Other Investment Strategies and Risks
Convertible Securities
A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock, or other security that entitles the holder to acquire common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer. A convertible security generally entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to non-convertible debt or preferred securities, as applicable. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure and, therefore, generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security. Convertible securities are subordinate in rank to any senior debt obligations of the issuer, and, therefore, an issuer’s convertible securities entail more risk than its debt obligations. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar credit quality because of the potential for capital appreciation. In addition, convertible securities are often lower-rated securities.
Because of the conversion feature, the price of the convertible security will normally fluctuate in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying asset, and as such is subject to risks relating to the activities of the issuer and/or general market and economic conditions. The income component of a convertible security may tend to cushion the security against declines in the price of the underlying asset. However, the income component of convertible securities causes fluctuations based upon changes in interest rates and the credit quality of the issuer.
If the conversion value of a convertible security increases to a point that approximates or exceeds its investment value, the value of the security will be principally influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security will sell at a premium over its conversion value to the extent investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding an income-producing security.
A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. If a convertible security held by a fund is called for redemption, the fund would be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security and convert it to underlying common stock, or would sell the convertible security to a third party, which may have an adverse effect on the fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
Corporate Reorganizations
Each Fund may invest in securities for which a tender or exchange offer has been made or announced and in securities of companies for which a merger, consolidation, liquidation or reorganization proposal has been announced if, in the judgment of those managing the Fund's investments, there is a reasonable prospect of capital appreciation significantly greater than the brokerage and other transaction expenses involved. The primary risk of such investments is that if the contemplated transaction is abandoned, revised, delayed or becomes subject to unanticipated uncertainties, the market price of the securities may decline below the purchase price paid by a Fund.
In general, securities which are the subject of such an offer or proposal sell at a premium to their historic market price immediately prior to the announcement of the offer or proposal. However, the increased market price of such securities may discount what the stated or appraised value of the security would be if the contemplated transaction were approved or consummated. Such investments may be advantageous when the discount significantly overstates the risk of the contingencies involved; significantly undervalues the securities, assets or cash to be received by shareholders of the prospective company as a result of the contemplated transaction; or fails adequately to recognize the possibility that the offer or proposal may be replaced or superseded by an offer or proposal of greater value. The evaluation of such contingencies requires unusually broad knowledge and experience on the part of those managing the Fund's investments, which must appraise not only the value of the issuer and its component businesses, but also the financial resources and business motivation of the offer or proposal as well as the dynamics of the business climate when the offer or proposal is in process.
Cyber Security Issues
Each Fund and its service providers may be subject to cyber security risks. Those risks include, among others, theft, misuse or corruption of data maintained online or digitally; denial of service attacks on websites; the loss or unauthorized release of confidential and proprietary information; operational disruption; or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber-attacks against or security breakdowns of a Fund or its service providers may harm the Fund and its shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business, inability to calculate a fund’s NAV, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance and remediation costs. Cyber security risks may also affect issuers of securities in which a fund invests, potentially causing the fund’s investment in such issuers to lose value. Despite risk management processes, there can be no guarantee that a fund will avoid losses relating to cyber security risks or other information security breaches.
Depositary Receipts
Depositary Receipts are generally subject to the same sort of risks as direct investments in a foreign country, such as, currency risk, political and economic risk, and market risk, because their values depend on the performance of a foreign security denominated in its home currency.
Each Fund may invest in foreign securities which means it may invest in:
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American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") - receipts issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. They are designed for use in U.S. securities markets.
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European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") - receipts typically issued by a foreign financial institution to evidence an arrangement similar to that of ADRs.
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Depositary Receipts may be issued by sponsored or unsponsored programs. In sponsored programs, an issuer has made arrangements to have its securities traded in the form of Depositary Receipts. In unsponsored programs, the issuer may not be directly involved in the creation of the program. Although regulatory requirements with respect to sponsored and unsponsored programs are generally similar, in some cases it may be easier to obtain financial information from an issuer that has participated in the creation of a sponsored program. Accordingly, there may be less information available regarding issuers of securities of underlying unsponsored programs, and there may not be a correlation between the availability of such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts.
Derivatives
Options on Securities and Securities Indices
Each Fund may write (sell) and purchase call and put options on securities in which it invests and on securities indices based on securities in which the Fund invests. Each Fund may engage in these transactions to hedge against a decline in the value of securities owned or an increase in the price of securities which the Fund plans to purchase, or to generate additional revenue.
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Exchange-Traded Options. An exchange-traded option may be closed out only on an exchange that generally provides a liquid secondary market for an option of the same series. If a liquid secondary market for an exchange-traded option does not exist, it might not be possible to effect a closing transaction with respect to a particular option, with the result that a Fund would have to exercise the option in order to consummate the transaction.
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Over the Counter ("OTC") Options. OTC options differ from exchange-traded options in that they are two-party contracts, with price and other terms negotiated between buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-traded options. An OTC option (an option not traded on an established exchange) may be closed out only by agreement with the other party to the original option transaction. With OTC options, a Fund is at risk that the other party to the transaction will default on its obligations or will not permit the Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity. While a Fund will seek to enter into OTC options only with dealers who agree to or are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with a Fund, there can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to liquidate an OTC option at a favorable price at any time prior to its expiration. OTC options are not subject to the protections afforded purchasers of listed options by the Options Clearing Corporation or other clearing organizations. An exchange-traded option may be closed out only on an exchange that generally provides a liquid secondary market for an option of the same series. If a liquid secondary market for an exchange-traded option does not exist, it might not be possible to effect a closing transaction with respect to a particular option, with the result that a fund would have to exercise the option in order to consummate the transaction.
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Writing Call and Put Options. When a fund writes a call option, it gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy a specific security at a specified price at any time before the option expires. When a fund writes a put option, it gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell to the fund a specific security at a specified price at any time before the option expires. In both situations, the fund receives a premium from the purchaser of the option.
The premium received by a fund reflects, among other factors, the current market price of the underlying security, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price, the time period until the expiration of the option and interest rates. The premium generates additional income for the fund if the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a profit. By writing a call, a fund limits its opportunity to profit from any increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option, but it retains the risk of loss if the price of the security should decline. By writing a put, a fund assumes the risk that it may have to purchase the underlying security at a price that may be higher than its market value at time of exercise.
A Fund usually owns the underlying security covered by any outstanding call option. With respect to an outstanding put option, a Fund deposits and maintains with its custodian or segregates on the Fund's records, cash, or other liquid assets with a value at least equal to the market value of the option that was written.
Once a fund has written an option, it may terminate its obligation before the option is exercised. The fund executes a closing transaction by purchasing an option of the same series as the option previously written. The fund has a gain or loss depending on whether the premium received when the option was written exceeds the closing purchase price plus related transaction costs.
Purchasing Call and Put Options. When the fund purchases a call option, it receives, in return for the premium it pays, the right to buy from the writer of the option the underlying security at a specified price at any time before the option expires. A fund purchases call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities that it intends ultimately to buy. During the life of the call option, the fund is able to buy the underlying security at the exercise price regardless of any increase in the market price of the underlying security. In order for a call option to result in a gain, the market price of the underlying security must exceed the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid, and transaction costs.
When a fund purchases a put option, it receives, in return for the premium it pays, the right to sell to the writer of the option the underlying security at a specified price at any time before the option expires. A fund purchases put options in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the underlying security. During the life of the put option, the fund is able to sell the underlying security at the exercise price regardless of any decline in the market price of the underlying security. In order for a put option to result in a gain, the market price of the underlying security must decline, during the option period, below the exercise price enough to cover the premium and transaction costs.
Once a fund purchases an option, it may close out its position by selling an option of the same series as the option previously purchased. The fund has a gain or loss depending on whether the closing sale price exceeds the initial purchase price plus related transaction costs.
Options on Securities Indices. Each Fund may purchase and sell put and call options on any securities index based on securities in which the Fund may invest. Securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. Each Fund engages in transactions in put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as they engage in transactions in options on securities. When a Fund writes call options on securities indices, it holds in its portfolio underlying securities which, in the judgment of those managing the Fund's investments, correlate closely with the securities index and which have a value at least equal to the aggregate amount of the securities index options.
Risks Associated with Option Transactions. An option position may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market for an option of the same series. A fund generally purchases or writes only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market. However, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange exists for any particular option, or at any particular time. If a fund is unable to effect closing sale transactions in options it has purchased, it has to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and may incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities. If the fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction for a covered option that it has written, it is not able to sell the underlying securities, or dispose of the assets held in a segregated account, until the option expires or is exercised. The fund's ability to terminate option positions established in the over-the-counter market may be more limited than for exchange-traded options and may also involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions might fail to meet their obligations.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts
Each Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts of many types, including for example, futures contracts covering indexes, financial instruments, and foreign currencies. Each Fund may purchase and sell financial futures contracts and options on those contracts. Financial futures contracts are commodities contracts based on financial instruments such as U.S. Treasury bonds or bills or on securities indices such as the S&P 500 Index. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulates futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and the commodity exchanges on which they are traded. Through the purchase and sale of futures contracts and related options, a fund may seek to hedge against a decline in the value of securities owned by the fund or an increase in the price of securities that the fund plans to purchase. Each Fund may also purchase and sell futures contracts and related options to maintain cash reserves while simulating full investment in securities and to keep substantially all of its assets exposed to the market. Each Fund may enter into futures contracts and related options transactions both for hedging and non-hedging purposes.
Futures Contracts. Each Fund may purchase or sell a futures contract to gain exposure to a particular market asset without directly purchasing that asset. When a fund sells a futures contract based on a financial instrument, the fund is obligated to deliver that kind of instrument at a specified future time for a specified price. When a fund purchases that kind of contract, it is obligated to take delivery of the instrument at a specified time and to pay the specified price. In most instances, these contracts are closed out by entering into an offsetting transaction before the settlement date. The fund realizes a gain or loss depending on whether the price of an offsetting purchase plus transaction costs are less or more than the price of the initial sale or on whether the price of an offsetting sale is more or less than the price of the initial purchase plus transaction costs. Although the fund usually liquidates futures contracts on financial instruments, by entering into an offsetting transaction before the settlement date, they may make or take delivery of the underlying securities when it appears economically advantageous to do so.
A futures contract based on a securities index provides for the purchase or sale of a group of securities at a specified future time for a specified price. These contracts do not require actual delivery of securities but result in a cash settlement. The amount of the settlement is based on the difference in value of the index between the time the contract was entered into and the time it is liquidated (at its expiration or earlier if it is closed out by entering into an offsetting transaction).
When a fund purchases or sells a futures contract, it pays a commission to the futures commission merchant through which the fund executes the transaction. When entering into a futures transaction, the fund does not pay the execution price, as it does when it purchases a security, or a premium, as it does when it purchases an option. Instead, the fund deposits an amount of cash or other liquid assets (generally about 5% of the futures contract amount) with its futures commission merchant. This amount is known as "initial margin." In contrast to the use of margin account to purchase securities, the fund's deposit of initial margin does not constitute the borrowing of money to finance the transaction in the futures contract. The initial margin represents a good faith deposit that helps assure the fund's performance of the transaction. The futures commission merchant returns the initial margin to the fund upon termination of the futures contract if the fund has satisfied all its contractual obligations.
Subsequent payments to and from the futures commission merchant, known as "variation margin," are required to be made on a daily basis as the price of the futures contract fluctuates, a process known as "marking to market." The fluctuations make the long or short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable. If the position is closed out by taking an opposite position prior to the settlement date of the futures contract, a final determination of variation margin is made. Any additional cash is required to be paid to or released by the broker and the fund realizes a loss or gain.
In using futures contracts, a fund may seek to establish with more certainty than would otherwise be possible the effective price of or rate of return on portfolio securities or securities that the fund proposes to acquire. A fund, for example, sells futures contracts in anticipation of a rise in interest rates that would cause a decline in the value of its debt investments. When this kind of hedging is successful, the futures contract increases in value when the fund's debt securities decline in value and thereby keeps the fund's net asset value from declining as much as it otherwise would. A fund may also sell futures contracts on securities indices in anticipation of or during a stock market decline in an endeavor to offset a decrease in the market value of its equity investments. When a fund is not fully invested and anticipates an increase in the cost of securities it intends to purchase, it may purchase financial futures contracts.
When increases in the prices of equities are expected, a fund may purchase futures contracts on securities indices in order to gain rapid market exposure that may partially or entirely offset increases in the cost of the equity securities it intends to purchase.
With respect to futures contracts that settle in cash, a Fund will cover (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) liquid assets that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract. When entering into futures contracts that do not settle in cash (physically-settled futures contracts), a Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) liquid assets that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the full notional value of the contract. Physically-settled futures contracts (and written options on such contracts) will be treated like cash-settled futures contracts when a Fund has entered into a contractual arrangement with a third-party futures commission merchant or other counterparty to offset the Fund’s exposure under the contract and, failing that, to assign its delivery obligation under the contract to the counterparty.
Options on Futures Contracts. Each Fund may also purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts. A call option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to purchase a futures contract (assume a long position) at a specified exercise price at any time before the option expires. A put option gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to sell a futures contract (assume a short position), for a specified exercise price, at any time before the option expires.
Upon the exercise of a call, the writer of the option is obligated to sell the futures contract (to deliver a long position to the option holder) at the option exercise price, which will presumably be lower than the current market price of the contract in the futures market. Upon exercise of a put, the writer of the option is obligated to purchase the futures contract (deliver a short position to the option holder) at the option exercise price, which will presumably be higher than the current market price of the contract in the futures market. However, as with the trading of futures, most options are closed out prior to their expiration by the purchase or sale of an offsetting option at a market price that reflects an increase or a decrease from the premium originally paid. Options on futures can be used to hedge substantially the same risks addressed by the direct purchase or sale of the underlying futures contracts. For example, if a fund anticipates a rise in interest rates and a decline in the market value of the debt securities in its portfolio, it might purchase put options or write call options on futures contracts instead of selling futures contracts.
If a Fund purchases an option on a futures contract, it may obtain benefits similar to those that would result if it held the futures position itself. But in contrast to a futures transaction, the purchase of an option involves the payment of a premium in addition to transaction costs. In the event of an adverse market movement, however, the Fund is not subject to a risk of loss on the option transaction beyond the price of the premium it paid plus its transaction costs.
When a Fund writes an option on a futures contract, the premium paid by the purchaser is deposited with the Fund's custodian. The Fund must maintain with its futures commission merchant all or a portion of the initial margin requirement on the underlying futures contract. It assumes a risk of adverse movement in the price of the underlying futures contract comparable to that involved in holding a futures position. Subsequent payments to and from the futures commission merchant, similar to variation margin payments, are made as the premium and the initial margin requirements are marked to market daily. The premium may partially offset an unfavorable change in the value of portfolio securities, if the option is not exercised, or it may reduce the amount of any loss incurred by the Fund if the option is exercised.
Risks Associated with Futures Transactions. There are many risks associated with transactions in futures contracts and related options. The value of the assets that are the subject of the futures contract may not move in the anticipated direction. A Fund's successful use of futures contracts is subject to the ability of those managing the Fund's investments to predict correctly the factors affecting the market values of the Fund's portfolio securities. For example, if the Fund is hedged against the possibility of an increase in interest rates which would adversely affect debt securities held by the Fund and the prices of those debt securities instead increases, the Fund loses part or all of the benefit of the increased value of its securities it hedged because it has offsetting losses in its futures positions. Other risks include imperfect correlation between price movements in the financial instrument or securities index underlying the futures contract, on the one hand, and the price movements of either the futures contract itself or the securities held by the Fund, on the other hand. If the prices do not move in the same direction or to the same extent, the transaction may result in trading losses.
Prior to exercise or expiration, a position in futures may be terminated only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. This requires a secondary market on the relevant contract market. A Fund enters into a futures contract or related option only if there appears to be a liquid secondary market. There can be no assurance, however, that such a liquid secondary market exists for any particular futures contract or related option at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close out a futures position once it has been established. Under such circumstances, the Fund continues to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin in the event of adverse price movements. In such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may be required to sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, the Fund may be required to perform under the terms of the futures contracts it holds. The inability to close out futures positions also could have an adverse impact on the Fund's ability effectively to hedge its portfolio.
Most United States futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. This daily limit establishes the maximum amount that 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 more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses.
Swap Agreements and Options on Swap Agreements
Each Fund may engage in swap transactions, including, but not limited to, swap agreements on interest rates, security or commodity indexes, specific securities and commodities, and credit and event-linked swaps, to the extent permitted by its investment restrictions. To the extent a Fund may invest in foreign currency-denominated securities, it may also invest in currency swap agreements and currency exchange rate swap agreements. Each Fund may also enter into options on swap agreements (“swap options”).
Each Fund may enter into swap transactions for any legal purpose consistent with its investment objectives and policies, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets; to protect against currency fluctuations; as a duration management technique; to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date; to gain exposure to one or more securities, currencies, or interest rates; to take advantage of perceived mispricing in the securities markets; or to gain exposure to certain markets in the most economical way possible.
Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard "swap" transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or "swapped" between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a "notional amount," i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a "basket" of securities or commodities representing a particular index.
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Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (for example, an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount of principal). Forms of swap agreements also include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or "cap"; interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or "floor"; and interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.
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Currency Swaps. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the relative values of the specified currencies.
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Index Swaps. An index swap is an agreement to make or receive payments based on the different returns that would be achieved if a notional amount were invested in a specified basket of securities (such as the S&P 500 Index) or in some other investment (such as U.S. Treasury Securities).
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Total Return Swaps. A total return swap is an agreement to make payments of the total return from a specified asset or instrument (or a basket of such instruments) during the specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another specified asset or instrument. Alternatively, a total return swap can be structured so that one party will make payments to the other party if the value of the relevant asset or instrument increases, but receive payments from the other party if the value of that asset or instrument decreases.
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Commodity Swap Agreements. Consistent with a Fund's investment objectives and general investment policies, certain of the Funds may invest in commodity swap agreements. For example, an investment in a commodity swap agreement may involve the exchange of floating-rate interest payments for the total return on a commodity index. In a total return commodity swap, a Fund will receive the price appreciation of a commodity index, a portion of the index, or a single commodity in exchange for paying an agreed-upon fee. If the commodity swap is for one period, the Fund may pay a fixed fee, established at the outset of the swap. However, if the term of the commodity swap is for more than one period, with interim swap payments, the Fund may pay an adjustable or floating fee. With a "floating" rate, the fee may be pegged to a base rate, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate, and is adjusted each period. Therefore, if interest rates increase over the term of the swap contract, the Fund may be required to pay a higher fee at each swap reset date.
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Credit Default Swap Agreements. The "buyer" in a credit default contract is obligated to pay the "seller" a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default on an underlying reference obligation has occurred. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value, or "par value," of the reference obligation in exchange for the reference obligation. A Fund may be either the buyer or seller in a credit default swap transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no event of default occurs, the Fund will lose its investment and recover nothing. However, if an event of default occurs, the Fund (if the buyer) will receive the full notional value of the reference obligation that may have little or no value. As a seller, the Fund receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the contract, which typically is between six months and five years, provided that there is no default event. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation. In addition, collateral posting requirements are individually negotiated and there is no regulatory requirement that a counterparty post collateral to secure its obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending upon the terms of the swap, under a credit default swap. Furthermore, there is no requirement that a party be informed in advance when a credit default swap agreement is sold. Accordingly, the Fund may have difficulty identifying the party responsible for payment of its claims. The notional value of credit default swaps with respect to a particular investment is often larger than the total par value of such investment outstanding and, in event of a default, there may be difficulties in making the required deliveries of the reference investments, possibly delaying payments.
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Each Fund may invest in derivative instruments that provide exposure to one or more credit default swaps. For example, a Fund may invest in a derivative instrument known as the Loan-Only Credit Default Swap Index (“LCDX”), a tradable index with 100 equally-weighted underlying single-name loan-only credit default swaps (“LCDS”). Each underlying LCDS references an issuer whose loans trade in the secondary leveraged loan market. A Fund can either buy the index (take on credit exposure) or sell the index (pass credit exposure to a counterparty). While investing in these types of derivatives will increase the universe of debt securities to which the Fund is exposed, such investments entail additional risks that are not typically associated with investments in other debt securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to loans are subject to the risks associated with loans generally, as well as the risks of derivative transactions.
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Investment Pools. Each Fund may invest in publicly or privately issued interests in investment pools whose underlying assets are credit default, credit-linked, interest rate, currency exchange, equity-linked or other types of swap contracts and related underlying securities or securities loan agreements. The pools’ investment results may be designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified securities index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single security. These types of pools are often used to gain exposure to multiple securities with a smaller investment than would be required to invest directly in the individual securities. They also may be used to gain exposure to foreign securities markets without investing in the foreign securities themselves and/or the relevant foreign market. To the extent that a Fund invests in pools of swaps and related underlying securities or securities loan agreements whose return corresponds to the performance of a foreign securities index or one or more foreign securities, investing in such pools will involve risks similar to the risks of investing in foreign securities. In addition to the risks associated with investing in swaps generally, a Fund bears the risks and costs generally associated with investing in pooled investment vehicles, such as paying the fees and expenses of the pool and the risk that the pool or the operator of the pool may default on its obligations to the holder of interests in the pool, such as a Fund. Interests in privately offered investment pools of swaps may be considered illiquid.
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Contracts for Differences. “Contracts for differences” are swap arrangements in which a Fund may agree with a counterparty that its return (or loss) will be based on the relative performance of two different groups or “baskets” of securities. For example, as to one of the baskets, a Fund’s return is based on theoretical long futures positions in the securities comprising that basket, and as to the other basket, the Fund’s return is based on theoretical short futures positions in the securities comprising that other basket. The notional sizes of the baskets will not necessarily be the same, which can give rise to investment leverage. Each Fund may also use actual long and short futures positions to achieve the market exposure(s) as contracts for differences. Each Fund may enter into swaps and contracts for differences for investment return, hedging, risk management and for investment leverage.
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Swaptions. A swap option (also known as “swaptions”) is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel, or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. The buyer and seller of the swap option agree on the strike price, length of the option period, the term of the swap, notional amount, amortization and frequency of settlement. Each Fund may engage in swap options for hedging purposes or in an attempt to manage and mitigate credit and interest rate risk. Each Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. The use of swap options involves risks, including, among others, imperfect correlation between movements of the price of the swap options and the price of the securities, indices or other assets serving as reference instruments for the swap option, reducing the effectiveness of the instrument for hedging or investment purposes.
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Obligations under Swap Agreements. The swap agreements a Fund enters into settle in cash and, therefore, provide for calculation of the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently, a Fund's current obligations (or rights) under such a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). A Fund's current obligations under such a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the segregation of assets determined to be liquid by those managing the Fund's investments in accordance with procedures established by the Board, to avoid any potential leveraging of the Fund's portfolio. In cases where a Fund is a seller of a credit default swap contract, the Fund will segregate liquid assets equal to the notional amount of the contract. Obligations under swap agreements for which a Fund segregates assets will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of a Fund's investment restriction concerning senior securities.
Risks Associated with Swap Agreements. Swaps can be highly volatile and may have a considerable impact on a Fund’s performance, as the potential gain or loss on any swap transaction is not subject to any fixed limit. Whether a Fund's use of swap agreements or swap options will be successful in furthering its investment objective of total return will depend on the ability of those managing the Fund's investments to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Because they are two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, a 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. The Funds will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that present minimal credit risks, as determined by those managing the Fund's investments. Certain restrictions imposed on each Fund by the Internal Revenue Code may limit a Fund’s ability to use swap agreements.
Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, a Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than it will incur when it purchases a swap option. When a Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.
Liquidity of Swap Agreements. Some swap markets have grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, these swap markets have become relatively liquid. The liquidity of swap agreements will be determined by those managing the Fund's investments based on various factors, including:
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the frequency of trades and quotations,
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the number of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace,
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dealer undertakings to make a market,
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the nature of the security (including any demand or tender features), and
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the nature of the marketplace for trades (including the ability to assign or offset a portfolio's rights and obligations relating to the investment).
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Such determination will govern whether a swap will be deemed to be within a Fund's restriction on investments in illiquid securities.
Valuing Swap Agreements. For purposes of applying a Fund’s investment policies and restrictions (as stated in the Prospectuses and this Statement of Additional Information) swap agreements are generally valued by the Fund at market value. In the case of a credit default swap, however, in applying certain of the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions the Fund will value the credit default swap at its notional value or its full exposure value (i.e., the sum of the notional amount for the contract plus the market value), but may value the credit default swap at market value for purposes of applying certain of the Fund’s other investment policies and restrictions. For example, a Fund may value credit default swaps at full exposure value for purposes of the Fund’s credit quality guidelines because such value reflects the Fund’s actual economic exposure during the term of the credit default swap agreement. In this context, both the notional amount and the market value may be positive or negative depending on whether the fund is selling or buying protection through the credit default swap. The manner in which certain securities or other instruments are valued by a Fund for purposes of applying investment policies and restrictions may differ from the manner in which those investments are valued by other types of investors.
Permissible Uses of Futures and Options on Futures Contracts
Each Fund may enter into futures contracts and related options transactions, for hedging purposes and for other appropriate risk management purposes, and to modify the Fund's exposure to various currency, commodity, equity, or fixed-income markets. Each Fund may engage in futures trading in an effort to generate returns. When using futures contracts and options on futures contracts for hedging or risk management purposes, the Fund determines that the price fluctuations in the contracts and options are substantially related to price fluctuations in securities held by the Fund or which it expects to purchase. In pursuing traditional hedging activities, the Fund may sell futures contracts or acquire puts to protect against a decline in the price of securities that the Fund owns. Each Fund may purchase futures contracts or calls on futures contracts to protect the Fund against an increase in the price of securities the Fund intends to purchase before it is in a position to do so. When a Fund purchases a futures contract, or writes a call option on a futures contract, it segregates liquid assets that, when added to the value of assets deposited with the futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the contract.
Limitations on the Use of Futures, Options on Futures Contracts, and Swaps
A fund that utilizes futures contracts, options on futures contracts or swaps has claimed an exclusion from the definition of a “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act and is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission amended rule 4.5 “Exclusion for certain otherwise regulated persons from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator.” Rule 4.5 provides that an investment company does not meet the definition of “commodity pool operator” if its use of futures contracts, options on futures contracts and swaps is sufficiently limited that the fund can fall within one of two exclusions set out in rule 4.5. Each Fund intends to limit its use of futures contracts, options on futures contracts and swaps to the degree necessary to fall within one of the two exclusions. If a Fund is unable to do so, it may incur expenses that are necessary to comply with the Commodity Exchange Act and rules the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has adopted under it.
Risk of Potential Government Regulation of Derivatives
It is possible that additional government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures, options and swap agreements, may limit or prevent a fund from using such instruments as a part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent a fund from being able to achieve its investment objective. It is difficult to predict the effects future legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse. It is possible that legislative and regulatory activity could limit or restrict the ability of a fund to use certain instruments as a part of its investment strategy. For instance, in December 2015, the SEC proposed new regulations applicable to a mutual fund’s use of derivatives and related instruments.
If adopted as proposed, these regulations could significantly limit or impact a fund's ability to invest in derivatives and related instruments, limit a fund's ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and/or adversely affect the fund's performance, efficiency in implementing strategies, and ability to pursue their investment objectives. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the funds engage in derivative transactions could also prevent the funds from using certain instruments.
Fixed-Income Securities
Inflation-Indexed Bonds
Some Funds may invest in inflation-indexed bonds or inflation protected debt securities, which are fixed income securities whose value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers utilize a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the Consumer Price Index accruals as part of a semi-annual coupon. Inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Treasury (Treasury Inflation Protected Securities or TIPS) have maturities of approximately five, ten or thirty years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semi-annual basis equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. 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. The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if the rate of inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds. 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 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. 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.
Step-Coupon Securities
Each Fund may invest in step-coupon securities. Step-coupon securities trade at a discount from their face value and pay coupon interest. The coupon rate is low for an initial period and then increases to a higher coupon rate thereafter. Market values of these types of securities generally fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than conventional interest-paying securities of comparable term and quality. Under many market conditions, investments in such securities may be illiquid, making it difficult for a Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.
“Stripped” Securities
Each Fund may invest in stripped securities, which are usually structured with two or more classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distribution on a pool of U.S. government or foreign government securities or mortgage assets. In some cases, one class will receive all of the interest (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Stripped securities commonly have greater market volatility than other types of fixed-income securities. In the case of stripped mortgage securities, if the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated payments of principal, a Fund may fail to recoup fully its investments in IOs. Stripped securities may be illiquid. Stripped securities may be considered derivative securities.
Zero-Coupon Securities
Each Fund may invest in zero-coupon securities. Zero-coupon securities have no stated interest rate and pay only the principal portion at a stated date in the future. They usually trade at a substantial discount from their face (par) value. Zero-coupon securities are subject to greater market value fluctuations in response to changing interest rates than debt obligations of comparable maturities that make distributions of interest in cash.
Foreign Currency Transactions
Options on Foreign Currencies
In addition, each Fund may buy and write options on foreign currencies in a manner similar to that in which futures or forward contracts on foreign currencies will be utilized. Each Fund may use options on foreign currencies to hedge against adverse changes in foreign currency conversion rates. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which portfolio securities are denominated will reduce the U.S. dollar value of such securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. In order to protect against such diminutions in the value of the portfolio securities, a Fund may buy put options on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency declines, the Fund will have the right to sell such currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars, thereby offsetting, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its portfolio. Conversely, when a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated is projected, thereby increasing the cost of such securities, the Fund may buy call options on the foreign currency. The purchase of such options could offset, at least partially, the effects of the adverse movements in exchange rates. As in the case of other types of options, however, the benefit to the Fund from purchases of foreign currency options will be reduced by the amount of the premium and related transaction costs. In addition, if currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent desired, the Fund could sustain losses or lesser gains on transactions in foreign currency options that would require the Fund to forgo a portion or all of the benefits of advantageous changes in those rates.
Each Fund also may write options on foreign currencies. For example, to hedge against a potential decline in the U.S. dollar due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, a Fund could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency. If the decline expected by the Fund occurs, the option will most likely not be exercised and the diminution in value of portfolio securities will be offset at least in part by the amount of the premium received. Similarly, instead of purchasing a call option to hedge against a potential increase in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired, a Fund could write a put option on the relevant currency which, if rates move in the manner projected by the Fund, will expire unexercised and allow the Fund to hedge the increased cost up to the amount of the premium. If exchange rates do not move in the expected direction, the option may be exercised and the Fund would be required to buy or sell the underlying currency at a loss, which may not be fully offset by the amount of the premium. Through the writing of options on foreign currencies, a Fund also may lose all or a portion of the benefits that might otherwise have been obtained from favorable movements in exchange rates.
Futures on Currency
A foreign currency future provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified quantity of foreign currency at a specified price and time. A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of foreign currencies. Currency futures contracts are exchange-traded and change in value to reflect movements of a currency or a basket of currencies. Settlement must be made in a designated currency.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
Each Fund may, but is not obligated to, enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts. Currency transactions include forward currency contracts and exchange listed or over-the-counter options on currencies. A forward currency contract involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a specified future date at a price set at the time of the contract.
The typical use of a forward contract is to "lock in" the price of a security in U.S. dollars or some other foreign currency which a Fund is holding in its portfolio. By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of dollars or other currency, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying security transactions, the Fund may be able to protect itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar or other currency which is being used for the security purchase and the foreign currency in which the security is denominated in or exposed to during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received.
Those managing the Fund's investments also may from time to time utilize forward contracts for other purposes. For example, they may be used to hedge a foreign security held in the portfolio or a security which pays out principal tied to an exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency, against a decline in value of the applicable foreign currency. They also may be used to lock in the current exchange rate of the currency in which those securities anticipated to be purchased are denominated in or exposed to. At times, each Fund may enter into "cross-currency" hedging transactions involving currencies other than those in which securities are held or proposed to be purchased are denominated.
Each Fund segregates liquid assets in an amount equal to (1) at least its daily marked-to-market (net) obligation (i.e., its daily net liability, if any) with respect to forward currency contracts that are cash settled and (2) the net notional value with respect to forward currency contracts that are not cash settled. It should be noted that the use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange between the currencies that can be achieved at some future point in time. Additionally, although such contracts tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, they also tend to limit any potential gain that might result if the value of the currency increases.
Foreign Securities
Investing in foreign securities carries political and economic risks distinct from those associated with investing in the United States. Investments in foreign securities also involve the risk of possible adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, limitation on or delays in the removal of funds or other assets of a fund, political or financial instability or diplomatic and other developments that could affect such investments. Foreign investments may be affected by actions of foreign governments adverse to the interests of U.S. investors, including the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on U.S. investment or on the ability to repatriate assets or to convert currency into U.S. Dollars. There may be a greater possibility of default by foreign governments or foreign-government sponsored enterprises. Investments in foreign countries also involve a risk of local political, economic or social instability, military action or unrest or adverse diplomatic developments.
Asia-Pacific Countries
In addition to the risks of foreign investing and the risks of investing in emerging markets, the developing market Asia-Pacific countries in which a Fund may invest are subject to certain additional or specific risks. In the Asia-Pacific markets, there is a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries. Many of these markets also may be affected by developments with respect to more established markets in the region, such as Japan and Hong Kong. Brokers in developing market Asia-Pacific countries typically are fewer in number and less well capitalized than brokers in the United States.
Many of the developing market Asia-Pacific countries may be subject to a greater degree of economic, political and social instability than is the case in the United States and Western European countries. Such instability may result from, among other things: (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision- making, including changes in government through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; and/or (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection. In addition, the governments of many of such countries, such as Indonesia, have a heavy role in regulating and supervising the economy.
An additional risk common to most such countries is that the economy is heavily export-oriented and, accordingly, is dependent upon international trade. The existence of overburdened infrastructure and obsolete financial systems also present risks in certain countries, as do environmental problems. Certain economies also depend to a significant degree upon exports of primary commodities and, therefore, are vulnerable to changes in commodity prices that, in turn, may be affected by a variety of factors. The legal systems in certain developing market Asia-Pacific countries also may have an adverse impact on a Fund. The rights of investors in developing market Asia-Pacific companies may be more limited than those of shareholders of U.S. corporations. It may be difficult or impossible to obtain and/or enforce a judgment in a developing market Asia-Pacific country.
China
Investing in China involves special considerations, including: the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation; greater governmental involvement in and control over the economy, interest rates and currency exchange rates; controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital; greater social, economic and political uncertainty; dependency on exports and the corresponding importance of international trade; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. The government of China maintains strict currency controls in support of economic, trade and political objectives and regularly intervenes in the currency market. The government's actions in this respect may not be transparent or predictable. Furthermore, it is difficult for foreign investors to directly access money market securities in China because of investment and trading restrictions. These and other factors may decrease the value and liquidity of a fund's investments.
Investments in Stock Connect and Bond Connect
Funds may invest in China A shares, which are shares of certain Chinese companies listed and traded through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programs (“Stock Connect”). Stock Connect is a securities trading and clearing program established by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, the Shanghai Stock Exchange ("SSE"), the Shenzhen Stock Exchange ("SZSE") and China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited, which seeks to provide mutual stock market access between Mainland China and Hong Kong. Trading through Stock Connect is subject to numerous restrictions and risks that could impair the Fund’s ability to invest in or sell China A shares and adversely affect the Fund’s performance, such as the following:
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China A shares generally may not be sold, purchased or otherwise transferred other than through Stock Connect in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, and restrictions. Such securities may lose their eligibility, in which case they presumably could be sold but could no longer be purchased through Stock Connect. Market volatility and settlement difficulties in the China A share markets may result in significant fluctuations in the prices and liquidity of the securities traded on such markets. Further regulations or restrictions, such as limitations on redemptions or suspension of trading, may adversely impact the Fund.
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Stock Connect is generally only available on business days when both the China and Hong Kong markets are open and when banking services are available in both markets on the corresponding settlement days. As a result, a Fund may not be able trade when it would be otherwise attractive to do so, and the Fund may not be able to dispose of its China A shares in a timely manner.
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Investing in China A shares is subject to Stock Connect’s clearance and settlement procedures, which could pose risks to the Fund. Certain requirements must be completed before the market opening, or a Fund cannot sell the shares on that trading day. Stock Connect also imposes quotas that limit aggregate net purchases on an exchange on a particular day, and an investor cannot purchase and sell the same security through Stock Connect on the same trading day. Once the daily quota is reached, orders to purchase additional China A shares through Stock Connect will be rejected. Such restrictions could limit a Fund’s ability to sell its China A shares in a timely manner, or to sell them at all.
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If a Fund holds 5% or more of a China A share issuer’s total shares through Stock Connect investments, the Fund must return any profits obtained from the purchase and sale of those shares if both transactions occur within a six-month period. All accounts managed by the Funds’ Advisor and/or its affiliates will be aggregated for purposes of this 5% limitation, which makes it more likely that a Fund’s profits may be subject to these limitations.
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Stock Connect uses an omnibus clearing structure, and the Fund’s shares will be registered in its custodian’s name on the Central Clearing and Settlement System. This may limit the ability of the Fund’s advisor to effectively manage a Fund, and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of its custodian or to greater risk of expropriation. Investment in China A shares through Stock Connect may be available only through a single broker that is an affiliate of the Fund’s custodian, which may affect the quality of execution provided by such broker.
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China A shares purchased through Stock Connect will be held via a book entry omnibus account in the name of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (“HKSCC”), Hong Kong’s clearing entity, and not the Fund’s name as the beneficial owner. Therefore, a Fund’s ability to exercise its rights as a shareholder and to pursue claims against the issuer of China A shares may be limited. While Chinese regulations and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange have issued clarifications and guidance supporting the concept of beneficial ownership through Stock Connect, the interpretation of beneficial ownership in China by regulators and courts may continue to evolve.
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The Fund’s investments in China A shares through Stock Connect are generally subject to Chinese securities regulations and listing rules, among other restrictions. The Fund will not benefit from access to Hong Kong investor compensation funds, which are set up to protect against defaults of trades, when investing through Stock Connect. Investments in China A shares may not be covered by the securities investor protection programs of the exchanges and, without the protection of such programs, will be subject to the risk of default by the broker. If the depository of the SSE and the SZSE defaulted, a Fund may not be able to recover fully its losses from the depository or may be delayed in receiving proceeds as part of any recovery process.
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Fees, costs and taxes imposed on foreign investors (such as the Fund) may be higher than comparable fees, costs and taxes imposed on owners of other securities that provide similar investment exposure. Trades using Stock Connect may also be subject to various fees, taxes and market charges imposed by Chinese market participants and regulatory authorities. Uncertainties in China’s tax rules related to the taxation of income and gains from investments in China A shares could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund, and the withholding tax treatment of dividends and capital gains payable to overseas investors currently is unsettled.
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Because trades of eligible China A shares on Stock Connect must be settled in Renminbi (RMB), the Chinese currency, Funds investing through Stock Connect will be exposed to RMB currency risks. The ability to hedge RMB currency risks may be limited. The RMB is subject to exchange control restrictions, and the Fund could be adversely affected by delays in converting currencies into RMB and vice versa.
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Because Stock Connect is in its early stages, the effect on the market for trading China A shares with the introduction of numerous foreign investors is currently unknown. Stock Connect is relatively new and may be subject to further interpretation and guidance. There can be no assurance as to Stock Connect’s continued existence or whether future developments regarding the program may restrict or adversely affect the Fund’s investments or returns.
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The risks associated with investing through Stock Connect could lead to greater market execution risk, valuation risks, liquidity risks and costs for a Fund, as well as for Authorized Participants that create and redeem Creation Units. This could cause a Fund to trade in the market at greater bid-ask spreads or greater premiums or discounts to the Fund’s NAV. Because the China A share market is considered volatile and unstable (with the risk of widespread trading suspensions or government intervention), the creation and redemption of Creation Units may also be disrupted.
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Funds may also invest in China Interbank bonds traded on the China Interbank Bond Market (“CIBM”) through the China - Hong Kong Bond Connect program (“Bond Connect”). In China, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority Central Money Markets Unit holds Bond Connect securities on behalf of investors (such as the Fund) in accounts maintained with maintained with a China-based custodian (either the China Central Depository & Clearing Co. or the Shanghai Clearing House). Investments using Bond Connect are subject to risks similar to those described above with respect to Stock Connect.
Europe
The economies and markets of European countries are often closely connected and interdependent, and events in one European country can have an adverse impact on other European countries. Certain funds may invest in securities of issuers that are domiciled in, or have significant operations in, member countries of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (the “EU”), which requires member countries to comply with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or EU regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro (the common currency of certain EU countries), the default or threat of default by an EU member country on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in an EU member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of EU member countries and their trading partners, including some or all of the emerging markets countries. Although certain European countries do not use the euro, many of these countries are obliged to meet the criteria for joining the euro zone. Consequently, these countries must comply with many of the restrictions noted above. The European financial markets have experienced volatility and adverse trends in recent years due to concerns about economic downturns, rising government debt levels and the possible default of government debt in several European countries. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU, including, with respect to the latter, the United Kingdom (the "UK"), which is a significant market in the global economy. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching and could adversely impact the value of investments in the region.
The UK’s referendum vote to leave the EU (referred to as "Brexit") could cause business disruptions and uncertainty and thus adversely impact the financial results and operations of various European companies and economies.
Although the precise time frame for Brexit is uncertain, it is currently expected that the UK will seek to withdraw from the EU with an anticipated completion date within two years after notifying the European Council of the UK’s intention to withdraw. The effects of Brexit will largely depend on any agreements the UK makes to retain access to EU markets either during a transitional period or more permanently. 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. Additionally, Brexit could lead to global economic uncertainty and result in significant volatility in the global stock markets and currency exchange rate fluctuations.
Japan
Japanese investments may be significantly affected by events influencing Japan’s economy and the exchange rate between the Japanese yen and the U.S. Dollar. Japan’s economy fell into a long recession in the 1990s. After a few years of mild recovery in the mid-2000s, Japan’s economy fell into another recession as a result of the recent global economic crisis. Japan is heavily dependent on exports and foreign oil. Japan is located in a seismically active area, and in 2011 experienced an earthquake of a sizable magnitude and a tsunami that significantly affected important elements of its infrastructure and resulted in a nuclear crisis. Since these events, Japan’s financial markets have fluctuated dramatically. The full extent of the impact of these events on Japan’s economy and on foreign investment in Japan is difficult to estimate. Japan’s economic prospects may be affected by the political and military situations of its near neighbors, notably North and South Korea, China, and Russia.
Latin America
Most Latin American countries have experienced, at one time or another, severe and persistent levels of inflation, including, in some cases, hyperinflation. This has, in turn, led to high interest rates, extreme measures by governments to keep inflation in check, and a generally debilitating effect on economic growth. Although inflation in many countries has lessened, there is no guarantee it will remain at lower levels. In addition, the political history of certain Latin American countries has been characterized by political uncertainty, intervention by the military in civilian and economic spheres, and political corruption. Such developments, if they were to reoccur, could reverse favorable trends toward market and economic reform, privatization, and removal of trade barriers, and result in significant disruption in securities markets. Certain Latin American countries may also have managed currencies which are maintained at artificial levels to the U.S. Dollar rather than at levels determined by the market. This type of system can lead to sudden and large adjustments in the currency which, in turn, can have a disruptive and negative effect on foreign investors. There is no significant foreign exchange market for many currencies and it would, as a result, be difficult for the Fund to engage in foreign currency transactions designed to protect the value of the Fund’s interests in securities denominated in such currencies. Finally, a number of Latin American countries are among the largest debtors of developing countries. There have been moratoria on, and reschedulings of, repayment with respect to these debts. Such events can restrict the flexibility of these debtor nations in the international markets and result in the imposition of onerous conditions on their economies.
High Yield Securities
Each Fund may invest a portion of its assets in bonds that are rated below investment grade (sometimes called “high yield bonds” or "junk bonds") which are rated at the time of purchase Ba1 or lower by Moody's and BB+ or lower by S&P Global (if the bond has been rated by only one of those agencies, that rating will determine whether the bond is below investment grade; if the bond has not been rated by either of those agencies, those managing the Fund's investments will determine whether the bond is of a quality comparable to those rated below investment grade). Lower rated bonds involve a higher degree of credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments when due. In the event of an unanticipated default, a Fund would experience a reduction in its income and could expect a decline in the market value of the bonds so affected. Issuers of high yield securities may be involved in restructurings or bankruptcy proceedings that may not be successful. If an issuer defaults, it may not be able to pay all or a portion of interest and principal owed to the fund, it may exchange the high yield securities owned by the fund for other securities, including equities, and/or the fund may incur additional expenses while seeking recovery of its investment. Some funds may also invest in unrated bonds of foreign and domestic issuers. Unrated bonds, while not necessarily of lower quality than rated bonds, may not have as broad a market. Because of the size and perceived demand of the issue, among other factors, certain municipalities may not incur the expense of obtaining a rating. Those managing the Fund's investments will analyze the creditworthiness of the issuer, as well as any financial institution or other party responsible for payments on the bond, in determining whether to purchase unrated bonds. Unrated bonds will be included in the limitation a Fund has with regard to high yield bonds unless those managing the Fund's investments deem such securities to be the equivalent of investment grade bonds. Some of the high yield securities consist of Rule 144A securities. High yield securities may contain any type of interest rate payment or reset terms, including fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment-in-kind and those with auction rate features.
Initial Public Offerings ("IPOs")
An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public. IPO risk is that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading, and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for a fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Investors in IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders. When a fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs because such investments would have a magnified impact on the fund. As the fund's assets grow, the effect of the fund's investments in IPOs on the fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, a fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period. This may increase the turnover of the fund's portfolio and lead to increased expenses to the fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders.
Inverse Floating Rate and Other Variable and Floating Rate Instruments
Each Fund may purchase variable and floating rate instruments. These instruments may include variable amount master demand notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary in addition to providing for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. These instruments may also include leveraged inverse floating rate debt instruments, or “inverse floaters”. The interest rate of an inverse floater resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest on a security or interest to which it is related. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest, and is subject to many of the same risks as derivatives. The higher degree of leverage inherent in inverse floaters is associated with greater volatility in their market values. Certain of these investments may be illiquid. The absence of an active secondary market with respect to these investments could make it difficult for a Fund to dispose of a variable or floating rate note if the issuer defaulted on its payment obligation or during periods that the Fund is not entitled to exercise its demand rights, and the Fund could, for these or other reasons, suffer a loss with respect to such instruments.
Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”)
An MLP is an entity that is generally taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and that derives each year at least 90% of its gross income from "Qualifying Income". Qualifying Income includes interest, dividends, real estate rents, gain from the sale or disposition of real property, income and gain from commodities or commodity futures, and income and gain from mineral or natural resources activities that generate Qualifying Income. MLP interests (known as units) are traded on securities exchanges or over-the-counter. An MLP's organization as a partnership and compliance with the Qualifying Income rules generally eliminates federal tax at the entity level.
An MLP has one or more general partners (who may be individuals, corporations, or other partnerships) which manage the partnership, and limited partners, which provide capital to the partnership but have no role in its management. Typically, the general partner is owned by company management or another publicly traded sponsoring corporation. When an investor buys units in an MLP, the investor becomes a limited partner. Holders of MLP units have limited control and voting rights on matters affecting the partnership and are exposed to a remote possibility of liability for all of the obligations of that MLP in the event that a court determines that the rights of the holders of MLP units to vote to remove or replace the general partner of that MLP, to approve amendments to that MLP’s partnership agreement, or to take other action under the partnership agreement of that MLP would constitute “control” of the business of that MLP, or a court or governmental agency determines that the MLP is conducting business in a state without complying with the partnership statute of that state. Holders of MLP units are also exposed to the risk that they will be required to repay amounts to the MLP that are wrongfully distributed to them.
The business of certain MLPs is affected by supply and demand for energy commodities because such MLPs derive revenue and income based upon the volume of the underlying commodity produced, transported, processed, distributed, and/ or marketed. Pipeline MLPs have indirect commodity exposure to oil and gas price volatility because, although they do not own the underlying energy commodity, the general level of commodity prices may affect the volume of the commodity the MLP delivers to its customers and the cost of providing services such as distributing natural gas liquids. The costs of natural gas pipeline MLPs to perform services may exceed the negotiated rates under “negotiated rate” contracts. Processing MLPs may be directly affected by energy commodity prices. Propane MLPs own the underlying energy commodity, and therefore have direct exposure to energy commodity prices. The MLP industry in general could be hurt by market perception that MLP's performance and valuation are directly tied to commodity prices.
Pipeline MLPs are common carrier transporters of natural gas, natural gas liquids (primarily propane, ethane, butane and natural gasoline), crude oil or refined petroleum products (gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel). Pipeline MLPs also may operate ancillary businesses such as storage and marketing of such products. Pipeline MLPs derive revenue from capacity and transportation fees. Historically, pipeline output has been less exposed to cyclical economic forces due to its low cost structure and government-regulated nature. In addition, most pipeline MLPs have limited direct commodity price exposure because they do not own the product being shipped.
Processing MLPs are gatherers and processors of natural gas as well as providers of transportation, fractionation and storage of natural gas liquids ("NGLs"). Processing MLPs derive revenue from providing services to natural gas producers, which require treatment or processing before their natural gas commodity can be marketed to utilities and other end user markets. Revenue for the processor is fee based, although it is not uncommon to have some participation in the prices of the natural gas and NGL commodities for a portion of revenue.
Propane MLPs are distributors of propane to homeowners for space and water heating. Propane MLPs derive revenue from the resale of the commodity on a margin over wholesale cost. The ability to maintain margin is a key to profitability. Propane serves approximately 3% of the household energy needs in the United States, largely for homes beyond the geographic reach of natural gas distribution pipelines. Approximately 70% of annual cash flow is earned during the winter heating season (October through March). Accordingly, volumes are weather dependent, but have utility type functions similar to electricity and natural gas.
MLPs operating interstate pipelines and storage facilities are subject to substantial regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"), which regulates interstate transportation rates, services and other matters regarding natural gas pipelines including: the establishment of rates for service; regulation of pipeline storage and liquified natural gas facility construction; issuing certificates of need for companies intending to provide energy services or constructing and operating interstate pipeline and storage facilities; and certain other matters. FERC also regulates the interstate transportation of crude oil, including: regulation of rates and practices of oil pipeline companies; establishing equal service conditions to provide shippers with equal access to pipeline transportation; and establishment of reasonable rates for transporting petroleum and petroleum products by pipeline.
MLPs are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and health and safety laws as well as laws and regulations specific to their particular activities. These laws and regulations address: health and safety standards for the operation of facilities, transportation systems and the handling of materials; air and water pollution requirements and standards; solid waste disposal requirements; land reclamation requirements; and requirements relating to the handling and disposition of hazardous materials. MLPs are subject to the costs of compliance with such laws applicable to them, and changes in such laws and regulations may adversely affect their results of operations.
MLPs may be subject to liability relating to the release of substances into the environment, including liability under federal “Superfund” and similar state laws for investigation and remediation of releases and threatened releases of hazardous materials, as well as liability for injury and property damage for accidental events, such as explosions or discharges of materials causing personal injury and damage to property. Such potential liabilities could have a material adverse effect upon the financial condition and results of operations of MLPs.
MLPs are subject to numerous business related risks, including: deterioration of business fundamentals reducing profitability due to development of alternative energy sources, consumer sentiment with respect to global warming, changing demographics in the markets served, unexpectedly prolonged and precipitous changes in commodity prices and increased competition that reduces the MLP’s market share; the lack of growth of markets requiring growth through acquisitions; disruptions in transportation systems; the dependence of certain MLPs upon the energy exploration and development activities of unrelated third parties; availability of capital for expansion and construction of needed facilities; a significant decrease in natural gas production due to depressed commodity prices or otherwise; the inability of MLPs to successfully integrate recent or future acquisitions; and the general level of the economy.
Municipal Obligations and AMT-Subject Bonds
Municipal Obligations are obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, including municipal utilities, or multi-state agencies or authorities. The interest on Municipal Obligations is exempt from federal income tax in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer. Three major classifications of Municipal Obligations are: Municipal Bonds, that generally have a maturity at the time of issue of one year or more; Municipal Notes, that generally have a maturity at the time of issue of six months to three years; and Municipal Commercial Paper, that generally has a maturity at the time of issue of 30 to 270 days.
The term "Municipal Obligations" includes debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities such as airports, bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation, schools, streets, water and sewer works, and electric utilities. Other public purposes for which Municipal Obligations are issued include refunding outstanding obligations, obtaining funds for general operating expenses, and lending such funds to other public institutions and facilities. To the extent that a fund invests a significant portion of its assets in municipal obligations issued in connection with a single project, the fund likely will be affected by the economic, business or political environment of the project.
AMT-Subject Bonds are industrial development bonds issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide for the construction, equipment, repair or improvement of privately operated housing facilities, sports facilities, convention or trade show facilities, airport, mass transit, industrial, port or parking facilities, air or water pollution control facilities, and certain local facilities for water supply, gas, electricity, or sewage or solid waste disposal. They are considered to be Municipal Obligations if the interest paid thereon qualifies as exempt from federal income tax in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, even though the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax for individual income tax purposes.
Municipal Bonds
Municipal Bonds may be either "general obligation" or "revenue" issues. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer's pledge of its faith, credit, and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds are payable from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue source (e.g., the user of the facilities being financed), but not from the general taxing power. Industrial development bonds and pollution control bonds in most cases are revenue bonds and generally do not carry the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality. The payment of the principal and interest on industrial revenue bonds depends solely on the ability of the user of the facilities financed by the bonds to meet its financial obligations and the pledge, if any, of real and personal property so financed as security for such payment. Funds may also invest in "moral obligation" bonds that are normally issued by special purpose public authorities. If an issuer of moral obligation bonds is unable to meet its obligations, the repayment of the bonds becomes a moral commitment but not a legal obligation of the state or municipality in question.
Municipal Commercial Paper
Municipal Commercial Paper refers to short-term obligations of municipalities that may be issued at a discount and may be referred to as Short-Term Discount Notes. Municipal Commercial Paper is likely to be used to meet seasonal working capital needs of a municipality or interim construction financing. Generally, they are repaid from general revenues of the municipality or refinanced with long-term debt. In most cases Municipal Commercial Paper is backed by letters of credit, lending agreements, note repurchase agreements or other credit facility agreements offered by banks or other institutions.
Municipal Notes
Municipal Notes usually are general obligations of the issuer and are sold in anticipation of a bond sale, collection of taxes, or receipt of other revenues. Payment of these notes is primarily dependent upon the issuer's receipt of the anticipated revenues. Other notes include "Construction Loan Notes" issued to provide construction financing for specific projects, and "Bank Notes" issued by local governmental bodies and agencies to commercial banks as evidence of borrowings. Some notes ("Project Notes") are issued by local agencies under a program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Project Notes are secured by the full faith and credit of the United States.
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Bank Notes are notes issued by local governmental bodies and agencies such as those described above to commercial banks as evidence of borrowings. The purposes for which the notes are issued are varied but they are frequently issued to meet short-term working-capital or capital-project needs. These notes may have risks similar to the risks associated with TANs and RANs.
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Bond Anticipation Notes ("BANs") are usually general obligations of state and local governmental issuers which are sold to obtain interim financing for projects that will eventually be funded through the sale of long-term debt obligations or bonds. The ability of an issuer to meet its obligations on its BANs is primarily dependent on the issuer's access to the long-term municipal bond market and the likelihood that the proceeds of such bond sales will be used to pay the principal and interest on the BANs.
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Construction Loan Notes are issued to provide construction financing for specific projects. Permanent financing, the proceeds of which are applied to the payment of construction loan notes, is sometimes provided by a commitment by the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") to purchase the loan, accompanied by a commitment by the Federal Housing Administration to insure mortgage advances thereunder. In other instances, permanent financing is provided by commitments of banks to purchase the loan.
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Revenue Anticipation Notes ("RANs") are issued by governments or governmental bodies with the expectation that future revenues from a designated source will be used to repay the notes. In general, they also constitute general obligations of the issuer. A decline in the receipt of projected revenues, such as anticipated revenues from another level of government, could adversely affect an issuer's ability to meet its obligations on outstanding RANs. In addition, the possibility that the revenues would, when received, be used to meet other obligations could affect the ability of the issuer to pay the principal and interest on RANs.
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Tax Anticipation Notes ("TANs") are issued by state and local governments to finance the current operations of such governments. Repayment is generally to be derived from specific future tax revenues. TANs are usually general obligations of the issuer. A weakness in an issuer's capacity to raise taxes due to, among other things, a decline in its tax base or a rise in delinquencies, could adversely affect the issuer's ability to meet its obligations on outstanding TANs.
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Other Municipal Obligations
Other kinds of Municipal Obligations are occasionally available in the marketplace, and the fund may invest in such other kinds of obligations to the extent consistent with its investment objective and limitations. Such obligations may be issued for different purposes and with different security than those mentioned.
Stand-By Commitments
Each Fund may acquire stand-by commitments with respect to municipal obligations held in its portfolios. Under a stand-by commitment, a broker-dealer, dealer, or bank would agree to purchase, at the Fund’s option, a specified municipal security at a specified price. Thus, a stand-by commitment may be viewed as the equivalent of a put option acquired by a fund with respect to a particular municipal security held in the Fund's portfolio.
The amount payable to a Fund upon its exercise of a stand-by commitment normally would be 1) the acquisition cost of the municipal security (excluding any accrued interest that the fund paid on the acquisition), less any amortized market premium or plus any amortized market or original issue discount during the period the fund owned the security, plus, 2) all interest accrued on the security since the last interest payment date during the period the security was owned by the fund. Absent unusual circumstances, the fund would value the underlying municipal security at amortized cost. As a result, the amount payable by the broker-dealer, dealer or bank during the time a stand-by commitment is exercisable would be substantially the same as the value of the underlying municipal obligation.
A Fund’s right to exercise a stand-by commitment would be unconditional and unqualified. Although the Fund could not transfer a stand-by commitment, it could sell the underlying municipal security to a third party at any time. It is expected that stand-by commitments generally will be available to the Fund without the payment of any direct or indirect consideration. The Fund may, however, pay for stand-by commitments if such action is deemed necessary. In any event, the total amount paid for outstanding stand-by commitments held in the Fund's portfolio would not exceed 0.50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets calculated immediately after each stand-by commitment is acquired.
Each Fund intends to enter into stand-by commitments only with broker-dealers, dealers, or banks that those managing the Fund's investments believe present minimum credit risks. A Fund’s ability to exercise a stand-by commitment will depend upon the ability of the issuing institution to pay for the underlying securities at the time the stand-by commitment is exercised. The credit of each institution issuing a stand-by commitment to a fund will be evaluated on an ongoing basis by those managing the Fund's investments.
Each Fund intends to acquire stand-by commitments solely to facilitate portfolio liquidity and does not intend to exercise its right thereunder for trading purposes. The acquisition of a stand-by commitment would not affect the valuation of the underlying municipal security. Each stand-by commitment will be valued at zero in determining net asset value. Should a Fund pay directly or indirectly for a stand-by commitment, its costs will be reflected in realized gain or loss when the commitment is exercised or expires. The maturity of a municipal security purchased by a Fund will not be considered shortened by any stand-by commitment to which the obligation is subject. Thus, stand-by commitments will not affect the dollar-weighted average maturity of a Fund's portfolio.
Variable and Floating Rate Obligations
Certain Municipal Obligations, obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, and debt instruments issued by domestic banks or corporations may carry variable or floating rates of interest. Such instruments bear interest at rates which are not fixed, but which vary with changes in specified market rates or indices, such as a bank prime rate or tax-exempt money market index. Variable rate notes are adjusted to current interest rate levels at certain specified times, such as every 30 days. A floating rate note adjusts automatically whenever there is a change in its base interest rate adjustor, e.g., a change in the prime lending rate or specified interest rate indices. Typically, such instruments carry demand features permitting the fund to redeem at par.
The fund's right to obtain payment at par on a demand instrument upon demand could be affected by events occurring between the date the fund elects to redeem the instrument and the date redemption proceeds are due which affects the ability of the issuer to pay the instrument at par value. Those managing the Fund's investments monitor on an ongoing basis the pricing, quality, and liquidity of such instruments and similarly monitor the ability of an issuer of a demand instrument, including those supported by bank letters of credit or guarantees, to pay principal and interest on demand. Although the ultimate maturity of such variable rate obligations may exceed one year, the fund treats the maturity of each variable rate demand obligation as the longer of a) the notice period required before the fund is entitled to payment of the principal amount through demand or b) the period remaining until the next interest rate adjustment. Floating rate instruments with demand features are deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand.
Each Fund may purchase participation interests in variable rate Municipal Obligations (such as industrial development bonds). A participation interest gives the purchaser an undivided interest in the Municipal Obligation in the proportion that its participation interest bears to the total principal amount of the Municipal Obligation. Each Fund has the right to demand payment on seven days' notice, for all or any part of the Fund's participation interest in the Municipal Obligation, plus accrued interest. Each participation interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a bank. Banks will retain a service and letter of credit fee and a fee for issuing repurchase commitments in an amount equal to the excess of the interest paid on the Municipal Obligations over the negotiated yield at which the instruments were purchased by the Fund.
Risks of Municipal Obligations
The yields on Municipal Obligations are dependent on a variety of factors, including general economic and monetary conditions, money market factors, conditions in the Municipal Obligations market, size of a particular offering, maturity of the obligation, and rating of the issue. Each Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective also depends on the continuing ability of the issuers of the Municipal Obligations in which it invests to meet its obligation for the payment of interest and principal when due.
Municipal Obligations are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Act. They are also subject to federal or state laws, if any, which extend the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or impose other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon municipalities to levy taxes. The power or ability of issuers to pay, when due, principal of and interest on Municipal Obligations may also be materially affected by the results of litigation or other conditions.
From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax exemption for interest on Municipal Obligations. It may be expected that similar proposals will be introduced in the future. If such a proposal was enacted, the ability of a Fund to pay "exempt interest" dividends may be adversely affected. The Fund would reevaluate its investment objective and policies and consider changes in its structure.
Pay-in-Kind Securities
Each Fund may invest in pay-in-kind securities. Pay-in-kind securities pay dividends or interest in the form of additional securities of the issuer, rather than in cash. These securities are usually issued and traded at a discount from their face amounts. The amount of the discount varies depending on various factors, such as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of pay-in-kind securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than are other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality.
Portfolio Turnover (Active Trading)
Portfolio turnover is a measure of how frequently a portfolio's securities are bought and sold. The portfolio turnover rate is generally calculated as the dollar value of the lesser of a portfolio's purchases or sales of shares of securities during a given year, divided by the monthly average value of the portfolio securities during that year (excluding securities whose maturity or expiration at the time of acquisition were less than one year). For example, a portfolio reporting a 100% portfolio turnover rate would have purchased and sold securities worth as much as the monthly average value of its portfolio securities during the year.
It is not possible to predict future turnover rates with accuracy. Many variable factors are outside the control of a portfolio manager. The investment outlook for the securities in which a portfolio may invest may change as a result of unexpected developments in securities markets, economic or monetary policies, or political relationships. High market volatility may result in a portfolio manager using a more active trading strategy than might otherwise be employed. Each portfolio manager considers the economic effects of portfolio turnover but generally does not treat the portfolio turnover rate as a limiting factor in making investment decisions.
Sale of shares by investors may require the liquidation of portfolio securities to meet cash flow needs. In addition, changes in a particular portfolio's holdings may be made whenever the portfolio manager considers that a security is no longer appropriate for the portfolio or that another security represents a relatively greater opportunity. Such changes may be made without regard to the length of time that a security has been held.
Higher portfolio turnover rates generally increase transaction costs that are expenses of the Account. Active trading may generate short-term gains (losses) for taxable shareholders.
No Fund had a significant variation in portfolio turnover rates over the two most recently completed fiscal years.
Preferred Securities
Preferred securities can include: traditional preferred securities, hybrid-preferred securities, $25 par hybrid preferred securities, baby bonds, U.S. dividend received deduction (“DRD”) preferred stock, fixed rate and floating rate adjustable preferred securities, step-up preferred securities, public and 144A $1000 par capital securities including U.S. agency subordinated debt issues, trust originated preferred securities, monthly income preferred securities, quarterly income bond securities, quarterly income debt securities, quarterly income preferred securities, corporate trust securities, public income notes, and other trust preferred securities.
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Traditional Preferred Securities. Traditional preferred securities may be issued by an entity taxable as a corporation and pay fixed or floating rate dividends. However, these claims are subordinated to more senior creditors, including senior debt holders. “Preference” means that a company must pay dividends on its preferred securities before paying any dividends on its common stock, and the claims of preferred securities holders are ahead of common stockholders’ claims on assets in a corporate liquidation. Holders of preferred securities usually have no right to vote for corporate directors or on other matters. Preferred securities share many investment characteristics with both common stock and bonds.
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Hybrid or Trust Preferred Securities. Hybrid-preferred securities are debt instruments that have characteristics similar to those of traditional preferred securities (characteristics of both subordinated debt and preferred stock). Hybrid preferred securities may be issued by corporations, generally in the form of interest-bearing instruments with preferred securities characteristics, or by an affiliated trust or partnership of the corporation, generally in the form of preferred interests in subordinated business trusts or similarly structured securities. The hybrid-preferred securities market consists of both fixed and adjustable coupon rate securities that are either perpetual in nature or have stated maturity dates. Hybrid preferred holders generally have claims to assets in a corporate liquidation that are senior to those of traditional preferred securities but subordinate to those of senior debt holders. Certain subordinated debt and senior debt issues that have preferred characteristics are also considered to be part of the broader preferred securities market.
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Preferred securities may be issued by trusts (likely one that is wholly-owned by a financial institution or other corporate entity, typically a bank holding company) or other special purpose entities established by operating companies, and are therefore not direct obligations of operating companies. The financial institution creates the trust and owns the trust’s common securities. The trust uses the sale proceeds of its preferred securities to purchase, for example, subordinated debt issued by the financial institution. The financial institution uses the proceeds from the subordinated debt sale to increase its capital while the trust receives periodic interest payments from the financial institution for holding the subordinated debt. The trust uses the funds received to make dividend payments to the holders of the trust preferred securities. The primary advantage of this structure may be that the trust preferred securities are treated by the financial institution as debt securities for tax purposes and as equity for the calculation of capital requirements.
Trust preferred securities typically bear a market rate coupon comparable to interest rates available on debt of a similarly rated issuer. Typical characteristics include long-term maturities, early redemption by the issuer, periodic fixed or variable interest payments, and maturities at face value. Holders of trust preferred securities have limited voting rights to control the activities of the trust and no voting rights with respect to the financial institution. The market value of trust preferred securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities. Trust preferred securities may be issued in reliance on Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and subject to restrictions on resale. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of trust preferred securities and the ability of holders, such as the Funds, to sell its holdings. The condition of the financial institution can be looked to identify the risks of trust preferred securities as the trust typically has no business operations other than to issue the trust preferred securities. If the financial institution defaults on interest payments to the trust, the trust will not be able to make dividend payments to holders of its securities, such as the Funds.
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Floating rate preferred securities provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the securities. The terms of such securities provide that interest rates are adjusted periodically based upon an interest rate adjustment index. The adjustment intervals may be regular, and range from daily up to annually, or may be event-based, such as a change in the short-term interest rate. Because of the interest rate reset feature, floating rate securities provide a Fund with a certain degree of protection against rising interest rates, although the interest rates of floating rate securities will participate in any declines in interest rates as well.
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If a portion of a Fund’s income consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations, a portion of the dividends paid by the fund may be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders. In addition, distributions reported by a Fund as derived from qualified dividend income (“QDI”) will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the reduced rates applicable to net capital gains, provided certain holding period and other requirements are met by both the shareholder and the fund. Dividend income that a Fund receives from REITs, if any, will generally not be treated as QDI and will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction. It is unclear the extent to which distributions a Fund receives from investments in certain preferred securities will be eligible for treatment as QDI or for the corporate dividends-received deduction. The Funds cannot predict at this time what portion, if any, of their dividends will qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction or be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation applicable to QDI.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)
REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest in income producing real estate, real estate related loans, or other types of real estate interests. U.S. REITs are allowed to eliminate corporate level federal tax so long as they meet certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Foreign REITs ("REIT-like") entities may have similar tax treatment in their respective countries. Equity real estate investment trusts own real estate properties, while mortgage real estate investment trusts make and/or invests in construction, development, and long-term mortgage loans. Their value may be affected by changes in the underlying property of the trusts, the creditworthiness of the issuer, property taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements, such as those relating to the environment. Both types of trusts are not diversified, are dependent upon management skill, are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act. In addition, foreign REIT-like entities will be subject to foreign securities risks. (See "Foreign Securities").
Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements, Mortgage Dollar Rolls and Sale-Buybacks
Each Fund may invest in repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements typically involve the purchase of debt securities from a financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association, or broker-dealer. A repurchase agreement provides that the fund sells back to the seller and that the seller repurchases the underlying securities at a specified price on a specific date. Repurchase agreements may be viewed as loans by a fund collateralized by the underlying securities. This arrangement results in a fixed rate of return that is not subject to market fluctuation while the fund holds the security. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the affected fund bears a risk of loss. To minimize such risks, the fund enters into repurchase agreements only with parties those managing the fund's investments deem creditworthy (those that are large, well-capitalized, and well-established financial institutions). In addition, the value of the securities collateralizing the repurchase agreement is, and during the entire term of the repurchase agreement remains, at least equal to the acquisition price the Funds pay to the seller of the securities.
In a repurchase agreement, the Fund purchases a security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller at an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date within a number of days (usually not more than seven) from the date of purchase. The resale price consists of the purchase price plus an amount that is unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the purchased security. A repurchase agreement involves the obligation of the seller to pay the agreed upon price, which obligation is in effect secured by the value (at least equal to the amount of the agreed upon resale price and marked-to-market daily) of the underlying security or "collateral." A risk associated with repurchase agreements is the failure of the seller to repurchase the securities as agreed, which may cause the Fund to suffer a loss if the market value of such securities declines before they can be liquidated on the open market. In the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of the seller, the Fund may encounter delays and incur costs in liquidating the underlying security. Repurchase agreements that mature in more than seven days are subject to the Fund's limit on illiquid investments. While it is not possible to eliminate all risks from these transactions, it is the policy of the Fund to limit repurchase agreements to those parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by those managing the Fund's investments.
Each Fund may use reverse repurchase agreements, mortgage dollar rolls, and economically similar transactions to obtain cash to satisfy unusually heavy redemption requests or for other temporary or emergency purposes without the necessity of selling portfolio securities, or to earn additional income on portfolio securities, such as Treasury bills or notes. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund sells a portfolio security to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase the instrument at a particular price and time. While a reverse repurchase agreement is outstanding, the Fund will maintain cash or appropriate liquid assets to cover its obligation under the agreement. A Fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only with parties that those managing the Fund's investments deem creditworthy. Using reverse repurchase agreements to earn additional income involves the risk that the interest earned on the invested proceeds is less than the expense of the reverse repurchase agreement transaction. This technique may also have a leveraging effect on a Fund, although the Fund's intent to segregate assets in the amount of the reverse repurchase obligation minimizes this effect.
A “mortgage dollar roll” is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement in certain respects. In a “dollar roll” transaction a Fund sells a mortgage-related security, such as a security issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, to a dealer and simultaneously agrees to repurchase a similar security (but not the same security) in the future at a pre-determined price. A dollar roll can be viewed, like a reverse repurchase agreement, as a collateralized borrowing in which the Fund pledges a mortgage-related security to a dealer to obtain cash. Unlike in the case of reverse repurchase agreements, the dealer with which the Fund enters into a dollar roll transaction is not obligated to return the same securities as those originally sold by the Fund, but only securities which are “substantially identical.” To be considered “substantially identical,” the securities returned to the Fund generally must: 1) be collateralized by the same types of underlying mortgages; 2) be issued by the same agency and be part of the same program; 3) have a similar original stated maturity; 4) have identical net coupon rates; 5) have similar market yields (and therefore price); and 6) satisfy “good delivery” requirements, meaning that the aggregate principal amounts of the securities delivered and received back must be within 0.01% of the initial amount delivered.
A Fund's obligations under a dollar roll agreement must be covered by segregated liquid assets equal in value to the securities subject to repurchase by the Fund.
Each Fund also may effect simultaneous purchase and sale transactions that are known as “sale-buybacks.” A sale-buyback is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement, except that in a sale-buyback, the counterparty who purchases the security is entitled to receive any principal or interest payments made on the underlying security pending settlement of the Fund's repurchase of the underlying security. A Fund's obligations under a sale-buyback typically would be segregated by liquid assets equal in value to the amount of the Fund's forward commitment to repurchase the subject security.
Restricted and Illiquid Securities
A fund may experience difficulty in valuing and selling illiquid securities and, in some cases, may be unable to value or sell certain illiquid securities for an indefinite period of time. Illiquid securities may include a wide variety of investments, such as (1) repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days (unless the agreements have demand/redemption features), (2) OTC options contracts and certain other derivatives (including certain swap agreements), (3) fixed time deposits that are not subject to prepayment or do not provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), (4) loan interests and other direct debt instruments, (5) certain municipal lease obligations, (6) commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act, (7) thinly-traded securities, and (8) securities whose resale is restricted under the federal securities laws or contractual provisions (including restricted, privately placed securities that, under the federal securities laws, generally may be resold only to qualified institutional buyers). Generally, restricted securities may be sold only in a public offering for which a registration statement has been filed and declared effective or in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. When registration is required, a fund that owns restricted securities may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a restricted security. If adverse market conditions were to develop during such a period, the fund might obtain a less favorable price than existed when it decided to sell.
Illiquid and restricted securities are priced at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Trustees. Each Fund has adopted investment restrictions that limit its investments in illiquid securities to no more than 15% of its net assets. The Trustees have adopted procedures to determine the liquidity of Rule 4(2) short-term paper and of restricted securities that may be resold under Rule 144A. Securities determined to be liquid under these procedures are excluded from the preceding investment restriction.
Securitized Products (Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities)
The yield characteristics of the mortgage- and asset-backed securities in which a Fund may invest differ from those of traditional debt securities. Among the major differences are that the interest and principal payments are made more frequently on mortgage- and asset-backed securities (usually monthly) and that principal may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans or other assets generally may be prepaid at any time. As a result, if a Fund purchases those securities at a premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected will reduce their yield, while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected will have the opposite effect of increasing yield. If a Fund purchases these securities at a discount, faster than expected prepayments will increase their yield, while slower than expected prepayments will reduce their yield. Amounts available for reinvestment by a Fund are likely to be greater during a period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than during a period of rising interest rates.
In general, the prepayment rate for mortgage-backed securities decreases as interest rates rise and increases as interest rates fall. However, rising interest rates will tend to decrease the value of these securities. In addition, an increase in interest rates may affect the volatility of these securities by effectively changing a security that was considered a short-term security at the time of purchase into a long-term security. Long-term securities generally fluctuate more widely in response to changes in interest rates than short- or medium-term securities.
The market for privately issued mortgage- and asset-backed securities is smaller and less liquid than the market for U.S. government mortgage-backed securities. A collateralized mortgage obligation (“CMO”) may be structured in a manner that provides a wide variety of investment characteristics (yield, effective maturity, and interest rate sensitivity). As market conditions change, and especially during periods of rapid market interest rate changes, the ability of a CMO to provide the anticipated investment characteristics may be greatly diminished. Increased market volatility and/or reduced liquidity may result.
Each 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.
Short Sales
A short sale involves the sale by a fund of a security that it does not own with the expectation of covering settlement by purchasing the same security at a later date at a lower price. A fund may also enter into a short position by using a derivative instrument, such as a future, forward, or swap agreement. If the price of the security or derivative increases prior to the time the fund is required to replace the borrowed security, then the fund will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time that the short sale was entered into plus any premiums and interest paid to the broker. Therefore, short sales involve the risk that losses may be exaggerated, potentially losing more money than the value of the investment.
A “short sale against the box” is a technique that involves selling either a security owned by a fund, or a security equivalent in kind and amount to the security sold short that the fund has the right to obtain, at no additional cost, for delivery at a specified date in the future. Each Fund may enter into a short sale against the box to hedge against anticipated declines in the market price of portfolio securities. If the value of the securities sold short against the box increases prior to the scheduled delivery date, a fund will lose money.
Supranational Entities
Each Fund may invest in obligations of supranational entities. A supranational entity is an entity designated or supported by national governments to promote economic reconstruction, development or trade amongst nations. Examples of supranational entities include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (also known as the World Bank) and the European Investment Bank. Obligations of supranational entities are subject to the risk that the governments on whose support the entity depends for its financial backing or repayment may be unable or unwilling to provide that support. Obligations of a supranational entity that are denominated in foreign currencies will also be subject to the risks associated with investments in foreign currencies.
Temporary Defensive Measures/Money Market Instruments
Each Fund may make money market investments (cash equivalents), without limit, pending other investment or settlement, for liquidity, or in adverse market conditions. Following are descriptions of the types of money market instruments that each Fund may purchase:
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U.S. Government Securities - Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, including treasury bills, notes, and bonds.
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U.S. Government Agency Securities - Obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government.
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U.S. agency obligations include, but are not limited to, the Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Home Loan Banks, and Federal Intermediate Credit Banks.
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U.S. instrumentality obligations include, but are not limited to, the Export-Import Bank, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and Federal National Mortgage Association.
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Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Others, such as those issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association, are supported by discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality. Still others, such as those issued by the Student Loan Marketing Association, are supported only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality.
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Bank Obligations - Certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers' acceptances of U.S. commercial banks having total assets of at least one billion dollars and overseas branches of U.S. commercial banks and foreign banks, which in the opinion of those managing the Fund's investments, are of comparable quality. A Fund may acquire obligations of U.S. banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System or of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
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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.
Obligations of foreign banks and obligations of overseas branches of U.S. banks are subject to somewhat different regulations and risks than those of U.S. domestic banks. For example, an issuing bank may be able to maintain that the liability for an investment is solely that of the overseas branch which could expose a Fund to a greater risk of loss. In addition, obligations of foreign banks or of overseas branches of U.S. banks may be affected by governmental action in the country of domicile of the branch or parent bank. Examples of adverse foreign governmental actions include the imposition of currency controls, the imposition of withholding taxes on interest income payable on such obligations, interest limitations, seizure or nationalization of assets, or the declaration of a moratorium. Deposits in foreign banks or foreign branches of U.S. banks are not covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 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. The Funds only buy short-term instruments where the risks of adverse governmental action are believed by those managing the Fund's investments to be minimal. The Funds consider these factors, along with other appropriate factors, in making an investment decision to acquire such obligations. A Fund only acquires those which, in the opinion of management, are of an investment quality comparable to other debt securities bought by the Fund.
A certificate of deposit is issued against funds deposited in a bank or savings and loan association for a definite period of time, at a specified rate of return. Normally they are negotiable. However, a Fund occasionally may invest in certificates of deposit which are not negotiable. Such certificates may provide for interest penalties in the event of withdrawal prior to their maturity. A bankers' acceptance is a short-term credit instrument issued by corporations to finance the import, export, transfer, or storage of goods. They are termed "accepted" when a bank guarantees their payment at maturity and reflect the obligation of both the bank and drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument at maturity.
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Commercial Paper - Short-term promissory notes issued by U.S. or foreign corporations.
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Short-term Corporate Debt - Corporate notes, bonds, and debentures that at the time of purchase have 397 days or less remaining to maturity, with certain exceptions permitted by applicable regulations.
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Repurchase Agreements - Instruments under which securities are purchased from a bank or securities dealer with an agreement by the seller to repurchase the securities at the same price plus interest at a specified rate.
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Taxable Municipal Obligations - Short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by state and municipal issuers which generate taxable income.
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LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND BOARD
PETF's Board has overall responsibility for directing PETF's operations in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, other applicable laws and PETF’s charter. Each Board Member serves on the Boards of the following investment companies sponsored by Principal Life Insurance Company: Principal Funds, Inc. ("PFI"), Principal Variable Contracts Funds, Inc. (“PVC”), Principal Exchange-Traded Funds ("PETF"), and Principal Diversified Select Real Asset Fund ("PDSRA"), which are collectively referred to in this SAI as the "Fund Complex." The Board elects officers to supervise the day-to-day operations of the Fund Complex. Officers serve at the pleasure of the Board, and each officer has the same position with each investment company in the Fund Complex.
Board Members that are affiliated persons of PGI, the principal distributor, or the principal underwriter of the Fund Complex are considered “interested persons” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and are referred to in this SAI as "Interested Board Members." Board Members who are not Interested Board Members are referred to as "Independent Board Members."
The Board meets in regularly scheduled meetings eight times throughout the year. Board meetings may occur in-person or by telephone. In addition, the Board holds special in-person or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings. Independent Board Members also meet annually to consider renewal of advisory contracts.
The Chairman of the Board is an interested person of the Fund Complex. The Independent Board Members have appointed a lead Independent Board Member whose role is to review and approve, with the Chairman, each Board meeting's agenda and to facilitate communication between and among the Independent Board Members, management, and the full Board. The Board's leadership structure is appropriate for the Fund Complex given its characteristics and circumstances, including the number of portfolios, variety of asset classes, net assets, and distribution arrangements. The appropriateness of this structure is enhanced by the establishment and allocation of responsibilities among the following Committees, which report their activities to the Board on a regular basis.
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Committee and Independent Board Members
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Primary Purpose and Responsibilities
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Meetings Held During the Last Fiscal Year
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15(c) Committee
Craig Damos
Mark Grimmett
Fritz Hirsch
Tao Huang
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The Committee’s primary purpose is to assist the Board in performing the annual review of the Fund’s advisory and sub-advisory agreements pursuant to Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act. The Committee is responsible for requesting and reviewing related materials.
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6
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Audit Committee
Leroy Barnes
Mark Grimmett
Elizabeth Nickels
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The Committee's primary purpose is to assist the Board by serving as an independent and objective party to monitor the Fund Complex's accounting policies, financial reporting and internal control system, as well as the work of the independent registered public accountants. The Audit Committee assists Board oversight of 1) the integrity of the Fund Complex's financial statements; 2) the Fund Complex's compliance with certain legal and regulatory requirements; 3) the independent registered public accountants' qualifications and independence; and 4) the performance of the Fund Complex's independent registered public accountants. The Audit Committee also provides an open avenue of communication among the independent registered public accountants, PGI's internal auditors, Fund Complex management, and the Board.
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7
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Executive Committee
Craig Damos
Timothy M. Dunbar
Mark Grimmett
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The Committee's primary purpose is to exercise certain powers of the Board when the Board is not in session. When the Board is not in session, the Committee may exercise all powers of the Board in the management of the Fund Complex's business except the power to 1) issue stock, except as permitted by law; 2) recommend to the stockholders any action which requires stockholder approval; 3) amend the bylaws; or 4) approve any merger or share exchange which does not require stockholder approval.
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Nominating and Governance Committee
Elizabeth Ballantine
Leroy Barnes
Craig Damos
Fritz Hirsch
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The Committee's primary purpose is to oversee the structure and efficiency of the Board and the committees. The Committee is responsible for evaluating Board membership and functions, committee membership and functions, insurance coverage, and legal matters. The Committee's nominating functions include selecting and nominating Independent Board Member candidates for election to the Board. Generally, the Committee requests nominee suggestions from Committee members and management. In addition, the Committee considers candidates recommended by shareholders of the Fund Complex. Recommendations should be submitted in writing to Principal Funds, Inc., 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392. When evaluating a potential nominee for Independent Board Member, the Committee generally considers, among other factors: age; education; relevant business experience; geographical factors; whether the person is "independent" and otherwise qualified under applicable laws and regulations to serve as an Independent Board Member; and whether the person is willing to serve, and willing and able to commit the time necessary to attend meetings and perform the duties of an Independent Board Member. The Committee meets personally with nominees and conducts a reference check. The final decision is based on a combination of factors, including the strengths and the experience an individual may bring to the Board. The Committee believes the Board generally benefits from diversity of background, experience and views among its members, and considers these factors in evaluating the Board's composition. The Board does not regularly use the services of professional search firms to identify or evaluate potential candidates or nominees.
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4
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Operations Committee
Fritz Hirsch
Tao Huang
Karrie McMillan
Meg VanDeWeghe
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The Committee's primary purpose is to review and oversee the provision of administrative and distribution services to the Fund Complex, communications with the Fund Complex's shareholders, and the Fund Complex's operations.
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Risk oversight forms part of the Board's general oversight of the Fund Complex. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who oversees the implementation and testing of the Fund's compliance program and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Fund and its principal service providers. As part of its regular risk oversight functions, the Board, directly or through a Committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others: Fund Complex management, sub-advisors, the Chief Compliance Officer, independent registered public accounting firm, and internal auditors for PGI or its affiliates, as appropriate. The Board, with the assistance of Fund management and PGI, reviews investment policies and risks in connection with its review of Fund Complex performance. In addition, as part of the Board's periodic review of advisory, sub-advisory and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of their operations and the functions for which they are responsible. With respect to valuation, the Board oversees a PGI valuation committee and has approved and periodically reviews valuation policies applicable to valuing Fund shares.
Each Board Member has significant prior senior management and/or board experience. Board Members are selected and retained based upon their skills, experience, judgment, analytical ability, diligence and ability to work effectively with other Board members, a commitment to the interests of shareholders and, for each Independent Board Member, a demonstrated willingness to take an independent and questioning view of management. In addition to these general qualifications, the Board seeks members who build upon the Board's diversity. Below is a brief discussion of the specific education, experience, qualifications, or skills that led to the conclusion that each person identified below should serve as a Board Member. As required by rules adopted under the 1940 Act, the Independent Board Members select and nominate all candidates for Independent Board Member positions.
Independent Board Members
Elizabeth Ballantine. Ms. Ballantine has served as an Independent Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2004. Through her professional training, experience as an attorney, and experience as a board member and investment consultant, Ms. Ballantine is experienced in financial, investment and regulatory matters.
Leroy T. Barnes, Jr. Mr. Barnes has served as an Independent Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2012. From 2001-2005, Mr. Barnes served as Vice President and Treasurer of PG&E Corporation. From 1997-2001, Mr. Barnes served as Vice President and Treasurer of Gap, Inc. Through his education, employment experience, and experience as a board member, Mr. Barnes is experienced with financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.
Craig Damos. Mr. Damos has served as an Independent Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2008. Since 2011, Mr. Damos has served as the President of The Damos Company (consulting services). Mr. Damos served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Weitz Company from 2006-2010; Vertical Growth Officer of Weitz Company from 2004-2006; and Chief Financial Officer of Weitz Company from 2000-2004. From 2005-2008, Mr. Damos served as a director of West Bank. Through his education, employment experience, and experience as a board member, Mr. Damos is experienced with financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.
Mark A. Grimmett. Mr. Grimmett has served as an Independent Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2004. He is a Certified Public Accountant. From 1996-2015, Mr. Grimmett served as the Chief Financial Officer for Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc. Through his education, employment experience, and experience as a board member, Mr. Grimmett is experienced with financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.
Fritz S. Hirsch. Mr. Hirsch has served as an Independent Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2005. From 2011-2015, Mr. Hirsch served as CEO of MAM USA. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sassy, Inc. from 1986-2009, and Chief Financial Officer of Sassy, Inc. from 1983-1985. Through his education, employment experience, and experience as a board member, Mr. Hirsch is experienced with financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.
Tao Huang. Mr. Huang has served as an Independent Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2012. Mr. Huang served as Chief Operating Officer of Morningstar from 2000-2011; as President of the International Division of Morningstar from 1998-2000; and as Chief Technology Officer of Morningstar, Inc. from 1996-2000. Through his education, employment experience, and experience as a board member, Mr. Huang is experienced with technology, financial, regulatory and investment matters.
Karen (“Karrie”) McMillan. Ms. McMillan has served as an Independent Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2014. From 2007-2014, Ms. McMillan served as general counsel to the Investment Company Institute. Prior to that (from 1999-2007), she worked as an attorney in private practice, specializing in the mutual fund industry. From 1991-1999, she served in various roles as counsel at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Investment Management, including as Assistant Chief Counsel. Through her professional education, experience as an attorney, and experience as a board member, Ms. McMillan is experienced in financial, investment and regulatory matters.
Elizabeth A. Nickels. Ms. Nickels has served as an Independent Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2015. Ms. Nickels currently serves as a director of SpartanNash. From 2008 to 2017, she served as a director of the not-for-profit Spectrum Health System; from 2014 to 2016, she served as a director of Charlotte Russe; from 2014 to 2015, she served as a director of Follet Corporation; and from 2013 to 2015, she served as a director of PetSmart. Ms. Nickels was formerly employed by Herman Miller, Inc. in several capacities: from 2012 to 2014, as the Executive Director of the Herman Miller Foundation; from 2007 to 2012, as President of Herman Miller Healthcare; and from 2000 to 2007, as Chief Financial Officer. Through her education, employment experience, and experience as a board member, Ms. Nickels is experienced with financial, accounting and regulatory matters.
Mary M. (“Meg”) VanDeWeghe. Ms. VanDeWeghe has served as an Independent Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2018. She is CEO and President of Forte Consulting, Inc., a management and financial consulting firm, and was previously employed as a Finance Professor at Georgetown University from 2009-2016, Senior Vice President - Finance at Lockheed Martin Corporation from 2006-2009, a Finance Professor at the University of Maryland from 1996-2006, and in various positions at J.P. Morgan from 1983-1996. Ms. VanDeWeghe served as a director of Brown Advisory from 2003-2018, B/E Aerospace from 2014-2017, WP Carey from 2014-2017, and Nalco (and its successor Ecolab) from 2009-2014. Through her education, employment experience, and experience as a board member, Ms. VanDeWeghe is experienced with financial, investment and regulatory matters.
Interested Board Members
Timothy M. Dunbar. Mr. Dunbar has served as Chair and Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2019. Mr. Dunbar serves as President of Global Asset Management for Principal®, overseeing all of Principal’s asset management capabilities, including with respect to PGI, PLIC, and PFSI, among others. He also serves on numerous boards of directors of Principal® subsidiaries, including PGI and Post. He has served in various other positions since joining Principal® in 1986. Through his education and employment experience, Mr. Dunbar is experienced with financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.
Patrick G. Halter. Mr. Halter has served as a Board Member of the Fund Complex since 2017. Mr. Halter also serves as Chief Operating Officer and director of PGI, and Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Principal Real Estate Investors ("Principal - REI"). He has served in various other positions since joining Principal® in 1984. Through his education and employment experience, Mr. Halter is experienced with financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.
Additional Information Regarding Board Members and Officers
The following tables present additional information regarding the Board Members and Fund Complex officers, including their principal occupations which, unless specific dates are shown, are of more than five years duration. For each Board Member, the tables also include information concerning other directorships held in reporting companies under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or registered investment companies under the 1940 Act.
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INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBERS
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Name, Address,
and Year of Birth
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Board Positions Held with Fund Complex
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
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Number of Portfolios Overseen in Fund Complex
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Other Directorships
Held During Past 5 Years
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Elizabeth Ballantine
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1948
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Director, PFI and PVC (since 2004) Trustee, PETF (since 2014)
Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
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Principal, EBA Associates
(consulting and investments)
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128
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Durango Herald, Inc.;
McClatchy Newspapers, Inc.
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Leroy T. Barnes, Jr.
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1951
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Director, PFI and PVC (since 2012) Trustee, PETF (since 2014)
Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
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Retired
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128
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McClatchy Newspapers, Inc.; Frontier Communications, Inc.; formerly, Herbalife Ltd.
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Craig Damos
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1954
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Lead Independent Board Member
(since 2020)
Director, PFI and PVC (since 2008) Trustee, PETF (since 2014)
Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
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President, C.P. Damos Consulting LLC
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128
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None
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Mark A. Grimmett
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1960
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Director, PFI and PVC (since 2004) Trustee, PETF (since 2014)
Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
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Formerly, Executive Vice President and CFO, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc. (cosmetics manufacturing)
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128
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None
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Fritz S. Hirsch
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1951
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Director, PFI and PVC (since 2005) Trustee, PETF (since 2014)
Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
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Formerly, CEO, MAM USA (manufacturer of infant and juvenile products)
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128
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MAM USA
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Tao Huang
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1962
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Director, PFI and PVC (since 2012) Trustee, PETF (since 2014)
Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
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Retired
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128
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Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (manufacturing) and Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.
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Karen (“Karrie”) McMillan
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1961
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Director, PFI and PVC (since 2014) Trustee, PETF (since 2014)
Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
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Managing Director, Patomak Global Partners, LLC (financial services consulting)
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128
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None
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Elizabeth A. Nickels
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1962
|
Director, PFI and PVC (since 2015) Trustee, PETF (since 2015)
Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
|
Retired
|
128
|
SpartanNash; Formerly: Charlotte Russe; Follet Corporation; PetSmart; Spectrum Health System
|
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|
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|
Mary M. (“Meg”) VanDeWeghe
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1959
|
Director, PFI and PVC (since 2018) Trustee, PETF (since 2018)
Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
|
CEO and President, Forte Consulting, Inc. (financial and management consulting)
|
128
|
Denbury Resources Inc. and Helmerich & Payne;
Formerly: Brown Advisory;
B/E Aerospace; WP Carey; Nalco (and its successor Ecolab)
|
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INTERESTED BOARD MEMBERS
|
|
Name, Address,
and Year of Birth
|
Board Positions Held with Fund Complex
|
Positions with PGI and its affiliates;
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years**
(unless noted otherwise)
|
Number of
Portfolios
Overseen
in Fund
Complex
|
Other
Directorships
Held During Past 5 Years
|
|
Timothy M. Dunbar
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1957
|
Chair (since 2019)
Director, PFI and PVC (since 2019) Trustee, PETF (since 2019) Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
|
Director, PGI (since 2018)
President-PGAM, PGI, PLIC, PFSI, and PFG
(since 2018)
Chair/Executive Vice President, RobustWealth,
Inc. (since 2018)
Director, Post (since 2018)
Executive Vice President/Chief Investment
Officer, PLIC, PFSI, and PFG (2014-2018)
|
128
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick G. Halter
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1959
|
Director, PFI and PVC (since 2017) Trustee, PETF (since 2017) Trustee, PDSRA (since 2019)
|
Chief Executive Officer and President, PGI (since 2018)
Chief Operating Officer, PGI (2017-2018)
Chair, PGI (since 2018)
Director, PGI (2003-2018)
Director, Finisterre (since 2018)
Director, Origin (since 2018)
Chair, Post (since 2017)
Chief Executive Officer, Principal - REI
(since 2005)
Chair, Principal - REI (since 2004)
Chair, Spectrum (since 2017)
Director, CCIP (since 2017)
|
128
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FUND COMPLEX OFFICERS
|
|
Name, Address
and Year of Birth
|
Position(s) Held
with Fund Complex
|
Positions with PGI and its Affiliates;
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years**
|
|
Randy L. Bergstrom
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1955
|
Assistant Tax Counsel
(since 2005)
|
Counsel, PGI
Counsel, PLIC
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kamal Bhatia
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1972
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
(since 2019)
|
President - Principal Funds, PFG, PFSI, PLIC (since 2019)
Principal Executive Officer, OC Private Capital (2017-2019)
Senior Vice President, Oppenheimer Funds (2011-2019)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jennifer A. Block
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1973
|
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer (since 2018)
Vice President and Counsel (2017-2018)
Assistant Counsel (2010-2017)
Assistant Secretary (2015-2018)
|
Counsel, PGI (2017-2018)
Counsel, PLIC (2009-2018)
Counsel, PMC (2009-2017)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tracy W. Bollin
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1970
|
Chief Financial Officer (since 2014)
|
Managing Director, PGI (since 2016)
Senior Vice President, PFD (since 2015)
Chief Financial Officer, PFD (2010-2016)
Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, PMC (2015-2017)
Director, PMC (2014-2017)
President, PSS (since 2015)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gina L. Graham
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1965
|
Treasurer (since 2016)
|
Vice President/Treasurer, PGI (since 2016)
Vice President/Treasurer, PFA (since 2016)
Vice President/Treasurer, PFD (since 2016)
Vice President/Treasurer, PLIC (since 2016)
Vice President/Treasurer, PMC (2016-2017)
Vice President/Treasurer, Principal - REI (since 2016)
Vice President/Treasurer, PSI (since 2016)
Vice President/Treasurer, PSS (since 2016)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Laura B. Latham
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1986
|
Assistant Counsel and Assistant Secretary (since 2018)
|
Counsel, PGI (since 2018)
Prior thereto, Attorney in Private Practice
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diane K. Nelson
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1965
|
AML Officer (since 2016)
|
Chief Compliance Officer/AML Officer, PSS (since 2015)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FUND COMPLEX OFFICERS
|
|
Name, Address
and Year of Birth
|
Position(s) Held
with Fund Complex
|
Positions with PGI and its Affiliates;
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years**
|
|
Sara L. Reece
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1975
|
Vice President and Controller (since 2016)
|
Director - Accounting, PLIC (since 2015)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teri R. Root
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1979
|
Chief Compliance Officer (since 2018)
Interim Chief Compliance Officer (2018)
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer
(2015-2018)
|
Chief Compliance Officer - Funds, PGI (since 2018)
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, PGI (since 2017)
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, PMC (2015-2017)
Vice President, PSS (since 2015)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Britney L. Schnathorst
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1981
|
Assistant Secretary (since 2017)
Assistant Counsel (since 2014)
|
Counsel, PLIC (since 2013)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adam U. Shaikh
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1972
|
Assistant Counsel (since 2006)
|
Assistant General Counsel, PGI (since 2018)
Counsel, PGI (2017-2018)
Counsel, PLIC (since 2006)
Counsel, PMC (2007-2017)
|
|
|
|
|
|
John L. Sullivan
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1970
|
Assistant Counsel and Assistant Secretary
(since 2019)
|
Counsel, PGI (since 2019)
Prior thereto, Attorney in Private Practice
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dan L. Westholm
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1966
|
Assistant Treasurer (since 2006)
|
Assistant Vice President/Treasurer, PGI (since 2017)
Assistant Vice President/Treasury, PFA (since 2013)
Assistant Vice President/Treasury, PFD (since 2013)
Assistant Vice President/Treasury, PLIC (since 2014)
Assistant Vice President/Treasury, PMC (2013-2017)
Assistant Vice President/Treasury, PSI (since 2013)
Assistant Vice President/Treasury, PSS (since 2013)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beth C. Wilson
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1956
|
Vice President and Secretary (since 2007)
|
Director and Secretary-Funds, PLIC
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clint L. Woods
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1961
|
Counsel, Vice President, and Assistant Secretary (since 2018)
Of Counsel (2017-2018)
Vice President (2016-2017)
Counsel (2015-2017)
|
Vice President (since 2015)
Associate General Counsel, Governance Officer, and Assistant Corporate Secretary, PLIC (since 2013)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jared A. Yepsen
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
1981
|
Assistant Tax Counsel (since 2017)
|
Counsel, PGI (since 2017)
Counsel, PLIC (since 2015)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abbreviations used:
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCIP, LLC (CCIP)
|
Principal Global Investors, LLC (PGI)
|
|
Finisterre Capital LLP (Finisterre)
|
Principal Life Insurance Company (PLIC)
|
|
Origin Asset Management LLP (Origin)
|
Principal Management Corporation (PMC), now PGI
|
|
Post Advisory Group, LLC (Post)
|
Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC (Principal - REI)
|
|
Principal Financial Advisors, Inc. (PFA)
|
Principal Securities, Inc. (PSI)
|
|
Principal Financial Services, Inc. (PFSI)
|
Principal Shareholder Services, Inc. (PSS)
|
|
Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. (PFD)
|
Spectrum Asset Management, Inc. (Spectrum)
|
|
Principal Global Asset Management (PGAM)
|
|
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS
Book-Entry Only System
The Depository Trust Company (DTC) acts as securities depository for the shares. Shares of the Funds are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Certificates will not be issued for shares.
DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among DTC participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly.
Beneficial ownership of shares is limited to DTC participants and persons holding interests through DTC participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares (owners of beneficial interests are referred to herein as Beneficial Owners) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC participants) and on the records of DTC participants (with respect to indirect DTC participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through a DTC participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of shares.
Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the Trust and DTC, DTC is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the trust a listing of the shares of the fund held by each DTC participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding fund shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC participant may reasonably request, so that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in shares of the fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC participants to indirect DTC participants and Beneficial Owners of shares held through such DTC participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a "street name," and will be the responsibility of such DTC participants.
The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC participants or the relationship between such DTC participants and the indirect DTC participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC participants.
DTC may decide to discontinue providing its service with respect to shares at any time by giving reasonable notice to the trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the trust shall take action either to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such a replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of shares, unless the trust makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Exchange.
Creation Units
The Funds sell, issue and redeem through the Distributor, Shares in Creation Units on a continuous basis, without a sales load, at the NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form on any Business Day. As of the date of this SAI, the NYSE observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Funds will not issue fractional Creation Units. Shares of the Funds will only be issued against full payment, as further described in the prospectus and this SAI.
A Creation Unit is an aggregation of Shares in the amount described in the prospectus. The Board may declare a split or a consolidation in the number of Shares outstanding of the Funds or Trust, and make a corresponding change in the number of Shares in a Creation Unit.
To purchase or redeem any Creation Units from a Fund, you must be, or transact through, an authorized participant (“AP”). To be an AP, you must be either a broker-dealer or other participant (“Participating Party”) in the Continuous Net Settlement System (“Clearing Process”) of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) or a participant in DTC with access to the DTC system (“DTC Participant”), and you must execute an agreement (“Participant Agreement”) with the Distributor, which must be accepted by the Transfer Agent, that governs transactions in the Fund’s Creation Units.
Transactions by an AP that is a Participating Party using the NSCC system are referred to as transactions “through the Clearing Process.” Transactions by an AP that is a DTC Participant using the DTC system are referred to as transactions “outside the Clearing Process.”
Investors who are not APs but want to transact in Creation Units may contact the Distributor for the names of APs. An AP may require investors to enter into a separate agreement to transact through it for Creation Units and may require orders for purchases of shares placed with it to be in a particular form. Investors should be aware that their broker may not be an AP and, therefore, may need to place any order to purchase or redeem Creation Units through another broker or person that is an AP, which may result in additional charges. There are expected to be a limited number of APs at any one time.
Orders must be transmitted by an AP by electronic order entry system, telephone, electronic mail, or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. Market disruptions and telephone or other communication failures may impede the transmission of orders.
Purchasing Creation Units
Fund Deposit
The consideration for a Creation Unit of a Fund is the Fund Deposit. The Fund Deposit will consist of the In-Kind Creation Basket and Cash Component, or an all cash payment (“Cash Value”), as determined by PGI to be permitted or required by a Fund. Short portions in a Fund’s portfolio and any other financial instruments that cannot be transferred in-kind, will be represented by cash in the Cash Component and not in the In-Kind Creation Basket.
The Cash Component will typically include a “Balancing Amount” reflecting the difference, if any, between the NAV of a Creation Unit and the market value of the securities in the In-Kind Creation Basket. If the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the market value of the securities in the In-Kind Creation Basket, the purchaser pays the Balancing Amount to the Fund. By contrast, if the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the market value of the securities in the In-Kind Creation Basket, the Fund pays the Balancing Amount to the purchaser. The Balancing Amount ensures that the consideration paid by an investor for a Creation Unit is exactly equal to the value of the Creation Unit.
PGI, in a portfolio composition file sent via the NSCC, generally makes available on each Business Day, immediately prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time), a list of the names and the required number of shares of each security in the In-Kind Creation Basket to be included in the current Fund Deposit for the Fund (based on information about the Fund’s portfolio at the end of the previous Business Day subject to correction). If applicable, PGI, through the NSCC, also makes available on each Business Day, the estimated Cash Component or Cash Value, effective through and including the previous Business Day, per Creation Unit.
The announced Fund Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, for purchases of Creation Units of a Fund until the next-announced Fund Deposit is made available. From day to day, the composition of the In-Kind Creation Basket may change as, among other things, corporate actions and investment decisions by the Advisor are implemented for the Fund’s portfolio. All questions as to the composition of the In-Kind Creation Basket and the validity, form, eligibility, and acceptance for deposit of any securities shall be determined by the Fund, and the Fund’s determination shall be final and binding. Each Fund reserves the right to accept a nonconforming (i.e., custom) Fund Deposit. Payment of any stamp duty or the like shall be the sole responsibility of the AP purchasing a Creation Unit. The AP must ensure that all Deposit Securities properly denote change in beneficial ownership.
Cash in lieu
Each Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash (“cash in lieu”) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any security in the In-Kind Creation Basket. Circumstances in which the Funds may permit or require cash in lieu include, without limitation:
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|
|
|
•
|
when the Fund announces before the open of trading that all purchases, all redemptions or all purchases and redemptions on that day will be made entirely in cash;
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
when the securities in the In-Kind Creation Basket may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or the Clearing Process; and
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
when the AP or its underlying investor is restricted under U.S. or local securities laws or policies from transacting in one or more securities in the In-Kind Creation Basket.
|
Each Fund will comply with the federal securities laws in accepting securities in the In-Kind Creation Basket, including the securities in the In-Kind Creation Basket that are sold in transactions that would be exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.
Each Fund expects to purchase the securities represented by the cash in lieu amount in the secondary market (“Market Purchases”). PGI may charge a higher transaction fee on the cash amount contributed in lieu of securities, which is intended in part to cover all or a portion of any difference between the market value at which the securities were purchased by the Fund and the cash in lieu amount.
Order Cut-Off Time
For an order involving a Creation Unit to be effectuated at a Fund’s NAV on a particular day, it must be received by the Distributor by or before the deadline for such order (“Order Cut-Off Time”) in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. The Order Cut-Off Time for creation and redemption orders for a Fund is generally expected to be 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time for In-Kind Creation and Redemption Baskets, and 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for Cash Value transactions. Accordingly, In-Kind Creation and Redemption Baskets are expected to be accepted until the close of regular trading on the Exchange on each Business Day, which is usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. On days when the Exchange or bond markets close earlier than normal (such as the day before a holiday), the Order Cut-Off Time is expected to track the Exchange or bond markets closing and be similarly earlier than normal.
For select International Funds, next day (also known as T-1 or T minus one) international market orders are to be placed after the listing exchange closing time and before the Fund’s established T-1 order window cut-off time, the latest being 5:30 PM Eastern Standard Time on any Business Day. Such orders, if accepted, will receive the next Business Day’s NAV per Creation Unit.
Custom orders typically clear outside the Clearing Process and, therefore, like other orders outside the Clearing Process, may need to be transmitted early on the relevant Business Day to be effectuated at that day’s NAV. A custom order may be placed when, for example, an AP cannot transact in a security in the In-Kind Creation or Redemption Basket and additional cash is included in the Fund Deposit or Fund Redemption in lieu of such security. Custom orders may be required to be received by the Distributor by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time to be effectuated based on the Fund’s NAV on that Business Day.
In all cases, cash and securities should be transferred to the Fund by the “Settlement Date,” which is generally the Business Day immediately following the Business Day the order is placed (“Transmittal Date”) for cash and the second Business Day following the Transmittal Date for securities. Persons placing custom orders or orders involving Cash Value should be aware of time deadlines imposed by intermediaries, such as DTC and/or the Federal Reserve Bank wire system, which may delay the delivery of cash and securities by the Settlement Date.
Placement of Creation Orders
All purchase orders must be placed by or through an AP. To order a Creation Unit, an AP must submit an irrevocable purchase order to the Distributor in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. In-kind (portions of) purchase orders will be processed through the Clearing Process when it is available. The Clearing Process is an enhanced clearing process that is available only for certain securities and only to DTC Participants that are also participants in the Clearing Process of the NSCC. In-kind (portions of) purchase orders not subject to the Clearing Process will go through a manual clearing process run by DTC. Fund Deposits that include government securities must be delivered through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system (“Federal Reserve System”). Fund Deposits that include cash may be delivered through the Clearing Process or the Federal Reserve System. Certain orders for a Fund may be made outside the Clearing Process. In-kind deposits of securities for such orders must be delivered through the Federal Reserve System (for government securities) or through DTC (for corporate securities).
Orders Using Clearing Process
In connection with creation orders made through the Clearing Process, the Distributor transmits, on behalf of the AP, such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the creation order. Pursuant to such trade instructions, the AP agrees to deliver the requisite Fund Deposit to the Trust, together with such additional information as may be required by the Distributor and the Transfer Agent. An order to create Creation Units through the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor and the Transfer Agent on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor by the order Cut-Off Time on such Transmittal Date and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. Cash Components will be delivered using either the Clearing Process or the Federal Reserve System, as described below.
Orders Outside Clearing Process
Fund Deposits made outside the Clearing Process must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that the creation of Creation Units will instead be effected through a transfer of securities and cash directly through DTC. With respect to such orders, the Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the DTC Participant on the Transmittal Date in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of securities in the In- Kind Creation Basket (whether standard or custom) through DTC to the relevant Trust account by 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, (the “DTC Cut-Off Time”) on the Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. The amount of cash equal to the Cash Component, along with any cash in lieu and Transaction Fee, must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. The delivery of corporate securities through DTC must occur by 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. The delivery of government securities through the Federal Reserve System must occur by 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date.
An order to create Creation Units outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor by the Order Cut-Off Time on such Transmittal Date and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. If the Custodian does not receive both the required In-Kind Creation Basket by the DTC Cut-Off Time and the Cash Component by the appointed time, such order may be canceled. Upon written notice to the Distributor and the Transfer Agent, a canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then-current In-Kind Creation Basket and Cash Component. Except as provided in the Participant Agreement and subject to Foreign Market Holidays (See Appendix B for a list of Foreign Market Holidays), the delivery of Creation Units so created will occur no later than the second Business Day following the day on which the order is deemed received by the Distributor. APs that submit a canceled order will be liable to the Funds for any losses resulting therefrom.
Orders involving foreign securities are expected to be settled outside the Clearing Process. Thus, upon receipt of an irrevocable purchase order, the Distributor will notify PGI and the Custodian of such order. The Custodian, who will have caused the appropriate local sub-custodian(s) of the Fund to maintain an account into which an AP may deliver the Fund Deposit (or cash in lieu), with adjustments determined by the Fund, will then provide information of the order to such local sub-custodian(s). The AP must also make available on or before the Settlement, by means satisfactory to the Fund, immediately available or same day funds in U.S. dollars estimated by the Fund to be sufficient to pay the Cash Component and Transaction Fee.
While, as stated above, Creation Units are generally delivered no later than the second Business Day following the day on which the order is deemed received by the Distributor, each Fund may settle Creation Unit transactions on a basis other than the one described above to accommodate foreign market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates (that is the last day the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security), and in certain other circumstances.
Acceptance of Orders for Creation Units
The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect of the Funds if: (i) the order is not in proper form; (ii) the investor(s), upon obtaining the Shares, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding Shares of the Fund; (iii) the securities delivered do not conform to the In-Kind Creation Basket for the relevant date; (iv) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would have adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (v) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (vi) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust, the Fund, or PGI, will have an adverse effect on the Trust, the Fund or the rights of beneficial owners; or (vii) in the event that circumstances that are outside the control of the Trust make it practically impossible to process creation orders. Examples of such circumstances include acts of God; public service or utility problems resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; fires, floods or extreme weather conditions; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, PGI, a Sub-Advisor, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, the Custodian or sub-custodian or any other participant in the creation process; and similar extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify an AP of its rejection of the order. The Funds, the Custodian, any sub-custodian, the Transfer Agent and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits, and they shall not incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.
Issuance of a Creation Unit
Once a Fund has accepted a creation order, upon next determination of the Fund’s NAV, the Fund will confirm the issuance of a Creation Unit, against receipt of payment, at such NAV. The Distributor will transmit a confirmation of acceptance to the AP that placed the order.
Except as provided below, a Creation Unit will not be issued until the Fund obtains good title to the In-Kind Creation Basket securities and the Cash Component, along with any cash in lieu and Transaction Fee. Except as provided in Appendix B, the delivery of Creation Units will generally occur no later than the second Business Day following the Transmittal Date for securities.
In certain cases, APs will create and redeem Creation Units on the same trade date. In these instances, the Trust reserves the right to settle these transactions on a net basis.
With respect to orders involving foreign securities, when the applicable local sub-custodian(s) has confirmed to the Custodian that the In-Kind Creation Basket (or cash in lieu) has been delivered to the Fund’s account at the applicable sub-custodian(s), the Distributor and PGI shall be notified of such delivery, and the Fund will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Unit.
Creation Units may be created in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable In-Kind Creation Basket, provided the purchaser tenders an initial deposit consisting of any available securities in the In-Kind Creation Basket and cash equal to the sum of the Cash Component and at least 115% of the market value, as adjusted from time to time by, of the In-Kind Creation Basket securities not delivered (“Additional Cash Deposit”). Such initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the Creation Unit on the date the order is placed. The order shall be deemed to be received on the Transmittal Date provided that it is placed in proper form prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on such date, and federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited with the Custodian by the DTC Cut-Off Time the following Business Day. If the order is not placed in proper form by 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, or federal funds in the appropriate amount are not received by the DTC Cut-Off Time the next Business Day, then the order will be canceled or deemed unreceived and the AP effectuating such transaction will be liable to the Fund for any losses resulting therefrom.
To the extent securities in the In-Kind Creation Basket remain undelivered, pending delivery of such securities additional cash will be required to be deposited with the Trust as necessary to maintain an Additional Cash Deposit equal to at least 115% (as adjusted by PGI) of the daily marked-to-market value of the missing securities. To the extent that either such securities are still not received by 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the second Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor or a marked-to- market payment is not made within one Business Day following notification to the purchaser and/or AP that such a payment is required, the Trust may use the cash on deposit to purchase the missing securities, and the AP effectuating such transaction will be liable to the Fund for any costs incurred therein or losses resulting therefrom, including any Transaction Fee, any amount by which the actual purchase price of the missing securities exceeds the Additional Cash Deposit or the market value of such securities on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Distributor, as well as brokerage and related transaction costs. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing securities have been received by the Trust. The delivery of Creation Units so created will occur no later than the second Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.
Transaction Fees
To compensate for costs incurred in connection with creation and redemption transactions, investors will be required to pay a Transaction Fee as follows:
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ETF
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Standard Creation
Transaction
Fee *
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Maximum Variable Charge for Cash Creation **
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Standard Redemption
Transaction Fee *
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Maximum Variable Charge for Cash Redemptions **
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Principal Active Global Dividend Income
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$500
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3.00%
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$500
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2.00%
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Principal Active Income
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$500
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3.00%
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$500
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2.00%
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Principal Contrarian Value Index
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$750
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3.00%
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$750
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2.00%
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Principal Healthcare Innovators Index
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$600
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3.00%
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$600
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2.00%
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Principal International Multi-Factor Core Index
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$4,000
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3.00%
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$4,000
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2.00%
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Principal Investment Grade Corporate Active
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$750
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3.00%
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$750
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2.00%
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Principal Millennials Index
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$1,000
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3.00%
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$1,000
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2.00%
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Principal Price Setters Index
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$500
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3.00%
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$500
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2.00%
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Principal Shareholder Yield Index
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$500
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3.00%
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$500
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2.00%
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Principal Spectrum Preferred Securities Active
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$250
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3.00%
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$250
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2.00%
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Principal Spectrum Qualified Dividend Active
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[to be filed by amendment]
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Principal Sustainable Momentum Index
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$400
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3.00%
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$400
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2.00%
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Principal Ultra-Short Active Income
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$250
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3.00%
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$250
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2.00%
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Principal U.S. Large-Cap Multi-Factor Core Index
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$350
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3.00%
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$350
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2.00%
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Principal U.S. Mega-Cap Multi-Factor Index
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$200
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3.00%
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$200
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2.00%
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Principal U.S. Small-Cap Multi-Factor Index
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$1,500
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3.00%
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$1,500
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2.00%
|
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Principal U.S. Small-MidCap Multi-Factor Core Index
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$1,200
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3.00%
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$1,200
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2.00%
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* Applicable to in-kind purchases only.
** As a percentage of the cash amount invested.
The Standard Transaction Fee applies to in-kind purchases of the Funds effected through the Clearing Process on any Business Day, regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased or redeemed that day (assuming, in the case of multiple orders on the same day, that the orders are received at or near the same time). As shown in the table above, certain Fund Deposits consisting of a Cash Value will be subject to a variable charge of up to 3% in addition to the standard Transaction Fee. With cash received from the variable charge, PGI will purchase the necessary securities for a Fund’s portfolio and return any unused portion thereof to the investor.
PGI may adjust the Transaction Fee from time to time. The Standard Creation/Redemption Transaction Fee is based, in part, on the number of holdings in a Fund’s portfolio and may be adjusted on a quarterly basis if the number of holdings increases. Investors will also be responsible for the costs associated with transferring the securities in the In-Kind Creation (and Redemption) Baskets to (and from) the account of the Trust. Further, investors who, directly or indirectly, use the services of a broker or other intermediary to compose a Creation Unit in addition to an AP to effect a transaction in Creation Units may be charged an additional fee for such services.
Cash Purchase Method
When cash purchases of Creation Units are available or specified for a Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind purchases. In the case of a cash purchase, the investor must pay the cash equivalent of the Fund Deposit. In addition, cash purchases may be subject to Transaction Fees.
Redeeming Creation Units
Fund Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Distributor and only on a Business Day. The redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will consist of the In-Kind Redemption Basket and a Cash Redemption Amount, or an all cash payment (“Cash Value”), in all instances equal to the value of a Creation Unit. Short positions and other instruments that cannot be transferred in kind will be represented by cash in the Cash Redemption Amount and not in the In-Kind Redemption Basket.
The Cash Redemption Amount will typically include a Balancing Amount, reflecting the difference, if any, between the NAV of a Creation Unit and the market value of the securities in the In-Kind Redemption Basket. If the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the market value of the securities in the In-Kind Redemption Basket, the Fund pays the
Balancing Amount to the redeeming investor. By contrast, if the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the market value of the securities in the In-Kind Redemption Basket, the redeeming investor pays the Balancing Amount to the Fund.
PGI, in a portfolio composition file sent via the NSCC, generally makes available on each Business Day, immediately prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time), a list of the names and the required number of shares of each security in the In-Kind Redemption Basket to be included in the current redemption proceeds for the Fund (based on information about the Fund’s portfolio at the end of the previous Business Day) (subject to correction). If applicable, PGI, through the NSCC, also makes available on each Business Day, the estimated Cash Component or Cash Value, effective through and including the previous Business Day, per Creation Unit. Each Fund reserves the right to accept a nonconforming (i.e., custom) Fund Redemption.
In lieu of an In-Kind Redemption Basket and Cash Redemption Amount, Creation Units may be redeemed consisting solely of cash in an amount equal to the NAV of a Creation Unit, which amount is referred to as the Cash Value. Such redemptions for a Fund may be subject to a variable charge, as explained above. If applicable, information about the Cash Value will be made available by PGI.
From day to day, the composition of the In-Kind Redemption Basket may change as, among other things, corporate actions are implemented for a Fund’s portfolio. All questions as to the composition of the In-Kind Redemption Basket and the validity, form, eligibility, and acceptance for deposit of any securities shall be determined by the Fund, and the Fund’s determination shall be final and binding.
The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed: (i) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) for any period during which trading on the NYSE is suspended or restricted; (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the Shares or determination of the Fund’s NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) in such other circumstances as permitted by the SEC, including as described below.
Cash in lieu
Each Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash (“cash in lieu”) to be added to the Cash Redemption Amount to replace any security in the In-Kind Redemption Basket. A Fund may permit or require cash in lieu when, for example, the securities in the In-Kind Redemption Basket may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or the Clearing Process. Similarly, a Fund may permit or require cash in lieu when, for example, the AP or its underlying investor is restricted under U.S. or local securities law or policies from transacting in one or more securities in the In-Kind Redemption Basket or an underlying investor would be subject to unfavorable tax treatment if the investor received redemption proceeds consisting of certain non-U.S. securities. Each Fund will comply with the federal securities laws in satisfying redemptions with the applicable In-Kind Redemption Basket, including the securities in the In-Kind Redemption Basket that are sold in transactions that would be exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. All redemption orders involving cash in lieu are considered to be “custom redemptions.” PGI may charge a higher transaction fee on the cash amount contributed in lieu of securities, which is intended in part to cover all or a portion of any difference between the market value of the securities and the cash in lieu amount.
Placement of Redemption Orders
Redemptions must be placed to the Distributor. In addition, redemption orders must be processed either through the DTC process or the Clearing Process. To redeem a Creation Unit, an AP must submit an irrevocable redemption order to the Distributor in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement.
An AP submitting a redemption order is deemed to represent to the Fund that it is in compliance with all applicable representations set forth in the Participant Agreement. Each Fund reserves the absolute right, in its sole discretion, to verify these representations, but will typically require verification in connection with higher levels of redemption activity and/or short interest in the Fund. If the AP, upon receipt of a verification report, does not provide sufficient verification of the requested representations, the redemption order will not be considered to be in proper form and may be rejected by the Fund.
In certain cases, APs will create and redeem Creation Units on the same trade date. In these instances, the Trust reserves the right to settle these transactions on a net basis.
For select International Funds, next day (also known as T-1 or T minus one) international market orders are to be placed after the listing exchange closing time and before the Fund’s established T-1 order window cut-off time, the latest being 5:30 PM Eastern Standard Time on any Business Day. Such orders, if accepted, will receive the next Business Day’s NAV per Creation Unit.
Placement of Redemption Orders Using Clearing Process
Orders to redeem Creation Units through the Clearing Process are deemed received by the Trust on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor not later than the Order Cut-Off Time on such Transmittal Date, and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. Orders deemed received will be effectuated based on the NAV of the Fund as next determined. An order to redeem Creation Units using the Clearing Process made in proper form but received by the Trust after the Order Cut-Off Time will be deemed received on the next Business Day and will be effected at the NAV next determined on such next Business Day. In connection with such orders, the Transfer Agent transmits on behalf of the AP such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the redemption. Pursuant to such trade instructions, the AP agrees to deliver the requisite Creation Unit(s) to the Fund, together with such additional information as may be required by the Transfer Agent. Cash Redemption Amounts will be delivered using either the Clearing Process or the Federal Reserve System. The applicable In-Kind Redemption Basket and the Cash Redemption Amount will be transferred to the investor by the second NSCC business day following the date on which such request for redemption is deemed received.
Placement of Redemption Orders Outside Clearing Process
Orders to redeem Creation Units outside the Clearing Process must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that redemption of Creation Units will instead be effected through transfer of Shares directly through DTC. Such orders are deemed received by the Trust on the Transmittal Date if: (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than the Order Cut-Off Time on the Transmittal Date; (ii) such order is accompanied or followed by the delivery of both (a) the Creation Unit(s), which delivery must be made through DTC to the Custodian no later than the DTC Cut-Off Time on the Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date and (b) the Cash Redemption Amount by 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date; and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. After the Trust has deemed such an order received, the Trust will initiate procedures to transfer, and expect to deliver, the requisite In-Kind Redemption Basket and/or any Cash Redemption Amount owed to the redeeming party by the second Business Day following the Transmittal Date on which such redemption order is deemed received by the Trust.
Orders involving foreign securities are expected to be settled outside the Clearing Process. Thus, upon receipt of an irrevocable redemption order, the Transfer Agent will notify PGI and the Custodian. The Custodian will then provide information of the redemption to the Fund’s local sub-custodian(s). The redeeming AP, or the investor on whose behalf it is acting, will have established appropriate arrangements with a broker-dealer, bank or other custody provider in each jurisdiction in which the securities are customarily traded and to which such securities (and any cash in lieu) can be delivered from the Fund’s accounts at the applicable local sub-custodian(s).
The calculation of the value of the In-Kind Redemption Basket and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered/received upon redemption will be made by the Custodian computed on the Business Day on which a redemption order is deemed received by the Trust. Therefore, if a redemption order in proper form is submitted to the Distributor by an AP with the ability to transact through the Federal Reserve System, as applicable, not later than Order Cut-Off Time on the Transmittal Date, and the requisite number of Shares of the relevant Fund are delivered to the Custodian prior to the DTC Cut-Off-Time, then the value of the In-Kind Redemption Basket and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered/received will be determined by the Custodian on such Transmittal Date. If, however, either: (i) the requisite number of Shares of the relevant Fund are not delivered by the DTC Cut- Off-Time, as described above, or (ii) the redemption order is not submitted in proper form, then the redemption order will not be deemed received as of the Transmittal Date. In such case, the value of the In-Kind Redemption Basket and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered/received will be computed on the Business Day following the Transmittal Date provided that the Fund Shares of the relevant Fund are delivered through DTC to the Custodian by 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, the following Business Day pursuant to a properly submitted redemption order.
If it is not possible to effect deliveries of the securities in the In-Kind Redemption Basket, the Trust may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem Shares in cash, and the redeeming beneficial owner will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that each Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its Shares based on the NAV of Shares of the Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a Transaction Fee, including a variable charge, if applicable, as described above).
Redemptions of Fund Shares for the In-Kind Redemption Basket will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and each Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific securities in the In-Kind Redemption Basket upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the securities in the In-Kind Redemption Basket under such laws. An AP or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the In-Kind Redemption Basket applicable to the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The AP may request the redeeming beneficial owner of the Shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment, beneficial ownership of shares or delivery instructions.
Delivery of Redemption Basket
Once a Fund has accepted a redemption order, upon next determination of the Fund’s NAV, the Fund will confirm the issuance of an In-Kind Redemption Basket, against receipt of the Creation Unit(s) at such NAV, any cash in lieu and Transaction Fee. A Creation Unit tendered for redemption and the payment of the Cash Redemption Amount, any cash in lieu and Transaction Fee will be effected through DTC. The AP, or the investor on whose behalf it is acting, will be recorded on the book-entry system of DTC.
In certain cases, APs will create and redeem Creation Units on the same trade date. In these instances, the Trust reserves the right to settle these transactions on a net basis.
Cash Redemption Method
When cash redemptions of Creation Units are available or specified for a Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind redemptions. In the case of a cash redemption, the investor will receive the cash equivalent of the In-Kind Redemption Basket minus any Transaction Fees.
Settlement of Foreign Securities and Regular Foreign Holidays
Each Fund generally intends to effect deliveries of Creation Units and portfolio securities on a basis of the Transmittal Date (“T”) plus two Business Days (i.e., days on which the national securities exchange is open) ("T+2"). A Fund may effect deliveries of Creation Units and portfolio securities on a basis other than T+2 to accommodate local holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex- dividend dates or under certain other circumstances. Given that foreign securities settle in accordance with the normal rules of settlement of such securities in the applicable foreign market, coupled with foreign market holiday schedules, the Settlement Date may be up to 14 calendar days after the Transmittal Date in certain circumstances.
The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind creations and redemptions within two Business Days of receipt of an order in good form is subject, among other things, to the condition that, within the time period from the date of the order to the date of delivery of the securities, there are no days that are holidays in the applicable foreign market. In such cases, the local market settlement procedures will not commence until the end of the local holiday periods. For every occurrence of one or more intervening holidays in the applicable foreign market that are not holidays observed in the U.S. equity market, the redemption settlement cycle will be extended by the number of such intervening holidays. In addition to holidays, other unforeseeable closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within normal settlement periods. The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays” (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays or changes in local securities delivery practices could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future.
Because a Fund’s portfolio securities may trade on days that the Fund’s Exchange is closed or on days that are not Business Days for the Fund, APs may not be able to redeem their Shares, or to purchase and sell Shares on the Exchange, on days when the NAV of the Fund could be significantly affected by events in the relevant non-U.S. markets.
The Trust offers, issues and sells Shares of the Funds to investors only in Creation Units through the Distributor on a continuous basis at the NAV next determined after an order in proper form is received. The NAV of each Fund is expected to be determined as of 4:00 p.m. ET on each “Business Day,” which is defined to include any day that the Trust is open for business as required by Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. The Trust will sell and redeem Creation Units of the Funds only on a Business Day.
The price of Shares trading on the Exchange will be based on a current bid-offer market. No secondary sales will be made to Brokers at a concession by the Distributor or by the Funds. Purchases and sales of Shares on the Exchange, which will not involve the Funds, will be subject to customary brokerage commissions and charges.
CALCULATION OF NAV
Each Fund’s NAV is calculated each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open, as of the close of business of the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The NAV of Fund shares is not determined in days the NYSE is closed (generally, New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Washington’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day’ Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas). The Funds will not treat an intraday unscheduled disruption in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE and will price its shares as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, if the particular disruption directly affects only the NYSE. When an order to buy or sell shares is received, the share price used to fill the order is the next price calculated after the order is received in proper form.
A Fund’s NAV will be the value of a single Share. The NAV of Shares of a Fund will be computed by adding the value of the Fund’s investments, cash, and other assets, subtracting its liabilities, and dividing the result by the number of Shares outstanding.
The Board has delegated day-to-day valuation oversight responsibilities to PGI. PGI has established a Valuation Committee (“Valuation Committee”) to fulfill these oversight responsibilities.
Generally, each Fund will value its portfolio securities and assets as follows:
In computing the Fund’s NAV, the Fund’s fixed income securities (including defaulted debt and restricted securities (collectively, “OTC-Traded Securities”) will be valued based on price quotations obtained from a third-party pricing service or from a broker-dealer who makes markets in such securities. Any such third-party pricing service may use a variety of methodologies to value some or all such securities to determine the market price. For example, the prices of securities with characteristics similar to those held by the Fund may be used to assist with the pricing process. In addition, the pricing service may use proprietary pricing models. The Fund’s OTC-Traded Securities will generally be valued at bid prices.
Debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less for which market quotations and information furnished by a third-party pricing service are not readily available will be valued at amortized cost, which approximates current value.
Exchange traded equity securities, including ETFs, Depositary Receipts (including unsponsored ADRs), exchange-traded REITs, exchange-traded preferred stock, exchange-traded convertible bonds, and cleared swaps will be valued at market value, which will generally be determined using the last reported official closing or last trading price on the exchange or market on which the security is primarily traded at the time of valuation or, if no sale has occurred, at the last quoted bid price on the primary market or exchange on which they are traded.
Investment company securities (other than ETFs), including money market funds, closed end investment companies, unit investment trusts and open-end investment companies will be valued at NAV.
Exchange-traded futures contracts will be valued at the settlement or closing price determined by the applicable exchange.
Exchange-traded option contracts, including options on futures and swaps, will be valued at their most recent sale price. If no such sales are reported, these contracts will be valued at their most recent bid price.
OTC-traded derivative instruments, including options, swaps, will normally be valued on the basis of quotes obtained from a third party broker-dealer who makes markets in such securities or on the basis of quotes obtained from an independent third-party pricing service. The Fund’s OTC-traded derivative instruments will generally be valued at bid prices. Certain OTC-traded derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps and credit default swaps, will be valued at the mean price.
Prices described above will be obtained from pricing services that have been approved by the Board. A number of independent third party pricing services are available and the Funds may use more than one of these services. The Funds may also discontinue the use of any pricing service at any time. PGI will engage in oversight activities with respect to each Fund’s pricing services, which includes, among other things, testing the prices provided by pricing services prior to calculation of the Fund’s NAV, conducting periodic due diligence meetings, and periodically reviewing the methodologies and inputs used by these services.
Foreign securities and instruments will be valued in their local currency following the methodologies described above. Typically, foreign securities, instruments and currencies will be translated to U.S. dollars, based on foreign currency exchange rate quotations supplied by a pricing service as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), which will use a proprietary model to determine the exchange rate.
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts will be valued at an interpolated rate based on days to maturity between the closest preceding and subsequent settlement period. Such interpolated rates are derived from foreign currency exchange rate quotations reported by an independent third-party pricing service.
Other portfolio securities and assets for which market quotations, official closing prices, or information furnished by a pricing service are not readily available or, in the opinion of the Valuation Committee, are deemed unreliable will be fair valued in good faith by the Valuation Committee in accordance with applicable fair value pricing policies. For example, if, in the opinion of the Valuation Committee, a security’s value has been materially affected by events occurring before the Fund’s pricing time but after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, that security will be fair valued in good faith by the Valuation Committee in accordance with applicable fair value pricing policies.
In fair valuing a security, the Valuation Committee may consider factors including price movements in futures contracts and ADRs, market and trading trends, the bid/ask quotes of brokers, and off-exchange institutional trading.
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Taxation of the Funds
It is a policy of each Fund to make distributions of substantially all of its respective investment income and any net realized capital gains. Each Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company by satisfying certain requirements prescribed by Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. If a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company, it will be liable for taxes, significantly reducing its distributions to shareholders and eliminating shareholders' ability to treat distributions (as long or short-term capital gains or qualifying dividends) of the Fund in the manner they were received by the Fund.
Each Fund may purchase securities of certain foreign corporations considered to be passive foreign investment companies by the Internal Revenue Service. To avoid taxes and interest that must be paid by the Fund if these instruments appreciate in value, the Fund may make various elections permitted by the tax laws. However, these elections could require that the Fund recognizes additional taxable income, which in turn must be distributed.
Each Fund is required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury 24% of ordinary income dividends and capital gain dividends, and the proceeds of redemption of shares, paid to any shareholder 1) who has provided either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all, 2) who is subject to backup withholding by the Internal Revenue Service for failure to report the receipt of interest or dividend income properly, or 3) who has failed to certify to the Fund that it is not subject to backup withholding or that it is a corporation or other "exempt recipient."
Taxation of Shareholders
A shareholder recognizes gain or loss on the sale or redemption of shares of a Fund in an amount equal to the difference between the proceeds of the sales or redemption and the shareholder's adjusted tax basis in the shares. All or a portion of any loss so recognized may be disallowed if the shareholder purchases other shares of the Fund within 30 days before or after the sale or redemption. In general, any gain or loss arising from (or treated as arising from) the sale or redemption of shares of the Fund is considered capital gain or loss (long-term capital gain or loss if the shares were held for longer than one year). However, any capital loss arising from the sales or redemption of shares held for six months or less is disallowed to the extent of the amount of exempt-interest dividends received on such shares and (to the extent not disallowed) is treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of capital gain dividends received on such shares. Capital losses in any year are deductible only to the extent of capital gains plus, in the case of a noncorporate taxpayer, $3,000 of ordinary income under current rules.
If a shareholder a) incurs a sales charge in acquiring shares of a Fund, b) disposes of such shares less than 91 days after they are acquired, and c) subsequently acquires shares of a Fund or another fund at a reduced sales charge pursuant to a right to reinvest at such reduced sales charge acquired in connection with the acquisition of the shares disposed of, then the sales charge on the shares disposed of (to the extent of the reduction in the sales charge on the shares subsequently acquired) shall not be taken into account in determining gain or loss on the shares disposed of but shall be treated as incurred on the acquisition of the shares subsequently acquired.
Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors as to the federal, state and local tax consequences of ownership of shares of the Funds in its particular circumstances.
Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company
Each Fund intends to qualify annually to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the IRC). To qualify as a RIC, a Fund must invest in assets which produce types of income specified in the IRC (Qualifying Income). Whether the income from derivatives, swaps, commodity-linked derivatives and other commodity/natural resource-related securities is Qualifying Income is unclear under current law. Accordingly, a Fund’s ability to invest in certain derivatives, swaps, commodity-linked derivatives and other commodity/natural resource-related securities may be restricted. Further, if a Fund does invest in these types of securities and the income is not determined to be Qualifying Income, it may cause the Fund to fail to qualify as a RIC under the IRC.
International Funds
Some foreign securities purchased by the Funds may be subject to foreign taxes that could reduce the yield on such securities. The amount of such foreign taxes is expected to be insignificant. A Fund may from year to year make an election to pass through such taxes to shareholders. If such election is not made, any foreign taxes paid or accrued will represent an expense to the Fund that will reduce its investment company taxable income.
Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), a Fund may be required to withhold a 30% tax on (a) dividends paid by the Fund and (b) certain capital gain distributions and/or the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2018, to certain foreign entities, referred to as foreign financial institutions or non-financial foreign entities, that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. The IRS recently issued proposed regulations indicating its intent to eliminate the 30% withholding tax on gross proceeds. A Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of a Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.
Futures Contracts and Options
As previously discussed, some of the Funds invest in futures contracts or options thereon, index options, or options traded on qualified exchanges. For federal income tax purposes, capital gains and losses on futures contracts or options thereon, index options or options traded on qualified exchanges are generally treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term. In addition, a Fund must recognize any unrealized gains and losses on such positions held at the end of the fiscal year. A Fund may elect out of such tax treatment, however, for a futures or options position that is part of an "identified mixed straddle" such as a put option purchased with respect to a portfolio security. Gains and losses on futures and options included in an identified mixed straddle are considered 100% short-term and unrealized gains or losses on such positions are not realized at year-end. The straddle provisions of the Code may require the deferral of realized losses to the extent that a Fund has unrealized gains in certain offsetting positions at the end of the fiscal year. The Code may also require recharacterization of all or a part of losses on certain offsetting positions from short-term to long-term, as well as adjustment of the holding periods of straddle positions.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE
The portfolio holdings of each Fund are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services, including publicly accessible Internet web-sites. In addition, for in-kind creations, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and share quantities to deliver in exchange for Shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, will be publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the Exchange via the National Securities Clearing Corporation ("NSCC"). The basket represents one Creation Unit of the Funds.
Certain Entities may receive information regarding the creation unit portfolio not available to other current or prospective Fund shareholders in connection with the dissemination of information necessary for transactions in Creation Units. For this purpose, “Entities” are generally limited to NSCC members, subscribers to various fee-based subscription services, large institutional investors (known as “Authorized Participants”) that have been authorized by the Distributor to purchase and redeem large blocks of shares pursuant to legal requirements, market makers, and other institutional market participants and entities that provide information or transactional services.
Access to information concerning the Funds' portfolio holdings may be permitted at other times to personnel of third party service providers, including the Funds' custodian, transfer agent, auditors and counsel, as may be necessary to conduct business in the ordinary course in a manner consistent with such service providers’ agreements with the Trust on behalf of the Funds.
In addition to the permitted disclosures described above, shareholders can also obtain each Fund's Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), Shareholder Reports, and its Form N-CSR and Form N-SAR, filed twice a year. Each Fund’s SAI and Shareholder Reports are available free upon request from the Fund, and those documents and the Form N-CSR and Form N-SAR may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the SEC web site at www.sec.gov.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by each Fund to PGI or the Fund's Sub-Advisor, if applicable. PGI and the Sub-Advisor will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which have been reviewed by the Board, and which are found in Appendix C. Any material changes to the proxy policies and procedures will be submitted to the Board for approval.
Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12 month period ended June 30, 2019, will be available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-787-1621 or on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
For Funds that participate in a securities lending program, the voting rights for securities that are loaned are
transferred to the borrower. Therefore, the lender (i.e., a Fund) is not entitled to vote the loaned securities,
unless it recalls those securities. Those managing the Fund’s investments may recall securities for voting
purposes when they reasonably believe the ability to vote such securities outweighs the additional revenue
received if such securities were not recalled.