the Trust under a Transfer Agency Agreement. Services include maintenance of shareholder account records, handling of communications with shareholders, distribution of Fund dividends, and production of reports with respect to account activity for shareholders and the Trust.
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For its services under the Transfer Agency Agreement, each Fund except for the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund pays the Transfer Agent an annual fee of $25.50 per account; and for the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund, the Fund pays the Transfer Agent a fee computed daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate equal to one-fifteenth of one percent (0.15%) of its average daily net assets, while the Institutional Shares and Class A shares pay the Transfer Agent a fee computed daily and paid monthly at an annual rate equal to one-tenth of one percent (0.10%) of the average daily net assets per account. These fees are subject to change at any time.
In addition to these fees, the Transfer Agent also is entitled to reimbursement from the Trust for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, charges and other disbursements incurred by it in connection with the performance of services under the Transfer Agency Agreement, including but not limited to: (1) the cost of any and all forms, statements, labels, envelopes, checks, tax forms, and other printed materials which is required by the Transfer Agent to perform its duties; (2) delivery charges, including postage incurred in delivering materials to, and receiving them from, the Trust and shareholders; (3) communication charges; (4) maintenance of shareholder records (including charges for retention and imaging); (5) tax reporting systems; (6) counsel fees; and (7) cash and asset management services.  The fee paid to the Transfer Agent includes processing of all transactions and correspondence. Fees are billed on a monthly basis at the rate of one-twelfth of the annual fee. Each Fund pays all out-of-pocket expenses of the Transfer Agent and other expenses specifically allocated to the Funds that are incurred at the specific direction of the Trust. Fees paid under the Transfer Agency Agreement are subject to change at any time.
The Transfer Agent is authorized to enter into arrangements with third-party service providers to provide a portion or all of the functions under the Transfer Agency Agreement. For accounts held with third-party intermediaries, the Trust pays the Transfer Agent the same fees that would have been paid to the Transfer Agent if all the accounts had been maintained by the Transfer Agent. The intermediaries may receive payments directly or indirectly from the Transfer Agent, the Adviser, or their affiliates for providing services to their clients who hold Fund shares.
Sub-Transfer Agent
Under its agreement with the Trust, the Transfer Agent may delegate one or more of its responsibilities to others at its expense. The Transfer Agent has engaged FIS Investor Services LLC (“FIS”), 4249 Easton Way, Suite 400, Columbus, Ohio 43219, to serve as sub-transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Funds. Under its agreement with the Transfer Agent, FIS has agreed to (1) issue and redeem shares of the Funds; (2) address and mail all communications by the Funds to their shareholders, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy material for its meetings of shareholders; (3) respond to correspondence or inquiries by shareholders and others relating to its duties; (4) maintain shareholder accounts and certain sub-accounts; and (5) make periodic reports to the Board concerning the Funds’ operations.
Underwriter and Distributor
The Trust has an agreement with Victory Capital Services, Inc. (“VCS”), 4900 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144, an affiliate of the Adviser, for exclusive underwriting and distribution of the Funds' shares on a continuing, best efforts basis. This agreement provides that VCS will receive no fee or other compensation for such distribution services, but may receive 12b-1 fees with respect to Class A shares.
Compliance Services
Effective July 1, 2019, as amended on July 1, 2021, the Trust entered into an Agreement to Provide Compliance Services (“Compliance Agreement”) with the Adviser, pursuant to which the Adviser furnishes its compliance personnel, including the services of the CCO, and other resources reasonably necessary to provide the Trust with compliance oversight services related to the design, administration, and oversight of a compliance program for the Trust in accordance with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Funds in the Victory Funds complex, in the aggregate, compensate the Adviser for these services.
The Funds paid Victory Capital for compliance services for the fiscal period ended February 28, 2023, and the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, in the following amounts:
Fund
2023
2022
2021
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
$16,718
$16,204
$15,498
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
$34,616
$34,539
$31,760
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
$7,548
$7,737
$8,089
Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
$4,054
$3,547
$5,047
Legal Counsel
K&L Gates LLP, 1601 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006, reviews certain legal matters for the Trust in connection with the shares offered by the prospectuses.
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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP, 111 West Houston Street, Suite 1901, San Antonio, Texas 78205, is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds. In this capacity, the firm is responsible for the audits of the annual financial statements of each Fund.
Codes of Ethics
Each of the Trust, the Adviser, and the Distributor has adopted a Code of Ethics in accordance with Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. The Adviser Code of Ethics applies to all Access Personnel (the Adviser’s directors, officers, and employees with investment advisory duties) and all Supervised Personnel (all of the Adviser’s directors, officers, and employees). Each Code of Ethics provides that Access Personnel must refrain from certain trading practices. Each Code of Ethics also requires all Access Personnel (and, in the Adviser Code of Ethics, all Supervised Personnel) to report certain personal investment activities, including, but not limited to, purchases or sales of securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds. Violations of any Code of Ethics can result in penalties, suspension, or termination of employment.
Distribution and Service Plans
Multiple Class Information
Each Fund is comprised of multiple classes of shares (except the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund). Each class has a common investment objective and investment portfolio. The classes have different fees, expenses and/or minimum investment requirements. The difference in the fee structures between the classes is the result of their separate arrangements for shareholder and distribution services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fee rate schedules or other expenses related to the management of the Fund's assets, which do not vary by class.
Except as described below, the share classes have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights, preferences, terms and conditions. The primary differences between the classes are (a) each class may be subject to different expenses specific to that class; (b) each class has a different identifying designation or name; (c) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters solely affecting that class; and (d) each class may have different purchase, exchange, and redemption privileges.
Rule 12b-1 Distribution and Service Plans
Each Fund (other than the Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund) has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (“Rule 12b-1 Plan”) under the 1940 Act, as amended, with respect to Class A and Class C shares. Under the Rule 12b-1 Plan such fees may cover expenses incurred by the Payee in connection with the distribution and/or servicing of Class A and Class C shares of the Fund and relating (among other things) to:
• compensation to the Payee and its employees;
• payment of the Payee’s expenses, including overhead and communication expenses;
• compensation to broker-dealers, financial intermediaries and other entities to pay or reimburse them for their services or expenses in connection with the distribution of Class A shares;
• printing and mailing of prospectuses, SAIs, and reports for prospective shareholders;
• the preparation and distribution of sales literature and advertising materials;
• responding to inquiries from shareholders or their financial representatives requesting information regarding the Victory Funds; and
• responding to inquiries by and correspondence from shareholders regarding ownership of their shares or their accounts.
The Distributor pays all or a portion of such fees to financial intermediaries that make the Class A and Class C shares available for investment by their customers and the Distributor may retain part of this fee as compensation for providing these services. If the fees received by the Distributor under the Rule 12b-1 Plan exceed its expenses, the Distributor may realize a profit from these arrangements. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment in the Class A or Class C shares and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. In addition, because some or all of the fees payable pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan may be used to pay for shareholder services that are not related to prospective sales of the Fund, the Class A and Class C shares may continue to make payments under the Rule 12b-1 Plan even if the Fund terminates the sale of Class A or Class C shares to investors.
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Class A Rule 12b-1 Plan. Under the Rule 12b-1 Plan, the Class A share class of each Fund pays a fee at the annual rate of up to 0.25% of that class’s average daily net assets to the Distributor, or such other entities as the Fund’s Board may approve (the Payee), as compensation for rendering services and bearing expenses in connection with activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class A shares and/or providing services to shareholders of Class A shares. The fee may be split among intermediaries based on the level of services provided. The amount of fees paid by a Class A share class during any year may be more or less than the cost of distribution and other services provided to that class and its shareholders. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules limit the amount of annual distribution and service fees that may be paid by a mutual fund and impose a ceiling on the cumulative distribution fees paid.
Class C Rule 12b-1 Plan. Under the Rule 12b1- Plan, the Class C share class of the Fund will pay to the Distributor a monthly fee at an annual rate of 1.00% of the average daily net assets of its Class C shares. Of this amount, 0.75% of the Fund’s Class C shares average daily net assets will be paid for general distribution services and for selling Class C shares. The Fund will pay 0.25% of its Class C shares average daily net assets to compensate financial institutions that provide personal services to Class C shareholders of the Fund. Distribution and selling services are provided by the Distributor or by agents of the Distributor and include those services intended to result in the sale of the Fund's Class C shares. Personal services to shareholders generally are provided by broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries and consist of responding to inquiries, providing information to shareholders about their Fund accounts, establishing and maintaining accounts and records, providing dividend and distribution payments, arranging for bank wires, assisting in transactions and changing account information.
Rule 12b-1 Plans. Prior to approving the Rule 12b-1 Plan, the Trustees considered various factors relating to the implementation of the Rule 12b-1 Plan and determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Rule 12b-1 Plan will benefit each Fund, its Class A and Class C shares, and the shareholders of the Class A and Class C shares. Among other things, the Trustees noted that, to the extent the Rule 12b-1 Plan allows each Fund to sell Class A and Class C shares in markets to which it would not otherwise have access, the Rule 12b-1 Plan may result in additional sales of Fund shares, including to USAA members who do not hold mutual fund accounts directly with the Adviser, and would enhance each Fund's competitive position in relation to other funds that have implemented or are seeking to implement similar distribution arrangements. In addition, certain ongoing shareholder services may be provided more effectively by intermediaries with which shareholders have an existing relationship.
The plan is renewable from year to year with respect to the Class A and Class C share class of each Fund, so long as its continuance is approved at least annually (1) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees and (2) by a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the plan or any Rule 12b-1 related agreements, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Rule 12b-1 Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of fees paid by any Class A and Class C share class thereunder unless such amendment is approved by a majority vote of the outstanding shares of such class and by the Trustees in the manner prescribed by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Rule 12b-1 Plan is terminable with respect to any Fund’s Class A and Class C share class at any time by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Rule 12b-1 Plan or any Rule 12b-1 related agreements, or by a majority vote of the outstanding shares in that class. The Rule 12b-1 Plan requires that the Distributor provide, or cause to be provided, a quarterly written report identifying the amounts expended by the Class A and Class C shares and the purposes for which such expenditures were made to the Trustees for their review.
For the most recent fiscal period ended February 28, the Funds paid distribution services fees for expenditures under the Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan as set forth in the table below.
Fund
2023
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund Class A
$10,330
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
Class A
$58,426
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund Class A
$15,682
Other Compensation to Financial Intermediaries
In addition to the compensation paid by the Funds for the distribution and servicing of Class A shares described above, the Adviser or its affiliates, from time to time may make additional payments to financial intermediaries for the sale, distribution, and retention of shares of a Fund and for services to the shares of a Fund and its shareholders. These non-plan payments are intended to provide additional compensation to financial intermediaries for various services and may take the form of, among other things, “due diligence” payments for a dealer’s examination of the Funds and payments for providing extra employee training and information relating to Funds; “listing” fees for the placement of the Funds on a dealer’s list of mutual funds available for purchase by its customers; “finders” fees for directing investors to a Fund; “distribution and marketing support” fees or “revenue sharing” for providing assistance in promoting the sale of the Funds' shares; payments for the sale of shares and/or the maintenance of share balances; CUSIP fees; maintenance fees for, among other things, account maintenance and tax reporting; and set-up fees regarding the establishment of new
48

accounts. These financial intermediaries may impose additional or different conditions than the Funds on purchases, redemptions or exchanges of shares. They also may independently establish and charge their customers or program participants transaction fees, account fees and other amounts in connection with purchases, redemptions and exchanges of shares in addition to any fees imposed by the Funds. The additional fees charged by financial intermediaries may vary and over time could increase the cost of an investment in the Funds and lower investment returns. Each financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting to its customers and program participants a schedule of any such fees and information regarding any additional or different conditions regarding purchases, redemptions and exchanges. Shareholders who are customers of these financial intermediaries or participants in programs serviced by them should contact the financial intermediary for information regarding these fees and conditions, if any.
From time to time, the Adviser or its affiliates also may pay a portion of the fees for administrative, networking, omnibus, operational and recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency, and shareholder services at its or their own expense and out of its or their legitimate profits.
Such revenue sharing payments are intended to compensate a financial intermediary for one or more of the following: (1) distribution, which may include expenses incurred by financial intermediaries for their sales activities with respect to a Fund, such as preparing, printing, and distributing sales literature and advertising materials and compensating registered representatives or other employees of such financial intermediaries for their sales activities, as well as the opportunity for a Fund to be made available by such financial intermediaries; (2) shareholder services, such as providing individual and custom investment advisory services to clients of the financial intermediaries; and (3) marketing and promotional services, including business planning assistance, educating personnel about a Fund, including a Fund on preferred or recommended lists or in certain sales programs sponsored by the intermediary, and sponsorship of sales meetings, which may include covering costs of providing speakers. The distributor may sponsor seminars and conferences designed to educate financial intermediaries about a Fund and may cover the expenses associated with attendance at such meetings, including travel costs. These payments and activities are intended to educate financial intermediaries about a Fund and may help defray or compensate the financial intermediary for the costs associated with offering a Fund.
The additional payments made by the Adviser and its affiliates may be a fixed dollar amount or may be based on a percentage of the value of shares sold to, or held by, customers of the financial intermediary involved, and may be different for different financial intermediaries. These payments may be negotiated based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the financial intermediary’s reputation in the industry, ability to attract and retain assets, target markets, customer relationships and quality of service. No one factor is determinative of the type or amount of additional compensation to be provided. The payments described above are made from the Adviser’s or its affiliates’ own assets pursuant to agreements with the financial intermediaries and do not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of a Fund’s shares or the amount a Fund will receive as proceeds from such sales.
The level of payments made to the financial intermediaries in any year will vary and normally will be based on a percentage of sales or assets attributable to that financial intermediary invested in the particular share class of a Fund. Furthermore, the Adviser or its affiliates may contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive arrangements to promote the sale of shares, and may sponsor various contests and promotions subject to applicable FINRA regulations in which participants may receive prizes such as travel awards, merchandise and cash. Subject to applicable FINRA regulations, the Adviser or its affiliates also may: (i) pay for the travel expenses, meals, lodging and entertainment of financial intermediary representatives and their salespersons in connection with educational and sales promotional programs, (ii) sponsor speakers, educational seminars and charitable events and (iii) provide other sales and marketing conferences and other resources to financial intermediaries and their salespersons. The amount of any payments is determined by us or the distributor, and all such amounts are paid out of our available assets or the assets of the distributor and do not directly affect the total expense ratio of a Fund. In addition, certain financial intermediaries may have access to certain services from Adviser or the distributor, including research reports and economic analysis, and portfolio analysis tools. In certain cases, the financial intermediary may not pay for these services.
In some instances, these incentives may be made available only to financial intermediaries whose representatives have sold or may sell a significant number of shares. The financial intermediaries receiving additional payments include those that may recommend that their clients consider or select a Fund for investment purposes, including those that may include one or more Funds on a “preferred” or “recommended” list of mutual funds. These payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Funds to its customers over shares of other funds. In addition, these payments may result in greater access by the Distributor or its affiliates to, without limitation, the financial intermediary, its representatives, advisors and consultants and sales meetings, than other funds, which do not make such payments or which make lower such payments. You should consult your financial adviser and review carefully any disclosure by the financial intermediary as to compensation received by your financial adviser for more information about the payments described above.
Portfolio Manager Disclosure
This section includes information about the Funds' portfolio managers, including information concerning other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own, and how they are compensated. For each Fund, the portfolio managers listed in the following table manage all of the other investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts shown below as a team.
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Victory Income Investors
Accounts Managed
The following table sets forth the accounts for which the Funds' portfolio managers were primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management as of the fiscal period ended February 28, 2023.
 
Registered
Investment
Companies
Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
Other
Accounts
Name
Number
of
Accounts
Total
Assets
(in Millions)
Number
of
Accounts
Total
Assets
(in Millions)
Number
of
Accounts
Total
Assets
(in Millions)
Andrew Hattman
12
$11,585
0
$—
0
$—
Lauren Spalten
10
$8,911
0
$—
0
$—
Cody Perkins
3
$3,146
0
$—
0
$—
The following table lists the number and types of Performance-Based accounts managed by each individual and assets under management in those accounts as of the last completed fiscal year.
 
Registered
Investment
Companies
Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicle
Other
Accounts
Name
Number
of
Accounts
Total
Assets
(in Millions)
Number
of
Accounts
Total
Assets
(in Millions)
Number
of
Accounts
Total
Assets
(in Millions)
Andrew Hattman
7
$8,360
0
$—
0
$—
Lauren Spalten
7
$8,360
0
$—
0
$—
Cody Perkins
0
$
0
$—
0
$—
Portfolio Ownership: As of February 28, 2023, the dollar range of shares beneficially owned by the portfolio managers of the Funds are set forth below:
Portfolio Manager
Fund(s)
Dollar Range of Shares
Beneficially Owned
Andrew Hattman
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
$50,001-$100,000
 
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
$100,001-$500,000
 
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
None
 
Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
None
Lauren Spalten
Victory Tax Exempt Long-Term Fund
None
 
Victory Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term Fund
None
 
Victory Tax Exempt Short-Term Fund
None
 
Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
None
Cody Perkins
Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
None
Portfolio Manager Compensation
The Adviser has designed the structure of its portfolio managers’ compensation to (1) align portfolio managers’ interests with those of the Adviser’s clients with an emphasis on long-term, risk-adjusted investment performance, (2) help the Adviser attract and retain high-quality investment professionals, and (3) contribute to the Adviser’s overall financial success. Each of the portfolio managers receives a base salary plus an annual incentive bonus for managing a Fund, separate accounts, other investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and other accounts (including any accounts for which the Adviser receives a performance fee) (together, “Accounts”). A portfolio manager’s base salary is dependent on the portfolio manager’s level of experience and expertise. The Adviser monitors each portfolio manager’s base salary relative to salaries paid for similar positions with peer firms by reviewing data provided by various independent, third-party consultants that specialize in competitive salary information. Such data, however, is not considered to be a definitive benchmark.
Members of the Adviser’s Victory Solutions platform may earn incentive compensation based on the performance of the Victory Solutions platform. Members of the Adviser’s other investment franchises may earn incentive compensation based on a percentage of the Adviser’s revenue attributable to fees paid by Accounts managed by that team. The chief investment officer or a senior member
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of the team, in coordination with the Adviser, determines the allocation of the incentive compensation earned by the team among the team’s portfolio managers by establishing a “target” incentive for each portfolio manager based on the portfolio manager’s level of experience and expertise in the portfolio manager’s investment style. Individual performance is based on objectives established annually using performance metrics such as portfolio structure and positioning, research, stock selection, asset growth, client retention, presentation skills, marketing to prospective clients and contribution to the Adviser’s philosophy and values, such as leadership, risk management and teamwork. The annual incentive bonus also factors in individual investment performance of each portfolio manager’s portfolio or Fund relative to a selected peer group(s). The overall performance results for a portfolio manager are based on the composite performance of all Accounts managed by that manager on a combination of one-, three-, and five-year rolling performance periods as compared to the performance information of a peer group of similarly-managed competitors.
The Adviser’s portfolio managers may participate in the equity ownership plan of the Adviser’s parent company. There is an ongoing annual equity pool granted to certain employees based on their contribution to the firm. Eligibility for participation in these incentive programs depends on the manager’s performance and seniority.
Conflicts of Interest
The Adviser’s portfolio managers are often responsible for managing one or more Funds as well as other accounts, such as separate accounts, and other pooled investment vehicles, such as collective trust funds or unregistered hedge funds. A portfolio manager may manage other accounts which have materially higher fee arrangements than a Fund and may, in the future, manage other accounts which have a performance-based fee. A portfolio manager also may make personal investments in accounts he or she manages or supports. The side-by-side management of the Funds along with other accounts may raise potential conflicts of interest by incenting a portfolio manager to direct a disproportionate amount of: (1) their attention; (2) limited investment opportunities, such as less liquid securities or initial public offering; and/or (3) desirable trade allocations to such other accounts. In addition, certain trading practices, such as cross-trading between Funds or between a Fund and another account, raise conflict of interest issues. The Adviser has adopted numerous compliance policies and procedures, including a Code of Ethics, and brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, which seek to address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, the Adviser has a designated Chief Compliance Officer (selected in accordance with the federal securities laws) and compliance staff whose activities are focused on monitoring the activities of the Adviser’s investment franchises and employees in order to detect and address potential and actual conflicts of interest. However, there can be no assurance that the Adviser’s compliance program will achieve its intended result.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Board has adopted policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio holdings by the Fund, the Adviser, or their affiliates. These policies and procedures provide that each Fund’s portfolio holdings information generally may not be disclosed to any party prior to the information becoming public. Certain limited exceptions are described below. These policies and procedures apply to disclosures to all categories of persons, including individual investors, institutional investors, intermediaries who sell shares of a Fund, third parties providing services to the Funds (accounting agent, print vendors, etc.), rating and ranking organizations (Lipper, Morningstar, etc.) and affiliated persons of the Funds.
The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for monitoring each Fund’s compliance with these policies and procedures and for providing regular reports (at least annually) to the Board regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of the policy and recommend changes, if necessary.
Public Disclosure
The Funds disclose their complete portfolio holdings in its annual and semi annual reports to shareholders, which are sent to shareholders, and quarterly schedules of portfolio holdings no later than 60 days after the relevant fiscal period and are available on the Funds’ website, VictoryFunds.com. The Funds also file their complete portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-PORT. You can find these filings on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, and the Funds’ portfolio holdings are available at VictoryFunds.com in accordance with Rule 30e-3 under the 1940 Act.
In addition, the Funds disclose their complete portfolio holdings as of the quarter-end on the Funds’ website no earlier than the 15th day following the end of the calendar quarter (and five days in the case of money market funds). The Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund will post information relating to its portfolio holdings on VictoryFunds.com five business days after the end of each month and will keep such information on the website for six months thereafter. The Funds intend to publish its top 10 holdings on the Funds’ website on a monthly basis no earlier than the 10th day following the end of the month.
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Non-Public Disclosures
The Adviser may authorize the disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information under certain limited circumstances. The Funds’ policies provide that non-public disclosures of a Fund’s portfolio holdings may only be made if: (i) the Fund has a “legitimate business purpose” (as determined by the President of the Trust) for making such disclosure; and (ii) the party receiving the non-public information enters into a confidentiality agreement, which includes a duty not to trade on the non-public information and describes any compensation to be paid to the Fund or any “affiliated person” of the Adviser or Distributor, including any arrangement to maintain assets in the Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Adviser or by any “affiliated person” of the Adviser or Distributor.
The Adviser will consider any actual or potential conflicts of interest between the Adviser and a Fund’s shareholders and will act in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders with respect to any such disclosure of portfolio holdings information. If a potential conflict can be resolved in a manner that does not present detrimental effects to Fund shareholders, the Adviser may authorize release of portfolio holdings information. Conversely, if the potential conflict cannot be resolved in a manner that does not present detrimental effects to Fund shareholders, the Adviser will not authorize such release.
Ongoing Arrangements to Disclose Portfolio Holdings
As previously authorized by the Board and/or the Trust’s executive officers, a Fund periodically discloses non-public portfolio holdings on a confidential basis to various service providers that require such information in order to assist the Fund in its day-to-day operations, as well as public information to certain ratings organizations. These entities are described in the following table. The table also includes information as to the timing of these entities receiving the portfolio holdings information from a Fund. In none of these arrangements does a Fund or any “affiliated person” of the Adviser or Distributor receive any compensation, including any arrangement to maintain assets in the Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Adviser or by any “affiliated person” of the Adviser or Distributor.
Type of Service Provider
Name of Service Provider
Timing of Release of
Portfolio Holdings Information
Adviser and Fund Accountant
Victory Capital Management Inc.
Daily.
Underwriter and Distributor
Victory Capital Services, Inc.
Daily.
Custodian
Citibank, N.A.
Daily.
Sub-Fund Accountant
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
Daily.
Financial Date Service
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.
Daily.
Liquidity Risk Management Service
Provider
MSCI, Inc.
Daily.
Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP
Annual Reporting Period: within 15
business days of end of reporting period.
Legal Counsel, for EDGAR filings on
Forms N-CSR and Form N-Port
K&L Gates LLP
Up to 30 days before filing with the
SEC.
Ratings Agency
Lipper
Quarterly, no later than 15 calendar days
after the end of the previous quarter.
Ratings Agency
Morningstar
Quarterly, no later than 15 calendar days
after the end of the previous quarter.
Financial Date Service
Bloomberg L.P.
Quarterly, no later than 15 calendar days
after the end of the previous quarter.
These service providers are required to keep all non-public information confidential and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information, except as necessary in providing services to a Fund.
There is no guarantee that a Fund’s policies on use and dissemination of holdings information will protect the Fund from the potential misuse of holdings by individuals or firms in possession of such information.
• Where the person to whom the disclosure is made owes a fiduciary or other duty of trust or confidence to the Victory Fund (e.g., auditors, attorneys, and Access Persons under the Victory Capital Code of Ethics);
• Where the person has a valid reason to have access to the portfolio holdings information and has agreed not to disclose or misuse the information (e.g., custodians, accounting agents, securities lending agents, subadvisers, rating agencies, mutual fund evaluation services, such as Lipper, Inc. and proxy voting agents);
• As disclosed in this SAI; and
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• As required by law or a regulatory body.
If portfolio holdings are released pursuant to an ongoing arrangement with any party that owes a fiduciary or other duty of trust or confidence to the Victory Fund or has a valid reason to have access to the portfolio holdings information and has agreed not to disclose or misuse the information, the Victory Fund must have a legitimate business purpose for doing so, and neither the Victory Fund, nor the Adviser or its affiliates, may receive any compensation in connection with an arrangement to make available information about the Victory Fund’s portfolio holdings. If the applicable conditions set forth above are satisfied, a Victory Fund may distribute portfolio holdings to mutual fund evaluation services such as Lipper and broker-dealers that may be used by the Victory Fund, for the purpose of efficient trading and receipt of relevant research. In providing this information to broker-dealers, reasonable precautions are taken to avoid any potential misuse of the disclosed information.
Each Victory Fund also may disclose any and all portfolio information to its service providers and others who generally need access to such information in the performance of their contractual duties and responsibilities and are subject to duties of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on non-public information, imposed by law and/or agreement. Each Victory Fund may provide portfolio holdings information to the following affiliates, subadvisers, vendors, broker-dealers and service providers: (1) certain affiliated entities with common systems access; (2) subadvisers to series of the Trust; (3) custodians and tax service providers (e.g., Citibank, N.A.); (4) securities lending agents (e.g., Citibank); (5) proxy voting and class action filing agents (ISS); (6) trade analytic consultants (e.g., Markit); (7) financial statement service providers (e.g., Toppan Merrill and Donnelley Financial Solutions); (8) certain mutual fund evaluation service providers (e.g., Lipper, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., Factset, Bloomberg Finance LP); (9) pricing vendors (e.g., S&P, JJ Kenney & Co., Thompson Financial/Reuters, ValueLine, Yield Book, and IDC) and (10) platform vendors, ICE Data Pricing & Reference Data LLC (“ICE”), (e.g., Charles River and Sungard (Dataware Solutions)) as well as certain other individuals that owe the Trust a duty of trust and confidence including fund counsel, internal audit, independent auditors, identified nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and executing broker dealers.
Any person or entity that does not have a previously approved ongoing arrangement to receive non-public portfolio holdings information and seeks a Victory Fund’s portfolio holdings information that (i) has not been filed with the SEC, or (ii) is not available on VictoryFunds.com, must submit its request in writing to the Victory Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), or Victory Funds Legal Counsel, or their designee(s), who will make a determination whether disclosure of such portfolio holdings may be made and whether the relevant Fund needs to make any related disclosure in its SAI.
Each Fund intends to post its annual and semi annual reports and quarterly schedules of portfolio holdings on VictoryFunds.com (which typically occurs approximately 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter). Each Fund intends to post its quarterly portfolio holdings on VictoryFunds.com (which typically occurs approximately 15 calendar days after each calendar quarter and five days in the case of money market funds). The Victory Tax Exempt Money Market Fund will post information relating to its portfolio holdings on VictoryFunds.com five business days after the end of each month and will keep such information on the website for six months thereafter. In addition, each Fund intends to post its top 10 holdings on VictoryFunds.com 10 days following the end of each month. Monthly portfolio disclosures are filed with the SEC on Forms N-PORT and N-MFP. Information reported on Form N-PORT for the third month of each Fund’s fiscal quarter will be made publicly available 60 days after the end of the Fund’s fiscal quarter.
Approximately 31 days after the end of each month, each Fund’s portfolio holdings will be delivered to certain independent evaluation and reporting services such as Bloomberg, S&P, and Morningstar.
For the last month of each quarter, after all Victory fund holdings for the Funds are made available on VictoryFunds.com, this information will be delivered to certain independent evaluation and reporting services such as Lipper, S&P, Thomson Financial, and Value Line.
In order to address potential conflicts of interest between the interests of each Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Funds’ Adviser, principal underwriter, or certain affiliated persons, on the other, the Victory Funds have adopted the policies described above (i) prohibiting the receipt of compensation in connection with an arrangement to make available information about each Fund’s portfolio holdings and (ii) requiring certain requests for non-public portfolio holdings information to be approved by the CCO or the Funds Legal Counsel, and then reported to the Board, including the Independent Trustees.
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Appendix A - Tax-Exempt Securities and their Ratings
Tax-Exempt Securities
Tax-exempt securities generally include debt obligations issued by states and their political subdivisions, and duly constituted authorities and corporations, to obtain funds to construct, repair or improve various public facilities such as airports, bridges, highways, hospitals, housing, schools, streets, and water and sewer works. Tax-exempt securities may also be issued to refinance outstanding obligations as well as to obtain funds for general operating expenses and for loans to other public institutions and facilities.
The two principal classifications of tax-exempt securities are “general obligations” and “revenue” or “special tax” bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue or special tax bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other tax, but not from general tax revenues. The Funds may also invest in tax-exempt revenue bonds, which in most cases are revenue bonds and generally do not have the pledge of the credit of the issuer. The payment of the principal and interest on bonds is dependent solely on the ability of the user of the facilities financed by the bonds to meet its financial obligations and the pledge, if any, of real and personal property so financed as security for such payment. There are, of course, many variations in the terms of, and the security underlying, tax-exempt securities. Short-term obligations issued by states, cities, municipalities or municipal agencies include tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, construction loan notes, and short-term notes.
The yields of tax-exempt securities depend on, among other things, general money market conditions, conditions of the tax-exempt bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation, and the rating of the issue. The ratings of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) represent their opinions of the quality of the securities rated by them. It should be emphasized that such ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, securities with the same maturity, coupon, and rating may have different yields, while securities of the same maturity and coupon but with different ratings may have the same yield. It will be the responsibility of the Adviser to appraise independently the fundamental quality of the tax-exempt securities included in a Fund’s portfolio.
1. Long-Term Debt Ratings:
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s)
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 subject to moderate credit risk. They are judged to be medium-grade 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 typically are in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal and interest.
Note: Moody’s applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each generic rating classification. 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.
S&P Global Ratings (S&P)
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 obligation only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.
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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.
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 exposures 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.
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 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.
NR This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
Plus (+) or Minus (-): The 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.
Fitch Ratings Inc. (Fitch)
AAA Highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA Very high credit quality. “AA” ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A High credit quality. “A” ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB Good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of default 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 default risk, particularly in the event of adverse economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists that supports the servicing of financial commitments.
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B Highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
CCC Substantial credit risk. Default is a real possibility.
CC Very high levels of credit risk. Default of some kind appears probable.
C Near default. A default or default-like process has begun, or the issuer is in standstill, or for a closed funding vehicle, payment capacity is irrevocably impaired. Conditions that are indicative of a ‘C’ category rating for an issuer include:
a.the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;
b.the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation;
c.the formal announcement by the issuer or its agent of a distressed debt exchange;
d.a closed financing vehicle where payment capacity is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to pay interest and/or principal in full during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default is imminent.
RD Restricted Default. ‘RD’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has experienced:
a.an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation, but
b.has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation, or other formal winding-up procedure, and
c.has not otherwise ceased operating.
This would include:
i.the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;
ii.the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;
iii.the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; and iv. ordinary execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.
D Default. “D” ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation, or other formal winding-up procedure or that has otherwise ceased business.
Plus (+) or Minus (-): The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
S&P Global Ratings (S&P)
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 obligation 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.
 
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 exposures to adverse conditions.
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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.
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 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.
NR
This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that
S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
Plus (+) or Minus (-): The 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.
2. Short-Term Debt Ratings:
Moody’s State and Tax Exempt Notes
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.
Moody’s Commercial Paper
Prime-1
Issuers rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics:
 
• Leading market positions in well-established industries.
 
• High rates of return on funds employed.
 
• Conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection.
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• Broad margins in earning coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation.
 
• Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
Prime-2
Issuers rated Prime-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree.
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics,
while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
Prime-3
Issuers rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of
industry characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability
may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively high financial
leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.
S&P Tax-Exempt Notes
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.
S&P Commercial Paper
A-1
This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess
extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus (+) sign designation.
A-2
Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as
high as for issues designated A-1.
A-3
Issues carrying this designation have an adequate capacity for timely payment. They are, however, more vulnerable to the
adverse effects of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
B
Issues rated “B” are regarded as having speculative capacity for timely payment.
C
This rating is assigned to short-term debt obligations with a doubtful capacity for payment.
D
Debt rated “D” is in payment default. The “D” rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not
made on the due date, even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be
made during such grace period.
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Victory Capital Management Inc. and its affiliates are not affiliated with United Services Automobile Association or its affiliates (USAA). USAA and the USAA logo are registered trademarks of USAA.
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