ck0001616668-20230430
PACER
FUNDS TRUST
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PTLC
PTMC
PTEU |
Pacer
Trendpilot®
US Large Cap ETF
Pacer
Trendpilot®
US Mid Cap ETF
Pacer
Trendpilot®
European
Index ETF |
COWZ
CALF
GCOW
ICOW |
Pacer
US Cash Cows 100 ETF Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF Pacer
Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF Pacer Developed Markets International
Cash Cows 100 ETF |
PAEU
PIEL
PWS |
Pacer
Autopilot Hedged European Index ETF Pacer International Export Leaders
ETF Pacer WealthShield ETF |
VIRS |
Pacer
BioThreat Strategy ETF |
each
of the above is listed on Cboe BZX Exchange,
Inc. |
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SZNG
SZNE
ROOM
RXRE
INDS
SRVR
PAD |
Pacer
CFRA-Stovall Global Seasonal Rotation ETF
Pacer
CFRA-Stovall Equal Weight Seasonal Rotation ETF
Pacer
Hotel & Lodging Real Estate ETF
Pacer
Healthcare Real Estate ETF
Pacer
Industrial Real Estate ETF
Pacer
Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF
Pacer
Apartments & Residential Real Estate
ETF |
AFTY
PTBD
PTIN
TRND
BUL
ALTL
PAMC |
Pacer
CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF
Pacer
Trendpilot®
US Bond ETF
Pacer
Trendpilot®
International ETF
Pacer
Trendpilot®
Fund of Funds ETF
Pacer
US Cash Cows Growth ETF
Pacer
Lunt Large Cap Alternator ETF
Pacer
Lunt MidCap Multi-Factor Alternator ETF |
PEXL
FLRT
TRPL
QDPL |
Pacer
US Export Leaders ETF Pacer Pacific Asset Floating Rate High Income
ETF Pacer Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 300 ETF Pacer
Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 400 ETF |
PALC
TRFK
SHPP |
Pacer
Lunt Large Cap Multi-Factor Alternator ETF Pacer Data and Digital
Revolution ETF Pacer Industrials and Logistics ETF |
each
of the above is listed on the NYSE Arca,
Inc. |
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ECOW |
Pacer
Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF |
HERD |
Pacer
Cash Cows Fund of Funds ETF |
COWG |
Pacer
US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF |
PTNQ |
Pacer
Trendpilot®
100 ETF |
each
of the above is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market
LLC |
STATEMENT
OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
August 31,
2023
This
Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a Prospectus. It should be
read in conjunction with the current Prospectus, as may be revised from time to
time (“Prospectus”), for the exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) listed above (each a
“Fund” and collectively the “Funds”), each a separate series of Pacer Funds
Trust (the “Trust”). The current Prospectus for the Funds is dated
August 31, 2023. Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have
the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. A copy of the
Prospectus for the Funds may be obtained, without charge, by calling
1-800-617-0004, visiting www.PacerETFs.com, or writing to Pacer Funds Trust, c/o
U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53201-0701.
For
Funds other than the Pacer Autopilot Hedged European Index ETF, Pacer Apartments
& Residential Real Estate ETF, Pacer Healthcare Real Estate ETF, Pacer Hotel
& Lodging Real Estate ETF, Pacer CFRA Global Seasonal Rotation ETF, and
Pacer International Export Leaders ETF, the audited financial statements for the
fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 are incorporated herein by reference to
the Funds’ Annual
Report
dated April 30, 2023 (File No. 811-23024). A copy of the Funds’ Annual
Report may be obtained without charge by contacting the Funds at the address or
phone number noted above.
An
investment in a Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any other government
agency or any bank. An investment in a Fund involves investment risks, including
possible loss of principal.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
GENERAL
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUNDS
The
Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on August 12, 2014 and is
authorized to issue multiple series or portfolios. The Trust is an open-end,
management investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The offering of the Trust’s shares is
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Each Fund’s ticker symbol appears on the cover of this SAI, and references to
specific Funds in the sections below will refer to such Funds by their ticker
symbol.
The
Funds described in this SAI seek to track the total return performance, before
fees and expenses, of their respective indices (each, an “Index”).
Pacer
Advisors, Inc. (“Pacer” or the “Adviser”) is the investment adviser to the
Funds. Pacer Financial, Inc. is the distributor (the “Distributor”) of the
shares of the Funds and is an affiliate of the Adviser. CSOP Asset Management
Limited (“CSOP Asset Management”) serves as sub-adviser to AFTY, Aristotle
Pacific Capital LLC (“Aristotle Pacific”) serves as sub-adviser to FLRT,
Metaurus Advisors LLC (“Metaurus”) serves as sub-adviser to TRPL and QDPL, and
Vident
Advisory, LLC (d/b/a
Vident Asset Management) (“VA” and collectively with CSOP Asset Management,
Aristotle Pacific, and Metaurus, the “Sub-Advisers”) serves as sub-adviser to
PTBD.
The
Funds issue and redeem shares (“Shares”) at net asset value per share (“NAV”)
only in large blocks of Shares (“Creation Units” or “Creation Unit
Aggregations”). Currently, Creation Units generally consist of the following
number of shares:
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Name
of Fund |
Creation
Unit Size |
FLRT,
TRFK, & SHPP |
20,000 |
TRPL,
VIRS, & COWG |
25,000 |
QDPL |
30,000 |
PTBD |
100,000 |
All
other Funds |
50,000 |
These
amounts may change from time to time. These transactions are usually in exchange
for a basket of securities included in its portfolio and an amount of cash. As a
practical matter, only institutions or large investors (authorized participants)
who have entered into agreements with the Trust’s distributor, can purchase or
redeem Creation Units. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, Shares of the
Funds are not redeemable securities.
Shares
of the Funds are listed on a national securities exchange, such as Cboe BZX
Exchange, Inc., NYSE Arca, Inc., or The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (individually or
collectively, the “Exchange”), as indicated on the cover of this SAI, and trade
throughout the day on the Exchange and other secondary markets at market prices
that may differ from NAV. As in the case of other publicly traded securities,
brokers’ commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission
rates at customary levels.
The
Trust reserves the right to adjust the prices of Shares in the future to
maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be
accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no
effect on the net assets of the applicable Fund.
Prior
to November 1, 2017, the Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF was known as the
Pacer Trendpilot 750 ETF and the Pacer Trendpilot US Mid Cap ETF was known as
the Pacer Trendpilot 450 ETF. Prior to November 1, 2022, the Pacer Industrial
Real Estate ETF was known as the Pacer Benchmark Industrial Real Estate SCTR ETF
and the Pacer Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF was known as the Pacer
Benchmark Data & Infrastructure Real Estate SCTR ETF.
AFTY
is the successor to the investment performance and financial history of the CSOP
FTSE China A50 ETF, a series of CSOP ETF Trust (the “Predecessor CSOP Fund”), as
a result of the reorganization of the Predecessor CSOP Fund into AFTY on January
22, 2020.
FLRT
is the successor in interest to the Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF, a series of
Pacific Global ETF Trust, which was managed by Pacific Global Advisors LLC and
sub-advised by Pacific Asset Management LLC (now known as Aristotle Pacific),
and has the substantially similar investment objective, strategies, and policies
as those of the Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF since the Fund’s inception in
February 28, 2015, with the exception of the Fund’s 80% policy and related
risks. On October 20, 2021, the shareholders of the Pacific Global Senior Loan
ETF approved the reorganization of the Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF into FLRT
and, effective as of the close of business on October 22, 2021, the assets and
liabilities of the Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF were transferred to FLRT in
exchange for shares of the Pacer Pacific Asset Floating Rate High Income ETF.
Previously, the Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF, a series of Pacific Global
ETF Trust, acquired all of the assets and liabilities of the AdvisorShares
Pacific Asset Enhanced Floating Rate ETF, a series of AdvisorShares Trust, in a
tax-free reorganization on December 27, 2019 (together, the “Predecessor FLRT
Fund”).
Accordingly,
the Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF was the successor to the investment
performance of the AdvisorShares Pacific Asset Enhanced Floating Rate ETF, as a
result of the December 27, 2019 reorganization.
The
below table illustrates the inception date for each Fund.
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Name
of Fund |
Inception
Date |
| Name
of Fund |
Inception
Date |
PTLC |
June
11, 2015 |
| GCOW |
February
22, 2016 |
PTMC |
June
11, 2015 |
| COWZ |
December
16, 2016 |
PTNQ |
June
11, 2015 |
| CALF |
June
16, 2017 |
PTEU |
December
14, 2015 |
| ICOW |
June
16, 2017 |
PAEU |
— |
| PEXL |
July
23, 2018 |
PIEL |
— |
| AFTY |
March
10, 2015 |
PWS |
December
11, 2017 |
| PTBD |
October
22, 2019 |
SZNG |
— |
| PTIN |
May
2, 2019 |
SZNE |
July
23, 2018 |
| TRND |
May
3, 2019 |
ROOM |
— |
| BUL |
May
2, 2019 |
RXRE |
— |
| HERD |
May
3, 2019 |
INDS |
May
14, 2018 |
| VIRS |
June
24, 2020 |
SRVR |
May
15, 2018 |
| ALTL |
June
24, 2020 |
PAD |
— |
| PAMC |
June
24, 2020 |
ECOW |
May
2, 2019 |
| PALC |
June
24, 2020 |
FLRT |
February
18, 2015 |
| TRPL |
July
12, 2021 |
QDPL |
July
12, 2021 |
| TRFK |
June
8, 2022 |
SHPP |
June
8, 2022 |
| COWG |
December
21, 2022 |
INVESTMENT
STRATEGIES AND RISKS
Each
Fund’s investment objective, principal investment strategies and associated
risks are described in the Funds’ Prospectus. The sections below supplement
these principal investment strategies and risks and describe each Fund’s
additional investment policies and the different types of investments that may
be made by a Fund as a part of its non-principal investment strategies. With
respect to each Fund’s investments, unless otherwise noted, if a percentage
limitation on investment is adhered to at the time of investment or contract, a
subsequent increase or decrease as a result of market movement or redemption
will not result in a violation of such investment limitation.
Each
Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”)
under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), so that it will not be subject to federal income tax on income and
gains that are timely distributed to Fund shareholders. The Funds will seek to
invest their assets, and otherwise conduct their operations, in a manner that is
intended to satisfy the qualifying income, diversification and distribution
requirements necessary to establish and maintain RIC qualification under
Subchapter M of the Code.
GENERAL
RISKS
An
investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of that
Fund’s portfolio securities may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the
financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic,
political, public health or cyber conditions that affect a particular security
or issuer and changes in general economic, political, public health or cyber
conditions. An investor in the Funds could lose money over short or long periods
of time.
An
investment in a Fund should also be made with an understanding of the risks
inherent in an investment in equity securities, including the risk that the
financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition
of the stock market may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the
value of a Fund’s portfolio securities and therefore a decrease in the value of
Shares of that Fund). Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market
fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market
confidence and perceptions change. These investor perceptions are based on
various and unpredictable factors, including expectations regarding government,
economic, monetary and fiscal policies; inflation and interest rates; economic
expansion or contraction; and global or regional political, economic, public
health, cyber, or banking crises.
Holders
of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt
obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, generally have
inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the
rights of creditors or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks. Further,
unlike debt securities, which typically have a stated principal amount payable
at maturity (whose value, however, is subject to market fluctuations prior
thereto), or preferred stocks, which typically have a liquidation preference and
which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks
have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are
subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.
Although
all of the equity securities in the Indexes are listed on major U.S. and
non-U.S. stock exchanges, there can be no guarantee that a liquid market for the
securities held by the Funds will be maintained. The existence of a liquid
trading market for certain securities may depend on whether dealers will make a
market in such securities. There can be no assurance that a market will be made
or maintained or that any such market will be or remain liquid. The price at
which securities may be sold and the value of the Shares will be adversely
affected if trading markets for a Fund’s portfolio securities are limited or
absent, or if bid/ask spreads are wide.
Cyber
Security Risk.
As the use of technology has become more prevalent in the course of business,
the Funds may be more susceptible to operational and financial risks associated
with cyber security, including: theft, loss, misuse, improper release,
corruption and destruction of, or unauthorized access to, confidential or highly
restricted data relating to a Fund and its shareholders; and compromises or
failures to systems, networks, devices and applications relating to the
operations of a Fund and its service providers. Cyber security risks may result
in financial losses to a Fund and its shareholders; the inability of a Fund to
transact business with its shareholders; delays or mistakes in the calculation
of a Fund’s NAV or other materials provided to shareholders; the inability to
process transactions with shareholders or other parties; violations of privacy
and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties and reputational damage; and
compliance and remediation costs, legal fees and other expenses. A Fund’s
service providers (including, but not limited to, its investment adviser, any
sub-advisers, administrator, transfer agent, and custodian or their agents),
financial intermediaries, companies in which a Fund invests and parties with
which a Fund engages in portfolio or other transactions also may be adversely
impacted by cyber security risks in their own businesses, which could result in
losses to a Fund or its shareholders. While measures have been developed which
are designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there is no
guarantee that those measures will be effective, particularly since the Funds do
not directly control the cyber security defenses or plans of their service
providers, financial intermediaries and companies in which they invest or with
which they do business.
Pandemic
Risk. Beginning
in the first quarter of 2020, financial markets in the United States and around
the world experienced extreme and, in many cases, unprecedented volatility and
severe losses due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, a novel
coronavirus. The pandemic resulted in a wide range of social and economic
disruptions, including closed borders, voluntary or compelled quarantines of
large populations, stressed healthcare systems, reduced or prohibited domestic
or international travel, and supply chain disruptions affecting the United
States and many other countries. Some sectors of the economy and individual
issuers have experienced particularly large losses as a result of these
disruptions, and such disruptions may continue for an extended period of time or
reoccur in the future to a similar or greater extent. In response, the U.S.
government and the Federal Reserve have taken extraordinary actions to support
the domestic economy and financial markets. Many countries, including the U.S.,
are subject to few restrictions related to the spread of COVID-19. It is unknown
how long circumstances related to the pandemic will persist, whether they will
reoccur in the future, whether efforts to support the economy and financial
markets will be successful, and what additional implications may follow from the
pandemic. The impact of these events and other epidemics or pandemics in the
future could adversely affect Fund performance.
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. Moreover, this event has had an
adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity. 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 the Funds and their investments or
operations could be negatively impacted.
A
discussion of some of the other risks associated with investments in the Funds
is contained in the Funds’ Prospectus.
Index
Calculation
To
minimize any potential for conflicts caused by the fact that Index Design Group,
an affiliate of the Adviser, acts as Index provider (”IDG”) to certain Funds, as
described in the Prospectus (collectively, the “IDG Funds”), the Adviser has
retained an unaffiliated third party to calculate each such Index (the
“Calculation Agent”). The Calculation Agent, using the applicable rules-based
methodology, will calculate, maintain, and disseminate each such Index on a
daily basis. IDG will monitor the results produced by the Calculation Agent to
help ensure that each such Index is being calculated in accordance with the
rules-based methodologies. In addition, IDG and the Adviser have established
policies and procedures designed to prevent non-public information about pending
changes to such Indexes from being used or disseminated in an improper manner.
Furthermore, IDG and the Adviser have established policies and procedures
designed to prevent improper use and dissemination of non-public information
about each Fund’s portfolio strategies.
DIVERSIFICATION
Each
of PTLC, PTMC, PTEU, PTIN, TRND, GCOW, COWZ, CALF, ICOW, ECOW, HERD, PWS, PEXL,
SZNE, PTBD, and AFTY (collectively,
the “Diversified Funds”) is “diversified” within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
Under applicable federal laws, to qualify as a diversified fund, a Fund, with
respect to 75% of its total assets, may not invest greater than 5% of its total
assets in any one issuer and may not hold greater than 10% of the securities of
one issuer, other than investments in cash and cash items (including
receivables), U.S. government securities, and securities of other investment
companies. The remaining 25% of such Fund’s
total assets does not need to be “diversified” and may be invested in securities
of a single issuer, subject to other applicable laws. The diversification of a
Fund’s holdings is measured at the time the Fund purchases a security. However,
if the Fund purchases a security and holds it for a period of time, the security
may become a larger percentage of the Fund’s total assets due to movements in
the financial markets. If the market affects several securities held by a Fund,
the Fund may have a greater percentage of its assets invested in securities of a
single issuer or a small number of issuers.
AFTY
is “diversified,” but may invest more of its assets in the securities of a
single issuer or small number of issuers than would otherwise be permitted for a
diversified fund solely where the additional issuer weightings result from the
index weighting of one or more FTSE China A50 Net Total Return Index
constituents.
NON-DIVERSIFICATION
Each
Fund other than the Diversified Funds (collectively, the “Non-Diversified
Funds”) is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940
Act. A “non-diversified” classification means that a Fund is not limited by the
1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its total assets that may be invested
in the securities of a single issuer. This means that a Fund may invest a
greater portion of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer or a
small number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund. The securities of a
particular issuer may constitute a greater portion of the Index and, therefore,
those securities may constitute a greater portion of a Fund’s portfolio. This
may have an adverse effect on a Fund’s performance or subject a Fund’s Shares to
greater price volatility than more diversified investment companies. Moreover,
in pursuing its objective, a Fund may hold the securities of a single issuer in
an amount exceeding 10% of the value of the outstanding securities of the
issuer, subject to restrictions imposed by the Code. In particular, as a Fund’s
size grows and its assets increase, it will be more likely to hold more than 10%
of the securities of a single issuer if the issuer has a relatively small public
float as compared to other components in the Index.
Although
each Non-Diversified Fund is non-diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act, each
Non-Diversified Fund intends to maintain the required level of diversification
and otherwise conduct its operations so as to qualify as a RIC for purposes of
the Code, and to relieve the Fund of any liability for federal income tax to the
extent that its earnings are distributed to shareholders. Compliance with the
diversification requirements of the Code may limit the investment flexibility of
a Fund and may make it less likely that a Fund will meet its investment
objectives. See “Federal Income Taxes” in this SAI for further
discussion.
SPECIFIC
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
The
following are descriptions of the Funds’ permitted investments and investment
practices and the associated risk factors. A Fund will only invest in any of the
following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices if
such investment or activity is consistent with a Fund’s investment objective and
permitted by a Fund’s stated investment policies.
BORROWING.
While the Funds do not intend to borrow for investment purposes, the Funds
reserve the right to do so. Borrowing for investment purposes is a form of
leverage. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money,
is a speculative technique that increases investment risk, but also increases
investment opportunity. The Funds also may enter into certain transactions,
including reverse repurchase agreements, which can be viewed as constituting a
form of leveraging by the Funds. Leveraging will exaggerate the effect on the
net asset value per share (“NAV”) of the Funds of any increase or decrease in
the market value of the Funds’ portfolio. Because substantially all of the
Funds’ assets will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on
borrowings may be fixed, the NAV of the Funds will increase more when the Funds’
portfolio assets increase in value and decrease more when the Funds’ portfolio
assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case. Moreover, interest
costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may
partially offset or exceed the returns on the borrowed funds. Under adverse
conditions, the Funds might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest
or principal payments at a time when investment considerations would not favor
such sales. Generally, the Funds would use this form of leverage during periods
when the Advisor believes that the Funds’ investment objective would be
furthered.
The
Funds also may borrow money to facilitate management of the Funds’ portfolio by
enabling the Funds to meet redemption requests when the liquidation of portfolio
instruments would be inconvenient or disadvantageous. Such borrowing is not for
investment purposes and will be repaid by the Funds promptly. As required by the
1940 Act, the Funds must maintain continuous asset coverage (total assets,
including assets acquired with borrowed funds, less liabilities exclusive of
borrowings) of 300% of all amounts borrowed. If, at any time, the value of the
Funds’ assets should fail to meet this 300% coverage test, the Funds, within
three days (not including Sundays and holidays), will reduce the amount of the
Funds’ borrowings to the extent necessary to meet this 300% coverage
requirement.
Maintenance of this percentage limitation may result in the sale of portfolio
securities at a time when investment considerations otherwise indicate that it
would be disadvantageous to do so.
In
addition to the foregoing, the Funds are authorized to borrow money as a
temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes in amounts not in
excess of 5% of the value of the Funds’ total assets. Borrowings for
extraordinary or emergency purposes are not subject to the foregoing 300% asset
coverage requirement. While the Funds do not anticipate doing so, the Funds are
authorized to pledge (i.e.,
transfer a security interest in) portfolio securities in an amount up to
one-third of the value of the Funds’ total assets in connection with any
borrowing.
COMMERCIAL
PAPER.
The Funds may invest in high-quality, short-term commercial paper. Commercial
paper is the term used to designate unsecured, short-term promissory notes
issued by corporations and other entities. Maturities on these issues vary from
a few days up to 270 days. The Funds may invest up to 20% of its net assets in
commercial paper.
CONCENTRATION.
A Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of
industries, as described in the Prospectus. The securities of issuers in
particular industries may dominate a Fund’s Index and consequently the Fund’s
portfolio. This may adversely affect the Fund’s performance or subject its
shares to greater price volatility than that experienced by less concentrated
investment companies.
CURRENCY
TRANSACTIONS.
The Funds may enter into foreign currency forward and foreign currency futures
contracts for the purpose of hedging against declines in the value of a Fund’s
total assets that are denominated in one or more foreign currencies, to
facilitate local securities settlements, or to protect against currency exposure
in connection with distributions to shareholders.
Forward
Foreign Currency Contracts.
A forward foreign currency exchange contract (“forward contract”) involves an
obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may
be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the
parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are
principally traded in the interbank market conducted directly between currency
traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. Forward contracts
are contracts between parties in which one party agrees to make a payment to the
other party (the counterparty) based on the market value or level of a specified
currency. In return, the counterparty agrees to make payment to the first party
based on the return of a different specified currency. A forward contract
generally has no margin deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at
any stage for trades. These contracts typically are settled by physical delivery
of the underlying currency or currencies in the amount of the full contract
value.
A
non-deliverable forward contract is a forward contract where there is no
physical settlement of two currencies at maturity. Non-deliverable forward
contracts will usually be done on a net basis, with the Funds receiving or
paying only the net amount of the two payments. The net amount of the excess, if
any, of a Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each
non-deliverable forward contract is accrued on a daily basis and an amount of
cash or highly liquid securities having an aggregate value at least equal to the
accrued excess is maintained in an account at the Fund’s custodian bank. The
risk of loss with respect to non-deliverable forward contracts generally is
limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to
make or receive.
Foreign
Currency Futures Contracts. A
foreign currency futures contract is a contract involving an obligation to
deliver or acquire the specified amount of a specific currency, at a specified
price and at a specified future time. Futures contracts may be settled on a net
cash payment basis rather than by the sale and delivery of the underlying
currency.
Currency
exchange transactions involve a significant degree of risk and the markets in
which currency exchange transactions are effected are highly volatile, highly
specialized and highly technical. Significant changes, including changes in
liquidity and prices, can occur in such markets within very short periods of
time, often within minutes. Currency exchange trading risks include, but are not
limited to, exchange rate risk, maturity gap, interest rate risk, and potential
interference by foreign governments through regulation of local exchange
markets, foreign investment or particular transactions in foreign currency. If a
Fund utilizes foreign currency transactions at an inappropriate time, such
transactions may not serve their intended purpose of improving the correlation
of the Fund’s return with the performance of its underlying Index and may lower
the Fund’s return. A Fund could experience losses if the value of any currency
forwards and futures positions is poorly correlated with its other investments
or if it could not close out its positions because of an illiquid market. Such
contracts are subject to the risk that the counterparty will default on its
obligations. In addition, the Funds will incur transaction costs, including
trading commissions, in connection with certain foreign currency
transactions.
DEPOSITARY
RECEIPTS. To
the extent the Funds invest in stocks of foreign corporations, a Fund’s
investment in securities of foreign companies may be in the form of depositary
receipts or other securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers.
American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) are dollar-denominated receipts
representing interests in the securities of a foreign issuer, which securities
may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into
which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by United States
banks and trust companies which evidence ownership of underlying securities
issued by a
foreign
corporation. Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in domestic
securities markets and are traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United
States. Depositary receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same
currency as their underlying securities.
The
Funds will not invest in any unlisted Depositary Receipts or any Depositary
Receipt that the Adviser deems to be illiquid or for which pricing information
is not readily available. In addition, all Depositary Receipts generally must be
sponsored; however, the Funds may invest in unsponsored Depositary Receipts
under certain limited circumstances. The issuers of unsponsored Depositary
Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United
States, and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such
issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the
market value of the Depositary Receipts. The use of Depositary Receipts may
increase tracking error relative to an underlying Index.
DERIVATIVES.
A
Fund may use derivative instruments as part of its investment strategies.
Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends upon, or is
derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index, and
may relate to bonds, interest rates, currencies, commodities, and related
indexes. To the extent the Fund’s use of derivative instruments creates
liabilities for the Fund, such derivative instruments will be underpinned by
investments in short-term, high-quality instruments, such as U.S. money market
securities.
The
use of derivatives presents risks different from, and possibly greater than, the
risks associated with investing directly in traditional securities. The use of
derivatives can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or
value of the underlying asset, index or rate, which may be magnified by certain
features of the derivatives. In addition, when the Fund invests in certain
derivative securities, the Fund is effectively leveraging its investments which
could result in exaggerated changes in the net asset value of the Fund’s shares
and can result in losses that exceed the amount originally invested. The success
of the derivatives strategies will depend on the ability to assess and predict
the impact of market or economic developments on the underlying asset, index or
rate and the derivative itself, without the benefit of observing the performance
of the derivative under all possible market conditions. Liquidity risk exists
when a security cannot be purchased or sold at the time desired, or cannot be
purchased or sold without adversely affecting the price. Certain specific risks
associated with an investment in derivatives may include: market risk, credit
risk, correlation risk, liquidity risk, legal risk and systemic or
“interconnection” risk, as specified below.
Rule
18f-4 under the 1940 Act permits a
Fund to enter into Derivatives Transactions (as defined below) and certain other
transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior
securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among
other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Funds, from issuing or
selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a
requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).
Under
Rule 18f-4, “Derivatives Transactions” include the following: (1) any swap,
security-based swap (including a contract for differences), futures contract,
forward contract, option (excluding purchased options), any combination of the
foregoing, or any similar instrument, under which the Fund is or may be required
to make any payment or delivery of cash or other assets during the life of the
instrument or at maturity or early termination, whether as margin or settlement
payment or otherwise; (2) any short sale borrowing; (3) reverse repurchase
agreements and similar financing transactions (e.g., recourse and non-recourse
tender option bonds, and borrowed bonds), if the Fund elects to treat these
transactions as Derivatives Transactions under Rule 18f-4; and (4) when-issued
or forward-settling securities (e.g., firm and standby commitments, including
to-be-announced (“TBA”) commitments, and dollar rolls) and non-standard
settlement cycle securities, unless the Fund intends to physically settle the
transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date
(the “Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision”).
Unless
the Fund is relying on the Limited Derivatives User Exception (as defined
below), the Fund must comply with Rule 18f-4 with respect to its Derivatives
Transactions. Rule 18f-4, among other things, requires the Fund to adopt and
implement a comprehensive written derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”)
and comply with a relative or absolute limit on Fund leverage risk calculated
based on value-at-risk (“VaR”). The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk
manager,” who is appointed by the Board, including a majority of Independent
Trustees, and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the
Board.
Rule
18f-4 provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other
requirements if the Fund’s “derivatives exposure” (as defined in Rule 18f-4) is
limited to 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with Rule 18f-4)
and the Fund adopts and implements written policies and procedures reasonably
designed to manage its derivatives risks (the “Limited Derivatives User
Exception”).
Rule
18f-4 under the 1940 Act permits a Fund to enter into reverse repurchase
agreements and similar financing transactions (e.g., recourse and non-recourse
tender option bonds, borrowed bonds) notwithstanding the limitation on the
issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, provided that the
Fund either (i) complies with the 300% asset coverage ratio with respect to such
transactions and any other borrowings in the aggregate, or (ii) treats such
transactions as Derivatives Transactions under Rule 18f-4. See “—Regulation
Regarding Derivatives” above.
Certain
trading practices and investments, such as reverse repurchase agreements, may be
considered to be borrowings or involve leverage and thus are subject to the 1940
Act restrictions. In accordance with Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, when the
Fund engages in reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing
transactions, the Fund may either (i) maintain asset coverage of at least 300%
with respect to such transactions and any other borrowings in the aggregate, or
(ii) treat such transactions as “derivatives transactions” and comply with Rule
18f-4 with respect to such transactions. Short-term credits necessary for the
settlement of securities transactions and arrangements with respect to
securities lending will not be considered to be borrowings under the policy.
Practices and investments that may involve leverage but are not considered to be
borrowings are not subject to the policy.
•Market
Risk.
Market risk is the risk that the value of the underlying assets may go up or
down. Adverse movements in the value of an underlying asset can expose the Fund
to losses. Derivative instruments may include elements of leverage and,
accordingly, fluctuations in the value of the derivative instrument in relation
to the underlying asset may be magnified. The successful use of derivative
instruments depends upon a variety of factors, particularly the ability to
predict movements of the securities markets, which may be different than the
ability to predict changes in the prices of individual securities. There can be
no assurance that any particular strategy adopted will succeed. A decision to
engage in a derivative transaction will reflect a judgment that the derivative
transaction will provide value to the Fund and its shareholders and is
consistent with such Fund’s objective, investment limitations, and operating
policies.
•Credit
Risk/Counterparty Risk.
Credit risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure
of a counterparty to comply with the terms of a derivative instrument. With
respect to exchange-traded derivatives, there is less counterparty risk, because
generally a clearing agency, which is the issuer or counterparty to each
exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For privately
negotiated instruments, there is no similar clearing agency guarantee. In all
transactions, the Fund will bear the risk that the counterparty will default,
and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative
transactions and possibly other losses to the Fund. The Fund will enter into
transactions in derivative instruments only with counterparties that the
reasonably believes are capable of performing under the contract.
•Correlation
Risk. Correlation
risk is the risk that there might be an imperfect correlation, or even no
correlation, between price movements of a derivative instrument and price
movements of investments being hedged. When a derivative transaction is used to
completely hedge another position, changes in the market value of the combined
position (the derivative instrument plus the position being hedged) result from
an imperfect correlation between the price movements of the two instruments.
With a perfect hedge, the value of the combined position remains unchanged with
any change in the price of the underlying asset. With an imperfect hedge, the
value of the derivative instrument and its hedge are not perfectly correlated.
The effectiveness of hedges using instruments on indices will depend, in part,
on the degree of correlation between price movements in the index and the price
movements in the investments being hedged.
•Liquidity
Risk.
Liquidity risk is the risk that a derivative instrument cannot be sold, closed
out or replaced quickly at or very close to its fundamental value. Generally,
exchange contracts are very liquid because the exchange clearinghouse is the
counterparty of every contract. The Fund might be required by applicable
regulatory requirements to make margin payments when taking positions in
derivative instruments involving obligations to third parties. If the Fund is
unable to close out its positions in such instruments, it might be required to
continue to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the
position expires, matures or is closed out. These requirements might impair the
Fund’s ability to sell a security or make an investment at a time when it would
otherwise be favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio
security at a disadvantageous time. The Fund’s ability to sell or close out a
position in an instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends upon the
existence of a liquid secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the
ability and willingness of the counterparty to enter into a transaction closing
out the position. Due to liquidity risk, there is no assurance that any
derivatives position can be sold or closed out at a time and price that is
favorable to the Fund.
With
regard to the Funds, the Adviser will claim relief from the definition of
commodity pool operator (“CPO”) under revised U.S. Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (“CFTC”) Rule 4.5. Specifically, pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5, the
Adviser may claim exclusion from the definition of CPO, and thus from having to
register as a CPO, with regard to a Fund that enters into commodity futures,
commodity options, or swaps solely for “bona fide hedging purposes,” or that
limits its investment in commodities to a “de minimis” amount, as defined in
CFTC rules, so long as the Shares of a Fund are not marketed as interests in a
commodity pool or other vehicle for trading in commodity futures, commodity
options, or swaps. It is expected that the Funds will be able to operate
pursuant to the limitations under the revised CFTC Rule 4.5 without materially
adversely affecting its ability to achieve its investment objective. If,
however, these limitations were to make it difficult for a Fund to achieve its
investment objective in the future, the Trust may determine to operate a Fund as
a regulated commodity pool pursuant to the Adviser’s CPO registration or to
reorganize or close the Fund or to materially change the Fund’s investment
objective and strategy.
Futures
and Options.
Futures contracts and options may from time to time be used by the Funds to
facilitate trading or to reduce transaction costs. The Fund may enter into
futures contracts and options that are traded on a U.S. or non-U.S. exchange.
The Funds will not use futures or options for speculative purposes.
Risk
of Futures and Options.
There are several risks accompanying the utilization of futures contracts and
options on futures contracts. A position in futures contracts and options on
futures contracts may be closed only on the exchange on which the contract was
made (or a linked exchange). While the Fund plans to utilize futures contracts
only if an active market exists for such contracts, there is no guarantee that a
liquid market will exist for the contract at a specified time. In the event of
adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily
cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if the Fund
has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily
margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In
addition, the Fund may be required to deliver the instruments underlying the
futures contracts it has sold.
The
risk of loss in trading futures contracts or uncovered call options in some
strategies (e.g., selling uncovered stock index futures contracts) is
potentially unlimited. The Fund does not plan to use futures and options
contracts in this way. The risk of a futures position may still be large as
traditionally measured due to the low margin deposits required. In many cases, a
relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate
and substantial loss or gain to the investor relative to the size of a required
margin deposit. The Fund, however, intends to utilize futures and options
contracts in a manner designed to limit their risk exposure to levels comparable
to a direct investment in the types of stocks in which they invest.
There
is a risk of loss by the Fund of the initial and variation margin deposits in
the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the Fund has an open position in a
futures contract. The assets of the Fund may not be fully protected in the event
of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central counterparty because the Fund might be
limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds and margin
segregated on behalf of an FCM’s customers. If the FCM does not provide accurate
reporting, the Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the
Fund’s assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the
FCM's other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment
obligations of another customer to the central counterparty.
Utilization
of futures and options on futures by the Fund involves the risk of imperfect or
even negative correlation to its underlying index if the index underlying the
futures contract differs from the underlying index. There is also the risk of
loss of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom the
Fund has an open position in the futures contract or option. The purchase of put
or call options will be based upon predictions by the Adviser as to anticipated
trends, which predictions could prove to be incorrect.
Because
the futures market generally imposes less burdensome margin requirements than
the securities market, an increased amount of participation by speculators in
the futures market could result in price fluctuations. Certain financial futures
exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices
during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount by
which the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the
previous day's settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily
limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may be made
on that day at a price beyond that limit. It is possible that futures contract
prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with
little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions
and subjecting the Fund to substantial losses. In the event of adverse price
movements, the Fund would be required to make daily cash payments of variation
margin.
Futures.
Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by
another party of a specified amount of a specific asset, currency, rate or index
at a specified future time and at a specified price. Stock index futures are
based on investments that reflect the market value of common stock of the firms
included in an underlying index. The Fund may enter into futures contracts to
purchase securities indexes when the Adviser anticipates purchasing the
underlying securities and believes prices will rise before the purchase will be
made. To the extent required by law, liquid assets committed to futures
contracts will be maintained.
Futures
contracts may be bought and sold on U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges. Futures
contracts in the U.S. have been designed by exchanges that have been designated
“contract markets” by the CFTC and must be executed through a futures commission
merchant (“FCM”), which is a brokerage firm that is a member of the relevant
contract market. Each exchange guarantees performance of the contracts as
between the clearing members of the exchange, thereby reducing the risk of
counterparty default. Futures contracts may also be entered into on certain
exempt markets, including exempt boards of trade and electronic trading
facilities, available to certain market participants. Because all transactions
in the futures market are made, offset or fulfilled by an FCM through a
clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded,
the Fund will incur brokerage fees when it buys or sells futures
contracts.
Upon
entering into a futures contract, the Fund will be required to deliver to an
account controlled by the FCM an amount of cash or cash equivalents known as
“initial margin,” which is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith
deposit on the contract and is returned to the Fund upon termination of the
futures contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied.
Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” to and from the FCM will be
made daily as the price of the instrument or
index
underlying the futures contract fluctuates, making the long and short positions
in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as
“marking-to-market.”
At
any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract, the Fund may elect to
close the position by taking an opposite position, which will operate to
terminate the Fund’s existing position in the contract. This transaction, which
is effected through a member of an exchange, cancels the obligation to make or
take delivery of the underlying instrument or asset. Although some futures
contracts by their terms require the actual delivery or acquisition of the
underlying instrument or asset, some require cash settlement.
A
call option gives a holder the right to purchase a specific security at a
specified price (“exercise price”) within a specified period of time. A put
option gives a holder the right to sell a specific security at a specified
exercise price within a specified period of time. The initial purchaser of a
call option pays the “writer” a premium, which is paid at the time of purchase
and is retained by the writer whether or not such option is exercised. The Fund
may purchase put options to hedge its portfolio against the risk of a decline in
the market value of securities held and may purchase call options to hedge
against an increase in the price of securities it is committed to purchase. The
Fund may write put and call options along with a long position in options to
increase its ability to hedge against a change in the market value of the
securities it holds or is committed to purchase.
Options.
An
option on a futures contract, as contrasted with the direct investment in such a
contract, gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, in return for
the premium paid, to assume a position in the underlying futures contract at a
specified exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option.
The writer of the option becomes contractually obligated to take the opposite
futures position specified in the option.
Upon
exercise of an option on a futures contract, the delivery of the futures
position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be
accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer's futures
margin account that represents the amount by which the market price of the
futures contract exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of
a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. The potential
for loss related to the purchase of an option on a futures contract is limited
to the premium paid for the option plus transaction costs. Because the value of
the option is fixed at the point of sale, there are no daily cash payments by
the purchaser to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract;
however, the value of the option changes daily and that change would be
reflected in the NAV per Share of the Fund.
The
Fund may purchase and write put and call options on futures contracts that are
traded on an exchange as a hedge against changes in value of its portfolio
securities, or in anticipation of the purchase of securities, and may enter into
closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate existing
positions. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be
effected.
The
Fund’s use of options on futures contracts is subject to the risks related to
derivative instruments generally. In addition, the amount of risk the Fund
assumes when it purchases an option on a futures contract is the premium paid
for the option plus related transaction costs. The purchase of an option also
entails the risk that changes in the value of the underlying futures contract
will not be fully reflected in the value of the option purchased. The writer of
an option on a futures contract is subject to the risk of having to take a
possibly adverse futures position if the purchaser of the option exercises its
rights. If the writer were required to take such a position, it could bear
substantial losses. The potential for loss related to writing call options is
unlimited. The potential for loss related to writing put options is limited to
the agreed upon price per share, also known as the "strike price," less the
premium received from writing the put.
Swaps.
The Funds may enter into swap agreements, including interest rate swaps and
currency swaps. A typical interest rate swap involves the exchange of a floating
interest rate payment for a fixed interest payment. A typical foreign currency
swap involves the exchange of cash flows based on the notional differences among
two or more currencies (e.g., the U.S. dollar and the euro). Swap agreements may
be used to hedge or achieve exposure to, for example, currencies, interest
rates, and money market securities without actually purchasing such currencies
or securities. A Fund may use swap agreements to invest in a market without
owning or taking physical custody of the underlying securities in circumstances
in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise
impracticable. Swap agreements will tend to shift a Fund’s investment exposure
from one type of investment to another or from one payment stream to another.
Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease a Fund’s
exposure to long- or short-term interest rates (in the United States or abroad),
foreign currencies, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors, and may
increase or decrease the overall volatility of a Fund’s investments and its
share price.
OTC
swap agreements are contracts between parties in which one party agrees to make
payments to the other party based on the change in market value or level of a
specified index or asset. In return, the other party agrees to make payments to
the first party based on the return of a different specified index or asset.
Although OTC swap agreements entail the risk that a party will default on its
payment obligations thereunder, the Fund seeks to reduce this risk by entering
into agreements that involve payments no less frequently than quarterly. The net
amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements
with respect to each swap is accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or
highly liquid securities having an aggregate value at least equal to the accrued
excess is maintained in an account at the Trust's custodian bank.
The
use of such swap agreements involves certain risks. For example, if the
counterparty, under a swap agreement, defaults on its obligation to make
payments due from it as a result of its bankruptcy or otherwise, the Fund may
lose such payments altogether or collect only a portion thereof, which
collection could involve costs or delays.
The
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”)
and related regulatory developments require the eventual clearing and
exchange-trading of many standardized OTC derivative instruments that the CFTC
and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently defined as “swaps” and
“security-based swaps,” respectively. Mandatory exchange-trading and clearing is
occurring on a phased-in basis based on the type of market participant and CFTC
approval of contracts for central clearing and exchange trading. In a cleared
swap, the Fund’s ultimate counterparty is a central clearinghouse rather than a
brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution. The Fund initially will
enter into cleared swaps through an executing broker. Such transactions will
then be submitted for clearing and, if cleared, will be held at regulated
futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) that are members of the clearinghouse that
serves as the central counterparty. When the Fund enters into a cleared swap, it
must deliver to the central counterparty (via an FCM) an amount referred to as
“initial margin.” Initial margin requirements are determined by the central
counterparty, but an FCM may require additional initial margin above the amount
required by the central counterparty. During the term of the swap agreement, a
“variation margin” amount may also be required to be paid by the Fund or may be
received by the Fund in accordance with margin controls set for such accounts,
depending upon changes in the price of the underlying reference asset subject to
the swap agreement. At the conclusion of the term of the swap agreement, if the
Fund has a loss equal to or greater than the margin amount, the margin amount is
paid to the FCM along with any loss in excess of the margin amount. If the Fund
has a loss of less than the margin amount, the excess margin is returned to the
Fund. If the Fund has a gain, the full margin amount and the amount of the gain
is paid to the Fund.
Central
clearing is designed to reduce counterparty credit risk compared to uncleared
swaps because central clearing interposes the central clearinghouse as the
counterparty to each participant's swap, but it does not eliminate those risks
completely. There is also a risk of loss by the Fund of the initial and
variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the
Fund has an open position in a swap contract. The assets of the Fund may not be
fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central
counterparty because the Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata
share of all available Funds and margin segregated on behalf of an FCM's
customers. If the FCM does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is also
subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund's assets, which are held in
an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM's other customers, to
satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another
customer to the central counterparty. Exchange trading is expected to increase
liquidity of swaps trading.
In
addition, with respect to cleared swaps, the Fund may not be able to obtain as
favorable terms as it would be able to negotiate for an uncleared swap. In
addition, an FCM may unilaterally impose position limits or additional margin
requirements for certain types of swaps in which the Fund may invest. Central
counterparties and FCMs generally can require termination of existing cleared
swap transactions at any time, and can also require increases in margin above
the margin that is required at the initiation of the swap agreement. Margin
requirements for cleared swaps vary on a number of factors, and the margin
required under the rules of the clearinghouse and FCM may be in excess of the
collateral required to be posted by the Fund to support its obligations under a
similar uncleared swap. However, regulators are expected to adopt rules imposing
certain margin requirements, including minimums, on uncleared swaps in the near
future, which could change this comparison.
The
Fund is also subject to the risk that, after entering into a cleared swap with
an executing broker, no FCM or central counterparty is willing or able to clear
the transaction. In such an event, the central counterparty would void the
trade. Before the Fund can enter into a new trade, market conditions may become
less favorable to the Fund.
The
Adviser will continue to monitor developments regarding trading and execution of
cleared swaps on exchanges, particularly to the extent regulatory changes affect
the Fund’s ability to enter into swap agreements and the costs and risks
associated with such investments.
U.S.
Federal Tax Treatment of Futures Contracts.
The Fund may be required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and
recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on
certain futures contracts or options contracts as of the end of the year as well
as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from futures contracts
or options contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked-to-market will
be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this
rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The
Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on futures contracts or
options contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on related positions
held by the Fund.
In
order for the Fund to continue to qualify for U.S. federal income tax treatment
as a “regulated investment company” under Section 851 of the Code, at least 90%
of the Fund’s gross income for a taxable year must be derived from qualifying
sources, including, dividends, interest, income derived from loans of
securities, gains from the sale of securities or of foreign currencies or other
income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in securities.
It is anticipated that any net gain realized from
the
closing out of futures contracts or options contracts will be considered gain
from the sale of securities and, therefore, will be qualifying income for
purposes of the 90% requirement.
The
Fund intends to distribute to shareholders annually any net capital gains that
have been recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including unrealized
gains at the end of the Fund's fiscal year) on futures transactions and certain
options contracts. Such distributions are combined with distributions of capital
gains realized on the Fund’s other investments, and shareholders are advised on
the nature of the distributions.
Leverage
Risk.
Leverage is investment exposure that exceeds the initial amount invested. The
loss on a leveraged investment may far exceed the Fund’s principal amount
invested. Leverage can magnify the Fund’s gains and losses and, therefore,
increase its volatility. There is no guarantee that the Fund leveraging strategy
will be successful. The Fund cannot guarantee that the use of leverage will
produce a high return on an investment. The use of leverage may result in the
Fund having to liquidate holdings when it may not be advantageous to do so in
order to satisfy its obligation or to meet segregation
requirements.
EQUITY
SECURITIES.
Equity securities, such as the common stocks of an issuer, are subject to stock
market fluctuations and therefore may experience volatile changes in value as
market conditions, consumer sentiment or the financial condition of the issuers
change. A decrease in value of the equity securities in the Fund’s portfolio may
also cause the value of Shares to decline.
An
investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding of the risks inherent
in an investment in equity securities, including the risk that the financial
condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the
stock market may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value
of a Fund’s portfolio securities and therefore a decrease in the value of
Shares). Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and
to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence and
perceptions change. These investor perceptions are based on various and
unpredictable factors, including expectations regarding government, economic,
monetary and fiscal policies; inflation and interest rates; economic expansion
or contraction; and global or regional political, economic, public health, cyber
or banking crises.
All
countries are vulnerable economically to the impact of a public health crisis,
which could depress consumer demand, reduce economic output, and potentially
lead to market closures, travel restrictions, and quarantines, all of which
would negatively impact the country’s economy and could affect the economies of
its trading partners.
Holders
of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt
obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, generally have
inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the
rights of creditors or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks. Further,
unlike debt securities, which typically have a stated principal amount payable
at maturity (whose value, however, is subject to market fluctuations prior
thereto), or preferred stocks, which typically have a liquidation preference and
which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks
have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are
subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.
When-Issued
Securities
- A when-issued security is one whose terms are available and for which a market
exists, but which has not been issued. When a Fund engages in when-issued
transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the sale. If the other
party fails to complete the sale, a Fund may miss the opportunity to obtain the
security at a favorable price or yield.
When
purchasing a security on a when-issued basis, a Fund assumes the rights and
risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield
changes. At the time of settlement, the value of the security may be more or
less than the purchase price. The yield available in the market when the
delivery takes place also may be higher than those obtained in the transaction
itself. Because a Fund does not pay for the security until the delivery date,
these risks are in addition to the risks associated with its other investments.
Decisions
to enter into “when-issued” transactions will be considered on a case-by-case
basis when necessary to maintain continuity in a company’s index membership.
A
Fund will segregate cash or liquid securities equal in value to commitments for
the when-issued transactions. A Fund will segregate additional liquid assets
daily so that the value of such assets is equal to the amount of the
commitments.
Types
of Equity Securities:
Common
Stocks
— Common stocks represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually
carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are
described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at
the discretion of the company’s board of directors.
Preferred
Stocks —
Preferred stocks are also units of ownership in a company. Preferred stocks
normally have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the
liquidation of the company. However, in all other respects, preferred stocks are
subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer. Unlike common stocks, preferred
stocks are generally not entitled to vote on corporate matters. Types of
preferred stocks include adjustable-rate preferred stock, fixed dividend
preferred stock, perpetual preferred stock, and sinking fund preferred stock.
Generally,
the market values of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no
conversion element vary inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk.
Rights
and Warrants —
A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to
subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights
normally have a short life of usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable
and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the
public offering price. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together
with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to
buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are
freely transferable and are traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants
normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy
common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market
price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to
make the accompanying debt security more attractive.
An
investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other
types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to
receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying
securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In
addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the
underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on
or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the
potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with
investing the same amount in the underlying securities.
Smaller
Companies
— The securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more
vulnerable to adverse issuer, market, political, public health, cyber, or
economic developments than securities of larger-capitalization companies. The
securities of small- and mid- capitalization companies generally trade in lower
volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than
larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole. Some small- or
mid-capitalization companies have limited product lines, markets, and financial
and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets
relative to larger capitalization companies. There is typically less publicly
available information concerning small- and mid-capitalization companies than
for larger, more established companies. Small- and mid-capitalization companies
also may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, government
regulation, borrowing costs, and earnings.
Tracking
Stocks
— The Funds may invest in tracking stocks. A tracking stock is a separate class
of common stock whose value is linked to a specific business unit or operating
division within a larger company and which is designed to “track” the
performance of such business unit or division. The tracking stock may pay
dividends to shareholders independent of the parent company. The parent company,
rather than the business unit or division, generally is the issuer of tracking
stock. However, holders of the tracking stock may not have the same rights as
holders of the company’s common stock.
ETFs.
ETFs are pooled investment vehicles whose ownership interests are purchased and
sold on a securities exchange. ETFs may be structured investment companies,
depositary receipts or other pooled investment vehicles. As shareholders of an
ETF, the Funds will bear their pro rata portion of any fees and expenses of the
ETFs. Although shares of ETFs are traded on an exchange, shares of certain ETFs
may not be redeemable to the ETF. In addition, ETFs may trade at a price below
their net asset value (also known as a discount).
The
Funds may use ETFs to help replicate their respective indexes. By way of
example, ETFs may be structured as broad based ETFs that invest in a broad group
of stocks from different industries and market sectors; select sectors; or
market ETFs that invest in debt securities from a select sector of the economy
(e.g., Treasury securities) a single industry or related industries; other types
of ETFs continue to be developed and the Funds may invest in them to the extent
consistent with their investment objectives, policies and restrictions. The ETFs
in which the Funds invest are subject to the risks applicable to the types of
securities and investments used by the ETFs.
ETFs
may be actively managed or index-based. Actively managed ETFs are subject to
management risk and may not achieve their objective if the ETF’s manager’s
expectations regarding particular securities or markets are not met. An
index-based ETF’s objective is to track the performance of a specified index.
Index based ETFs invest in a securities portfolio that includes substantially
all of the securities in substantially the same amount as the securities
included in the designated index. Because passively managed ETFs are designed to
track an index, securities may be purchased, retained and sold at times when an
actively managed ETF would not do so. As a result, shareholders of a Fund that
invest in such an ETF can expect greater risk of loss (and a correspondingly
greater prospect of gain) from changes in the value of securities that are
heavily weighted in the index than would be the case if ETF were not fully
invested in such securities. This risk is increased if a few component
securities represent a highly concentrated weighting in the designated index.
Unless
permitted by the 1940 Act or a rule issued by the SEC (see “Investment
Companies” below for more information), the Funds’ investments in unaffiliated
ETFs that are structured as investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act are
subject to certain percentage limitations of the 1940 Act regarding investments
in other investment companies.
EXCHANGE-TRADED
NOTES. The
Funds may invest in exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). ETNs generally are senior,
unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities issued by a sponsor, such as an
investment bank. ETNs are traded on exchanges and the returns are linked to the
performance of market indexes. In addition to trading ETNs on exchanges,
investors may redeem ETNs directly with the issuer on a periodic basis,
typically in a minimum amount of 50,000 units, or hold the ETNs until maturity.
The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and
demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in the underlying market,
changes in the applicable interest rates, and economic, legal, political or
geographic events that affect the referenced market. Because ETNs are debt
securities, they are subject to credit risk. If the issuer has financial
difficulties or goes bankrupt, a Fund may not receive the return it was
promised. If a rating agency lowers an issuer’s credit rating, the value of the
ETN may decline and a lower credit rating reflects a greater risk that the
issuer will default on its obligation. There may be restrictions on a Fund’s
right to redeem its investment in an ETN. There are no periodic interest
payments for ETNs, and principal is not protected. A Fund’s decision to sell its
ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary
market.
FIXED
INCOME SECURITIES.
The Funds may invest in fixed income securities. Even though interest-bearing
securities are investments that promise a stable stream of income, the prices of
such securities are affected by changes in interest rates. In general, fixed
income security prices rise when interest rates fall and fall when interest
rates rise. Securities with shorter maturities, while offering lower yields,
generally provide greater price stability than longer term securities and are
less affected by changes in interest rates. The values of fixed income
securities also may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial
condition of the issuing entities. Once the rating of a portfolio security has
been changed, the Funds will consider all circumstances deemed relevant in
determining whether to continue to hold the security.
Fixed
income investments bear certain risks, including credit risk, or the ability of
an issuer to pay interest and principal as they become due. Generally, higher
yielding bonds are subject to more credit risk than lower yielding bonds.
Interest rate risk refers to the fluctuations in value of fixed income
securities resulting from the inverse relationship between the market value of
outstanding fixed income securities and changes in interest rates. An increase
in interest rates will generally reduce the market value of fixed income
investments and a decline in interest rates will tend to increase their
value.
Call
risk is the risk that an issuer will pay principal on an obligation earlier than
scheduled or expected, which would accelerate cash flows from, and shorten the
average life of, the security. Bonds are typically called when interest rates
have declined because the issuer can refinance at a lower rate, similar to a
homeowner refinancing a mortgage. In the event of a bond being called, the
Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser may have to reinvest the proceeds in lower
yielding securities to the detriment of the Funds.
Extension
risk is the risk that an issuer may pay principal on an obligation slower than
expected, having the effect of extending the average life and duration of the
obligation. This typically happens when interest rates have
increased.
Duration
is a calculation that seeks to measure the price sensitivity of a debt security,
or a Fund that invests in debt securities, to changes in interest rates. It
measures sensitivity more accurately than maturity because it takes into account
the time value of cash flows generated over the life of a debt security. Future
interest payments and principal payments are discounted to reflect their present
value and then are multiplied by the number of years they will be received to
produce a value expressed in years – the duration. Effective duration takes into
account call features and sinking Fund prepayments that may shorten the life of
a debt security. A number of factors, including changes in a central bank’s
monetary policies or general improvements in the economy, may cause interest
rates to rise. Fixed income securities with longer durations are more sensitive
to interest rate changes than securities with shorter durations, making them
more volatile. This means their prices are more likely to experience a
considerable reduction in response to a rise in interest rates.
When
investing in fixed income securities, the Funds may purchase securities
regardless of their rating, including fixed income securities rated below
investment grade – securities rated below investment grade are often referred to
as high yield securities or “junk bonds.” High yield securities or “junk bonds,”
are usually issued by smaller, less credit-worthy and/or highly leveraged
(indebted companies) and involve special risks in addition to the risks
associated with investments in higher rated fixed income securities. While
offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher
yields, high yield securities may be subject to greater levels of interest rate,
credit and liquidity risk, may entail greater potential price volatility, and
may be less liquid than higher rated fixed income securities. High yield
securities may be regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the
issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. They may
also be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive
industry conditions than higher rated securities. Fixed income securities rated
in the lowest investment grade categories by the rating agencies may also
possess speculative characteristics. If securities are in default with respect
to the payment of interest or the repayment of principal, or present an imminent
risk of default with respect to such payments, the issuer of such securities may
fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case a Fund may lose its
entire investment in the high yield security. In addition, to the extent that
there is no established retail secondary market, there may be thin trading of
high yield securities, and this may have an impact on a Fund’s ability to
accurately value high yield securities and the Fund’s assets and on the Fund’s
ability to dispose of the securities. Adverse publicity and investor perception,
whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and
liquidity
of high yield securities especially in a thinly traded market. The following
risks apply to FLRT’s investments in fixed income securities:
Creditor
Liability and Participation on Creditors’ Committees. Generally,
when the Fund holds bonds or other similar fixed income securities of an issuer,
the Fund becomes a creditor of the issuer. If the Fund is a creditor of an
issuer it, may be subject to challenges related to the securities that it holds,
either in connection with the bankruptcy of the issuer or in connection with
another action brought by other creditors of the issuer, shareholders of the
issuer or the issuer itself. The Fund may from time to time participate on
committees formed by creditors to negotiate with the management of financially
troubled issuers of securities held by the Fund. Such participation may subject
the Fund to expenses such as legal fees and may make the Fund an “insider” of
the issuer for purposes of the federal securities laws, and therefore may
restrict the Fund’s ability to trade in or acquire additional positions in a
particular security when it might otherwise desire to do so. Participation by
the Fund on such committees also may expose the Fund to potential liabilities
under the federal bankruptcy laws or other laws governing the rights of
creditors and debtors. The Fund will participate on such committees only when
its Adviser believes that such participation is necessary or desirable to
enforce the Fund’s rights as a creditor or to protect the value of securities
held by the Fund. Further, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser has the authority to
represent the Trust, or the Fund, on creditors’ committees or similar committees
and generally with respect to challenges related to the securities held by the
Fund relating to the bankruptcy of an issuer or in connection with another
action brought by other creditors of the issuer, shareholders of the issuer or
the issuer itself.
Variable
and Floating Rate Securities. Variable
and floating rate instruments involve certain obligations that may carry
variable or floating rates of interest, and may involve a conditional or
unconditional demand feature. Such instruments bear interest at rates which are
not fixed, but which vary with changes in specified market rates or indices. The
interest rates on these securities may be reset daily, weekly, quarterly, or
some other reset period, and may have a set floor or ceiling on interest rate
changes. There is a risk that the current interest rate on such obligations may
not accurately reflect existing market interest rates. A demand instrument with
a demand notice exceeding seven days may be considered illiquid if there is no
secondary market for such security.
Asset-Backed
Securities. The
Fund may invest in asset-backed securities (“ABSs”), which are bonds backed by
pools of loans or other receivables. ABSs are created from many types of assets,
including auto loans, credit card receivables, home equity loans, and student
loans. ABSs are issued through special purpose vehicles that are bankruptcy
remote from the issuer of the collateral. The credit quality of an ABS
transaction depends on the performance of the underlying assets. To protect ABS
investors from the possibility that some borrowers could miss payments or even
default on their loans, ABSs include various forms of credit enhancement. Some
ABSs, particularly home equity loan transactions, are subject to interest-rate
risk and prepayment risk. A change in interest rates can affect the pace of
payments on the underlying loans, which in turn, affects total return on the
securities. ABSs also carry credit or default risk. If many borrowers on the
underlying loans default, losses could exceed the credit enhancement level and
result in losses to investors in an ABS transaction. Finally, ABSs have
structure risk due to a unique characteristic known as early amortization, or
early payout, risk. Built into the structure of most ABSs are triggers for early
payout, designed to protect investors from losses. These triggers are unique to
each transaction and can include a big rise in defaults on the underlying loans,
a sharp drop in the credit enhancement level, or even the bankruptcy of the
originator. Once early amortization begins, all incoming loan payments (after
expenses are paid) are used to pay investors as quickly as possible based upon a
predetermined priority of payment. Consistent with the Fund’s investment
objectives and policies, the Adviser also may invest in other types of
ABSs.
Bank
Loans. Bank
loans (also known as floating rate loans) are usually rated below investment
grade. The market for floating rate loans may be subject to irregular trading
activity, wide bid/ask spreads, and extended trade settlement periods. In
addition, a significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite”
loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive covenants on the borrower or
may contain other borrower-friendly characteristics. The Fund’s investment in
loans may take the form of a participation or an assignment. Loan participations
typically represent direct participation in a loan to a borrower, and generally
are offered by financial institutions or lending syndicates. The Fund may
participate in such syndications, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part
lender. When purchasing loan participations, the Fund assumes the credit risk
associated with the borrower and may assume the credit risk associated with an
interposed financial intermediary. If the lead lender in a typical lending
syndicate becomes insolvent, enters Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(“FDIC”) receivership or, if not FDIC insured, enters into bankruptcy, the Fund
may incur certain costs and delays in receiving payment or may suffer a loss of
principal and/or interest. When the Fund is a purchaser of an assignment, it
succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement of the
assigning bank or other financial intermediary and becomes a lender under the
loan agreement with the same rights and obligations as the assigning bank or
other financial intermediary. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the Fund
could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and
liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral.
Bank
Obligations. Bank
obligations may include certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances, and fixed
time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued
against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and
earning a specified return. Bankers' acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills
of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific
merchandise, which are "accepted" by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank
unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity.
Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and
bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand
by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary
depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation.
There are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial
interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is no market
for such deposits. The Fund will not invest in fixed time deposits which (1) are
not subject to prepayment or (2) provide for withdrawal penalties upon
prepayment (other than overnight deposits) if, in the aggregate, more than 15%
of its net assets would be invested in such deposits, repurchase agreements with
remaining maturities of more than seven days and other illiquid assets. Subject
to the Trust's limitation on concentration, as described in the "Investment
Restrictions" section below, there is no limitation on the amount of the Fund’s
assets which may be invested in obligations of foreign banks which meet the
conditions set forth herein.
Obligations
of foreign banks involve somewhat different investment risks than those
affecting obligations of U.S. banks, including the possibilities that their
liquidity could be impaired because of future political and economic
developments, that their obligations may be less marketable than comparable
obligations of U.S. banks, that a foreign jurisdiction might impose withholding
taxes on interest income payable on those obligations, that foreign deposits may
be seized or nationalized, that foreign governmental restrictions such as
exchange controls may be adopted which might adversely affect the payment of
principal and interest on those obligations and that the selection of those
obligations may be more difficult because there may be less publicly available
information concerning foreign banks or the accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards, practices and requirements applicable to foreign banks may
differ from those applicable to United States banks. Foreign banks are not
generally subject to examination by any United States Government agency or
instrumentality.
Below
Investment-Grade Debt Securities. The
Fund may invest in below investment-grade securities. Below investment-grade
securities, also referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds,” are
debt securities that are rated lower than the four highest rating categories by
a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (for example, lower than
Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or (“Moody’s”) lower than BBB- by
Standard & Poor's (“S&P”) or are determined to be of comparable quality
by the Fund’s Sub-Adviser. These securities are generally considered to be, on
balance, predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and
repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation, and will
generally involve more credit risk than securities in the investment-grade
categories. Investment in these securities generally provides greater income and
increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher
quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and
principal and income risk.
Analysis
of the creditworthiness of issuers of high yield securities may be more complex
than for issuers of investment-grade securities. Thus, reliance on credit
ratings in making investment decisions entails greater risks for high yield
securities than for investment-grade debt securities. The success of the Fund
Sub-Adviser in managing the Fund’s high yield securities is more dependent upon
its own credit analysis than is the case with investment-grade
securities.
Some
high yield securities are issued by smaller, less-seasoned companies, while
others are issued as part of a corporate restructuring, such as an acquisition,
merger, or leveraged buyout. Companies that issue high yield securities are
often highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional
methods of financing. Therefore, the risk associated with acquiring the
securities of such issuers generally is greater than is the case with
investment-grade securities. Some high yield securities were once rated as
investment-grade but have been downgraded to junk bond status because of
financial difficulties experienced by their issuers.
The
market values of high yield securities tend to reflect individual issuer
developments to a greater extent than do investment-grade securities, which in
general react to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. High yield
securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are
investment-grade securities. A projection of an economic downturn or of a period
of rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in junk bond prices
because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of a highly leveraged
company to make principal and interest payments on its debt securities. If an
issuer of high yield securities defaults, in addition to risking payment of all
or a portion of interest and principal, the Fund investing in such securities
may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.
The
secondary market on which high yield securities are traded may be less liquid
than the market for investment-grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary
trading market could adversely affect the ability of the Fund to sell a high
yield security or the price at which the Fund could sell a high yield security,
and could adversely affect the daily NAV of Fund shares. When secondary markets
for high yield securities are less liquid than the market for investment-grade
securities, it
may
be more difficult to value the securities because such valuation may require
more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation
because there is less reliable, objective data available.
The
Fund will not necessarily dispose of a security if a credit-rating agency
downgrades the rating of the security below its rating at the time of purchase.
However, its Sub-Adviser will monitor the investment to determine whether
continued investment in the security is in the best interest of
shareholders.
Collateralized
Bond Obligations, Collateralized Loan Obligations, and Other Collateralized Debt
Obligations. The
Fund may invest in each of collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”),
collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), other collateralized debt obligations
(“CDOs”) and other similarly structured securities. CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs
are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust which is often backed by
a diversified pool of high risk, below investment-grade fixed income securities.
The collateral can be from many different types of fixed income securities such
as high yield debt, residential privately issued mortgage-related securities,
commercial privately issued mortgage-related securities, trust preferred
securities and emerging market debt. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized
by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior
secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans,
including loans that may be rated below investment-grade or equivalent unrated
loans. Other CDOs are trusts backed by other types of assets representing
obligations of various parties. CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs may charge management
fees and administrative expenses.
For
CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or
more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion
is the "equity" tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the bonds or loans
in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default
in all but the most severe circumstances. Since they are partially protected
from defaults, senior tranches from a CBO trust, CLO trust or trust of another
CDO typically have higher ratings and lower yields than their underlying
securities, and can be rated investment-grade. Despite the protection from the
equity tranche, CBO, CLO or other CDO tranches can experience substantial losses
due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral
default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of
defaults, as well as aversion to CBO, CLO or other CDO securities as a
class.
The
risks of an investment in a CBO, CLO or other CDO depend largely on the type of
the collateral securities and the class of the instrument in which the Fund
invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and
thus, are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in
CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid
securities, however, an active dealer market may exist for CBOs, CLOs and other
CDOs allowing them to qualify for Rule 144A transactions. In addition to the
normal risks associated with fixed income securities discussed elsewhere in this
SAI and the Fund Prospectus (e.g., fixed income risk and credit risk), CBOs,
CLOs and other CDOs carry additional risks including, but are not limited to,
(i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be
adequate to make interest or other payments, (ii) the quality of the collateral
may decline in value or default, (iii) the risk that the Fund may invest in
CBOs, CLOs or other CDOs that are subordinate to other classes, and (iv) the
possibility that the complex structure of the security may not be fully
understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or
unexpected investment results.
Commercial
Paper. The
Fund may invest in commercial paper. Commercial paper is a short-term obligation
with a maturity ranging from one to 270 days issued by banks, corporations and
other borrowers. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted. The Fund
may invest in commercial paper rated A-1 or A-2 by S&P or Prime-1 or Prime-2
by Moody’s.
Corporate
Debt Securities. The
Fund may invest in corporate debt securities representative of one or more high
yield bond or credit derivative indices, which may change from time to time.
Selection will generally be dependent on independent credit analysis or
fundamental analysis performed by the Fund’s Adviser or Sub-Adviser. The Fund
may invest in all grades of corporate debt securities, including below
investment-grade securities, as discussed below. See Appendix
A
for a description of corporate bond ratings. The Fund also may invest in unrated
securities.
Corporate
debt securities are typically fixed-income securities issued by businesses to
finance their operations. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the
most common types of corporate debt securities. The primary differences between
the different types of corporate debt securities are their maturities and
secured or unsecured status. Commercial paper has the shortest term and is
usually unsecured. The broad category of corporate debt securities includes debt
issued by domestic or foreign companies of all kinds, including those with
small-, mid- and large-capitalizations. Corporate debt may be rated
investment-grade or below investment-grade and may carry variable or floating
rates of interest.
Because
of the wide range of types, and maturities, of corporate debt securities, as
well as the range of creditworthiness of its issuers, corporate debt securities
have widely varying potentials for return and risk profiles. For example,
commercial paper issued by a large established domestic corporation that is
rated investment-grade may have a modest return on principal, but carries
relatively limited risk. On the other hand, a long-term corporate note issued by
a small foreign corporation from an
emerging
market country that has not been rated may have the potential for relatively
large returns on principal, but carries a relatively high degree of
risk.
Corporate
debt securities carry both credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk is
the risk that the Fund could lose money if the issuer of a corporate debt
security is unable to pay interest or repay principal when it is due. Some
corporate debt securities that are rated below investment-grade are generally
considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including
default, than higher quality debt securities. The credit risk of a particular
issuer's debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment. For
example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities have a higher priority than
lower-ranking (subordinated) securities. This means that the issuer might not
make payments on subordinated securities while continuing to make payments on
senior securities. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of
higher-ranking senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the
holders of more junior securities. Interest rate risk is the risk that the value
of certain corporate debt securities will tend to fall when interest rates rise.
In general, corporate debt securities with longer terms tend to fall more in
value when interest rates rise than corporate debt securities with shorter
terms.
Inflation-Indexed
Bonds. The
Fund may invest in inflation-indexed bonds, which are fixed income securities
whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of
inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers
use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond.
Most other issuers pay out the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) accruals as part of
a semiannual coupon.
Inflation-indexed
securities issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of five, ten or thirty
years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be
issued in the future. U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semi-annual
basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount.
For example, if the Fund purchased an inflation-indexed bond with a par value of
$1,000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and
inflation over the first six months was 1%, the mid-year par value of the bond
would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment would be $15.15
($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in
the whole years' inflation equaling 3%, the end-of-year par value of the bond
would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45
($1,030 times 1.5%).
If
the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of
inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest
payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal
amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity
(as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury
inflation-indexed bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current
market value of the bonds is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate. The Fund also
may invest in other inflation related bonds which may or may not provide a
similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted
principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original
principal.
The
value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in
real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between
nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if inflation were
to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might
decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed bonds. In
contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation,
real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of
inflation-indexed bonds.
While
these securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary
trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If
interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to
changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be
protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond's
inflation measure.
The
periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed bonds is tied to the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), which is calculated monthly by
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in
the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation
and energy. Inflation-indexed bonds issued by a foreign government are generally
adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government.
There can be no assurance that the CPI-U or any foreign inflation index will
accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and
services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a
foreign country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United
States.
Any
increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered
taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal
until maturity.
Structured
Notes. A
structured note is a derivative security for which the amount of principal
repayment and/or interest payments is based on the movement of one or more
“factors.” These factors include, but are not limited to, currency exchange
rates, interest rates (such as the prime lending rate, the London Interbank
Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or the Secured
Overnight
Funding Rate (“SOFR”)), referenced bonds, and stock indices. Some of these
factors may or may not correlate to the total rate of return on one or more
underlying instruments referenced in such notes. Investments in structured notes
involve risks including interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk.
Depending on the factor(s) used and the use of multipliers or deflators, changes
in interest rates and movement of such factor(s) may cause significant price
fluctuations. Structured notes may be less liquid than other types of securities
and more volatile than the reference factor underlying the note.
Unrated
Debt Securities. The
Fund may invest in unrated debt securities. Unrated debt, while not necessarily
lower in quality than rated securities, may not have as broad a market. Because
of the size and perceived demand for the issue, among other factors, certain
issuers may decide not to pay the cost of getting a rating for their bonds. The
creditworthiness of the issuer, as well as any financial institution or other
party responsible for payments on the security, will be analyzed to determine
whether to purchase unrated bonds.
Zero
Coupon Bonds. The
Fund may invest in U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds. These securities are U.S.
Treasury bonds which have been stripped of their un-matured interest coupons,
the coupons themselves, and receipts or certificates representing interests in
such stripped debt obligations and coupons. Interest is not paid in cash during
the term of these securities, but is accrued and paid at maturity. Such
obligations have greater price volatility than coupon obligations and other
normal interest-paying securities, and the value of zero coupon securities
reacts more quickly to changes in interest rates than do coupon bonds. Because
dividend income is accrued throughout the term of the zero coupon obligation,
but is not actually received until maturity, the Fund may have to sell other
securities to pay said accrued dividends prior to maturity of the zero coupon
obligation. Unlike regular U.S. Treasury bonds, which pay semi-annual interest,
U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds do not generate semi-annual coupon payments.
Instead, zero coupon bonds are purchased at a substantial discount from the
maturity value of such securities, the discount reflecting the current value of
the deferred interest; this discount is amortized as interest income over the
life of the security, and is taxable even though there is no cash return until
maturity. Zero coupon U.S. Treasury issues originally were created by government
bond dealers who bought U.S. Treasury bonds and issued receipts representing an
ownership interest in the interest coupons or in the principal portion of the
bonds. Subsequently, the U.S. Treasury began directly issuing zero coupon bonds
with the introduction of STRIPS. While zero coupon bonds eliminate the
reinvestment risk of regular coupon issues, that is, the risk of subsequently
investing the periodic interest payments at a lower rate than that of the
security held, zero coupon bonds fluctuate much more sharply than regular
coupon-bearing bonds. Thus, when interest rates rise, the value of zero coupon
bonds will decrease to a greater extent than will the value of regular bonds
having the same interest rate.
Collateral
Risk. A
loan may not be fully collateralized and can decline significantly in value. In
addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other
insolvency laws. Further, loans held by the Fund may not be considered
securities and, therefore, purchasers, such as the Fund, may not be entitled to
rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.
Counterparty
Risk. The
Fund may invest in financial instruments involving counterparties for the
purpose of attempting to gain exposure to a particular group of securities,
index or asset class without actually purchasing those securities or
investments, or to hedge a position. Such financial instruments may include,
among others, total return, index, interest rate, and credit default swap
agreements. The use of swap agreements and similar instruments exposes the Funds
to risks that are different than those associated with ordinary portfolio
securities transactions. For example, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the
amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the
default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. If a counterparty
defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the
value of your investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, the Fund may
enter into swap agreements with a limited number of counterparties, which may
increase the Fund’s exposure to counterparty credit risk. Similarly, if the
credit quality of an issuer or guarantor of a debt instrument improves, this
change may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investment.
Credit
Risk.
Credit
risk is the risk that the Fund could lose money if an issuer or guarantor of a
debt instrument becomes unwilling or unable to make timely principal and/or
interest payments, or to otherwise meet its obligations. The Fund is also
subject to the risk that its investment in a debt instrument could decline
because of concerns about the issuer's credit quality or perceived financial
condition. Fixed income securities are subject to varying degrees of credit
risk, which are sometimes reflected in credit ratings.
High
Yield Securities Risk. Securities
rated “BB” or below by S&P or “Ba” or below by Moody's are known as high
yield securities and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Such securities
entail greater price volatility and credit and interest rate risk than
investment-grade securities. Analysis of the creditworthiness of high yield
issuers is more complex than for higher-rated securities, making it more
difficult for the Sub-Adviser to accurately predict risk. There is a greater
risk with high yield fixed income securities that an issuer will not be able to
make principal and interest payments when due. If the Fund pursues missed
payments, there is a risk the Fund expenses could increase. In addition,
lower-rated securities may not
trade
as often and may be less liquid than higher-rated securities, especially during
periods of economic uncertainty or change. As a result of all of these factors,
these securities are generally considered to be speculative.
Income
Risk. The
market value of fixed income investments changes in response to interest rate
changes and other factors. The Fund’s income could decline due to falling market
interest rates. This is because, in a falling interest rate environment, the
Fund generally will have to invest the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, as
well as the proceeds from maturing portfolio securities in lower-yielding
securities. During periods of falling interest rates, the values of outstanding
fixed income securities generally rise. Moreover, while securities with longer
maturities tend to produce higher yields, the prices of longer maturity
securities are also subject to greater market fluctuations as a result of
changes in interest rates. During periods of falling interest rates, certain
debt obligations with high interest rates may be prepaid (or “called”) by the
issuer prior to maturity.
Interest
Rate Risk. The
values of fixed rate debt securities usually rise and fall in response to
changes in interest rates. Declining interest rates generally increase the value
of existing debt instruments, and rising interest rates generally decrease the
value of existing debt instruments. Changes in a debt instrument’s value usually
will not affect the amount of interest income paid to the Fund, but will affect
the value of the Fund’s shares. Interest rate risk is generally greater for
investments with longer maturities. Certain securities pay interest at variable
or floating rates. Variable rate securities reset at specified intervals, while
floating rate securities reset whenever there is a change in a specified index
rate. In most cases, these reset provisions reduce the effect of changes in
market interest rates on the value of the security. However, some securities do
not track the underlying index directly, but reset based on formulas that can
produce an effect similar to leveraging; others may also provide for interest
payments that vary inversely with market rates. The market prices of these
securities may fluctuate significantly when interest rates change.
Some
investments give the issuer the option to call or redeem an investment before
its maturity date. If an issuer calls or redeems an investment during a time of
declining interest rates, the Fund might have to reinvest the proceeds in an
investment offering a lower yield, and therefore it might not benefit from any
increase in value as a result of declining interest rates.
Other
Floating Rate Loan Risks. Floating
rate loans generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may
be unable to sell its bank loans at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to
do so or may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than their fair
market value. The Fund may find it difficult to establish a fair value for loans
it holds. Further, the trading market for floating rate loans could be impacted
by regulatory action or reforms around the manner in which floating interest
rates are determined. If a published rate is unavailable, the rate of interest
on a floating rate loan could effectively become fixed, which would in turn
adversely affect the value of the floating rate loan. In addition, floating rate
loans generally are subject to extended settlement periods in excess of seven
days, which may impair the Fund’s ability to sell or realize the full value of
its loans in the event of a need to liquidate such loans.
If
the Fund acquires a participation in a loan, the Fund may not be able to control
the exercise of remedies that the lender would have under the loan and likely
would not have any rights against the borrower directly. A loan participation
agreement involves the purchase of a share of a loan made by a bank to a company
in return for a corresponding share of borrower's principal and interest
payments. The principal credit risk associated with acquiring loan participation
interests is the credit risk associated with the underlying corporate borrower.
There is also a risk that there may not be a readily available market for loan
participation interests and, in some cases, this could result in the Fund
disposing of such securities at a substantial discount from face value or
holding such securities until maturity.
Loans
made to finance highly leveraged corporate acquisitions may be especially
vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. A loan may also
be in the form of a bridge loan, which are designed to provide temporary or
“bridge” financing to a borrower, pending the sale of identified assets or the
arrangement of longer-term loans or the issuance and sale of debt obligations. A
borrower's use of a bridge loan involves a risk that the borrower may be unable
to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the
borrower's perceived creditworthiness.
Floating
rate loans, like other debt securities, may be paid off early if the issuer of a
security can repay principal prior to the maturity date. If interest rates are
falling, the Fund may have to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower
interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund's income.
A
loan may be a senior loan or a junior loan. Senior loans typically provide
lenders with a first right to cash flows or proceeds from the sale of a
borrower's collateral if the borrower becomes insolvent (subject to certain
limitations of bankruptcy law). However, there can be no assurance that
liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the borrower's obligation in the
event of a default or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. In
addition, senior loans are subject to the risk that a court could subordinate
such senior loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower,
or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans including, in
certain circumstances, invalidating such senior loans or causing interest
previously
paid
to be refunded to the borrower. Any such actions could negatively affect the
Fund’s performance. To the extent the Fund invests in junior loans, these loans
involve a higher degree of overall risk than senior loans of the same borrower
because of their lower place in the borrower's capital structure and possible
unsecured status.
The
loans in which the Fund will invest will generally be secured and senior to
other indebtedness of the borrower. Each loan generally will be secured by
collateral such as accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, real estate,
intangible assets such as trademarks, copyrights and patents, and securities of
subsidiaries or affiliates. Collateral also may include guarantees or other
credit support by affiliates of the borrower. The value of the collateral
generally will be determined by reference to financial statements of the
borrower, by an independent appraisal, by obtaining the market value of such
collateral, in the case of cash or securities if readily ascertainable, or by
other customary valuation techniques considered appropriate by the Adviser or
Sub-Adviser. The value of collateral may decline after the Fund’s investment,
and collateral may be difficult to sell in the event of default. Consequently,
the Fund may not receive all the payments to which it is entitled. The loan
agreement may or may not require the borrower to pledge additional collateral to
secure the senior loan if the value of the initial collateral declines. In
certain circumstances, the loan agreement may authorize the agent to liquidate
the collateral and to distribute the liquidation proceeds pro rata among the
lenders. By virtue of their senior position and collateral, senior loans
typically provide lenders with the first right to cash flows or proceeds from
the sale of a borrower's collateral if the borrower becomes insolvent (subject
to the limitations of bankruptcy law, which may provide higher priority to
certain claims such as employee salaries, employee pensions, and taxes). This
means senior loans generally are repaid before unsecured bank loans, corporate
bonds, subordinated debt, trade creditors, and preferred or common stockholders.
To the extent that the Fund invests in unsecured loans, if the borrower defaults
on such loan, there is no specific collateral on which the lender can foreclose.
If the borrower defaults on a subordinated loan, the collateral may not be
sufficient to cover both the senior and subordinated loans. In addition, if the
loan is foreclosed, the Fund could become part owner of any collateral and could
bear the costs and liabilities of owning and disposing of the
collateral.
Senior
loans generally are arranged through private negotiations between a borrower and
several financial institutions represented by an agent who is usually one of the
originating lenders. In larger transactions, it is common to have several
agents; however, generally only one such agent has primary responsibility for
ongoing administration of a senior loan. Agents typically are paid fees by the
borrower for their services.
The
agent is responsible primarily for negotiating the loan agreement which
establishes the terms and conditions of the senior loan and the rights of the
borrower and the lenders. The agent is paid a fee by the borrower for its
services. The agent generally is required to administer and manage the senior
loan on behalf of other lenders. The agent also is responsible for monitoring
collateral and for exercising remedies available to the lenders such as
foreclosure upon collateral. The agent may rely on independent appraisals of
specific collateral. The agent need not, however, obtain an independent
appraisal of assets pledged as collateral in all cases. The agent generally also
is responsible for determining that the lenders have obtained a perfected
security interest in the collateral securing a senior loan. The Fund normally
relies on the agent to collect principal of and interest on a senior loan. The
Fund also relies in part on the agent to monitor compliance by the borrower with
the restrictive covenants in the loan agreement and to notify the Fund (or the
lender from whom the Fund has purchased a participation) of any adverse change
in the borrower's financial condition. Insolvency of the agent or other persons
positioned between the Fund and the borrower could result in losses for the
Fund.
Loan
agreements may provide for the termination of the agent's agency status in the
event that it fails to act as required under the relevant loan agreement,
becomes insolvent, enters FDIC receivership or, if not FDIC insured, enters into
bankruptcy. Should such an agent, lender or assignor, with respect to an
assignment interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower, become insolvent
or enter FDIC receivership or bankruptcy, any interest in the senior loan of
such person and any loan payment held by such person for the benefit of the Fund
should not be included in such person's or entity's bankruptcy estate. If,
however, any such amount were included in such person's or entity's bankruptcy
estate, the fund would incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment or
could suffer a loss of principal or interest. In this event, the fund could
experience a decrease in its NAV.
Most
borrowers pay their debts from cash flow generated by their businesses. If a
borrower’s cash flow is insufficient to pay its debts, it may attempt to
restructure its debts rather than sell collateral. Borrowers may try to
restructure their debts by filing for protection under the federal bankruptcy
laws or negotiating a work-out. If a borrower becomes involved in a bankruptcy
proceeding, access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy and other laws. If
a court decides that access to collateral is limited or void, the fund may not
recover the full amount of principal and interest that is due.
A
borrower must comply with certain restrictive covenants contained in the loan
agreement. In addition to requiring the scheduled payment of principal and
interest, these covenants may include restrictions on the payment of dividends
and other distributions to the borrower’s shareholders, provisions requiring
compliance with specific financial ratios, and limits on total indebtedness. The
agreement also may require the prepayment of the loans from excess cash flow. A
breach of a covenant
that
is not waived by the agent (or lenders directly) is normally an event of
default, which provides the agent and lenders the right to call for repayment of
the outstanding loan.
In
the process of buying, selling and holding senior loans, the fund may receive
and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to interest payments
received and may include facility fees, commitment fees, commissions and
prepayment penalty fees. Facility fees are paid to lenders when a senior loan is
originated. Commitment fees are paid to lenders on an ongoing basis based on the
unused portion of a senior loan commitment. Lenders may receive prepayment
penalties when a borrower prepays a senior loan. Whether the fund receives a
facility fee in the case of an assignment, or any fees in the case of a
participation, depends on negotiations between the Fund and the lender selling
such interests. When the fund buys an assignment, it may be required to pay a
fee to the lender selling the assignment, or to forgo a portion of interest and
fees payable to the Fund. Occasionally, the assignor pays a fee to the assignee.
A person selling a participation to the fund may deduct a portion of the
interest and any fees payable to the Fund as an administrative fee.
Notwithstanding
its intention in certain situations not to receive material, non-public
information with respect to its management of investments in loans, the Adviser
or the Sub-Adviser may from time to time come into possession of material,
non-public information about the issuers of loans that may be held in the Fund’s
portfolio. Possession of such information may in some instances occur despite
the Adviser’s or the Sub-Adviser’s efforts to avoid such possession, but in
other instances the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser may choose to receive such
information (for example, in connection with participation in a creditors'
committee with respect to a financially distressed issuer). The Adviser’s or the
Sub-Adviser's ability to trade in these loans for the account of the fund could
potentially be limited by its possession of such information. Such limitations
on the Adviser's or the Sub-Adviser's ability to trade could have an adverse
effect on the fund by, for example, preventing the Fund from selling a loan that
is experiencing a material decline in value. In some instances, these trading
restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of
time.
Although
the overall size and number of participants in the market for floating rate
loans (or bank loans) has grown over the past decade, floating rate loans
continue to trade in an unregulated inter-dealer or inter-bank secondary market.
Purchases and sales of floating rate loans are generally subject to contractual
restrictions that must be satisfied before a floating rate loan can be bought or
sold. These restrictions may impede the Fund's ability to buy or sell floating
rate loans, negatively impact the transaction price, and impede the Fund’s
ability to timely vote or otherwise act with respect to floating rate loans. As
a result, it may take longer than seven days for transactions in floating rate
loans to settle, which make it more difficult for the Fund to raise cash to pay
investors when they redeem their shares in the Fund. The Fund may be adversely
affected by having to sell other investments at an unfavorable time and/or under
unfavorable conditions, hold cash, temporarily borrow from banks or other
lenders or take other actions to meet short-term liquidity needs in order to
satisfy redemption requests from Fund shareholders. These actions may impact the
Fund’s performance (in the case of holding cash or selling securities) or
increase the Fund’s expenses (in the case of borrowing).
It
is also unclear whether the U.S. federal securities laws, which afford certain
protections against fraud and misrepresentation in connection with the offering
or sale of a security, as well as against manipulation of trading markets for
securities, would be available to the Fund’s investments in a loan. This is
because a loan may not be deemed to be a security in certain circumstances. In
these instances, the Fund may need to rely on contractual provisions in the loan
documents for some protections and also avail itself of common law fraud
protections under applicable state law, which could increase the risk and
expense to the Fund of investing in loans. In addition, holders of such loans
may from time to time receive confidential information about the borrower. In
certain circumstances, this confidential information may be considered material
non-public information. Because U.S. laws and regulations generally prohibit
trading in securities of issuers while in possession of material, non-public
information, the Fund that receives confidential information about a borrower
for loan investments might be unable to trade securities or other instruments
issued by the borrower when it would otherwise be advantageous to do so and, as
such, could incur a loss. For this reason, the Fund or its Manager may determine
not to receive confidential information about a borrower for loan investments,
which may disadvantage the Fund relative to other investors who do receive such
information.
Some
covenant lite loans may be in the market from time to time which tend to have
fewer or no financial maintenance covenants and restrictions. A covenant lite
loan typically contains fewer clauses which allow an investor to proactively
enforce financial covenants or prevent undesired actions by the
borrower/issuer.
Covenant
lite loans also generally provide fewer investor protections if certain criteria
are breached. The Fund may experience losses or delays in enforcing its rights
on its holdings of covenant lite loans.
Prepayment/Extension
Risk. Floating
rate loans are also subject to prepayment risk (also called extension risk).
Borrowers may pay off their loans sooner than expected particularly when
interest rates are falling. The Fund investing in such securities will be forced
to reinvest this money at lower yields, which can reduce the Fund’s returns.
Similarly, debt obligations with
call
features have the risk that an issuer will exercise the right to pay an
obligation (such as a mortgage-backed security) earlier than expected.
Pre-payment and call risk typically occur when interest rates are declining.
Conversely, when interest rates are rising, the duration of such securities
tends to extend, making them more sensitive to changes in interest
rates.
FIXED-INCOME
SECURITIES RATINGS. Nationally
recognized statistical rating organizations (together, rating agency) publish
ratings based upon their assessment of the relative creditworthiness of rated
fixed-income securities. Generally, a lower rating indicates higher credit risk,
and higher yields are ordinarily available from fixed-income securities in the
lower rating categories to compensate investors for the increased credit risk.
Any use of credit ratings in evaluating fixed-income securities can involve
certain risks. For example, ratings assigned by the rating agencies are based
upon an analysis completed at the time of the rating of the obligor’s ability to
pay interest and repay principal, typically relying to a large extent on
historical data. Rating agencies typically rely to a large extent on historical
data which may not accurately represent present or future circumstances. Ratings
do not purport to reflect to risk of fluctuations in market value of the
fixed-income security and are not absolute standards of quality and only express
the rating agency’s current opinion of an obligor’s overall financial capacity
to pay its financial obligations. A credit rating is not a statement of fact or
a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a fixed-income obligation. Also,
credit quality can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and credit ratings may not
reflect the issuer’s current financial condition or events since the security
was last rated. Rating agencies may have a financial interest in generating
business, including the arranger or issuer of the security that normally pays
for that rating, and a low rating might affect future business. While rating
agencies have policies and procedures to address this potential conflict of
interest, there is a risk that these policies will fail to prevent a conflict of
interest from impacting the rating. Additionally, legislation has been enacted
in an effort to reform rating agencies. The SEC has also adopted rules to
require rating agencies to provide additional disclosure and reduce conflicts of
interest, and further reform has been proposed. It is uncertain how such
legislation or additional regulation might impact the ratings agencies business
and the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s investment process.
Prepayment
risk occurs when a fixed-income investment held by a Fund may be repaid in whole
or in part prior to its maturity. The amount of prepayable obligations a Fund
invests in from time to time may be affected by general business conditions,
market interest rates, borrowers’ financial conditions and competitive
conditions among lenders. In a period of declining interest rates, borrowers may
repay investments more quickly than anticipated, reducing the yield to maturity
and the average life of the relevant investment. Moreover, when a Fund reinvests
the proceeds of a prepayment in these circumstances, it will likely receive a
rate of interest that is lower than the rate on the security that was prepaid.
To the extent that a Fund purchases a relevant investment at a premium,
prepayments may result in a loss to the extent of the premium paid. If a Fund
buys such investments at a discount, both scheduled payments and unscheduled
prepayments will increase current and total returns and unscheduled prepayments
will also accelerate the recognition of income. In a period of rising interest
rates, prepayments of investments may occur at a slower than expected rate,
creating maturity extension risk. This particular risk may effectively change an
investment that was considered short- or intermediate-term at the time of
purchase into a longer-term investment. Since the value of longer-term
investments generally fluctuates more widely in response to changes in interest
rates than short-term investments, maturity extension risk could increase the
volatility of a Fund. When interest rates decline, the value of an investment
with prepayment features may not increase as much as that of other fixed-income
securities and, as noted above, changes in market rates of interest may
accelerate or delay prepayments and thus affect maturities.
FOREIGN
CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS.
The Funds may invest directly and indirectly in foreign currencies. The Fund may
conduct foreign currency transactions on a spot (i.e.,
cash) or forward basis i.e.,
by entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies).
Currency transactions made on a spot basis are for cash at the spot rate
prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currency.
Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge a fee for such
conversions, they do realize a profit based on the difference between the prices
at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may
offer to sell a foreign currency at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of
exchange should the counterparty desire to resell that currency to the dealer.
When used for hedging purposes, forward currency contracts tend to limit any
potential gain that may be realized if the value of the Fund’s foreign holdings
increases because of currency fluctuations.
Investments
in foreign currencies are subject to numerous risks, not the least of which is
the fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates with respect to the U.S.
dollar. Exchange rates fluctuate for a number of reasons.
•Inflation.
Exchange rates change to reflect changes in a currency’s buying power. Different
countries experience different inflation rates due to different monetary and
fiscal policies, different product and labor market conditions, and a host of
other factors.
•Trade
Deficits.
Countries with trade deficits tend to experience a depreciating currency.
Inflation may be the cause of a trade deficit, making a country’s goods more
expensive and less competitive and so reducing demand for its
currency.
•Interest
Rates.
High interest rates may raise currency values in the short term by making such
currencies more attractive to investors. However, since high interest rates are
often the result of high inflation, long-term results may be the
opposite.
•Budget
Deficits and Low Savings Rates.
Countries that run large budget deficits and save little of their national
income tend to suffer a depreciating currency because they are forced to borrow
abroad to finance their deficits. Payments of interest on this debt can inundate
the currency markets with the currency of the debtor nation. Budget deficits
also can indirectly contribute to currency depreciation if a government chooses
inflationary measures to cope with its deficits and debts.
•Political
Factors.
Political instability in a country can cause a currency to depreciate. Demand
for a certain currency may fall if a country appears a less desirable place in
which to invest and do business.
•Government
Control.
Through their own buying and selling of currencies, the world’s central banks
sometimes manipulate exchange rate movements. In addition, governments
occasionally issue statements to influence people’s expectations about the
direction of exchange rates, or they may instigate policies with an exchange
rate target as the goal. The value of the Fund’s investments is calculated in
U.S. dollars each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for
business. As a result, to the extent that the Fund’s assets are invested in
instruments denominated in foreign currencies and the currencies appreciate
relative to the U.S. dollar, the Fund’s NAV as expressed in U.S. dollars (and,
therefore, the value of your investment) should increase. If the U.S. dollar
appreciates relative to the other currencies, the opposite should occur. The
currency-related gains and losses experienced by the Fund will be based on
changes in the value of portfolio securities attributable to currency
fluctuations only in relation to the original purchase price of such securities
as stated in U.S. dollars. Gains or losses on shares of the Fund will be based
on changes attributable to fluctuations in the NAV of such shares, expressed in
U.S. dollars, in relation to the original U.S. dollar purchase price of the
shares. The amount of appreciation or depreciation in the Fund’s assets also
will be affected by the net investment income generated by the money market
instruments in which the Fund invests and by changes in the value of the
securities that are unrelated to changes in currency exchange
rates.
The
Funds may incur currency exchange costs when it sells instruments denominated in
one currency and buys instruments denominated in another.
Currency-Related
Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments
The
Funds may use currency transactions in order to hedge the value of portfolio
holdings denominated in particular currencies against fluctuations in relative
value. Currency transactions include forward currency contracts, exchange-listed
currency futures and options thereon, exchange-listed and over-the-counter
(“OTC”) options on currencies, and currency swaps. A forward currency contract
involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery
generally required) a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed
number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a
price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the
interbank market conducted directly between currency traders (usually large,
commercial banks) and their customers. A forward foreign currency contract
generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any
stage for trades. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based
on the notional difference among two or more currencies and operates similarly
to an interest rate swap, which is described below. The Fund may enter into
currency transactions with counterparties which have received (or the guarantors
of the obligations of which have received) a short-term credit rating of A-1 or
P-1 by S&P or Moody’s, respectively, or that have an equivalent rating from
a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) or (except for
OTC currency options) are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the
Adviser.
A
Fund’s dealings in forward currency contracts and other currency transactions
such as futures, options on futures, options on currencies and swaps will be
limited to hedging involving either specific transactions (“Transaction
Hedging”) or portfolio positions (“Position Hedging”). Transaction Hedging is
entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets or
liabilities of the Fund or an underlying Fund, which will generally arise in
connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the receipt
of income therefrom. The Fund may be able to protect itself against possible
losses resulting from changes in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and
foreign currencies during the period between the date the security is purchased
or sold and the date on which payment is made or received by entering into a
forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of dollars, of the
amount of the foreign currency involved in the underlying security
transactions.
Position
Hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to portfolio
security positions denominated or generally quoted in that currency. The Fund
may enter into a forward foreign currency contract to sell, for a fixed amount
of dollars, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or
all of its portfolio securities denominated in such foreign currency. The
precise matching of the forward foreign currency contract amount and the value
of the portfolio securities involved may not have a perfect correlation since
the future value of the securities hedged will change as a consequence of the
market between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it
matures. The projection of short-term currency market movement is difficult, and
the successful execution of this short-term hedging strategy is
uncertain.
A
Fund will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure to an extent
greater, after netting all transactions intended wholly or partially to offset
other transactions, than the aggregate market value (at the time of entering
into the transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio that are
denominated or generally quoted in or currently convertible into such
currency.
A
Fund in which it invests may also cross-hedge currencies by entering into
transactions to purchase or sell one or more currencies that are expected to
decline in value relative to other currencies to which the Fund has or in which
the Fund expects to have portfolio exposure.
Currency
hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions
with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to the Fund
if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction
that is not anticipated. If the Fund enters into a currency hedging transaction,
the Fund will “cover” its position so as not to create a “senior security” as
defined in Section 18 of the 1940 Act.
Currency
transactions are subject to risks different from those of other portfolio
transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing
governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchase and sales of
currency and related instruments can be negatively affected by government
exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed
by governments. These actions can result in losses to the Fund if it is unable
to deliver or receive currency or funds in settlement of obligations and could
also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full
currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of
currency futures are subject to the same risks that apply to the use of futures
generally. Furthermore, settlement of a currency futures contract for the
purchase of most currencies must occur at a bank based in the issuing nation.
Trading options on currency futures is relatively new, and the ability to
establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance
of a liquid market, which may not always be available. Currency exchange rates
may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to that country’s economy. Although
forward foreign currency contracts and currency futures tend to minimize the
risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, at the same
time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result should the value
of such currency increase.
The
Funds are not required to enter into forward currency contracts for hedging
purposes and it is possible that the Fund may not be able to hedge against a
currency devaluation that is so generally anticipated that the Fund is unable to
contract to sell the currency at a price above the devaluation level it
anticipates. It also is possible that, under certain circumstances, the Fund may
have to limit its currency transactions to qualify as a regulated investment
company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”).
GEOGRAPHIC
CONCENTRATION IN CHINA (AFTY
only). Funds
that are less diversified across countries or geographic regions are generally
riskier than more geographically diversified funds. Because the Fund focuses on
a single country, China, the Fund is more exposed to China’s economic cycles,
currency exchange rates, stock market valuations and political risks, among
other issues, than a more geographically diversified fund.
Government
Intervention and Restriction Risk.
Governments and regulators may intervene in the financial markets, such as by
the imposition of trading restrictions, a ban on “naked” short selling or the
suspension of short selling for certain stocks. This may affect the operation
and market making activities of the Fund, and may have an unpredictable impact
on the Fund. Furthermore, such market interventions may have a negative impact
on the market sentiment which may in turn affect the performance of the Index
and as a result the performance of the Fund.
Recently,
the A-Shares market has experienced considerable volatility and been subject to
frequent and extensive trading halts and suspensions. These trading halts and
suspensions have, among other things, contributed to uncertainty in the markets
and reduced the liquidity of the securities subject to such trading halts and
suspensions, including a number of securities held by the Fund. If the
trading in a significant number of the Fund’s A-Share holdings is halted or
suspended, the Fund’s portfolio could become illiquid. In such event, the Fund
may have difficulty selling its portfolio positions until the trading halt or
suspension is lifted, or may not be able to sell such securities at all. As a
result, the Fund may need to sell other more liquid portfolio holdings at a loss
or at times when it otherwise would not do so in order to generate sufficient
cash to satisfy redemption requests. This could have a negative impact on the
Fund’s performance and increase the tracking error of the Fund against its
Index. If a significant number of securities held by the Fund are suspended or
unavailable for sale, the Fund is permitted to delay settlement of redemption
requests up to seven days, as further discussed below. Trading halts or
suspensions may make it difficult for the Fund to obtain prices for such
securities and may cause the Fund to “fair-value” a portion of its portfolio
holdings. Furthermore, trading halts or suspensions of the Fund’s underlying
portfolio securities may also have a negative impact on secondary market trading
of Fund shares in U.S. market.
ILLIQUID
INVESTMENTS. Each
Fund may invest up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net assets in illiquid
investments, as such term is defined by Rule 22e-4 of the 1940 Act. The Funds
may not invest in illiquid investments if, as a result of such investment, more
than 15% of the Fund’s net assets would be invested in illiquid investments.
Illiquid investments include securities subject to contractual or other
restrictions on resale and other instruments that lack readily available
markets. The inability of a Fund to dispose of illiquid investments readily or
at a reasonable price could impair the Fund’s ability to raise cash for
redemptions or other purposes. The liquidity of securities purchased by a Fund
that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A, except for certain 144A
bonds, will be monitored by the Funds on an ongoing basis. In the event that
more than 15% of its net assets are invested in illiquid investments,
the
Funds, in accordance with Rule 22e-4(b)(1)(iv), will report the occurrence to
both the Board and the SEC and seek to reduce its holdings of illiquid
investments within a reasonable period of time.
INVESTMENT
COMPANIES.
The Funds may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including
ETFs and money market funds, subject to applicable limitations under
Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act and Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act.
Investing in another pooled vehicle exposes a Fund to all the risks of that
pooled vehicle. Pursuant to Section 12(d)(1), a Fund may invest in the
securities of another investment company (the “acquired company”) provided that
such Fund, immediately after such purchase or acquisition, does not own in the
aggregate: (i) more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the
acquired company; (ii) securities issued by the acquired company having an
aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of such Fund;
or (iii) securities issued by the acquired company and all other investment
companies (other than treasury stock of such Fund) having an aggregate value in
excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the applicable Fund. To the
extent allowed by law or regulation, the Funds may invest their assets in
securities of investment companies that are money market funds in excess of the
limits discussed above.
The
Funds may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) and Rule 12d1-3 under the 1940 Act, which
provide an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allow the Funds to invest all of
its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other
conditions: (a) a Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than
three percent of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund, and (b) the
sales load charged on a Fund’s Shares is no greater than the limits set forth in
Rule 2341 of the Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(“FINRA”). In addition, the Funds may invest beyond the limits of Section
12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in Rule 12d1-4 under
the 1940 Act, including that the Funds enter into an agreement with the acquired
company.
If
the Fund invests in and, thus, is a shareholder of, another investment company,
the Fund’s shareholders will indirectly bear the Fund’s proportionate share of
the fees and expenses paid by such other investment company, including advisory
fees, in addition to both the management fees payable directly by the Fund to
the Fund’s own investment adviser and the other expenses that the Fund bears
directly in connection with the Fund’s own operations.
Section
12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by registered investment
companies (“Investing Funds”) in the securities of other registered investment
companies, including TRND and HERD. The acquisition of Shares by Investing Funds
is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, except as
may be permitted by exemptive rules under the 1940 Act such as Rule 12d1-4 under
the 1940 Act, subject to certain terms and conditions, including that the
Investing Fund enter into an agreement with the Funds regarding the terms of the
investment.
Investing
Funds are not permitted to invest in TRND and HERD beyond the limits set forth
in Section 12(d)(1) in reliance on Rule 12d1-4 because TRND and HERD operate as
a fund of funds and/or invests a significant portion of its assets in other
investment companies. Thus, these Funds are unable to satisfy the terms and
conditions of Rule 12d1-4. Accordingly, Investing Funds must adhere to the
limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1) when investing in TRND and
HERD.
INVESTMENTS
IN CHINA A-SHARES AND H-SHARES (AFTY
only). A-Shares
and H-Shares are each a specific classification of equity securities issued by
companies incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”).
H-Shares are denominated and traded in Hong Kong dollars and are traded on the
Hong Kong Stock Exchange. A company incorporated in China may issue both
A-Shares and H-Shares, however the prices that such shares trade at may differ.
A-Shares are denominated and traded in RMB, the official currency of the PRC, on
the Shenzhen and Shanghai Stock Exchanges.
Since
November of 2014, foreign investors have been permitted to invest in eligible
China A-Shares listed on Shanghai Stock Exchange through the Shanghai-Hong Kong
Stock Connect program. The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program; which was
launched in 2014, established a securities trading and clearing program which
enables mutual stock market access between mainland China and Hong Kong.
Investors should note that the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges on which
China A-Shares are traded are undergoing development and the market
capitalization of, and trading volumes on, those exchanges may be lower than
those in more developed financial markets. Market volatility and settlement
difficulties in the China A-Shares markets may result in significant fluctuation
in the prices of the securities traded on such markets and thereby changes in
the Net Asset Value of the Fund. The China A-Shares markets are considered
volatile and unstable (with the risk of suspension of a particular stock or
government intervention).
The
Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges divide listed shares into two classes:
A-Shares and B-Shares. Companies whose shares are traded on the Shanghai and
Shenzhen Stock Exchanges that are incorporated in mainland China may issue both
A-Shares and B-Shares. In China, the A-Shares and B-Shares of an issuer may only
trade on one exchange. A-Shares and B-Shares may both be listed on either the
Shanghai Stock Exchange or the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Both classes represent
an ownership interest comparable to a share of common stock, and all shares are
entitled to substantially the same rights and benefits associated with
ownership.
Through
the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program, foreign investors, such as the
Fund, can trade eligible China A-Shares, subject to trading limits and rules and
regulations as may be issued from time to time. More recently, in December of
2016, foreign investors also are permitted to invest in eligible China A-Shares
listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange through the Shenzhen-Hong
Kong
Stock Connect program. While the Fund may access China A-Shares through the
Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect program in the future, it has no immediate
plans to do so.
Investing
Through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program —
The Fund invests in eligible securities listed and traded on the Shanghai Stock
Exchange through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program, a securities
trading and clearing program developed by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong
Limited, the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company
Limited and the CSDCC for the establishment of mutual market access between The
Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Unlike
other programs for foreign investment in Chinese securities, no individual
investment quotas or licensing requirements apply to investors investing via the
Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program. In addition, there are no
lock-up periods or restrictions on the repatriation of principal and
profits.
Among
other restrictions, investors in securities obtained via the Shanghai-Hong Kong
Stock Connect program are generally subject to Chinese securities regulations
and Shanghai Stock Exchange rules. Thus, investors in Stock Connect securities
are generally subject to Chinese securities regulations and SSE listing rules,
among other restrictions. Securities obtained via the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock
Connect program generally may only be sold, purchased or otherwise transferred
through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program in accordance with
applicable rules. Although the Fund is not subject to individual investment
quotas, daily investment quotas designed to limit the maximum daily net
purchases on any particular day apply to all participants in the Shanghai-Hong
Kong Stock Connect program. These daily investment quotas which may restrict or
preclude the ability of any Fund to invest in securities obtained via the
program. The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program is newly-established and
further developments are likely. It is unclear whether or how such developments
may restrict or affect the Fund. Additionally, how the laws and regulations of
Hong Kong and China, as well as the rules, policies or guidelines of relevant
regulators and exchanges, will be interpreted or applied with respect to the
Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program is uncertain.
MASTER
LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS (“MLPs”).
MLPs are limited partnerships in which the ownership units are publicly traded.
MLP units are registered with the SEC and are freely traded on a securities
exchange or in the OTC market. MLPs often own several properties or businesses
(or own interests) that are related to real estate development and oil and gas
industries, but they also may finance motion pictures, research and development
and other projects. Generally, an MLP is operated under the supervision of one
or more managing general partners. Limited partners are not involved in the
day-to-day management of the partnership.
The
risks of investing in an MLP are generally those involved in investing in a
partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing
partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations.
Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded investors in an MLP than
investors in a corporation. Additional risks involved with investing in an MLP
are risks associated with the specific industry or industries in which the
partnership invests, such as the risks of investing in real estate, or oil and
gas industries.
MLPs
are generally treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. When
a Fund invests in the equity securities of an MLP or any other entity that is
treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a Fund will be
treated as a partner in the entity for tax purposes. Accordingly, in calculating
a Fund’s taxable income, it will be required to take into account its allocable
share of the income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits recognized by each
such entity, regardless of whether the entity distributes cash to the Fund.
Distributions from such an entity to a Fund are not generally taxable unless the
cash amount (or, in certain cases, the fair market value of marketable
securities) distributed to a Fund exceeds the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in its
interest in the entity. In general, a Fund’s allocable share of such an entity’s
net income will increase the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in its interest in the
entity, and distributions to a Fund from such an entity and a Fund’s allocable
share of the entity’s net losses will decrease the Fund’s adjusted basis in its
interest in the entity, but not below zero. A Fund may receive cash
distributions from such an entity in excess of the net amount of taxable income
a Fund is allocated from its investment in the entity. In other circumstances,
the net amount of taxable income a Fund is allocated from its investment in such
an entity may exceed cash distributions received from the entity. Thus, a Fund’s
investments in such an entity may lead a Fund to make distributions in excess of
its earnings and profits, or a Fund may be required to sell investments,
including when not otherwise advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy the
distribution requirements applicable to regulated investment companies under the
Code.
Depreciation
or other cost recovery deductions passed through to a Fund from any investments
in MLPs in a given year will generally reduce a Fund’s taxable income, but those
deductions may be recaptured in the Fund’s income in one or more subsequent
years. When recognized and distributed, recapture income will generally be
taxable to a Fund’s shareholders at the time of the distribution at ordinary
income tax rates, even though those shareholders might not have held Shares in a
Fund at the time the deductions were taken, and even though those shareholders
may not have corresponding economic gain on their Shares at the time of the
recapture. To distribute recapture income or to fund redemption requests, a Fund
may need to liquidate investments, which may lead to additional taxable
income.
MONEY
MARKET INSTRUMENTS.
The Funds may invest a portion of their assets in high-quality money market
instruments or in money market mutual funds on an ongoing basis to provide
liquidity or for other reasons. The instruments in which a Fund or money market
mutual fund may invest include: (i) short-term obligations issued by the U.S.
Government; (ii) negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), fixed time deposits
and bankers’ acceptances of U.S. and foreign banks and similar institutions;
(iii) commercial paper rated at the date of purchase “Prime-1” by Moody’s or
“A-1+” or “A-1” by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) or, if unrated, of
comparable quality as determined by the Fund; and (iv) repurchase agreements.
CDs are short-term negotiable obligations of commercial banks. Time deposits are
non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods
of time at stated interest rates. Banker’s acceptances are time drafts drawn on
commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with international
transactions.
MORTGAGE-RELATED
SECURITIES (FLRT
Only).
The Funds may invest in mortgage-related and asset-backed securities.
Mortgage-related securities are interests in pools of residential or commercial
mortgage loans, including mortgage loans made by savings and loan institutions,
mortgage bankers, commercial banks and others. Pools of mortgage loans are
assembled as securities for sale to investors by various governmental,
government-related and private organizations. See “Mortgage Pass-Through
Securities.” A Fund also may invest in debt securities which are secured with
collateral consisting of mortgage-related securities (see “Collateralized
Mortgage Obligations”).
The
2008 financial downturn, particularly the increase in delinquencies and defaults
on residential mortgages, falling home prices, and unemployment, adversely
affected the market for mortgage-related securities. In addition, various market
and governmental actions may impair the ability to foreclose on or exercise
other remedies against underlying mortgage holders, or may reduce the amount
received upon foreclosure. These factors have caused certain mortgage-related
securities to experience lower valuations and reduced liquidity. There is also
no assurance that the U.S. government will take action to support the
mortgage-related securities industry, as it has in the past, should the economy
experience another downturn. Further, future government actions may
significantly alter the manner in which the mortgage-related securities market
functions. Each of these factors could ultimately increase the risk that a Fund
could realize losses on mortgage-related securities.
Mortgage
Pass-Through Securities
The
Funds may invest in mortgage pass-through securities. Interests in pools of
mortgage-related securities differ from other forms of debt securities, which
normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts with
principal payments at maturity or specified call dates. Instead, these
securities provide a monthly payment which consists of both interest and
principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the
monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their residential or
commercial mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of
such securities. Additional payments are caused by repayments of principal
resulting from the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure,
net of fees or costs which may be incurred. Some mortgage-related securities
(such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association
(“Ginnie Mae”)) are described as “modified pass-through.” These securities
entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the
mortgage pool, net of certain fees, at the scheduled payment dates regardless of
whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment.
The
rate of pre-payments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and
volatility of a mortgage-related security, and may have the effect of shortening
or extending the effective duration of the security relative to what was
anticipated at the time of purchase. To the extent that unanticipated rates of
pre-payment on underlying mortgages increase the effective duration of a
mortgage-related security, the volatility of such security can be expected to
increase. The residential mortgage market in the United States recently has
experienced difficulties that may adversely affect the performance and market
value of certain of the Funds’ mortgage-related investments. Delinquencies and
losses on residential mortgage loans (especially subprime and second-lien
mortgage loans) generally have increased recently and may continue to increase,
and a decline in or flattening of housing values (as has recently been
experienced and may continue to be experienced in many housing markets) may
exacerbate such delinquencies and losses. Borrowers with adjustable rate
mortgage loans are more sensitive to changes in interest rates, which affect
their monthly mortgage payments, and may be unable to secure replacement
mortgages at comparably low interest rates. Also, a number of residential
mortgage loan originators have experienced serious financial difficulties or
bankruptcy. Owing largely to the foregoing, reduced investor demand for mortgage
loans and mortgage-related securities and increased investor yield requirements
have caused limited liquidity in the secondary market for certain
mortgage-related securities, which can adversely affect the market value of
mortgage-related securities. It is possible that such limited liquidity in such
secondary markets could continue or worsen.
Agency
Mortgage-Related Securities
The
Funds may invest in agency mortgage-related securities. The principal
governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities is Ginnie Mae. Ginnie Mae
is a wholly owned United States government corporation within the Department of
Housing and Urban Development. Ginnie Mae is authorized to guarantee, with the
full faith and credit of the United States government, the timely payment of
principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by Ginnie
Mae (such as savings and loan institutions,
commercial
banks and mortgage bankers) and backed by pools of mortgages insured by the
Federal Housing Administration (the “FHA”), or guaranteed by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (the “VA”).
Government-related
guarantors (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
government) include the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”). Fannie Mae is a
government-sponsored corporation. Fannie Mae purchases conventional (i.e., not
insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a
list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered
savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit
unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae are
guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by Fannie Mae, but are
not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Freddie
Mac was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the
availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a
government-sponsored corporation that issues Participation Certificates (“PCs”),
which are pass-through securities, each representing an undivided interest in a
pool of residential mortgages. Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of
interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States government.
On
September 6, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) placed Fannie Mae
and Freddie Mac into conservatorship. As the conservator, FHFA succeeded to all
rights, titles, powers and privileges of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and of any
stockholder, officer or director of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with respect to
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the assets of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHFA
selected a new chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors
for each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
In
connection with the conservatorship, the U.S. Treasury entered into a Senior
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
pursuant to which the U.S. Treasury will purchase a limited amount of each of
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to maintain a positive net worth in each enterprise.
The SPAs contain various covenants that severely limit each enterprise’s
operations. In exchange for entering into these agreements, the U.S. Treasury
received $1 billion of each enterprise’s senior preferred stock and warrants to
purchase 79.9% of each enterprise’s common stock. Please see "U.S. Government
Securities" for additional information on these agreements.
Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac are continuing to operate as going concerns while in
conservatorship and each remain liable for all of its obligations, including its
guaranty obligations, associated with its mortgage-backed securities. The FHFA
has indicated that the conservatorship of each enterprise will end when the
director of FHFA determines that FHFA’s plan to restore the enterprise to a safe
and solvent condition has been completed.
Under
the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 (the “Reform Act”),
which was included as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008,
FHFA, as conservator or receiver, has the power to repudiate any contract
entered into by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac prior to FHFA’s appointment as
conservator or receiver, as applicable, if FHFA determines, in its sole
discretion, that performance of the contract is burdensome and that repudiation
of the contract promotes the orderly administration of Fannie Mae’s or Freddie
Mac’s affairs. The Reform Act requires FHFA to exercise its right to repudiate
any contract within a reasonable period of time after its appointment as
conservator or receiver.
FHFA,
in its capacity as conservator, has indicated that it has no intention to
repudiate the guaranty obligations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac because FHFA
views repudiation as incompatible with the goals of the conservatorship.
However, in the event that FHFA, as conservator or if it is later appointed as
receiver for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, were to repudiate any such guaranty
obligation, the conservatorship or receivership estate, as applicable, would be
liable for actual direct compensatory damages in accordance with the provisions
of the Reform Act. Any such liability could be satisfied only to the extent of
Fannie Mae’s or Freddie Mac's assets available therefor.
In
the event of repudiation, the payments of interest to holders of Fannie Mae or
Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities would be reduced if payments on the
mortgage loans represented in the mortgage loan groups related to such
mortgage-backed securities are not made by the borrowers or advanced by the
servicer. Any actual direct compensatory damages for repudiating these guaranty
obligations may not be sufficient to offset any shortfalls experienced by such
mortgage-backed security holders.
Further,
in its capacity as conservator or receiver, FHFA has the right to transfer or
sell any asset or liability of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac without any approval,
assignment or consent. Although FHFA has stated that it has no present intention
to do so, if FHFA, as conservator or receiver, were to transfer any such
guaranty obligation to another party, holders of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
mortgage-backed securities would have to rely on that party for satisfaction of
the guaranty obligation and would be exposed to the credit risk of that
party.
In
addition, certain rights provided to holders of mortgage-backed securities
issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the operative documents related to
such securities may not be enforced against FHFA, or enforcement of such rights
may be delayed, during the conservatorship or any future receivership. The
operative documents for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities
may provide (or with respect to securities issued prior to the date of the
appointment of the conservator may have provided)
that
upon the occurrence of an event of default on the part of Fannie Mae or Freddie
Mac, in its capacity as guarantor, which includes the appointment of a
conservator or receiver, holders of such mortgage-backed securities have the
right to replace Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac as trustee if the requisite
percentage of mortgage-backed securities holders consent. The Reform Act
prevents mortgage-backed security holders from enforcing such rights if the
event of default arises solely because a conservator or receiver has been
appointed. The Reform Act also provides that no person may exercise any right or
power to terminate, accelerate or declare an event of default under certain
contracts to which Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac is a party, or obtain possession of
or exercise control over any property of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or affect
any contractual rights of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, without the approval of
FHFA, as conservator or receiver, for a period of 45 or 90 days following the
appointment of FHFA as conservator or receiver, respectively.
In
addition, in a February 2011 report to Congress from the Treasury Department and
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Obama administration
provided a plan to reform America’s housing finance market. The plan would
reduce the role of and eventually eliminate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Notably,
the plan does not propose similar significant changes to Ginnie Mae, which
guarantees payments on mortgage-related securities backed by federally insured
or guaranteed loans such as those issued by the Federal Housing Association or
guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report also identified
three proposals for Congress and the administration to consider for the
long-term structure of the housing finance markets after the elimination of
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, including implementing (i) a privatized system of
housing finance that limits government insurance to very limited groups of
creditworthy low- and moderate-income borrowers, (ii) a privatized system with a
government backstop mechanism that would allow the government to insure a larger
share of the housing finance market during a future housing crisis, and (iii) a
privatized system where the government would offer reinsurance to holders of
certain highly-rated mortgage-related securities insured by private insurers and
would pay out under the reinsurance arrangements only if the private mortgage
insurers were insolvent.
Collateralized
Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”)
The
Funds may invest in CMOs, which are debt obligations of a legal entity that are
collateralized by mortgages and divided into classes. Similar to a bond,
interest and prepaid principal is paid, in most cases, on a monthly basis. CMOs
may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans or private mortgage bonds, but are
more typically collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities
guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Fannie Mae, and their income
streams.
CMOs
are structured into multiple classes, often referred to as “tranches,” with each
class bearing a different stated maturity and entitled to a different schedule
for payments of principal and interest, including pre-payments. Actual maturity
and average life will depend upon the prepayment experience of the collateral.
In the case of certain CMOs (known as “sequential pay” CMOs), payments of
principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including
pre-payments, are applied to the classes of CMOs in the order of their
respective final distribution dates. Thus, no payment of principal will be made
to any class of sequential pay CMOs until all other classes having an earlier
final distribution date have been paid in full.
In
a typical CMO transaction, a corporation (“issuer”) issues multiple series
(e.g.,
A, B, C, Z) of CMO bonds (“Bonds”). Proceeds of the Bond offering are used to
purchase mortgages or mortgage pass-through certificates (“Collateral”). The
Collateral is pledged to a third-party trustee as security for the Bonds.
Principal and interest payments from the Collateral are used to pay principal on
the Bonds in the order A, B, C, Z. The Series A, B, and C Bonds all bear current
interest. Interest on the Series Z Bond is accrued and added to principal and a
like amount is paid as principal on the Series A, B, or C Bond currently being
paid off. When the Series A, B, and C Bonds are paid in full, interest and
principal on the Series Z Bond begins to be paid currently. CMOs may be less
liquid and may exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or
asset-backed securities.
As
CMOs have evolved, some classes of CMO bonds have become more common. For
example, the Funds may invest in parallel-pay and planned amortization class
(“PAC”) CMOs and multi-class pass-through certificates. Parallel-pay CMOs and
multi-class pass-through certificates are structured to provide payments of
principal on each payment date to more than one class. These simultaneous
payments are taken into account in calculating the stated maturity date or final
distribution date of each class, which, as with other CMO and multi-class
pass-through structures, must be retired by its stated maturity date or final
distribution date but may be retired earlier. PACs generally require payments of
a specified amount of principal on each payment date. PACs are parallel-pay CMOs
with the required principal amount on such securities having the highest
priority after interest has been paid to all classes. Any CMO or multi-class
pass-through structure that includes PAC securities must also have support
tranches-known as support bonds, companion bonds or non-PAC bonds which lend or
absorb principal cash flows to allow the PAC securities to maintain their stated
maturities and final distribution dates within a range of actual prepayment
experience. These support tranches are subject to a higher level of maturity
risk compared to other mortgage-related securities, and usually provide a higher
yield to compensate investors. If principal cash flows are received in amounts
outside a pre-determined range such that the support bonds cannot lend or absorb
sufficient cash flows to the PAC securities as intended, the PAC securities are
subject to heightened maturity risk. Consistent with a Fund’s investment
objectives and policies, its Adviser may invest in various tranches of CMO
bonds, including support bonds.
Commercial
Mortgage-Backed Securities
The
Funds may invest in commercial mortgage-backed securities, which include
securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on
commercial real property. Many of the risks of investing in commercial
mortgage-backed securities reflect the risks of investing in the real estate
securing the underlying mortgage loans. These risks reflect the effects of local
and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to
make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants.
Commercial mortgage-backed securities may be less liquid and exhibit greater
price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed
securities.
Other
Mortgage-Related Securities
The
Funds may invest in other mortgage-related securities, which include securities
other than those described above that directly or indirectly represent a
participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real
property, including mortgage dollar rolls, CMO residuals or stripped
mortgage-backed securities (“SMBS”). Other mortgage-related securities may be
equity or debt securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S.
government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans,
including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks,
commercial banks, investment banks, partnerships, trusts and special purpose
entities of the foregoing.
CMO
Residuals
The
Funds may invest in CMO residuals, which are mortgage securities issued by
agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government or by private originators
of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations,
homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special
purpose entities of the foregoing.
The
cash flow generated by the mortgage assets underlying a series of CMOs is
applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the CMOs
and second to pay the related administrative expenses and any management fee of
the issuer. The residual in a CMO structure generally represents the interest in
any excess cash flow remaining after making the foregoing payments. Each payment
of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual represents
income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash flow resulting
from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characteristics of the
mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest
rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the pre-payment experience on
the mortgage assets. In particular, the yield to maturity on CMO residuals is
extremely sensitive to pre-payments on the related underlying mortgage assets,
in the same manner as an interest-only (“IO”) class of stripped mortgage-backed
securities. See “Other Mortgage-Related Securities — Stripped Mortgage-Backed
Securities.” In addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears
interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO
residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the level of the index
upon which interest rate adjustments are based. As described below with respect
to stripped mortgage-backed securities, in certain circumstances a Fund may fail
to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual.
CMO
residuals are generally purchased and sold by institutional investors through
several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers. Transactions in
CMO residuals are generally completed only after careful review of the
characteristics of the securities in question. In addition, CMO residuals may,
or pursuant to an exemption therefrom, may not have been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”). CMO residuals, whether or
not registered under the Securities Act, may be subject to certain restrictions
on transferability, and may be deemed "illiquid" and subject to a Fund’s
limitations on investment in illiquid securities.
Adjustable
Rate Mortgage-Backed Securities (“ARMBSs”)
The
Funds may invest in ARMBSs, which have interest rates that reset at periodic
intervals. Acquiring ARMBSs permits the Funds to participate in increases in
prevailing current interest rates through periodic adjustments in the coupons of
mortgages underlying the pool on which ARMBSs are based. Such ARMBSs generally
have higher current yield and lower price fluctuations than is the case with
more traditional fixed income debt securities of comparable rating and maturity.
In addition, when prepayments of principal are made on the underlying mortgages
during periods of rising interest rates, a Fund can reinvest the proceeds of
such prepayments at rates higher than those at which they were previously
invested. Mortgages underlying most ARMBSs, however, have limits on the
allowable annual or lifetime increases that can be made in the interest rate
that the mortgagor pays. Therefore, if current interest rates rise above such
limits over the period of the limitation, a Fund, when holding an ARMBS, does
not benefit from further increases in interest rates. Moreover, when interest
rates are in excess of coupon rates (i.e., the rates being paid by mortgagors)
of the mortgages, ARMBSs behave more like fixed income securities and less like
adjustable rate securities and are subject to the risks associated with fixed
income securities. In addition, during periods of rising interest rates,
increases in the coupon rate of adjustable rate mortgages generally lag current
market interest rates slightly, thereby creating the potential for capital
depreciation on such securities.
Stripped
Mortgage-Backed Securities (“SMBSs”)
The
Funds may invest in SMBS, which are derivative multi-class mortgage securities.
SMBSs may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, or
by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings
and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and
special purpose entities of the foregoing.
SMBSs
are usually structured with two classes that receive different proportions of
the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common
type of SMBS will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the
principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class will receive most of
the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one
class will receive all of the interest (the “IO” class), while the other class
will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). The yield
to maturity on an IO class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal
payments (including pre-payments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and
a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on a Fund
yield to maturity from these securities. If the underlying mortgage assets
experience greater than anticipated pre-payments of principal, the Funds may
fail to recoup some or all of its initial investment in these securities even if
the security is in one of the highest rating categories.
NON-U.S.
SECURITIES. The
Funds may invest in non-U.S. securities.
Investments
in non-U.S. securities involve certain risks that may not be present in
investments in U.S. securities. For example, non-U.S. securities may be subject
to currency risks or to political, social, or economic instability. There may be
less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than about a U.S.
issuer, and a foreign issuer may or may not be subject to uniform accounting,
auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in
the U.S. Investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to withholding or
other taxes and may be subject to additional trading, settlement, custodial, and
operational risks. Other risks of investing in such securities include
political, social, or economic instability in the country involved, the
difficulty of predicting international trade patterns and the possibility of
imposition of exchange controls. The prices of such securities may be more
volatile than those of domestic securities. With respect to certain foreign
countries, there is a possibility of expropriation of assets or nationalization,
imposition of withholding taxes on dividend or interest payments, difficulty in
obtaining and enforcing judgments against foreign entities or diplomatic
developments which could affect investment in these countries. Losses and other
expenses may be incurred in converting between various currencies in connection
with purchases and sales of foreign securities. Because foreign exchanges may be
open on days when the Funds do not price their Shares, the value of the
securities in a Fund’s portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not
be able to purchase or sell Shares. Conversely, Shares may trade on days when
foreign exchanges are closed. Each of these factors can make investments in the
Funds more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments.
Non-U.S.
stock markets may not be as developed or efficient as, and may be more volatile
than, those in the U.S. While the volume of shares traded on non-U.S. stock
markets generally has been growing, such markets usually have substantially less
volume than U.S. markets. Therefore, a Fund’s investment in non-U.S. equity
securities may be less liquid and subject to more rapid and erratic price
movements than comparable securities listed for trading on U.S. exchanges.
Non-U.S. equity securities may trade at price/earnings multiples higher than
comparable U.S. securities and such levels may not be sustainable. There may be
less government supervision and regulation of foreign stock exchanges, brokers,
banks and listed companies abroad than in the U.S. Moreover, settlement
practices for transactions in foreign markets may differ from those in U.S.
markets. Such differences may include delays beyond periods customary in the
U.S. and practices, such as delivery of securities prior to receipt of payment,
that increase the likelihood of a failed settlement, which can result in losses
to the Funds. The value of non-U.S. investments and the investment income
derived from them may also be affected unfavorably by changes in currency
exchange control regulations. Foreign brokerage commissions, custodial expenses
and other fees are also generally higher than for securities traded in the U.S.
This may cause the Funds to incur higher portfolio transaction costs than
domestic equity funds. Fluctuations in exchange rates may also affect the
earning power and asset value of the foreign entity issuing a security, even one
denominated in U.S. dollars. Dividend and interest payments may be repatriated
based on the exchange rate at the time of disbursement, and restrictions on
capital flows may be imposed.
Investing
in emerging markets can have more risk than investing in developed foreign
markets. The risks of investing in these markets may be exacerbated relative to
investments in foreign markets. Governments of developing and emerging market
countries may be more unstable as compared to more developed countries.
Developing and emerging market countries may have less developed securities
markets or exchanges, and legal and accounting systems. It may be more difficult
to sell securities at acceptable prices and security prices may be more volatile
than in countries with more mature markets. Currency values may fluctuate more
in developing or emerging markets. Developing or emerging market countries may
be more likely to impose government restrictions, including confiscatory
taxation, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, and
restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies. In addition, emerging
markets may impose restrictions on the Funds’ ability to repatriate investment
income or capital and thus, may adversely affect the operations of the Funds.
Certain emerging markets may impose constraints on currency exchange and some
currencies in emerging markets may have been devalued significantly against the
U.S. dollar. For these and other reasons, the prices of securities in emerging
markets can fluctuate more significantly than the prices of securities of
companies in developed countries. The less developed the country, the greater
effect these risks may have on the Funds.
Set
forth below for certain markets in which the Funds may invest are brief
descriptions of some of the conditions and risks in each such
market.
Investments
in Canada.
The U.S. is Canada’s largest trading partner and foreign investor. As a result,
changes to the U.S. economy may significantly affect the Canadian economy. The
Canadian economy is reliant on the sale of natural resources and commodities,
which can pose risks such as the fluctuation of prices and the variability of
demand for exportation of such products. Canada is a major producer of
commodities such as zinc, uranium, forest products, metals, agricultural
products, and energy related products like oil, gas, and hydroelectricity.
Changes in spending on Canadian products by the economies of other countries or
changes in any of these economies may cause a significant impact on the Canadian
economy.
Investments
in China and Hong Kong.
Investing in ADRs with underlying shares organized, listed or domiciled in China
involves special considerations not typically associated with investing in
countries with more democratic governments or more established economies or
securities markets. Such risks may include: (i) the risk of nationalization
or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation; (ii) greater social,
economic and political uncertainty (including the risk of war);
(iii) dependency on exports and the corresponding importance of
international trade; (iv) increasing competition from Asia’s other low-cost
emerging economies; (v) higher rates of inflation; (vi) controls on
foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital;
(vii) greater governmental involvement in and control over the economy;
(viii) the risk that the Chinese government may decide not to continue to
support the economic reform programs implemented since 1978 and could return to
the prior, completely centrally planned, economy; (ix) the fact that
Chinese companies, particularly those located in China, may be smaller, less
seasoned and newly organized; (x) the differences in, or lack of, auditing
and financial reporting standards which may result in unavailability of material
information about issuers, particularly in China where, for example, the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) lacks access to inspect
PCAOB-registered accounting firms; (xi) the fact that statistical
information regarding the economy of China may be inaccurate or not comparable
to statistical information regarding the U.S. or other economies; (xii) the
less extensive, and still developing, regulation of the securities markets,
business entities and commercial transactions; (xiii) the fact that the
settlement period of securities transactions in foreign markets may be longer;
(xiv) the fact that the willingness and ability of the Chinese government
to support the Chinese and Hong Kong economies and markets is uncertain;
(xv) the risk that it may be more difficult, or impossible, to obtain
and/or enforce a judgment than in other countries; (xvi) the rapid and
erratic nature of growth, particularly in China, resulting in inefficiencies and
dislocations; (xvii) the risk that, because of the degree of
interconnectivity between the economies and financial markets of China and Hong
Kong, any sizable reduction in the demand for goods from China, or an economic
downturn in China, could negatively affect the economy and financial market of
Hong Kong as well; and (xviii) the risk that certain companies in the
Fund’s Index may have dealings with countries subject to sanctions or embargoes
imposed by the U.S. Government or identified as state sponsors of terrorism.
China
is also vulnerable economically to the impact of a public health crisis, which
could depress consumer demand, reduce economic output, and potentially lead to
market closures, travel restrictions, and quarantines, all of which would
negatively impact China’s economy and could affect the economies of its trading
partners.
After
many years of steady growth, the growth rate of China’s economy had slowed prior
to 2020. Although this slowdown was to some degree intentional, the slowdown
also slowed the once rapidly growing Chinese real estate market and left local
governments with high debts with few viable means to raise revenue, especially
with the fall in demand for housing. In the first quarter of 2021, however, as
China recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, these trends reversed as China’s
economy grew over 18% on a year-over-year basis and demand grew within the
Chinese real estate market. It remains unclear though whether these trends will
continue given global economic uncertainties caused by trade relations and fears
that the Chinese real estate market may be overheating. Recently, limited growth
and companies’ ability to pay down debt has impacted China’s economy through
rising default rates, specifically among real estate developers.
Investments
in Hong Kong are also subject to certain political risks not associated with
other investments. Following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China
by the Communist Party in 1949, the Chinese government renounced various debt
obligations incurred by China’s predecessor governments, which obligations
remain in default, and expropriated assets without compensation. There can be no
assurance that the Chinese government will not take similar action in the
future. Investments in China and Hong Kong involve risk of a total loss due to
government action or inaction. China has committed by treaty to preserve Hong
Kong’s autonomy and its economic, political and social freedoms for 50 years
from the July 1, 1997 transfer of sovereignty from Great Britain to China.
However, if China would exert its authority so as to alter the economic,
political or legal structures or the existing social policy of Hong Kong,
investor and business confidence in Hong Kong could be negatively affected,
which in turn could negatively affect markets and business performance. In
addition, the Hong Kong dollar trades at a fixed exchange rate in relation to
(or, is “pegged” to) the U.S. dollar, which has contributed to the growth and
stability of the Hong Kong economy. However, it is uncertain how long the
currency peg will continue or what effect the establishment of an alternative
exchange rate system would have on the Hong Kong economy. Because the Fund’s NAV
is denominated in U.S.
dollars,
the establishment of an alternative exchange rate system could result in a
decline in the Fund’s NAV. These and other factors could have a negative impact
on the Fund’s performance.
Investments
in Europe.
Most developed countries in Western Europe are members of the European Union
(“EU”), and many are also members of the European Monetary Union (EMU), which
requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, and debt
levels. Unemployment in certain European nations is historically high and
several countries face significant debt problems. These conditions can
significantly affect every country in Europe. The euro is the official currency
of the EU. Funds that invest in Europe may have significant exposure to the euro
and events affecting the euro. Recent market events affecting several of the EU
member countries have adversely affected the sovereign debt issued by those
countries, and ultimately may lead to a decline in the value of the euro. A
significant decline in the value of the euro may produce unpredictable effects
on trade and commerce generally and could lead to increased volatility in
financial markets worldwide.
The
United Kingdom (UK) withdrew from the European Union (EU) on January 31, 2020
following a June 2016 referendum referred to as “Brexit.” Although the UK and EU
agreed to a trade deal in December 2020, certain post-EU arrangements, such as
those relating to the offering of cross-border financial services and sharing of
cross-border data, have yet to be reached and the EU’s willingness to grant
equivalency to the UK remains uncertain. There is significant market uncertainty
regarding Brexit’s ramifications, and the range of possible political,
regulatory, economic and market outcomes are difficult to predict. The
uncertainty surrounding the UK’s economy, and its legal, political, and economic
relationship with the remaining member states of the EU, may cause considerable
disruption in securities markets, including decreased liquidity and increased
volatility, as well as currency fluctuations in the British pound’s exchange
rate against the U.S. dollar.
The
effects of Brexit will depend, in part, on agreements the UK negotiates to
retain access to EU markets, either during a transitional period or more
permanently, including, but not limited to, current trade and finance
agreements. Brexit could lead to legal and tax uncertainty and potentially
divergent national laws and regulations, as the UK determines which EU laws to
replace or replicate. The extent of the impact of the withdrawal negotiations in
the UK and in global markets, as well as any associated adverse consequences,
remain unclear, and the uncertainty may have a significant negative effect on
the value of the Fund’s investments. If one or more other countries were to exit
the EU or abandon the use of the euro as a currency, the value of investments
tied to those countries or the euro could decline significantly and
unpredictably.
Investments
in Japan.
A significant portion of a Fund’s assets may be invested in Japanese securities.
To the extent a Fund invests in Japanese securities, it will be subject to risks
related to investing in Japan. The Japanese economy may be subject to
considerable degrees of economic, political and social instability, which could
have a negative impact on Japanese securities. Since the year 2000, Japan’s
economic growth rate has remained relatively low and it may remain low in the
future. In addition, Japan is subject to the risk of natural disasters, such as
earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons and tsunamis. Additionally, decreasing U.S.
imports, new trade regulations, changes in the U.S. dollar exchange rates, a
recession in the United States or continued increases in foreclosure rates may
have an adverse impact on the economy of Japan. Japan also has few natural
resources, and any fluctuation or shortage in the commodity markets could have a
negative impact on Japanese securities.
Investments
in Russia and other Eastern European Countries.
Many formerly communist, eastern European countries have experienced significant
political and economic reform over the past decade. However, the democratization
process is still relatively new in a number of the smaller states and political
turmoil and popular uprisings remain threats. Investments in these countries are
particularly subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks.
The risks include uncertain political and economic policies and the risk of
nationalization or expropriation of assets, short-term market volatility, poor
accounting standards, corruption and crime, an inadequate regulatory system,
unpredictable taxation, the imposition of capital controls and/or foreign
investment limitations by a country and the imposition of sanctions on an
Eastern European country by other countries, such as the United States. Adverse
currency exchange rates are a risk, and there may be a lack of available
currency hedging instruments.
These
securities markets, as compared to U.S. markets, have significant price
volatility, less liquidity, a smaller market capitalization and a smaller number
of exchange-traded securities. A limited volume of trading may result in
difficulty in obtaining accurate prices and trading. There is little publicly
available information about issuers. Settlement, clearing, and registration of
securities transactions are subject to risks because of insufficient
registration systems that may not be subject to effective government
supervision. This may result in significant delays or problems in registering
the transfer of shares. It is possible that a Fund's ownership rights could be
lost through fraud or negligence. While applicable regulations may impose
liability on registrars for losses resulting from their errors, it may be
difficult for a Fund to enforce any rights it may have against the registrar or
issuer of the securities in the event of loss of share registration.
Political
risk in Russia remains high, and steps that Russia may take to assert its
geopolitical influence may increase the tensions in the region and affect
economic growth. Russia’s economy is heavily dependent on exportation of natural
resources, which may be particularly vulnerable to economic sanctions by other
countries during times of political tension or crisis.
In
response to recent political and military actions undertaken by Russia, the
United States and certain other countries, as well as the European Union, have
instituted economic sanctions against certain Russian individuals and companies.
The political and economic situation in Russia, and the current and any future
sanctions or other government actions against Russia, may result in the decline
in the value and liquidity of Russian securities, devaluation of Russian
currency, a downgrade in Russia’s credit rating, the inability to freely trade
sanctioned companies (either due to the sanctions imposed or related operational
issues) and/or other adverse consequences to the Russian economy, any of which
could negatively impact a Fund’s investments in Russian securities. Sanctions
could result in the immediate freeze of Russian securities, impairing the
ability of a Fund to buy, sell, receive, or deliver those securities. Both the
current and potential future sanctions or other government actions against
Russia also could result in Russia taking counter measures or retaliatory
actions, which may impair further the value or liquidity of Russian securities
and negatively impact a Fund. Any or all of these potential results could lead
Russia’s economy into a recession.
Investments
in South Korea. The
South Korean government has historically imposed significant restrictions and
controls on foreign investors. As a result, the Funds may be limited in their
investments or precluded from investing in certain South Korean companies, which
may adversely affect the performance of the Funds. Investments by the Funds in
the securities of South Korean issuers may involve investment risks different
from those of U.S. issuers, including possible political, economic or social
instability in South Korea, and changes in South Korean law or regulations. In
addition, there is the possibility of the imposition of currency-exchange
controls, foreign withholding tax on the interest income payable on such
instruments, foreign controls, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits or
assets, or the adoption of other foreign government restrictions that might
adversely affect the South Korean securities held by the Funds. Political
instability and/or military conflict involving North Korea may adversely affect
the value of the Funds’ assets. Foreign securities may also be subject to
greater fluctuations in price than securities of domestic corporations or the
U.S. government. There may be less publicly available information about a South
Korean company than about a U.S. company. Brokers in South Korea may not be as
well capitalized as those in the U.S., so that they may be more susceptible to
financial failure in times of market, political or economic stress.
Additionally, South Korean accounting, auditing and financial reporting
standards and requirements differ, in some cases significantly, from those
applicable to U.S. issuers. In particular, the assets and profits appearing on
the financial statements of a South Korean issuer may not reflect its financial
position or results of operations in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles. There is a possibility of expropriation, nationalization,
confiscatory taxation or diplomatic developments that could adversely affect
investments in South Korea.
Investments
in Taiwan.
Investments in Taiwanese issuers may subject a Fund to legal, regulatory,
political, currency and economic risks that are specific to Taiwan.
Specifically, Taiwan’s geographic proximity and history of political contention
with China have resulted in ongoing tensions between the two countries. These
tensions may materially affect the Taiwanese economy and its securities market.
Taiwan’s economy is export-oriented, so it depends on an open world trade regime
and remains vulnerable to fluctuations in the world economy. The Taiwanese
economy is dependent on the economies of Asia, mainly those of Japan and China,
and the United States. Reduction in spending by any of these countries on
Taiwanese products and services or negative changes in any of these economies
may cause an adverse impact on the Taiwanese economy.
OTHER
SHORT-TERM INSTRUMENTS.
In addition to repurchase agreements, a Fund may invest in short-term
instruments, including money market instruments, on an ongoing basis to provide
liquidity or for other reasons. Money market instruments are generally
short-term investments that may include but are not limited to: (i) shares of
money market funds; (ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
government, its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored
enterprises); (iii) negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), bankers’
acceptances, fixed time deposits and other obligations of U.S. and foreign banks
(including foreign branches) and similar institutions; (iv) commercial paper
rated at the date of purchase “Prime-1” by Moody’s or “A-1” by S&P or, if
unrated, of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser, or Sub-Adviser as
applicable; (v) non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and
debentures) with remaining maturities at the date of purchase of not more than
397 days and that satisfy the rating requirements set forth in Rule 2a-7 under
the 1940 Act; and (vi) short-term U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of foreign
banks (including U.S. branches) that, in the opinion of the Adviser, or
Sub-Adviser as applicable, are of comparable quality to obligations of U.S.
banks which may be purchased by the Fund. Any of these instruments may be
purchased on a current or a forward-settled basis. Money market instruments also
include shares of money market funds. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits
maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated
interest rates. Bankers’ acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks
by borrowers, usually in connection with international
transactions.
PRC
BROKER AND PRC CUSTODIAN RISK (AFTY
only).
The Sub-Adviser is responsible for selecting a PRC Broker(s) to execute
transactions for the Fund in the PRC markets. In its selection of a PRC
Broker(s), the Sub-Adviser, will consider factors such as the competitiveness of
commission rates, size of the relevant orders and execution standards.
The
Sub-Adviser is responsible for selecting a custodian in the PRC (the “PRC
Custodian”) to maintain its assets pursuant to local Chinese laws and
regulations. According to the RQFII regulations and market practice, the
securities and cash accounts for the Fund in the PRC are to be maintained by the
PRC Custodian in the joint names of the Sub-Adviser as the RQFII holder and the
Fund. The
Fund’s
PRC Custodian is HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited. The PRC Custodian maintains
the Fund’s RMB deposit accounts and oversees each Fund’s investments in A-Shares
in the PRC to ensure their compliance with the rules and regulations of the
CSRC, the SAFE and the People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”). A-Shares that are
traded on the Shanghai or Shenzhen Stock Exchanges are dealt and held in
book-entry form through the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation
Limited (“CSDCC”).
The
assets held or credited in the Fund’s securities trading account(s) maintained
by the PRC Custodian are segregated and independent from the proprietary assets
of the PRC Custodian. However, under PRC law, cash deposited in the Fund’s cash
account(s) maintained with the PRC Custodian will not be segregated, but will be
a debt owed from the PRC Custodian to the Fund as a depositor. Such cash will be
co-mingled with cash that the PRC Custodian has received from other clients or
creditors of the PRC Custodian. In the event of bankruptcy or liquidation of the
PRC Custodian, the Fund will not have any proprietary rights to the cash
deposited in such cash account(s), and the Fund will become an unsecured
creditor, ranking pari
passu with
all other unsecured creditors, of the PRC Custodian.
There
is a risk that the Fund may suffer losses from the default, bankruptcy or
disqualification of the PRC Broker(s) or the PRC Custodian. In such event, the
Fund may be adversely affected in the execution of any transaction, face
difficulty and/or encounter delays in recovering its assets, or may not be able
to recover its assets in full or at all. The Fund may also incur losses due to
the acts or omissions of the PRC Broker(s) and/or the PRC Custodian in the
execution or settlement of any transaction or in the transfer of any funds or
securities. Subject to the applicable laws and regulations in the PRC, the
Sub-Adviser will make arrangements to ensure that the PRC Broker(s) and the PRC
Custodian have appropriate procedures to properly safe-keep the Fund’s assets.
Economic,
Political and Social Risks of the PRC —
The economy of China, which has been in a state of transition from a planned
economy to a more market oriented economy, differs from the economies of most
developed countries in many respects, including the level of government
involvement, its state of development, its growth rate, control of foreign
exchange, protection of intellectual property rights and allocation of
resources.
Although
the majority of productive assets in China are still owned by the government of
the PRC at various levels, in recent years, the PRC has implemented economic
reform measures emphasizing utilization of market forces in the development of
the economy of China and a high level of management autonomy. The economy of
China has experienced significant growth in the past 20 years, but growth has
been uneven both geographically and among various sectors of the economy.
Economic growth has also been accompanied by periods of high inflation. The PRC
has implemented various measures from time to time to control inflation and
restrain the rate of economic growth.
For
more than 20 years, the PRC has carried out economic reforms to achieve
decentralization and utilization of market forces to develop the economy of the
PRC. These reforms have resulted in significant economic growth and social
progress. There can, however, be no assurance that the PRC will continue to
pursue such economic policies or, if it does, that those policies will continue
to be successful. Any such adjustment and modification of those economic
policies may have an adverse impact on the securities market in the PRC as well
as the portfolio securities of the Fund. Further, the PRC may from time to time
adopt corrective measures to control the growth of the PRC’s economy, which may
also have an adverse impact on the capital growth and performance of the Fund.
Political changes, social instability and adverse diplomatic developments in the
PRC could result in the imposition of additional government restrictions
including expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxes or nationalization of some
or all of the property held by the underlying issuers of the Fund’s portfolio
securities.
PRC
Laws and Regulations Risk —
The regulatory and legal framework for capital markets and joint stock companies
in the PRC may not be as well developed as those of developed countries. PRC
laws and regulations affecting securities markets are relatively new and
evolving, and because of the limited volume of published cases, judicial
interpretations and their non-binding nature, interpretation and enforcement of
these regulations involve significant uncertainties. In addition, as the PRC’s
legal system develops, no assurance can be given that changes in such laws and
regulations, their interpretation or their enforcement will not have a material
adverse effect on their business operations.
Taxation
Risk —
Uncertainties in the PRC tax rules governing taxation of income and gains from
investments in A-Shares could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund.
The Fund’s investments in securities, including A-Shares, issued by PRC
companies may cause the Fund to become subject to withholding and other taxes
imposed by the PRC.
If
the Trust or the Fund were considered to be a tax resident enterprise of the
PRC, it would be subject to PRC corporate income tax at the rate of 25% on its
worldwide taxable income. If the Trust or the Fund were considered to be a
non-tax resident enterprise with a “permanent establishment” in the PRC, it
would be subject to PRC corporate income tax on the profits attributable to the
permanent establishment. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser intend to operate the Trust
and the Fund in a manner that will prevent them from being treated as tax
resident enterprises of the PRC and from having a permanent establishment in the
PRC. It is possible, however, that the PRC could disagree with that conclusion,
or that changes in PRC tax law could affect the PRC corporate income tax status
of the Trust or the Fund.
Unless
reduced or exempted by the applicable tax treaties, the PRC generally imposes
withholding income tax at the rate of 10% on dividends, premiums, interest and
capital gains originating in the PRC and paid to a company that is not a
resident of the PRC for tax purposes and that has no permanent establishment in
China. The State Administration of Taxation has confirmed the application to a
QFII of the withholding income tax on dividends, premiums and interest.
Effective as of November 17, 2014, Chinese authorities issued two circulars
(Caishui [2014] 79 and Caishui [2014] 81) clarifying the corporate income tax
policy of China with respect to QFIIs and RQFIIs and investments through the
Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program. Pursuant to the circulars, the Fund is
expected to be temporarily exempt from withholding tax on capital gains out of
trading in A-Shares. Since there is no indication how long the temporary
exemption will remain in effect, it is possible the Fund may be subject to such
withholding tax in future. If in the future China begins applying tax rules
regarding the taxation of income from A-Shares investment to QFIIs and RQFIIs or
investments through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program, and/or begins
collecting capital gains taxes on such investments, the Fund could be subject to
withholding tax liability if the Fund determines that such liability cannot be
reduced or eliminated by applicable tax treaties. The negative impact of any
such tax liability the Fund’s return could be substantial.
The
Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or the Fund may also potentially be subject to PRC
value added tax at the rate of 6% on capital gains derived from trading of
A-Shares and interest income (if any). Existing guidance provides a temporary
value added tax exemption for QFIIs and RQFIIs in respect of their gains derived
from the trading of PRC securities. Since there is no indication of how long the
temporary exemption will remain in effect, it is possible the Fund may be
subject to such value added tax in the future. In addition, urban maintenance
and construction tax (currently at rates ranging from 1% to 7%), educational
surcharge (currently at the rate of 3%) and local educational surcharge
(currently at the rate of 2%) (collectively, the “surtaxes”) are imposed based
on value added tax liabilities, so if the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or the Fund
were liable for value added tax it would also be required to pay the applicable
surtaxes.
The
PRC rules for taxation of RQFIIs and QFIIs are evolving, and the tax regulations
to be issued by the PRC State Administration of Taxation and/or PRC Ministry of
Finance to clarify the subject matter may apply retrospectively, even if such
rules are adverse to a Fund and its shareholders.
As
described below under “Taxes,” the Fund may elect, for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, to treat PRC taxes (including withholding taxes) paid by the Fund as
paid by its shareholders. Even if a Fund is qualified to make that election and
does so, however, your ability to claim a credit for certain PRC taxes may be
limited under general U.S. tax principles.
RMB
Exchange Controls and Restrictions Risk —
It should be noted that the RMB is currently not a freely convertible currency
as it is subject to foreign exchange control policies and repatriation
restrictions imposed by the PRC government. There is no assurance that there
will always be RMB available in sufficient amounts for the Fund to remain fully
invested. Since 1994, the conversion of RMB into U.S. dollars has been based on
rates set by the PBOC, which are set daily based on the previous day’s PRC
interbank foreign exchange market rate. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government
introduced a managed floating exchange rate system to allow the value of RMB to
fluctuate within a regulated band based on market supply and demand and by
reference to a basket of currencies. In addition, a market maker system was
introduced to the interbank spot foreign exchange market. In July 2008, China
announced that its exchange rate regime was further transformed into a managed
floating mechanism based on market supply and demand. Given the domestic and
overseas economic developments, the PBOC decided to further improve the RMB
exchange rate regime in June 2010 to enhance the flexibility of the RMB exchange
rate. In March 2014, the PBOC decided to take a further step to increase the
flexibility of the RMB exchange rate by expanding the daily trading band from
+/-1% to +/-2%.
However,
it should be noted that the PRC government’s policies on exchange control and
repatriation restrictions are subject to change, and any such change may
adversely impact the Fund. There can be no assurance that the RMB exchange rate
will not fluctuate widely against the U.S. dollar or any other foreign currency
in the future. Foreign exchange transactions under the capital account,
including principal payments in respect of foreign currency-denominated
obligations, currently continue to be subject to significant foreign exchange
controls and require the approval of the SAFE. On the other hand, the existing
PRC foreign exchange regulations have significantly reduced government foreign
exchange controls for transactions under the current account, including trade-
and service-related foreign exchange transactions and payment of dividends.
Nevertheless, the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser cannot predict whether the PRC
government will continue its existing foreign exchange policy, or when the PRC
government will allow free conversion of the RMB to foreign currency.
RMB
Trading and Settlement Risk —
The trading and settlement of RMB-denominated securities are recent developments
in Hong Kong, and there is no assurance that problems will not be encountered
with the systems or that other logistical problems will not arise.
Future
Movements in RMB Exchange Rates Risk —
The exchange rate of RMB ceased to be pegged to U.S. dollars on July 21,
2005, resulting in a more flexible RMB exchange rate system. The China Foreign
Exchange Trading System, authorized
by
the PBOC, promulgates the central parity rate of RMB against U.S. dollars,
Euros, Yen, pounds sterling and Hong Kong dollars at 9:15 a.m. on each business
day, which will be the daily central parity rate for transactions on the
Inter-bank Spot Foreign Exchange Market and over-the-counter transactions of
banks. The exchange rate of RMB against the above-mentioned currencies
fluctuates within a range above or below such central parity rate. As the
exchange rates are based primarily on market forces, the exchange rates for RMB
against other currencies, including U.S. dollars and Hong Kong dollars, are
susceptible to movements based on external factors. There can be no assurance
that such exchange rates will not fluctuate widely against U.S. dollars, Hong
Kong dollars or any other foreign currency in the future. From 1994 to July
2005, the exchange rate for RMB against the U.S. dollar and the Hong Kong dollar
was relatively stable. Since July 2005, the appreciation of RMB has begun to
accelerate. But since August 2015, the depreciation of RMB has begun to
accelerate. Although the PRC government has constantly reiterated its intention
to maintain the stability of RMB, it may introduce measures (such as a reduction
in the rate of export tax refund) to address the concerns of the PRC’s trading
partners. Therefore, the possibility that the depreciation of RMB will be
further accelerated cannot be dismissed. On the other hand, there can be no
assurance that RMB will not be subject to appreciation.
Offshore
RMB Market Risk —
The onshore RMB (“CNY”) is the only official currency of the PRC and is used in
all financial transactions between individuals, state and corporations in the
PRC. Hong Kong is the first jurisdiction to allow accumulation of RMB deposits
outside the PRC. Since June 2010, the offshore RMB (“CNH”) is traded officially,
regulated jointly by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the PBOC. While both
CNY and CNH represent RMB, they are traded in different and separated markets.
The two RMB markets operate independently where the flow between them is highly
restricted. Though the CNH is a proxy of the CNY, they do not necessarily have
the same exchange rate and their movement may not be in the same direction. This
is because these currencies act in separate jurisdictions, which leads to
separate supply and demand conditions for each, and therefore separate but
related currency markets.
Currently,
the amount of RMB-denominated financial assets outside the PRC is limited. As of
the end of October 2017, the total amount of RMB (CNH) deposits held by
institutions authorized to engage in RMB banking business in Hong Kong amounted
to approximately RMB 540 billion. In addition, participating authorized
institutions are also required by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to maintain a
total amount of RMB (in the form of cash and its settlement account balance with
a Renminbi clearing bank) of no less than 25% of their RMB deposits, which
further limits the availability of RMB that participating authorized
institutions can utilize for conversion services for their customers such as the
Fund. RMB business participating banks do not have direct RMB liquidity support
from PBOC. Only the Renminbi clearing bank has access to onshore liquidity
support from PBOC (subject to annual and quarterly quotas imposed by PBOC) to
square open positions of participating banks for limited types of transactions,
including open positions resulting from conversion services for corporations
relating to cross-border trade settlement and for individual customers of up to
RMB20,000 per Hong Kong resident person per day. The Renminbi clearing bank is
not obliged to square for participating banks any open positions resulting from
other foreign exchange transactions or conversion services, and the
participating banks will need to source RMB (CNH) from the offshore market to
square such open positions. Although it is expected that the offshore RMB (CNH)
market will continue to grow in depth and size, its growth is subject to many
constraints as a result of PRC laws and regulations on foreign exchange. There
is no assurance that new PRC regulations will not be promulgated or that the
Settlement Agreement will not be terminated or amended in the future which will
have the effect of restricting availability of RMB (CNH) offshore.
REAL
ESTATE SECTOR.
Companies in the real estate sector include companies that invest in real
estate, such as a REIT or a real estate holding company (collectively, “Real
Estate Companies”). Investing in Real Estate Companies exposes investors to the
risks of owning real estate directly, as well as to risks that relate
specifically to the way in which Real Estate Companies are organized and
operated. The real estate industry is highly sensitive to general and local
economic conditions and developments, and characterized by intense competition
and periodic overbuilding. Investing in Real Estate Companies involves various
risks. Some risks that are specific to Real Estate Companies are discussed in
greater detail below.
Interest
Rate Risk.
Rising interest rates could result in higher costs of capital for Real Estate
Companies, which could negatively impact a Real Estate Company’s ability to meet
its payment obligations. Declining interest rates could result in increased
prepayment on loans and require redeployment of capital in less desirable
investments.
Leverage
Risk.
Real Estate Companies may use leverage (and some may be highly leveraged), which
increases investment risk and could adversely affect a Real Estate Company’s
operations and market value in periods of rising interest rates. Real Estate
Companies are also exposed to the risks normally associated with debt financing.
Financial covenants related to a Real Estate Company’s leverage may affect the
ability of the Real Estate Company to operate effectively. In addition, real
property may be subject to the quality of credit extended and defaults by
borrowers and tenants. If the properties do not generate sufficient income to
meet operating expenses, including, where applicable, debt service, ground lease
payments, tenant improvements, third-party leasing commissions and other capital
expenditures, the income and ability of a Real Estate Company to make payments
of any interest and principal on its debt securities will be adversely
affected.
Loan
Foreclosure Risk. Real
Estate Companies may foreclose on loans that the Real Estate Company originated
or acquired. Foreclosure may generate negative publicity for the underlying
property that affects its market value. In addition to length and expense,
foreclosure proceedings may not fully uphold the validity of all of the terms of
the applicable loan. Claims and defenses asserted by borrowers or other lenders
may interfere with the enforcement of rights by a Real Estate Company. Parallel
proceedings, such as bankruptcy, may also delay resolution and limit the amount
of recovery on a foreclosed loan by a Real Estate Company even where the
property underlying the loan is liquidated.
Property
Risk. Real
Estate Companies may be subject to risks relating to functional obsolescence or
reduced desirability of properties; extended vacancies due to economic
conditions and tenant bankruptcies; catastrophic events such as earthquakes,
hurricanes and terrorist acts; and casualty or condemnation losses. Real estate
income and values also may be greatly affected by demographic trends, such as
population shifts or changing tastes and values, or increasing vacancies or
declining rents resulting from legal, cultural, technological, global or local
economic developments.
Distressed
Investment Risk.
Real Estate Companies may invest in distressed, defaulted or out-of-favor bank
loans. Identification and implementation by a Real Estate Company of loan
modification and restructure programs involves a high degree of uncertainty.
Even successful implementation may still require adverse compromises and may not
prevent bankruptcy. Real Estate Companies may also invest in other debt
instruments that may become non-performing, including the securities of
companies with higher credit and market risk due to financial or operational
difficulties. Higher risk securities may be less liquid and more volatile than
the securities of companies not in distress.
Underlying
Investment Risk. Real
Estate Companies make investments in a variety of debt and equity instruments
with varying risk profiles. For instance, Real Estate Companies may invest in
debt instruments secured by commercial property that have high risks of
delinquency and foreclosure than loans on single family homes due to a variety
of factors associated with commercial property, including the tie between income
available to service debt and productive use of the property. Real Estate
Companies may also invest in debt instruments and preferred equity that are
junior in an issuer’s capital structure and that involve privately negotiated
structures. Subordinated debt investments, such as B-Notes and mezzanine loans,
involve a greater credit risk of default due to the need to service more senior
debt of the issuer. Similarly, preferred equity investments involve a greater
risk of loss than conventional debt financing due to their non-collateralized
nature and subordinated ranking. Investments in commercial mortgage-backed
securities may also be junior in priority in the event of bankruptcy or similar
proceedings. Investments in senior loans may be effectively subordinated if the
senior loan is pledged as collateral. The ability of a holder of junior claims
to proceed against a defaulting issuer is circumscribed by the terms of the
particular contractual arrangement, which vary considerably from transaction to
transaction.
Management
Risk. Real
Estate Companies are dependent upon management skills and may have limited
financial resources. Real Estate Companies are generally not diversified and may
be subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and voluntary
liquidation. In addition, transactions between Real Estate Companies and their
affiliates may be subject to conflicts of interest, which may adversely affect a
Real Estate Company’s shareholders. A Real Estate Company may also have joint
venture investments in certain of its properties, and, consequently, its ability
to control decisions relating to such properties may be limited.
Liquidity
Risk. Investing
in Real Estate Companies may involve risks similar to those associated with
investing in small-capitalization companies. Real Estate Company securities,
like the securities of small-capitalization companies, may be more volatile
than, and perform differently from, shares of large-capitalization companies.
There may be less trading in Real Estate Company shares, which means that buy
and sell transactions in those shares could have a magnified impact on share
price, resulting in abrupt or erratic price fluctuations. In addition, real
estate is relatively illiquid, and, therefore, a Real Estate Company may have a
limited ability to vary or liquidate properties in response to changes in
economic or other conditions.
Concentration
Risk. Real
Estate Companies may own a limited number of properties and concentrate their
investments in a particular geographic region or property type. Economic
downturns affecting a particular region, industry or property type may lead to a
high volume of defaults within a short period.
U.S.
Tax Risk. Certain
U.S. Real Estate Companies are subject to special U.S. federal tax requirements.
A REIT that fails to comply with such tax requirements may be subject to U.S.
federal income taxation, which may affect the value of the REIT and the
characterization of the REIT’s distributions. The U.S. federal tax requirement
that a REIT distribute substantially all of its net income to its shareholders
may result in a REIT having insufficient capital for future expenditures. A REIT
that successfully maintains its qualification may still become subject to U.S.
federal, state and local taxes, including excise, penalty, franchise, payroll,
mortgage recording, and transfer taxes, both directly and indirectly through its
subsidiaries.
Regulatory
Risk. Real
estate income and values may be adversely affected by such factors as applicable
domestic and foreign laws (including tax laws). Government actions, such as tax
increases, zoning law changes or environmental regulations, also may have a
major impact on real estate. In addition, quarterly compliance with regulation
limiting the proportion of asset types held by a REIT may force certain Real
Estate Companies to liquidate or restructure otherwise attractive
investments.
REAL
ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS. The
Funds may invest in the securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) to
the extent allowed by law. Risks associated with investments in securities of
REITs include decline in the value of real estate, risks related to general and
local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in
property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or
condemnation losses, variations in rental income, changes in neighborhood
values, the appeal of properties to tenants, and increases in interest rates.
REITs are dependent upon management skills, may not be diversified and are
subject to the risks of financing projects. If an issuer of debt securities
collateralized by real estate defaults, it is conceivable that the REITs could
end up holding the underlying real estate. A REIT is a corporation or business
trust (that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation) which meets the
definitional requirements of the Code. The Code permits a qualifying REIT to
deduct from taxable income the dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating
corporate level federal income tax. To meet the definitional requirements of the
Code, a REIT must, among other things: invest substantially all of its assets in
interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs), cash and
government securities; derive most of its income from rents from real property
or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property; and, in general,
distribute annually 90% or more of its taxable income (other than net capital
gains) to shareholders.
REITs
are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An
Equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of
land and buildings (e.g.,
commercial equity REITs and residential equity REITs); a Mortgage REIT invests
primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction,
development or long-term loans.
REITs
may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an
exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which the Fund invests may
concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types.
Additionally, rising interest rates may cause investors in REITs to demand a
higher annual yield from future distributions, which may in turn decrease market
prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also
generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value
of the Fund’s investments to decline. During periods of declining interest
rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to
prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such
Mortgage REITs. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of
borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may
be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent.
Certain
REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase
the volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs.
Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have
limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in
operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs
indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her
proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar
expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate
cashflow to make distributions to shareholders.
In
addition to these risks, Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of
the underlying property owned by the trusts, while Mortgage REITs may be
affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, Equity and Mortgage
REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified.
Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cashflow dependency defaults
by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, Equity and Mortgage REITs could
possibly fail to qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment
generally available to REITs under the Code or fail to maintain their exemptions
from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely
affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT.
In the event of default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays
in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs
associated with protecting its investments.
REPURCHASE
AGREEMENTS. Each
Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with counterparties that are deemed to
present acceptable credit risks. A repurchase agreement is a transaction in
which a Fund purchases securities or other obligations from a bank or securities
dealer (or its affiliate) and simultaneously commits to resell them to a
counterparty at an agreed-upon date or upon demand and at a price reflecting a
market rate of interest unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the
purchased obligations. A Fund maintains custody of the underlying obligations
prior to their repurchase, either through its regular custodian or through a
special “tri-party” custodian or sub-custodian that maintains separate accounts
for both the Fund and its counterparty. Thus, the obligation of the counterparty
to pay the repurchase price on the date agreed to or upon demand is, in effect,
secured by such obligations.
Repurchase
agreements carry certain risks not associated with direct investments in
securities, including a possible decline in the market value of the underlying
obligations. If their value becomes less than the repurchase price, plus any
agreed-upon additional amount, the counterparty must provide additional
collateral so that at all times the collateral is at least equal to the
repurchase price plus any agreed- upon additional amount. The difference between
the total amount to be received upon repurchase of the obligations and the price
that was paid by the Fund upon acquisition is accrued as interest and included
in its net investment income. Repurchase agreements involving obligations other
than U.S. Government securities (such as commercial paper and corporate bonds)
may be subject to special risks and may not have the benefit of certain
protections in the event of the counterparty’s insolvency. If the seller or
guarantor becomes insolvent, the Fund may suffer delays, costs and possible
losses in connection with the disposition of collateral.
REVERSE
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The
Funds may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of
securities held by a Fund subject to its agreement to repurchase the securities
at an agreed-upon date or upon demand and at a price reflecting a market rate of
interest. Reverse repurchase agreements are subject to a Fund’s limitation on
borrowings and may be entered into only with banks or securities dealers or
their affiliates. While a reverse repurchase agreement is outstanding, a Fund
will maintain the segregation, either on its records or with the Trust’s
custodian, of cash or other liquid securities, marked-to-market daily, in an
amount at least equal to its obligations under the reverse repurchase agreement.
Reverse
repurchase agreements involve the risk that the buyer of the securities sold by
a Fund might be unable to deliver them when that Fund seeks to repurchase. If
the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for
bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the buyer or trustee or receiver may receive an
extension of time to determine whether to enforce a Fund’s obligation to
repurchase the securities, and the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the reverse
repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending such decision.
SECURITIES
LENDING. Each
Fund may lend portfolio securities to certain creditworthy borrowers, including
the Fund’s securities lending agent. Loans of portfolio securities provide a
Fund with the opportunity to earn additional income on the Fund’s portfolio
securities. All securities loans will be made pursuant to agreements requiring
the loans to be continuously secured by collateral in cash, or money market
instruments, or money market funds at least equal at all times to the market
value of the loaned securities. The borrower pays to the Fund an amount equal to
any dividends or interest received on loaned securities. The Fund retains all or
a portion of the interest received on investment of cash collateral or receives
a fee from the borrower. Lending portfolio securities involves risks of delay in
recovery of the loaned securities or in some cases loss of rights in the
collateral should the borrower fail financially. Furthermore, because of the
risks of delay in recovery, the Fund may lose the opportunity to sell the
securities at a desirable price. The Fund will generally not have the right to
vote securities while they are being loaned.
SHORT
SALES (FLRT
only).
The Fund may engage regularly in short sales transactions in which the Fund
sells a security it does not own. To complete such a transaction, the Fund must
borrow or otherwise obtain the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund
then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at
the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more
or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. Until the
security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to
any dividends or interest, which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow
the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would
increase the cost of the security sold. The Fund may also use repurchase
agreements to satisfy delivery obligations in short sales transactions. The
proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent
necessary to meet the margin requirements, until the short position is closed
out. Any short sales conducted by the Fund will comply with the requirements of
Rule 18f-4 of the 1940 Act.
TAX
RISKS.
As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in Shares will
be taxed. The tax information in the Prospectus and this SAI is provided as
general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax
consequences of an investment in Shares.
The
Funds invest in partnerships that elect to be classified as corporations for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such entities are required to pay U.S. federal
income tax on its taxable income. This has the effect of reducing the amount of
cash available for distribution to a Fund, which may result in a reduction of
the value of your investment in the Fund, as compared to if such entity were not
taxed as a corporation.
Unless
your investment in Shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-deferred
retirement account, such as an individual retirement account, you need to be
aware of the possible tax consequences when the Fund makes distributions or you
sell Shares.
U.S.
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. A
Fund may invest in U.S. government securities to the extent consistent with its
investment objective and strategies. Not all U.S. government obligations carry
the same credit support. Although many U.S. government securities in which the
fund may invest, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may be
chartered or sponsored by Acts of Congress, their securities are neither issued
nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and, therefore, are not backed by the full
faith and credit of the United States. Some, such as those of Ginnie Mae, are
supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations,
such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the
issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; and others are supported by the
discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s
obligations. Still others are supported only by the credit of the
instrumentality or sponsored enterprise. The maximum potential liability of the
issuers of some U.S. government securities held by the fund may greatly exceed
their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S.
Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet
their payment obligations in the future. No assurance can be given that the U.S.
government would provide financial support to its agencies, instrumentalities or
sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
As
agency of the U.S. government has placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into
conservatorship, a statutory process with the objective of returning the
entities to normal business operations. It is unclear what effect this
conservatorship will have on the securities issued
or
guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. As a result, these securities are
subject to more credit risk than U.S. government securities that are supported
by the full faith and credit of the United States (e.g.,
U.S. Treasury bonds).
To
the extent a Fund invests in debt instruments or securities of non-U.S.
government entities that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States, there is a possibility that such guarantee may be discontinued or
modified at a later date.
The
total public debt of the United States as a percentage of gross domestic product
has grown rapidly since the beginning of the 2008‑2009 financial downturn and is
expected to grow even greater as a result of efforts to support the U.S. economy
during the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in 2020. Although high debt levels do not
necessarily indicate or cause economic problems, they may create certain
systemic risks if sound debt management practices are not implemented. A high
national debt can raise concerns that the U.S. government will not be able to
make principal or interest payments when they are due. This increase has also
necessitated the need for the U.S. Congress to negotiate adjustments to the
statutory debt ceiling to increase the cap on the amount the U.S. government is
permitted to borrow to meet its existing obligations and finance current budget
deficits. In August 2011, S&P lowered its long term sovereign credit rating
on the U.S. In explaining the downgrade at that time, S&P cited, among other
reasons, controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling and growth in
public spending. Any controversy or ongoing uncertainty regarding the statutory
debt ceiling negotiations may impact the U.S. long-term sovereign credit rating
and may cause market uncertainty. As a result, market prices and yields of
securities supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government may be
adversely affected. Increased government spending in response to COVID-19 can
cause the national debt to rise higher, which could heighten these associated
risks.
FUTURE
DEVELOPMENTS.
The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) may, in the future, authorize a Fund
to invest in securities contracts and investments other than those listed in
this SAI and in the Fund’s Prospectus, provided they are consistent with the
Fund’s investment objective and do not violate any investment restrictions or
policies.
INVESTMENT
LIMITATIONS
The
Trust has adopted the following investment restrictions as fundamental policies
with respect to the Funds. These restrictions cannot be changed with respect to
a Fund without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s
outstanding voting securities. For the purposes of the 1940 Act, a “majority of
outstanding shares” means the vote of the lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the
voting securities of the Fund present at the meeting if the holders of more than
50% of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are present or represented by
proxy; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund.
Except
with the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, each Fund
(other than
TRPL and
QDPL) may not:
1.Concentrate
its investments (i.e.,
hold more than 25% of its total assets) in any industry or group of related
industries, except that the Fund will concentrate to approximately the same
extent that its Index concentrates in the securities of such particular industry
or group of related industries. For purposes of this limitation, securities of
the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), registered
investment companies, repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government
securities and tax-exempt securities of state or municipal governments and their
political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any
industry.
Except
with the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, each of
TRPL and QDPL may not:
1.Concentrate
its investments (i.e.,
hold more than 25% of its total assets) in any industry or group of related
industries. For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. government
(including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements
collateralized by U.S. government securities, registered investment companies,
and tax-exempt securities of state or municipal governments and their political
subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any
industry.
In
addition, except with the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities, each Fund (other than FLRT) may not:
2.Borrow
money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except to the
extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
3.Make
loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
4.Purchase
or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or
other instruments, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act. This shall
not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by
real estate, real estate investment trusts or securities of companies engaged in
the real estate business.
5.Purchase
or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of
securities or other instruments, except to the extent permitted under the 1940
Act. This shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options and
futures contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by
physical commodities.
6.Underwrite
securities issued by other persons, except to the extent permitted under the
1940 Act.
7.Each
Diversified Fund will not, with respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase the
securities of any one issuer if, immediately after and as a result of such
purchase, (a) the value of the Fund’s holdings in the securities of such issuer
exceeds 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets, or (b) the Fund owns more
than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer (with the exception
that this restriction does not apply to the Fund’s investments in the securities
of the U.S. government, or its agencies or instrumentalities, or other
investment companies).
With
respect to FLRT, the Trust has adopted the following investment restrictions as
fundamental policies with respect to the Fund. These restrictions cannot be
changed with respect to the Fund without the approval of the holders of a
majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. For the purposes of the
1940 Act, a “majority of outstanding shares” means the vote of the lesser of:
(1) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Fund present at the meeting if
the holders of more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are
present or represented by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund.
Under
these restrictions:
1.FLRT
may not make loans, except that the Fund may: (i) lend portfolio securities;
(ii) enter into repurchase agreements; (iii) purchase all or a portion of an
issue of debt securities, bank loan or participation interests, bank
certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, debentures or other securities,
whether or not the purchase is made upon the original issuance of the
securities; and (iv) participate in an interfund lending program with other
registered investment companies;
2.FLRT
may not borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted
or modified by regulation from time to time;
3.FLRT
may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as
interpreted or modified by regulation from time to time;
4.FLRT
may not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may: (i) invest in
securities of issuers that invest in real estate or interests therein; (ii)
invest in mortgage-related securities and other securities that are secured by
real estate or interests therein; and (iii) hold and sell real estate acquired
by the Fund as a result of the ownership of securities;
5.FLRT
may not engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others,
except to the extent that the Fund may be considered an underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act, in the disposition of restricted securities or in
connection with its investments in other investment companies;
6.FLRT
may not purchase or sell commodities, unless acquired as a result of owning
securities or other instruments, but it may purchase, sell or enter into
financial options and futures, forward and spot currency contracts, swap
transactions and other financial contracts or derivative instruments and may
invest in securities or other instruments backed by commodities;
and
7.FLRT
may not purchase any security if, as a result of that purchase, more than 25% of
the Fund net assets would be invested in securities of issuers having their
principal business activities in the same industry or group of industries. This
limit does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government,
its agencies or instrumentalities.
In
addition to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies as set
forth above, the Funds observe the following non-fundamental
restrictions,
which may be changed without a shareholder vote.
1.Each
Fund will not hold illiquid investments in excess of 15% of its net assets. An
illiquid investment is any investment that the 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
investment.
2.Under
normal circumstances, at least 80% of PTBD’s net assets, plus borrowings for
investment purposes, will be invested in bonds denominated in U.S.
dollars.
3.Under
normal circumstances, ALTL and PALC will invest at least 80% of its net assets,
plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of
large cap companies. The Fund considers a company to be a “large cap company” at
the time of purchase if it was included in the S&P 500 at any time
within the prior twelve months.
4.Under
normal circumstances, PAMC will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the
amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of mid cap
companies. The Fund considers a company to be a “mid cap company” at the time of
purchase if it was included in the S&P MidCap 400 at any time within the
prior twelve months.
5.Under
normal circumstances, ROOM will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the
amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in companies in the hotel and
lodging real estate sector. The Fund defines the hotel and lodging real estate
sector as consisting of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues or
profits from owning or managing hotels, motels, resorts, or other lodging
properties that rent space to guests.
6.Under
normal circumstances, PAD will invest at least 80% of the value of its net
assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in companies
in the apartments and residential real estate sector. The Fund defines the
apartments and residential real estate sector as consisting of companies that
derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from owning or managing
apartment buildings, student housing, manufactured homes, and single-family
homes.
7.Under
normal circumstances, RXRE will invest at least 80% of the value of its net
assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in companies
in the healthcare real estate sector. The Fund defines the healthcare real
estate sector as consisting of companies that derive at least 50% of their
revenues or profits from owning or managing healthcare real estate (e.g., senior
living facilities, hospitals, medical office buildings, skilled nursing
facilities).
8.Under
normal circumstances, INDS will invest at least 80% of the value of its net
assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in companies
the industrial real estate sector. The Fund defines the industrial real estate
sector as consisting of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues or
profits from owning or managing land or buildings used for industrial purposes
(e.g., warehouses, distribution facilities, storage or self-storage
facilities).
9.Under
normal circumstances, SRVR will invest at least 80% of the value of its net
assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in companies
the data and infrastructure real estate sector. The Fund defines the data and
infrastructure real estate sector as consisting of companies that derive at
least 50% of their revenues or profits from owning or managing real estate used
to store, compute, or transmit large amounts of data (e.g., data centers,
communications towers).
10.Under
normal circumstances, FLRT will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any
borrowings for investment purposes) in senior secured floating rate loans and
other adjustable rate securities. Other adjustable rate securities will
typically include collateralized loan obligations, asset-backed securities, and
commercial mortgage backed securities (collectively, “Adjustable Rate
Securities”). The Fund may not purchase any security if, as a result of that
purchase, more than 25% of the Fund net assets would be invested in securities
of issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry or
group of industries. This limit does not apply to securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities.
11.Under
normal circumstances, at least 80% of TRPL and QDPL’s net assets, plus
borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in large cap equity
securities that are principally traded in the United States and derivatives
based on those securities. The
Funds define “equity securities” to mean common and preferred stocks, rights,
warrants, depositary receipts, and ETFs. Additionally, the Funds define “large
cap” to mean a company included in the S&P 500 Index.
12.Under
normal circumstances, at least 80% of the SHPP’s net assets (plus any borrowings
for investment purposes) will be invested in companies in Industrials and
Logistics companies.
13.Under
normal circumstances, COWG will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the
amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of large cap
companies that are principally traded in the United States. The Fund considers a
company to be a “large cap company” at the time of purchase if it was included
in the Russell 1000 Index at any time within the prior twelve
months.
14.With
the exception of PTNQ, PWS, VIRS, SZNE, ROOM, RXRE, INDS, SRVR, PAD, PALC, ALTL,
PAMC, and PTBD, each Fund has adopted a policy to invest, under normal
circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s total assets (exclusive of collateral
held from securities lending) in the component securities of its Index. In
addition to investments in the component securities of the applicable Index, the
following investments will count towards such 80% policy:
i.investments
that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the
economic characteristics of such component securities (e.g.,
depositary receipts);
ii.ETFs
that seek to track the performance of some or all of the component securities of
the applicable Index in the same approximate weight as such component
securities; and
iii.if
one or more component securities are other ETFs (“Underlying ETFs”), the
underlying holdings of such Underlying ETFs in the same approximate weight as
such holdings are assigned in the applicable Underlying ETF, adjusted to reflect
the weight of such Underlying ETF in the Fund’s Index (i.e., a Fund that is a
fund-of-funds may invest in either the Underlying ETFs comprising the Fund’s
Index or directly in such Underlying ETFs’ underlying holdings).
If
a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment or contract, a
later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or
total or net assets will not result in a violation of such restriction, except
with respect to the borrowing of money. With respect to the limitation on
illiquid securities, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or
other circumstances cause a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take
steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the
limitations as soon as reasonably practicable. With respect to the limitation on
borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net
assets
or other circumstances cause a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take
steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations
within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).
PORTFOLIO
HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The
Trust’s Board of Trustees has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of
information about the Funds’ security holdings. As exchange-traded funds,
information about each Fund’s portfolio holdings is made available on a daily
basis in accordance with the provisions of an Order of the SEC applicable to the
Funds, regulations of the Exchange and other applicable SEC regulations, orders
and no-action relief. Such information typically reflects all or a portion of
each Fund’s anticipated portfolio holdings as of the next Business Day. A
“Business Day” is any day on which the Exchange is open for business. As of the
date of this SAI, the Exchange observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day,
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day
(observed), Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. This information is used in connection with
the creation and redemption process and is disseminated on a daily basis through
the Exchange, the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) and/or
third-party service providers.
The
Funds will disclose on their website at the start of each Business Day the
identities and quantities of the securities and other assets held by each Fund
that will form the basis of the Fund’s calculation of its NAV on that Business
Day. The portfolio holdings so disclosed will be based on information as of the
close of business on the prior Business Day and/or trades that have been
completed prior to the opening of business on that Business Day and that are
expected to settle on that Business Day.
Each
Fund may disclose its complete portfolio holdings or a portion of its portfolio
holdings online at www.PacerETFs.com. Each Fund will disclose its complete
portfolio holdings schedule in public filings with the SEC on a quarterly basis,
based on the Fund’s fiscal year, within sixty (60) days of the end of the
quarter, and will provide that information to shareholders, as required by
federal securities laws and regulations thereunder.
The
Trust’s portfolio holdings policy provides that neither the Funds nor their
Adviser, Sub-Advisers, distributor or any agent, or any employee thereof (“Fund
Representative”) will disclose a Fund’s portfolio holdings information to any
person other than in accordance with the policy. For purposes of the policy,
“portfolio holdings information” means a Fund’s non-public actual portfolio
holdings, as well as non-public information about its trading strategies or
pending transactions including the portfolio holdings, trading strategies or
pending transactions of any commingled fund portfolio which contains identical
holdings as the Fund. Under the policy, neither a Fund nor any Fund
Representative may solicit or accept any compensation or other consideration in
connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information. A Fund
Representative may provide portfolio holdings information to third parties if
such information has been included in a Fund’s public filings with the SEC or is
disclosed on the Fund’s publicly accessible website. Information posted on a
Fund’s website may be separately provided to any person commencing the day after
it is first published on the Fund’s website.
Under
the policy, each business day each Fund’s portfolio holdings information will be
provided to the distributor or other agent for dissemination through the
facilities of the NSCC and/or other fee based subscription services to NSCC
members and/or subscribers to those other fee based subscription services,
including Authorized Participants (defined below), and to entities that publish
and/or analyze such information in connection with the process of purchasing or
redeeming Creation Units or trading Shares of Funds in the secondary market. The
distributor may also make available portfolio holdings information to other
institutional market participants and entities that provide information
services. This information typically reflects each Fund’s anticipated holdings
on the following business day. “Authorized Participants” are generally large
institutional investors that have been authorized by the distributor to purchase
and redeem large blocks of Shares (known as Creation Units) pursuant to legal
requirements, including the exemptive order granted by the SEC, to which the
Funds offer and redeem Shares.
Other
than portfolio holdings information made available in connection with the
creation/redemption process, as discussed above, portfolio holdings information
that is not filed with the SEC or posted on the publicly available website may
be provided to third parties only in limited circumstances. Third-party
recipients will be required to keep all portfolio holdings information
confidential and prohibited from trading on the information they receive.
Disclosure to such third parties must be approved in advance by the Trust’s
President or one of the principal officers of the Adviser. Disclosure to
providers of auditing, custody, proxy voting and other similar services for the
Funds, as well as rating and ranking organizations, will generally be permitted;
however, information may be disclosed to other parties (including, without
limitation, individuals, institutional investors, and Authorized Participants
that sell Shares of a Fund) only upon approval by the Trust’s President or one
of the principal officers of the Adviser, who must first determine that the Fund
has a legitimate business purpose for doing so. In general, each recipient of
non-public portfolio holding information must sign a confidentiality and
non-trading agreement, although this requirement will not apply when the
recipient is otherwise subject to a duty of confidentiality as determined by the
Trust’s President or one of the principal officers of the Adviser.
CONTINUOUS
OFFERING
The
method by which Creation Unit Aggregations of Shares are created and traded may
raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Unit
Aggregations of Shares are issued and sold on an ongoing basis, at any point a
“distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act, may occur.
Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their
part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed
participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory
underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery requirement and
liability provisions of the Securities Act.
For
example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory
underwriter if it takes Creation Unit Aggregations after placing an order with
the Trust’s Distributor, breaks them down into constituent Shares, and sells
such Shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a
supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of
secondary market demand for Shares. A determination of whether one is an
underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the
facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its
client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be
considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a
categorization as an underwriter.
Broker-dealer
firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are affecting
transactions in Shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of
Shares, generally are required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the
prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act is
not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d)
of the 1940 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect
to Shares of a Fund are reminded that, pursuant to Rule 153 under the Securities
Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the
Securities Act owed to an exchange member in connection with the sale on the
Listing Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available at
the Listing Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in
Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an
exchange.
MANAGEMENT
OF THE TRUST
Board
Responsibilities.
The management and affairs of the Trust and its series are overseen by a Board
of Trustees. The Board elects the officers of the Trust who are responsible for
administering the day-to-day operations of the Trust and the Funds. The Board
has approved contracts, as described below, under which certain companies
provide essential services to the Trust.
Like
most ETFs, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of
risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, the
Sub-Advisers, the Distributor and the Administrator. The Trustees are
responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have
oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those
service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks,
i.e.,
events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the
business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation
of the Funds. The Funds and their service providers employ a variety of
processes, procedures and controls to identify various of those possible events
or circumstances, in an attempt to lessen the probability of their occurrence
and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur.
Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the
Trust’s business (e.g.,
the Adviser, or applicable Sub-Adviser, is responsible for the day-to-day
management of the Funds’ portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing
the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the Funds’
service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.
The
Board’s role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a Fund, at which
time certain of the Fund’s service providers present the Board with information
concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the Fund as well
as proposed investment limitations for the Fund. Additionally, the Adviser and
Sub-Advisers provide the Board with an overview of, among other things, its
investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure.
Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel,
including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the
Adviser, and other service providers such as the Fund’s independent accountants,
make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to
various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee
efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which a Fund may
be exposed.
The
Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent, and quality of the
services provided to the Funds by the Adviser and Sub-Advisers and receives
information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an
annual basis, (following the initial two-year period for new Funds), in
connection with its consideration of whether to renew the Investment Advisory
Agreements with the Adviser, and Sub-Advisory Agreements with the Sub-Advisers,
the Board meets with the Adviser and/or Sub-Advisers to review such services.
Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser’s adherence to the
Funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various Fund policies and
procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews
information about each Fund’s performance and the Fund’s investments, including,
for example, portfolio holdings schedules.
The
Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and
discuss compliance issues and Fund and Adviser risk assessments. At least
annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the
Adviser, provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and
effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service
providers, including the Adviser and Sub-Advisers. The report addresses the
operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider
since
the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures
since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to
the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date
of the last report.
The
Board receives reports from the Funds’ service providers regarding operational
risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities.
Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the
Audit Committee its audit of each Fund’s financial statements, focusing on major
areas of risk encountered by the Fund and noting any significant deficiencies or
material weaknesses in the Fund’s internal controls. Additionally, in connection
with its oversight function, the Board oversees Fund management’s implementation
of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with
the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required
time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over
financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust’s financial
reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements.
From
their review of these reports and discussions with the Adviser, the
Sub-Advisers, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public
accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee
learn in detail about the material risks of each Fund, thereby facilitating a
dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those
risks.
The
Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect a Fund can be identified
and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate
or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such
as investment-related risks) to achieve a Fund’s goals, and that the processes,
procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in
their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk
management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of
the Funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or
through the Adviser, Sub-Advisers, and other service providers, each of which
has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the
methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may
differ from a Fund’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the
resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of
the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk,
as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.
Members
of the Board and Officers of the Trust. There
are four members of the Board of Trustees (each, a “Trustee”), three of whom are
not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act
(“Independent Trustees”). Joe M. Thomson serves as Chairman of the Board, and
Deborah G. Wolk serves as the Trust’s Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead
Independent Trustee may preside at meetings, participate in formulating agendas
for meetings, and/or coordinate with management to serve as a liaison between
the Independent Trustees and management on matters. The Board of Trustees is
comprised of a super-majority (75 percent) of Independent Trustees. There is an
Audit Committee of the Board that is chaired by an Independent Trustee and
comprised solely of Independent Trustees. The Audit Committee chair presides at
the Committee meetings, participates in formulating agendas for Committee
meetings, and coordinates with management to serve as a liaison between the
Independent Trustees and management on matters within the scope of
responsibilities of the Committee as set forth in its Board-approved charter.
The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the
specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this
determination in consideration of, among other things, the number of Independent
Trustees that constitute the Board, the amount of assets under management in the
Trust, and the number of Funds overseen by the Board. The Board also believes
that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of
information to the Independent Trustees from Fund management.
The
Board of Trustees has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and
Nominating Committee. Each Committee is chaired by an Independent Trustee and
composed of Independent Trustees.
The
Audit Committee is comprised of all of the Independent Trustees. The function of
the Audit Committee is to review the scope and results of the annual audit of
the Funds and any matters bearing on the audit or a Fund’s financial statements
and to ensure the integrity of the Funds’ financial reporting. The Audit
Committee also recommends to the Board of Trustees the annual selection of the
independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds and it reviews and
pre-approves audit and certain non-audit services to be provided by the
independent registered public accounting firm. During the fiscal year ended
April 30,
2023,
the Audit Committee met four times.
The
Nominating Committee, comprised of all the Independent Trustees, is responsible
for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for Trustees.
The Committee meets on an as needed basis. The Nominating Committee will accept
and review shareholder nominations for Trustees, which may be submitted to the
Trust by sending the nomination to the Trust’s Secretary, c/o Pacer Advisors,
Inc., 500 Chesterfield Parkway, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. During the fiscal
year ended April 30,
2023,
the Nominating Committee met
one time.
Additional
information about each Trustee of the Trust is set forth below. The address of
each Trustee of the Trust is c/o Pacer Advisors, Inc., 500 Chesterfield Parkway,
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.
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Name
and Year of Birth |
Position(s)
Held with the Trust |
Term
of Office and Length of Time Served |
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen By Trustee |
Other Directorships
held by Trustee During Past Five Years |
Interested
Trustee |
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Joe
M. Thomson Born: 1944 |
Trustee,
Chairman, President, and Principal Executive Officer |
Indefinite
Term; since 2014 |
Founder/President
at Pacer Advisors, Inc. (since 2005) |
53 |
Director,
First Cornerstone Bank (2000–2016) |
Independent
Trustees |
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Deborah
G. Wolk Born: 1950 |
Lead
Independent Trustee |
Indefinite
Term; since 2015 |
Self-employed
providing accounting services and computer modeling (since 1997) |
53 |
0 |
Jane
K. Sagendorph Born: 1951 |
Trustee |
Indefinite
Term; since 2021 |
Accountant,
BluFish Designs (since 2011) |
53 |
0 |
Colin
C. Lake Born: 1971 |
Trustee |
Indefinite
Term; since 2021 |
Founder/President,
Developing the Next Leaders, Inc. (consulting) (since 2016) |
53 |
0 |
Individual
Trustee Qualifications. The
Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because
of their ability to review and understand information about the Funds provided
to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem
relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other
service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and
administration of the Funds, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner
that serves the best interests of each Fund’s shareholders. The Trust has
concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own
experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.
The
Trust has concluded that Mr. Thomson should serve as Trustee because of the
experience he has gained as Founder and President of Pacer Advisors, Inc., Pacer
Financial, Inc., and in his past roles with various registered broker-dealers
and investment management firms. In addition, he holds the Certified Financial
Planner®
(CFP®),
Chartered Life Underwriter®
(CLU®),
Chartered Financial Consultant®
(ChFC®),
and Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC®)
designations, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) General
Principal’s license, and the Pennsylvania Life & Annuity Insurance
license.
The
Trust has concluded that Ms. Wolk should serve as Trustee because of her
experience in accounting services and computer modeling expertise to small
business clients, as well as her prior positions in the corporate finance field.
In addition, she holds the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation.
The Trust believes that Ms. Wolk’s extensive experience in accounting and
finance provides an appropriate background in areas applicable to investment
company oversight.
The
Trust has concluded that Ms. Sagendorph should serve as Trustee because of her
experience in the financial services industry as a comptroller of a financial
marketing and wholesaling firm, as well as her experience providing accounting
services to a small business client. The Trust believes that Ms. Sagendorph’s
extensive experience in accounting and finance provides an appropriate
background in areas applicable to investment company oversight.
The
Trust has concluded that Mr. Lake should serve as Trustee because of his
experience in the financial services industry. The Trust believes that Mr.
Lake’s business acumen and understanding of financial issues provide an
appropriate background in areas applicable to investment company
oversight.
In
its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers
the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees
primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the
Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills
and experience to oversee the business of the Funds.
Principal
Officers of the Trust. The
officers of the Trust conduct and supervise its daily business. The address of
each officer of the Trust, unless otherwise indicated below, is c/o Pacer
Advisors, Inc., 500 Chesterfield Parkway, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.
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Name
and Year of Birth |
Position(s)
Held with Funds |
Term
of Office and Length of Time Served |
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Joe
M. Thomson
Born:
1944 |
Trustee,
Chairman, President, and Principal Executive Officer |
Indefinite
Term; since 2014 |
Founder/President,
Pacer Advisors, Inc. (since 2005); President and Chief Compliance Officer,
Pacer Financial, Inc. (since 2004) |
Sean
E. O’Hara
Born:
1962 |
Treasurer
and Principal Financial Officer |
Indefinite
Term; since 2014 |
Director,
Index Design Group (since 2015); Director, Pacer Financial, Inc. (since
2007); Director, Pacer Advisors, Inc. (since 2007) |
Bruce
Kavanaugh
Born:
1964 |
Secretary
and Portfolio Manager |
Indefinite
Term; since 2016 |
Vice
President, Pacer Advisors, Inc. (since 2005); Vice President, Pacer
Financial, Inc. (since 2004) |
Liam
Clarke Gateway Corporate Center Suite 216 223 Wilmington West
Chester Pike Chadds Ford, PA 19317 Born: 1996 |
Chief
Compliance Officer and AML Officer |
Indefinite
Term; since 2023 |
Director,
Vigilant, (since 2021); Financial Services Assurance Experienced
Associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers,
(2018-2021) |
Fund
Shares Owned by Board Members.
The Funds are required to show the dollar amount ranges of each Trustee’s
“beneficial ownership” of Shares of the Funds and each other series of the Trust
as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges
disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in
accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Exchange Act.
As
of December 31, 2022, Mr. Thomson owned between $10,000 - $50,000 of Shares of
VIRS and ALTL and over $100,000 of Shares of each of COWZ, CALF, GCOW, and PEXL.
No other Trustee owned Shares of the Funds as of December 31, 2022.
Board
Compensation. Independent
Trustees are paid by the Adviser from the unified management fee paid to the
Adviser and not by the Funds. The Independent Trustees each receive a per
meeting trustee fee of $2,500, as well as reimbursement for travel and other
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board meetings,
a $500 for any committee or special Board meeting attended, an annual retainer
fee of $10,000 per year, and an additional retainer of $500 fee for each
committee chair. The Trust has no pension or retirement plan. No officer,
director or employee of the Adviser, including Mr. Thomson, receives any
compensation from the Funds for acting as a Trustee or officer of the Trust. The
following table shows the compensation earned by each Trustee for the Funds’
fiscal year ended April 30, 2023. Trustee compensation does not include
reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attendance at meetings.
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Name |
Aggregate
Compensation From Each Fund |
Total
Compensation From Fund Complex Paid to Trustees |
Interested
Trustees |
Joe
M. Thomson |
$0 |
$0 |
Independent
Trustees |
Deborah
G. Wolk |
$0 |
$18,000 |
Jane
K. Sagendorph |
$0 |
$18,000 |
Colin
C. Lake |
$0 |
$18,000 |
Control
Persons and Principal Holders of Securities. 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 a shareholder that
owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting
securities of a Fund or acknowledges the existence of control. Shareholders
owning voting securities in excess of 25% may determine the outcome of any
matter affecting and voted on by shareholders of a Fund. As of August 1, 2023,
the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned approximately 2%
of PEXL, and less than 1% of the Shares of the other Funds, and the following
shareholders were considered to be a principal shareholder of the
Funds:
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Pacer
Trendpilot®
US Large Cap ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
16.12% |
Record |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
13.84% |
Record |
Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Harborside Financial Center Plaza, 23rd
Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
12.03% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
10.98% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
9.24% |
Record |
Wells
Fargo Clearing Services 2801 Market Street St. Louis, MO
63103-2523 |
9.14% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
7.68% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
5.71% |
Record |
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Pacer
Trendpilot®
US Mid Cap ETF |
| |
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
14.49% |
Record |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
13.75% |
Record |
Wells
Fargo Clearing Services 2801 Market Street St. Louis, MO
63103-2523 |
12.83% |
Record |
Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Harborside Financial Center Plaza, 23rd
Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
12.78% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
10.79% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
8.40% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
5.78% |
Record |
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Pacer
Trendpilot®
100 ETF |
| |
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
12.73% |
Record |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
12.14% |
Record |
Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Harborside Financial Center Plaza, 23rd
Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
11.89% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
10.46% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
9.51% |
Record |
Wells
Fargo Clearing Services 2801 Market Street St. Louis, MO
63103-2523 |
9.38% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
8.67% |
Record |
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Pacer
Trendpilot®
European Index ETF |
| |
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
27.71% |
Record |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
15.83% |
Record |
Wells
Fargo Clearing Services 2801 Market Street St. Louis, MO
63103-2523 |
13.00% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
10.07% |
Record |
UBS
Financial Services, Inc. 1200 Harbor Boulevard Weehawken, NJ
07086 |
7.40% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
5.78% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
5.54% |
Record |
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Pacer
Trendpilot®
US Bond ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
14.75% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
13.86% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
13.32% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
13.27% |
Record |
Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Harborside Financial Center Plaza, 23rd
Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
7.66% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
6.66% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
5.43% |
Record |
U.S.
Bank 60 Livingston Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55107 |
5.10% |
Record |
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| |
Pacer
Trendpilot®
International ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
31.55% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
13.94% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
10.71% |
Record |
Wells
Fargo Clearing Services 2801 Market Street St. Louis, MO
63103-2523 |
10.10% |
Record |
U.S.
Bank 60 Livingston Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55107 |
7.51% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
6.96% |
Record |
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| |
Pacer
Trendpilot®
Fund of Funds ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
45.32% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
10.63% |
Record |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
10.20% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
9.83% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
6.30% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
5.09% |
Record |
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|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
US Cash Cows 100 ETF |
| |
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
23.78% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
10.26% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
10.23% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
9.57% |
Record |
Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Harborside Financial Center Plaza, 23rd
Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
8.20% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
7.28% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
6.61% |
Record |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
5.59% |
Record |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF |
| |
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
20.70% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
13.47% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
10.15% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
8.63% |
Record |
Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Harborside Financial Center Plaza, 23rd
Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
7.62% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
7.13% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
6.13% |
Record |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
5.94% |
Record |
Wells
Fargo Clearing Services 2801 Market Street St. Louis, MO
63103-2523 |
5.82% |
Record |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF |
| |
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
19.59% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
11.84% |
Record |
Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Harborside Financial Center Plaza, 23rd
Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
11.41% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
9.11% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
8.80% |
Record |
Wells
Fargo Clearing Services 2801 Market Street St. Louis, MO
63103-2523 |
6.68% |
Record |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
6.40% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
6.04% |
Record |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Developed Markets International Cash Cows 100 ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
17.90% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
17.50% |
Record |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
11.10% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
9.30% |
Record |
Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Harborside Financial Center Plaza, 23rd
Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
9.10% |
Record |
Wells
Fargo Clearing Services 2801 Market Street St. Louis, MO
63103-2523 |
7.10% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
6.70% |
Record |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
32.04% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
23.90% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
9.92% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
9.46% |
Record |
Wells
Fargo Clearing Services 2801 Market Street St. Louis, MO
63103-2523 |
9.29% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
6.11% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
25.59% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
22.40% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
21.61% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
17.00% |
Record |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
6.21% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
US Cash Cows Growth ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
U.S.
Bank 60 Livingston Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55107 |
30.50% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
24.13% |
Record |
D.
A. Davidson & Co. 8 Third Street North Great Falls, MT
59401 |
10.13% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
7.00% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
6.76% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
6.43% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Cash Cow Fund of Funds ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
26.71% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
26.63% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
21.84% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
11.79% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
9.02% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
US Export Leaders ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
37.59% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
30.42% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
9.72% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
6.94% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF |
| |
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
17.61% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
12.91% |
Record |
Brown
Brothers Harriman & Co. 140 Broadway New York, NY
10005-1108 |
11.58% |
Record |
Citibank
N.A. 388 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10013 |
11.31% |
Record |
J.P.
Morgan Chase Clearing, Corp. 3 Chase Metrotech Center, 7th
Floor Brooklyn, NY 11245-0001 |
8.45% |
Record |
Apex
Clearing Corporation One Dallas Center 350 N. ST. Paul, Suite
1300 Dallas, TX 75201 |
6.63% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
5.94% |
Record |
E*Trade
Securities, LLC 200 Hudson Street, Suite 501 Jersey City, NJ
07311 |
5.02% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Industrial Real Estate ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
20.53% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
16.67% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
12.61% |
Record |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
10.62% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
7.53% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
5.41% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
43.35% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
10.33% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
7.88% |
Record |
Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Harborside Financial Center Plaza, 23rd
Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
7.81% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
7.74% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
WealthShield ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
45.90% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
15.47% |
Record |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
13.34% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
8.69% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
7.34% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
CFRA-Stovall Equal Weight Seasonal Rotation ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
RBC
Capital Markets 3 World Financial Center 200 Vesey Street, 9th
Floor New York, NY 10281 |
23.16% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
22.79% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
13.74% |
Record |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
9.44% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
8.91% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
BioThreat Strategy ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
RBC
Capital Markets 3 World Financial Center 200 Vesey Street, 9th
Floor New York, NY 10281 |
32.06% |
Record |
Bofa
Securities, Inc. One Bryant Park New York, NY 10036 |
19.07% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
17.70% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
9.93% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
6.76% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Lunt Large Cap Alternator ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
American
Enterprise Investment Services, Inc. 903 3rd Avenue
South Minneapolis, MN 55402 |
20.76% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
15.74% |
Record |
Merrill
Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith 4800 Deer Lake Drive
East Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
14.49% |
Record |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
10.60% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
9.49% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
6.26% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
5.90% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Lunt MidCap Multi-Factor Alternator ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
25.96% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
22.28% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
15.48% |
Record |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
11.71% |
Record |
Folio
Investments Inc. 8180 Greensboro Drive, 8th Floor McLean, VA
22102 |
10.45% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
8.39% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Lunt Large Cap Multi-Factor Alternator ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
American
Enterprise Investment Services, Inc. 903 3rd Avenue
South Minneapolis, MN 55402 |
20.71% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
16.13% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
14.47% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
13.92% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
9.63% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
9.61% |
Record |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
5.69% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Pacific Asset Floating Rate High Income ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Bank
of New York Mellon 240 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10286 |
30.47% |
Record |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
28.07% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
15.30% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
9.81% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
6.81% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 300 ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
Goldman
Sachs & Co., LLC 200 West Street New York, NY
10282-2198 |
45.60% |
Record |
Bofa
Securities, Inc. One Bryant Park New York, NY 10036 |
24.48% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
7.96% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
6.67% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 400 ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
32.07% |
Record |
LPL
Financial 75 State Street, 22nd Floor Boston, MA 02109 |
20.91% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
10.78% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
10.56% |
Record |
Pershing,
LLC For the Benefit of Its Customers PO Box 2052 Jersey City, NJ
07303-2052 |
5.68% |
Record |
Raymond
James Financial, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, FL
33716 |
5.60% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Data and Digital Revolution ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
TD
Ameritrade, Inc. P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
40.75% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
35.29% |
Record |
National
Financial Services LLC 200 Liberty Street New York, NY
10281 |
7.48% |
Record |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Industrials and Logistics ETF |
|
Name
and Address |
%
Ownership |
Type
of Ownership |
J.P.
Morgan Chase Clearing, Corp. 3 Chase Metrotech Center, 7th
Floor Brooklyn, NY 11245-0001 |
65.85% |
Record |
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA
94105-1905 |
11.65% |
Record |
Brown
Brothers Harriman & Co. 140 Broadway New York, NY
10005 |
9.50% |
Record |
INVESTMENT
ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISERS
Pacer
Advisors, Inc. serves as investment adviser to the Funds pursuant to an
investment advisory agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the
Adviser (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser is a Pennsylvania
company located at 500 Chesterfield Parkway, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. The
Adviser is majority owned by Joe M. Thomson.
Pursuant
to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides investment advice to
the Funds and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Funds, subject to the
direction and control of the Board and the officers of the Trust. The Adviser
also arranges for sub-advisory (as applicable), transfer agency, custody, fund
administration and all other non-distribution-related services necessary for the
Funds to operate. Each Fund pays the Adviser a fee equal to a percentage of the
Fund’s average daily net assets, as follows:
|
|
|
|
| |
Name
of Fund |
Management Fee |
Pacer
Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Trendpilot US Mid Cap ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Trendpilot 100 ETF |
0.65% |
Pacer
Trendpilot European Index ETF |
0.65% |
Pacer
Trendpilot US Bond ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Trendpilot International ETF |
0.65% |
Pacer
Trendpilot Fund of Funds ETF |
0.15% |
Pacer
US Cash Cows 100 ETF |
0.49% |
Pacer
US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF |
0.59% |
Pacer
Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Developed Markets International Cash Cows 100 ETF |
0.65% |
Pacer
Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF |
0.70% |
Pacer
US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF |
0.49% |
Pacer
US Cash Cows Growth ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Cash Cows Fund of Funds ETF |
0.15% |
Pacer
US Export Leaders ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
International Export Leaders ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF |
0.70% |
Pacer
Hotel & Lodging Real Estate ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Apartments & Residential Real Estate ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Healthcare Real Estate ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Industrial Real Estate ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Autopilot Hedged European Index ETF |
0.65% |
Pacer
WealthShield ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
CFRA-Stovall Global Seasonal Rotation ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
CFRA-Stovall Equal Weight Seasonal Rotation ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
BioThreat Strategy ETF |
0.70% |
Pacer
Lunt Large Cap Alternator ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Lunt MidCap Multi-Factor Alternator ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Lunt Large Cap Multi-Factor Alternator ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Pacific Asset Floating Rate High Income ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 300 ETF |
0.79% |
Pacer
Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 400 ETF |
0.79% |
Pacer
Data and Digital Revolution ETF |
0.60% |
Pacer
Industrials and Logistics ETF |
0.60% |
Under
the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses of
the Funds, except for: the fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to the Investment
Advisory Agreement, interest charges on any borrowings, taxes, brokerage
commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and
sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and
expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses, and
distribution (12b-1) fees and expenses, if any.
The
Adviser, from its own resources, including profits from advisory fees received
from the Funds, provided such fees are legitimate and not excessive, may make
payments to broker-dealers and other financial institutions for their expenses
in connection with the distribution of Fund Shares, and otherwise currently pays
all distribution costs for Fund Shares.
The
Investment Advisory Agreement, with respect to the Funds, continues in effect
for two years from its effective date, and thereafter is subject to annual
approval by (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust or (ii) the vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of
the Funds, provided that in either event such continuance also is approved by a
vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds, by a vote cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval. If the shareholders of a Fund
fail to approve the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser may continue to
serve in the manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and rules and
regulations thereunder.
The
Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Funds is terminable without
any penalty, by vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of
the Funds, or by the Adviser, in each case on not less than thirty (30) days’
nor more than sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the other party; provided
that a shorter notice period shall be permitted for the Funds in the event
Shares are no longer listed on a national securities exchange. The Investment
Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically and immediately in the event of
its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).
Fund
Expenses.
Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Adviser, INDS,
and SRVR, the Adviser has agreed to waive its management fees and/or reimburse
expenses to ensure that the total amount of each Fund’s operating expenses
(excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads, Rule 12b-1 plan fees,
shareholder servicing plan fees, taxes, leverage (i.e., any expenses incurred in
connection with borrowings made by the Fund), interest (including interest
incurred in connection with bank and custody overdrafts), brokerage commissions
and other transactional expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any
merger or reorganization, dividends or interest on short positions, acquired
fund fees and expenses or extraordinary expenses such as litigation
(collectively, “Excludable Expenses”)) does not exceed 0.55% of each Fund’s
average daily net assets. To the extent the Funds incur Excludable Expenses,
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense
Reimbursement may exceed 0.55%. The Adviser may request recoupment of previously
waived fees and paid expenses from the Funds for up to three years from the date
such fees and expenses were waived or paid, subject to the operating expense
limitation agreement, if such reimbursement will not cause each Fund’s total
expense ratio to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at
the time of the waiver and/or expense payment; or (2) the expense limitation in
place at the time of the recoupment. The Funds must pay their current ordinary
operating expenses before the Adviser is entitled to any recoupment of
management fees and/or expenses. This operating expense limitation agreement is
in effect through at least October 31, 2023, and may be terminated only by, or
with the consent of, the Board of Trustees.
Management
fees paid by the Funds to the Adviser or previous investment adviser, as
applicable, for the three most recently completed fiscal years ended April 30
were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Management Fees
Paid for the Fiscal Year Ended April 30, |
Name
of Fund* |
2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
Pacer
Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF |
$12,071,078 |
| $11,704,204 |
| $12,031,964 |
|
Pacer
Trendpilot US Mid Cap ETF |
$2,605,975 |
| $2,639,914 |
| $2,650,719 |
|
Pacer
Trendpilot 100 ETF |
$4,481,745 |
| $5,042,740 |
| $5,242,752 |
|
Pacer
Trendpilot European Index ETF |
$290,158 |
| $339,728 |
| $424,871 |
|
Pacer
Trendpilot US Bond ETF |
$2,521,826 |
| $7,130,317 |
| $2,270,355 |
|
Pacer
Trendpilot International ETF |
$775,940 |
| $901,621 |
| $873,343 |
|
Pacer
Trendpilot Fund of Funds ETF |
$86,929 |
| $90,594 |
| $52,792 |
|
Pacer
US Cash Cows 100 ETF |
$44,297,410 |
| $7,072,763 |
| $1,181,592 |
|
Pacer
US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF |
$7,739,370 |
| $3,248,079 |
| $432,434 |
|
Pacer
US Large Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF |
$12,212 |
** |
N/A |
| N/A |
|
Pacer
US Cash Cows Growth ETF |
$152,860 |
| $66,180 |
| $13,000 |
|
Pacer
Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF |
$5,219,319 |
| $1,016,723 |
| $776,785 |
|
Pacer
Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF |
$163,644 |
| $62,475 |
| $14,678 |
|
Pacer
Developed Markets International Cash Cows 100 ETF |
$1,461,919 |
| $345,903 |
| $96,706 |
|
Pacer
Cash Cows Fund of Funds ETF |
$37,285 |
| $5,730 |
| $2,776 |
|
Pacer
US Export Leaders ETF |
$58,627 |
| $16,143 |
| $9,885 |
|
Pacer
International Export Leaders ETF |
N/A |
| N/A |
| N/A |
|
Pacer
CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF |
$38,381 |
| $62,633 |
| $67,259 |
|
Pacer
Hotel & Lodging Real Estate ETF |
N/A |
| N/A |
| N/A |
|
Pacer
Apartments & Residential Real Estate ETF |
N/A |
| N/A |
| N/A |
|
Pacer
Healthcare Real Estate ETF |
N/A |
| N/A |
| N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pacer
Autopilot Hedged European Index ETF |
N/A |
| N/A |
| N/A |
|
Pacer
WealthShield ETF |
$191,072 |
| $297,845 |
| $310,038 |
|
Pacer
CFRA-Stovall Global Seasonal Rotation ETF |
N/A |
| N/A |
| N/A |
|
Pacer
CFRA-Stovall Equal Weight Seasonal Rotation ETF |
$437,399 |
| $496,031 |
| $361,722 |
|
Pacer
BioThreat Strategy ETF |
$30,775 |
| $42,945 |
| $31,349 |
|
Pacer
Lunt Large Cap Alternator ETF |
$5,088,819 |
| $1,620,632 |
| $268,065 |
|
Pacer
Lunt MidCap Multi-Factor Alternator ETF |
$215,029 |
| $241,185 |
| $94,914 |
|
Pacer
Lunt Large Cap Multi-Factor Alternator ETF |
$1,329,064 |
| $918,753 |
| $93,497 |
|
Pacer
Pacific Asset Floating Rate High Income ETF |
$476,291 |
| $224,013 |
| $201,085 |
|
Pacer
Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 300 ETF |
$12,649 |
| $13,034 |
| N/A |
|
Pacer
Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 400 ETF |
$608,442 |
| $180,757 |
| N/A |
|
Pacer
Data and Digital Revolution ETF |
$5,032 |
** |
N/A |
| N/A |
|
Pacer
Industrials and Logistics ETF |
$5,071 |
** |
N/A |
| N/A |
|
*The
following Funds had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI: ROOM,
RXRE, PAD, SZNG, and PIEL. With respect to PAEU, all outstanding shares of the
Fund were redeemed on December 22, 2016, and shares of the Fund are not
currently offered for purchase.
**For
TRFK, SHPP, and COWG, the information in the table reflects the period since
each Fund’s inception through April 30, 2023.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Management
Fees Paid for INDS and SRVR |
| Gross
Advisory Fees Earned |
Advisory
Fees Waived & Fund Expenses Reimbursed |
Net
Advisory Paid to Adviser |
Pacer
Industrial Real Estate ETF |
|
| |
2021 |
$683,492 |
$0 |
$683,492 |
2022 |
$1,930,171 |
$0 |
$1,930,171 |
2023 |
$1,500,156 |
$(54,148) |
$1,446,008 |
Pacer
Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF |
|
| |
2021 |
$5,552,732 |
$0 |
$5,552,732 |
2022 |
$8,615,531 |
$0 |
$8,615,531 |
2023 |
$5,919,096 |
$(206,699) |
$5,712,397 |
Aristotle
Pacific Capital, LLC
The
Trust, on behalf of the FLRT, and the Adviser have retained Aristotle Pacific
Capital, LLC (“Aristotle Pacific”), located at 840 Newport Drive, 7th
Floor, Newport Beach, California 92660, to serve as sub-adviser for FLRT.
Aristotle Pacific is a subsidiary of Aristotle Capital Management, LLC
(“Aristotle Capital”). Aristotle Capital is an investment management
organization that specializes in equity and fixed income portfolio management
for institutional and advisory clients worldwide.
Pursuant
to a Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and Aristotle Pacific (the
“Sub-Advisory Agreement”), Aristotle Pacific is responsible for trading
portfolio securities on behalf of FLRT, including selecting broker-dealers to
execute purchase and sale transactions, subject to the supervision of the
Adviser and the Board. For the services it provides to FLRT, Aristotle Pacific
is compensated by the Adviser from the management fees paid by FLRT to the
Adviser. The Sub-Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees (including all
the Independent Trustees) and the Adviser, as sole shareholder of FLRT, in
compliance with the 1940 Act. The Sub-Advisory Agreement will continue in force
for an initial period of two years. Thereafter, the Sub-Advisory Agreement is
renewable from year to year with respect to FLRT, so long as its continuance is
approved at least annually (1) by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called
for that purpose, of a majority of those Trustees who are not “interested
persons” of the Trust; and (2) by the majority vote of either the full Board or
the vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares. The Sub-Advisory Agreement
will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable
at any time without penalty by the Board or, with respect to FLRT, by a majority
of the outstanding Shares of the Fund, on not less than 30 days’ nor more than
60 days’ written notice to Aristotle Pacific, or by Aristotle Pacific on 60
days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust. The Sub-Advisory Agreement
provides that Aristotle Pacific shall not be protected against any liability to
the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless
disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder. The table below shows
management fees paid by the Adviser to Aristotle Pacific in relation to FLRT for
the fiscal period/years ended April 30.
|
|
|
|
| |
Fiscal
Period/Year Ended |
Sub-Advisory
Fee Paid |
2022 |
$4,317 |
2023 |
$111,185 |
CSOP
Asset Management
The
Trust, on behalf of AFTY, and the Adviser have retained CSOP Asset Management
Limited (“CSOP”), located at Suite 2802, Two Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place,
Central, Hong Kong, to serve as sub-adviser for AFTY. CSOP was established in
January 2008 as a subsidiary of China Southern Asset Management Co. Limited.
CSOP is the first Hong Kong subsidiary set up by mainland Chinese fund houses to
carry out asset management and securities advisory activities in Hong Kong. CSOP
is dedicated to serving investors as a gateway for investment between China and
the rest of the world, and provides discretionary management services and
advisory services to both institutional investors and investment funds,
including other ETFs.
Pursuant
to a Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and CSOP (the “Sub-Advisory
Agreement”), CSOP is responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf of
AFTY, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale
transactions as instructed by the Adviser or in connection with any rebalancing
or reconstitution of AFTY’s respective Index, subject to the supervision of the
Adviser and the Board. For the services it provides to AFTY, CSOP is compensated
by the Adviser from the management fees paid by AFTY to the Adviser. The
Sub-Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees (including all the
Independent Trustees) and the Adviser, as sole shareholder of AFTY, in
compliance with the 1940 Act. The Sub-Advisory Agreement will continue in force
for an initial period of two years. Thereafter, the Sub-Advisory Agreement is
renewable from year to year with respect to the Fund, so long as its continuance
is approved at least annually (1) by the vote, cast in person at a meeting
called for that purpose, of a majority of those Trustees who are not “interested
persons” of the Trust; and (2) by the majority vote of either the full
Board
or the vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares. The Sub-Advisory Agreement
will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable
at any time without penalty by the Board or, with respect to AFTY, by a majority
of the outstanding Shares of AFTY, on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60
days’ written notice to CSOP, or by the Sub-Adviser on 60 days’ written notice
to the Adviser and the Trust. The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that CSOP
shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the
performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or
duties thereunder.
The
table below shows management fees paid by the Adviser to CSOP in relation to
AFTY for the fiscal period/years ended April 30.
|
|
|
|
| |
Fiscal
Period/Year Ended |
Sub-Advisory
Fee Paid |
2021 |
$5,562 |
2022 |
$4,719 |
2023 |
$2,427 |
Metaurus
Advisors LLC
The
Adviser has retained Metaurus, located at 22 Hudson Place, Third Floor, Hoboken,
New Jersey 07030, to serve as sub-adviser for TRPL and QDPL. Metaurus was
established in 2016 and is controlled by Metaurus LLC, a privately-held Delaware
corporation.
Pursuant
to a Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and Metaurus (the “Sub-Advisory
Agreement”), Metaurus is responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf
of TRPL and QDPL, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and
sale transactions as instructed by the Adviser or in connection with any
rebalancing or reconstitution of the Funds’ respective Index, subject to the
supervision of the Adviser and the Board. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory
Agreement, Metaurus is entitled to receive a sub-advisory fee, which is paid by
the Adviser, not TRPL or QDPL.
The
Sub-Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees (including all the
Independent Trustees) and the Adviser, as sole shareholder of TRPL and QDPL, in
compliance with the 1940 Act. The Sub-Advisory Agreement will continue in force
for an initial period of two years. Thereafter, the Sub-Advisory Agreement is
renewable from year to year with respect to TRPL and QDPL, so long as its
continuance is approved at least annually (1) by the vote, cast in person at a
meeting called for that purpose, of a majority of those Trustees who are not
“interested persons” of the Trust; and (2) by the majority vote of either the
full Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares. The Sub-Advisory
Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is
terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or, with respect to TRPL and
QDPL, by a majority of the outstanding Shares of TRPL and QDPL, on not less than
30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to Metaurus, or by Metaurus on 60
days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust. The Sub-Advisory Agreement
provides that Metaurus shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust
or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless
disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder. The table below shows
management fees paid by the Adviser to Metaurus in relation to TRPL and QDPL for
the fiscal period/years ended April 30.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Sub-Advisory Fees
Paid for the Fiscal Period Ended April 30, |
|
Name
of Fund |
2022 |
2023 |
Pacer
Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 300 ETF |
$3,500 |
$48,888 |
Pacer
Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 400 ETF |
$3,500 |
$48,888 |
Vident
Advisory, LLC
The
Trust, on behalf of PTBD, and the Adviser have retained Vident
Advisory, LLC (“VA”) (d/b/a
Vident Asset Management), located at 1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 515,
Alpharetta, GA 30009, to serve as sub-adviser for PTBD. VA
was
formed in 2016 and commenced operations and registered with the SEC as an
investment adviser in January 2019. VA is majority owned by Vident Capital
Holdings, LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MM VAM, LLC, which is
entirely controlled by Casey Crawford.
Pursuant
to a Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and VA (the “Sub-Advisory
Agreement”), VA is responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf of
PTBD, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale
transactions as instructed by the Adviser or in connection with any rebalancing
or reconstitution of PTBD’s respective Index, subject to the supervision of the
Adviser and the Board. For the services it provides to PTBD, VA is compensated
by the Adviser from the management fees paid by PTBD to the
Adviser.
The
Sub-Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees (including all the
Independent Trustees) and the Adviser, as sole shareholder of PTBD, in
compliance with the 1940 Act. The Sub-Advisory Agreement will continue in force
for an initial period of two years. Thereafter, the Sub-Advisory Agreement is
renewable from year to year with respect to PTBD, so long as its continuance is
approved at least annually (1) by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called
for that purpose, of a majority of those Trustees who are
not
“interested persons” of the Trust; and (2) by the majority vote of either the
full Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares. The Sub-Advisory
Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is
terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or, with respect to PTBD, by
a majority of the outstanding Shares of PTBD, on not less than 30 days’ nor more
than 60 days’ written notice to VA, or by VA on 60 days’ written notice to the
Adviser and the Trust. The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that VA shall not be
protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the
performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or
duties thereunder.
The
table below shows management fees paid by the Adviser to VA in relation to PTBD
for the fiscal period/years ended April 30.
|
|
|
|
| |
Fiscal
Period/Year Ended |
Sub-Advisory
Fee Paid |
2021 |
$181,733 |
2022 |
$495,561 |
2023 |
$377,041 |
All
Funds (except AFTY, FLRT, TRPL, QDPL, and PTBD)
Portfolio
Managers.
Each
Fund employs a rules-based, passive investment strategy. The Adviser uses a
committee approach to managing the Funds. Bruce Kavanaugh, Vice President of the
Adviser, and Danke Wang, CFA, FRM, Head Portfolio Analyst and Portfolio Manager
for the Adviser, are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day
management of the Funds and have served as Fund portfolio managers since each
Fund’s inception.
In
addition to the Funds, Mr. Kavanaugh and Mr. Wang each co-manage the following
other accounts (collectively, the “Other Accounts”) as of April 30,
2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Type
of Accounts |
Total
Number of Accounts |
Total
Assets of Accounts (billions) |
Total
Number of Accounts with Performance Based Fees |
Total
Assets of Accounts with Performance Based Fees |
Registered
Investment Companies |
46 |
$23.8 |
0 |
$0 |
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles |
0 |
$0 |
0 |
$0 |
Other
Accounts |
0 |
$0 |
0 |
$0 |
Portfolio
Managers Compensation. Mr.
Kavanaugh and Mr. Wang each receive a fixed salary from the Adviser. Mr.
Kavanaugh and Mr. Wang are also eligible for additional bonuses; a fixed bonus
and a bonus based on growth of the Adviser’s assets under management that is not
based on performance of any accounts.
Portfolio
Managers Fund Ownership. As
of April 30, 2023, Mr. Kavanaugh owned $100,001–$500,000 shares of PTLC and
COWZ, $50,000-$100,000 shares of PTMC, GCOW, INDS, and SRVR, and $10,001–$50,000
of shares of CALF, ICOW, and PALC. As of April 30, 2023, Mr. Wang owned
$1–$10,000 shares of COWZ.
AFTY
The
portfolio managers currently responsible for the day-to-day management of AFTY
are Yi Wang and Fred Zhang, each of CSOP. Mr. Zhang has managed the Predecessor
CSOP Fund and AFTY since their inception and Mr. Wang has managed AFTY since
August 2021.
In
addition to AFTY, Mr. Yi Wang and Mr. Zhang each co-manage the following other
accounts as of April 30,
2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Type
of Accounts |
Total
Number of Accounts |
Total
Assets of Accounts (millions) |
Total
Number of Accounts with Performance Based Fees |
Total
Assets of Accounts with Performance Based Fees |
Registered
Investment Companies |
0 |
$0 |
0 |
$0 |
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles |
23 |
$2,467.0 |
0 |
$0 |
Other
Accounts |
0 |
$0 |
0 |
$0 |
Portfolio
Managers Compensation. CSOP’s
financial arrangements with its portfolio managers reflect the importance that
its management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of
components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The
principal components of compensation include a base salary, a performance-based
discretionary bonus and participation. Base salary is generally a fixed amount
that may change as a result of an annual review, upon assumption of new duties,
or when a market adjustment of the position occurs. Annual performance-based
bonuses are 100% discretionary. Factors considered in bonuses include individual
performance, team performance, investment performance of the associated
portfolio(s) (including both short and long term returns) and qualitative
behavioral factors. Other factors considered in determining the award are the
asset size and revenue growth/retention of the products managed (if
applicable).
Portfolio
Managers Fund Ownership. As
of April 30,
2023,
Mr. Yi Wang and Mr. Zhang did not own shares of AFTY.
FLRT
FLRT
is managed by Bob Boyd and Ying Qiu, CFA, each of Aristotle
Pacific.
In
addition to FLRT, Mr. Boyd and Ms. Qiu each manage the following other accounts
as of April 30, 2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Type
of Accounts |
Total
Number of Accounts |
Total
Assets of Accounts (millions) |
Total
Number of Accounts with Performance Based Fees |
Total
Assets of Accounts with Performance Based Fees |
Bob
Boyd |
|
|
| |
Registered
Investment Companies |
3 |
$935.7 |
0 |
$0 |
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles |
1 |
$31.1 |
1 |
$31.1 |
Other
Accounts |
9 |
$7,033.3 |
6 |
$2,275.7 |
Ying
Qiu |
|
|
| |
Registered
Investment Companies |
6 |
$3,554.9 |
0 |
$0 |
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles |
1 |
$31.1 |
1 |
$31.1 |
Other
Accounts |
10 |
$6,173.3 |
0 |
$0 |
Portfolio
Managers Compensation.
The portfolio managers are compensated by Aristotle Pacific. Each portfolio
manager’s compensation consists of a fixed annual base salary, a discretionary
bonus and a share of the firm's profits. Compensation of the portfolio managers
is not tied to the Fund's performance or assets under management.
Portfolio
Managers Fund Ownership. As
of April 30, 2023, Ms. Qiu did not own shares of FLRT and Mr. Boyd owned
$100,001 - $500,000 shares of FLRT.
TRPL
and QDPL
TRPL
and QDPL are managed by Richard P. Silva, Jr. and Brendan Greenwald, each of
Metaurus.
In
addition to TRPL and QDPL, Mr. Silva and Mr. Greenwald each manage the following
other accounts as of April 30,
2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Type
of Accounts |
Total
Number of Accounts |
Total
Assets of Accounts (millions) |
Total
Number of Accounts with Performance Based Fees |
Total
Assets of Accounts with Performance Based Fees
(millions) |
Richard
P. Silva, Jr. |
|
|
| |
Registered
Investment Companies |
0 |
$0 |
0 |
$0 |
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles |
1 |
$6.4 |
1 |
$6.4 |
Other
Accounts |
1 |
$43.5 |
0 |
$0 |
|