STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) of Prudential Investment Portfolios 4, which is comprised of Prudential Muni High Income Fund (the "Fund") is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Fund's Prospectus dated _______, 2010, and can be obtained, without charge, by calling (800) 225-1852 or by writing to the Fund at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-1852. This SAI has been incorporated
by reference into the Fund's Prospectus.
The Fund's audited financial statements are incorporated into this SAI by reference to the Fund's 2010 Annual Report (File No. 811-4930). You may request a copy of the Annual Report at no charge by calling (800) 225-1852 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on any business day.
Ticker Symbols
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Class A: PRHAX
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Class C: PHICX
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Class B: PMHYX
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Class Z: PHIZX
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This SAI sets forth information about Prudential Investment Portfolios 4, which consists of one series: the Prudential Muni High Income Fund (together with Prudential Investment Portfolios 4, referred to hereafter as "the Fund"). The SAI provides additional information about the Fund's Board of Directors, the advisory services provided to and the management fees paid by the Fund, and information about other fees paid by and services provided
to the Fund.
Prudential Muni High Income Fund is a diversified, open-end management investment company.
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide the maximum amount of income that is eligible for exclusion from federal income taxes. Although the Fund will seek income that is eligible for exclusion from federal income taxes, a portion of the dividends and distributions paid by the Fund may be treated as a preference item for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. There can be no assurance that the Fund's investment objective will be achieved.
The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objective by investing in a diversified portfolio of 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, the interest on which is eligible for exclusion from federal income taxation (municipal obligations or municipal securities). From time to time, the Fund may own the majority of a municipal obligation. Such majority-owned
holdings may present additional market and credit risks.
Prudential Investment Management, Inc. (PIM or the Subadviser), maintains a fixed-income research group which provides credit analysis and research on fixed-income securities. The portfolio manager consults routinely with the research group in managing the Fund's portfolios. The fixed-income research group, which currently maintains a staff of credit analysts, reviews on an ongoing basis issuers of fixed-income obligations, including prospective purchases and portfolio holdings of the Fund. Credit analysts
have broad access to research and financial reports, data retrieval services and industry analysts. They review financial and operating statements supplied by state and local governments and other issuers of municipal securities to evaluate revenue projections and the financial soundness of municipal issuers. They study the impact of economic and political developments on state and local governments, evaluate industry sectors and meet periodically with public officials and other representatives of state and local
governments and other tax-exempt issuers to discuss such matters as budget projections, debt policy, the strength of the regional economy and, in the case of revenue bonds, the demand for facilities. They also make site inspections to review specific projects and to evaluate the progress of construction or the operation of a facility.
The Fund may invest in municipal securities which are not rated if, based upon a credit analysis by the Subadviser, the Subadviser believes that the securities are of comparable quality to other municipal securities that the Fund may purchase. A description of the ratings is set forth in the Fund's Prospectus. The ratings of Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) and Standard & Poor's Ratings Group (S&P) represent the respective opinions of those firms of the quality of the securities each undertakes
to rate. The ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. In determining the suitability for investment in a particular unrated security, the Subadviser will take into consideration asset and debt service coverage, the purpose of the financing, the history of the issuer, the existence of other B-2 rated securities of the issuer, any credit enhancement by virtue of a letter of credit or other financial guaranty deemed suitable by the investment adviser and other factors as may be relevant, including
comparability to other issuers.
After its purchase by the Fund, an issue of municipal bonds or notes may cease to be rated or its rating(s) may be reduced. Neither event requires the elimination of that obligation from the portfolio of the Fund, but each event will be a factor in determining whether the Fund should continue to hold that issue in its portfolio.
The Fund will attempt to invest substantially all of its investable assets in municipal securities. To achieve the Fund's objective, as a fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Fund anticipates that its assets will be invested so that at least 80% of its investable assets will be invested in municipal bonds. The term "investable assets" in this SAI refers to the Fund's net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes. The Fund's investable assets will be less than its total assets to
the extent that it has borrowed money for non-investment purposes, such as to meet anticipated redemptions. The Fund will continuously monitor its portfolio to ensure that the asset investment test is met at all times, except for temporary defensive positions during abnormal market conditions.
The Fund may invest its assets from time to time on a temporary basis in debt securities, the interest on which is subject to federal, state or local income tax: (1) pending the investment or reinvestment in municipal securities of the proceeds from the sale of shares of the Fund or sales of portfolio securities, (2) in order to avoid the necessity of liquidating portfolio investments to meet redemptions of shares by investors, or (3) where market conditions due to rising interest rates or other adverse
factors warrant temporary investing. Investments in taxable securities may include: obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; commercial paper rated in the two highest grades by either Moody's or S&P (A-1 and A-2, or P-1 and P-2, respectively). The Fund does not intend to invest more than 5% of its assets in any one category of the foregoing taxable securities. The Fund may also hold its assets in other cash equivalents or in cash.
U.S. Government securities are instruments issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. Government. U.S. Government guarantees do not extend to the yield or value of the Fund's portfolio securities or the Fund's shares. Not all U.S. Government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency.
The Fund is classified as diversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act or the 1940 Act). This means that with respect to 75% of the assets of the Fund, (i) the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer (except U.S. Government obligations) and (ii) the Fund may not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. For purposes
of diversification and concentration under the Investment Company Act, the identification of the issuer of the municipal obligation depends upon the terms and conditions of the obligation. If the assets and revenues of an agency, authority, instrumentality or other political subdivision are separate from those of the government creating the subdivision and the obligation is backed only by the assets and revenues of the subdivision, the subdivision is regarded as the sole issuer. Similarly, in the case of an industrial
development revenue bond or pollution control revenue bond, if the bond is backed only by the assets and revenues of the non-governmental user, the non-governmental user is regarded as the sole issuer. If, in either case, the creating government or another entity guarantees an obligation, the guaranty may be regarded as a separate security and treated as an issue of the guarantor.
The Fund will treat an investment in a municipal bond refunded with escrowed U.S. Government securities as U.S. Government securities for purposes of the Investment Company Act's diversification requirements provided: (1) the escrowed securities are "government securities" as defined in the Investment Company Act, (2) the escrowed securities are irrevocably pledged only to payment of debt service on the refunded bonds, except to the extent there are amounts in excess of funds necessary for such debt service,
(3) principal and interest on the escrowed securities will be sufficient to satisfy all scheduled principal, interest and any premiums on the refunded bonds and a verification report prepared by a party acceptable to a nationally recognized statistical rating agency, or counsel to the holders of the refunded bonds, so verifies, (4) the escrow agreement provides that the issuer of the refunded bonds grants and assigns to the escrow agent, for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the refunded bonds,
an express first lien on, pledge of and perfected security interest in the escrowed securities and the interest income thereon, (5) the escrow agent had no lien of any type with respect to the escrowed securities for payment of its fees or expenses except to the extent there are excess securities, as described in (2) above.
Since securities issued or guaranteed by states or municipalities are not voting securities, there is no limitation for purposes of the Investment Company Act on the percentage of a single issuer's securities which the Fund may own so long as, with respect to 75% of its assets, it does not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of that issuer (except obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government). As for the other 25% of the assets of the Fund not subject to the limitation described
above, there is no minimum limitation as to the number of issuers in whose securities these assets may be invested.
The Fund expects that normally it will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any one industry.
A portion of the dividends and distributions paid on the shares of the Fund may be treated as a preference item for purposes of the alternate minimum tax for individuals and corporations. Such treatment may cause certain investors, depending upon other aspects of their individual tax situation, to incur some federal income tax liability. In addition, corporations are subject to an alternative minimum tax which generally treats as a tax preference item 75% of the excess of a corporation's adjusted current
earnings over its alternative minimum taxable income. A corporation's adjusted current earnings generally would include interest paid on municipal obligations and dividends paid on shares of the Fund.
From time to time, proposals have been introduced to limit the use, or tax and other advantages, of municipal securities which, if enacted, could adversely affect the Fund's net asset value (NAV) and investment practices. Such proposals could also adversely affect the secondary market for high yield municipal securities, the financial condition of issuers of these securities and the value of outstanding high yield municipal securities. Reevaluation of the Fund's investment objective and structure might
be necessary in the future due to market conditions which may result from future changes in state or federal law.
Unlike many issues of common and preferred stock and corporate bonds which are traded between brokers acting as agents for their customers on securities exchanges, municipal obligations are customarily purchased from or sold to dealers who are selling or buying for their own account. Most municipal obligations are not required to be registered with or qualified for sale by federal or state securities regulators. Since there are large numbers of municipal obligation issues of many different issuers, most
issues do not trade on any single day. On the other hand, most issues are always marketable, since a major dealer will normally, on request, bid for any issue, other than obscure ones. Regional municipal securities dealers are frequently more willing to bid on issues of municipalities in their geographic area.
Although almost all municipal obligations are marketable, the structure of the market introduces its own element of risk; a seller may find, on occasion, that dealers are unwilling to make bids for certain issues that the seller considers reasonable. If the seller is forced to sell, he or she may realize a capital loss that would not have been necessary in different circumstances. Because the net asset value of the Fund's shares reflects the degree of willingness of dealers to bid for municipal obligations,
the price of the Fund's shares may be subject to greater fluctuation than shares of other investment companies with different investment policies.
The following section identifies and explains certain types of investments and investment strategies that the Fund may use. The Fund also may invest from time to time in certain types of investments and investment strategies that are either not discussed or are not identified below as relating to the Fund.
Set forth below are descriptions of some of the types of investments and investment strategies that the Fund may use and the risks and considerations associated with those investments and investment strategies. Please also see the Prospectus and the "Fund Classification, Investment Objectives & Policies" section of this SAI.
In this section the term "Manager" includes the Fund's subadviser.
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
. Asset-backed securities directly or indirectly represent a participation interest in, or are secured by and payable from, a stream of payments generated by particular assets such as motor vehicle or credit card receivables. Payments of principal and interest may be guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit issued by a
financial institution unaffiliated with the entities issuing the securities. Asset-backed securities may be classified as pass-through certificates or collateralized obligations.
Pass-through certificates are asset-backed securities which represent an undivided fractional ownership interest in an underlying pool of assets. Pass-through certificates usually provide for payments of principal and interest received to be passed through to their holders, usually after deduction for certain costs and expenses incurred in administering the pool. Because pass-through certificates represent an ownership interest in the underlying assets, the holders thereof bear directly the risk of any
defaults by the obligors on the underlying assets not covered by any credit support.
Asset-backed securities issued in the form of debt instruments include collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs"), which include collateralized bond obligations ("CBOs"), collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs") and other similarly structured securities. CBOs and CLOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust which is backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. 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. CDOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses.
For both CBOs and CLOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the "equity" tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the bonds or loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CBO trust or CLO trust typically has higher ratings and lower yields than its
underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO or CLO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, and market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CBO or CLO securities as a class.
The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the CDO in which a Fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold and, thus, are not registered under state or federal securities laws. As a result, investments in CDOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market may exist for CDOs allowing a CDO to qualify
for transactions pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed income securities, CDOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the Funds may invest in CDOs that are subordinate to other classes; and (iv)
the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results.
BORROWING AND LEVERAGE
. Unless noted otherwise, the Fund may borrow up to 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (calculated at the time of the borrowing). The Fund may pledge up to 33 1/3% of its total assets to secure these borrowings. If the Fund's asset coverage for borrowings falls below 300%, the Fund will take prompt action to reduce its borrowings. If the Fund borrows to invest
in securities, any investment gains made on the securities in excess of interest paid on the borrowing will cause the net asset value of the shares to rise faster than would otherwise be the case. On the other hand, if the investment performance of the additional securities purchased fails to cover their cost (including any interest paid on the money borrowed) to the Fund, the net asset value of the Fund's shares will decrease faster than would otherwise be the case. This is the speculative factor known as "leverage."
The Fund may borrow from time to time, at the Manager's discretion, to take advantage of investment opportunities, when yields on available investments exceed interest rates and other expenses of related borrowing, or when, in the Manager's opinion, unusual market conditions otherwise make it advantageous for the Fund to increase its investment capacity. The Fund will only borrow when there is an expectation that it will benefit the Fund after taking into account considerations such as interest income and
possible losses upon liquidation. Borrowing by the Fund creates an opportunity for increased net income but, at the same time, creates risks, including the fact that leverage may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of Fund shares and in the yield on the Fund. Unless otherwise stated, the Fund may borrow through forward rolls, dollar rolls or reverse repurchase agreements.
DEBT SECURITIES
. Debt securities, such as bonds, involve credit risk. This is the risk that the issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. The degree of credit risk depends on the issuer's financial condition and on the terms of the bonds. Changes in an issuer's credit rating or the market's perception of an issuer's creditworthiness may also affect the value of the
Fund's investment in that issuer. Credit risk is reduced to the extent the Fund limits its debt investments to U.S. government securities. All debt securities, however, are subject to interest rate risk. This is the risk that the value of the security may fall when interest rates rise. In general, the market price of debt securities with longer maturities will go up or down more in response to changes in interest rates than the market price of shorter-term securities.
DERIVATIVES
. The Fund may use instruments referred to as derivatives. Derivatives are financial instruments the value of which is derived from another security, a commodity (such as gold or oil), a currency or an index (a measure of value or rates, such as the S&P 500 Index or the prime lending rate). Derivatives allow the Fund to increase or decrease the level of risk to which the
Fund is exposed more quickly and efficiently than transactions in other types of instruments. The Fund may use derivatives for hedging purposes. The Fund may also use derivatives to seek to enhance returns. The use of a derivative is speculative if the Fund is primarily seeking to achieve gains, rather than offset the risk of other positions. When the Fund invests in a derivative for speculative purposes, the Fund will be fully exposed to the risks of loss of that derivative, which may sometimes be greater than
the derivative's cost. No Fund may use any derivative to gain exposure to an asset or class of assets that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly.
A discussion of the risk factors relating to derivatives is set out in the sub-section entitled "Risk Factors Involving Derivatives."
INDEXED AND INVERSE SECURITIES
. The Fund may invest in securities the potential return of which is based on an index or interest rate. As an illustration, the Fund may invest in a security whose value is based on changes in a specific index or that pays interest based on the current value of an interest rate index, such as the prime rate. The Fund may also invest in a debt security that
returns principal at maturity based on the level of a securities index or a basket of securities, or based on the relative changes of two indices. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities the potential return of which is based inversely on the change in an index or interest rate (that is, a security the value of which will move in the opposite direction of changes to an index or interest rate). For example, the Fund may invest in securities that pay a higher rate of interest when a particular index decreases
and pay a lower rate of interest (or do not fully return principal) when the value of the index increases. If the Fund invests in such securities, it may be subject to reduced or eliminated interest payments or loss of principal in the event of an adverse movement in the relevant interest rate, index or indices. Indexed and inverse securities may involve credit risk, and certain indexed and inverse securities may involve leverage risk, liquidity risk and currency risk. The Fund may invest in indexed and inverse
securities for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns. When used for hedging purposes, indexed and inverse securities involve correlation risk. (Furthermore, where such a security includes a contingent liability, in the event of such an adverse movement, the Fund may be required to pay substantial additional margin to maintain the position.)
The Manager recently reevaluated the financial statement presentation of certain inverse securities, which are commonly referred to as inverse floaters, under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140 ("FAS 140"). The application of the provisions of FAS 140 entailed a reclassification of transactions in which a Fund sells a municipal bond to a special purpose trust in order to create an inverse floater which the Fund receives from such trust in a financing transaction. The trust
also issues floating rate notes to third parties. The Fund receives interest payments on inverse floaters that bear an inverse relationship to the interest paid on the floating rate notes. These transactions were previously classified as a sale for financial statement presentation purposes. While such inverse floaters expose the Fund to leverage risk, they do not constitute borrowings for purposes of the Fund's restrictions on borrowings. Inverse floaters otherwise acquired by the Fund are not currently subject
to this reevaluation under FAS 140.
Future financial statements for a Fund will reflect the application of the provisions of FAS 140, regardless of materiality. Pursuant to FAS 140, the Fund will record interest on the full amount of the municipal bonds held in the special purpose trusts as interest income and the Fund also will record the interest to holders of the floating rate certificates and fees associated with the trust as interest expense in the Statement of Operations. This change will cause the Fund's expense ratio to increase.
However, neither the Fund's net income nor its distributions to shareholders are impacted since the increase in interest expense will be offset by a corresponding amount of increased income on the bonds now deemed to be owned by the Fund (instead of only the interest the Fund received on the inverse floater certificates it held directly).
To the extent that a Fund owns such inverse floaters as of the financial reporting period end, another important change pursuant to FAS 140 is that the Fund's gross assets would increase by the par amount of the floating rate certificates issued by the affected special purpose trusts, with a corresponding increase in the Fund's liabilities. The Fund's net assets and net asset value per share should not be affected by this change in accounting because the increase in gross assets will be offset by a corresponding
increase in liabilities.
SWAP AGREEMENTS
. The Fund may enter into swap transactions, including but not limited to, equity, interest rate, index, credit default, total return and, to the extent that it may invest in foreign currency-denominated securities, currency exchange rate swap agreements. In addition, the Fund may enter into options on swap agreements (swap options). These swap transactions are entered into
in an attempt to obtain a particular return when it is considered desirable to do so, possibly at a lower cost to the Fund than if the Fund had invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return. Swap transactions are a type of derivative. Derivatives are further discussed in the sub-sections entitled "Derivatives" and "Risk Factors Involving Derivatives."
Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. In a standard "swap" transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on or calculated with respect to 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," that is, the return on
or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a "basket" of securities representing a particular index or other investments or instruments. Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund would calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a "net basis." Consequently the Fund's current obligations (or rights) under 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"). The Fund's current obligations under 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 liquid assets.
To the extent that the Fund enters into swaps on other than a net basis, the amount maintained in a segregated account will be the full amount of the Fund's obligations, if any, with respect to such swaps, accrued on a daily basis. Inasmuch as segregated accounts are established for these hedging transactions, the Manager and the Fund believe such obligations do not constitute senior securities and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to its borrowing restrictions. If there is a default by
the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreement related to the transaction. Since swaps are individually negotiated, the Fund expects to achieve an acceptable degree of correlation between its rights to receive a return on its portfolio securities and its rights and obligations to receive and pay a return pursuant to swaps. The Fund will enter into swaps only with counterparties meeting certain creditworthiness standards (generally, such counterparties
would have to be eligible counterparties under the terms of the Fund's repurchase agreement guidelines approved by the Fund's Board).
Unless otherwise noted, the Fund's net obligations in respect of all swap agreements (i.e., the aggregate net amount owed by the Fund) is limited to 15% of its net assets.
CREDIT DEFAULT SWAP AGREEMENTS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS
. The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements and similar agreements, and may also buy credit-linked securities. The credit default swap agreement or similar instrument may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund. The protection "buyer" in a credit default contract may
be obligated to pay the protection "seller" an up front or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided generally that no credit event on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the "par value" (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash
settled. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund recovers nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. As a seller, the Fund generally receives an up front payment or a fixed rate of income throughout
the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. If a credit event occurs, generally the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value.
Credit default swaps and similar instruments involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly, since, in addition to general market risks, they are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risks. The Fund will enter into credit default swap agreements and similar instruments only with counterparties who are rated investment grade quality by at least one credit rating agency at the time of entering into such transaction or whose creditworthiness is
believed by the Manager to be equivalent to such rating. A buyer also will lose its investment and recover nothing should no credit event occur and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the up front or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the Fund. When the Fund acts as a seller of a credit default swap
or a similar instrument, it is exposed to many of the same risks of leverage since, if a credit event occurs, the seller may be required to pay the buyer the full notional value of the contract net of any amounts owed by the buyer related to its delivery of deliverable obligations.
CREDIT LINKED SECURITIES
. Among the income producing securities in which the Fund may invest are credit linked securities, which are issued by a limited purpose trust or other vehicle that, in turn, invests in a derivative instrument or basket of derivative instruments, such as credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and other securities, in order to provide exposure to certain fixed
income markets. For instance, the Fund may invest in credit linked securities as a cash management tool in order to gain exposure to a certain market and/or to remain fully invested when more traditional income producing securities are not available.
Like an investment in a bond, investments in these credit linked securities represent the right to receive periodic income payments (in the form of distributions) and payment of principal at the end of the term of the security. However, these payments are conditioned on the issuer's receipt of payments from, and the issuer's potential obligations to, the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the issuer invests. For instance, the issuer may sell one or more credit default
swaps, under which the issuer would receive a stream of payments over the term of the swap agreements provided that no event of default has occurred with respect to the referenced debt obligation upon which the swap is based. If a default occurs, the stream of payments may stop and the issuer would be obligated to pay the counterparty the par (or other agreed upon value) of the referenced debt obligation. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of income and principal that the Fund would receive. The Fund's investments
in these instruments are indirectly subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments, including, among others, credit risk, default or similar event risk, counterparty risk, interest rate risk, leverage risk and management risk. It is also expected that the securities will be exempt from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, there may be no established trading market for the securities and they may constitute illiquid investments.
TOTAL RETURN SWAP AGREEMENTS
. The Fund may enter into total return swap agreements. Total return swap agreements are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the change in market value of the underlying assets, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based
on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swap agreements may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or market. Total return swap agreements may effectively add leverage to the Fund's portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. Total return swap agreements entail the risk that a party will
default on its payment obligations to the Fund thereunder. Swap agreements also bear the risk that the Fund will not be able to meet its obligation to the counterparty. Generally, the Fund will enter into total return swaps on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments). The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund's obligations over its entitlements with respect to each total return swap will be
accrued on a daily basis, and an amount of cash or liquid instruments having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to the accrued excess will be segregated by the Fund. If the total return swap transaction is entered into on other than a net basis, the full amount of the Fund's obligations will be accrued on a daily basis, and the full amount of the Fund's obligations will be segregated by the Fund in an amount equal to or greater than the market value of the liabilities under the total return swap agreement
or the amount it would have cost the Fund initially to make an equivalent direct investment, plus or minus any amount the Fund is obligated to pay or is to receive under the total return swap agreement.
Unless otherwise noted, the Fund's net obligations in respect of all swap agreements (i.e., the aggregate net amount owed by the Fund) is limited to 15% of its net assets.
OPTIONS ON SECURITIES AND SECURITIES INDEXES
.
TYPES OF OPTIONS
. The Fund may engage in transactions in options on individual securities, baskets of securities or securities indices, or particular measurements of value or rate (an "index"), such as an index of the price of treasury securities or an index representative of short term interest rates. Such investments may be made on exchanges and in the Over the Counter ("OTC") markets. In general, exchange-traded options have standardized exercise
prices and expiration dates and require the parties to post margin against their obligations, and the performance of the parties' obligations in connection with such options is guaranteed by the exchange or a related clearing corporation. OTC options have more flexible terms negotiated between the buyer and the seller, but generally do not require the parties to post margin and are subject to greater credit risk. OTC options also involve greater liquidity risk. See "Additional Risk Factors of OTC Transactions;
Limitations on the Use of OTC Derivatives."
CALL OPTIONS
. The Fund may purchase call options on any of the types of securities or instruments in which it may invest. A call option gives the Fund the right to buy, and obligates the seller to sell, the underlying security at the exercise price at any time during the option period. The Fund also may purchase and sell call options on indices. Index options are similar to options on securities except that, rather than taking or making delivery of
securities underlying the option at a specified price upon exercise, an index option gives the holder the right to receive cash upon exercise of the option if the level of the index upon which the option is based is greater than the exercise price of the option.
The Fund may only write (i.e., sell) covered call options on the securities or instruments in which it may invest and to enter into closing purchase transactions with respect to certain of such options. A covered call option is an option in which the Fund owns the underlying security or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security, without additional consideration (or for additional consideration held in a segregated account by its custodian), upon conversion or exchange of other securities
currently held in its portfolio or with respect to which the Fund has established cover by segregating liquid instruments on its books. The principal reason for writing call options is the attempt to realize, through the receipt of premiums, a greater return than would be realized on the securities alone. By writing covered call options, the Fund gives up the opportunity, while the option is in effect, to profit from any price increase in the underlying security above the option exercise price. In addition, the
Fund's ability to sell the underlying security will be limited while the option is in effect unless the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction cancels out the Fund's position as the writer of an option by means of an offsetting purchase of an identical option prior to the expiration of the option it has written. Covered call options also serve as a partial hedge to the extent of the premium received against the price of the underlying security declining. Also, with respect
to call options written by the Fund that are covered only by segregated portfolio securities, the Fund is exposed to the risk of loss equal to the amount by which the price of the underlying securities rises above the exercise price.
PUT OPTIONS
. The Fund may purchase put options to seek to hedge against a decline in the value of its securities or to enhance its return. By buying a put option, the Fund acquires a right to sell such underlying securities or instruments at the exercise price, thus limiting the Fund's risk of loss through a decline in the market value of the securities or instruments until the put option expires. The amount of any appreciation in the value of the
underlying securities or instruments will be partially offset by the amount of the premium paid for the put option and any related transaction costs. Prior to its expiration, a put option may be sold in a closing sale transaction and profit or loss from the sale will depend on whether the amount received is more or less than the premium paid for the put option plus the related transaction costs. A closing sale transaction cancels out the Fund's position as the purchaser of an option by means of an offsetting
sale of an identical option prior to the expiration of the option it has purchased. The Fund also may purchase uncovered put options.
The Fund may write (i.e., sell) put options on the types of securities or instruments that may be held by the Fund, provided that such put options are covered, meaning that such options are secured by segregated, liquid instruments. The Fund will receive a premium for writing a put option, which increases the Fund's return.
FUTURES
. The Fund may engage in transactions in futures and options thereon. Futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts which obligate a purchaser to take delivery, and a seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of an asset at a specified future date at a specified price. No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Rather, upon purchasing or selling a futures
contract the Fund is required to deposit collateral ("margin") equal to a percentage (generally less than 10%) of the contract value. Each day thereafter until the futures position is closed, the Fund will pay additional margin representing any loss experienced as a result of the futures position the prior day or be entitled to a payment representing any profit experienced as a result of the futures position the prior day. Futures involve substantial leverage risk.
The sale of a futures contract limits the Fund's risk of loss through a decline in the market value of portfolio holdings correlated with the futures contract prior to the futures contract's expiration date. In the event the market value of the portfolio holdings correlated with the futures contract increases rather than decreases, however, the Fund will realize a loss on the futures position and a lower return on the portfolio holdings than would have been realized without the purchase of the futures contract.
The purchase of a futures contract may protect the Fund from having to pay more for securities as a consequence of increases in the market value for such securities during a period when the Fund was attempting to identify specific securities in which to invest in a market the Fund believes to be attractive. In the event that such securities decline in value or the Fund determines not to complete an anticipatory hedge transaction relating to a futures contract, however, the Fund may realize a loss relating
to the futures position.
The Fund is also authorized to purchase or sell call and put options on futures contracts including financial futures and stock indices in connection with its hedging activities. Generally, these strategies would be used under the same market and market sector conditions (i.e., conditions relating to specific types of investments) in which the Fund entered into futures transactions. The Fund may purchase put options or write (i.e., sell) call options on futures contracts and stock indices rather than selling
the underlying futures contract in anticipation of a decrease in the market value of its securities. Similarly, the Fund can purchase call options, or write put options on futures contracts and stock indices, as a substitute for the purchase of such futures to hedge against the increased cost resulting from an increase in the market value of securities which the Fund intends to purchase.
The Fund may only write "covered" put and call options on futures contracts. The Fund will be considered "covered" with respect to a call option it writes on a futures contract if the Fund owns the assets that are deliverable under the futures contract or an option to purchase that futures contract having a strike price equal to or less than the strike price of the "covered" option and having an expiration date not earlier than the expiration date of the "covered" option, or if it segregates for the term
of the option cash or other liquid assets equal to the fluctuating value of the optioned future. The Fund will be considered "covered" with respect to a put option it writes on a futures contract if it owns an option to sell that futures contract having a strike price equal to or greater than the strike price of the "covered" option, or if it segregates for the term of the option cash or other liquid assets at all times equal in value to the exercise price of the put (less any initial margin deposited by the
Fund with its futures custody manager or as otherwise permitted by applicable law with respect to such option). There is no limitation on the amount of the Fund's assets that can be segregated.
The Manager has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA") pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA. The Fund is not, therefore, subject to registration or regulation as a "commodity pool operator" promulgated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") under the CEA and the Fund is operated so as not to be deemed to be a "commodity pool" under the regulations of the CFTC.
RISK FACTORS INVOLVING DERIVATIVES
. Derivatives are volatile and involve significant risks, including:
Credit Risk -
the risk that the counterparty on a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation to the Fund.
Currency Risk -
the risk that changes in the exchange rate between two currencies will adversely affect the value (in U.S. dollar terms) of an investment.
Leverage Risk
- the risk associated with certain types of investments or trading strategies (such as borrowing money to increase the amount of investments) that relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of an investment. Certain investments or trading strategies that involve leverage can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested.
Liquidity Risk
- the risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time that the seller would like or at the price that the seller believes the security is currently worth.
The use of derivatives for hedging purposes involves correlation risk. If the value of the derivative moves more or less than the value of the hedged instruments, the Fund will experience a gain or loss that will not be completely offset by movements in the value of the hedged instruments.
The Fund intends to enter into transactions involving derivatives only if there appears to be a liquid secondary market for such instruments or, in the case of illiquid instruments traded in OTC transactions, such instruments satisfy the criteria set forth below under "Additional Risk Factors of OTC Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC Derivatives." However, there can be no assurance that, at any specific time, either a liquid secondary market will exist for a derivative or the Fund will otherwise
be able to sell such instrument at an acceptable price. It may therefore not be possible to close a position in a derivative without incurring substantial losses, if at all.
Certain transactions in derivatives (such as futures transactions or sales of put options) involve substantial leverage risk and may expose the Fund to potential losses, which exceed the amount originally invested by the Fund. When the Fund engages in such a transaction, the Fund will deposit in a segregated account at its custodian liquid securities or cash and cash equivalents with a value at least equal to the Fund's exposure, on a mark-to-market basis, to the transaction (as calculated pursuant to requirements
of the Commission). Such segregation will ensure that the Fund has assets available to satisfy its obligations with respect to the transaction, but will not limit the Fund's exposure to loss.
Additional Risk Factors of OTC Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC Derivatives
Certain derivatives traded in OTC markets, including indexed securities, swaps and OTC options, involve substantial liquidity risk. The absence of liquidity may make it difficult or impossible for the Fund to sell such instruments promptly at an acceptable price. The absence of liquidity may also make it more difficult for the Fund to ascertain a market value for such instruments. The Fund will, therefore, acquire illiquid OTC instruments (i) if the agreement pursuant to which the instrument is purchased
contains a formula price at which the instrument may be terminated or sold, or (ii) for which the Manager anticipates the Fund can receive on each business day at least two independent bids or offers, unless a quotation from only one dealer is available, in which case that dealer's quotation may be used.
Because derivatives traded in OTC markets are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing corporation and generally do not require payment of margin, to the extent that the Fund has unrealized gains in such instruments or has deposited collateral with its counterparty, the Fund is at risk that its counterparty will become bankrupt or otherwise fail to honor its obligations. The Fund will attempt to minimize the risk that a counterparty will become bankrupt or otherwise fail to honor its obligations by engaging
in transactions in derivatives traded in OTC markets only with financial institutions that appear to have substantial capital or that have provided the Fund with a third-party guaranty or other credit enhancement.
DISTRESSED SECURITIES
. The Fund may invest in securities, including corporate loans purchased in the secondary market, which are the subject of bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise in default as to the repayment of principal and/or interest at the time of acquisition by the Fund or are rated in the lower rating categories (Ca or lower by Moody's and CC or lower by S&P or Fitch) or which,
if unrated, are in the judgment of the Manager of equivalent quality ("Distressed Securities"). Investing in Distressed Securities is speculative and involves significant risks. Distressed Securities frequently do not produce income while they are outstanding and may require the Fund to bear certain extraordinary expenses in order to protect and recover its investment.
The Fund will generally make such investments only when the Manager believes it is reasonably likely that the issuer of the Distressed Securities will make an exchange offer or will be the subject of a plan of reorganization pursuant to which the Fund will receive new securities. However, there can be no assurance that such an exchange offer will be made or that such a plan of reorganization will be adopted. In addition, a significant period of time may pass between the time at which the Fund makes its
investment in Distressed Securities and the time that any such exchange offer or plan of reorganization is completed. During this period, it is unlikely that a Fund will receive any interest payments on the Distressed Securities, the Fund will be subject to significant uncertainty as to whether or not the exchange offer or plan of reorganization will be completed and the Fund may be required to bear certain extraordinary expenses to protect and recover its investment. Even if an exchange offer is made or plan
of reorganization is adopted with respect to Distressed Securities held by the Fund, there can be no assurance that the securities or other assets received by the Fund in connection with such exchange offer or plan of reorganization will not have a lower value or income potential than may have been anticipated when the investment was made. Moreover, any securities received by the Fund upon completion of an exchange offer or plan of reorganization may be restricted as to resale. As a result of the Fund's participation
in negotiations with respect to any exchange offer or plan of reorganization with respect to an issuer of Distressed Securities, the Fund may be restricted from disposing of such securities.
ILLIQUID OR RESTRICTED SECURITIES
. The Fund may invest in securities that lack an established secondary trading market or otherwise are considered illiquid. Liquidity of a security relates to the ability to dispose easily of the security and the price to be obtained upon disposition of the security, which may be less than would be obtained for a comparable more liquid security. Illiquid
securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments. Investment of the Fund's assets in illiquid securities may restrict the ability of the Fund to dispose of its investments in a timely fashion and for a fair price as well as its ability to take advantage of market opportunities. The risks associated with illiquidity will be particularly acute where the Fund's operations require cash, such as when the Fund redeems shares or pays dividends, and could result in the Fund borrowing to meet
short term cash requirements or incurring capital losses on the sale of illiquid investments. The Fund may invest in securities that are not registered (restricted securities) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act").
Restricted securities may be sold in private placement transactions between issuers and their purchasers and may be neither listed on an exchange nor traded in other established markets. In many cases, privately placed securities may not be freely transferable under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction or due to contractual restrictions on resale. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, privately placed securities may be less
liquid and more difficult to value than publicly traded securities. To the extent that privately placed securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from the sales, due to illiquidity, could be less than those originally paid by the Fund or less than their fair market value. In addition, issuers whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that may be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.
If any privately placed securities held by the Fund are required to be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Fund may be required to bear the expenses of registration. Certain of the Fund's investments in private placements may consist of direct investments and may include investments in smaller, less seasoned issuers, which may involve greater risks. These issuers may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources or they may be dependent on a
limited management group. In making investments in such securities, the Fund may obtain access to material nonpublic information, which may restrict the Fund's ability to conduct portfolio transactions in such securities.
The Fund may purchase restricted securities that can be offered and sold to "qualified institutional buyers" under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Board has determined to treat as liquid Rule 144A securities that are either freely tradable in their primary markets offshore or have been determined to be liquid in accordance with the policies and procedures adopted by the Board. The Board has adopted guidelines and delegated to the Manager
the daily function of determining and monitoring liquidity of restricted securities. The Board, however, will retain sufficient oversight and be ultimately responsible for the determinations. Since it is not possible to predict with assurance exactly how the market for restricted securities sold and offered under Rule 144A will continue to develop, the Board will carefully monitor the Fund's investments in these securities. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity
in the Fund to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing these securities.
INVESTMENT IN OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES
. The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange traded funds. In accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), the Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities of other investment companies. In addition, under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not own more than 3% of the total outstanding voting
stock of any investment company and not more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be invested in securities of any investment company. (These limits do not restrict a Feeder Fund from investing all of its assets in shares of its Master Portfolio.)
Notwithstanding the limits discussed above, the Fund may invest in other investment companies without regard to the limits set forth above provided that the Fund complies with Rules 12d1-1, 12d1-2 and 12d1-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission" or "SEC") under the 1940 Act.
As with other investments, investments in other investment companies are subject to market and selection risk. In addition, if the Fund acquires shares in investment companies, shareholders would bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund (including management and advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of such investment companies (including management and advisory fees). Investments by the Fund in wholly owned investment entities created under the laws of certain countries will not
be deemed an investment in other investment companies.
JUNK BONDS
. Junk bonds are debt securities that are rated below investment grade by the major rating agencies or are unrated securities that the Manager believes are of comparable quality. Although junk bonds generally pay higher rates of interest than investment grade bonds, they are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund. The major risks in junk
bond investments include the following:
-
Junk bonds are issued by less creditworthy companies. These securities are vulnerable to adverse changes in the issuer's industry and to general economic conditions. Issuers of junk bonds may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations because of an economic downturn, specific issuer developments or the unavailability of additional financing.
-
The issuers of junk bonds may have a larger amount of outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of investment grade bonds. If the issuer experiences financial stress, it may be unable to meet its debt obligations. The issuer's ability to pay its debt obligations also may be lessened by specific issuer developments, or the unavailability of additional financing.
-
Junk bonds are frequently ranked junior to claims by other creditors. If the issuer cannot meet its obligations, the senior obligations are generally paid off before the junior obligations.
-
Junk bonds frequently have redemption features that permit an issuer to repurchase the security from a Fund before it matures. If an issuer redeems the junk bonds, the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in bonds with lower yields and may lose income.
-
Prices of junk bonds are subject to extreme price fluctuations. Negative economic developments may have a greater impact on the prices of junk bonds than on other higher rated fixed income securities.
-
Junk bonds may be less liquid than higher rated fixed income securities even under normal economic conditions. There are fewer dealers in the junk bond market, and there may be significant differences in the prices quoted for junk bonds by the dealers. Because they are less liquid, judgment may play a greater role in valuing certain of the Fund's portfolio securities than in the case of securities trading in a more liquid market.
-
The Fund may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting issuer.
LIQUIDITY PUTS OR CALLS
. A Fund may also purchase a permissible instrument or investment together with the right to resell or purchase the instruments at an agreed-upon price or yield within a specified period prior to the maturity date of the instruments. Such a right to resell is commonly known as a put, and such a right to purchase is commonly known as a call. The aggregate price which
a Fund pays for instruments with puts or calls may be higher than the price which otherwise would be paid for the instruments. The purpose of this practice is to permit a Fund to be fully invested while preserving the necessary liquidity to meet unusually large redemptions and to purchase at a later date securities other than those subject to the put. A Fund may choose to exercise puts during periods in which proceeds from sales of its shares and from recent sales of portfolio securities are insufficient to meet
redemption requests or when the funds available are otherwise allocated for investment. A Fund may choose to exercise calls during periods in which funds are available for investment. In determining whether to exercise puts or calls prior to their expiration date and in selecting which puts or calls to exercise in such circumstances, the Manager considers, among other things, the amount of cash available to the Fund, the expiration dates of the available puts or calls, any future commitments for securities purchases,
the yield, quality and maturity dates of the underlying securities, alternative investment opportunities and the desirability of retaining the underlying securities in a Fund.
MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS
. The Fund may invest in money market instruments. Money market instruments include cash equivalents and short-term obligations of U.S. banks, certificates of deposit, short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies. Money market instruments also include bankers' acceptances, commercial paper, certificates of deposit and Eurodollar
obligations issued or guaranteed by bank holding companies in the U.S., their subsidiaries and foreign branches, by foreign banking institutions, and by the World Bank and other multinational instrumentalities, as well as commercial paper and other short-term obligations of, and variable amount master demand notes, variable rate notes and funding agreements issued by, U.S. and foreign corporations.
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
. Investing in mortgage-backed securities involves certain unique risks in addition to those generally associated with investing in fixed-income securities and in the real estate industry in general. These unique risks include the failure of a party to meet its commitments under the related operative documents, adverse interest rate changes and the effects of
prepayments on mortgage cash flows. Mortgage-backed securities are "pass-through" securities, meaning that principal and interest payments made by the borrower on the underlying mortgages are passed through to the Fund. The value of mortgage-backed securities, like that of traditional fixed-income securities, typically increases when interest rates fall and decreases when interest rates rise. However, mortgage-backed securities differ from traditional fixed-income securities because of their potential for prepayment
without penalty. The price paid by the Fund for its mortgage-backed securities, the yield the Fund expects to receive from such securities and the average life of the securities are based on a number of factors, including the anticipated rate of prepayment of the underlying mortgages. In a period of declining interest rates, borrowers may prepay the underlying mortgages more quickly than anticipated, thereby reducing the yield to maturity and the average life of the mortgage-backed securities. Moreover, when
the Fund reinvests the proceeds of a prepayment in these circumstances, it will likely receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on the security that was prepaid.
Mortgage-backed securities can be collateralized by either fixed-rate mortgages or adjustable rate mortgages. Fixed-rate mortgage securities are collateralized by fixed-rate mortgages and tend to have high prepayment rates when the level of prevailing interest rates declines significantly below the interest rates on the mortgages. Thus, under those circumstances, the securities are generally less sensitive to interest rate movements than lower
coupon fixed rate mortgages.
Generally, adjustable rate mortgage securities ("ARMs") have a specified maturity date and amortize principal over their life. In periods of declining interest rates, there is a reasonable likelihood that ARMs will experience increased rates of prepayment of principal. However, the major difference between ARMs and fixed-rate mortgage securities ("FRMs") is that the interest rate and the rate of amortization of principal of ARMs can and do
change in accordance with movements in a particular, pre-specified, published interest rate index. The amount of interest on an ARM is calculated by adding a specified amount, the "margin," to the index, subject to limitations on the maximum and minimum interest that is charged during the life of the mortgage or to maximum and minimum changes to that interest rate during a given period.
The underlying mortgages which collateralize the ARMs in which the Fund invests will frequently have caps and floors which limit the maximum amount by which the loan rate to the residential borrower may change up or down (1) per reset or adjustment interval and (2) over the life of the loan. Some residential mortgage loans restrict periodic adjustments by limiting changes in the borrower's monthly principal and interest payments rather than
limiting interest rate changes. These payment caps may result in negative amortization.
To the extent that the Fund purchases mortgage-backed securities at a premium, mortgage foreclosures and principal prepayments may result in a loss to the extent of the premium paid. If the Fund buys such securities at a discount, both scheduled payments of principal and unscheduled prepayments will increase current and total returns and will accelerate the recognition of income which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary
income. In a period of rising interest rates, prepayments of the underlying mortgages may occur at a slower than expected rate, creating maturity extension risk. This particular risk may effectively change a security that was considered short or intermediate-term at the time of purchase into a long-term security. Since long-term securities generally fluctuate more widely in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities, maturity extension risk could increase the inherent volatility of the
Fund. Under certain interest rate and prepayment scenarios, the Fund may fail to recoup fully its investment in mortgage-backed securities notwithstanding any direct or indirect governmental or agency guarantee.
Most mortgage-backed securities are issued by federal government agencies such as the Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae"), or by government sponsored enterprises such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") or the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"). Principal and interest payments on mortgage-backed securities issued by the federal government and some Federal government agencies, such
as Ginnie Mae, are guaranteed by the Federal government and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Mortgage-backed securities issued by other government agencies or government sponsored enterprises are backed only by the credit of the government agency or enterprise and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations. Although the U.S. government has provided financial support
to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, there can be no assurance that it will support these or other government-sponsored enterprises in the future. Such securities generally have very little credit risk, but may be subject to substantial interest rate risks. Private mortgage-backed securities are issued by private corporations rather than government agencies and are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac hold or guarantee approximately $5 trillion worth of mortgages. The value of the companies' securities fell sharply in 2008 due to concerns that the firms did not have sufficient capital to offset losses resulting from the mortgage crisis. In mid-2008, the U.S. Treasury Department was authorized to increase the size of home loans in certain residential areas Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could buy. On September 6, 2008,
at the request of the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA"), each of Freddie Mac's and Fannie Mae's boards of directors adopted resolutions consenting to putting the respective companies into conservatorship. After obtaining these consents, the Director of FHFA appointed FHFA as the conservator of each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on September 6, 2008. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac report that
as of November 7, 2009 and November 14, 2008, respectively, the conservator for each company has advised them that it has not disaffirmed or repudiated any contracts entered into by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac prior to its appointment as conservator. The effect that this conservatorship will have on the companies' debt and equities is unclear. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have each been the subject of investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting matters. Such investigations, and any resulting restatements
of financial statements, may adversely affect the guaranteeing entity and, as a result, the payment of principal or interest on these types of securities. In addition to placing the companies in conservatorship, the U.S.Treasury announced at that time three additional steps that it intended to take with respect to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. First, the U.S.Treasury has entered into preferred stock purchase agreements ("PSPAs") under which, if the FHFA determines that Fannie Mae's or Freddie Mac's liabilities
have exceeded its assets under generally accepted accounting principles, the U.S.Treasury will contribute cash capital to the company in an amount equal to the difference between liabilities and assets. The PSPAs are designed to provide protection to the senior and subordinated debt and the mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. As of September 30, 2009, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issued to the U.S. Treasury PSPAs with an aggregate liquidation preference of $60.9 billion and $51.7
billion, respectively. Second, the U.S. Treasury established a new secured lending credit facility that was available to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac until December 31, 2009. Third, the U.S.Treasury initiated a temporary program to purchase Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities, that expired on December 31, 2009. As of September 30, 2009, the U.S. Treasury held $176 billion of mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. No assurance can be given that the U.S.Treasury initiatives
discussed above with respect to the debt and mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be successful or that the termination of such initiative will not adversely affect such security.
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES
. The Fund may, from time to time, invest in municipal bonds, which may be general obligation or revenue bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer's pledge of its faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest, whereas revenue bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities
or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source.
The Fund may invest in municipal notes including tax, revenue and bond anticipation notes which are issued to obtain funds for various public purposes. The Fund may invest in municipal asset-backed securities, which are debt obligations, often issued through a trust or other investment vehicles that are backed by municipal debt obligations and accompanied by a liquidity facility. The Fund may invest in municipal securities with the right to
resell such securities to the seller at an agreed-upon price or yield within a specified period prior to the maturity date. Such a right to resell is commonly referred to as a "put" or "tender option."
Municipal securities include notes and bonds issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and the District of Columbia, the interest on which is generally eligible for exclusion from federal income tax and, in certain instances, applicable state or local income and personal property taxes. Such securities are traded primarily in the OTC market.
The interest rates payable on certain municipal bonds and municipal notes are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. Municipal bonds and notes of this type are called "variable rate" obligations. The interest rate payable on a variable rate obligation is adjusted either at predesignated intervals or whenever there is a change in the market rate of interest on which the interest rate payable is based. Other features
may include the right whereby the Fund may demand prepayment of the principal amount of the obligation prior to its stated maturity (a demand feature) and the right of the issuer to prepay the principal amount prior to maturity. The principal benefit of a variable rate obligation is that the interest rate adjustment minimizes changes in the market value of the obligation. As a result, the purchase of variable rate obligations should enhance the ability of the Fund to maintain a stable net asset value ("NAV")
per share and to sell an obligation prior to maturity at a price approximating the full principal amount of the obligation.
Variable rate securities provide for a specific periodic adjustment in the interest rate based on prevailing market rates and generally would allow the Fund to demand payment of the obligation on short notice at par plus accrued interest, which amount may, at times, be more or less than the amount the Fund paid for them. Some floating rate and variable rate securities have maturities longer than 397 calendar days but afford the holder the right
to demand payment at dates earlier than the final maturity date. Such floating rate and variable rate securities will be treated as having maturities equal to the demand date or the period of adjustment of the interest rate whichever is longer.
An inverse floater is a debt instrument with a floating or variable interest rate that moves in the opposite direction of the interest rate on another security or the value of an index. Changes in the interest rate on the other security or index inversely affect the residual interest rate paid on the inverse floater, with the result that the inverse floater's price will be considerably more volatile than that of a fixed rate bond. Generally,
income from inverse floating rate bonds will decrease when short-term interest rates increase, and will increase when short-term interest rates decrease. Such securities have the effect of providing investment leverage, since they may increase or decrease in value in response to changes, as an illustration, in market interest rates at a rate that is a multiple (typically two) of the rate at which fixed-rate, long-term, tax-exempt securities increase or decrease in response to such changes. As a result, the market
values of such securities generally will be more volatile than the market values of fixed-rate tax-exempt securities.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
. The Fund may invest in securities pursuant to repurchase agreements. The Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with parties meeting creditworthiness standards as set forth in the Fund's repurchase agreement procedures.
Under such agreements, the other party agrees, upon entering into the contract with the Fund, to repurchase the security at a mutually agreed-upon time and price in a specified currency, thereby determining the yield during the term of the agreement. This results in a fixed rate of return insulated from market fluctuations during such period, although such return may be affected by currency fluctuations. In the case of repurchase agreements, the prices at which the trades are conducted do not reflect accrued
interest on the underlying obligation. Such agreements usually cover short periods, such as under one week. Repurchase agreements may be construed to be collateralized loans by the purchaser to the seller secured by the securities transferred to the purchaser.
In the case of a repurchase agreement, as a purchaser, the Fund will require all repurchase agreements to be fully collateralized at all times by cash or other liquid assets in an amount at least equal to the resale price. The seller is required to provide additional collateral if the market value of the securities falls below the repurchase price at any time during the term of the repurchase agreement. In the event of default by the seller under a repurchase agreement construed to be a collateralized loan,
the underlying securities are not owned by the Fund but only constitute collateral for the seller's obligation to pay the repurchase price. Therefore, the Fund may suffer time delays and incur costs or possible losses in connection with disposition of the collateral.
The Fund may participate in a joint repurchase agreement account with other investment companies managed by Prudential Investments LLC pursuant to an order of the Commission. On a daily basis, any uninvested cash balances of the Fund may be aggregated with those of such investment companies and invested in one or more repurchase agreements. The Fund participates in the income earned or accrued in the joint account based on the percentage of its investment.
SECURITIES LENDING
. Consistent with applicable regulatory requirements, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and financial institutions, provided that outstanding loans of the Fund do not exceed in the aggregate 33 1/3 % of the value of the Fund's total assets and provided that such loans are callable at any time by the Fund and are at all times secured by cash
or equivalent collateral (including a line of credit) that is equal to at least 100% of the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. During the time portfolio securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund an amount equivalent to any dividend or interest paid on such securities and the Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn additional income, or it may receive an agreed-upon amount of interest income from the borrower. The advantage of such loans is that the Fund continues to receive
payments in lieu of the interest and dividends of the loaned securities, while at the same time earning interest either directly from the borrower or on the collateral which will be invested in short-term obligations.
A loan may be terminated by the borrower on one business day's notice or by the Fund at any time. If the borrower fails to maintain the requisite amount of collateral, the loan automatically terminates, and the Fund could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost over collateral. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay receiving additional collateral
or in recovery and in some cases loss of all rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio securities will only be made to firms determined to be creditworthy pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of the Fund. On termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the securities to the Fund, and any gain or loss in the market price during the loan would inure to the Fund. Since voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities
pass to the borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loan, in whole or in part as may be appropriate, to permit the exercise of such rights if the matters involved would have a material effect on the Fund's investment in the securities which are the subject of the loan. The Fund will pay reasonable finders', administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities or may share the interest earned on collateral with the borrower.
SHORT SALES AND SHORT SALES AGAINST-THE-BOX
. The Fund may make short sales of securities, either as a hedge against potential declines in value of a portfolio security or to realize appreciation when a security that the Fund does not own declines in value. When the Fund makes a short sale, it borrows the security sold short and delivers it to the broker-dealer through which it made the
short sale. The Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and is often obligated to turn over any payments received on such borrowed securities to the lender of the securities. The Fund may not be able to limit any losses resulting from share price volatility if the security indefinitely continues to increase in value at such specified time.
The Fund secures its obligation to replace the borrowed security by depositing collateral with the broker-dealer, usually in cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities similar to those borrowed. With respect to the uncovered short positions, (1) the Fund is required to deposit similar collateral with its custodian or otherwise segregate collateral on its records, to the extent that the value of the collateral in the aggregate is at all times equal to at least 100% of the current market
value of the security sold short, or (2) the Fund must otherwise cover its short position. Depending on arrangements made with the broker-dealer from which the Fund borrowed the security, regarding payment over of any payments received by the Fund on such security, the Fund may not receive any payments (including interest) on its collateral deposited with such broker-dealer.
Because making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes the Fund to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. As a result, if the Fund makes short sales in securities that increase in value, it will likely underperform similar mutual funds that do not make short sales in securities they do not own. The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security
increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out a short sale position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Although the Fund's gain is limited to the price at which it sold the security short, its potential loss is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security, less the price
at which the security was sold and may, theoretically, be unlimited.
The Fund may also make short sales against-the-box. A short sale against-the-box is a short sale in which the Fund owns an equal amount of the securities sold short, or securities convertible or exchangeable for, with or without payment of any further consideration, such securities. However, if further consideration is required in connection with the conversion or exchange, cash or other liquid assets, in an amount equal to such consideration, must be segregated on the Fund's records or with its Custodian.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE STRATEGY AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
. The Fund may temporarily invest without limit in money market instruments, including commercial paper of U.S. corporations, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and other obligations of domestic banks, and obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or its instrumentalities, as part of a temporary
defensive strategy.
The Fund may invest in money market instruments to maintain appropriate liquidity to meet anticipated redemptions. Money market instruments typically have a maturity of one year or less as measured from the date of purchase. The Fund also may temporarily hold cash or invest in money market instruments pending investment of proceeds from new sales of Fund shares or during periods of portfolio restructuring.
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES, DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS
. The Fund may purchase or sell securities that it is entitled to receive on a when issued basis. The Fund may also purchase or sell securities on a delayed delivery basis or through a forward commitment. These transactions involve the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund at an established price with payment
and delivery taking place in the future. The Fund enters into these transactions to obtain what is considered an advantageous price to the Fund at the time of entering into the transaction. No Fund has established any limit on the percentage of its assets that may be committed in connection with these transactions. When the Fund purchases securities in these transactions, the Fund segregates liquid securities in an amount equal to the amount of its purchase commitments.
There can be no assurance that a security purchased on a when issued basis will be issued or that a security purchased or sold through a forward commitment will be delivered. The value of securities in these transactions on the delivery date may be more or less than the Fund's purchase price. The Fund may bear the risk of a decline in the value of the security in these transactions and may not benefit from an appreciation in the value of the security during the commitment period.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
. The Fund may invest in adjustable rate and fixed rate U.S. government securities. U.S. government securities are instruments issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government. U.S. government guarantees do not extend to the yield or value of the securities or a Fund's shares. Not all U.S. government securities
are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency.
U.S. Treasury securities include bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. These instruments are direct obligations of the U.S. government and, as such, are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. They differ primarily in their interest rates, the lengths of their maturities and the dates of their issuances. U.S. government guarantees do not extend to the yield or value of the securities or
the Fund's shares.
Securities issued by agencies of the U.S. government or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, including those which are guaranteed by Federal agencies or instrumentalities, may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Obligations of Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA," or "Ginnie Mae"), the Farmers Home Administration, the Small Business Administration and securities guaranteed under FDIC's Temporary
Liquidity Guarantee Program are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. In the case of securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the Fund must look principally to the agency issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States if the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitments.
Obligations of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") and the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae") are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U. S. government. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each may borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations, but the U.S. Treasury is under no obligation to lend to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. On September 6, 2008, at the request of the Secretary of the U.S.
Treasury, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA"), each of Freddie Mac's and Fannie Mae's boards of directors adopted resolutions consenting to putting the respective companies into conservatorship. After obtaining these consents, the Director of FHFA appointed FHFA as the conservator of each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on September 6, 2008. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac report that as of November 5, 2009 and November 14, 2008,
respectively, the conservator for each company has advised them that it has not disaffirmed or repudiated any contracts entered into by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac prior to its appointment as conservator. The effect that this conservatorship will have on the companies' debt and equities is unclear. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have each been the subject of investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting matters. In addition to placing the companies in conservatorship, the U.S. Treasury announced at that
time three additional steps that it intended to take with respect to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. First, the U.S.Treasury has entered into preferred stock purchase agreements ("PSPAs") under which, if the FHFA determines that Fannie Mae's or Freddie Mac's liabilities have exceeded its assets under generally accepted accounting principles, the U.S.Treasury will contribute cash capital to the company in an amount equal to the difference between liabilities and assets. The PSPAs are designed to provide protection
to the senior and subordinated debt and the mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. As of September 30, 2009, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issued to the U.S. Treasury PSPAs with an aggregate liquidation preference of $60.9 billion and $51.7 billion, respectively. Second, the U.S.Treasury established a new secured lending credit facility that was available to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac until December 31, 2009. Third, the U.S.Treasury initiated a temporary program to purchase Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities, that expired on December 31, 2009. As of September 30, 2009, the U.S. Treasury held $176 billion of mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. No assurance can be given that the U.S.Treasury initiatives discussed above with respect to the debt and mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be successful or that the termination of such initiatives will not adversely affect such securities. The investigations referenced
to above, and any resulting restatements of financial statements, may adversely affect the guaranteeing entity and, as a result, the payment of principal or interest on these types of securities. Although the U.S. government has provided financial support to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, there can be no assurance that it will support these or other government-sponsored enterprises in the future.
The Fund may invest in debt securities that are guaranteed under the FDIC's Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program ("TLGP"). Under the TLGP, the FDIC guarantees, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, the payment of principal and interest on senior unsecured debt issued by entities eligible to participate in the TLGP, which generally include FDIC-insured depository institutions, U.S. bank holding companies or financial holding
companies and certain U.S. savings and loan holding companies. This guarantee presently extends through the earlier of the maturity date of the debt or June 30, 2012 (or December 31, 2012, depending on when the debt was originally issued). This guarantee does not extend to shares of the Fund itself.
The Fund may also invest in component parts of U.S. government securities, namely either the corpus (principal) of such obligations or one or more of the interest payments scheduled to be paid on such obligations. These obligations may take the form of (1) obligations from which the interest coupons have been stripped; (2) the interest coupons that are stripped; (3) book-entries at a Federal Reserve member bank representing ownership of obligation
components; or (4) receipts evidencing the component parts (corpus or coupons) of U.S. government obligations that have not actually been stripped. Such receipts evidence ownership of component parts of U.S. government obligations (corpus or coupons) purchased by a third party (typically an investment banking firm) and held on behalf of the third party in physical or book-entry form by a major commercial bank or trust company pursuant to a custody agreement with the third party. The Fund may also invest in custodial
receipts held by a third party that are not U.S. government securities.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES, PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES AND DEFERRED PAYMENT SECURITIES
. The Fund may invest in zero coupon securities. Zero coupon securities are securities that are sold at a discount to par value and on which interest payments are not made during the life of the security. The discount approximates the total amount of interest the security will accrue and compound over the period
until maturity on the particular interest payment date at a rate of interest reflecting the market rate of the security at the time of issuance. Upon maturity, the holder is entitled to receive the par value of the security. While interest payments are not made on such securities, holders of such securities are deemed to have received income ("phantom income") annually, notwithstanding that cash may not be received currently. The effect of owning instruments that do not make current interest payments is that
a fixed yield is earned not only on the original investment but also, in effect, on all discount accretion during the life of the obligations. This implicit reinvestment of earnings at the same rate eliminates the risk of being unable to invest distributions at a rate as high as the implicit yield on the zero coupon bond, but at the same time eliminates the holder's ability to reinvest at higher rates in the future. For this reason, some of these securities may be subject to substantially greater price fluctuations
during periods of changing market interest rates than are comparable securities that pay interest currently, which fluctuation increases the longer the period to maturity. These investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service, but also require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of cash.
The Fund accrues income with respect to these securities for Federal income tax and accounting purposes prior to the receipt of cash payments. Pay-in-kind securities are securities that have interest payable by delivery of additional securities. Upon maturity, the holder is entitled to receive the aggregate par value of the securities. Deferred payment securities are securities that remain a zero coupon security until a predetermined date,
at which time the stated coupon rate becomes effective and interest becomes payable at regular intervals. Zero coupon, pay-in-kind and deferred payment securities may be subject to greater fluctuation in value and lesser liquidity in the event of adverse market conditions than comparable rated securities paying cash interest at regular intervals.
In addition to the above described risks, there are certain other risks related to investing in zero coupon, pay-in-kind and deferred payment securities. During a period of severe market conditions, the market for such securities may become even less liquid. In addition, as these securities do not pay cash interest, the Fund's investment exposure to these securities and their risks, including credit risk, will increase during the time these
securities are held in the Fund's portfolio. Further, to maintain its qualification for pass-through treatment under the federal tax laws, the Fund is required to distribute income to its shareholders and, consequently, may have to dispose of its portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate the cash, or may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash to satisfy these distributions, as they relate to the distribution of phantom income and the value of the paid-in-kind interest. The required
distributions will result in an increase in the Fund's exposure to such securities.
The Fund has adopted the restrictions listed below as fundamental policies. Under the 1940 Act, a fundamental policy is one which cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities. A "majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Fund, when used in this SAI, means the lesser of (i) 67% of the voting shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding
voting shares are present in person or represented by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares.
The Fund may not:
1. Purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, the Fund would fail to be a diversified company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as each may be amended from time to time, except to the extent that the Series may be permitted to do so by exemptive order, SEC release, no-action letter or similar relief or interpretations (collectively, the 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions).
2. Issue senior securities or borrow money or pledge its assets, except as permitted by the 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions. For purposes of this restriction, the purchase or sale of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, short sales, derivative and hedging transactions such as interest rate swap transactions, and collateral arrangements with respect thereto, and transactions
similar to any of the foregoing and collateral arrangements with respect thereto, and obligations of the Fund to Trustees pursuant to deferred compensation arrangements are not deemed to be a pledge of assets or the issuance of a senior security.
3. Buy or sell real estate, except that investment in securities of issuers that invest in real estate and investments in mortgage-backed securities, mortgage participations or other instruments supported or secured by interests in real estate are not subject to this limitation, and except that the Fund may exercise rights relating to such securities, including the right to enforce security interests and to hold real estate acquired by reason
of such enforcement until that real estate can be liquidated in an orderly manner.
4. Buy or sell physical commodities or contracts involving physical commodities. The Fund may purchase and sell (i) derivative, hedging and similar instruments such as financial futures contracts and options thereon, and (ii) securities or instruments backed by, or the return from which is linked to, physical commodities or currencies, such as forward currency exchange contracts, and the Fund may exercise rights relating to such instruments,
including the right to enforce security interests and to hold physical commodities and contracts involving physical commodities acquired as a result of the Fund's ownership of instruments supported or secured thereby until they can be liquidated in an orderly manner.
5. Act as underwriter, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.
6. Purchase securities (other than municipal obligations and obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result of such purchase, 25% or more of the total assets of the Fund (taken at current market value) would be invested in any one industry or group of industries, except for temporary defensive purposes. (For purposes of this restriction, industrial development
bonds, where the payment of the principal and interest is the ultimate responsibility of companies within same industry, are grouped together as an "industry.")
7. The Fund may make loans, including loans of assets of the Fund, repurchase agreements, trade claims, loan participations or similar investments, or as permitted by the 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions. The acquisition of bonds, debentures, other debt securities or instruments, or participations or other interests therein and investments in government obligations, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, banker's acceptances
or instruments similar to any of the foregoing will not be considered the making of a loan, and is permitted if consistent with the Fund's investment objective.
For purposes of Investment Restriction 1, the Fund will currently not purchase any security (other than obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) if as a result, with respect to 75% of the Fund's total assets, (i) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets (determined at the time of investment) would be invested in securities of a single issuer and (ii) the Fund would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities
of any single issuer.
For purposes of Investment Restriction 2, under the 1940 Act, the Fund can borrow money from a bank provided that immediately after such borrowing there is asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings. If the asset coverage falls below 300%, the Fund must, within three business days, reduce the amount of its borrowings to satisfy the 300% requirement.
For purposes of Investment Restriction 7, the Fund will currently lend up to 33 1 / 3 % of the value of its total assets. Whenever any fundamental Investment policy or investment restriction states a maximum percentage of the Fund's assets, it is intended that, if the percentage limitation is met at the time the investment is made, a later change in percentage resulting from changing total asset values will not be considered a violation of
such policy. However, if the Fund's asset coverage for borrowings permitted by Investment Restriction 2 falls below 300%, the Fund will take prompt action to reduce its borrowings, as required by the 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions.
Although not fundamental, the Fund has the following additional investment restrictions.
The Fund may not:
1. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of another company.
2. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in the open market involving only customary brokerage commissions and as a result of which no more than 10% of its total assets (determined at the time of investment) would be invested in such securities, or except in connection with merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of assets. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in shares of an affiliated mutual fund.
3. Purchase or write puts, calls or combinations thereof, except as described in the Prospectus and this SAI with respect to puts and options on future contracts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund is authorized to invest in options on swaps, credit default swaps and credit-linked securities.
The Fund will provide 60 days' prior written notice to shareholders of a change in the Fund's non-fundamental policy of investing at least 80% of its investable assets in municipal bonds.
Information about Fund Directors/Trustees (referred to herein as "Board Members") and Fund Officers is set forth below. Board Members who are not deemed to be "interested persons," as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as "Independent Board Members." Board Members who are deemed to be "interested persons" are referred to as "Interested Board Members." The Board Members are responsible for the overall supervision of the operations of the
Fund and perform the various duties imposed on the directors or trustees of investment companies by the 1940 Act.
Independent Board Members
(1)
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Name, Address, Age
Position(s)
Portfolios Overseen
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Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
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Other Directorships Held
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Kevin J. Bannon (57)
Board Member
Portfolios Overseen: 57
|
Managing Director (since April 2008) and Chief Investment Officer (since October 2008) of Highmount Capital LLC (registered investment adviser); formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (April 1993-August 2007) of Bank of New York Company; President (May 2003-May 2007) of BNY Hamilton Family of Mutual Funds.
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Director of Urstadt Biddle Properties (since September 2008).
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Linda W. Bynoe (57)
Board Member
Portfolios Overseen: 57
|
President and Chief Executive Officer (since March 1995) and formerly Chief Operating Officer (December 1989-February 1995) of Telemat Ltd. (management consulting); formerly Vice President (January 1985-June 1989) at Morgan Stanley & Co (broker-dealer).
|
Director of Simon Property Group, Inc. (retail real estate) (since May 2003); Anixter International, Inc. (communication products distributor) (since January 2006); Director of Northern Trust Corporation (financial services) (since April 2006); Trustee of Equity Residential (residential real estate) (since December 2009); formerly Director of Dynegy Inc. (power
generation) (September 2002-May 2006), CitiStreet Funds, Inc. (mutual funds) (May 1993-February 2005), AM-CH, Inc. (restaurant holding company) (November 2004-February 2005).
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Michael S. Hyland, CFA (64)
Board Member
Portfolios Overseen: 57
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Independent Consultant (since February 2005); formerly Senior Managing Director (July 2001-February 2005) of Bear Stearns & Co, Inc.; Global Partner, INVESCO (1999-2001); Managing Director and President of Salomon Brothers Asset Management (1989-1999).
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None.
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Douglas H. McCorkindale (70)
Board Member
Portfolios Overseen: 57
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Formerly Chairman (February 2001-June 2006), Chief Executive Officer (June 2000-July 2005), President (September 1997-July 2005) and Vice Chairman (March 1984-May 2000) of Gannett Co. Inc. (publishing and media).
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Director of Continental Airlines, Inc. (since May 1993); Director of Lockheed Martin Corp. (aerospace and defense) (since May 2001).
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Stephen P. Munn (67)
Board Member
Portfolios Overseen: 57
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Lead Director (since 2007) and formerly Chairman (1993-2007) of Carlisle Companies Incorporated (manufacturer of industrial products).
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Lead Director (since 2007) of Carlisle Companies Incorporated (manufacturer of industrial products).
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Richard A. Redeker (66)
Board Member
Portfolios Overseen: 57
|
Retired Mutual Fund Senior Executive (42 years); Management Consultant; Independent Directors Council (organization of 2,800 Independent Mutual Fund Directors)-Executive Committee, Chair of Policy Steering Committee, Governing Council.
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None.
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Robin B. Smith (70)
Board Member & Independent Chair
Portfolios Overseen: 57
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Chairman of the Board (since January 2003) of Publishers Clearing House (direct marketing); formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (August 1996-January 2003) of Publishers Clearing House.
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Formerly Director of BellSouth Corporation (telecommunications) (1992-2006).
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Stephen G. Stoneburn (66)
Board Member
Portfolios Overseen: 57
|
President and Chief Executive Officer (since June 1996) of Quadrant Media Corp. (publishing company); formerly President (June 1995-June 1996) of Argus Integrated Media, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Managing Director (January 1993-1995) of Cowles Business Media; Senior Vice President of Fairchild Publications, Inc (1975-1989).
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None.
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Interested Board Members
(1)
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Judy A. Rice (62)
Board Member & President
Portfolios Overseen: 57
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President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Officer-In-Charge (since February 2003) of Prudential Investments LLC; President, Chief Executive Officer and Officer-In-Charge (since April 2003) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC; Executive Vice President (since December 2008) of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; formerly Vice
President (February 1999-April 2006) of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; formerly President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Officer-In-Charge (May 2003-June 2005) and Director (May 2003-March 2006) and Executive Vice President (June 2005-March 2006) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Member of Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute.
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None.
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Scott E. Benjamin (36)
Board Member & Vice President
Portfolios Overseen: 55
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Executive Vice President (since June 2009) of Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing, Prudential Investments (since February 2006); Vice President of Product Development and Product Management, Prudential Investments (2003-2006).
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None.
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(1)
The year that each Board Member joined the Funds' Board is as follows:
Kevin J. Bannon, 2008; Linda W. Bynoe, 2005; Michael S. Hyland, 2008; Douglas H. McCorkindale, 2003; Stephen P. Munn, 2008; Richard A. Redeker; 1993; Robin B. Smith, 2003; Stephen G. Stoneburn, 2003; Judy A Rice, Board Member since 2000 and President since 2003; Scott E. Benjamin, Board Member since 2010
and Vice President since 2009.
Fund Officers
(a)(1)
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Name, Address and Age
Position with Fund
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Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
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Kathryn L. Quirk (57)
Chief Legal Officer
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Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since September 2004) of Prudential; Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary (since July 2005) of PI and Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC; Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since June 2005) and Secretary (since February 2006) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; formerly Senior Vice President and
Assistant Secretary (November 2004-August 2005) of PI; formerly Assistant Secretary (June 2005-February 2006) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; formerly Managing Director, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Corporate Secretary (1997-2002) of Zurich Scudder Investments, Inc.
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Deborah A. Docs (52)
Secretary
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Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2001) of Prudential; Vice President (since December 1996) and Assistant Secretary (since March 1999) of PI; formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary (May 2003-June 2005) of AST Investment Services, Inc.
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Jonathan D. Shain (51)
Assistant Secretary
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Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since August 1998) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since May 2001) of PI; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since February 2001) of PMFS; formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary (May 2003-June 2005) of AST Investment Services, Inc.
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Claudia DiGiacomo (35)
Assistant Secretary
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Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2005) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of PI (since December 2005); Associate at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP (1999-2004).
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John P. Schwartz (38)
Assistant Secretary
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Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since April 2005) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of PI (since December 2005); Associate at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP (1997-2005).
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Andrew R. French (47)
Assistant Secretary
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Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since February 2010) of Prudential; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (2006-2010) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of PI; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of PMFS; formerly Senior Legal Analyst of Prudential Mutual Fund Law Department (1997-2006).
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Timothy J. Knierim (51)
Chief Compliance Officer
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Chief Compliance Officer of Prudential Investment Management, Inc. (since July 2007); formerly Chief Risk Officer of PIM and PI (2002-2007) and formerly Chief Ethics Officer of PIM and PI (2006-2007).
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Valerie M. Simpson (51)
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer
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Chief Compliance Officer (since April 2007) of PI and AST Investment Services, Inc.; formerly Vice President-Financial Reporting (June 1999-March 2006) for Prudential Life and Annuities Finance.
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Theresa C. Thompson (47)
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer
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Vice President, Compliance, PI (since April 2004); and Director, Compliance, PI (2001-2004).
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Noreen M. Fierro (45)
Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance Officer
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Vice President, Corporate Compliance (since May 2006) of Prudential; formerly Corporate Vice President, Associate General Counsel (April 2002-May 2005) of UBS Financial Services, Inc., in their Money Laundering Prevention Group; Senior Manager (May 2005-May 2006) of Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, LLP, in their Forensic and Dispute Services, Anti-Money
Laundering Group.
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Grace C. Torres (50)
Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
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Assistant Treasurer (since March 1999) and Senior Vice President (since September 1999) of PI; Assistant Treasurer (since May 2003) and Vice President (since June 2005) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer (since May 2003) of Prudential Annuities Advisory Services, Inc.; formerly Senior Vice President (May 2003-June
2005) of AST Investment Services, Inc.
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M. Sadiq Peshimam (46)
Assistant Treasurer
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Vice President (since 2005) of Prudential Investments LLC.
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Peter Parrella (51)
Assistant Treasurer
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Vice President (since 2007) and Director (2004-2007) within Prudential Mutual Fund Administration; formerly Tax Manager at SSB Citi Fund Management LLC (1997-2004).
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(a)
Excludes Ms. Rice and Mr. Benjamin, interested Board Members who also serve as President and Vice President, respectively.
(1)
The year that each individual became an officer of the Fund is as follows:
Kathryn L. Quirk, 2005; Deborah A. Docs, 1996; Jonathan D. Shain, 2004; Claudia DiGiacomo, 2005; John P. Schwartz, 2006; Andrew R. French, 2006; Timothy Knierim, 2007; Valerie M. Simpson, 2007; Theresa C. Thompson, 2008; Noreen M. Fierro, 2006; Grace C. Torres, 1996, M. Sadiq Peshimam, 2006; Peter
Parrella, 2007.
Explanatory Notes to Tables
:
-
Board Members are deemed to be "Interested," as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of their affiliation with Prudential Investments LLC and/or an affiliate of Prudential Investments LLC.
-
Unless otherwise noted, the address of all Board Members and Officers is c/o Prudential Investments LLC, Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4077.
-
There is no set term of office for Board Members or Officers. The Board Members have adopted a retirement policy, which calls for the retirement of Board Members on December 31 of the year in which they reach the age of 75.
-
"Other Directorships Held" includes only directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (that is, "public companies") or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.
-
"Portfolios Overseen" includes all investment companies managed by Prudential Investments LLC. The investment companies for which PI serves as manager include the Prudential Investments Mutual Funds, The Prudential Variable Contract Accounts, Target Mutual Funds, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential's Gibraltar Fund, Inc. and the Advanced Series Trust.
Compensation of Board Members and Officers
. Pursuant to a Management Agreement with each Fund, the Manager pays all compensation of Officers and employees of the Fund as well as the fees and expenses of all Interested Board Members.
Each Fund pays each of its Independent Board Members annual compensation in addition to certain out-of-pocket expenses. Independent Board Members who serve on Board Committees may receive additional compensation. The amount of annual compensation paid to each Independent Board Member may change as a result of the introduction of additional funds on whose Boards the Board Member may be asked to serve.
Independent Board Members may defer receipt of their fees pursuant to a deferred fee agreement with the Fund. Under the terms of the agreement, a Fund accrues deferred Board Members' fees daily which, in turn, accrue interest at a rate equivalent to the prevailing rate of 90-day U.S. Treasury Bills at the beginning of each calendar quarter or at the daily rate of return of any Prudential Investments mutual fund chosen by the Board Member. Payment
of the interest so accrued is also deferred and becomes payable at the option of the Board Member. A Fund's obligation to make payments of deferred Board Members' fees, together with interest thereon, is a general obligation of the Fund. No Fund has a retirement or pension plan for its Board Members.
The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund for the most recently completed fiscal year to the Independent Board Members for service on the Fund Board, and the Board of any other investment company in the Fund Complex for the most recently completed calendar year. Board Members and officers who are "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) do not receive compensation from PI-managed funds and
therefore are not shown in the following table.
Compensation Received by Independent Board Members
|
|
|
|
|
Name***
|
Aggregate Fiscal Year Compensation from Fund
|
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses
|
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement
|
Total Compensation from Fund and Fund Complex for Most Recent Calendar Year
|
Kevin J. Bannon
|
$
|
None
|
None
|
|
Linda W. Bynoe**
|
$
|
None
|
None
|
|
David E.A. Carson
(1)
|
$
|
None
|
None
|
|
Michael S. Hyland
|
$
|
None
|
None
|
|
Robert E. La Blanc
(1)
|
$
|
None
|
None
|
|
Douglas H. McCorkindale**
|
$
|
None
|
None
|
|
Stephen P. Munn
|
$
|
None
|
None
|
|
Richard A. Redeker
|
$
|
None
|
None
|
|
Robin B. Smith**
|
$
|
None
|
None
|
|
Stephen G. Stoneburn**
|
$
|
None
|
None
|
|
(1)
Messrs. Carson and La Blanc retired from the Board effective December 31, 2009.
Explanatory Notes to Board Member Compensation Table
*Shows number of funds/portfolios in existence as of the most recently completed calendar year, excluding funds that have merged into another fund or liquidated during the year.
**Although the last column shows the total amount paid to Board Members from the PI-managed funds during the most recently completed calendar
year, such compensation was deferred at the request of certain Board Members, in total, or in part, under the Fund's deferred fee agreement. Earnings in 2009 on amounts deferred through the end of the most recently completed calendar year amounted to $16,856, $664,926, $245,281 and $1,006,235 for Ms. Bynoe, and Messrs. McCorkindale, Stoneburn and Ms. Smith, respectively.
***Board Members and officers who are "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) do not receive compensation from the
Fund and therefore are not shown in the compensation table.
Board Committees
. The Board has established three standing committees in connection with governance of the Fund—Audit, Nominating and Governance, and Investment. Information on the membership of each standing committee and its functions is set forth below.
Audit Committee:
The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Munn (Chair), Bannon, Ms. Bynoe and Ms. Smith (ex-officio). The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is not an "interested person" as defined in the 1940 Act. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee are to assist the Board in overseeing the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm, accounting policies and procedures and other areas relating to the Fund's auditing processes. The Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving
all audit services and any permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm directly to the Fund. The Audit Committee is also responsible for pre-approving permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to (1) the Manager and (2) any entity in a control relationship with the Manager that provides ongoing services to the Fund, provided that the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm relates
directly to the operation and financial reporting of the Fund. The scope of the Audit Committee's responsibilities is oversight. It is management's responsibility to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal control and the independent registered public accounting firm's responsibility to plan and carry out an audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). The number of Audit Committee meetings held during the Fund's most recently completed
fiscal year is set forth in the table below.
Nominating and Governance Committee:
The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board is responsible for nominating Board Members and making recommendations to the Board concerning Board composition, committee structure and governance, director education, and governance practices. The members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Mr. Redeker (Chair), Mr. McCorkindale, Mr. Stoneburn, Mr. Hyland, and Ms. Smith (ex-officio). The Board has determined that each member of the Nominating and Governance Committee is not an "interested
person" as defined in the 1940 Act. The number of Nominating and Governance Committee meetings held during the Fund's most recently completed fiscal year is set forth in the table below. The Nominating and Governance Committee Charter is available on the Fund's website.
Prudential and Target Investment Committees:
In September 2005, the Board of each Fund in the Prudential retail mutual funds complex formed joint committees to review the performance of each Fund in the fund complex. The Prudential Investment Committee reviews the performance of each Fund whose subadvisers are affiliates of the Manager, while the Target Investment Committee reviews the performance of funds whose subadvisers are not affiliates of the Manager. Each Committee meets at least four times per year and reports the results of its review to
the full Board of each Fund at each regularly scheduled Board meeting. Every Independent Board Member sits on one of the two Committees. In addition, Ms. Rice, Interested Board Member, sits on a Committee.
The Prudential Investment Committee consists of Mses. Bynoe (Chair) and Rice and Messrs. Bannon, Benjamin and Munn. The Target Investment Committee consists of Messrs. Hyland, McCorkindale, Redeker, Stoneburn (Chair) and Ms. Smith. The number of Prudential and Target Investment Committee meetings, as applicable, held during the Fund's most recently completed fiscal year is set forth in the table below.
Board Committee Meetings (for most recently completed fiscal year)
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Committee
|
Nominating & Governance Committee
|
Prudential Investment Committee
|
|
|
|
|
Leadership Structure and Qualifications of Board of Directors.
The Board is responsible for oversight of the Fund. The Fund has engaged the Manager to manage the Funds on a day-to-day basis. The Board oversees the Manager and certain other principal service providers in the operations of the Fund. The Board is currently composed of ten members, eight of whom are Independent Directors.
The Board meets in-person at regularly scheduled meetings four times throughout the year. In addition, the Board Members may meet in-person or by telephone at special meetings or on an informal basis at other times. As described above, the Board has established three standing committees - Audit, Nominating and Governance, and Investment - and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time, to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The Independent Directors have also
engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities.
The Board is chaired by an Independent Board Member. As Chair, this Independent Board Member leads the Board in its activities. Also, the Chair acts as a member or as an ex-officio member of each standing committee and any ad hoc committee of the Board of Directors. The Directors have determined that the Board's leadership and committee structure is appropriate because the Board believes it sets the proper tone to the relationships between
the Fund, on the one hand, and the Manager, the subadviser(s) and certain other principal service providers, on the other, and facilitates the exercise of the Board's independent judgment in evaluating and managing the relationships. In addition, the structure efficiently allocates responsibility among committees.
The Board has concluded that, based on each Board Member's experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Board Members, each Board Member should serve as a Board Member. Among other attributes common to all Board Members are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the various service providers
to the Fund, and to exercise reasonable business judgment in the performance of their duties as Board Members. In addition, the Board has taken into account the actual service and commitment of the Board members during their tenure in concluding that each should continue to serve. A Board Member's ability to perform his or her duties effectively may have been attained through a Board Member's educational background or professional training; business, consulting, public service or academic positions; experience
from service as a Board Member of the Fund, other funds in the Fund Complex, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations; or other experiences. Set forth below is a brief discussion of the specific experience qualifications, attributes or skills of each Board Member that led the Board to conclude that he or she should serve as a Board Member.
Ms. Smith and Messrs. McCorkindale, Redeker, and Stoneburn have each served as a Board Member of mutual funds in the Fund Complex for more than 14 years, including as members and/or Chairs of various Board committees. In addition, Ms. Smith and Mr. McCorkindale each has more than 35 years and Mr. Stoneburn has more than 30 years of experience as senior executive officers of operating companies and/or as directors of public companies. Mr. Redeker
has 42 years of experience as a senior executive in the mutual fund industry. Ms. Bynoe has been a Board Member of the Fund and other funds in the Fund Complex since 2005, having served on the boards of other mutual fund complexes since 1993. She has worked in the financial services industry over 11 years, has approximately 20 years experience as a management consultant and serves as a Director of financial services and other complex global corporations. Mr. Munn joined the Board of the Fund and other funds in
the Fund Complex in 2008. He previously served as a Board Member of funds managed by PI or its affiliates from 1991 until 2003. In addition, he is the lead director and was the Chairman of an operating business for 14 years. Messrs. Bannon and Hyland joined the Board of the Fund and other funds in the Fund Complex in 2008. Each has held senior executive positions in the financial services industry, including serving as senior executives of asset management firms, for over 17 years. Ms. Rice, who has served as
an Interested Director and President of the Fund and the other funds in the Fund Complex since 2003, is President, Chief Operating Officer and Officer-in-Charge of PI and several of its affiliates that provide services to the Fund. Mr. Benjamin, an Interested Director of the Fund and other funds in the Fund Complex since 2010, has served as a Vice President of the Fund and other funds in the Fund Complex since 2009 and has held senior positions in PI since 2003.
Specific details about each Board Member's professional experience appears in the professional biography tables, above.
Risk Oversight.
Investing in general and the operation of a mutual fund involve a variety of risks, such as investment risk, compliance risk, and operational risk, among others. The Board oversees risk as part of its oversight of the Fund. Risk oversight is addressed as part of various regular Board and committee activities. The Board, directly or through its committees, reviews reports
from among others, the Manager, sub-advisers, the Fund's Chief Compliance Officer, the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm, counsel, and internal auditors of the Manager or its affiliates, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by the Fund and the risk management programs of the Manager and certain service providers. The actual day-to-day risk management with respect to the Fund resides with the Manager and other service providers to the Fund. Although the risk management policies of the Manager
and the service providers are designed to be effective, those policies and their implementation vary among service providers and over time, and there is no guarantee that they will be effective. Not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified or processes and controls developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects, and some risks are simply beyond any control of the Fund or the Manager, its affiliates or other service providers.
Selection of Board Member Nominees
. The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for considering nominees for Board Members at such times as it considers electing new members to the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee may consider recommendations by business and personal contacts of current Board Members, and by executive search firms which the Committee may engage from time to time and will also consider shareholder recommendations. The Nominating and Governance Committee has
not established specific, minimum qualifications that it believes must be met by a nominee. In evaluating nominees, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers, among other things, an individual's background, skills, and experience; whether the individual is an "interested person" as defined in the 1940 Act; and whether the individual would be deemed an "audit committee financial expert" within the meaning of applicable Commission rules. The Nominating and Governance Committee also considers whether the
individual's background, skills, and experience will complement the background, skills, and experience of other nominees and will contribute to the diversity of the Board. There are no differences in the manner in which the Nominating and Governance Committee evaluates nominees for the Board based on whether the nominee is recommended by a shareholder.
A shareholder who wishes to recommend a board member for nomination should submit his or her recommendation in writing to the Chair of the Board (Robin Smith) or the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee (Richard Redeker), in either case in care of the specified Fund(s), at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4077. At a minimum, the recommendation should include: the name, address and business,
educational and/or other pertinent background of the person being recommended; a statement concerning whether the person is an "interested person" as defined in the 1940 Act; any other information that the Fund would be required to include in a proxy statement concerning the person if he or she was nominated; and the name and address of the person submitting the recommendation, together with the number of Fund shares held by such person and the period for which the shares have been held. The recommendation also
can include any additional information which the person submitting it believes would assist the Nominating and Governance Committee in evaluating the recommendation.
Shareholders should note that a person who owns securities issued by Prudential Financial, Inc. (the parent company of the Fund's Manager) would be deemed an "interested person" under the 1940 Act. In addition, certain other relationships with Prudential Financial, Inc. or its subsidiaries, with registered broker-dealers, or with the Fund's outside legal counsel may cause a person to be deemed an "interested person." Before the Nominating and
Governance Committee decides to nominate an individual to the Board, Committee members and other Board Members customarily interview the individual in person. In addition, the individual customarily is asked to complete a detailed questionnaire which is designed to elicit information which must be disclosed under Commission and stock exchange rules and to determine whether the individual is subject to any statutory disqualification from serving on the board of a registered investment company.
Share Ownership
. Information relating to each Board Member's Fund share ownership and in all registered funds in the PI-advised funds that are overseen by the respective Board Member as of the most recently completed calendar year is set forth in the chart below.
Board Member Share Ownership--Independent Board Members
|
|
|
Name
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in each Fund
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Director in Fund Complex
|
Kevin J. Bannon
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Linda W. Bynoe
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Michael S. Hyland
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Douglas H. McCorkindale
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Stephen P. Munn
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Richard A. Redeker
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Robin B. Smith
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Stephen G. Stoneburn
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Board Member Share Ownership--Interested Board Members
|
|
|
Judy A. Rice
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Scott E. Benjamin
|
|
Over $100,000
|
None of the Independent Board Members, or any member of his/her immediate family, owned beneficially or of record any securities in an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund(s) or a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund(s) as of the most recently completed calendar year.
Shareholder Communications with Board Members
. Shareholders can communicate directly with Board Members by writing to the Chair of the Board, c/o the Fund, Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4077. Shareholders can communicate directly with an individual Board Member by writing to that Board Member, c/o the Fund, Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry
Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4077. Such communications to the Board or individual Board Members are not screened before being delivered to the addressee.
Manager
. The Manager of the Fund is Prudential Investments LLC ("PI," or the "Manager"), Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ 07102-4077. PI serves as manager to all of the other investment companies that, together with the Fund, comprise the Prudential Investments mutual funds. See "How the Fund is Managed" in the Fund's Prospectus. As of March 31, 2010, PI served as
the investment manager to all of the Prudential U.S. and offshore open-end investment companies, and as administrator to closed-end investment companies, with aggregate assets of approximately $124.4 billion.
PI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PIFM Holdco LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Asset Management Holding Company LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. ("Prudential"). Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC ("PMFS" or the "Transfer Agent"), an affiliate of PI, serves as the transfer agent and dividend distribution agent for the Prudential Investments mutual funds and, in addition, provides customer
service, record keeping and management and administrative services to qualified plans.
Pursuant to a Management Agreement with the Fund (the "Management Agreement"), PI, subject to the supervision of the Fund's Board and in conformity with the stated policies of the Fund, manages both the investment operations of the Fund and the composition of the Fund's portfolio, including the purchase, retention, disposition and loan of securities and other assets. In connection therewith, PI is obligated to keep certain books and records
of each Fund. PI is authorized to enter into subadvisory agreements for investment advisory services in connection with the management of each Fund. PI will continue to have responsibility for all investment advisory services performed pursuant to any such subadvisory agreements. PI will review the performance of the investment subadviser(s) and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the retention of investment subadvisers and the renewal of contracts. PI also administers the Fund's corporate affairs
and, in connection therewith, furnishes each Fund with office facilities, together with those ordinary clerical and bookkeeping services which are not being furnished by the Fund's custodian (the "Custodian") and PMFS. The management services of PI to the Fund are not exclusive under the terms of the Management Agreement and PI is free to, and does, render management services to others.
PI may from time to time waive all or a portion of its management fee and subsidize all or a portion of the operating expenses of the Fund. Fee waivers and subsidies will increase the Fund's total return. These voluntary waivers may be terminated at any time without notice.
In connection with its management of the corporate affairs of the Fund, PI bears the following expenses:
-
the salaries and expenses of all of its and the Fund's personnel except the fees and expenses of Independent Board Members;
-
all expenses incurred by the Manager or a Fund in connection with managing the ordinary course of a Fund's business, other than those assumed by a Fund as described below; and
-
the fees, costs and expenses payable to any investment subadviser(s) pursuant to a Subadvisory Agreement(s) between PI and such investment subadviser(s).
Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Fund is responsible for the payment of the following expenses:
-
the fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the management of the investment and reinvestment of the Fund's assets payable to the Manager;
-
the fees and expenses of Independent Board Members;
-
the fees and certain expenses of the Custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent, including the cost of providing records to the Manager in connection with its obligation of maintaining required records of the Fund and of pricing the Fund's shares;
-
the charges and expenses of the Fund's legal counsel and independent auditors;
-
brokerage commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its securities (and futures, if applicable) transactions;
-
all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Fund to governmental agencies;
-
the fees of any trade associations of which the Fund may be a member;
-
the cost of share certificates representing, and/or non-negotiable share deposit receipts evidencing, shares of the Fund;
-
the cost of fidelity, directors and officers and errors and omissions insurance;
-
the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the Fund and of its shares with the Commission and paying notice filing fees under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the Fund's registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes;
-
allocable communications expenses with respect to investor services and all expenses of shareholders' and Board meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing reports and notices to shareholders; and
-
litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business and distribution and service (12b-1) fees.
The Management Agreement provides that PI will not be liable for any error of judgment by PI or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which the Management Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of damages shall be limited to the period and the amount set forth in Section 36(b)(3) of the 1940 Act)
or loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties. The Management Agreement provides that it will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the 1940 Act), and that it may be terminated without penalty by either PI or the Fund by the Board or vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) upon not more than 60 days', nor less than 30 days', written notice. The Management Agreement will continue in
effect for a period of more than two years from the date of execution only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
Fees payable under the Management Agreement are computed daily and paid monthly. The table below sets forth the applicable fee rate and the management fees received by PI from the Fund for the indicated fiscal years.
Management Fees Paid by the Fund
|
|
|
|
Fee Rate
|
2010
|
2009
|
2008
|
0.50 of 1% to $1 billion; 0.45 of 1% over $1 billion
|
$
|
$2,152,333
|
$2,500,945
|
Subadviser
. PI has entered into a Subadvisory Agreement with the Fund's investment subadviser(s) (Subadviser). The Subadvisory Agreement provides that the Subadviser will furnish investment advisory services in connection with the management of each Fund. In connection therewith, the Subadviser is obligated to keep certain books and records of the Fund. Under the Subadvisory Agreement,
the Subadviser, subject to the supervision of PI, is responsible for managing the assets of the Fund in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives, investment program and policies. The Subadviser determines what securities and other instruments are purchased and sold for the Fund and is responsible for obtaining and evaluating financial data relevant to the Fund. PI continues to have responsibility for all investment advisory services pursuant to the Management Agreement and supervises the Subadviser's
performance of such services.
As discussed in the Prospectus, PI employs the Subadviser under a "manager of managers" structure that allows PI to replace the Subadviser or amend a Subadvisory Agreement without seeking shareholder approval. The Subadvisory Agreement provides that it will terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadvisory Agreement may be terminated by a Fund, PI, or the
Subadviser upon not more than 60 days', nor less than 30 days', written notice. The Subadvisory Agreement provides that it will continue in effect for a period of not more than two years from its execution only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
The table below sets forth the applicable fee rate and the approximate subadvisory fees received by the Subadviser from PI for the indicated fiscal years. Subadvisory fees are based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, calculated and paid on a monthly basis, at the fee rate set forth in the Subadvisory Agreement. Subadvisory fees are deducted out of the management fee paid by the Fund.
Subadvisory Fees Paid by PI
|
|
|
|
Fee Rate
|
2010
|
2009
|
2008
|
0.250 of 1% to $1 billion;
0.214 of 1% over $1 billion
|
$
|
$1,076,166
|
$1,250,472
|
Additional Information About the Portfolio Managers -- Other Accounts and Fund Ownership
. The following table sets forth information about the Fund and accounts other than the Fund for which the portfolio managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management as of the Fund's most recently completed fiscal period. The table shows, for each portfolio manager, the number
of accounts managed and the approximate total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts. For each category, the number of accounts and total assets in the accounts whose fees are based on performance is indicated in
italics typeface
. The table also sets forth the dollar range of equity securities of the Fund beneficially owned by the portfolio managers
as of the Fund's most recently completed fiscal period.
Portfolio Managers: Information About Other Accounts ($ amounts in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment Companies*/
Total Assets
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles*/
Total Assets
|
Other Accounts**/
Total Assets
|
Fund Ownership
|
Robert Tipp, CFA
|
|
|
|
None
|
Susan Courtney
|
|
|
|
None
|
Note to Portfolio Managers: Information About Other Accounts Table:
Certain of the accounts listed in the chart above are managed by one or more of the named portfolio managers. These accounts are included in the account and asset totals for each of the applicable portfolio managers.
* "Other Pooled Investment Vehicles" includes commingled insurance company separate accounts, commingled trust funds, non-U.S. mutual funds, and collateralized debt obligation vehicles.
** "Other Accounts" includes single client accounts, managed accounts, and non-commingled, affiliated insurance accounts.
Additional Information About the Portfolio Managers -- Compensation and Conflicts of Interest
. Set forth below, for each portfolio manager, is an explanation of the structure of, and methods used to determine, portfolio manager compensation. Also set forth below, for each portfolio manager, is an explanation of any material conflicts of interest that may arise between a portfolio manager's
management of the Fund's investments and investments in other accounts.
Prudential Investment Management, Inc.
Compensation
Compensation of Prudential Investment Management Inc., fixed income unit ("Prudential Fixed Income Management" or "PIM") investment professionals (which include portfolio managers and research analysts) includes a combination of base salary, a performance-based annual cash incentive bonus, and a long-term incentive grant. The incentive bonus and grant processes were recently revised as described below.
The base salary component is based on market data relative to similar positions within the industry as well as the past performance, experience, and responsibility of the individual. Investment professionals' annual cash incentive bonus is paid from an annual incentive pool. For 2008 forward, the size of the annual cash incentive pool will be based qualitatively and quantitatively on: 1) certain percentages of Prudential Fixed Income Management's
total revenue and operating income; 2) the number of Prudential Fixed Income Management investment professionals receiving an incentive; and 3) a review of other qualitative and quantitative factors such as investment performance of portfolios relative to appropriate market peer groups or benchmarks, revenue from asset management fees, market-based data indicating compensation trends and levels of overall compensation in the asset management industry, and progress on business development initiatives. The long-term
incentive grant for 2008 forward will be either restricted stock units of Prudential Financial or a combination of restricted stock units and stock options of Prudential Financial, depending on the level of the investment professional.
For 2006 and 2007, the size of the annual incentive pool was determined quantitatively based on three factors: 1) investment performance (pre-tax) of portfolios on a 1-year and 3-year basis relative to appropriate market peer groups or benchmarks, 2) Prudential Fixed Income Management's business results as measured by financial indicators such as revenue growth, operating income growth and return on required equity, and 3) market-based data
indicating trends and levels of overall compensation in the asset management industry in a given year. The long-term incentive grant for 2006 and 2007 was generally divided between restricted stock units of Prudential Financial and an award in the Prudential Fixed Income Management Long-Term Incentive Plan pursuant to which investment professionals received phantom stock, the value of which is based upon the three-year growth of certain portions of Prudential Fixed Income Management's asset management business.
However, the growth of Prudential Fixed Income Management's management of affiliated mutual funds, retirement accounts, and other affiliated accounts were excluded from the phantom stock growth calculation and therefore not relevant to the value of the phantom stock.
Each investment professional's incentive compensation, including both the annual cash incentive bonus and the long-term incentive grant, is primarily determined by how significantly he/she contributes to delivering investment performance to clients consistent with portfolio objectives, guidelines, and risk parameters, as well as the individual's qualitative contributions to the organization. Investment professionals are all covered by the same
general compensation structure although they manage multiple accounts. All investment compensation is paid by the investment adviser and not from any assets of managed accounts.
Conflicts of Interest
PIM is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial. PIM is part of a full scale global financial services organization, affiliated with insurance companies, investment advisers and broker-dealers. PIM's portfolio managers are often responsible for managing multiple accounts, including accounts of affiliates, institutional accounts, mutual funds, insurance company separate accounts and various pooled investment vehicles, such as commingled trust funds and unregistered funds. These affiliations
and portfolio management responsibilities may cause potential and actual conflicts of interest. PIM aims to conduct itself in a manner it considers to be the most fair and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to all of its clients including the Fund.
Prior to 2008, a portion of PIM Fixed Income's long-term incentive grant included phantom stock units, the value of which reflected the three-year growth of certain portions of PIM Fixed Income's asset management business. The calculation of growth did not include the growth of PI-managed mutual funds. A portfolio manager may have faced a conflict of interest given that a piece of his or her long-term compensation was not affected by the growth
of PI-managed mutual funds, including this fund.
Management of multiple accounts and funds side-by-side may raise potential conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities, the aggregation and allocation of trades and cross trading. PIM has developed policies and procedures designed to address these potential conflicts of interest.
There may be restrictions imposed by law, regulation or contract regarding how much, if any, of a particular security PIM may purchase or sell on behalf of the Fund, and as to the timing of such purchase or sale. Such restrictions may come into play as a result of PIM's relationship with Prudential Financial and its other affiliates. The Fund may be prohibited from engaging in transactions with its affiliates even when such transactions may be beneficial for the Fund. Certain affiliated transactions are
permitted in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund and reviewed by the independent directors of the Fund.
PIM may come into possession of material, non-public information with respect to a particular issuer and as a result be unable to execute purchase or sale transactions in securities of such issuer for the Fund. This can occur particularly with respect to fixed income investments because PIM has a bank loan unit that often invests in private loans that require the issuer to provide material, non-public information. PIM generally is able to avoid certain other potential conflicts due to the possession of
material, non-public information by maintaining information barriers to prevent the transfer of this information between units of PIM as well as between affiliates and PIM. Additionally, in an effort to avoid potential conflicts of interest, PIM's fixed income unit has procedures in place to carefully consider whether or not to accept material, non-public information with respect to certain issuers, where appropriate.
Certain affiliates of PIM develop and may publish credit research that is independent from the research developed within PIM. PIM may hold different opinions on the investment merits of a given security, issuer or industry such that PIM may be purchasing or holding a security for the Fund and an affiliated entity may be selling or recommending a sale of the same security or other securities of the issuer. Conversely, PIM may be selling a security for the Fund and an affiliated entity may be purchasing or
recommending a buy of the same security or other securities of the same issuer. In addition, PIM's affiliated broker-dealers or investment advisers may be executing transactions in the market in the same securities as the Fund at the same time.
PIM may cause securities transactions to be executed for the Fund concurrently with authorizations to purchase or sell the same securities for other accounts managed by PIM, including proprietary accounts or accounts of affiliates. In these instances, the executions of purchases or sales, where possible, are allocated equitably among the various accounts (including the Fund).
PIM may buy or sell, or may direct or recommend that one client buy or sell, securities of the same kind or class that are purchased or sold for the Fund, at prices which may be different. In addition, PIM may, at any time, execute trades of securities of the same kind or class in one direction for an account and trade in the opposite direction or not trade for any other account, including the Fund, due to differences in investment strategy or client direction.
The fees charged to advisory clients by PIM may differ depending upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, the unit providing the advisory services, the particular strategy, the size of a portfolio being managed, the relationship with the client, the origination and service requirements and the asset class involved. Fees may also differ based on account type (e.g., commingled accounts, trust accounts, insurance company separate accounts, and corporate, bank or trust-owned life insurance products).
Fees are negotiable so one client with similar investment objectives or goals may be paying a higher fee than another client. Fees paid by certain clients may also be higher due to performance based fees which increase based on the performance of a portfolio above an established benchmark.
Large clients generate more revenue for PIM than do smaller accounts. A portfolio manager may be faced with a conflict of interest when allocating scarce investment opportunities given the benefit to PIM of favoring accounts that pay a higher fee or generate more income for PIM. To address this conflict of interest, PIM has adopted allocation policies as well as supervisory procedures that are intended to fairly allocate investment opportunities among competing client accounts.
PIM and its affiliates manage certain funds, including hedge funds, that are subject to incentive compensation on a side-by-side basis with other accounts including the Fund. PIM and/or certain of its affiliates may have an interest in such funds. PIM and its affiliates have implemented policies and procedures to address potential conflicts of interest arising out of such side-by-side management.
For example, the accounts may at times be precluded from taking positions over-weighted versus an index in securities and other instruments in which one or more of the funds hold short positions. Lending, borrowing and other financing opportunities with respect to securities for which the market is paying a premium rate over normal market rates and for which there may be limited additional demand will be allocated to the accounts prior to allocating the opportunities to such funds.
Conflicts of interest may also arise regarding proxy voting. A committee of senior business representatives together with relevant regulatory personnel oversees the proxy voting process and monitors potential conflicts of interest relating to proxy voting.
Prudential Financial and the general account of The Prudential Insurance Company of America (PICA) may at times have various levels of financial or other interests in companies whose securities may be purchased or sold in PIM's client accounts, including the Fund. These financial interests may at any time be in potential or actual conflict or may be inconsistent with positions held or actions taken by PIM on behalf of the Fund. These interests can include loan servicing, debt or equity financing, services
related to advising on merger and acquisition issues, strategic corporate relationships or investments and the offering of investment advice in various forms. Thus PIM may invest Fund assets in the securities of companies with which PIM or an affiliate of PIM has a financial relationship, including investment in the securities of companies that are advisory clients of PIM.
It is anticipated that there will be situations in which the interests of the Fund in a portfolio company may conflict with the interests of one or more affiliated accounts of PIM or other client accounts managed by PIM or its affiliates. This may occur because PIM affiliated accounts hold public and private debt and equity securities of a large number of issuers and may invest in some of the same companies as the Fund, but at different levels
in the capital structure. Investment by PIM affiliated accounts at different levels to that of the Fund in the capital structure of a portfolio company presents inherent conflicts of interest between the PIM affiliated accounts and the Fund.
For example, in the event of restructuring or insolvency, the holders of senior debt may exercise remedies and take other actions that are not in the interest of or are adverse to holders of junior debt. Similarly, a PIM affiliated account might hold secured debt of an issuer whose public unsecured debt is held by the Fund. Such conflicts may also exist among client accounts managed by PIM or its affiliates. While these conflicts cannot be eliminated, PIM has implemented policies and procedures designed
to ensure that, notwithstanding these conflicts, investments of the Fund are originated and managed in its best interests.
In addition, portfolio managers may advise PIM affiliated accounts. PIM's portfolio manager(s) may have a financial interest in the accounts they advise, either directly or indirectly. To address potential conflicts of interest, PIM has procedures designed to ensure that -- including to the extent that client accounts are managed differently from PIM affiliated accounts -- each of the client accounts and each affiliated account is managed in a manner that is consistent with its investment objectives, investment
strategies and restrictions, as well as with PIM's fiduciary obligations. These procedures include supervisory review procedures.
Potential conflicts of interest may exist where PIM or its affiliates determine that a specific transaction in a security is appropriate for a specific account based upon numerous factors (including, investment objectives, investment strategies or restrictions), while other accounts may take the opposite position in the security in accordance with that accounts' investment objectives, investment strategies and restrictions. PIM periodically conducts reviews of these accounts and assesses the appropriateness
of these differing positions.
Finally, because of the substantial size of PICA's general account, trading by PICA's general account in certain securities, particularly certain fixed income securities, may result in market changes in response to trades. Although PIM expects that PICA's general account will execute transactions that will move a market in a security infrequently, and generally in response to unusual market or issuer events, the execution of these transactions could have an adverse effect on transactions for or positions
held by other clients.
PIM follows Prudential Financial's policies on business ethics, personal securities trading by investment personnel, and information barriers. PIM has adopted a code of ethics, allocation policies, supervisory procedures and conflicts of interest policies, which are designed to ensure that clients are not harmed by these potential or actual conflicts of interests. However, there is no guarantee that such policies and procedures will detect and ensure avoidance, disclosure or mitigation of each and every
situation in which a conflict may arise.
Custodian.
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY), One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as Custodian for Fund portfolio securities and cash, and in that capacity, maintains certain financial accounting books and records pursuant to an agreement with the Fund. Subcustodians provide custodial services for any foreign assets held outside the United States.
Securities Lending Agent.
Prudential Investment Management, Inc. (PIM) serves as securities lending agent for the Fund, and in that role administers the Fund's securities lending program. PIM is an affiliate of PI. For its services, PIM receives a portion of the amount earned by lending securities.
Transfer Agent
. Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (PMFS), Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent of the Fund. PMFS is an affiliate of PI. PMFS provides customary transfer agency services to the Fund, including the handling of shareholder communications, the processing of shareholder transactions, the maintenance of shareholder account records, the payment of dividends
and distributions, and related functions. For these services, PMFS receives compensation from the Fund and is reimbursed for its transfer agent expenses which include an annual fee per shareholder account, a monthly inactive account fee per shareholder account and its out-of-pocket expenses; including but not limited to postage, stationery, printing, allocable communication expenses and other costs.
PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (PNC) serves as sub-transfer agent to the Fund. PMFS has contracted with PNC, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, to provide certain administrative functions to the Transfer Agent. PMFS will compensate PNC for such services.
For the most recently completed fiscal year, the Fund incurred the following approximate fees for services provided by PMFS:
Fees Paid to PMFS
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
$
|
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
. __________, 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, served as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007and 2006, and in that capacity will audit the annual financial statements for the next fiscal year.
Distributor
. Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (the Distributor), Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4077, acts as the distributor of the shares of the Fund. The Distributor is a subsidiary of Prudential.
Pursuant to separate Distribution and Service Plans (the Class A Plan, the Class B Plan and the Class C Plan, collectively, the Plans) adopted by the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and a distribution agreement (the Distribution Agreement), the Distributor incurs the expenses of distributing the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C shares. The Distributor also incurs the expenses of distributing the Fund's Class Z shares under
the Distribution Agreement, none of which is reimbursed or paid for by the Fund.
The expenses incurred under the Plans include commissions and account servicing fees paid to, or on account of brokers or financial institutions which have entered into agreements with the Distributor, advertising expenses, the cost of printing and mailing prospectuses to potential investors and indirect and overhead costs of the Distributor associated with the sale of Fund shares, including sales promotion expenses.
Under the Plans, the Fund is obligated to pay distribution and/or service fees to the Distributor as compensation for its distribution and service activities, not as reimbursement for specific expenses incurred. If the Distributor's expenses exceed its distribution and service fees, a Fund will not be obligated to pay any additional expenses. If the Distributor's expenses are less than such distribution and service fees, it will retain its
full fees and realize a profit.
The distribution and/or service fees may also be used by the Distributor to compensate on a continuing basis brokers in consideration for the distribution, marketing, administrative and other services and activities provided by brokers with respect to the promotion of the sale of Fund shares and the maintenance of related shareholder accounts.
Distribution expenses attributable to the sale of Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Fund are allocated to each such class based upon the ratio of sales of each such class to the combined sales of Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Fund, other than expenses allocable to a particular class. The distribution fee and sales charge of one class will not be used to subsidize the sale of another class.
The Plans continue in effect from year to year, provided that each such continuance is approved at least annually by a vote of the Board, including a majority vote of the Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans or in any agreement related to the Plans (the Rule 12b-1 Directors), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. A
Plan may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by the vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Directors or by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the applicable class of the Fund on not more than 30 days' written notice to any other party to the Plan. The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amounts to be spent for the services described therein without approval by the shareholders of the applicable class, and all material amendments are required to be approved
by the Board in the manner described above. Each Plan will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment. The Fund will not be contractually obligated to pay expenses incurred under any Plan if it is terminated or not continued.
Pursuant to each Plan, the Board will review at least quarterly a written report of the distribution expenses incurred on behalf of each class of shares of the Fund by the Distributor. The report will include an itemization of the distribution expenses and the purposes of such expenditures. In addition, as long as the Plans remain in effect, the selection and nomination of Rule 12b-1 Directors shall be conducted by the Rule 12b-1 Directors.
Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Fund has agreed to indemnify the Distributor to the extent permitted by applicable law against certain liabilities under federal securities laws.
In addition to distribution and service fees paid by the Fund under the Plans, the Manager (or one of its affiliates) may make payments out of its own resources to dealers and other persons which distribute shares of the Fund (including Class Z shares). Such payments may be calculated by reference to the net asset value of shares sold by such persons or otherwise.
Fee Waivers and Subsidies
. PI may from time to time waive all or a portion of its management fee and subsidize all or a portion of the operating expenses of the Fund. In addition, the Distributor may from time to time waive a portion of its distribution and service (12b-1) fees as described in the Prospectus. Fee waivers and subsidies will increase a Fund's total return.
Class A Sales Charge and Distribution Expense Information
. Under the Class A Plan, a Fund may pay the Distributor for its distribution-related activities with respect to Class A shares at an annual rate of .30 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares. The Class A Plan provides that (1) .25 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares may be used to pay
for personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts (service fee) and (2) total distribution fees (including the service fee of .25 of 1%) may not exceed .30 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares. The Prospectus discusses any contractual or voluntary fee waivers that may be in effect. In addition, if you purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares, you are subject to a 1% CDSC (defined below) for shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase (the CDSC is waived for purchase
by certain retirement and/or benefit plans) (
Note: For Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund only, if you purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares, you are subject to a 0.50% CDSC for shares redeemed within 18 months of purchase
).
For the most recently completed fiscal year, the Distributor received payments under the Class A Plan. These amounts were expended primarily for payments of account servicing fees to financial advisers and other persons who sell Class A shares. For the most recently completed fiscal year, the Distributor also received initial sales charges and proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by shareholders upon certain redemptions of Class
A Shares. The amounts received and spent by the Distributor are detailed in the tables below.
Class B and Class C Sales Charge and Distribution Expense Information
. Under the Class B and Class C Plans, a Fund may pay the Distributor for its distribution-related activities with respect to Class B and Class C shares at an annual rate of .50 of 1% and 1% of the average daily net assets of each of the Class B and Class C shares, respectively. The Class B Plan provides that (1) up
to 0.50 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class B shares may be paid for distribution-related expenses and (2) up to 0.25 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class B shares may be paid as a service fee; provided that the total distribution-related fee does not exceed 0.50 of 1%. The Class C Plan provides that (1) up to 0.75 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares may be paid for distribution-related expenses and (2) up to 0.25 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the
Class C shares may be paid as a service fee. The service fee is used to pay for personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The Prospectus discusses any voluntary or contractual fee waivers that may be in effect. The Distributor also receives contingent deferred sales charges from certain redeeming shareholders.
For the most recently completed fiscal year, the Distributor received payments under the Class B and C Plans. These amounts were expended primarily for payments of account servicing fees to financial advisers and other persons who sell Class B and C shares. For the most recently completed fiscal year, the Distributor also received the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by shareholders upon certain redemptions of Class B and
Class C shares. The approximate amounts received by the Distributor are detailed in the table below.
Payments Received by the Distributor
|
|
Class A Distribution and service (12b-1) fees
|
$
|
Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)
|
|
Class A Initial Sales Charges
|
|
Class B Distribution and service (12b-1) fees
|
|
Class B Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)
|
|
Class C Distribution and service (12b-1) fees
|
|
Class C Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs)
|
|
For the most recently completed fiscal year, the Distributor spent the following amounts on behalf of the Fund:
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
Printing and Mailing Prospectuses to Other Than Current Shareholders
|
Commission payments to Financial Advisers of Distributor*
|
Overhead Costs of Distrbutor**
|
Total Amount Spent by Distributor on Behalf of Fund
|
-
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
* Includes amounts paid to affiliated broker/dealers.
**Including sales promotion expenses.
Class B Shares
|
|
|
|
Printing and Mailing Prospectuses to Other Than Current Shareholders
|
Commission Payments to Financial Advisers of Distributor*
|
Overhead Costs of Distributor **
|
Total Amount Spent By Distributor on Behalf of Fund
|
$200
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
* Includes amounts paid to affiliated broker/dealers.
**Including sales promotion expenses.
Class C Shares
|
|
|
|
Printing and Mailing Prospectuses to Other Than Current Shareholders
|
Commission Payments to Financial Advisors of Distribution*
|
Overhead Costs of Distributor**
|
Total Amount Spent By Distributor on Behalf of Fund
|
$
|
$
|
|
$
|
* Includes amounts paid to affiliated broker/dealers.
**Including sales promotion expenses.
Payments to Financial Services Firms
. As described in the Fund's Prospectus, the Manager or certain of its affiliates (but not the Distributor) have entered into revenue sharing or other similar arrangements with financial services firms, including affiliates of the Manager. These revenue sharing arrangements are intended to promote the sale of Fund shares or to compensate the financial
services firms for marketing or marketing support activities in connection with the sale of Fund shares.
The list below includes the names of the firms (or their affiliated broker/dealers) that received from the Manager, and/or certain of its affiliates, revenue sharing payments of more than $10,000 in calendar year 2009 for marketing and product support of the Fund(s) and other Prudential Investments funds as described above.
-
1st Global Capital Corp.
-
ADP Retirement
-
AIG Network
-
Ameriprise Financial Services
-
Ascensus (formerly BISYS Retirement Services Inc.)
-
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. (Smith Barney)
-
CitiStreet LLC
-
Diversified Investment Advisors
-
Expert Plan, Inc.
-
Fidelity - Retirement Funds Network
-
Fidelity Management Trust Company
-
Financial Network Investment Corporation
-
GWFS Equities, Inc.
-
ING Financial Partners, Inc.
-
John Hancock Life Insurance Company
-
J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services
-
Lincoln Retirement Services
-
Linsco/Private Ledger Corp. (LPL Financial Services)
-
Mercer HR Solutions
-
Merrill Lynch Retirement
-
Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith
-
Mid Atlantic Capital Corp.
-
Morgan Stanley ADP
-
Morgan Stanley DW Inc.
-
MSCS Financial Services LLC
-
Multi-Financial Securities Corporation
-
Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.
-
NYLife Distributors, Inc.
-
Oppenheimer & Co.
-
Princeton Retirement Group, Inc.
-
Principal Life Insurance Company
-
Pruco Securities LLC
-
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
-
RBC Capital Markets
-
Security Benefit
-
Standard Insurance Company
-
T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc.
-
TD Ameritrade Trust Company
-
UBS
-
UVEST Financial Services Group, Inc.
-
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
-
Wells Fargo Retirement Advisors
Under the current distribution arrangements between the Fund and the Distributor, Class A shares of the Fund are sold at the maximum initial sales charge indicated below, and Class B , Class C and Class Z shares of the Fund are sold at NAV. Using the NAV of the Fund as of the most recently completed fiscal period, the maximum offering prices of Fund shares are as follows:
Offering Price Per Share
|
|
Class A
|
|
NAV and redemption price per Class A share
|
$
|
Maximum initial sales charge (4.0%)
|
|
Maximum offering price to public
|
$
|
Class B
|
|
NAV, offering price and redemption price per Class B share
|
$
|
Class C
|
|
NAV, offering price and redemption price per Class C share
|
$
|
Class Z
|
|
NAV, offering price and redemption price per Class Z share
|
$
|
Explanatory Notes to Table
:
Class A, Class B and Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) on certain redemptions. See "How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares of the Fund — How to Sell Your Shares — Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC)" in the Prospectus.
The Fund has adopted a policy pursuant to which the Fund and its Manager, Subadviser(s) and principal underwriter are prohibited from directly or indirectly compensating a broker-dealer for promoting or selling Fund shares by directing brokerage transactions to that broker. Each Fund has adopted procedures for the purpose of deterring and detecting any violations of the policy. The policy permits a Fund, the Manager and the Subadviser(s) to
use selling brokers to execute transactions in portfolio securities so long as the selection of such selling brokers is the result of a decision that executing such transactions is in the best interest of a Fund and is not influenced by considerations about the sale of Fund shares. For purposes of this section, the term "Manager" includes the Subadviser.
The Manager is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities, futures contracts and options on such securities and futures for each Fund, the selection of brokers, dealers and futures commission merchants to effect the transactions and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. On a national securities exchange, broker-dealers may receive negotiated brokerage commissions on Fund portfolio transactions, including options, futures,
and options on futures transactions and the purchase and sale of underlying securities upon the exercise of options. On a foreign securities exchange, commissions may be fixed. Orders may be directed to any broker or futures commission merchant including, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable laws, one of the Manager's affiliates (an affiliated broker). Brokerage commissions on U.S. securities, options and futures exchanges or boards of trade are subject to negotiation between the Manager and
the broker or futures commission merchant.
In the over-the-counter market ("OTC"), securities are generally traded on a "net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes a profit to the dealer. In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount.
On occasion, certain money market instruments and U.S. government agency securities may be purchased directly from the issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid. Each Fund will not deal with an affiliated broker in any transaction in which an affiliated broker acts as principal except in accordance with the rules of the Commission.
In placing orders for portfolio securities of the Fund, the Manager's overriding objective is to obtain the best possible combination of favorable price and efficient execution. The Manager seeks to effect such transaction at a price and commission that provides the most favorable total cost of proceeds reasonably attainable in the circumstances. The factors that the Manager may consider in selecting a particular broker, dealer or futures commission
merchant (firms) are the Manager's knowledge of negotiated commission rates currently available and other current transaction costs; the nature of the portfolio transaction; the size of the transaction; the desired timing of the trade; the activity existing and expected in the market for the particular transaction; confidentiality; the execution, clearance and settlement capabilities of the firms; the availability of research and research-related services provided through such firms; the Manager's knowledge of
the financial stability of the firms; the Manager's knowledge of actual or apparent operational problems of firms; and the amount of capital, if any, that would be contributed by firms executing the transaction. Given these factors, the Fund may pay transaction costs in excess of that which another firm might have charged for effecting the same transaction.
When the Manager selects a firm that executes orders or is a party to portfolio transactions, relevant factors taken into consideration are whether that firm has furnished research and research-related products and/or services, such as research reports, research compilations, statistical and economic data, computer databases, quotation equipment and services, research-oriented computer software and services, reports concerning the performance
of accounts, valuations of securities, investment-related periodicals, investment seminars and other economic services and consultations. Such services are used in connection with some or all of the Manager's investment activities; some of such services, obtained in connection with the execution of transactions for one investment account, may be used in managing other accounts, and not all of these services may be used in connection with the Fund. The Manager maintains an internal allocation procedure to identify
those firms who have provided it with research and research-related products and/or services, and the amount that was provided, and to endeavor to direct sufficient commissions to them to ensure the continued receipt of those services that the Manager believes provide a benefit to the Fund and its other clients. The Manager makes a good faith determination that the research and/or service is reasonable in light of the type of service provided and the price and execution of the related portfolio transactions.
When the Manager deems the purchase or sale of equities to be in the best interests of the Fund or its other clients, including Prudential, the Manager may, but is under no obligation to, aggregate the transactions in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution. In such event, allocation of the transactions, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Manager in
the manner it considers to be most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to its clients. The allocation of orders among firms and the commission rates paid are reviewed periodically by the Fund's Board of Directors. Portfolio securities may not be purchased from any underwriting or selling syndicate of which any affiliate, during the existence of the syndicate, is a principal underwriter (as defined in the 1940 Act), except in accordance with rules of the Commission. This limitation, in the
opinion of the Fund, will not significantly affect the Fund's ability to pursue its present investment objective. However, in the future in other circumstances, the Fund may be at a disadvantage because of this limitation in comparison to other funds with similar objectives but not subject to such limitations.
Subject to the above considerations, an affiliate may act as a broker or futures commission merchant for the Fund. In order for an affiliate of the Manager to effect any portfolio transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the affiliated broker must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to other firms in connection with comparable transactions involving similar
securities or futures being purchased or sold on an exchange or board of trade during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow the affiliated broker to receive no more than the remuneration which would be expected to be received by an unaffiliated firm in a commensurate arm's-length transaction. Furthermore, the Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the Independent Directors, have adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration
paid to the affiliated broker (or any affiliate) are consistent with the foregoing standard. In accordance with Section 11(a) of the Exchange Act, an affiliate may not retain compensation for effecting transactions on a national securities exchange for the Fund unless the Fund has expressly authorized the retention of such compensation. The affiliate must furnish to the Fund at least annually a statement setting forth the total amount of all compensation retained by the affiliate from transactions effected for
the Fund during the applicable period. Brokerage transactions with an affiliated broker are also subject to such fiduciary standards as may be imposed upon the affiliate by applicable law. Transactions in options by the Fund will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges governing the maximum number of options which may be written or held by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or held on the same or different exchanges or
are written or held in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the Fund may write or hold may be affected by options written or held by the Manager and other investment advisory clients of the Manager. An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.
The table(s) below sets forth information concerning the payment of commissions by the Fund, including the amount of such commissions paid to any affiliate for the indicated fiscal years or periods:
Brokerage Commissions Paid by the Fund
($) (Fiscal years ended April 30)
|
|
|
|
|
2010
|
2009
|
2008
|
Total brokerage commissions paid by the Fund
|
$
|
$3,570
|
$2,909
|
Total brokerage commissions paid to Wachovia Securities
|
|
None
|
None
|
Percentage of total brokerage commissions paid to Wachovia Securities
|
|
None
|
None
|
Total brokerage commissions paid to Prudential Equity
|
|
None
|
None
|
Percentage of total brokerage commissions paid to Prudential Equity
|
|
None
|
None
|
The Fund is required to disclose its holdings of securities of its regular brokers and dealers (as defined under Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act) and their parents as of the most recently completed fiscal year. As of the most recently completed fiscal year, the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers and dealers.
Broker-Dealer Securities Holdings ($)
(as of most recently completed fiscal year)
|
|
|
|
Equity or Debt
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
Fund History
. The Fund was organized in Massachusetts on November 3, 1986. On May 3, 1995, the Trustees approved a change in the name of the Modified Term Series to the Intermediate Series, effective June 29, 1995. On June 23, 1998, the Trustees approved a change in the name of the High Yield Series to the High Income Series, effective July 1, 1998. On January 22, 1999, shareholders of
Intermediate Series received shares of Prudential National Municipals Fund, Inc. pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, approved by shareholders at a Special Meeting of Shareholders of Intermediate Series held on January 14, 1999, under which the assets of Intermediate Series were transferred to the Prudential National Municipals Fund, Inc. in exchange for shares of Prudential National Municipals Fund, Inc. and Prudential National Municipals Fund, Inc. assumed the liabilities, if any, of Intermediate
Series. Shares of Intermediate Series are no longer offered pursuant to the Fund's Prospectus. Currently, the Fund consists of one portfolio: the High Income Series.
The Board of Trustees (the Board) approved changing the name of the Fund to Dryden Municipal Bond Fund, and approved changing the names of the Series to Dryden Municipal Bond Fund-Insured Series and Dryden Municipal Bond Fund-High Income Series, which became effective on July 7, 2003.
Effective as of April 17, 2009, the Insured Series was reorganized (i.e., merged) into the Dryden National Municipals Fund, Inc. The Insured Series no longer exists.
Effective as of February 16, 2010, the Board approved changing the name of the Fund to Prudential Investment Portfolios 4 and approved changing the name of the Series to Prudential Muni High Income Fund.
Description of Shares and Organization
. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, divided into four classes, designated as Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z. Each class of beneficial interest with respect to each Series represents an interest in the same assets of the Series and is identical in all respects except that (1) each class is
subject to different (or no) sales charges and distribution and/or service fees (except for Class Z shares, which are not subject to any sales charge or distribution and/or service fees), which may affect performance, (2) each class has exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to its arrangement and has separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class, (3) each class has a
different exchange privilege and (4) only Class B shares have a conversion feature. Class Z shares are offered exclusively for sale to a limited group of investors. Currently, the Fund is offering Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z shares of beneficial interest. In accordance with the Fund's Declaration of Trust, the Board may authorize the creation of additional series and classes within such series, with such preferences, privileges, limitations and voting and dividend rights as the Board may determine.
Shares of the Fund, when issued, are fully paid, nonassessable, fully transferable and redeemable at the option of the holder. Shares are also redeemable at the option of the Fund under certain circumstances. Each share of each class of each Series is equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges, except as noted above, and each class (with the exception of Class Z shares, which are not subject to any distribution and/or service fees)
bears the expenses related to the distribution of its shares. Except for the conversion feature applicable to the Class B shares, there are no conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights. In the event of liquidation, each share of beneficial interest of each Series is entitled to its portion of all of the Series' assets after all debts and expenses of the Series have been paid. Since Class B and Class C shares generally bear higher distribution expenses than Class A shares, the liquidation proceeds to
shareholders of those classes are likely to be lower than to Class A shareholders and to Class Z shareholders, whose shares are not subject to any distribution and/or service fees. The Fund's shares do not have cumulative voting rights for the election of Directors.
The Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders unless otherwise required by law. The Fund will not be required to hold meetings of shareholders unless, for example, the election of Trustees is required to be acted on by shareholders under the 1940 Act. Shareholders have certain rights, including the right to call a meeting upon a vote of 10% or more of the Fund's outstanding shares for the purpose of voting on the removal
of one or more Trustees or to transact any other business.
To the knowledge of the Fund, the following persons/entities owned beneficially or of record 5% or more of Fund shares as of the date indicated:
Principal Fund Shareholders (as of ______, 2010)
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As of the date above, the Board Members and Officers of the Fund, as a group, owned less than 1% of the outstanding common stock or shares of beneficial interest, as applicable, of the Fund.
The financial statements for Prudential Muni High Income Fund for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2010 incorporated in this SAI by reference to the 2010 annual report to shareholders (File No. 811-4930), have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of ________, independent registered public accounting firm.
You may obtain a copy of the annual report at no charge by request to the Fund by calling (800) 225-1852 or by writing to the Fund at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4077.
Share Classes
. A Fund may offer shares of one or more classes to investors. Not every Fund may offer every share class described in this SAI, and investors should consult their Fund's prospectus for specific information concerning the share classes that are available to them.
Shares of a Fund may be purchased at a price equal to the next determined NAV per share plus a sales charge (if applicable) which, at the election of the investor, may be imposed either (1) at the time of purchase (Class A shares) or (2) on a deferred basis (Class B and Class C shares or Class A shares, in certain circumstances). Class R, Class Y and Class Z shares of a Fund are offered to a limited group of investors at NAV without any sales
charges.
Certain Funds may also offer additional or different classes of shares, including Class F, Class I, Class L, Class M, Class R and Class X shares. Specific information with respect to these share classes is set forth in the applicable Fund's prospectus and SAI.
For more information, see "How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares of the Fund--How to Buy Shares" in the Prospectus.
Purchase by Wire
. For an initial purchase of shares of a Fund by wire, you must complete an application and telephone PMFS at (800) 225-1852 (toll-free) to receive an account number. PMFS will request the following information: your name, address, tax identification number, Fund name, class election (if applicable), dividend distribution election, amount being wired and wiring bank. PMFS
will also furnish you with instructions for wiring the funds from your bank to the Fund's Custodian.
If you arrange for receipt by the Custodian of federal funds prior to the calculation of NAV (once each business day at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), usually 4:00 p.m. New York time), on a business day, you may purchase shares of the Fund as of that day. In the event that regular trading on the NYSE closes before 4:00 p.m. New York time, you will receive the following day's NAV if your order to purchase
is received after the close of regular trading on the NYSE.
In making a subsequent purchase order by wire, you should wire the Fund's Custodian directly and should be sure that the wire specifies the Fund name, the share class to be purchased, your name, individual account number, Direct Deposit Account (DDA) Number and the Fund's Bank Account registration. You do not need to call PMFS to make subsequent purchase orders utilizing federal funds. The minimum amount for subsequent purchase by wire is $100.
Issuance of Fund Shares for Securities
. Transactions involving the issuance of Fund shares for securities (rather than cash) will be limited to (1) reorganizations, (2) statutory mergers, or (3) other acquisitions of portfolio securities that: (a) meet the investment objectives and policies of the Fund, (b) are liquid and not subject to restrictions on resale, (c) have a value that is
readily ascertainable via listing on or trading in a recognized United States or international exchange or market, and (d) are approved by the Fund's Manager.
Multiple Accounts
. An institution may open a single master account by filing an application with PMFS, signed by personnel authorized to act for the institution. Individual subaccounts may be opened at the time the master account is opened by listing them, or they may be added at a later date by written advice. Procedures will be available to identify subaccounts by name and number within
the master account name. The foregoing procedures would also apply to related institutional accounts (i.e., accounts of shareholders with a common institutional or corporate parent). The investment minimums as set forth in the relevant Prospectus under "How to Buy and Sell Shares of the Fund—How to Buy Shares" are applicable to the aggregate amounts invested by a group, and not to the amount credited to each subaccount.
Reopening an Account
. Subject to the minimum investment restrictions, an investor may reopen an account, without filing a new application, at any time during the calendar year the account is closed, provided that the information on that application is still applicable.
Restrictions on Sale of Fund Shares
. A Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment for a period of up to seven days. Suspensions or postponements may not exceed seven days except at times (1) when the the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays, (2) when trading on the NYSE is restricted, (3) when an emergency exists as a result of which
disposal by a Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or (4) during any other period when the Commission, by order, so permits; provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Commission shall govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (2), (3) or (4) exist.
Redemption in Kind
. The Fund may pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution in kind of securities from the investment portfolio of the Fund, in lieu of cash, in conformity with applicable rules of the Commission and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. Securities will be readily marketable and will be valued in the same manner as in a regular redemption. If
your shares are redeemed in kind, you would incur transaction costs in converting the assets into cash. The Fund, however, has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, under which the Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of the Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder.
Rights of Accumulation
. Reduced sales charges are also available through Rights of Accumulation, under which an investor or an eligible group of related investors, as described under "Reducing or Waiving Class A's Initial Sales Charge" in the Prospectus, may aggregate the value of their existing holdings of shares of the Fund and shares of other Prudential Investments mutual funds (excluding
money market funds other than those acquired pursuant to the exchange privilege) to determine the reduced sales charge. However, the value of shares held directly with the Transfer Agent and through your broker will not be aggregated to determine the reduced sales charge. The value of existing holdings for purposes of determining the reduced sales charge is calculated using the maximum offering price (NAV plus maximum sales charge). The Distributor, your broker or the Transfer Agent must be notified at the time
of purchase that the investor is entitled to a reduced sales charge. Reduced sales charges will be granted subject to confirmation of the investor's holdings.
Sale of Shares
. You can redeem your shares at any time for cash at the NAV next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (in accordance with procedures established by the Transfer Agent in connection with investors' accounts) by the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or your broker. See "Net Asset Value" below. In certain cases, however, redemption proceeds will
be reduced by the amount of any applicable contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC), as described in "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" below. If you are redeeming your shares through a broker, your broker must receive your sell order before the Fund computes its NAV for that day (at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually, 4:00 p.m. New York time) in order to receive that day's NAV. In the event that regular trading on the NYSE closes before 4:00 p.m. New York time, you will receive the following day's
NAV if your order to sell is received after the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Your broker will be responsible for furnishing all necessary documentation to the Distributor and may charge you for its services in connection with redeeming shares of a Fund.
All correspondence and documents concerning redemptions should be sent to the Fund in care of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, P.O. Box 9658, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, to the Distributor or to your broker.
If you hold shares in non-certificate form, a written request for redemption signed by you exactly as the account is registered is required. If you hold certificates, the certificates must be received by the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or your broker in order for the redemption request to be processed. If redemption is requested by a corporation, partnership, trust or fiduciary, written evidence of authority acceptable to the Transfer Agent
must be submitted before such request will be accepted. All correspondence and documents concerning redemptions should be sent to the Fund in care of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, P.O. Box 9658, Providence, RI 02940, to the Distributor or to your broker.
Payment for redemption of recently purchased shares will be delayed until the Fund or its Transfer Agent has been advised that the purchase check has been honored, which may take up to 7 calendar days from the time of receipt of the purchase check by the Transfer Agent. Such delay may be avoided by purchasing shares by wire or by certified or cashier's check.
Signature Guarantee
. If the proceeds of the redemption (1) exceed $100,000, (2) are to be paid to a person other than the record owner, (3) are to be sent to an address other than the address on the transfer agent's records, (4) are to be paid to a corporation, partnership, trust or fiduciary, or (5) are to be paid due to the death of the shareholder or on behalf of the shareholder, and
your shares are held directly with the Transfer Agent, the signature(s) on the redemption request or stock power must be medallion signature guaranteed. The medallion signature guarantee must be obtained from an authorized officer of a bank, broker, dealer, securities exchange or association, clearing agency, savings association, or credit union that is participating in one of the recognized medallion programs (STAMP, SEMP, or NYSE MSP). The medallion signature guarantee must be appropriate for the dollar amount
of the transaction. The Transfer Agent reserves the right to reject transactions where the value of the transaction exceeds the value of the surety coverage indicated on the medallion imprint. The Transfer Agent also reserves the right to request additional information from, and make reasonable inquires of, any institution that provides a medallion signature guarantee. In the case of redemptions from a PruArray Plan, if the proceeds of the redemption are invested in another investment option of the plan in the
name of the record holder and at the same address as reflected in the Transfer Agent's records, a medallion signature guarantee is not required.
Payment for shares presented for redemption will be made by check within seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or your broker of the written request and certificates, if issued, except as indicated below. If you hold shares through a broker, payment for shares presented for redemption will be credited to your account at your broker, unless you indicate otherwise. Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption
suspended at times (1) when the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays, (2) when trading on the NYSE is restricted, (3) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or (4) during any other period when the Commission, by order, so permits; provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Commission shall govern
as to whether the conditions prescribed in (2), (3) or (4) exist.
Expedited Redemption Privilege
. By electing the Expedited Redemption Privilege, you may arrange to have redemption proceeds sent to your bank account. The Expedited Redemption Privilege may be used to redeem shares in an amount of $100 or more, except if an account for which an expedited redemption is requested has a net asset value of less than $100, the entire account will be redeemed.
Redemption proceeds in the amount of $500 or more will be remitted by wire to your bank account at a domestic commercial bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve system. The money would generally be received by your bank within one business day of the redemption. Redemption proceeds of less than $500 will be sent by ACH to your bank which must be a member of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. The money would generally be received by your bank within three business days of the redemption. Any applicable
CDSC will be deducted from the redemption proceeds. Expedited redemption requests may be made by telephone or letter, must be received by the Fund prior to 4:00 p.m. New York time to receive a redemption amount based on that day's NAV and are subject to the terms and conditions as set forth in the Prospectus regarding redemption of shares. In the event that regular trading on the NYSE closes before 4:00 p.m. New York time, you will receive the following day's NAV if your order to sell is received after the close
of regular trading on the NYSE. For more information, see "How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares of the Fund-Telephone Redemptions or Exchanges" in the Prospectus. The Expedited Redemption Privilege may be modified or terminated at any time without notice. To receive further information, shareholders should contact PMFS.
Involuntary Redemption
. If the value of your account with PMFS is less than $500 for any reason, we may sell the rest of your shares (without charging any CDSC) and close your account. The involuntary sale provisions do not apply to: (i) an individual retirement account (IRA) or other qualified or tax-deferred retirement plan or account, (ii) Automatic Investment Plan ("AIP") accounts,
employee savings plan accounts or payroll deduction plan accounts, (iii) accounts with the same registration associated with multiple share classes within the Fund, or (iv) clients with assets more than $50,000 across the Prudential Investments family of mutual funds. "Client" for this purpose has the same definition as for purposes of Rights of Accumulation, i.e., an investor and an eligible group of related investors.
Small Account Maintenance Fee.
In order to offset the disproportionate effect (in basis points) of expenses associated with servicing small balance accounts, if the value of your account with PMFS is less than $2,500, a $15 annual small account maintenance fee will be deducted from your account. The $15 annual small account maintenance fee will be assessed during the 4th calendar quarter of each year. Any applicable CDSC on the shares redeemed to
pay the $15 small account maintenance fee will be waived. The $15 small account maintenance fee will not be charged on: (i) accounts during the first six months from inception of the account, (ii) omnibus accounts or accounts for which the dealer is responsible for recordkeeping, (iii) institutional accounts, (iv) group retirement plans (including SIMPLE IRA plans, profit-sharing plans, money purchase pension plans, Keogh plans, defined compensation plans, defined benefit plans and 401(k) plans), (v) AIP accounts
or employee savings plan accounts, (vi) accounts with the same registration associated with multiple share classes within the Fund, or (vii) clients with assets of more than $50,000 across the Prudential Investments family of mutual funds. "Client" for this purpose has the same definition as for purposes of Rights of Accumulation, i.e., an investor and an eligible group of related investors.
90 Day Repurchase Privilege
. If you redeem your shares and have not previously exercised the repurchase privilege, you may reinvest back into your account any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption in shares of the Fund at the NAV next determined after the order is received, which must be within 90 days after the date of the redemption. Any CDSC paid in connection with such
redemption in Class A, Class B or Class C will be credited (in shares) to your account. (If less than a full repurchase is made, the credit will be on a pro rata basis.) You must notify the Transfer Agent, either directly or through the Distributor or your broker, at the time the repurchase privilege is exercised to adjust your account for the CDSC you previously paid. Thereafter, any redemptions will be subject to the CDSC applicable at the time of the redemption. See "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" below.
Exercise of the repurchase privilege will generally not affect federal tax treatment of any gain realized upon redemption. However, if the redemption was made within a 30 day period of the repurchase and if the redemption resulted in a loss, some or all of the loss, depending on the amount reinvested, may not be allowed for federal income tax purposes.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC).
Investors who purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares and sell these shares within 12 months of purchase are subject to a 1% CDSC. (
Note: For Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. only, investors who purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares and then sell these shares within
18 months of purchase are subject to a 0.50% CDSC
).
The Class A CDSC is waived (i) for certain retirement and/or benefit plans, or (ii) if you purchase Class Z shares (see "Qualifying for Class Z Shares" in the Prospectus) within 5 days of redemption of your Class A shares that you had purchased directly through the Fund's transfer agent. In the case of (ii), we will credit your account with the appropriate number of shares to reflect any CDSC you paid on the reinvested portion of your redemption proceeds. Redemptions of Class B shares will be subject to
a CDSC declining from 5% to zero over a six-year period (or a four-year period in the case of Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.). Class C shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase will be subject to a 1% CDSC. The CDSC will be deducted from the redemption proceeds and reduce the amount paid to you. The CDSC will be imposed on any redemption that reduces the current value of your Class A, Class B or Class C shares to an amount which is lower than the amount of all payments by you for shares during
the preceding 12 months in the case of Class A shares (in certain cases), 6 years in the case of Class B shares (or four years in the case of Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. Class B shares), and 12 months, in the case of Class C shares. A CDSC will be applied on the lesser of the original purchase price or the current value of the shares being redeemed. Increases in the value of your shares or shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or distributions are not subject to a CDSC. The amount of any
CDSC will be paid to and retained by the Distributor. If you purchased or hold your shares through a broker, third party administrator or other authorized entity that maintains subaccount recordkeeping, any applicable CDSC that you will pay will be calculated and reported to PMFS by such broker, administrator or other authorized entity.
The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years from the time of payment for the purchase of shares until the time of redemption of such shares. The CDSC will be calculated from the date of the initial purchase, excluding the time shares were held in Class B, Class F or Class C shares of a money market fund. See "Shareholder Services - Exchange Privileges" below.
In determining whether a CDSC is applicable to a redemption, the calculation will be made in a manner that results in the lowest possible rate. It will be assumed that the redemption is made first of amounts representing shares acquired pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends and distributions; then of amounts representing the increase in NAV above the total amount of payments for the purchase of Class A shares made during the preceding 12 months (in certain cases), 6 years for Class B and Class F shares
(four years in the case of Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.) and 12 months for Class C shares; then of amounts representing the cost of shares held beyond the applicable CDSC period; and finally, of amounts representing the cost of shares held for the longest period of time within the applicable CDSC period.
For example, assume you purchased 100 Class B shares at $10 per share for a cost of $1,000. Subsequently, you acquired 5 additional Class B shares through dividend reinvestment. During the second year after the purchase you decided to redeem $500 of your investment. Assuming at the time of the redemption the NAV had appreciated to $12 per share, the value of your Class B shares would be $1,260 (105 shares at $12 per share). The CDSC would not be applied to the value of the reinvested dividend shares and
the amount which represent appreciation ($260). Therefore, $240 of the $500 redemption proceeds ($500 minus $260) would be charged at a rate of 4% (the applicable rate in the second year after purchase) for a total CDSC of $9.60.
For federal income tax purposes, the amount of the CDSC will reduce the gain or increase the loss, as the case may be, on the amount recognized on the redemption of shares.
Waiver of CDSC – Class B and Class F Shares
. The CDSC will be waived in the case of a redemption following the death or disability of a shareholder or, in the case of a trust account, following the death or disability of the grantor. The waiver is available for total or partial redemptions of shares owned by a person, either individually or in joint tenancy at the time of death or initial determination of disability, provided that the shares
were purchased prior to death or disability.
The CDSC will be waived in the case of a total or partial redemption in connection with certain distributions under the Internal Revenue Code from a tax-deferred retirement plan, an IRA or Section 403(b) custodial account. For more information, call Prudential at (800) 353-2847.
For distributions from an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account, the shareholder must submit a copy of the distribution form from the custodial firm indicating (i) the date of birth of the shareholder and (ii) that the shareholder is over age 70 1/2. The distribution form must be signed by the shareholder.
Finally, the CDSC will be waived to the extent you exchange your shares for shares of other Prudential Investments mutual funds, The Guaranteed Investment Account, the Guaranteed Insulated Separate Account or units of The Stable Value Fund. See "Shareholder Services – Exchange Privileges," below, for more information regarding the Exchange Privilege.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan
. The CDSC will be waived (or reduced) on certain redemptions effected through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan. On an annual basis, up to 12% of the total dollar amount subject to the CDSC may be redeemed without charge. The Transfer Agent will calculate the total amount available for this waiver annually on the anniversary date of your purchase. The CDSC will be waived (or reduced) on redemptions until this threshold of 12%
is reached. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan is not available to participants in certain retirement plans. Please contact PMFS at (800) 225-1852 for more details.
In addition, the CDSC will be waived on redemptions of shares held by Board Members of the Fund.
You must notify PMFS either directly or through your broker, at the time of redemption, that you are entitled to a waiver of the CDSC and provide PMFS or your broker with such supporting documentation as it may deem appropriate. The waiver will be granted subject to confirmation of your entitlement.
PMFS reserves the right to request such additional documents as it may deem appropriate.
Waiver of CDSC – Class C Shares
. The CDSC will be waived for redemptions by certain group retirement plans for which Prudential or brokers not affiliated with Prudential provide administrative or recordkeeping services. The CDSC will also be waived for certain redemptions by benefit plans sponsored by Prudential and its affiliates. For more information, call Prudential Retirement
at (800) 353-2847.
Automatic Conversion of Class B, Class F, Class M and Class X Shares
. Class B, Class F, Class M and Class X shares will automatically convert to Class A shares on a quarterly basis approximately seven years (five years in the case of Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.), seven years, eight years and ten years, respectively, after purchase. Conversions will be effected at relative
net asset value without the imposition of any additional sales charge.
The number of Class B, Class F, Class M and Class X shares eligible to convert to Class A shares will be the total number of shares that have completed their Class B, Class F, Class M and Class X aging schedule (including any time spent at 0% liability), plus all shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends for Class B and Class F shares and a proportionate number of shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends for Class M and
Class X shares.
Since annual distribution-related fees are lower for Class A shares than Class B, Class F, Class M and Class X shares, the per share NAV of the Class A shares may be higher than that of the Class B, Class F, Class M and Class X shares at the time of conversion. Thus, although the aggregate dollar value will be the same, you may receive fewer Class A shares than Class B, Class F, Class M and Class X shares converted.
For purposes of calculating the applicable holding period for conversions, for Class B and Class F shares previously exchanged for shares of a money market fund, the time period during which such shares were held in a money market fund will be excluded for the Class B and Class F shares. For example, Class B and Class F shares held in a money market fund for one year would not convert to Class A shares until approximately eight years. Class
B and Class F shares acquired through exchange will convert to Class A shares after expiration of the conversion period applicable to the original purchaser of such shares.
The conversion feature may be subject to the continuing availability of opinions of counsel or rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (1) that the dividends and other distributions paid on Class A, Class B, Class C, Class F, Class I, Class L, Class M, Class R, Class X, Class Y and Class Z shares will not constitute "preferential dividends" under the Internal Revenue Code and (2) that the conversion of shares does not constitute a taxable event
for federal income tax purposes. The conversion of Class B, Class F, Class M and Class X shares into Class A shares may be suspended if such opinions or rulings are no longer available. If conversions are suspended, Class B, Class F, Class M and Class X shares of the Fund will continue to be subject, possibly indefinitely, to their higher annual distribution and service fee. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the tax consequences of the conversion or exchange of shares.
The price an investor pays for each share is based on the share value. A Fund's share value--known as the net asset value per share or NAV--is determined by subtracting its liabilities from the value of its assets and dividing the remainder by the number of outstanding shares. NAV is calculated separately for each class. Each Fund will compute its NAV once each business day at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually 4:00 p.m. New
York time. For purposes of computing a Fund's NAV, the Fund will value the Fund's futures contracts generally 15 minutes after the close of regular trading on the NYSE. A Fund may not compute its NAV on days on which no orders to purchase, sell or exchange shares of the Fund have been received or on days on which changes in the value of the Fund's portfolio securities do not materially affect its NAV. The NYSE is closed on 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.
In accordance with procedures adopted by the Board, the value of investments listed on a securities exchange and NASDAQ System securities (other than options on stock and stock indices) are valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation or, if there was no sale on such day, the mean between the last bid and asked prices on such day, or at the bid price on such day in the absence of an asked price, as provided by a pricing service or
principal market marker. Securities included on the NASDAQ Market are valued at the NASDAQ Closing Price (NOCP) on the day of valuation, or if there was no NOCP, at the last sale price. Nasdaq Market Securities for which there was no NOCP or last sale price are valued at the mean between the last bid and asked prices on the day of valuation, or the last bid price in the absence of an asked price. Corporate bonds (other than convertible debt securities) and U.S. government securities that are actively traded in
the OTC market, including listed securities for which the primary market is believed by the Manager in consultation with the Subadviser to be over-the-counter, are valued on the basis of valuations provided by an independent pricing agent which uses information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers, agency ratings, market transactions in comparable securities and various relationships between securities in determining value. Convertible debt securities that are actively traded in
the over-the-counter market, including listed securities for which the primary market is believed by the Manager in consultation with the Subadviser to be OTC, are valued at the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices provided by principal market makers.
OTC options on stock and stock indices traded on an exchange are valued at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices on the respective exchange and futures contracts and options thereon are valued at their last sale prices as of the close of trading on the applicable commodities exchange or if there was no sale on the applicable commodities exchange on such day, at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked
prices on such exchange or at the last bid price in the absence of an asked price. Quotations of foreign securities in a foreign currency are converted to U.S. dollar equivalents at the current rate obtained from a recognized bank, dealer or independent service, and forward currency exchange contracts are valued at the current cost of covering or offsetting such contacts. Should an extraordinary event, which is likely to affect the value of the security, occur after the close of an exchange on which a portfolio
security is traded, such security will be valued at fair value considering factors determined in good faith by the investment adviser under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Board.
Under the 1940 Act, the Board is responsible for determining in good faith the fair value of securities of a Fund. Portfolio securities for which reliable market quotations are not readily available or for which the pricing agent or principal market maker does not provide a valuation or methodology or provides a valuation or methodology that, in the judgment of the Manager or Subadviser (or Valuation Committee or Board) does not represent fair
value (Fair Value Securities), are valued by the Valuation Committee or Board in consultation with the Subadviser, Adviser or Manager, as applicable, including, as applicable, their portfolio managers, traders, research and credit analysts, and legal and compliance personnel, on the basis of the following factors: the nature of any restrictions on disposition of the securities; assessment of the general liquidity/illiquidity of the securities; the issuer's financial condition and the markets in which it does
business; the cost of the investment; the size of the holding and the capitalization of issuer; the prices of any recent transactions or bids/offers for such securities or any comparable securities; any available analyst, media or other reports or information deemed reliable by the Manager or Subadviser regarding the issuer or the markets or industry in which it operates; other analytical data; consistency with valuation of similar securities held by other Prudential Investments mutual funds; and such other factors
as may be determined by the Adviser, Manager, Board or Valuation Committee to materially affect the value of the security. Fair Value Securities may include, but are not limited to, the following: certain private placements and restricted securities that do not have an active trading market; securities whose trading has been suspended or for which market quotes are no longer available; debt securities that have recently gone into default and for which there is no current market; securities whose prices are stale;
securities affected by significant events; and securities that the Subadviser or Manager believes were priced incorrectly.
A "significant event" (which includes, but is not limited to, an extraordinary political or market event) is an event that the Subadviser or Manager believes with a reasonably high degree of certainty has caused the closing market prices of a Fund's portfolio securities to no longer reflect their value at the time of the Fund's NAV calculation. On a day that the Manager may determine that one or more of the Fund's portfolio securities constitute
Fair Value Securities, the Manager may determine the fair value of these securities without the supervision of the Fund's Valuation Committee if the fair valuation of all such securities results in a change of less than $0.01 to the Fund's NAV and the Manager presents these valuations to the Board for its ratification.
Short-term debt securities are valued at cost, with interest accrued of discount amortized to the date of maturity, if their original maturity was 60 days or less, unless this is determined by the Board not to represent fair value. Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, for which market quotations are readily available are valued at their current market quotations as supplied by an independent pricing agent
or more than one principal market maker (if available, otherwise a primary market maker).
Securities for which reliable market quotations are not available or for which the pricing agent or principal market maker does not provide a valuation or provides a valuation that, in the judgment of the Subadviser or Manager, does not present fair value, shall be valued in accordance with the following procedures: At the time of purchase, the duration of the security is to be determined. A Treasury issue (or similar security or index for
which market quotes are readily available) (the "Proxy") of similar duration will then be selected to serve as a Proxy for the price movements of the security. The price of the security will fluctuate exactly as does the Proxy while maintaining the initial price spread constant. The duration of the security will be reviewed once a month by one or more of the portfolio managers, and at any other time that a portfolio manager believes that there may have been a material change in the duration of the security. Should
the duration change, another security or index of similar duration will be chosen to serve as proxy, at which point the price spread will be determined. In addition, the validity of the pricing methodology will be monitored by (1) comparing the actual sales proceeds of the security to its price reported by the Fund at the time of the sale and (2) periodically obtaining actual market quotes for the security.
As long as a Fund declares dividends daily, the net asset value of each class of shares of the Fund will generally be the same. It is expected, however, that the dividends, if any, will differ by approximately the amount of the distribution and/or service fee expense accrual differential among the classes.
Upon the initial purchase of Fund shares, a Shareholder Investment Account is established for each investor under which a record of the shares is maintained by the Transfer Agent. Share certificates are no longer to be issued for shares of the Fund. The Fund makes available to its shareholders the following privileges and plans:
Automatic Reinvestment of Dividends and/or Distributions.
For the convenience of investors, all dividends and distributions are automatically reinvested in full and fractional shares of the Fund at NAV per share. An investor may direct the Transfer Agent in writing not less than five full business days prior to the record date to have subsequent dividends and/or distributions sent in
cash rather than reinvested. In the case of recently purchased shares for which registration instructions have not been received by the record date, cash payment will be made directly to the broker. Any shareholder who receives dividends or distributions in cash may subsequently reinvest any such dividend or distribution at NAV by returning the check or the proceeds to the transfer agent within 30 days after the payment date. Such reinvestment will be made at the NAV per share next determined after receipt of
the check or the proceeds by the Transfer Agent. Shares purchased with reinvested dividends and/or distributions will not be subject to any CDSC upon redemption.
Exchange Privileges.
Each Fund makes available to its shareholders the privilege of exchanging their shares of the Fund for shares of certain other Prudential Investments mutual funds, including one or more specified money market funds, subject in each case to the minimum investment requirements of such funds. Shares of such other Prudential Investments mutual funds may also be exchanged
for shares of a Fund. All exchanges are made on the basis of the relative NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form. An exchange will be treated as a redemption and purchase for federal income tax purposes. Shares may be exchanged for shares of another fund only if shares of such fund may legally be sold under applicable state laws. For retirement and group plans having a limited menu of Prudential Investments mutual funds, the exchange privilege is available for those funds eligible for investment
in the particular program.
It is contemplated that the exchange privilege may be applicable to new Prudential Investments mutual funds, the shares of which may be distributed by the Distributor.
In order to exchange shares by telephone, you must authorize telephone exchanges on your initial application form or by written notice to the Transfer Agent and hold shares in non-certificated form. Thereafter, you may call the Fund at (800) 225-1852 to execute a telephone exchange of shares, on weekdays, except holidays, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. New York time. For your protection and to prevent fraudulent exchanges, your
telephone call will be recorded and you will be asked to authenticate your account. A written confirmation of the exchange transaction will be sent to you. Neither a Fund nor its agents will be liable for any loss, liability or cost which results from acting upon instructions reasonably believed to be genuine under the foregoing procedures. All exchanges will be made on the basis of the relative NAV of the two funds next determined after the request is received in good order.
If you hold shares through a brokerage firm, you must exchange your shares by contacting your financial adviser.
If you hold share certificates, the certificates must be returned in order for the shares to be exchanged. See "Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Fund Shares—Sale of Shares" above.
You may also exchange shares by mail by writing to Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, P.O. Box 9658, Providence, RI 02940.
In periods of severe market or economic conditions the telephone exchange of shares may be difficult to implement and you should make exchanges by mail by writing to Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC at the address noted above.
Class A shares: Shareholders of a Fund may exchange their Class A shares for Class A shares of certain other Prudential Investments mutual funds and shares of the money market funds specified below. No fee or sales load will be imposed upon the exchange. Shareholders of money market funds who acquired such shares upon exchange of Class A shares may use the exchange privilege only to acquire Class A shares of the Prudential Investments mutual
funds participating in the exchange privilege.
The following money market funds participate in the Class A exchange privilege: Prudential Government Securities Trust (Money Market Series); and Prudential MoneyMart Assets, Inc. (Class A shares).
Participants in certain programs sponsored by broker-dealers, investment advisers and financial planners who have agreements with Prudential, or whose programs are available through financial intermediaries that have agreements with Prudential relating to mutual fund "wrap" or asset allocation programs or mutual fund "supermarket" programs, for which a Fund is an available option, may have their Class A shares, if any, exchanged for Class Z shares of the Fund, if available as an investment option, when
they elect to have those assets become a part of the program. Upon leaving the program (whether voluntarily or not), such Class Z shares (and, to the extent provided for in the program, Class Z shares acquired through participation in the program) may be exchanged for Class A shares of the Fund at net asset value if Class Z shares are not available to the shareholder as an investment option outside the program. Contact your program sponsor or financial intermediary with any questions.
Class B, Class C and Class F shares: Shareholders of a Fund may exchange their Class B and Class C shares of the Fund for Class B and Class C shares, respectively, and Class F shareholders may exchange their Class F shares for Class B shares of certain other Prudential Investments mutual funds. No CDSC will be payable upon such exchange, but a CDSC may be payable upon the redemption of the Class B and Class C shares acquired as a result of
an exchange. The applicable sales charge will be that imposed by the fund in which shares were initially purchased and the purchase date will be deemed to be the date of the initial purchase, rather than the date of the exchange, excluding any time Class B, Class C or Class F shares were held in a money market fund.
Class B, Class C and Class F shares of a Fund may also be exchanged for shares of Prudential MoneyMart Assets, Inc. without imposition of any CDSC at the time of exchange. Upon subsequent redemption from such money market fund or after re-exchange into a Fund, such shares will be subject to the CDSC calculated without regard to the time such shares were held in the money market fund. For purposes of calculating the seven year holding period
applicable to the Class B and Class F conversion feature, the time period during which Class B and Class F shares were held in a money market fund will be excluded.
At any time after acquiring shares of other funds participating in the Class B or Class C or Class F exchange privilege, a shareholder may again exchange those shares (and any reinvested dividends and distributions) for Class B or Class C or Class F shares of a Fund without subjecting such shares to any CDSC. Shares of any fund participating in the Class B or Class C or Class F exchange privilege that were acquired through reinvestment of dividends
or distributions may be exchanged for Class B or Class C or Class F shares of other funds without being subject to any CDSC.
Class L shares: Shareholders of a Fund may exchange their Class L shares for Class L shares of certain other Prudential Investments mutual funds. No fee or sales load will be imposed upon the exchange.
Class M shares: Shareholders of a Fund may exchange their Class M shares for Class M shares of certain other Prudential Investments mutual funds. No fee or sales load will be imposed upon the exchange. Shares of any fund participating in the Class M or Class C exchange privilege that were acquired through reinvestment of dividends or distributions may be exchanged for Class M shares of other funds without being subject to any CDSC.
Class X shares: Shareholders of a Fund may exchange their Class X shares for Class X shares of certain other Prudential Investments mutual funds. No fee or sales load will be imposed upon the exchange. Shares of any fund participating in the Class X or Class X exchange privilege that were acquired through reinvestment of dividends or distributions may be exchanged for Class X shares of other funds without being subject to any CDSC.
Class R shares: Class R shares may be exchanged for Class R shares of other Prudential Investments mutual funds.
Class Z shares: Class Z shares may be exchanged for Class Z shares of other Prudential Investments mutual funds.
Shareholders who qualify to purchase Class Z shares may have their Class B and Class C shares which are not subject to a CDSC and their Class A shares exchanged for Class Z shares upon notification. Eligibility for this exchange privilege will be calculated on the business day prior to the date of the exchange. Amounts representing Class B or Class C shares which are not subject to a CDSC include the following: (1) amounts representing Class
B or Class C shares acquired pursuant to the automatic reinvestment of dividends and distributions, (2) amounts representing the increase in the net asset value above the total amount of payments for the purchase of Class B or Class C shares and (3) amounts representing Class B or Class C shares held beyond the applicable CDSC period. Class B and Class C shareholders must notify the Transfer Agent either directly or through Wells Fargo Advisors, Pruco Securities, LLC or another broker that they are eligible for
this special exchange privilege.
Participants in any fee-based program for which a Fund is an available option will have their Class A shares, if any, exchanged for Class Z shares when they elect to have those assets become a part of the fee-based program. Upon leaving the program (whether voluntarily or not), such Class Z shares (and, to the extent provided for in the program, Class Z shares acquired through participation in the program) will be exchanged for Class A shares
at net asset value. Similarly, participants in Wells Fargo Advisors' 401(k) Plan for which the Fund's Class Z shares are an available option and who wish to transfer their Class Z shares out of the Wells Fargo Advisors 401(k) Plan following separation from service ( i.e. , voluntary or involuntary termination of employment or retirement) will have their Class Z shares exchanged for Class A shares at NAV.
Additional details about the exchange privilege and prospectuses for each of the Prudential Investments mutual funds are available from the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or your broker. The special exchange privilege may be modified, terminated or suspended on sixty days' notice, and any Fund, or the Distributor, has the right to reject any exchange application relating to such fund's shares.
Automatic Investment Plan (AIP).
Under AIP, an investor may arrange to have a fixed amount automatically invested in shares of a Fund by authorizing his or her bank account or brokerage account to be debited to invest specified dollar amounts in shares of the Fund. The investor's bank must be a member of the Automated Clearing House System.
Further information about this program and an application form can be obtained from the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or your broker.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan
. A Systematic Withdrawal Plan is available to shareholders through the Distributor, the Transfer Agent or your broker. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual redemptions in any amount, except as provided below, up to the value of the shares in the shareholder's account. Systematic withdrawals of Class A and Class
L (in certain instances), Class B, Class C, Class F, Class M or Class X shares may be subject to a CDSC. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan is not available to participants in certain retirement plans. Please contact PMFS at (800) 225-1852 for more details.
The Transfer Agent, the Distributor or your broker acts as an agent for the shareholder in redeeming sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the amount of the systematic withdrawal payment. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time.
Systematic withdrawals should not be considered as dividends, yield or income. If systematic withdrawals continuously exceed reinvested dividends and distributions, the shareholder's original investment will be correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted.
Furthermore, each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of shares, and any gain or loss realized must be recognized for federal income tax purposes. In addition, withdrawals made concurrently with purchases of additional shares are inadvisable because of the sales charges applicable to (i) the purchase of Class A shares and (ii) the redemption of Class A (in certain instances), Class B and Class C shares. Each shareholder should consult his or
her own tax adviser with regard to the tax consequences of the Systematic Withdrawal Plan, particularly if used in connection with a retirement plan.
Mutual Fund Programs.
From time to time, a Fund may be included in a mutual fund program with other Prudential Investments mutual funds. Under such a program, a group of portfolios will be selected and thereafter marketed collectively. Typically, these programs are marketed with an investment theme, such as pursuit of greater diversification, protection from interest rate movements or
access to different management styles. In the event such a program is instituted, there may be a minimum investment requirement for the program as a whole. A Fund may waive or reduce the minimum initial investment requirements in connection with such a program.
The mutual funds in the program may be purchased individually or as a part of a program. Since the allocation of portfolios included in the program may not be appropriate for all investors, investors should consult their financial adviser concerning the appropriate blends of portfolios for them. If investors elect to purchase the individual mutual funds that constitute the program in an investment ratio different from that offered by the program,
the standard minimum investment requirements for the individual mutual funds will apply.
Tax-Deferred Retirement Programs.
Various tax-deferred retirement plans, including a 401(k) plan, self-directed individual retirement accounts and "tax-deferred accounts" under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code are available through the Distributor. These plans are for use by both self-employed individuals and corporate employers. These plans permit either self-direction
of accounts by participants or a pooled account arrangement. Information regarding the establishment of these plans, their administration, custodial fees and other details is available from the Distributor or the Transfer Agent.
Investors who are considering the adoption of such a plan should consult with their own legal counsel and/or tax adviser with respect to the establishment and maintenance of any such plan.
The following is a summary of certain tax considerations generally affecting each Fund and its shareholders. This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. Please consult your own tax adviser concerning the consequences of investing in a Fund in your particular circumstances
under the Code and the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company
. Each Fund has elected to be taxed as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code and intends to meet all other requirements that are necessary for it to be relieved of federal taxes on income and gains it distributes to shareholders. As a regulated investment company, a Fund is not subject to federal income tax on the
portion of its net investment income (i.e., investment company taxable income, as that term is defined in the Code, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) that it distributes to shareholders, provided that it distributes at least 90% of its net tax-exempt income and investment company taxable income for the year (the "Distribution Requirement"), and satisfies certain other requirements of the Code
that are described below.
Net capital gains of a Fund that are available for distribution to shareholders will be computed by taking into account any applicable capital loss carryforward. If a Fund has a capital loss carryforward, the amount and duration of any such capital loss carryforward will be set forth at the end of this section.
In addition to satisfying the Distribution Requirement, each Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to loans of stock and securities, gains from the sale or disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies and other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from an interest in
a "qualified publicly traded partnership" (as such term is defined in the Code).
Each Fund must also satisfy an asset diversification test in order to qualify as a regulated investment company. Under this test, at the close of each quarter of a Fund's taxable year, (1) 50% or more of the value of the Fund's assets must be represented by cash, United States government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund's assets
and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (2) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund's assets may be invested in securities of (x) any one issuer (other than United States government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies), or two or more issuers (other than securities of other regulated investment companies) of which the Fund owns 20% or more of the voting stock and which are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses or (y) one or more "qualified
publicly traded partnerships" (as such term is defined in the Code).
Although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. A Fund's investments in partnerships, including in qualified publicly traded partnerships, may result in the Fund being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.
If for any year a Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, or fails to meet the Distribution Requirement, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In addition, in the event of a failure to qualify, a Fund's distributions, to the extent derived from the Fund's current or accumulated earnings and profits, including any distributions of net long-term capital gains, will
be taxable to shareholders as dividend income. However, such dividends will be eligible (i) for taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 2011, to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. Moreover, if a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company in any year, it must pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a regulated
investment company. If a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund may be subject to taxation on any net built-in-gains (i.e., the excess of the aggregate gain, including items of income, over aggregate loss that would have been realized if the Fund had been liquidated) recognized for a period of ten years, or, under certain circumstances, may have to recognize and pay tax on such net built-in-gain, in order to qualify as a regulated investment
company in a subsequent year.
Excise Tax on Regulated Investment Companies
. A 4% non-deductible excise tax is imposed on a regulated investment company to the extent that it distributes income in such a way that it is taxable to shareholders in a calendar year other than the calendar year in which a Fund earned the income. Specifically, the excise tax will be imposed if a Fund fails to distribute in each calendar
year an amount equal to 98% of ordinary taxable income, including qualified dividend income, for the calendar year and 98% of capital gain net income for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such calendar year (or, at the election of a regulated investment company having a taxable year ending November 30 or December 31, for its taxable year). The balance of such income must be distributed during the next calendar year. For the foregoing purposes, a regulated investment company is treated as having distributed
otherwise retained amounts if it is subject to income tax on those amounts for any taxable year ending in such calendar year.
Each Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions of its qualified dividend income, ordinary income and capital gain net income prior to the end of each calendar year to avoid liability for this excise tax. However, investors should note that a Fund may in certain circumstances be required to borrow money or liquidate portfolio investments to make sufficient distributions to avoid excise tax liability.
Fund Investments
. Each Fund may make investments or engage in transactions that affect the character, amount and timing of gains or losses realized by a Fund. A Fund may make investments that produce income that is not matched by a corresponding cash receipt by the Fund. Any such income would be treated as income earned by the Fund and therefore would be subject to the Distribution Requirement.
Such investments may require a Fund to borrow money or dispose of other securities in order to comply with those requirements. Each Fund may also make investments that prevent or defer the recognition of losses or the deduction of expenses. These investments may likewise require a Fund to borrow money or dispose of other securities in order to comply with the Distribution Requirement. Additionally, a Fund may make investments that result in the recognition of ordinary income rather than capital gain, or that
prevent the Fund from accruing a long-term holding period. These investments may prevent the Fund from making capital gain distributions as described below. Each Fund intends to monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it makes any such investments in order to mitigate the effect of these rules. The foregoing concepts are explained in greater detail in the following paragraphs.
Gains or losses on sales of stock or securities by a Fund generally will be treated as long-term capital gains or losses if the stock or securities have been held by it for more than one year, except in certain cases where the Fund acquires a put or writes a call or otherwise holds an offsetting position, with respect to the stock or securities. Other gains or losses on the sale of stock or securities will be short-term capital gains or losses.
If an option written by a Fund on securities lapses or is terminated through a closing transaction, such as a repurchase by the Fund of the option from its holder, the Fund will generally realize short-term capital gain or loss. If securities are sold by the Fund pursuant to the exercise of a call option written by it, the Fund will include the premium received in the sale proceeds of the securities delivered in determining the amount of gain or loss on the sale. Gain or loss on the sale, lapse or other
termination of options acquired by a Fund on stock or securities and on narrowly-based stock indexes will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term depending on the holding period of the option.
Certain Fund transactions may be subject to wash sale, short sale, constructive sale, conversion transaction, constructive ownership transaction and straddle provisions of the Code that may, among other things, require a Fund to defer recognition of losses or convert long-term capital gain into ordinary income or short-term capital gain taxable as ordinary income.
As a result of entering into swap contracts, a Fund may make or receive periodic net payments. A Fund may also make or receive a payment when a swap is terminated prior to maturity through an assignment of the swap or other closing transaction. Periodic net payments will generally constitute taxable ordinary income or deductions, while termination of a swap will generally result in capital gain or loss (which will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the Fund has been a party to the swap for more than
one year). With respect to certain types of swaps, a Fund may be required to currently recognize income or loss with respect to future payments on such swaps or may elect under certain circumstances to mark such swaps to market annually for tax purposes as ordinary income or loss. The tax treatment of many types of credit default swaps is uncertain.
In general, gain or loss on a short sale is recognized when a Fund closes the sale by delivering the borrowed property to the lender, not when the borrowed property is sold. Gain or loss from a short sale is generally capital gain or loss to the extent that the property used to close the short sale constitutes a capital asset in a Fund's hands. Except with respect to certain situations where the property used by a Fund to close a short sale has a long-term holding period on the date of the short sale, special
rules would generally treat the gains on short sales as short-term capital gains. These rules may also terminate the running of the holding period of "substantially identical property" held by a Fund. Moreover, a loss on a short sale will be treated as a long-term capital loss if, on the date of the short sale, "substantially identical property" has been held by a Fund for more than one year. In general, a Fund will not be permitted to deduct payments made to reimburse the lender of securities for dividends paid
on borrowed stock if the short sale is closed on or before the 45th day after the short sale is entered into.
Debt securities acquired by a Fund may be subject to original issue discount and market discount rules which, respectively, may cause the Fund to accrue income in advance of the receipt of cash with respect to interest or cause gains to be treated as ordinary income subject to the Distribution Requirement referred to above. Market discount generally is the excess, if any, of the principal amount of the security (or, in the case of a security issued at an original issue discount, the adjusted issue price
of the security) over the price paid by the Fund for the security. Original issue discount that accrues in a taxable year is treated as income earned by a Fund and therefore is subject to the Distribution Requirement. Because the original issue discount income earned by a Fund in a taxable year may not be represented by cash income, the Fund may have to borrow money or dispose of other securities and use the proceeds to make distributions to satisfy the Distribution Requirement.
Certain futures contracts and certain listed options (referred to as Section 1256 contracts) held by the Funds will be required to be "marked to market" for federal income tax purposes at the end of a Fund's taxable year, that is, treated as having been sold at the fair market value on the last business day of the Fund's taxable year. Except with respect to certain foreign currency forward contracts, sixty percent of any gain or loss recognized
on these deemed sales and on actual dispositions will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and forty percent will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Any net mark-to-market gains may be subject to the Distribution Requirement referred to above, even though a Fund may receive no corresponding cash amounts, possibly requiring the disposition of portfolio securities or borrowing to obtain the necessary cash.
Gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates that occur between the time a Fund accrues interest or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities are treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency forward contracts or dispositions of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency that are attributable to fluctuations in
the value of the foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition thereof generally also are treated as ordinary income or loss. These gains or losses, referred to under the Code as "Section 988" gains or losses, increase or decrease the amount of a Fund's investment company taxable income available to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount of the Fund's net capital gain. If Section 988 losses
exceed other investment company taxable income during a taxable year, a Fund would not be able to make any ordinary dividend distributions from current earnings and profits, and distributions made before the losses were realized could be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders, rather than as an ordinary dividend, thereby reducing each shareholder's basis in his or her Fund shares.
If the Fund holds (directly or indirectly) one or more "tax credit bonds" (defined below) on one or more specified dates during the Fund's taxable year, and the Fund satisfies the minimum distribution requirement, the Fund may elect for U.S. federal income tax purposes to pass through to shareholders tax credits otherwise allowable to the Fund for that year with respect to such bonds. A tax credit bond is defined in the Code as a "qualified
tax credit bond" (which includes a qualified forestry conservation bond, a new clean renewable energy bond, a qualified energy conservation bond, a qualified zone academy bond, or a qualified school construction bond, each of which must meet certain requirements specified in the Code), a "build America bond" (which includes certain qualified bonds issued before January 1, 2011) or certain other specified bonds. If the Fund were to make an election, a shareholder of the Fund would be required to include in gross
income an amount equal to such shareholder's proportionate share of the interest income attributable to such credits and would be entitled to claim as a tax credit an amount equal to the shareholder's proportionate share of such credits. Certain limitations may apply on the extent to which the credit may be claimed.
A Fund may make investments in equity securities of foreign issuers. If a Fund purchases shares in certain foreign corporations (referred to as passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") under the Code), the Fund may be subject to federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution" from such foreign corporation, including any gain from the disposition of such shares, even if such income is distributed by the Fund to its shareholders.
In addition, certain interest charges may be imposed on the Fund as a result of such distributions. If a Fund were to invest in an eligible PFIC and elected to treat the PFIC as a qualified electing fund (a "QEF"), in lieu of the foregoing requirements, the Fund would be required to include each year in its income and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the Distribution Requirement, a pro rata portion of the QEF's ordinary earnings and net capital gain, whether or not distributed by the QEF to the Fund.
A Fund may not be able to make this election with respect to many PFICs because of certain requirements that the PFICs would have to satisfy.
Alternatively, a Fund generally will be permitted to "mark to market" any shares it holds in a PFIC. If a Fund made such an election, with such election being made separately for each PFIC owned by the Fund, the Fund would be required to include in income each year and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the Distribution Requirement, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the PFIC stock as of the close of the taxable year over the adjusted basis of such stock at that
time. A Fund would be allowed a deduction for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the PFIC stock over its fair market value as of the close of the taxable year, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains with respect to the stock included by the Fund for prior taxable years. A Fund will make appropriate basis adjustments in the PFIC stock to take into account the mark-to-market amounts.
Notwithstanding any election made by a Fund, dividends attributable to distributions from a foreign corporation will not be eligible for the special tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income if the foreign corporation is a PFIC either in the taxable year of the distribution or the preceding taxable year, but instead will be taxable at rates applicable to ordinary income.
A Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts ("REITs"). Such Fund's investments in REIT equity securities may require a Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. In order to generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, a Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio that it otherwise would have continued to hold (including when it is not advantageous to do so). A Fund's investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in the Fund's receipt of
cash in excess of the REIT's earnings; if the Fund distributes such amounts, such distribution could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT will generally not constitute qualified dividend income. REITs will generally be able to pass through the tax treatment of tax-qualified dividends they receive.
Some of the REITs in which the Funds may invest will be permitted to hold residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits ("REMICs"). Under Treasury regulations not yet issued, but that may apply retroactively, a portion of a Fund's income from a REIT that is attributable to the REIT's residual interest in a REMIC (referred to in the Code as an "excess inclusion") will be subject to federal income tax in all events. These regulations are expected to provide that excess inclusion income of
a regulated investment company, such as a Fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by shareholders, with the same consequences as if shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest directly.
In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on unrelated business income, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and that
otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax.
Under current law, if a charitable remainder trust (defined in Section 664 of the Code) realizes any unrelated business taxable income for a taxable year, it will be subject to an excise tax equal to 100% of such unrelated business taxable income. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a "disqualified organization" (as defined in the Code) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of
its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. The Funds do not intend to invest directly in residual interests in REMICs or to invest in REITs in which a substantial portion of the assets will consist of residual interests in REMICs.
Fund Distributions
. Each Fund anticipates distributing substantially all of its net investment income for each taxable year. Dividends of net investment income paid to a non-corporate U.S. shareholder in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2011 that are designated as qualified dividend income will generally be taxable to such shareholder at a maximum rate of 15%. However, the amount
of dividend income that may be so designated by a Fund will generally be limited to the aggregate of the eligible dividends received by the Fund. In addition, a Fund must meet certain holding period requirements with respect to the shares on which the Fund received the eligible dividends, and the non-corporate U.S. shareholder must meet certain holding period requirements with respect to the Fund shares. Dividends of net investment income that are not designated as qualified dividend income or exempt-interest
dividends and dividends of net short-term capital gains will be taxable to shareholders at ordinary income rates. Dividends paid by a Fund with respect to a taxable year will qualify for the 70% dividends received deduction generally available to corporations to the extent of the amount of dividends received by the Fund from certain domestic corporations for the taxable year. Shareholders will be advised annually as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of distributions made (or deemed made) during the
year, including the portion of dividends paid that qualify for the reduced tax rate.
Ordinarily, shareholders are required to take taxable distributions by a Fund into account in the year in which the distributions are made. However, for federal income tax purposes, dividends that are declared by a Fund in October, November or December as of a record date in such month and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as if they were paid on December 31 of the year declared. Therefore, such dividends will generally be taxable to a shareholder in the year declared rather
than the year paid.
Dividends paid by a Fund that are properly designated as exempt-interest dividends will not be subject to regular federal income tax. Dividends paid by a Fund will be exempt from federal income tax (though not necessarily exempt from state and local taxation) to the extent of the Fund's tax-exempt interest income as long as 50% or more of the value of the Fund's assets at the end of each quarter is invested in state, municipal and other bonds that are excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes
and as long as the Fund properly designates such dividends as exempt-interest dividends. Exempt-interest dividends from interest earned on municipal securities of a state, or its political subdivisions, are generally exempt from income tax in that state. However, income from municipal securities from other states generally will not qualify for tax-free treatment. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on May 19, 2008 that cities and states may continue to provide a tax exemption for interest on in-state municipal bonds
while taxing interest on out-of-state bonds.
Interest on indebtedness incurred by a shareholder to purchase or carry shares of a Fund will not be deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent it relates to exempt-interest dividends received by a shareholder. If a shareholder receives exempt interest dividends with respect to any share of a Fund and if the share is held by the shareholder for six months or less, then any loss on the sale or exchange of the share may, to the extent of the exempt-interest dividends, be disallowed. In
addition, the Code may require a shareholder that receives exempt-interest dividends to treat as taxable income a portion of certain otherwise non-taxable social security and railroad retirement benefit payments. Furthermore, a portion of any exempt-interest dividend paid by a Fund that represents income derived from certain revenue or private activity bonds held by the Fund may not retain its tax-exempt status in the hands of a shareholder who is a "substantial user" of a facility financed by such bonds, or
a "related person" thereof. In addition, the receipt of dividends and distributions from a Fund may affect a foreign corporate shareholder's federal "branch profits" tax liability and the federal "excess net passive income" tax liability of a shareholder of an S corporation. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers as to whether they are (i) "substantial users" with respect to a facility or "related" to such users within the meaning of the Code or (ii) subject to the federal "branch profits" tax, or
the federal "excess net passive income" tax. A Fund may either retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain (i.e., excess net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) for each taxable year. Each Fund currently intends to distribute any such amounts. If net capital gain is distributed and designated as a "capital gain dividend," it will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time the shareholder has held its shares or whether such gain was
recognized by the Fund prior to the date on which the shareholder acquired its shares.
Conversely, if a Fund elects to retain its net capital gain, the Fund will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the 35% corporate tax rate. In such a case, it is expected that the Fund also will elect to have shareholders of record on the last day of its taxable year treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return
as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Fund on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.
Distributions by a Fund that exceed the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder's tax basis in its shares; any distribution in excess of such tax basis will be treated as gain from the sale of its shares, as discussed below.
Distributions by a Fund will be treated in the manner described above regardless of whether such distributions are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund (or of another fund). Shareholders receiving a distribution in the form of additional shares will be treated as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares received, determined as of the reinvestment date. In addition, prospective
investors in a Fund should be aware that distributions from the Fund will, all other things being equal, have the effect of reducing the net asset value of the Fund's shares by the amount of the distribution. If the net asset value is reduced below a shareholder's cost, the distribution will nonetheless be taxable as described above, even if the distribution effectively represents a return of invested capital. Investors should consider the tax implications of buying shares just prior to a distribution, when the
price of shares may reflect the amount of the forthcoming distribution.
Sale or Redemption of Shares
. A shareholder will generally recognize gain or loss on the sale or redemption of shares in an amount equal to the difference between the proceeds of the sale 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 acquires other shares of the Fund or substantially
identical stock or securities within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before such disposition, such as pursuant to reinvestment of a dividend in shares of the Fund. Additionally, if a shareholder disposes of shares of a Fund within 90 days following their acquisition, and the shareholder subsequently re-acquires Fund shares (1) pursuant to a reinvestment right received upon the purchase of the original shares and (2) at a reduced load charge (i.e., sales or additional charge), then any load charge incurred
upon the acquisition of the original shares will not be taken into account as part of the shareholder's basis for computing gain or loss upon the sale of such shares, to the extent the original load charge does not exceed any reduction of the load charge with respect to the acquisition of the subsequent shares. To the extent the original load charge is not taken into account on the disposition of the original shares, such charge shall be treated as incurred in connection with the acquisition of the subsequent
shares. In general, any gain or loss arising from (or treated as arising from) the sale or redemption of shares of a Fund will be considered capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares were held for more than one year. However, any capital loss arising from the sale or redemption of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of long-term capital gain dividends received on (or undistributed long-term capital gains
credited with respect to) such shares.
Capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. shareholder that is recognized in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2011 is generally taxed at a maximum federal income tax rate of 15%, and thereafter at a maximum 20% rate, where the property is held by the shareholder for more than one year. Capital gain of a corporate shareholder is taxed at the same rate as ordinary income.
Backup Withholding
. A Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a portion of all dividends and capital gain dividends, and the proceeds of redemption of shares, paid to any shareholder (1) who has provided the Fund with either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all, (2) who is subject to backup withholding by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") 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. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld may be refunded or credited against a shareholder's federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.
If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to a Fund's shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases exempted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not exempted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does
not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Foreign Shareholders.
Dividends paid to a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a nonresident alien individual, foreign trust or estate, foreign corporation, or foreign partnership ("foreign shareholder") will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) on the gross amount of the dividend. Such a foreign shareholder would generally be
exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including withholding tax, on gains realized on the sale of shares of a Fund, net capital gain dividends and amounts retained by the Fund that are designated as undistributed capital gains.
The foregoing applies when the foreign shareholder's income from a Fund is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. If the income from a Fund is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, then ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income, net capital gain dividends, undistributed capital gains credited to such shareholder and any gains realized upon the sale of shares of the Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the graduated
rates applicable to U.S. citizens or domestic corporations.
Foreign shareholders of a Fund must generally treat a distribution attributable to a distribution received by a Fund from a REIT as real property gain if 50% or more of the value of a Fund's assets is invested in REITs and other U.S. real property holding corporations. The Fund is required to withhold a 35% tax on a distribution to a foreign shareholder attributable to real property gain, and such a distribution may subject a foreign shareholder to a U.S. tax filing obligation and create a branch profits
tax liability for foreign corporate shareholders. Under a de minimis exception to this rule, if the foreign shareholder has not held more than 5% of a class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution, the foreign shareholder is not treated as receiving real property gain. There are also certain additional restrictions regarding the use of wash sales and substitute payments.
Disposition of Fund shares by foreign shareholders will be subject to withholding tax and treated as income effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business if 50% or more of the value of a Fund's assets are invested in REITs and other U.S. real property holding corporations and the foreign shareholder owns more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of disposition.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2010, properly-designated dividends are generally exempt from United States federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of a Fund's "qualified net interest income" (generally, the Fund's U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the Fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses
that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of a Fund's "qualified short-term capital gains" (generally, the excess of the Fund's net short-term capital gain over the Fund's long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, depending on its circumstances, a Fund may designate all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption
from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute Form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if a Fund designates the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries
with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2010, distributions that a Fund designates as "short-term capital gains dividends" or "long-term capital gains dividends" may not be treated as such to a recipient foreign shareholder if the distribution is attributable to gain received from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property or an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation and the foreign shareholder has not owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund at any time during the one-year
period ending on the date of distribution. Such distributions will be subject to 30% withholding by the Fund and will be treated as ordinary dividends to the foreign shareholder.
In the case of foreign non-corporate shareholders, a Fund may be required to backup withhold U.S. federal income tax on distributions that are otherwise exempt from withholding tax unless such shareholders furnish the Fund with proper notification of their foreign status.
The tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Foreign shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund, the procedure for claiming the benefit of a lower treaty rate and the applicability of foreign taxes.
Foreign Taxes
. A Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gain) received from sources within foreign countries. So long as more than 50% by value of the total assets of the Fund at the close of the taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign issuers, the Fund may elect to treat
any foreign income taxes paid by it as paid directly by its shareholders.
If the Fund makes the election, each shareholder will be required to (i) include in gross income, even though not actually received, its pro rata share of the Fund's foreign income taxes, and (ii) either deduct (in calculating U.S. taxable income) or credit (in calculating U.S. federal income tax) its pro rata share of the Fund's income taxes. A foreign tax credit may not exceed the U.S. federal income tax otherwise payable with respect to the foreign source income. For this purpose, each shareholder must
treat as foreign source gross income (i) its proportionate share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund and (ii) the portion of any actual dividend paid by the Fund which represents income derived from foreign sources; the gain from the sale of securities will generally be treated as U.S. source income and certain foreign currency gains and losses likewise will be treated as derived from U.S. sources. This foreign tax credit limitation is, with certain exceptions, applied separately to separate categories of income;
dividends from the Fund will be treated as "passive" or "general" income for this purpose. The effect of this limitation may be to prevent shareholders from claiming as a credit the full amount of their pro rata share of the Fund's foreign income taxes. In addition, shareholders will not be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to foreign income taxes paid by the Fund unless certain holding period requirements are met at both the Fund and the shareholder levels.
A Fund will make such an election only if it deems it to be in the best interest of its shareholders. A shareholder not subject to U.S. tax may prefer that this election not be made. The Fund will notify shareholders in writing each year if it makes the election and of the amount of foreign income taxes, if any, to be passed through to the shareholders and the amount of foreign taxes, if any, for which shareholders of the Fund will not be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit because the holding period
requirements (described above) have not been satisfied.
State and Local Tax Matters
. Depending on the residence of the shareholders for tax purposes, distributions may also be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation regarding qualified dividend income, ordinary income dividends and capital gains distributions from regulated investment companies and other items may differ from federal income tax rules. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers as to the consequences
of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in a Fund.
Capital Loss Carryforwards
. For federal income tax purposes, the Fund has a capital loss carryforward as of April 30, 2009 of approximately $29,033,000 of which $13,512,000 expires in 2010, $4,457,000 expires in 2011 and $11,064,000 expires in 2014. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2009, the Fund utilized approximately $1,715,000 of its capital loss carryforward to offset net taxable
gains. Also, approximately $18,380,000 of its capital loss carryforward expired/unused in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2009. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such carryforwards.
A Fund's portfolio holdings as of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters are made public, as required by law, in the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports. These reports are filed with the Commission on Form N-CSR and mailed to shareholders within 60 days after the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters. A Fund's annual and semi-annual reports are posted on the Fund's website at www.prudentialfunds.com (for the Prudential Investments
Funds) or at www.prudential.com (for certain other funds, including The Target Portfolio Trust and the Target Asset Allocations Funds, advised by Prudential Investments LLC). A Fund's portfolio holdings as of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters are made public and filed with the Commission on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the Fund's first and third fiscal quarters, and may be accessed at www.sec.gov. Additionally, certain Funds that make investments that meet the requirements of Rule 2a-7
("Rule 2a-7") of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (a "Money Market Fund") will release portfolio holdings and certain other portfolio information as required by Rule 2a-7 to the Commission in the Money Market Fund's monthly filing on Form N-MPF within five business days from month-end, such information becomes publicly available 60 days after end of month to which information pertains and may be accessed at www.sec.gov (beginning no later than December 7, 2010).
A Fund (except a Money Market Fund) generally posts on its website a detailed list of the Fund's portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month within approximately 30 days following the end of the month. A Fund's detailed list of portfolio holdings will generally remain available on the Fund's website for approximately one month, at which time the list will be replaced. (
Note:
The Target Portfolio Trust and the Target Asset Allocation
Funds
do not
post portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month). Beginning no later than October 7, 2010, as required by Rule 2a-7, a Money Market Fund generally posts on its website a detailed list of the Money Market Fund's portfolio holdings and certain other information, including its weighted average maturity and weighted after life on a monthly basis within five business days from month-end. Such information will be posted on the
Fund's website and will generally be available for viewing for at least six months after the posting.
In addition, a Fund may also release its top ten holdings, sector and country breakdowns, and largest industries on a quarterly or monthly basis, with the information as of a date 15 days prior to the release. Such information will be posted on the Fund's website and will generally be available for viewing until replaced at the end of the subsequent quarter. However, if the Money Market Portfolio is required to release any such information
on a more frequent basis pursuant to Rule 2a-7, then the Money Market Portfolio will release such information in a manner consistent with Rule 2a-7.
Portfolio holdings information which appears on a Fund's website may also be made available in printed form.
When authorized by a Fund's Chief Compliance Officer and another officer of the Fund, portfolio holdings information may be disseminated more frequently or at different periods than as described above.
The Fund has entered into ongoing arrangements to make available information about the Fund's portfolio holdings. Parties receiving this information may include intermediaries that distribute the Fund's shares, third-party providers of auditing, custody, proxy voting and other services for the Fund, rating and ranking organizations, and certain affiliated persons of the Fund, as described below. The procedures utilized to determine eligibility are set forth below:
Procedures for Release of Portfolio Holdings Information:
1. A request for release of fund holdings shall be provided by such third party setting forth a legitimate business purpose for such release which shall specify the Fund, the terms of such release, and frequency (e.g., level of detail, staleness). The request shall address whether there are any conflicts of interest between the Fund and the investment adviser, sub-adviser, principal underwriter or any affiliated person thereof and how such
conflicts shall be dealt with to demonstrate that the disclosure is in the best interest of the shareholders of the Fund.
2. The request shall be forwarded to the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund, or his delegate, for review and approval.
3. A confidentiality agreement in the form approved by an officer of the Fund must be executed with the recipient of the fund holdings information.
4. An officer of the Fund shall approve the release and agreement. Copies of the release and agreement shall be sent to PI's law department.
5. Written notification of the approval shall be sent by such officer to PI's Fund Administration Department to arrange the release of fund holdings information.
6. PI's Fund Administration Department shall arrange for the release of fund holdings information by the Fund's custodian bank(s).
As of the date of this SAI, each Fund will provide:
1. Traditional External Recipients/Vendors
-
Full holdings on a daily basis to RiskMetrics Group, Broadridge and Glass, Lewis & Co. (proxy voting administrator/agents) at the end of each day;
-
Full holdings on a daily basis to RiskMetrics Group (securities class action claims administrator) at the end of each day;
-
Full holdings on a daily basis to a Fund's Subadviser(s), Custodian Bank, sub-custodian (if any) and accounting agents (which includes the Custodian Bank and any other accounting agent that may be appointed) at the end of each day. When a Fund has more than one Subadviser, each Subadviser receives holdings information only with respect to the "sleeve" or segment of the Fund for which the Subadviser has responsibility;
-
Full holdings to a Fund's independent registered public accounting firm as soon as practicable following the Fund's fiscal year-end or on an as-needed basis; and
-
Full holdings to financial printers as soon as practicable following the end of a Fund's quarterly, semi-annual and annual period-ends.
2. Analytical Service Providers
-
Fund trades on a quarterly basis to Abel/Noser Corp. (an agency-only broker and transaction cost analysis company) as soon as practicable following a Fund's fiscal quarter-end;
-
Full holdings on a daily basis to FT Interactive Data (a fair value information service) at the end of each day;
-
Full holdings on a daily basis to FactSet Research Systems Inc. and Lipper, Inc. (investment research providers) at the end of each day;
-
Full holdings on a daily basis to Vestek (for preparation of fact sheets) at the end of each day (Target Portfolio Trust, and selected Prudential Investments Funds only);
-
Full holdings on a daily basis to Electra Information Systems, Inc. (Target Portfolio Trust -- Small Capitalization Growth Portfolio -- securities managed by Ashfield only);
-
Full holdings to Frank Russell Company (investment research provider) at the end of each month (Prudential Jennison Small Company Fund, Prudential Variable Contract Accounts -2 and -10 only);
-
Full holdings on a monthly basis to Fidelity Advisors (wrap program provider) approximately five days after the end of each month (Prudential Jennison Growth Fund and certain other selected Prudential Investments Funds only);
-
Full holdings on a daily basis to Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (operations support) (Prudential Financial Services Fund only);
-
Full holdings on a weekly basis to Investment Technology Group, Inc. (analytical service provider) (Prudential Financial Services Fund only);
-
Full holdings on a daily basis to State Street Bank & Trust Company (operations service provider) (Prudential Financial Services Fund only); and
-
Full holdings on a quarterly basis to Prudential Retirement Services / Watson Wyatt Investment Retirement Services (401(k) plan recordkeeping) approximately 30 days after the close of the Fund's fiscal quarter-end (Prudential Jennison Growth Fund only).
In each case, the information disclosed must be for a legitimate business purpose and is subject to a confidentiality agreement intended to prohibit the recipient from trading on or further disseminating such information (except for legitimate business purposes). Such arrangements will be monitored on an ongoing basis and will be reviewed by a Fund's Chief Compliance Officer and PI's Law Department on an annual basis.
In addition, certain authorized employees of PI receive portfolio holdings information on a quarterly, monthly or daily basis or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. All PI employees are subject to the requirements of the personal securities trading policy of Prudential Financial, Inc., which prohibits employees from trading on or further disseminating confidential information, including portfolio holdings information.
Also, affiliated shareholders may, subject to execution of a non-disclosure agreement, receive current portfolio holdings for the sole purpose of enabling the Fund to effect the payment of the redemption price to such shareholder in whole or in part by a distribution in kind of securities from the investment portfolio of the Fund, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the rules of the Commission and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. For more information regarding the payment of the redemption
price by a distribution in kind of securities from the investment portfolio of the Fund, see "Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Fund Shares--Redemption in Kind."
The Board has approved PI's Policy for the Dissemination of Portfolio Holdings. The Board shall, on a quarterly basis, receive a report from PI detailing the recipients of the portfolio holdings information and the reason for such disclosure. The Board has delegated oversight over a Fund's disclosure of portfolio holdings to the Chief Compliance Officer.
There can be no assurance that a Fund's policies and procedures on portfolio holdings information will protect the Fund from the potential misuse of such information by individuals or entities that come into possession of the information.
The Board has delegated to each Fund's investment manager, PI, the responsibility for voting any proxies and maintaining proxy recordkeeping with respect to the Fund. Each Fund authorizes the Manager to delegate, in whole or in part, its proxy voting authority to its investment subadviser or third party vendors consistent with the policies set forth below. The proxy voting process shall remain subject to the supervision of the Board, including
any committee thereof established for that purpose.
The Manager and the Board view the proxy voting process as a component of the investment process and, as such, seek to ensure that all proxy proposals are voted with the primary goal of seeking the optimal benefit for the Fund. Consistent with this goal, the Board views the proxy voting process as a means to encourage strong corporate governance practices and ethical conduct by corporate management. The Manager and the Board maintain a policy
of seeking to protect the best interests of the Fund should a proxy issue potentially implicate a conflict of interest between the Fund and the Manager or its affiliates.
The Manager delegates to each Fund's Subadviser(s) the responsibility for voting the Fund's proxies. The Subadviser is expected to identify and seek to obtain the optimal benefit for the Fund it manages, and to adopt written policies that meet certain minimum standards, including that the policies be reasonably designed to protect the best interests of the Fund and delineate procedures to be followed when a proxy vote presents a conflict between
the interests of the Fund and the interests of the Subadviser or its affiliates. The Manager and the Board expect that the Subadviser will notify the Manager and Board at least annually of any such conflicts identified and confirm how the issue was resolved. In addition, the Manager expects that the Subadviser will deliver to the Manager, or its appointed vendor, information required for filing the Form N-PX with the Commission. Information regarding how each Fund voted proxies relating to its portfolio securities
during the most recent twelve-month period ending June 30 is available without charge on the Fund's website and on the Commission's website at www.sec.gov.
A summary of the proxy voting policies of the Subadviser(s) is set forth in the Appendix to this SAI.
The Board of Directors of each Fund has adopted a Code of Ethics. In addition, the Manager, investment subadviser(s) and Distributor have each adopted a Code of Ethics (the Codes). The Codes apply to access persons (generally, persons who have access to information about the Fund's investment program) and permit personnel subject to the Codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. However, the
protective provisions of the Codes prohibit certain investments and limit such personnel from making investments during periods when the Fund is making such investments. The Codes are on public file with, and are available from, the Commission.